IT IS TIME TO START ON THIS YEAR’S LANDSCAPE PROJECT!

Hopefully we will begin to have more consistently sunny weather and we can start getting the east side of our property prepared for new plantings.  The small boxwood shrubs have been transplanted to the north side of the property (by the fence).  The area is being cleaned out and new dirt and mulch put in. Weed barrier cloth will be laid and a grass barrier placed around the area.

 We will then be ready to start planting new plants.  This is a big project that will require lots of volunteers.  Email me (Ronda Harrison) for information at  r.harrison29@comcast.net.  Thank you for your support!

 Changes in the building at ZELC

              We are making changes to the building; one is to ensure our building is a Safe Haven for children and the other is for general maintenance and safety.

              Each congregation within the Rocky Mountain Synod is encouraged to become a Safe Haven for all people participating in its ministries.  In March, some of our leaders attended a Safe Haven workshop.  A Safe Haven is a place of security, safety, and protection from all harm and abuse.  There will be additional training and recommendations’ coming to ensure our church is a Safe Haven.  For now, the immediate need is to ensure all areas where children are, have the ability for constant monitoring and viewing.  We have twenty-six areas used for classrooms, etc. that do not meet the visual monitoring requirements.  The best solution for these areas is to add windows in the doors.  Therefore, council approved adding windows to doors for areas where children may be in our building.  This is the first step to ensure our church is a Safe Haven for all to experience the comfort of God’s love without the fear of harm.

The other change you will be seeing this summer is the replacement of carpeting throughout the church.  Duct tape has many uses and you may have noticed it appearing in various traffic areas throughout the building.  This has met immediate safety needs to ensure no one catches a toe on the frayed carpet but, of course, is not a long term solution.  Once our summer schedule starts, new carpeting will be installed for safety and general maintenance reasons.

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”  Psalm 91:2

The 11th Annual Olivia Rose Memorial Golf Tournament, supporting the Let Me Shine Christian Play & Preschool at Zion, is scheduled Sunday, June 3, at Stansbury Park Golf Course, 20 minutes west of Salt Lake City.

UPdate:

The sign-up sheet is now posted for the 11th Annual Olivia Rose Memorial Golf Tournament, so please indicate your interest in the event that supports the Let Me Shine Christian Play & Preschool at Zion. The key dates to remember are Sunday, June 3, for the tournament (tee times begin at 1:15 p.m.) and Sunday, May 20, as the payment deadline.  The $45  fee covers 18 holes of golf with a cart, plus refreshments at Stansbury Park Golf Course, 20 minutes west of Salt Lake City. You’re encouraged to arrange your own foursome in the team “scramble” format, but individuals and twosomes always can be accommodated.  Please make checks payable to Let Me Shine. For more information, contact Kurt Kragthorpe (kkragthorpe@sltrib.com).  

Spring is Here!! 

Let’s celebrate with the 2nd Annual Garden Party Fundraiser!
To be held at the Trio Cottonwood Restaurant. Plan on being there to enjoy an awesome 3 course dinner with wine pairings and dessert. We will start at 6-6:30 pm with passed appetizers and dinner served at 7 pm. There will be door prizes for lucky winners AND, new this year, we will have a silent auction for various super cool items. 

The funds will be used to continue the development of a more cost effective and minimal upkeep landscaping. We will purchase new trees, shrubs, flowers, etc., installing a drip system making this all possible. The goal is to beautify and simplify the grounds around our Lord’s house.

Date: Saturday, May 19 = Donation: $75.00 per person (tax deductible-if you should add an amount for gratuity, it will be greatly appreciated) to be paid in advance. Please make checks payable to ZELC, put in the ‘Special Gifts’ envelope, write for ‘Garden Party’ and place in the offering plate or give to Ronda Harrison
by May 13th. A sign up sheet is posted in the Narthex

“The Lord God placed the man in the garden to tend and watch over it.” Genesis 2.15

Contact Ronda Harrison r.harrison29@comcast.net

Vacation Bible School and Music Camp

Save the Date

Vacation Bible School Music Camp 2012 will be held July 30 thru August 3 at Zion Lutheran Church. For children who have complete Kindergarten thru 6th grade. Applications are available at the church. Spread the word!

Don’t Just Believe. Belong!
(From Rick Warren’s Daily Devotions, YouVersion.com)

“You are called to belong, not just believe. “Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18 NIV)
“We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves. The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits.”
“While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. In God’s family you are connected to every other believer. The Bible says, “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:5 NIV)
“Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing.” C. S. Lewis noted that the word ‘membership’ is of Christian origin, but the world has emptied it of its original meaning. Stores offer discounts to ‘members,’ and advertisers use ‘member names’ to create mailing lists. In churches, membership is often reduced to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations.
“To Paul, being a ‘member’ of the church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership. The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization. (Romans 12:4-5) “There is nothing else on earth like the church!”

Submitted by Diana Robertson

The Dodos seem to be spreading joy everywhere they flock! The Larsen Family enjoyed their dodo’s so much that Joe (5) and Olive (3) didn’t want to see the birds fly away. They played with the Dodo’s for hours. Their neighbors loved to see the birds flop in the wind as it brightened their day too. They loved what the Zion youth were doing so much, they gave Liz a $10 donation. Thank you, neighbors!

Laurie Heden tried to wait as long as she could before she had to call for pick up. She didn’t want them to fly away either.

It’s amazing how we can spread joy to others with such a fun gesture. Thank you, members and friends of Zion, for giving the Youth the opportunity to spread joy to all.

Peace,
Lisa Mensinger, Youth Director

Zion is planning on replacing the carpet in the church after Let Me Shine breaks for the summer. You may have noticed how the carpet in the building is separating and in some places tearing.
Replacing this much carpet is going to be a large financial drain on church resources. Therefore, I am making an appeal to those of you who have the means to contribute to be generous in making a special gift to Zion to help pay for the carpet replacement. Checks can be made out to Zion with “carpet” annotated on the check.
Bids are now being sought for this project from reputable carpet companies. They will be appealing to manufacturers for special pricing on materials. Zion’s men may be allowed to assist in the carpet tear-out to help save some money on this project. But even with that, this project will be expensive. I am making this appeal only once, and Diana and I will be the first to contribute.
Respectfully,
Dave Robertson, Building Administrator

A Celebration of Thanksgiving
Installation of Lisa Mensinger,
Director of Youth Ministries
Save the date: Sunday, April 22, 2012
Special 10:30 worship with reception following

Thanks be to God!
We have embraced a vision for ministry among youth, so that each student, young adult, household, parent, and caring adult may be nurtured and equipped to grow into an active, living faith in Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God!
Through the Holy Spirit, we have received a gift for this ministry. Lisa Mensinger has “grown into” this role, moving from “interim” to “Director of Youth Ministries” (¾ time).

Thanks be to God!
God has given Lisa many gifts for this ministry. Her heart overflows in love for youth and for all who are networked to nurture and support their growth in faith. She provides competent leadership, promotes service, and strives for excellence. Lisa’s joy-filled presence helps us all to catch the Spirit’s presence.

Thanks be to God!
“But we have this treasure in clay jars; so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. ……… so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4).

Baptism of Jackson Huffaker