At a recent council meeting, Pastor Ted encouraged us to go out of our comfort zone to meet people from church that we don’t already know. This is difficult for some people to do, including me, but I decided to do my best.

Since I am the liaison from the council to the New Member Committee, I had an opportunity to meet 9 families at the recent new member class, all great new additions to our Zion Family. Now I see them in church and greet them by name. More recently I tried this in the fellowship hall after worship, introducing myself and starting a conversation. I have met about 25 new Friends!

I will continue to practice Pastor Teds advice. 

I challenge you try this too!

Dave Schmidt, Council member

There are also many volunteer needs on Tuesday, March 30, when the bags will be packed and distributed at Zion. Opportunities include both daytime (remember, it’s Spring Break) and evening spots for adults, confirmation students, and families. Sign up at the information desk.

Zion is only one of thousands of congregations, corporations, schools and civic groups running local food and fund drives to help FoodShare, the largest food drive in the state to feed families and restock more than 260 food shelves across Minnesota. Part of what this means is that the food shelf will receive incentive allocations (kind of like matching dollars) for both cash donations and the pounds of food and hygiene items donated in March.

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!

Dear Food For Friends:

What a wonderful service you provide!
Thank you so much for your time and generosity in providing meals for my family.
May God Bless each of you, as he has certainly blessed us by bringing you into our lives.

Love in Christ,
A FFF recipient

Services will be at Zion on Wednesday, March 10, with visitation beginning at 10am and funeral at 11am. Lunch will be served after the funeral.

There will be additional visitation at Zion on Tuesday, March 9 from 4-8pm.

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.

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.

The Buffalo Food Shelf is located at 301 12th Ave South, 3 blocks east of Highway 55 behind Super America.

This Sunday, March 7, remember to bring in some of the items needed to fill Easter baskets that will be distributed through the Buffalo Food Shelf as part of this year’s Lenten community outreach program. Some of the items needed are boxes of potatoes and dessert mixes, and they can be dropped off in the net behind the boat in the lobby/narthex or in collection bins throughout the building. Cash donations are also accepted and will be used to purchase the needed items at wholesale prices (checks should be made out to Zion with ‘food shelf’ in the memo.

Click here for the full list of items needed

After church, grab brunch at Bryan John’s Grillworks, where from 9am-2pm they are donating 20% of the day’s brunch tickets to the Buffalo Food Shelf.

In the afternoon, stop by the Food Shelf between 2-4pm for a tour of the facility and learn how the food shelf operates. The Food Shelf is hosting an Open House as part of Minnesota FoodShare’s March Campaign.  Refreshments will be served!

Log in to: www.elca.org/townhall at 4:00 p.m. (CST) to participate:

• Watch live streaming video
• Log in to chat and post questions
• Post comments using Facebook Connect
• Tweet about the event using hashtags #ELCA #BishopHanson
• Gather friends for a viewing party

Due to the potential volume of questions, the presiding bishop may not address every question that is submitted. Questions will not be accepted in advance; no questions can be asked by phone or e-mail, and anonymous questions will not be fielded.

To learn more about Love INC, call (763) 972-6547 or go to www.loveincheartland.org.

Sunday, March 7
Third Sunday in Lent
Luke 13:1-9
Pastor Ted Preaching

Wednesday, March 10
Reading the Compass
James 1:5-6
Pastor Karri Preaching

Sunday, March 14
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
Pastor Ted Preaching

Wednesday, March 17
The Wind in Our Sails
II Corinthians 3:17-18
Pastor Karri Preaching

Sunday, March 21
Fifth Sunday in Lent
John 12:1-8
Pastor Ted Preaching

Wednesday, March 24
Charting a Course
Colossians 3:15-17
Pastor Karri Preaching

Sunday, March 28
Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28-40
Pastor Karri Preaching

Graceland meets at 7:15pm-9pm on Wed and is open to all Sr High youth.

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

• 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.

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