Why Lutherans Do What We Do

In the Fall 2009 issue of Thrivent Magazine, Gretchen Roberts asks “How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb?” The answer is “None. Lutherans don’t believe in change.” The joke makes us chuckle because we see ourselves in it, however on the outskirts of actual truth it may be. It’s not that we’re inflexible when it comes to change. It’s just that we put our hope in someone who does not change – God. His love, His grace and His word are eternal.

She goes on to shed a humorous light on 10 things that help make us Lutherans a unique bunch.

Go to the Thrivent Magazine website to find out why Lutherans:

  1. Sit in the back of the church.
  2. Reprint the entire worship service in a bulletin when we have hymnals.
  3. Consider our main form of socialization the potluck (with mandatory Jell-O®).
  4. Consider it a badge of honor to show as little emotion as possible.
  5. Approach the church’s spending with a careful eye, but often give anonymously to those in need.
  6. Live our faith all day and all week, even in our work.
  7. Avoid saying hello to new people in church.
  8. Volunteer endlessly even though we believe we’re saved by grace alone.
  9. Pass the peace when secretly we feel that shaking hands and/or hugging our neighbor in church is too intimate.
  10. Baptize babies.

Time to Sign Up for Choirs

Make this a great year by adding your tunes to a choir. Register online for  children & youth choirs, both vocal and handbells.

Parents, there’s room for you, too. Find a place in the Senior Choir or in Joyful Ringers. All are welcome! Child care is available on Wednesdays during rehearsals.

Call any of the directors with questions about choirs. We’ll see you soon!

Details about all choirs, handbell choirs, praise bands, and other musical opportunities are listed on the Music Ministry webpage.

Even before the printed newsletter gets to your door, there has been at least one change:

  • Senior Choir will NOT have a picnic on September 2.  Rehearsals start September 9

Guest Speaker from Timber Bay

Aaron Gullings was our guest speaker on Sunday morning (August 23) and told us how he got involved with Timber Bay and how the program serves local youth.

In September, we are serving meals to participants of the Timber Bay Program.

more about “Facebook | Videos Posted by Zion Luth…“, posted with vodpod

Forgive the Inexcusable

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life – to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son – how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it means to refuse God’s mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.”

-C.S. Lewis

Check Out These Videos

New this week… did you see them yet?

  • The Ice Cream Social at Marysville earlier this week
  • An overview of the Senior High Mission Trip to Wind River Wyoming last week
  • Pastor Terri Harris from Love INC, speaking at coffee fellowship time last Sunday
  • And finally a shameless plug for one of our students; Tommy Polzine just entered this video in a scholarship contest

Thank You

  • To all those who are helping maintain the gardens at Zion this summer.
  • To those who have already volunteered in the Sunday School and Confirmation programs for the coming school year.
  • To those that help prepare the bulletins each week and newsletters each month.
  • To those that have helped with food and other needs for Summer 2nd Wednesdays this summer.
  • To those that helped make the Marysville Ice Cream social such a success (photos).

Prayer, Praise and All That Jazz

The Zionaires Seniors’ Group continues to offer a variety of fellowship, fun, and educational gatherings for retirees and senior citizens at Zion.

The June 23 gathering of the Zionaires Seniors’ Group will include a short program and a picnic on the church grounds.

  • At 10:30 Pastor Judy will lead a discussion in the Library on “Prayer, Praise and All That Jazz” which will lead to some fun conversation about the ways we worship.
  • Brats, chips, and drinks will be provided, and attendees can bring other pot luck items (salads, desserts).

In Coming months:

  • Fishing on Lake Pulaski (tentative date is July 21)
  • Visit to the Generations exhibit at the MN Historical Society in St Paul in August
  • An educational presentation at Zion on organic living in September
  • Visit to the Science Museum for the Titanic exhibit and IMAX show in October

Younger ’seniors’ and early retirees are especially encouraged to join in these activities.

If you have any questions about any of these events or have suggestions for future activities, please call Sandy or Roger at 763.682.2979

Join Hands Day

Join Hands Day is sponsored by America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies, including Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. It is designed to generate awareness about the impact of grassroots volunteerism.

It also encourages youth and adults to come together to improve their communities while building lasting friendships across generations.

$500.00 of Join Hands Day seed money is available through the Thrivent Wright County Board. Money can be used to purchase supplies or refreshments for an activity, or Thrivent promotional items.

Activities can be held anytime between April 1st – June 30th. There is more information on the Thrivent.com or JoinHandsDay.org.

When you begin planning your activity, you need to complete and submit a “Request for Funding Form” to the Thrivent Wright County Leadership Board before that activity date. You can ask any of the Thrivent Zion Congregational Coordinators for this form or print it from Thrivent.com.

Some activity ideas are:

  • Pot flowers in planters with seniors at a senior living facility
  • Volunteer at an animal shelter
  • Go grocery shopping for seniors who live alone
  • Write letters to Armed Forces soldiers

If you have any questions about Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its products, please call Mark Worner at 763.682.6011

Litchfield Area Male Chorus at St John’s Lutheran

St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo invites you to a concert performance of the Litchfield Area Male Chorus on Friday, April 24th at 7:00 pm.  It will be held in the new Family Life Center.  Refreshments will be served at intermission and there will be a free-will offering taken.  Reservations are not needed.  St. John’s is located at 302 2nd Street NE in Buffalo.  For more information call 763.682.1883 or email info@stjohnsbuffalo.org.

Always Wanted to Try Handbells?

Musical friends, family members…people who say  “I’ve always wanted to try playing bells…” are all invited to join the Family Ring bell choir. The music is manageable to any music reader (Grade 4-adult). If needed, your notes can be circled to make music reading easier. Parents and children are welcome to come together but having another family member in the group is not a necessity.

This group is NOT limited to people already in a bell choir, but all bell folks are welcome!

  1. Call Sherilyn (682-1245 ext. 307 or 682-1954) to sign up so that parts can be assigned
  2. Come to at Least 2 of these Rehearsals:
    • Sunday, April 5  9:30-10:30am
    • Wednesday, April 8 5:30-6:00pm
    • Wednesday, 15 5:30-6:00pm
  3. Ring in worship on Sunday, April 19 at the 10:30 worship.

What’s For Supper: February

February 4:  Sub Sandwich
February 11:  Chicken Kiev
February 18:  Tacos
February 25:  Soup & Chili

Revelation 21:6 Word Search

Word Search Puzzle

Words are in a straight line in all directions

D I A S P R I N G I
O M E G A G I V E S
N O I T A L E V E R
E B E G I N N I N G
N D R E T A W I L L
E N D Y T S R I H T
H A L P H A F R O M
T N R S V E G I F T

Word List

REVELATION BEGINNING THIRSTY SPRING WATER OMEGA ALPHA WILL THEN SAID NRSV LIFE GIVE GIFT FROM DONE END AND TO OF IS AM

(Revelation 21:6) Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. (NRSV)

from www.geocities.com/lectionarypuzzles/
free to distribute for free with this notice

Bulletin Insert Announcements

October 12 Announcements

October 5 Announcements

September 28 Announcements

Philippians 4 Crossword Puzzle

The puzzle from page 18 of the October newsletter can be found at The Word Puzzles

September 21 Announcements

September 14 Announcements

September 7 Announcements