• March 7th … and dress backwards
• March 14th … and wear crazy hair
• March 21st … and wear Pajamas to church
• March 28th … and dress your best!

On March 14, there will be a special noisy offering in worship so that the congregation can help the Sunday School children reach their goal of $1200.

Dear folks at Zion,

Thanks again for your generous gift in December. It arrived safely and has been put to work. In fact we trust that by now there is good fruit coming from the great training we were able to offer in December.

The training was for four of our Lutheran Hospitals, scattered around the country, rejuvenating their Hospice teams. We had a Chaplain, Nurse, and Doctor from each site. Our ELCT team of 4 all pitched in to make it a worthwhile time, and people left with great enthusiasm.

Part of these next 3 months will be visiting those places. Karatu is a mere 2 hours away and will be easy. But Lugala is 2 days each way. Bulongwa is also 2 days but, we could visit Ilula on the way/way back. It is always the time in follow up that is a tough challenge. Meanwhile, for sick people in their communities, it is a great blessing.

Thanks again.

Kristopher Hartwig

In January, volunteers completed over 15 fleece blankets for the annual sale. February projects include Shoulder Snuggies Tuesday mornings and beading on Wednesday evenings.

Harvest of Hands relies on volunteers like you produce the crafts that are sold at the annual November festival.

I love to share my passion for art with students. I find myself learning more from them and am always inspired by their imagination. Their creative spirits give witness to God, our Creator; and, Artist Extraordinaire.

I’m also thankful for the commitment and devotion of the Harvest of Hands crew, who raise thousands of dollars annually to feed the hungry locally and across the globe. When I volunteered to teach Sunday School this year, it was on the top of my list to involve my students in this mission.

So, early in the fall, I talked to my fifth and sixth grade girls about designing a project for the Silent Auction. They were very enthusiastic about their chance to “make a difference”. We partnered up with our “Sister” class at the 10:30 service. And, with a mixture of art and faith they created a colorful original entitled “Sisters in Christ”.

I am proud of the heartfelt gift of these “young” Sisters in Christ; and, I look forward to a continuing connection between Sunday School students and Harvest of Hands.

Sunday school students with their work of art for Harvest of Hands

As a pastor, one of the things I have to work at a lot is communication. In my daily work what I have to do to be effective is communicate well, so I really like it when I come across a saying or a word that communicates well. The concept of a ’sweet spot’ communicates well. If you have ever played in band or orchestra and you can remember what it felt like the first time you hit just the right note at just the right time, you know what it is like to hit a sweet spot. If you have sung in a choir, hit a ball, or dove off a high diving board for the first time you have a basic recollection of what it means to have a ’sweet spot’ experience.

I recall when I first began playing tennis. It was a frustrating experience. Then it seemed that one day out of the blue I hit the ball in just the right spot and the ball flew effortlessly off the racket. For the first time I knew what it meant to hit the sweet spot. I can also recall the moment when I broke up a fight and in doing so I was facing someone I was very much afraid of and all time seemed to stand still in that moment.

The ’sweet spot’ is not a term that just communicates, it connects us with moments in time that say to us, I can do this! It is an experience that says to us, if I did it once I can do this again. It connects us with experiences that build the confidence, hope and joy that if we did it once then we can do it again.

What is the church, if not God’s ’sweet spot’? God’s church is the invitation God gives us to invite others to experience the ’sweet spot’ of God. The church is where people do more than talk about God. The church communicates and connects people with the reality that we can do this. We can love people, even when they are un-lovable. We can educate children even when the systems and institutions that are in place have failed them.

As the people of God, we are challenged to do more than argue, fight, and hold onto a belief system that keeps us apart from the world. As the church, we are obligated, I mean called, to take this precious gift of God’s good news and invite people to experience the connection we are blessed to share in God.

I am so thankful that the person who taught me how to play tennis did nog give up on me. I am thankful that his confidence did not begin with my ability but with the trust and hope that I would eventually get it; I would eventually experience the ’sweet spot’.

My prayer for our entire church is that we will faithfully and joyfully connect people with their sweet spot in God.

Pastor Kelly Chatman

What is happening at Zion? How are we doing? When are we going to get on track again? Are these some questions that you have asked of others or have had other members ask you? Probably! Yes, the economy has been difficult on many of us. Yes it has been a couple of difficult years. Or has it?

Looking back, I’m not sure we ever really got off track. God has blessed us over and over and continues to do his good works through us. I see our congregation taking giant steps forward in our ministries and mission work. We are actively reaching outside our walls to provide support to our local community through financial and volunteer support. Giving is growing at Zion. The many members involved in providing the various support through time, talent and financial support are truly being blessed.

We have provided support to the Buffalo Food Shelf, LoveINC, Rivers of Hope, Faith in Action, Timber Bay, and others. We have continued to reach outside of Buffalo with our support to Redeemer Lutheran in North Minneapolis. We are establishing a partnership with the Lutheran Church of Nigeria in Shelleng. Our kids raised many dollars and gave it to a Well Water Project to better people’s lives in Nigeria. Our youth provided labor support to others through their summer mission trip. We have provided support to Kelsey Mackereth, a member of our congregation committed to doing mission work in Malaysia. We again provided funds to support important Hospice care work in Tanzania and continue to provide funds to combat World Hunger. Yes we have done many things as a congregation- through these “tough times.”

Are we off track? Are these really “tough times”? I believe not: tough times are when we are thinking only of ourselves. Reaching out to share God’s possessions can only be good times.

Harvest of Hands , the annual festival and brunch organized by Zion members to benefit local and world hunger raised over $28,000 in 2009.

Funds raised through the 2009 festival will be distributed through the Buffalo Food Shelf and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.  A larger share will go to the Buffalo Food Shelf to help people in need in our own community due to the economic situation.

• The Buffalo Food Shelf will receive quarterly donations of $4,500.
• $10,000 will go to ELCA World Hunger, designated to help victims of the January 12 earthquake in Haiti.
• $150 has already been given to the Buffalo Food Shelf Christmas Meals project in December.

February Schedule and Projects

The morning craft group meets from 9-11am on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday in the Wilderness Room. February dates are the 9th and 23rd. Projects will include fleece blankets & “Snuggy” bed jackets.

The evening craft group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday in the Wilderness Room. On February 10 the group meets at the usual 7pm time. On February 24 the group meets at 7:15pm after Lenten worship. Projects will include beading & ornaments.

Share a New Craft

Do you have a special craft, talent, or skill that you like to do?  Would you like to share that with our group?  If so, please contact Joy at 763-658-6124.  Participants enjoy trying new ideas and crafts.  Last year volunteers learned how to make stained glass projects, crochet, and knit.

Consider joining the Harvest of Hands crew for a few hours of fun and friendship.  They have a great time working on projects all through the year and would enjoy your company.  If you have any questions or need supplies, please contact Joy.

View or print the fundraising guidelines.

ELCA Disaster Response is already working through long-standing partnerships on the ground to provide emergency food, water, shelter and medical supplies to the people of Haiti. Your prayers and  generous gifts will make a life-saving difference.

If you would like your financial contribution reflected in your Zion giving statement:

• Make your check out to Zion
• Designate “Haiti” on the envelope and memo line
• If you give cash, designate “Haiti” on the envelope
• Zion will combine these gifts and send one check to ELCA Disaster Response.

Additional resources:

• ELCA Disaster Response online donation page
• January 13 message from Bishop Hanson
• Thrivent Million Dollar Challenge
• Lutheran World Relief Text to Give

• To give online visit www.thrivent.com/helpinghaiti .
• To mail a check make it payable one of the listed Lutheran relief agencies, write “Helping Haiti” in the memo, and mail it to Thrivent at 4321 N. Ballard Road, Appleton, WI 54919.

Thrivent Financial will add $1 to every $2 its members donate, up to a total Thrivent Financial contribution of $1 million. That means a potential of $3 million or more to support relief efforts: $2 million + from its members and $1 million added by Thrivent Financial.

Some of us see what’s around us and others really see the big picture of God’s creation. Zion and the Buffalo community are fortunate to have the artistic talents of Howard Burgdorf in our midst. His eye for color, design, and detail have made many spaces come to life in new ways.

Howard Burgdorf with one of the Marysville pictures he donated to the 2009 Harvest of Hands silent auction.

After growing up in the Chicago area Howard went to Bethany College (Mankato) and the University of Illinois-Urbana to study graphic arts. He’s used his creative eye to design many business publications and corporate reports through his years of studio work at the University Press in Illinois and at graphic arts studios in the Twin Cities. Imagine doing lettering for business reports by hand, one letter at a time, instead of selecting a font style and size on your computer. Imagine doing color checks in the middle of the night with printing companies to make sure every color was done correctly. Graphic arts have changed in the past years and so has Howard’s array of art.

Howard’s retirement to Buffalo meant a whole new vision. The old barns and buildings around the area, including the Marysville Church, became a focus of his art. Zion’s Harvest of Hands event is the recipient of an annual painting done by Howard for the silent auction. “Painting ‘Marysville’ for Harvest of Hands has gotten to be a tradition for me. In a small way I want to continue its 107 year witness.”

Howard also uses global trips and interest in all kinds of art to expand his “big picture” to watercolor, acrylics, chalk, sketching, sculpture, and photography. While other people take vacations to see the world at a glance, Howard sees the everyday scenes and turns them into amazing sketches: ones that are appreciated even when language is a barrier.

Howard’s paintings in watercolor, acrylic, and chalk have become favorites at the silent auction each year and even though the building doesn’t change, the paintings are unique each year. In a few months, we’ll see what Howard’s “big picture” of Marysville brings for 2010.

Marilu Thomas, Executive Director, Redeemer Center for Life

Hello Zion Lutheran! I have a very warm place in my heart for Zion (especially important in a Minnesota winter!). I have witnessed Zion’s love of Christ lives in the world through generous and faithful people like David Nerothin who serves on our Redeemer Center For Life board, Rick and Deb Johnson who have hosted us at Zion, Pastor Judy who preached at Redeemer, the new stair construction through Dave and Doug Schmidt, and the many Zion members who have volunteered and given to the Christmas Store and Block Party.

So, shouldn’t we get to know each other? I’ll tell you a little bit about myself and when we meet you can tell me about yourself. Deal?

Although my Dad was from ‘the range’ in Minnesota, Atlanta, Georgia was my home for the first 24 years, until I met and married my husband, Stuart. We both worked for the Coca-Cola Company then and he was posted to Ecuador. After that, we lived in five Latin American countries where both of our daughters were born. Our daughter Kristin, 25, was married to fellow Valparaiso graduate Caleb Sancken at Redeemer and they have a four-month old daughter, Lucy. Callie, our younger daughter, graduated from St. Olaf last year and works in Washington D.C. with the Lutheran Volunteer Corp. Sprinkled through my work history are gigs in advertising, magazine editing, middle-school teaching, management, health and wellness ministries, and peer ministry training. Last year, I graduated from the dual degree program at Luther Seminary/Augsburg College with a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Divinity.

I started at Redeemer Center for Life the day of the big Block Party in 2008—no better way to get into the swing of things. Redeemer Center for Life is the 501 C (3) non-profit started by Redeemer Lutheran Church a decade ago and we exist to respond to the Harrison Neighborhood in terms of youth development, housing and jobs. An eclectic mix of cultures and people, the Harrison area has historically been the domain of the newly arrived and disenfranchised of the city. Located in lower North Minneapolis, it is comprised of 75% people of color and 25% who speak a language other than English at home. It is also one of the most underserved areas in Minneapolis, where 63% of the children live in poverty.

What do I love about working at Redeemer? The pulse of the neighborhood and the connection of the people. When I first arrived at RCFL, one of the staff members had me make my first (and I would suspect only…) Rap CD about my identity and call in the world. That’s how we are counter cultural at RCFL—we challenge the current culture by recreating it with a Christian bent. There may be ‘poverty of the pocket book’ in Harrison, but there is a wealth of Spirit. Genuine and authentic sharing of life and material things abounds in Harrison. The Breakfast Club on Saturday mornings is a good example—people coming together to share what they think over coffee and muffins. We also have an after-school program, RAP, where youth are finding their voices and identities at the Peace Palace. They express themselves through dance, songwriting and recording, movie making, acting, artwork, and thoughtful discussions.

I know North Minneapolis may loom large in your mind as a scary place. But I want to assure you that you have friends in those neighborhoods who are a part of your life at Zion. Come and visit. We’ll be there to welcome you and help you get to know our part of the ‘hood. It might just change your mind about race and culture and being a community. As they say, I’ll leave the light on.

Marilu J. Thomas

Executive Director, Redeemer Center for Life

PS – if you missed the “Refreshments with Redeemer” evening at Zion last August, you can see video of Marilu talking about the Redeemer Center for Life on our YouTube channel.

If you have any ideas for crafts, we would love to hear your ideas. If you would like to work on crafts at home and need supplies, please contact a committee member (stop by Wednesday night or get contact information from the church office).

The Harvest of Hands Committee wishes you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed 2010 and looks forward to working with you in the new year.

You can contribute to this ministry by joining the quilting group at Zion any Monday morning, or donating sheets to be used for quilt backs. Sheets can be twin-sized or larger, and new or gently used.

Kristopher wrote, “It’s very, very good news from our side that once again Zion is choosing to share with our work in Tanzania. It’s been a lean year for donations, as you might imagine. We would love to have the funds for training for four of our hospitals that have minimal support for hospice work—Karatu, Bulongwa, Ilula, and Lugala.”

This gift is another example of Zion’s far-reaching ministry. Thanks to all who contribute to our building fund and have participated in this generosity.

Harvest of Hands Festival is an annual festival and brunch organized by Zion members to benefit local and world hunger through the Buffalo Food Shelf and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.

Proceeds from the November sale were $11,442.45. Thrivent and another anonymous donor are each providing an additional $1,000 in matching funds.   This year an anonymous donor is providing a matching gift for the total amount raised, bringing the total this year to an amazing $26,884.90.  Specific designations of these funds have not been determined yet.

The Harvest of Hand Committee would like to personally, thank each of you, but that is not possible.  So, as you read this, please hear their voice: “Thank you for your contribution to such a worthy cause.  It is greatly appreciated.”

Planning for the next festival has begun, and the committee is already looking for projects and volunteers for 2010. Please join other volunteers on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 9am or the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the Wilderness Room. The friendships, the satisfaction of a good job done, and the contribution to a needy and worthwhile cause are very rewarding.  The kickoff meeting for 2010 will be Wednesday, January 13 at 7pm.

Contact Joy at 763.300.4542 with any questions about Harvest of Hands.