Like to Bake?

There are two events coming to Zion in the next weeks that will need some homemade Christmas cookies, bars, goodies and are looking fro some volunteers who’d consider helping by sharing your favorite holiday treats

Are you willing to share 2 dozen cookies/bars/goodies for one of the following events:

  • Monday, December 14 – St. Lucia Supper
  • Thursday, December 17 – Dinner for Zionares, homebound Zion members/friends, and weekday Zion volunteers

For either event, bring your special Christmas treats by 10:00am that morning or earlier in the week. Be sure to label it for “St. Lucia” or “Sr. Dinner.” We know your days are filled, but if you’re interested in helping please let Sherilyn know.

Servers are also needed for both events. Also let Sherilyn know if you’d like to volunteer setting tables, in the kitchen, or to help clean up.

Enjoy your advent days as we all prepare for Christmas: it’s coming soon!

Lost a Coat?

Found CoatsMany winter coats have already been left at Zion… if you might be missing yours, please check the coat rack between the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall.

Land of Lakes Choirboys in Waverly

The Land of Lakes Choirboys will be performing at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly during 10:30 Mass  on Sunday, December 13 and in a concert after Mass. Every one is invited to come and listen.

December Worship Schedule

starSunday, December 6
Second Sunday of Advent
Luke 3:1-6
Pastor Ted preaching

Sunday, December 13
Third Sunday of Advent
Luke 3:7-18

  • Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Craig Johnson will be preaching and presiding over the installation service for Pastor Ted Vanderpan.
  • 8:30 and 10:30 worship services will include students from preschool to grade 6 in “The First Christmas” children’s Sunday School program.

Sunday, December 20
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:39-45
Pastor Ted preaching

  • Carols, Choirs & Celebration at 8:30 & 10:30 worship services

Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve
Pastor Ted preaching

  • The 3pm and 5pm services will include a special time for the children to come forward to see Jesus’ birthday cake up close and hear a special message. Nursery care provided at both services.
  • The 11pm Candlelight service will include the Zion Christmas Choir.

Friday, December 25
Christmas Day
Worship at 10am

Sunday, December 27
First Sunday of Christmas
Luke 2:41-52

The complete preaching schedule for December will be updated here as soon it is available.

Sunday School December schedule

  • December 6: Advent lesson
  • December 13: Sunday School Children attend service with their families and sing when called forward for the Christmas Program (no Sunday school classes meet).
  • December 20: Advent / Christmas lesson
  • December 27: Everybody worship together—no scheduled Sunday School

*Watch Sunday Bulletin and Hall maps for 1st -4th pick-up locations. *

 

December Open Your Bible Challenge

Stop in the Sunday School office with your answer and to choose your prize!

Kindergarten through second grade question:

Why did the king throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire?

Third grade through sixth grade question:

Where did Jonah go when God sent him to Ninevah?

 

Kids Club December Schedule

  • December 2, 9, and 16: Kids’ Club
  • December 23: There is no Kids’ Club
  • December 30: There is no school and no Kids’ Club

Kids’ Club is a Wednesday after-school program for children in grades 1-3 with several opportunities for adults to be involved too. If you’d like to volunteer once or several times, contact Roxie.

 

Graceland December Schedule

Graceland, which meets on Wed nights from 7:15-9pm, is open to all Senior High students!

Weekly Topics:

  • December 2 – Changed
  • December 9 & 16 – Glory Revealed
  • December 23 & 30 – NO GRACELAND

Meal needed for family with new baby

This family (2 adults and now 3 young boys) would greatly appreciate warm meals.  She is recovering from a C-section and would so appreciate the help of a meal or two.  They live near Pulaski, off of Pulaski Rd.  Please send an email to FFF@zionbuffalo.org if you are interested in making and delivering a meal to them.  (It’s ok to wait until after Thanksgiving!)

11/30/09 We had an amazing response to this — thank you for your willingness to volunteer!!   Please keep watching to see if there are other families that could use a meal.  They are so appreciated!

Kaleo (Formerly Rock N U)

Kaleo will be re-forming in December and is also looking for new members.

If you are in Middle School or Senior High, and play guitar, piano, drums or can sing, please come to a meeting on Tue December 8 in the youth room at 6pm.

Kaleo is looking for sound techs and video arrangers as well. Please contact Myron if you are interested.

 

Annual Meeting Summary

At the annual congregational meeting on Sunday, November 22:

  • Changes to to the constitution that were originally discussed in May 2009 were ratified
  • Changes to the bylaws were approved with one amendment
  • Roger Brenny, Devonne Kent, Sue Lyrek and Tracy Gurneau were elected to the church council
  • Lynn Pfeifer was elected to the Nominating Committee
  • Karen Mattson, Mary Mahlberg, and Jason Chalupnik (write-in) were elected as MAS Voting Members
  • Delaney Freer was elected as MAS Youth Voting Member
  • Sandy Kath-Brenny and Duane Olson were elected as Foundation Trustees
  • One motion from a member was tabled until the council can facilitate further discussion

Thanks To You

The Co-Directors of Christian Education sincerely extend their gratitude to all of the volunteers who give their time to our children. It is only possible to touch the lives of so many children because you are here. From hall hosts, teachers, shepherds, project prep helpers, and substitutes, to snack helpers, bus helpers, chaperones, and music leaders, you are a blessing to the children of Zion. Thank you for giving of yourself and of your time.

 

Confirmation Schedule for December

Weekly Topics:

  • Dec 2: Apostle’s Creed – Article One
  • Dec 9: Apostle’s Creed – Article Two
  • Dec 16: Apostle’s Creed – Article Three
  • Dec 23 & 30: NO CLASS – Winter Break

Be sure to bring your Bibles, Lutheran Handbooks and a pen each week.

Confirmation Homework

  • Statement of Faith – Due Feb 10
  • 7th Grade – Who is Jesus?
  • 8th Grade – What does it mean to be a Christian?
  • Worksheet #2 – Due December 16
  • Memory Work #2 – Due January 20

 

Senior High Service Opportunities

Throughout December, there are many chances to serve those in need.

Redeemer Christmas Store – Saturday 12/12

Help youth from the Harrison Neighborhood shop for presents for their families.

From 11/22-12/11, people are able to donate gifts for boys and men at Zion.

Some of the items asked for are new or gently used sporting equipment (i.e. basketballs, footballs, etc), wallets, tool kits, and more.

If you can assist, please drop off in the designated area in the Narthex at Zion.

Christmas Caroling – Sun 12/20 – 6pm

Come sing some carols to brighten the moods of those in Parkview, Lake Ridge and Sunrise.

The group will end up back at Zion for some refreshments after.

From Pastor Judy

From my heart, I want to thank you for the generosity of spirit that has been shared with me as I leave Zion.  I so appreciate you sharing so sincerely at this time. As I have said before, this has been a happy and blessed time for me to be your Pastor, to walk together with you and be encouraged by you. Zion will always have a very special place in my heart!  God’s continued blessings to you all!

From Pastor Ted

Adam and Jean kissed mommy good-bye when she left to go spend a week with her parents in California. As Adam and Jean walked down the corridor of the airport, they got into a profound conversation. Adam said to his little sister, “Do you think mommy will ever come back home again?” Jean quickly responded, ”I know mommy will come back again because she left her most valuable possessions at home.” Adam questioned, ”Well, what are her most valuable possessions?’ Jean quickly said, “Us.”

During the next month, most of us will do everything we can to let our loved ones know that they are our most valuable possessions. Most of us will take time to do special activities with them. We will buy and give them presents. Some of them we will call. Many we will write letters to or fly ourselves across the country to visit them in person. As Christmas comes closer, most of us, I think, will be intentional about remembering that which is most important to us, people.

But what is the most important way to show them? There is something I come back to year after year at Christmas. It is a gift that endures, a gift that transcends all the stages of life. It is the gift of knowing Christ Jesus. Beyond the satisfaction that comes from watching kids grow up; beyond their growing ability to add numbers and combine verbs and nouns, there is something far more fascinating to watch. That something is the step by step, day by day building of a living relationship between our children and Jesus Christ.

When we give them the gift of faith, faith in Jesus Christ, we have shown them the one who will love them not only today but long after we are gone. When we give the gift of faith we give them one who will help them view life as more than possessions, popularity, or power. By encouraging them to walk through life with Christ, we give them one who will help them walk down the path that brings real peace and true satisfaction. When we give the gift of faith, we can rest assured that when they face the struggles and difficulties of life (and they will) we will be able to hear them speak their own words of faith and confidence in God’s love for them. When we give the gift of faith we can rest assured that when they fail (and they will) they will be able to find strength from God to try again; that when they sin (and they will) they will find forgiveness and grace to start over.

“I bring you good news of great joy for all people, to you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10,11

The baby who was laid in the manger has come to find you and me. In the midst of all those things that preoccupy our lives and capture our attention, Christ has come to find us, to be our savior, to show us another way of living life. He is the one who brings forgiveness to the sinner, hope to the hopeless, direction to the directionless. He comes to fill our lives with joy, not just at Christmas but year round.

Pastor Ted

Advent Devotions

God PauseClear some time from your advent days for devotions and prayer as we await the coming of the Christ of Christmas.

God Pause daily devotions from Luther Seminary are short, meaningful reflections on the following Sunday’s lessons and gospel. You can read them online or have them sent to your email or reader. During Advent, God Pause devotions will be taken from “My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness,” a daily devotional produced by Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and Luther Seminary.

Scrooge in Bethlehem

Scrooge in BethlehemThe Youth Choir is celebrating Christ’s birth in music and drama with “A Christmas Carol in Bethlehem” on Sunday, December 27, during the 8:30 and 10:30 worship services.

“A Christmas Carol in Bethlehem” is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story that places Scrooge in Bethlehem at the birth of Christ. Through an inventive blend of scriptural narrative, character development and traditional English carols and hymns, it conveys with great warmth and charm the promise of salvation for all through the birth of Emmanuel, God with us.

Decorating

Volunteers are invited to help decorate the building for Christmas next Tuesday, December 1, at 9am.

Local Partners: Faith in Action

Faith in Action of Wright County provides services to help those who are elderly or disabled to maintain their independence at home.

Learn more about Faith in Action by attending a brief presentation in Fellowship Hall at about 9:30am on Sunday, December 27.