The Contact Faith. Family. Community. October 2014

The Contact
Faith. Family. Community.
October 2014
In This Edition:
Pg. 2 Prayers
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
Group Gatherings
Pg. 3 Secretary Notes
Congrats
Address Changes
Hayrack Ride
Crop Walk
Cluster 7
Service of Healing
Pg. 4 Meetings to Come
Choir Information
Women’s Retreat
Youth Group
Pg. 5 Readers & Greeters
Stepping Stones
Lutheran Living
Farmers Market
Ushers Wanted
Pg. 6 Acolytes, Ushers,
Hospitality & Altar
Soup & Pie Supper
Scholarships
Stewardship
Pg. 7 Thank You
Operation Christmas
Pg. 8 Tanzania
Financial Report
Pg. 9 Calendar
CONSECRATION SUNDAY IS COMING!!
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a
biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their
church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such
congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people
grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their
church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Our church council has again selected the Consecration
Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and
spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship
education. It is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the
giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than
on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people
like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat
people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly
as an act of discipleship. Consecration Sunday encourages
people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to
the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to
give?” During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are
asking our attendees and members to prayerfully make their
financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and
educational ministries in this community and around the world.
Every attendee and member who completes the Estimate of
Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending the 10:30 AM, one
worship service, on October 19, Consecration Sunday. We urge
people to attend who even feel strongly opposed to completing a
card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels
personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.
We will do no personal home solicitation to ask people to
complete their Estimate of Giving cards. During the Consecration
Sunday worship service, our guest leader will conduct a brief
period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making
their financial commitments as an act of worship.
We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events
through the Stewardship team and church council members. We
will make every effort to insure that all attendees and church
members have the opportunity to grow spiritually in their giving by
informing, inspiring, and committing everyone to attend
Consecration Sunday worship.
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in the
upcoming Consecration Sunday events.
Julie Frye, Zion Church Council President
PRAYERS AROUND ZION
SOWERS
“Let us pray for the whole
people of God in Christ
Jesus and for all people
according to their needs.”
Calling all sowers: We will meet on
October 20 at 6:30 PM at Jeannette
White’s. Be sure to bring your current
project with you and join the fun. If you are
interested in joining the sowers group, please contact
the church office.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE ILL:
Bill Mark
Pat Tober
Marvin & Nancy Franklin
Samuel Ploysa
Ray Stange
Pastor Don Sondrol
Art Williams
OUT - TO - LUNCH BUNCH
The next gathering will be at Guadalajara on
October 9 at 11:30 AM. Sign up is available
on the nursery bulletin board.
DISPLAY CASE
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST
A LOVED ONE:


Bonnie Nicolai on the
death of her mother,
Junice Benson
Linda Maas on the death
of her mother, Dorothy
Giessregen
BIRTHDAYS &
ANNIVERSARIES
Neil Hyink
10/4
*Arlene Erickson
10/17
Carl Tiecke
10/19
Robert Herwig
10/24
*Evelyn Schauland
10/31
Neil & Jean Hyink
10/23
Charles &
Don & Shirley Stange
GROUP MEETINGS
Group 5 will meet on October 21 at
Zion at 9:30 AM. Group 6 will be
meeting on October 23 at Karen
Goodell’s house at 7:30 PM.
5
&
6
Z - BOOK CLUB
*Denotes 90+ years, **denotes
100+ years, anniversaries listed
are 50+ years.
Carol Christophersen
The theme for the next display case will be
sunflowers. Please have your sunflower
items to the church by October 6.
10/25
10/27
The next meeting will be on Monday,
November 3 at 5 PM at GeoJohnz,
downtown Muscatine. The book for
the month is Shanghai Girls by Lisa
See. This novel is about two sisters, May and Pearl,
who leave Shanghai to find new lives in 1930s L. A.
The girls’ parents arrange for them to marry "Gold
Mountain men" from L. A. When the sisters leave
China and arrive at Angel's Island, (the Ellis Island of
the West), they feel the harsh reality of leaving home.
May discovers she's pregnant and the situation
becomes even more desperate. The sisters make a
pact that no one can ever know. Come and join in the
group to find out what happens next to the sisters.
(Contact Vivien Halloran to join the Z-Book Club.)
2
NOTES FROM THE
SECRETARY:
There will be no Sunday
School on Sunday,
October 19 due to
Consecration Sunday.
Pastor Franzenburg will be
speaking at 9:15 AM on the
topic of charitable giving.
There will be a follow-up
Sauerkraut Supper Meeting
on October 1 at 5:30 PM
here at Zion.
CONGRATULATIONS:
Eric Heckman for winning
the 1st place plaque and
being a meet medalist at
the IMS Early Bird Meet.
Melissa Burzlaff for being
one of the top fresh-soph
runners in the Pleasant
Valley Cross Country
Invitational.
Matt and Shelby (Sander)
Nichols who were married
at Zion on September 20th.
Matt is the grandson of
Dick and Vivian Buster.
Nicholas Truitt, Riley
Padgett’s grandson, on his
confirmation in Ankeny in
September.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS:
Hannah Creamer
GMU P.O. Box 258
1220 First Avenue NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
HAYRACK RIDE
The annual hayrack ride will be
Saturday, October 4 at 4:30 PM at
Mark & Sarah Perisho’s (2131 Nettle
Avenue, Musc.) There’s something
for all ages to do: Hayride, games,
hot dog roast & smores, and lots of good food. Bring
your lawn chair, a dish to share, and a sweatshirt.
Help is needed for set-up and clean-up. Sign up on
the bulletin board near the nursery.
CROP WALK FOR HUNGER
October 5 at 2 PM the Crop Walk take place at the
River walk again this year. Please consider walking or
donate to a walker. The money will be matched by the
New Hope Foundation and goes to Church World
Services which helps with disasters and hunger
problems in the U.S. and around the world. 25% of
what is raised stays in Muscatine to help food
programs. For more information, call Nancy Tietge at
263-0032.
CLUSTER 7 FALL GATHERING
This year’s gathering will be October 11 at
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1226 E.
Washington St., Washington, IA. Pastor
Maureen Howard will be the Bible Study leader with
Deb Bodensteiner as the speaker. Registration is
$5/person and is at 8:30 AM. For reservations contact
Judy Venzke at djvenzke@yahoo.com or
319-653-3820. Deadline to register is October 8.
SERVICE OF HEALING
A brief order of service for healing will be held on
Sunday, October 12 following both services. All who
sense the need for God's healing in any aspect of
their lives may join in prayer for others and
themselves. Each person may come to receive a
word of blessing and prayer and the laying on of
hands and anointing with oil.
3
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
ELCA WOMEN’S FALL RETREAT
Parish Ed @ 6:30 PM -10/7
-11/4
The East Side Fall Retreat for the
Southeastern Iowa Women will be held
October 17 and 18 at the Owl’s Nest,
CA
L
E
Camp Wyoming. This event will start on
Friday night with a sack lunch for supper
then Bible Study will begin at 6:30 and 7 PM. The
registration fee is $32 per person. Please send check
or money order for the Fall Retreat to Jane Kruse,
805 S. 14th Avenue, Washington, IA, 52353. If you
have any questions, contact Jane at 319-653-2614.
Gateway Committee @
3:15 PM - 10/1
All Committee Night @
6:30 PM - 10/2
Executive Committee @
6:15 PM - 10/9
Church Council @
7:00 PM - 10/9
CHOIRS PRACTICES:
Bell Choir @ 6:15 PM -10/1
- 10/8
-10/15
-10/22
-10/29
Senior Choir @ 7 PM -10/1
-10/8
-10/15
-10/22
-10/29
MUSCATINE YOUTH GROUP
We are gearing up for the start of a communitywide high school youth group that was just a dream
only a few months ago!
The group will meet on Sunday evenings from
5-7 PM at MCSA-lower level. The target start date for
students is Sunday, October 12th. Parents are
invited to an orientation/walk through on Sunday,
October 5th -- also at MCSA.
Registration forms can be found on the bulletin
board outside the church office, or by speaking with
Kent Heckman.
Small group leaders are still needed ~ adults who
will make a commitment to be present weekly to
serve as mentors for small groups. Weekly
commitment (knowing an occasional Sunday will not
be possible) is essential for building trust with the
students who will be in the small group. The
consistency is vital. These leaders/mentors will be
responsible for building relationships with the
students, guiding and leading conversation based on
the large group lesson of the day (questions provided
by day's leader), mentoring in faith (both on and off
the topic of the day as needed), and praying with the
small group. These small group leaders/mentors
should be ones who have undergone a background
check in congregations from which they come, or be
willing to have a background check run.
Help is needed in lots of ways, so if you are
interested in any way, please let Kent Heckman know
of your interest.
4
READERS:
FAITH STEPPING STONES
Bibles to Third Graders (and any 4th Graders who
haven’t done so): The Third Grade class will begin
a review of the Bible on September 28 and October
5. They, along with their parent(s), will work on
finding specific verses in the Bible and reviewing both
the Old and New Testaments. On Sunday, October
10:30 AM
12, they will receive their Bibles as part of both
10/5 - Mark Perisho
worship services.
10/12 - Ralph Buster
Confirmation: 7th, 8th, and 9th Graders will continue
10/19 - Charlie Drumm
with classes on Wednesday evenings during the fall
10/26 - Confirmation Kids
here at Zion from 6:30-7:30 PM. 9th Graders will
affirm their faith on Reformation Sunday, October 26
GREETERS UP:
at 10:30 AM. This year, there will be three 9th
8:00 AM
Graders: Gavin Meerdink, Katie Harris, and Christa
10/5 - Keith & Mary Butcher Colony. Please remember them in your prayers.
10/12 - Tom & Susan
Burzlaff
LUTHERAN LIVING MEETING
10/19 - No 8 AM Service
You're invited to the Lutheran Living Senior Campus
10/26 - Richardson Family
Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at
10:30 AM
3:00 PM. Come and learn more about Lutheran
10/5 - Duane & Christy
Living's new expansion and re-modeling project.
Williams
Please speak with Judy Sebbert if you would like to
10/12 - Riley Padgett &
attend this meeting as Zion can have up to four
Doris Watson
members of our congregation join for the 2014 annual
10/19 - Jim & Julie Haage
10/26 - Diane Emlet &Carol meeting.
8:00 AM
10/5 - Susan Burzlaff
10/12 - Larry Prokup
10/19 - One Service
10/26 - Richard Jacobsen
Christophersen
GREETERS DOWN:
8:00 AM
10/5 - Avery & Amy Zybarth
10/12 - Jim & Julie Haage
10/19 - No 8 AM Service
10/26 - Jeff & Twyla
Subbert
10:30 AM
10/5 - Kent & Mary
Heckman
10/12 - Stan & Bev
Johnson
10/19 - Jake & Sara Evans
10/26 - Rose Marie Paul &
Sharon Pugh
FARMER’S MARKET
Zion’s Farmer’s Market will
continue through October. Bring
your surplus produce to the
church and place it on the round
table in the narthex. Anyone
interested in the produce may take it home for a
free-will donation. The money collected will go to
World Hunger and any produce that is left will be
given to MCSA.
USHERS WANTED
If you are interested in becoming an usher for either
service or would like more information on being an
usher, please contact Bill Toyne (309-791-2976) or
Heather in the church office.
5
ACOLYTES:
SOUP & PIE SUPPER
8:00 AM
10/5 - Katie Harris
10/12 - Phoebe Lawrence
& Lizzy Richardson
10/19 - No 8 AM Service
10/26 - Maddie Kokemuller
& Abigail Fowler
Tuesday, November 4 from
4:30-6:30 PM will be the
Zion Soup and Pie Supper.
This is a fundraiser to help
support Zion Youth. The menu includes:
homemade chili or chicken noodle soup, pork/ham
sandwiches, pies, and cakes. Food donations are
requested. Please check the bulletin board for a
sign-up sheet. Adults are $6, children 10 and under
are $4, 60 and up are $5. Extra soup or sandwich can
be purchased for $1.
10:30 AM
10/5 - Phillip Smith &
Destiny Williams
10/12 - Karson Cantrell &
Carson Borde
10/19 - Emma Freyermuth
& Phillip Smith
10/26 - Destiny Williams &
Karson Cantrell
USHERS:
8:00 AM
Daryl Smock, Toby
Sander, Jeff Baird, Denise
Baird
10:30 AM
Mike Batenhorst, Gary
Sebbert, Dyann Roby, Kent
Heckman, Gregg
Mandsager
ZION SCHOLARSHIPS
The Zion Lutheran Church Trust Fund is ready to
receive college scholarship applications for 2014.
Depending upon the available funds and number of
applicants, three or four scholarships ranging from
$750 to $1000 will be awarded this year. Application
Rules: 1) Applicants must have been members of
Zion for at least two years. 2) Applicants must be
full-time students at an accredited college or
university. 3) Applicants must have completed at least
one semester of post high school study at the time of
application. 4) Applicants can only receive one Zion
Lutheran Trust Fund scholarship. Applications are
available in the church office, may be requested by
email, or on Zion’s website – www.zionmuscatine.org.
Applications must be returned to the Trust Fund by
November 7, 2014.
HOSPITALITY:
STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
October 5 - Parish Ed.
October 19 - Evangelism
The Stewardship committee ask that you prayerfully
consider giving your time and talents to Zion’s Body
of Christ by reviewing the Opportunities to Serve
Card in each pew and filling out those areas of
interest where you can make a difference. Either
place them in the offering plate or take down to the
church office so that we can alert the appropriate
committee of your willingness to serve.
ALTAR GUILD:
Stacey Ramos &
Nancy Keel
6
THANK YOU:
Thank you to Judy Sebbert
for her leadership in
organizing "God's Work.
Our Hand's" Sunday
service project. We
received over 1,800 items
for MCSA as well as $583
in donations. Thanks to
everyone who helped work
the booths!
Thank you to everyone who
coordinated, worked,
donated, cooked, and
cleaned for the annual
Sauerkraut Supper. It was
an amazing event!
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
For the past few years ZLCW Group 5
has been a part of “Operation
Christmas Child,” a project of
Samaritan’s Purse. It is a lot of fun and
several children were very happy
because of our contributions to this
program. I encourage everyone to participate.
You can fill a show box with toys and other small gifts
for either a boy or girl, and the age categories are 2-4
years, 5-9 years, or 10-14 years old. A check for $7
payable to Samaritan’s Purse should be enclosed to
help cover shipping and other costs. A plastic shoe
box can also be purchased to put the items in and
then the child can save this box for storage.
Anyone that decides to participate in this program
should return their shoe box gift to Zion’s church
office by November 16. I will pick the boxes up from
the church office and will take them to a collection
center.
Thank you to Jan Pohl for
donating three of Pastor
Lief Pohl's albs (worship
robes) for assisting
ministers to use for worship! The brochures for this program are on the table
upstairs. The brochure explains how to pack your
We are grateful for the
shoe box and suggests gifts. If you have any
donation. ~Pastor Cauley
questions, please call me, Betsy Martin, at 263-8379.
We wish to thank everyone Thanks so very much. I can see the smiles now on
at Zion for all their thoughts, the children’s faces as they receive their shoe boxes.
prayers, and cards from the
passing of my mother,
Junice Benson. Blessed be
her memory!
~Bonnie & Bob Nicolai
Thank you to everyone for
your prayers, cards, and
calls after my surgery and
time of recuperation. Also,
thank you to Ruth
Starkweather for bringing
some of the altar flowers to
our home. Everything was
very much appreciated.
~Ray Stange
7
TANZANIA CHURCH BUILDING PROJECT
During the summer of 2014, the members of our companion congregation in
Tanzania, the Kihurio Parish, embarked on a fund drive to finish construction of their
main church in Kihurio. They needed over $11,500 to pay for materials like cement,
nails, and wood. Most of the labor is performed by members of the Kihurio Parish.
They were able to raise $8,500 in Tanzania. Zion was invited to provide the final
$3,000.
In 2010 Zion celebrated our 125th anniversary. Zion’s members did not only look at
the past, we looked forward - for opportunities to share the blessings that had been
showered on us. Zion’s members donated money to be gifted to the congregation in
Tanzania. Some money was sent to purchase a vehicle for the Pastor to travel to
the seven parishes in the Kihurio area. We still had $2,000 designated for Kihurio,
so in August we wired that $2000 to the diocese office of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Tanzania (ELCT) which was then delivered to Pastor Luhwa in Kihurio.
This method of money transfer is a safe and a proven process. Our synod office in
Iowa City has done it many times for other Southeast Iowa churches that have
companion congregations.
That left $1000 still needed to complete the church building project in Kihurio. On
behalf of Pastor Luhwa and our Christian sisters & brothers in Kihurio, thank you for
generously donating over $1,000.00 in the last three weeks. A check for $1000.00
will be sent to our synod office in Iowa City for transfer to Tanzania.
Please remember that our relationship with Kihurio is on-going. There will be other
future projects that Zion can assist with. Will you consider donating to the Kihurio
Parish on a regular basis? The money will be held in Zion’s account designated for
Kihurio. Please mark your check or envelope ‘for Tanzania’. Feel free to contact
Sarah Perisho (263-3445) if you have any questions or thoughts. Thank you.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Income 2014
Budgeted Income
Budgeted Expenses
Net Ordinary Income
7 /14
Actual
$199,676
204,933
(5,257)
Unbudgeted Income
Unbudgeted Expenses
Net Income
17,368
19,818
$ (7,707)
Fund Balances
Unified Fund
Building Fund
Memorial Fund
Fellowship Hall
Gateway Apartments Fund
$48,546
2,569
129,315
2,757
18,216
8
7/13 Year
Budget
200,544
200,544
-
Yr-to-Date
Difference
(868)
4,389
(5,257)
-
17,368
19,818
(7,707)
28
Sunday
8:00/10:30 AM Worship
9:15 AM Sunday School &
Adult Ed.
5 MY Group Orientation MCSA
8:00/10:30 AM Worship
9:15 AM Sunday School &
Adult Ed.
2:00 PM Crop Walk
12 3rd Grade Bibles &
Service of Healing
8:00/10:30 AM Worship
9:15 AM Sunday School &
Adult Ed.
5:00 PM MY Group - MCSA
19 Consecration Sunday
9:15 AM Adult Forum w/
Pastor Franzenburg
10:30 AM Worship
26 Reformation Sunday &
9th Grade Affirmation
8:00/10:30 AM Worship
9:15 AM Sunday School &
Adult Ed.
29
6
O c t o b e r 2014
1
6:30 PM All Committee Night
2
Thursday
6:30 AM Men's Bible Study
9:00 AM Quilting Ladies
3:15 PM Gateway Meeting
5:30 PM Sauerkraut Followup Meeting
6:15 PM Bell Choir
6:30 PM Confirmation @
Zion
7:00 PM Senior Choir
9
Wednesday
8
11:30 AM Out-to-Lunch
Bunch - Guadalajara
6:15 PM Executive Committee
7:00 PM Church Council
Tuesday
7
6:30 AM Men's Bible Study
9:00 AM Quilting Ladies
6:15 PM Bell Choir
6:30 PM Confirmation @
Zion
7:00 PM Senior Choir
16
21
22
3:00 PM Lutheran Living
Meeting
7:30 PM Group 6 - Karen
Goodell's
23
Monday
6:30 PM Parish Ed. Meeting
15
30
14
9:30 AM Group 5 - Zion
6:30 AM Men's Bible Study
9:00 AM Quilting Ladies
6:15 PM Bell Choir
6:30 PM Confirmation @
Zion
7:00 PM Senior Choir
30
13
20
29
6:30 AM Men's Bible Study
9:00 AM Quilting Ladies
6:15 PM Bell Choir
6:30 PM Confirmation @
Boonies
7:00 PM Senior Choir
6:30 PM Sowers - Jeannette
White's
28
27
6:30 AM Men's Bible Study
9:00 AM Quilting Ladies
6:15 PM Bell Choir
6:30 PM Confirmation @
Zion
7:00 PM Senior Choir
3
10
Friday
4
Saturday
4:30 PM Hayrack Ride
11
8:30 AM Cluster 7 Gathering
25
18 ELCA Women's Fall
Retreat
24
1
17 ELCA Women's Fall
Retreat
31
9
OCTOBER 2014 | KEEPING ZION CONNECTED
THE CONTACT
Zion Lutheran Church
513 Sycamore Street
Muscatine, IA 52761
563.263.5074
Visit us online at ZIONMUSCATINE.ORG
Follow us at TWITTER@ZIONMUSCATINE