MARCH 2018 Monthly Newsletter of Zion Lutheran Church THE Chimes A word from Pastor Ron Friends in Christ, Many Christians use the forty days of Lent to focus on the story of God's love for human beings revealed in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is through this process that they discover that they also learn more about themselves. As we journey to the cross together may this also happen to you. We need to focus on God's love for us through His suffering, death, and resurrection. The true journey in life is basically inward. We naturally tend to focus on ourselves. It is a process of discovering more about the meaning of life and ourselves each day. Each of us learns in our daily experiences that focusing on our own issues of life end in disappointment. We also learn that the world can lead us down the wrong paths and not the paths of our Lord. In reality, happiness is seen only in the rearview mirror, something that accompanied whatever we were doing in life. Those of us who pursue happiness as a goal in life discover that it is always just around the corner, just ahead of us. It seems that when we are in this mode we are just a mile away from where we really want to be. I call it the "almost but not quite syndrome". Have you been there? What St. Augustine said is so true, "Our hearts will find no rest until they find their rest in God." To me this says that we will almost reach our destination but will fall short unless we rest everything in God. continued on p.2 LENTEN WORSHIP: Wed, March 7 @ 5:30pm YIELD Wed, March 14 @ 5:30pm ONE WAY Wed, March 21 @ 5:30pm NO OUTLET (There will not be any meals provided during Lent.)
CONTINUED from p.1 So as we journey to the cross through our Lenten Series "The Signs of Lent" and our Sunday worship let us turn our focus on the journey that our Lord went on to the cross. Let this be a time of focusing truly on God and to turn our thinking around. Use this time as a time of rediscovering the great and marvelous things that God has done in your life since He called you by name in Baptism. Let this be a time that we recognize what our Lord has done out of love for each of us. Let us realize His willingness to care and love us. Lent is a time of refocusing and growing toward God. In His Service, Pastor Ron Windecker HOLY WEEK Sched ule PALM/PASSION SUNDAY, MARCH 25 @ 8AM & 10:30AM HOLY WEEK BREAKFASTS WITH DEVOTIONALS: March 26 @ 7am at Holy Ghost (Zion having devotion) March 27 @ 7am at Zion (Bethany having devotion) March 28 @ 7am at Bethany (Holy Ghost having devotion) MAUNDY THURSDAY, March 29 @ 6:00pm GOOD FRIDAY, March 30 @ 6:00pm (German & English) EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 1 Easter Sunrise Vigil on Cross Mountain @ 6:30am Easter Services @ 8am & 10:30am Breakfast @ 7:15-10am Flowering of the Cross @ 9:30am P.2
Don t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed on March 10! Monthly Special Concern: Zion Youth Camp Scholarships Our youth can choose from a variety of Lutheran camp experiences provided by our Cross Trails Ministry at Camps Chrysalis and/or Ebert, at costs ranging from $275 $675, depending on the program chosen. Your generous response is appreciated! Don't forget to direct your 2017 Thrivent Choice Dollars by March 31, 2018. Either call 800-847-4836 or log onto your account at www.thrivent.com. Don t forget all women are invited to attend the monthly Bible study the first Thursday of the month at 1:30pm in the Sewing Room. P.3
Flowers are needed for the Flowering of the Cross on Easter morning at 9:30am. Everyone is invited to bring flowers to decorate the cross. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall at 9:00am for breakfast, have Sunday School opening at 9:15am, then go outside to flower the cross. Reported that Bernard Scrogin and Helen Rode are Zion s delegates attending the Synod Assembly in May, along with Pastor Ron. Council will provide the breakfast Easter Sunday. Serving begins at 7:15am. Phase one of the Bracher Parsonage Renovation is almost complete. New flooring will be installed soon. Alvin A. Stotz passed away on February 12, 2018 at the age of 95. Services for Mr. Stotz will be Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 11:00am in Zion Lutheran Church with interment to follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, March 2, 2018 from 4pm 6pm in Fredericksburg Funeral Home. He will also lie in state in the Atrium of Zion from 10am-11am on Saturday, March 3, 2018. P.4 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. -John 3:16
PLASTIC EASTER EGGS FILLED WITH WRAPPED CANDY ARE STILL NEEDED. PLEASE PLACE THEM IN THE WAGON IN THE ATRI- P.5
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO-DATE: $61,851 MONTHLY CONCERN UPDATES: Sutherland Springs $736 THANK YOU Note Dear Zion Friends: Thank you for the calls, cards and emails during my recovery from major surgery the past three weeks. It was comforting to know that you had me in your prayers. Your friend in Christ, Gary McVey We will need volunteers for VBS June 10 15. The exact time is not set yet but probably between 8am and 3:30pm. Check your calendar and call the office at 997-2195 if you can help out. Rhonda Behrends will be starting a ukulele class soon. You must be in second grade or older to join. If you are interested, talk to Rhonda or Janalee Hannemann. The students will be singing on March 11 at the 10:30am service. This is their normal youth Sunday. Sunday School will continue through the summer months but as a large group. We are looking for volunteers to help out starting June 17 to give our teachers a much needed break. Talk to Janalee if you can help out! We are looking for an Adult Bible class leader. Stan Sultemeier needs a break. Pastor has some Bible Studies that can be used. Talk to Pastor Ron if you are interested and can help out. P.6
Attendance: Early Late Feb 4 52 62 Feb 11 54 67 Feb 14 (Ash Wed) 52 57 Feb 18 54 63 Feb 21 (Lenten) 37 Feb 25 41 70 General Fund Offerings: Feb 4 $ 9,424.00 Feb 11 $ 4,725.00 Feb 14 (Ash Wed) $ 842.00 Feb 18 $ 4,005.00 Feb 21 (Lenten) $ 205.00 Feb 25 $ 1,456.40 Total $ 20,657.40 Building Fund Offerings: Feb 4 $ 435.00 Feb 11 $ 20.00 Feb 18 $ 20.00 Feb 25 $ 40.00 Total $ 515.00 February s Totals Zion WELCA $ 301.00 Gen Fund Rev & Exp for JAN: Gen Fund Revenue Total $ 20,809.28 Gen Fund Expense Total $ 25,944.78 2018 Year-to-Date thru JAN: Revenue/Expense $ (5,135.50) From Reserve/Conting. $ 0.00 Remaining Rev/Deficit $ (5,135.50) CelesteCare 2230 N Llano: LOUISE THOMAS Knopp Healthcare & Rehab 1208 N Llano: LUCYLLE KUNZE DWIGHT WEIRICH MARGARET WILKE Knopp Nursing & Rehab 202 Billie Dr: ARTHUR REEH, JR Windcrest 210 W Windcrest: DAVE MAYER FBG Nursing 1117 S Adams: ROSALEE HEIMANN HARRIET SCHLAUDT GENEVA SCHWARTZ P.7
Zion Lutheran Church (830) 997-2195 www.zion-lutheran.com 426 W. Main Street (church location) 415 W. AUSTIN ST ( ) Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Bulk Rate US Postage Non-Profit Organization Fredericksburg, TX 78624 Permit #103 SUNDAY WORSHIP 8AM & 10:30AM Worship Service with Communion 9:15am Sunday School Opening 9:30am Sunday School 9:30am Adult Bible Study Office Hours Monday Friday 8am 3pm Pastor Ron Windecker prwzion@gmail.com Pastor s Office Hours: Mon & Wed 9am noon Parsonage Phone: 997-4264 Christi Fowler, Administrator 997-2195 zionfbg@gmail.com Council Members President, Wilfred Crenwelge Vice President, Jim O Neal Treasurer, Harold Lotz Secretary, Florence Rogers Mark Becker Virginia Soell Perry Strackbein