Pool Party Registration Closed

Registration for the Pool party on Sunday is now closed, but those who are registered can still pay registration & meal costs online (otherwise, bring your payment on Sunday) and print the required  waiver form.

Zion Day Camp Registration

ZDC is a summer program available for any children who have just finished Kindergarten, through 12 years old, and is open weekdays from 6:30am until 6pm June 21-August 24.

Please be sure to register as soon as possible, so that we can hire enough staff members to ensure a safe and enjoyable summer for all of the children.

This is separate from the one-week Vacation Bible School program that runs June 8-12 only. Registration packets can be printed here and are available at the information desk.

Check the ZDC page for more information!

Change for Children

Each year, our Sunday school students are part of a “Change for Children” Lenten service project. Change for Children encourages our students to help other children in need, locally and globally. This year, proceeds will be benefiting the families and children at Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Recently, a child from our congregation was rushed from Buffalo Hospital to Children’s, and after her recovery the family shared their need for everyday necessities while staying with their child at the hospital. They had arrived at the hospital with only the clothes on their back, and not able to leave for several days while their child was in the PICU. With the input of this family and staff at Children’s Hospital, we have compiled a long list of items that would be very helpful to these families in their time of need.

All children in Zion’s Sunday school program are encouraged to bring in change for this project during Lent, of course we will also accept paper currency :) . Our goal this year is to raise $1200 for items as gas cards, toiletries, parking passes, and fast food vouchers. Any extra proceeds will be used to purchase toys, and books for the patients at Children’s Minneapolis.

Each week an incentive activity is planned to help remind and encourage the students to get involved in this years Lenten service project.

  • February 28: Change for Children kick off in sanctuary. Please attend worship services to better understand this years Change for Children mission, and the use of funds raised in our Lenten project.
  • March 7: Bring your Change for Children donation and participate in Backwards Day … wear your clothes backwards!
  • March 14: Bring your Change for Children donation and participate in Crazy Hair Day … make your hair as crazy as ever!
  • March 21: Bring your Change for Children donation and participate in Pajama Day … get right out of bed and join us!
  • March 28: Bring your Change for Children donation and participate in “Sunday Best Dress” … children sing in service.

Please contact Holly or Roxie with with any questions you may have about Change for Children.

2nd to 5th Grade Bible Camp

Get your bags packed, your bug spray applied, your sunscreen slathered on, and your Bible ready because Zion is going to summer camp again this year!

Zion 2nd – 5th graders will be attending Shores of St. Andrew in New London, MN, June 20-25, 2010 for a great week of camp. To make sure that everyone has a chance to register, ask questions and get the info, there will be an information meeting students and their parents on Wednesday, March 10, at 6pm in the Library. Please make every effort to attend this meeting, for this will be the only meeting to distribute info! This will also be your first chance to register students.

As of this post, there are only 10 spots open for girls and 15 open for boys …  To make sure that your student will have a space for camp, be ready to pay a $100/student deposit at the meeting. We will be able to work with you on payment arrangements, if needed.

If you have any questions beforehand, please contact Roxie Otten or Myron Crawford at Zion.

March Sunday School Schedule

  • Sunday March 7: Sunday School (5th-6th Grapple)*
  • Sunday March 14: Sunday School (4th Grapple) (5th-6th classroom)*
  • Sunday March 21: Sunday School (5th-6th grapple)*
  • Sunday March 28, Palm Sunday: Sunday School children through grade 4 sing in church during the hour that they usually attend class.

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

Change for Children

This Lent, Sunday school students are raising Money for Minneapolis Children’s Hospital. When children are admitted to the hospital, it sometimes happens very quickly and parents are left an hour from home and without personal care items while they stay with their sick child. Our gift will help provide things that the families need most. Bring your change on

  • 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.

March Kids’ Club Schedule

  • Wednesdays March 3, 13, 17, 24: Kid’s Club
  • Wednesday, March 31: No Kids’ Club (Spring Break)

Kids’ Club has several opportunities for you to be involved! If you’d like to volunteer once or several times, contact Roxie.

Vacation Bible School 2010

Cat from Egypt VBSGet your passports ready, we are headed for Egypt! This year’s VBS is “Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace,” and we are in for an amazing adventure. Travel us through Egyptian time, following Joseph’s amazing and exciting adventures.

VBS will be held at Zion June 14-18, from 9am-12pm, for children ages 3-12. Online registration for this adventure begins March 15, but the excitement is already building on our facebook page.

If you are an adult, a teen or a middle schooler, and would like to volunteer you time in Egypt, please contact Holly, as there are many positions in need of filling.

Zion Day Camp 2010

Zion Day Camp is summer school age daycare for elementary children, and is open weekdays throughout summer from 6:30am until 6:30pm.

Registration information for ZDC 2010 will be available sometime in March.

Club 456 Pool Party

Students in grades 4, 5 & 6 are invited to a Pool Party on Sunday, March 14. Meet at Zion at noon and ride a bus to Otsego Waterpark for swimming from 1-4pm.

Please sign up online by Thursday, March 11. The cost is $15 including swim pass and bus, plus optional $4.05 for lunch on the way.

This event will include sufficient Zion adult supervision for competent swimmers (1:4 ratio). If your child is not a competent swimmer, please contact Holly or Roxie before signing them up.

Young Sisters in Christ

by Lee Ann Goerss

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.

HOH Sisters

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

Involving Children in Lent

Adapted from the winter issue of Thrivent Magazine

As adults, we understand Lent as a time to prepare our minds and our hearts for the death and resurrection of Jesus – a time to look inward and think about what we’re doing with the gift that’s been given to us. But death and resurrection are mysterious topics. So how can we involve children in the rituals of the season?

The winter issue of Thrivent Magazine gives some simple ideas of things you can do at home to build on the lessons they’re learning in Sunday school and Lenten services.

Sweet Idea

Kimberly Ingalls Reese, author of Celebrate Jesus! At Easter and mother of three children, shares an idea for edible enjoyment. In her book there’s a poem called “God’s Jelly Bean Rainbow,” and she says that kids have a great time putting together bags with different colored jelly beans – white is for holiness; red is for the blood He shed, for example – and giving them out to friends. “Then families can pray that the people who received the bags understand God’s love for them,” she says.

Pray for Others

Switch up the usual “God is great, God is good” prayer before a family meal with a special Lenten prayer. You’ll be creating a new tradition, and the message will start to sink in for kids after a few years. Debbie Trafton O’Neal, author of Before and After Easter: Activities and Ideas – Lent to Pentecost suggests a poster board on the fridge to draw or write things your family is thankful for, and incorporating them into prayers, as well as saving Christmas cards people sent the previous year and including one of those families each night.

To read the full article with additional suggestions for involving children with Lenten events, go to Thrivent.com/magazine.

To learn more about Thrivent Financial and its products call Mark Worner at 763.682.6011.

Sunday School Singing

Sunday school children up to 4th grade will sing in worship on Sunday February 28. This is a Sanctuary Sunday which means all children are encouraged to worship with their families. The children have been practicing their songs during opening at Sunday School, and we need all of their voices. Please plan to worship together on that morning.

Club 456 Tubing Photos

Approximately 60 kids and 10 adults hit the hills of Elm Creek Park Reserve to go tubing on Sunday evening, January 17. The weather was amazing and it was a blast!

More pics posted on the facebook page.

February Kids’ Club Schedule

  • Wednesday 2/3: Kids’ Club meets
  • Wednesday 2/10: Kids’ Club meets
  • Wednesday 2/17: Kids’ Club meets

Kids’ Club has several opportunities for you to be involved! If you’d like to volunteer once or several times, contact Roxie.

February Sunday School Schedule

  • Sunday 2/7: Sunday School (5th-6th Grapple)
  • Sunday 2/14: Sunday School (4th Grapple, 5th & 6th classroom)
  • Sunday 2/21: Sunday School (5th-6th grapple)
  • Sunday 2/28: Sanctuary Sunday—You are encouraged to attend church as a family. Sunday School children through grade 4 sing in church during the hour that they usually attend class.

A Note from Holly and Roxie

We want to thank all of the volunteers who help with the Children’s Ministries. We could never take 60 kids tubing (not safely anyway), nor could we teach approximately 460 Sunday School children or 350 Vacation Bible School children to love and serve the Lord without every one of you. You who are willing to volunteer your time. We lead busy lives and time is such a precious commodity. We (along with the kids whose hearts you touch) want you to know that your kindness does not go unnoticed. We want to thank you so much for giving of your time.

Roxie Otten & Holly Husom

Co-Directors of Christian Education

Wanna Hang Out With Us?

Volunteers are needed to to spend time with 2nd-6th graders who are playing board games, doing homework, and/or watching a movie on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm while their parents are in choir, adult education, or other programs. Volunteers must be high school or adult. Please contact Roxie if you might be interested in helping either one time or on a regular basis.

January Kids’ Club Schedule

  • Wednesday, January 6: Kid’s Club
  • Wednesday, January 13: Kids’ Club
  • Wednesday, January 20: Kid’s Club
  • Wednesday, January 27: Kids’ Club

Kids’ Club has several opportunities for you to be involved! If you’d like to volunteer once or several times, contact Roxie.

January Sunday School Schedule

  • Sunday 1/3: No scheduled classes
  • Sunday 1/10: Sunday School (5th-6th Grapple)
  • Sunday 1/17: Sunday School (5th-6th classroom)
  • Sunday 1/24: Sanctuary Sunday, No scheduled classes
  • Sunday 1/31: Sunday School (5th-6th classroom)