Ushers are still needed for the 10am Christmas Day service. Contact Sherilyn to volunteer.
If the snow piles up as expected, snow shovelers will be needed before each Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service. Contact Jill and tell her when you can help 1:30, 3:30, or 9:30 Christmas Eve or 8:30 Christmas Day..
The staff of Zion Lutheran Church wishes you and your family a blessed Christmas.
Each year, undesignated offerings from special Thanksgiving and Christmas services are designated to a variety of organizations. This year’s gifts will be distributed to:
The total being $2500. The remainder to be used towards the mission of the church though the General Services Fund of Zion.
Sunday, December 6
Second Sunday of Advent
Luke 3:1-6
Pastor Ted preaching
Sunday, December 13
Third Sunday of Advent
Luke 3:7-18
Sunday, December 20
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Luke 1:39-45
Pastor Ted preaching
Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve
Pastor Ted preaching
Friday, December 25
Christmas Day
Worship at 10am
Pastor Karri Preaching
Sunday, December 27
First Sunday of Christmas
Luke 2:41-52
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.
On Christmas Eve, 3pm and 5pm services will include a special time for the children to come forward to see Jesus’ birthday cake up close, and hear a special message. At 11pm the popular Candlelight service will include the Zion Christmas Choir.
On Christmas Day there will be worship at 10am with Holy Communion.
From the website of a Catholic church in Delaware:
The Bell
The Sunday School students will be presenting “The First Christmas” at the 8:30 and 10:30 services on Sunday, December 9 . . . . see you there!
Mark your calendar for the annual St. Lucia Supper on Tuesday, December 11 at 6:00pm at Zion. Come for great music and a wonderful light supper of breads, soups, cheeses, and Scandinavian treats & cookies. St. Lucia will make her appearance with her court to deliver the homemade St. Lucia rolls during the supper. A Christmas bell choir will lead carol singing after the meal.
Marilyn Sharpe from the Youth & Family Institute will return as our guest speaker. A parent for 34 years, she knows first hand the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and challenges of being a family. Marilyn will give ideas about passing on faith and values to the children we all cherish during this advent and Christmas season.
This is a family event and nursery is provided (supper is not provided in the nursery). Sign up by Sunday, December 9 in the narthex, online, or by calling the church office. Cost is $3 per person or $10 per family.
Redeemer Lutheran Church’s Christmas Store event will take place on December 8, from 8:30 – Noon at Redeemer Lutheran Church. Zion is invited to participate by volunteering at the event or by donating gifts. There are many ways to contribute to the success of this event and they hope to match your passion for giving with our needs in providing a child the opportunity to give Christmas gifts to their loved ones.
This event gives them the opportunity to reach out to kids that are otherwise untouched by the ministry of Redeemer. The Christmas Store gives children a chance to buy four gifts for their family members and get them gift-wrapped for the price of twenty-five cents per gift!
The Christmas Store depends on the generosity of others willing to donate gifts, time and resources, so please consider participating in this event. There is a collection box in the narthex, and they especially need gifts for men and teens. Contact Babette Chapman of Redeemer Lutheran at 612.374.4139×16 or bchatman@redeemermpls.org if you have any questions.
Spend quality time with your family at beautiful YMCA Camp Ihduhapi for celebrating the Advent Season. Enjoy campfires, tree lighting, Christmas stories by the fire, outdoor activities, breakfast with Santa, advent crafts, and more.
Family Advent Camp is from Friday, Dec. 7 at 6:00pm until late afternoon Sat. Dec. 8. Your family will stay in winterized cabins. Registration fee of $150.00 includes lodging, activities, all meals and snacks for a family of 4. Visit www.campihduhapi.org for more information and registration or call Sue Lungstrom at 763.230.9304.
Zion staff will host a Christmas Dinner for Zionaires and homebound members on Tuesday, December 18. There will be a worship service with communion at 11:30, followed by dinner and entertainment in fellowship hall. Please make your reservation by calling the church office at 763.682.1245, and let us know if you will need a ride.
*There was a typo in some early announcements – the correct date is Tuesday, 12/18 NOT Wednesday 12/19*
You don’t need to have a talent for singing just an interest in bringing some Christmas cheer to others. There will be an opportunity to go Christmas Caroling Dec 16th. Meeting at the church at 7pm. We will make the rounds at a couple of local nursing homes. So, don some fun Christmas attire and join us for an evening of song. Sign up at the information desk. Contact Deb Johnson or the church office if you have any questions.
Join in the fun of a Christmas Cookie Exchange December 9th at 7pm in the fellowship hall. Please bring 2-3 dozen cookies to share and a container for you to bring home your selection. If there are plain sugar cookies to share there will be supplies for decorating after the exchange. Snacks, hot cider, coffee and fellowship for all ages. Everyone should go home with a nice selection to share with family and friends. Please sign up at the information desk and indicate what kind of cookie you will bring. Contact Deb Johnson or the church office if you have any questions.
The Tinsel & Tears program will be held on Sunday, December 9th at 9:30 am in the Zion Library and is available to everyone, sponsored by Zion’s Stephen Ministry. Jean Fobbe, Wright County Human Services Resource Coordinator, will speak regarding the experiences of grief and stress during the holidays and give helpful suggestions on how to cope.
Holiday time can be a difficult time for many of as we deal with the loss of a loved one, as we grieve and suffer from loneliness, loss of a job, or other struggles in which we may develop mixed emotions and feelings of being overwhelmed. During this holiday season, think about how you can take care of yourself during this vulnerable time.
“What is the best gift you ever received? It was probably given out of love. Love comes to us as a gift from God and we are called to share it with others. The best gifts are those that deepen our relationships with one another. They are unexpected. They are filled with love. And, they are impossible to wrap. . . . Read the rest of this entry »
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