The Annual Congregational Meeting of Zion Lutheran Church will be held this Sunday, November 22, following the 10:30 service (at approximately 11:30 am).

The meeting will be held in Trinity Hall. Care for children preschool and younger will be available in the nursery. School-aged children will go to the Grapple room while parents attend the meeting.

Candidates for elected positions are

4 Church Council Members to serve for 3 years:

• Roger Brenny
• Devonne (Hermosillo) Kent
• Sue Lyrek
• Tracy Gurneau

3 Nominating Committee Members. Two will serve for 2 years, and 1 to serve for 1 year:

• Lyn Pfeifer

2 Zion Foundation Trustees to serve for 3 years:

• Sandy Kath-Brenny
• Jon Holtz
• Duane Olson
• Wade Gurneau

5 Minneapolis Area Synod Voting Members, including 1 youth member and at least 3 males to serve for 2 years:

• Karen Mattson
• Mary Mahlberg
• Frannie Pearson (youth)
• Delaney Freer (youth)

All voting members are requested to attend. A voting member is defined as confirmed, communing, & contributing.

We received word yesterday that the three big boxes of personal hygiene kits which the children at Vacation Bible School put together and packed have arrived in Nigeria.  They were taken with other medical supplies by the delegation from St. Paul Reformation Lutheran last month.  These kits will be used as a part of the growing health services out of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria’s Demsa Hospital and clinics.

Thanks Zion kids! Job of sharing well done and we know well appreciated!

This year’s Christmas program will be held on Sunday, December 13 at both the 8:30 and 10:30 worship services.

There will be no scheduled Sunday school classes on December 13. Instead of missing half of the Christmas program, waiting in the hall for their singing entrance, children will sing in the script and then sit with their parents  so they will be able to enjoy the entire program.

Parents, please bring your children to worship with you on December 13; have them sit with you and enjoy the Nativity Story.

Near the end of the program, the children will be asked by “Pastor Ted” (one of the characters in the play) to “come forward for the children’s sermon.” At that point, all the kids will get up from where they are sitting, and make their way into the center aisles closest to them. We will practice this with the kids in Sunday school. From the aisles, they will sing “Go Tell it on the Mountain.”

When the program is over, the Sunday school children will follow the direction of their music leaders to make their way to the front of the Sanctuary to sing a Christmas song. When they are done singing, they will be released back to sit with their parents for the rest of the service.

The preschool to Kindergarten students will sing only the refrain of “Go Tell it On the Mountain.” The first to fourth grade children, along with the cast, will sing the entire song.

There is a recording of the songs that the children will be singing so children can practice at home (click the arrow below). Lyrics are also provided at the bottom of this post. 

Due to the changes made to the Sunday School children’s part in the program, we will not be having dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 12.

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Refrain

Go tell it on the mountain,

over the hills and ev’rywhere;

go tell it on the mountain

that Jesus Christ is born!

1 While shepherds kept their watching

o’er silent flocks by night,

behold, throughout the heavens

there shone a holy light. Refrain

3 Down in a lonely manger

the humble Christ was born;

and God sent us salvation

that blessed Christmas morn. Refrain

Text: African American spiritual, refrain; John W. Work Jr., 1872-1925, stanzas, alt.

A friend received an inheritance and gave ten percent to the church, knowing that the full amount could have been used to pay bills or seed a college fund. A small business owner gave up a bonus rather than lay off a valued employee. A pastor reduced his pay rather than risk inadequate funding for Sunday school supplies. A construction company discounted a church project rather than see the project languish on the blueprint.

These acts of generosity have been committed by Zion members in typical Lutheran fashion—quietly and without fanfare—but they demonstrate a profound belief in this fall’s stewardship theme: “In God We Trust.”

Contributions to Zion have kept pace with last year, which is remarkable considering our current economic recession. However, despite tight fiscal responsibility and prudent spending, we still have had to borrow $20,000 to meet our ministry expenses.

Zion has been entrusted with a vibrant ministry that impacts our members, our community, and our world. We trust that God will motivate us to meet the financial challenges necessary to continue and expand this ministry.

This Sunday, November 22, is Stewardship Sunday. Please prayerfully consider your commitment to Zion in the coming year and consider a generous response that is appropriate to the blessings God has bestowed upon you. If you received a commitment card in the mail, please offer it to the church during worship this Sunday. You can also pick up a pledge card on Sunday morning or

Please prayerfully consider your financial commitment to Zion’s ministry as we prepare for the coming year. A letter from the Stewardship Committee along with a pledge card is being mailed to confirmed members and should arrive in your mailbox later this week.Please complete the commitment card and offer it to the church on Sunday or send your pledge by e-mail if you are unable to be here.

”Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” Malachi 2:10

Give to the Max Day is a giving stimulus plan created to increase giving to non profits across Minnesota on November 17, 2009. The goal is to raise as much money as possible for Minnesota charities in the 24 hours from 8am Tuesday to 8am Wednesday. The Saint Paul Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation and Bush Foundation have committed $500,000 in matching contributions to support community needs in Minnesota and to cover transaction fees so that 100% of all donations go to the nonprofit organizations. You can learn more about Give to the Max Day at giveMN.org.

If you are planning to participate in Give to the Max Day, please consider making a contribution to Zion. You can find our page at razoo.com/story/Zion-Lutheran-Church-222.

Zion’s Social Ministry Committee is working together with Rivers of Hope to provide survivors of family violence in Wright and Sherberne Counties. By adopting a family you can spread holiday cheer to families and kids in need.  Rivers of Hope is providing wish lists for specific families. Take a tag from the narthex and return the unwrapped gift with the tag attached.

Request tags should be available approximately November 20. Please bring items by December 13.

Shoppers checking out the crafts at Harvest of Hands 2009

Volunteers arrived early on November 7 to be ready to enjoy a day of selling everything from great used items to carefully created crafts and art works. Every year we see beautiful things that make us realize the abundance of talented members of Zion.

Many rushed to buy baked goods, egg rolls, lefse and other goodies as soon as the doors opened. The omelets, crepes, rolls & coffee kept the kitchen crew very busy. A few trips to the grocery store during the morning to replenish ingredients kept everyone happy and people enjoyed visiting over coffee. Everything was displayed beautifully and it truly was  a delightful shopping experience.

The final amount raised by Harvest of Hands 2009 has not been calculated yet, but is estimated at over $12,000 which will go to help many people through the Buffalo Food Shelf and the World Hunger Appeal through the Lutheran World Federation.

Thanks to everyone for creating and donating items, thanks to all volunteers from setting up displays to taking down tables, to Joy Arens for coordinating the event, and most of all each of you who attended the Harvest of Hands event.

Those with ideas or suggestions for next year’s event are invited to attend the wrap-up meeting at 7pm on December 9 in the Wilderness room or contact a Harvest of Hands committee member.

Some of Pastor Ted’s thoughts on Zion’s mission statement at the Zionaires breakfast last Wednesday:

Zion is partnering with the Rotary Club of Buffalo to provide toys to children from Buffalo and Montrose through Toys for Tots. Bring toys to the collection box at Zion or other local businesses by December 23.

Zionaires had a great trip to the Science Museum in October to view and participate in the Titanic exhibit. In November they had a little breakfast and were one of the first groups to meet, listen to, and question Pastor Ted! It was very gratifying to see the large group of seniors that came to greet our new Pastor. They also had a handchime lesson from Sherilyn.

And the fun is just beginning! Future events include:

• December—Annual Christmas worship and lunch with the staff on December 17
• January 20—Field trip in the Buffalo area
• February 17—Guest Speaker in the Fellowship Hall

Other suggested activities that we hope to be doing in coming months include a tour of area churches, the Arboretum, Minnesota Zoo, Fort Snelling, and other places of interest.

Zion’s Sunday School students are working together with the Buffalo Food Shelf to provide a Christmas meal for families in Buffalo. The need has dramatically increased in Buffalo and the Food Shelf is expecting 300 family meal requests this year. Zion has committed to provide the dessert for this meal, which will include ingredients for a frosted cake and a pan of fudge. Please consider contributing one or more of the following items by December 13:

• Box of any variety cake mix
• Tub of spreadable frosting
• 12oz package of semisweet chocolate chips
• 14oz can of sweetened condensed milk
• Cash contributions ($5 will provide one dessert)

Volunteers are also invited to help make greeting cards and assemble dessert bags together on Tuesday evening, Dec. 15 at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall.

There is going to be an informational meeting held at University Lutheran Church of Hope for women who are interested in forming the re-birth of a Minneapolis lodge of the Daughters of Norway. You are invited to attend to learn more about Daughters of Norway and enjoy your future Nordic sisters! That meeting will be on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 2:00pm. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Jill Beatty / (415) 350-6492 / Vaermor@comcast.net.

Zion’s Global Missions Committee is working together with Redeemer Lutheran Church to give children in the Harrison neighborhood of North Minneapolis the opportunity to give Christmas gifts to their loved ones. The Christmas Store gives children the chance to buy four gifts for their family members and get them gift-wrapped for 25c per gift.

Please consider contributing a gift for a man or boy of any age by December 11.

Volunteers are also invited to volunteer at the event on December 12 from 8:30-noon at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

November is the month of Thanksgiving, but it often also includes the beginning of a new church year. This year, November 29 is the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent is about Jesus, the Word, “coming.” It’s about anticipating and preparing for Christ’s arrival.

God comes to us in many and various ways. He speaks to us through the prophets and saints. He comes and speaks to us when we are listening. He comes in the beauty and mysteries of nature. Most of all, God comes in the person of Christ, speaking to his listeners face to face.

That’s what Advent is really all about: God visiting the earth in person to speak with anyone and everyone who is ready to do so.

There are dozens of items on this year’s Harvest of Hands silent auction, and the final opportunity to bid is this Sunday morning, November 15. Don’t forget to stop by and check out the gift baskets, artworks, textiles, and crafts.

All proceeds benefit the Buffalo Food Shelf to help people in need in our own community and the World Hunger Appeal through the Lutheran World Federation to help people in need around the world.

Zion is again partnering with Buffalo Adult Day Care to provide a gifts for senior citizens in Wright County. Take a tag from the wreath in the narthex and return a wrapped or unwrapped gift with the tag attached by December 18.

Twenty years ago today, as we celebrated the first Sunday in our current church building, the congregation prayed together:

We now, the people of this church, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, grateful for our heritage, aware of the sacrifices of our mothers and fathers in the faith, and confessing that apart from us their work cannot be made complete, do commit ourselves anew to the worship and service of Almighty God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

More highlights from that worship service

Esultate’s Chamber Choir and Orchestra will present Tidings of Joy – their annual Christmas Festival Concerts on December 11, 12 & 13, 2009. Favorite and traditional carols in unique arrangements for voices and instruments will be performed. The Bach Magnificat as well as other works by Handel, Whitacre, Gabrielsen, Manz and others will be included. Concerts are

• 7:30pm Friday 12/11 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Plymouth
• 7:30pm Saturday 12/12 at Luther Seminary Chapel in St Paul
• 4:00pm Sunday 12/13 at Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church in Minneapolis

Tickets available by calling Exultate at 651-707-0727, on the Exultate ticket website, or at the door.

• General admission $20
• Seniors & students under 16 $15

Need a creative gift idea for someone?

Want to give a gift that could make a difference in the world?

Ever thought about giving water buckets for a village or an alpaca for a farmer or a school uniform so a child can go to school?

And, do you l like the convenience of shopping on line?

You will want to take a look at the ELCA Good Gift Catalogue, where you can help and support brothers and sisters around the worlds with your gifts. This catalogue has more than 65 gift ideas filled with meaning and love. How about a mosquito net for $25 or a pig for $30 or a microloan for a new woman’s business for $125? ELCA Good Gifts are an opportunity to go beyond your regular congregational offering to support and strengthen the work of the ELCA. After you’ve completed your ELCA Good Gifts shopping, tell your loved ones about their ELCA Good Gifts with e-cards and printable gift cards.

Another avenue to give is through the gifts program of Lutheran World Relief.  LWR Gifts send children to school, enable farmers to grow healthier, more diverse crops, and empower women to change their communities for the better. You will find suggestions sorted by categories, such as “children” and “critters” as well as price. LWR also gives you a way to send greetings to the person you are giving “in honor” or “in memory of.”

Or maybe you are looking for a special gift of jewelry or something for the kitchen; visit SERRV International, a nonprofit organization with a mission to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide. SERRV also works with famers who produce fair trade coffee and chocolate products.

This season consider bringing a little joy to the world through your support of any or all of these three partners in mission.

This Sunday there will be an opportunity to help the Buffalo Food Shelf with the cost of distributing this year’s Thanksgiving meals. Stop by the display in the Narthex and give a donation of your choice and pick up a HOPE candle to light your own home this Thanksgiving. A full Thanksgiving meal for a family as provided by the Food Shelf costs about $15. Thank you for helping to feed the hungry in our community!