Page 2 Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church = =20 February 2006

Dear members and friend= s of Zion,

Sometimes it takes a li= ttle time for the magnitude of past accomplishments to sink in. The more I have = been thinking about what we did in 2005, the greater the sense of satisfaction becomes. 2005 was filled with meetings upon meetings, which were focused on= Zion's becoming a = healthy congregation. We read Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Church, discusse= d it, then adapted and applied it. We met in homes and we met at the church. Gradually, a Membership Covenant took shape, and an Action Plan was formed. With concrete goals and specific targets in view, we found that attendance = at worship increased, family participation in the life of the church improved,= and financial support of our ministry strengthened. That is quite impressive, a= nd I extend my thanks to you for helping that to happen.

Zion's financial support f= or the church deserves further mention. Our support for the Operating Budget excee= ded our budgeted target. In addition to the $216,840 we raised in support of the budget, we raised over $10,000 for Year #1 of our Property Improvement Prog= ram, which focused on renovating the restrooms, two in the Main Hallway and two = in Memorial Hall. Our support of benevolence also exceeded the targets we set.= Our support for the work of the wider church through the Northeastern Ohio Synod reached $17,000 – quite impressive. We added the support of our time = and treasures for Zion<= /st1:place>'s Food Pantry & Clothing Closet. We also provided financial support for t= he church's commitment to Global Mission, partnership support for St. James in= East Cleveland, for Campus Ministry, for tsunami rel= ief, the Companion Synod Youth Mission Trip, World Hunger, the Wernle Home, Lutheran Outdoors Ministries of Ohio, St. Luke's, Habitat for Humanity, the Capital University<= /st1:PlaceType> Foundation…. In all, our support of ministries beyond the bricks and mortar of Zion exceeded $33,000.00!

These may seem like jus= t a bunch of figures, without much context for understanding their meaning or significance. It is Zion's hope and commit= ment to prove generous in our support of the work of the wider church, even as we challenge our own members to be generous in their support of our work at Zion. The Bible as= ks God's people to tithe. We have been blessed as a congregation to better that meas= ure by half, committing 15% of offering income to the various ministries we call benevolence. Generosity is a discipline. If we a= sk our members to discipline the amount of income they spend on their own need= s, we should discipline ourselves as a congregation, too. Zion has lived a proud history of excel= lence in generosity; and I am proud of the fact that we have been able to continu= e that track record during my tenure.

Sure, to be honest, it = was disappointing, according to our most gracious measures, to fall a tad short= of a balanced budget in 2005. In truth, it looked great going into December. We turned our deficit into a surplus in October, and extended the surplus slig= htly in November. Unfortunately, winter got the better of us in December; and it= 's going to take your continued generosity to keep winter from doing too much damage in February and March. All that I can say is that I am deeply satisf= ied with what we accomplished in 2005, and I feel confident that God will inspi= re us with the will and give us the power to meet our challenges during the co= ming year.

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = In His service, and yours,

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = Pastor She= rwindt

In Loving Memory of= Ronald C. Hartman

June 14, 1931 – = January 24, 2006

[I was recently made aware of the fact that we haven't been using the newslett= er effectively in sharing information about members called to their heavenly h= ome through death. What follows are several excerpts from Pastor Sherwindt's homily. It is my hope that they reveal a = little bit about the man, and a lot about the Lord, into whose care we commended h= im.]

"Love and laughter: that's = what I experienced when I met with Ron Hartman's family in the Resource Center to help plan the funeral. What could be a better testament to what he value= d, to what would make him proud. Sure, all of us knew Ron as a man who knew the value of hard work, as a man who was well-practiced in the skills of person= al discipline, as one who was undeniably reliable in ordering his life around = his responsibilities. Imagine that – a German Lutheran from Iowa, whose life was formed by a conscientious attention to honoring one's obligations, mixed with a love for order and discipline!

"That says a lot about Ron,= but it's not the whole story, not even the most crucial clue. For Ron Hartman w= as a man whose discipline, work ethic, and conscientious attention to a job well done was joined with the love of his life, Audrey Mead Hartman, to create a wonderful family, which was blessed well beyond a humble boy's imagination – blessed to live in a great country, which he served faithfully and = with honor, blessed to live in a good, family-oriented community, which he and h= is whole family enjoyed, blessed because his family found life's meaning filled with love and laughter, and lots of both, in abundance.

"In John 10:10 Jesus says, 'I have come that yo= u may have life, and have it in abundance!' Ron knew that life. Whether it was at= the altar with Audrey, in the backyard with Greg, sipping some homemade wine wi= th Ron, saying 'I love you, too' to Laura, Ron knew that God had blessed him w= ith a life that was filled with abundance. What his life became went well beyond its beginning on a farm outside of Cedar Rapids. Life on the farm was hard for a young boy = and his brother. He never forgot those lessons, and while he learned well the v= alue of hard work and long days, he and Audrey also knew that love is what made a home complete.

"When Jesus stood with his flock in the 10^th chapter of John promising the blessing of life= in abundance, they were not sitting on plush cushions in the palatial estates = of those blessed with worldly wealth. This was a group of humble workers, fishermen and carpenters, living off the dry, parched land, which was a mix= of Middle Eastern desert and Galilean wilderness. When Jesus stood in the mids= t of those whom God had given him, talking about his being the Good Shepherd, he wasn't glossing over the great difficulties that filled each life, sometimes with more than their share. Shepherds didn't sit in lazy-boy loungers, and = good shepherds knew the cost of protecting their sheep from danger. Jesus was drawing from images that depicted life at its most challenging edge, face-to-face with barren hillsides and rocky wilderness, with wandering she= ep seeking grasses, and hungry predators lurking in the shadows.

"The hireling, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees…." Jesus is not a hireling. He is the Good Shepherd. "= ;The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the life of the sheep." Ron Hartm= an knew this Good Shepherd, and he learned much from these costly words. He lived them…."

GIVING THANKS for the GREAT EFFORT offered by SO MANY

THE RESTROOMS ARE RENOVATED! That's the Good News we have to share from <= st1:City w:st=3D"on">Zion this month. It was just last May w= hen we met as a congregation to approve our plans for initiating a five-year plan = for property improvement, beginning with the restrooms. We had seen bids in the $20,000 range for the work we actually did, but our costs came in at $9,826= .11! That is truly amazing, and it happened solely because of the commitment, hard work and generosity of you, our congregational family. This project was truly a labor of love: love for our Lord, love for this church, and love for one another, in joining together to accomplish a job well done. =

Let the thanks begin with our humble acknowledgment of the leadership and initiative of our Renovation Task Force Chairperson, Brian Walters. Brian organized the project, supervised the work, moved his entire workshop into = the shower, and seemed at times to sleep at the church! His leadership is deeply appreciated by all. He was joined on the Task Force by Darlene Milavickas and Marilyn Espe-Sher= windt. Their contribution to the renovation project was also monumental. All joine= d in every aspect of the work, and what is more, they were joined by so many oth= ers, who gave truth to the old expression, which is either many hands make light work, or misery loves company! I am sure it was the former.

The many hands that contributed to the joy of a job well done began with the restrooms in Memorial Hall – stripping the old wallpaper, applying the new, working on cabinets, countertops and changing tables, fixtures, lighti= ng, plumbing, painting, decorating and cleaning. For these many contributions to our beautiful Memorial Hall restrooms, we thank Lorin<= /span> Beaber, Dave Bower, Chuck Danner, Pete Fenney, Dean Fox, Scott Gross, Gary Horton, Mary Humbert, Flo Jensen, Bob Lancashire, Nick Lanzalotta, Lou Milavickas, Dave Palumbo, Carol Rossbach, Adam Schrader, Ja= yne Schrader, Renee Schrader, Ron Singer, Chris Thomas, Mark Votaw, and Dean Yoder. Of course, Brian, Darlene, and Marilyn were present at every phase, and Kevin Walters was drafted on many occasions to help his Dad with tasks large and small. And let's not forget our custodian, Tim Himebaugh, for making our baseboards look like new. <= o:p>

When it comes to thanking folks for the renovation of the restrooms in the Main Hallway, let's begin with utter amazement at the transformation we have witnessed. Brian is preparing a video presentation for our Congregational Meeting later this month to document the miracle. Those who contributed to = this little miracle at Zion include John Brokloff, C= huck Danner, Todd Elsass, Jeff and Connie Frank, with special mention of daughters Cassie and Carlie,= Gary Horton, Bob and Linda Lancashire, Mike McCartt,= Lou Milavickas, Doug Roman, Steve Ross, Jayne Schrader, R= enee Schrader, Chris Thomas, Mark Votaw, and again, = under the same circumstances, Kevin Walters. We also want to include our Renovati= ons Task Force among those whom we thank, Brian Walters, Darlene Milavickas, and Marilyn Espe-She= rwindt.

To date, we have received $10, 223.00 in contributions for Year One of the Renovation Program. When that is compared to the $9,826.11 we have spent, t= he result is a surplus of $396.89, with which we now look forward to Year Two, which will focus on updating and improving the sound system in the sanctuar= y. The vision continues. Thanks be to God!

<= /span>

Stories of Generosity from ZION'S FOOD PANTRY<= /b>

I would like you to meet Molly. Molly is not your typical High School student. During the Christmas holiday it is easy to become self-absorbed in your own wants and needs. Molly went beyond her personal desires, and requested that= her family not buy her any presents for Christmas. That's right. Molly is not y= our typical teenager. Instead, she asked that her presents be given in the form= of cash so that she could donate her Christmas money to help fight hunger here= in North Canton.

Molly arrived here at our Food Pantry in January, and not just with her Christmas checks in hand, she also came with all sorts of paper products and food ite= ms newly purchased! Her family can be very proud of the thoughtfulness and compassion she has shown for others. Her selflessness is a shining example = of the true spirit of Christmas giving. Molly sets a great example and serves = as a powerful reminder that, just as Jesus said, it is better to serve than to be served. [Mark 10:45] The first shall be last and the la= st shall be first in the house of the Lord. [Matthew 20:16] =

In recent weeks we have seen a rash of individuals in need of food on days oth= er than the normal Food Pantry Tuesdays. You may ask why. The reasoning can be quite chilling, literally, quite chilling. Option A is: don't pay the gas b= ill and freeze, and instead buy groceries for your family. Option B is: pay the heating bill and go hungry. That's where Zion's Food Pantry comes in – and thank God for that! I thought that the meat vs. toilet paper was an inter= esting dilemma; but heat vs. starvation is inexcusable in this great country.

In our little corner of the county, with your interest, help and generosity, we will continue to do what we can to fight the good fight and stave off hunger with the families we serve.

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Thanks for your support. It really helps.

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Shirley Cavender and the Pantry Cre= w

U   U   U   U   U   U   U

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A Note of Interest from the Clothing Closet

The Christmas rush is now past, and we are busy trying to make room for spring and summer. For the time being, we have all = the winter clothing we can handle. Plus, we must admit that, given the smaller space we embrace with our move down the hall, we just don't have the space = to store household items, not even toys. When it comes to these types of items= , we will let you know of specific requests as they come in to us. In the meanti= me, please remember that all the clothing you donate needs to be clean, wearabl= e, and ready for distribution. We are happy for all the volunteer help we rece= ive. We will begin receiving spring and summer clothing after Easter. As always,= we thank you for your interest and support – Edna, Betty, Karen and Mary=

Great News from Zio= n’s Sunday School

=

Happy Birthday to:

            February 3: Austin Todich=

            Febru= ary 6: Todd Ferry

            Febru= ary 18: Brooke Roman

&nb= sp;

Upcoming Events – Mark your calendars= !

Sunday, February 26:    Zion's Children’s Choir sings at the = 10:30 a.m. Service

Sunday, February 26:    Bible Bowl at St. S= tephen Martyr Lutheran Church, 2:00= p.m.

Sunday, March 5:           Lent has arrived;= the Sunday School focus on the Easter Play begins

Palm Sunday, April 9: The Children’s Easter Program at our 10:30 a.m. Service only

The Children’s Ch= oir Schedule

Sunday, February = 26: Children sing at 10:30 a.m.= service

Sunday, May 14, Mother’s Day: Sing at 10:30 a.m. service

Sunday, June 18, Father’s Day: Sing at 10:30 a.m. service

Just a reminder: Choir Rehearsal begins at 9:10 a.m= . on Sundays

Sunday School: Pre-K thru Sixth Grade =

The children are back in the classroom learning about great Bible stories and f= aith traits of interesting people in the Bible. This will continue through the entire month. We are looking ahead to the Easter Program already. We will b= egin regular practices in March, but the children will be receiving their parts = and some instruction during the month of February.

The Youth of Zion: The Bible Bowl

Zion’s Bible Bowl Te= am is shaping up for 2006. Led once again by Wayne Slease and Todd Elsass, Team Zion has begun their inte= nsive study of the book of Exodus. Team members include Matt Slease (Team Captain), Todd Cizek, Becca Coulter, Corey Beaber, Laura Kay, Taylor Roman,= Ethan Frock and Christian Heller. There is still time if anyone would like to join the team. The competition is open to 6^th through 12^th grade students. Please contact Wayne Slease or = Todd Elsass if you are interested. This is a great event a= nd a great way for Zion<= /st1:place>’s youth to come together and learn God’s Word while having a lot of fun! Plus, this year we are giving away T-shirts!

We would also like to invite the entire congregation to join us in supporting = Team Zion. The competition will be on Sunday, February 26, at St. Stephen Martyr Lutheran Church, which is located on the corner of Dressler and Fulton Road. Registration begins at 2:00 = p.m., with the written and oral rounds to follow. Everyone is encouraged to come = out and support Team Zion! Good L= uck to our Team Members! We are very= proud of your hard work and dedication!

Community News for the Congregational Family

Community News: The North Canton City Schools will again sponso= r an Early Childhood Screening Program for 3 and 4 year old children who are residents of the North Canton City School District and= are suspected of having a handicapping condition. The screening will be held on= Friday, February 24, at the Mary L. Evans Early Childhood Center, which is located on 239 Portage Street NE. Children need to be pre-registered for the screening. Registrations forms are available in all = North Canton City School buildings and at the Public Library, and must be received by February 14th.

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Vicki Hammond, Director of Special Programs

&n= bsp;

Scholarship News: Our North Canton Ministerial Association is ple= ased to offer a $500 scholarship to a graduating high school senior, who is an active member in one of our twelve member congregations (including Zion). We offer th= is scholarship in recognition of God’s challenge for us to "use the best of our minds, hearts and souls" in service to others. It is our h= ope that high school seniors who have demonstrated leadership and maturity here= at the church, at school in the classroom, or in service to the community will regard this notice as an invitation to submit an application. Please speak = with Pastor Sherwindt to learn more about the program and to obtain an applicati= on form.

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; The Rev. Thomas L. Douce, Secretary

  &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;      North Canton Ministerial Association

Mission Trip News: Get ready for the trip of your life! Yes, you a= re invited! We've got a lot of planning to do and many decisions to make, but here's what we know. We know that we are heading south toward the Gulf Coast in our desire to Help New Orleans H= eal. We know that we are leaving toward the end of June. We know that Graceland is on the itinerary. We know that even if= we are not able to get into a work site in New Orleans because of personal safety or public health concerns, we will get a look at how the reconstruction is coming along. We = know that we have a good number of adults and a whole lot of youth who are begin= ning to sense that this is exactly the kind of Mission Trip they're looking for.= We would like folks of all ages to feel welcome and invited to show interest in joining in our effort. To that end, Steve Ross and I have scheduled a plann= ing meeting for Sunday, Febru-ary 12, following the second service, around Noon<= /st1:time>. We are rounding up interest and looking for yours. Let us know if you'd lik= e to be included, even if you're just thinking about it

In Loving Memory: On behalf of the congregational family, I would like to thank Brian and Lisa Kay for their thoughtfulness in directing the donations we received in loving memory of Brian's Dad, Monroe Kay, to assist with our goal of renovating the restrooms. While Monroe never saw the plans we envisioned, nor the bathrooms we've redone, he will always be remembered as a vital part of helping us to create the labor of love we now enjoy when we see the work that so many have worked to accomplish. May God be praised!

The Men of Zion gathered for dinner on = January 11^th in Luther Hall. The food was great, and the fellowship even better. We were joined = by Dick Spall, who invited us to participate in a bre= akfast sponsored by the Lutheran Men in Mission at Martin Luther Lutheran Church in support of the youth of the Canton-Massillon Co= nference. We enjoyed Dick's company, and pledged to send a delegation to th= e breakfast, which was scheduled for January 28^th.

We then talked a bit about our own need= for planning and programming. We decided to meet on the first Wednesday ev= ening of the month, and to offer some kind of program along with the dinner= . On February 1^st we will hearken back to the time "When URI Met Johnny" (as in Carson), a program= that will have a little fun with the Secrets of the Psychics. Chris= Thomas and Gary Horton are working on some great ideas for dinner. Our eve= ning together on February 1^st will be great fun. Please plan to = join us.

Church Council News

Stewardship Notes

The Women of Zion

Odds 'n Ends at Zion