August 2004 Newsletter
NEWS FROM THE CHURCH COUNCIL -
Council met on the evening of July 20 to discuss at great length the organization and approach required to implement what we are calling a FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR PROPERTY RENOVATION. We had earlier invited a sampling of members to suggest projects that might be incorporated into a five-year plan. More than twenty-five responses generated more than eighty suggested projects! We know there is a need. We know there is interest. Council approved appointing a Task Force of five persons, with the primary goal of this Task Force being (1) to address major repair and renovation concerns (as distinguished from ordinary maintenance issues), and (2) to implement a renovation plan.
We know that it is time to invite all of our members to join in the effort of thinking about what should go into our 5-year plan; but we also need to begin working on some kind of overall vision for organizing the many suggestions we are sure to assemble. The Task Force can help. (1) First, we would like the Task Force to organize our many concerns into natural groupings or commonsensical categories. (2) Then, the Task Force will assess the feasibility of the items that make it on to our congregational wish list. (3) The Task Force will need to appoint subcommittees related to each of the natural grouping or commonsensical categories identified above, and these subcommittees will prioritize the needs and investigate the costs of projects related to their category or concern. (4) Finally, the Task Force will prepare a comprehensive plan incorporating all the areas of focus, and present this plan to Council.
Once Council puts the finishing touches on a final plan, this proposal will come before the congregation. We hope to pull all of this together in time for the celebration of our 190th Anniversary, which is planned for the Festival of Christ the King Sunday at the end of November. Sure, there is much to do. Appointing the Task Force is our first priority. Do not hesitate to share your interest in serving with members of the Church Council. We want broad congregational involvement. We have made great progress since suggesting the idea of a Five-Year Plan for Property Renovation at our June meeting. There is much to do in the weeks and months ahead. But we expect to accomplish great things as we work together in our efforts to exercise faithful stewardship over the physical treasure God has given us with this building and property we call the house of the Lord and our church home.
IN OTHER NEWS, Zion is looking forward to receiving Al Tessmer as an Associate Member. Al spends much of his time in Florida, where he is active in Faith Lutheran Church in Parish. We are happy that he now considers Zion his home away from home. On another note of good news, our Church Treasurer reported that income through June has been strong, and that, except for a couple of non-recurring property-related expenses, offerings have measured up very well against current expenses. For the record, we have compared very favorably with last year. Total Income through June of 2004 has increased 4% over last year. Stewardship Income through June of 2004 is up a healthy 11% over last year! That is exceptional. It is certainly true that the summer months create their own challenge; but we continue to benefit from your attentiveness to our ongoing needs. We thank you for your generous support.
Sunday School News
Upcoming Events -
Sunday, August 8: Mark your calendars!
This will be a great day for family fun:
8:00 a.m.---------Early service in sanctuary
9:15 a.m.------------Outside Sunday School
10:30 a.m.-------- Outdoor Worship Service
12:30 p.m.-------------Church Potluck Picnic
RALLY DAY SUNDAY on September 12:
Labor Day signals the end of summer. Our new Sunday School year will begin the very next weekend, on Sunday, September 12.
We have five more Sundays of Summer Sunday School in August. On August 8, the kids will be outside during Sunday School having our own mini Summer Games to help kick off our Congregational Picnic (which will follow an outdoor worship in the Pavilion at 10:30 a.m.). Have the kids dress comfortably and wear athletic shoes. Make sure that you dress comfortably, too.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CURRICULUM: We have a new curriculum for the start of the Sunday School year! We will kick our new year off with Rally Day on September 12th. That is the week after Labor Day Weekend. More details will follow in September's edition of The Zion Herald. So, stay tuned.
Vacation Bible School
The Son Games 2004 is almost here! Don't forget to sign up now. Registration forms are in the Church Office! VBS will be August 9th - 13th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will learn about one of God's MVPs, Paul, and his journeys as a member of God's Team. We will also learn about how we are also part of God's team! There will be great music, games, crafts, food and much, much more! We always need volunteers, so if you can help, please contact Debbie Fox at 330-966-2433. There will be sign up sheets in Luther Hall for supplies and food donations that we will need. There will be several service projects this year to help us remember the importance of serving God and helping those in need. See the next page for all the details! Everyone's support and help is so greatly appreciated!
Vacation Bible School Service
OFFERING - There will be a contest each day between the boys and girls to collect loose change. Each team will have a jar and the heaviest jar will win! This money will be donated to the Stark County MRDD for Special Olympics and the Stark County Hunger Task Force. Join in and help!
SCHOOL KITS - The children will be putting together school kits for children of our Food and Clothing Pantry families. Here is a list of needed items if you would like to donate to this project:
| Crayons |
Glue |
Pencils & Erasers |
| Scissors |
Paper |
Folders & Binders |
| Backpacks |
Rulers |
School Boxes |
[Have your children bring any donated items by Tuesday morning, August 10.]
FOOD PANTRY - We ask that each child bring in a food item each day if possible. This food will help stock Zion's food pantry, helping so many families in the community.
QUILT SQUARES - The children will once again create quilt squares for Zion's Quilters to sew quilts for Lutheran World Relief. We will raffle one quilt to be chosen by the winner on Thursday evening at the Ice Cream Social. Tickets will be available during the week: one for $1; or 6 tickets for $5.
We here at Zion feel that COMMUNITY SERVICE is an important part of our VBS Program. It teaches our children love and compassion, and lets them know that all of us are important members of GOD'S TEAM!
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND DONATIONS!
Congregational News
You are invited to join us for an Outdoor Worship Service on Sunday, August 8th. We are turning the 10:30 a.m. service into a "WEAR SHORTS TO CHURCH!" Sunday. This is our way of announcing the arrival of the Son Games to Zion Lutheran Church. This Olympics theme will take us all the way through to the end of the week. We want you to get excited, and to go ahead and spread the excitement around to neighbors and friends that will want to get excited about Vacation Bible School this year.
We will follow our Outdoor Service with a CONGREGATIONAL POTLUCK PICNIC. The church will provide the hotdogs, the hamburgers, the buns and condiments, paper plates and drinks; but you will need to bring a covered dish (enough to share), chips, dips and other snacks, and also the desserts. Don't forget to bring a lawn chair so you can enjoy our great Ohio weather on that big, beautiful lawn, where there will be fun and games for kids of all ages.
August 8th will be a great day for Zion, with an Outdoor Worship Service, special music by the Walters family, along with Melanie Slease. Plan on great singing, good weather, a fabulous setting, and a wonderful time.
August Anniversaries & Senior Birthdays
ANNIVERSARIES FOR JUNE
August 13 Steve & Margaret Porter
August 17 Ronald & Carole Singer
August 23 Mike & Rosalie Babich
August 29 Dan & Linda Wilson
August 29 Steve & Karen Amatangelo
SENIOR BIRTHDAYS FOR AUGUST
August 4 Cora Lanzalotta
August 4 Bob Leed
August 9 Larry Moore
August 20 Ila Givler
The Women Of Zion, And More
OUR COMFORT GIVERS get back in the swing of things with the arrival of Vacation Bible School. VBS kids will help design the quilts. Several will be displayed at our Thursday Evening Program and auctioned off during our Ice Cream Social. Please plan on joining in the fun.
THE WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY meets for fellowship and discussion on the third Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in Luther Hall. This group follows a study guide that is found in The Lutheran Women magazine. Sessions are led each month by a different member, on a volunteer basis. August's study will be based on Romans 8:22-27. The title is Resting on God's Promises. In this session we will look at the Holy Spirit's Role in sanctifying and sustaining us and all living things. All women in Zion are welcome to join us!
The WOMEN OF ZION thank you in advance for your support of their drive to provide Lutheran World Relief with more Health Kits and School Kits this year. The drive culminates this fall; but with back-to-school sales beginning a bit early, we thought that it would be good to remind you of what we need. HEALTH KITS include hand towels, bars of soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, nail files, and ?" band-aids. SCHOOL KITS include spiral notebooks, blunt scissors, 12" and metric rulers, 2 ?" erasers, unsharpened pencils with erasers, pencil sharpeners, crayons (box of 8), colored construction paper, 12" x 14" bags with handles. Take advantage of seasonal sales. Any assistance will be appreciated by the Zion's Women, Lutheran World Relief, and children around the world.
The Men of Zion
Building the Body of Christ at Zion is quite a challenge. The Men of Zion met on the second Wednesday in July, the 14th, to enjoy an outstanding dinner, and to discuss such matters as protocol around the kitchen, our part in the 5-Year Property Renovation Plan, upcoming anniversaries, potential speakers, and ideas about good teamwork. Using all of our gifts and talents (Bob Lancashire), encouraging the positive (Chuck Danner), having the patience to build good habits (Don Hertler), showing commitment (Fred Elsass), having the fire of desire to help the team (Al Tessmer): these were just some of the ideas that sparked conversation around the table. We will continue this discussion at our next meeting, set for WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 6:00 P.M., in Luther Hall. If you've got some thoughts of your own about good teamwork, bring them with you. Our thanks to John Davis for his leadership.
A Word from Zion's Food Pantry:
ZION'S FOOD PANTRY will not be open on Tuesday, August 10, due to our hosting the Son Games here at Zion; but everything will be ready for those whom we serve on the 4th Tuesday, August 24th. As you know, volunteers are always needed, always. The Food of the Month for August in BREAD, all kinds, all colors, all brands. We look forward to an exciting week of Vacation Bible School. We are thrilled with the connections being made with our kids at VBS. Our kids, our pantry, our community, and our clients will benefit. Praise God!
Please Don't Forget
The WOW Ministry Revisited
As mentioned in last month's newsletter, it is a great privilege to be asked to be your volunteer Visitation Assistant. This newly organized ministry is just one more example of Zion's efforts to Widen Our Witness -with all members, whether at home or in the hospital.
The response of those being visited has been amazing. Zion's prayers, cards, and other expressions of love and concern are deeply appreciated. Our goal is to visit monthly to supplement and support Pastor's visits.
As far back as I can remember, I've been fascinated by words and anagrams (or are they acrostics?) - like WOW. The word still fits for responses to this visitation ministry. Now for August: we are planning to emphasize Words Of Wonder - words found in Christ in our Home.
As I write this, one of the devotions for this week (July 30) is titled Windbags Or Windchimes?
The reflection on Ecclesiastes 1, which reads "...all is vanity and a striving after the wind," concludes with "God's Spirit refreshes, transforms, and invites us to be 'windchimes,' reflecting the beauty and harmony of Jesus Christ, the center of meaning. Can't you just feel the breeze?"
If you would like to be a part of Zion's visitation ministry, please call Pastor Sherwindt or me. We will welcome your interest and participation.
Heartfelt thanks to all,
Chuck Danner
Good News With Some Thank You's
To my Zion Family,
I would like to thank the members of Zion for the WELCOME HOME RECEPTION on June 27. This was so wonderful to come home to after being away for ten months. Special thanks go to Pastor Sherwindt, Darlene Milavickas, Flo Jensen, and Anna Mae LeBeau for all of their preparation for the reception. The decorations, care, and flowers were just beautiful. Thanks also go to Chuck Danner for all of his help with the equipment. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for everyone's support both before and during my mission trip to Germany. This trip would not have been possible without your help during my fund-raising activities last summer. Also, I appreciated your cards and words of encouragement during my time away. This was truly an amazing experience and I thank all of you.
Melanie Slease
A Note of Heartfelt Thanks to Pastor Sherwindt & Marilyn for their presence,
to Margaret Reichenbach, Chuck Danner, Dick & Edna Smith for their assistance,
to Edna and her Crew, the Women of Zion, for hosting such a wonderful luncheon:
All of us appreciate and thank you very much for your part in making the Memorial Service for John Milini so very meaningful for us. It was a great blessing to have our service at your church, and an even greater delight because of the luncheon that followed. Our thanks are extended to Pastor Sherwindt for presiding over such a beautiful service, which meant so very much to us; thanks to Margaret Reichenbach for the wonderful music; and thanks to all of you for adding to the depth and breadth of our worship and praise.
Love and God Bless,
Marilyn LeMasters, Gail and Frank Maimone,
& the families of Mike and Mark Milini and Marcia Radosevic
Judy and Jan Meyer wrote a very nice note thanking Pastor Sherwindt, and all the people of Zion, for the Service of Christian Burial we offered on behalf of their father, our dear friend, James C. Meyer. It was great to hear from Judy and Jan; and it was a privilege to share our journey in faith with Jim, and with the Meyer family.
We also heard from one of the many at Zion who have enjoyed what our Sunday School painters have done in their desire to add to the beauty of our building. This secret admirer writes, "Dear Painters, I must tell you what a joy it is to walk in the halls. They are so very nice. I haven't taken the time to go in the classrooms. I am sure they are just as joyful!!!" Indeed, they are. Take the time to check out the improvements our members have made.
More News And Thank You's
The Saturday Evening Entertainment Group enjoyed some great fellowship and really delicious food in July as we made the trek to Michael's Restaurant following our Saturday evening service. Once again, we had a nice crowd at worship, and a large group of diners, twenty-four to be exact. The evening was July 24th, which just happened to be Pastor Sherwindt's birthday. The group surprised the Pastor with a birthday dinner, which was absolutely superb, matched only by the excellent dessert - sundaes around at Ro's Custard Creations on South Main, an annual tradition hosted (and paid for) by Mike and Rosalie Babich. Thank you, Mike and Rosalie; and thank you, Saturday evening diners. What a wonderful surprise, and what a delicious evening. It was a birthday treat that I will never forget.
THE POWER OF PRAYER: We don't always have the opportunity to follow up on the good news that flows out of our Prayer Chain; but we can't help ourselves this month. Darlene Milavickas recently found herself battling with the ominous C-word. A surgical procedure indicated that chemo- and radiation-therapy were in her near-term future. She shared the news openly, and we were invited to join together in prayer, everywhere and often. Another surgical procedure was pursued, which came back with the good news that everything looked fine! No further treatments are required, except, of course, the continued application of prayers of praise and service at Zion! Ruth Storch oversees the good work of our Prayer Chain. If you'd like to join in its efforts, feel free to call Ruth (330-494-9335) or the Church Office (330-499-3909).
Our Fellowship Honoree for June: Gladys Miller
Friends come and go, but our honoree for this month has many friends who remember her in special ways. I did not know her personally, but only through her church-related activities. I admired her artistry and talent. Her close friend, Edna Smith, and I recently enjoyed a visit with her. Gladys and I soon found we had a common background being raised on a farm with ornery brothers.
Gladys was born May 29, 1915 on a farm in Beaverdam, Ohio (near Lima). She had two sisters, Grace and Esther, and three brothers, Elmer, Pleyd and Denver. As children they grew up happily on the farm raising crops and tending to a large orchard. They harvested the apples to make apple cider. Her father's favorite was a pound apple tree which spread its branches outward more than upward. Gladys and her siblings loved to climb the tree, and also play in the barn in the haymow. She must have been a tomboy! She also loved to pick wild Sweet William flowers and would fill every container for her Mother.
She attended a one room schoolhouse with grades from one thru eight. She started school at the age of 5 and walked to school every day. Her education continued at the town high school where she met her husband Lloyd Fowler. Lloyd and Gladys were married on September 22, 1934. They were blessed with four sons: Ronald lives in Tiffin, Ohio; Michael lives in California; Steve lives in Massillon; and John lives in Canton. She has seven grandchildren. Gladys has used her talent and has personally handmade each grandchild a beautiful quilt for remembrance. She has also made many other quilts for family and friends. She has six great-grandchildren.
After moving to the Canton area she was confirmed and joined Zion Lutheran on May 25, 1958. She was very active in many church programs: Altar Guild, Vacation Church School, Zion Women's group, Stewardship Committee, sewing, choir, and she played the piano. She recently got a spinet piano but hasn't had a chance to enjoy it yet. She loves the Psalms, all of the hymns, especially How Great Thou Art and the Ave Maria.
After her husband Lloyd died she found happiness again and married Herbert Miller on October 24, 1987. Gladys is very artistic. She loves tole painting, ceramics, makes beautiful angels and Ole World Santas. She has made many beautiful banners for Zion. The last one she made is the Ten Commandments that hangs in the sanctuary. Besides making quilts she loves to crochet, knit, read, play cards and was a wonderful cook. Traveling with friends to Switzerland was a special time. As if her talent never ends, she has worked for two florists in the Canton-North Canton area. Her favorite flower is the blue Sweet William and Lily of the Valley. Her favorite color is blue.
Gladys lives with her son Steve and his family in rural Massillon: a beautiful location with lots of trees, flowers, birds and little creatures. Raindrops are refreshing but a CARD shower would be welcome, too. Please send a card to this lovely and gracious lady at 2275 Kenyon Avenue SW, Massillon, Ohio 44647.
Time spent with her was a great pleasure - Betty Tracy
Team Zion
TEAM ZION finished the regular season in our North Canton Ministerial Coed Softball League with a win - well, with a forfeit. That left us with a 2- 5 season. We were seeded sixth of eight teams in the first round of the playoffs. The experience of our season must have helped. Team Zion beat the third seed, Trinity Baptist Church, by a score of 20 to 10. Our next stop will be the semi-finals, where we will play Trinity United Church of Christ, the second-seed, with a 6-1 record. We look forward to the challenge. The game is set for 6:00 p.m., Sunday, August 1st at Dogwood Field #2. Northminster Presbyterian, the first seed with at 7-0 record, plays Grace United Methodist Church at 5:00 p.m. Grace was a fifth seed, with a 3-4 record. Our thanks to Bob Lancashire for his leadership.
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