February 12, 2012

If you have any questions about the Youth Program, please contact Lisa Mensinger (LGOLFMENSINGER@gmail.com) or Bob Hackworth (rrhackworth@aol.com).

Dodgeball Tournament
Thank you to the parents who stayed to watch the youth compete in their first dodgeball tournament at Christ UMC. We had enough kids join us to make 2 teams: High School & Junior High.

Macy’s Fundraiser - February
The youth are selling special tickets ($10) for the Macy’s City Creek Charity Shopping Day and the special day is March 17, 2012. The ticket offers special discounts and, if you attend the opening, your ticket stub will enter the donor into the sweepstakes for $500 Macy’s shopping spree. The ticket will give you an opportunity to save $10 on one regular, sale, or clearance priced purchase of $25 or more throughout the store. Tickets are tax-deductible & the Youth will retain 100% profit from the sale. See any of the youth or Lisa Mensinger to buy tickets.

Souper Bowl of Caring - February 5th
Sunday, February 5th is the day join the youth and the Rocky Mountain Synod to help fight malaria. Please remember to bring in your spare change on Sunday and place it in the Souper Bowl of Caring Pots at the end of the services.

Compassion Program
At Creation Fest, the Youth learned about Compassion International (www.compassion.com) and wanted to share the amazing stories that they heard from speakers who were children of the program. This year the Sunday School Program will be sponsoring 2 children from Haiti that the Youth have chosen. The monthly contribution from our Sunday School offerings will provide food & clean water, medical care, educational opportunities, and important life-skills training. Most important of all these children will hear about Jesus Christ and be encouraged to develop a lifelong relationship with God. We will be able to write to the children and read their responses. Thank you for your support in making a difference in another child’s life.

ELCA Youth Gathering - July 18-22, 2012
Any teenager going into ninth, tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade or having just graduated from high school at the time of the Gathering are eligible to attend this exciting event.
October 9 - Online registration opens at 2 p.m. EDT, and will close when they reach 39,000 participants.
September 18 - after church we will have an informational meeting with interested parents & youth.

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It was the opening worship for pastors and rostered leaders at the synod’s annual theological convocation. I was seated in the front row - center aisle seat — singing a hymn during Holy Communion. As some returned to their place after receiving the piece of bread and a sip of wine, they stopped to touch me. With that simple gesture, worship went beyond “God and me.” The community’s presence reminded me that worship goes beyond my individual experience. I am connected (as I am fond of quoting C.K. Chesterton) “not as a pebble of sand in a box but as a branch to the vine.”

I wondered if this is the way it was for the leper in Mark’s gospel (1:40-45). According to Leviticus’ law, lepers had been declared unclean and were therefore “untouchable” and banished to life outside the community. But Jesus had compassion on him, and he touched the leper, making him clean and free to reenter the community. It was only a touch, but the lives of the leper and Jesus would never be the same.

This Sunday, I invite you to sit near the aisle. I hope you receive a caring and knowing touch. If you are unable to secure this choice seat, I hope you offer a caring touch as you return from the holy meal. It may only be a touch, but our lives may never be the same.

In and through Christ,
Pastor Steve Klemz

Sunday school staff is proud and thankful to you for having entrusted us with guiding your child’s spiritual education. We hope than you are more than happy with the classes and lessons provided for them. More than half way through the school year now, we’d love to hear your feedback if you have any. Contact Heather or Nicole with your thoughts and ideas on what makes or would make Zion Sunday School fulfilling for you and your child.Coming up this month, Pastor Steve will be offering the first of three required sessions for those children ready to begin receiving Holy Communion. These sessions are for parents and children. Meet with Pastor Steve after the 10:30 AM worship in the sanctuary on Sunday, February 12th.

Please remember our offerings, which are being donated to the Compassion Child Program and give generously.

God Bless,
Nicole, Heather and Gretchen
nicole.caldwell@live.com
bobandheather4@msn.com

Lent begins with a solemn call to fasting and repentance as we begin our journey to the baptismal promise of Easter. During Lent, the people of God will reflect on the meaning of their baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection. The sign of the cross etched upon our foreheads reminds us of our human mortality and frailty. What seems like an ending is really an invitation to make each day a new beginning, in which we are washed in God’s mercy and forgiveness.

MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP
February 29 through March 28

Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m.
Worship 7:00 - 7:30 p.m.

In midweek worship, youth leaders will gather us into worship and lead in discussion of the evening’s theme. Worship concludes with Holy Communion.

“Your Nail” is this season’s theme, which is centered in the powerful word of Colossians 2:13b-14:
God has forgiven you all your sins:
Christ has utterly wiped out the damning evidence of broken laws and commandments, which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over His own head on the Cross.
And then, having disarmed all the power ranged against us,
He exposed them
+
shattered,
empty,
and
defeated,
+
in His final triumphant act.”

Plan to worship in Lent as we explore the meaning of Christ’s suffering and death for us.

Let Me Shine! Preschool
Kicks off National Lutheran schools week and celebrates our 10th anniversary!
Join us on March 4th when the students of LMS will sing at the 10:30am worship. The Board of Trustees will serve refreshments after worship in honor of NLSW and in celebration of this milestone!
All are welcome.

Peace,
Barb
Barbara Ballif, Director

In December, Zion’s weekly envelopes and loose offerings, plus one-time gifts spread across the year, amounted to $42,087, compared to our monthly budget of $32,812, or 128% of budget for the month. For 2011, our total mission and ministry offerings amounted to $385,482, compared to a budgeted amount of $393,734, or 98% of our year-to-date budget.

As we reach the end of another year, we give special thanks for Zion’s members and friends!

Yours in Christ,
Eric Hinderaker,
Council Treasurer