Just Imagine

May 4, 2009 — Angela

After last week’s Nigeria Night, Pastor Judy received a note thanking us for our gift of $1,350 to the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria.

Part of that letter read:

Just imagine, if all of our MAS Sunday School children were to set aside six weeks of Sunday School offerings what an impact our entire synod would have on the lives of our friends in Nigeria as we strive to help them achieve the goal of safe drinking water for their people.  The children of Zion have set a wonderful example of hearing the need and responding in kindness and love.  They have indeed responded to their baptismal call to serve others.

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Building a Well in Nigeria

April 30, 2009 — Angela

Last night at Nigeria Night, children representing the Sunday School presented Kris Perry, Diaconal Minister with the Minneapolis Area Synod, with a check for the $1,350 they raised during Lent for a new well in Nigeria. When Kris Perry asked how they raised the money, one boy said” we gave way all our change.” They also passed around empty paint buckets for a “Noisy Offering” at all three worship services on of the Sundays of Lent.

Zion is looking seriously at beginning at partnership with a congregation of the Lutheran church of Christ in Nigeria. More educational opportunities and service projects for the LCCN are being planned for this year’s Vacation Bible School in June.

You can see more photos from Nigeria Night at http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c319/ZionBuffalo/2009/Nigeria%20Night/

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Nigeria Night is Tonight

April 29, 2009 — Angela

Don’t miss the Nigeria Global Mission Event tonight, April 29th, from 7-9pm.  Find out what a companion partnership could be. Over coffee and dessert, we will hear Kris Perry, MAS Companion Synod Coordinator, introduce the project to the congregation and show photos. Also Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior who already have a well-established congregational partnership in place will be sending some members out to tell their story and give a visual presentation. . . More Information

PS: Supper (5-6pm) is Baked Potatoes & Toppings

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Everybody’s Got a Seed to Sow

April 20, 2009 — Angela

by Pastor Judy

I am already enjoying my daily drive to Buffalo, watching the changes of the season. I am seeing the changes that are happening as the seed is sown and the green comes back. And I look forward to seeing the growth through the summer and into fall. Sun and rain and God’s good work are creating new life around us.

I look for the same new life and continued growth at Zion. What great response we saw in Lent with the generous gifts for the Easter Baskets and 150 people who came together to pack those baskets and get them to the local food shelf. This is just one example of renewed life at Zion, God’s good work through the members of Zion.

And there are more opportunities coming! We are looking for more interested people to help extend Zion’s presence through a ministry of member visits. Could you be someone who could help?

We will need a group of Zion members to be the heart of a new partnership with a congregation of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria. This group would be responsible to communicate with our Nigerian brothers and sisters, telling our story to them and sharing their story at Zion. Could you be some one who could help?

And there are the action ministries such as: God’s Angels, our local food shelf, Faith in Action, Love INC, Timber Bay, and others ways that Zion extends itself beyond its walls. Not the least are the continued ways to share in worship leadership and support each Sunday, help with funeral lunches, cook and deliver meals from “Food For Friends”. So many opportunities and more! Could you be someone who could help?

It is all God’s work, work for new growth and renewal. We are the seeds that God is nurturing for the sake of this community and the world. And it is time to grow!

Listen to the words from a song by Michael W. Smith (you can also listen to the track here):

“One thing I know
Everybody’s got a seed to sow
Let your heart of hearts
Take you down the road
Everybody’s got a seed to sow”

Could you be some one who could help? Some seed God is looking to grow?

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Quilts for Near and Far

March 19, 2009 — Angela
Monday Morning Quilters

Monday Morning Quilters

In January Zion’s Monday morning quilt group sent 42 quilts on to be used in Kenya, Liberia, and Nigeria through the contacts of Pastor Roger Ose.  Then in March they sent 12 more quilts to the local Love INC program.

These willing hands meet each Monday morning at Zion and usually tie 4-5 quilts in one morning. To join them, simply stop in some Monday.

Thank you ladies for your ministry of quilts!

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