"BACK TO OUR FUTURE", PART 2: WORKSHOP SET FOR JANUARY 19
Great News From The ZION SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday, January 2, Sunday School and Choir Resumes, 9:10 a.m.
A Great Big Thank You from Debbie Fox & Lisa Roman:
Our Christmas Program was once again a great success! The children worked very hard on "A Traditional Christmas Pageant", and told a beautiful story of Jesus' birth. The cast, the costumes, the music and all who helped were outstanding! A great big "Thank You" goes out to all the children for a great job. Their commitment and hard work really showed during the program. They were very flexible and always willing to do whatever was asked of them. We are so grateful for such wonderful children!
We would also like to thank the parents for their commitment to the program and for allowing us to enjoy such a great group of kids! As always, there is a long list of volunteers to thank that helped to make our Christmas Program and party successful. Thank you to our Sunday School teachers: Renee Schrader, Connie Riffle, Janet Slease, Lisa Frock, Melissa Riffle, Ann Lemmo and Corlene Coulter, for all of the support and help with the program and party. Our kids really enjoy all of our teachers, and we are very fortunate to have such a great group. Thank you to Margaret Reichenbach for the beautiful musical accompaniment, and to the members of Zion's Senior Choir for helping to lead the Christmas Carols.
All in all we had a great Christmas Pageant and are already looking forward to our Easter Program. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts to everyone involved - to the kids, the parents, and to all who volunteered their time to help!
| The Zion Sunday School Staff would like to wish all of our families a peaceful and Happy New Year! | 
|
Council entertained special guest, John Long, long-term convenor of our Finance Ministry, who offered some background concerning the "Merrill Lynch" account, a collection of funds not usually included in financial reports about the Operating Budget, primarily because most of the funds in this account are designated for specific uses, like the building of a new sanctuary, or a new church, and other similar long-term goals and projects. Members found his report interesting and helpful.
Council anticipated some changes in our Finance Ministry as we look ahead to 2005. We acknowledged with gratitude the long-term service and exemplary dedication of Charlie Cavender and Len Swartz, who have served as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, respectively. Betty Taylor will begin serving as Assistant Treasurer with the start of the new year. Dave Palumbo will begin serving as our new Treasurer at the same time. Council also approved the appointment of Carol Rossbach as Vice-President, a position that became vacant when Suzanne Walters resigned to resume her role as Zion's Choir Director.
Council endorsed plans for a Congrega-tional Workshop, which will set us on a course that leads BACK TO OUR FUTURE. Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, January 19th, 2005, beginning with dinner at 6:15 p.m., and the workshop at 7:00 p.m. Our goal is to become a stronger, healthy, and growing congregation. We are moving forward by focusing on three key factors: our leadership, our programs, our building. We must improve in all three areas if we hope to lay hold of a future we once enjoyed. Plan on joining us on the 19th.
ADVANCED GIVING MAKES 14% DOWN-PAYMENT ON 2005 BUDGET!
The New Year has arrived, and the challenge of the 2005 Church Operating Budget is now upon us, all $215,400.00 of it! That is quite a budget; and while it is clearly within reach of our members, we will have to remain focused on its challenge if we hope to prove ourselves up to the task and worthy of the call. The good news is that we have already received a huge boost in terms of a resource called Advanced Giving. Advanced Giving refers to offerings that were made in 2004 that are intended to apply to 2005. It is often employed for the sake of receiving some sort of tax advantage; but the benefit to us is that we already have a leg up on the 2005 budget - a leg up of utterly unbelievable proportions!
$33,000.00! This is the amount that Zion's members have already given in support of our 2005 budgetary challenge. This is not a pledge, or a promise! Pledges, promises and good intentions are great, for these are the stuff of which generosity in giving is made. But the offerings I refer to as Advanced Giving are gifts that have already been given, given with the intention of encouraging the entire congregation to give with confidence as we look to show strength in the face of a long, uphill climb. These dollars will be placed in an interest bearing account, and brought into the budget in 12 equal installments. The point is not to inspire complacency, but confidence. We still need generous giving to meet our budget.
The first leg of our 12-month challenge begins right now with the heating bills we will encounter in January and February. These are difficult months because of the unpredictable expenses that hit us with the weather. In 2003 we were overwhelmed by these winter expenses. In 2004 we responded with great generosity in January and February. We hope for the same this year. Everyone must do their part. We will not reach the goal of our 2005 budget by relying on the generosity of a few. Zion needs our whole church family focused on looking for ways to pitch in as we inch our way toward the realization of what God knows that we can do.
I hope to say more about Advanced Giving in coming months. For now, all I need to say is THANKS - thanks to those whose generosity has tried to lead the way, and thanks to those who will follow this lead. As I've said, this is a tough month for churches in northeast Ohio. Let's respond with a strong January, giving with a joy that displays our gratitude to God for the gift He has given with the birth of His Son, the Babe in Bethlehem, Christ our Lord.
January Anniversaries & Senior Birthdays
01/13 Verle and Ruth Elsass
January 11 Verle Elsass
January 25 Mary Corbett, who will be 95!
A Note to Our Readers:
If you would like your anniversary information included in The Zion Herald,
just let the church office know by calling Helen Alex, 330-499-3909.
The return of SHAMELESS for the Youth Advent Service on December 19th brought our Sunday Evening Lenten series to a rocking conclusion. Tony Arteno, Terry Rohr, Mike Dieffenbaugher, Bruce Whitsel, and Dane Jeffries were fabulous as they provided the musical leadership during worship and great entertainment afterwards. Our thanks to Danielle Frock, Sara Evanoff, and Austin Sherwindt - each enjoying a Christmas break from the University of South Carolina, Ohio State University, and Northeastern University, respectively - for joining with our cast of readers to tell the story of Christ's birth through scripture readings and Christmas carols. Our cast included Dave Baughman, Corey Beaber, Todd Cizek, Laura Kay, Brooke Roman, Taylor Roman, Anna Sherwindt, and Matt Slease. Our thanks, as well, to Marilyn Espe-Sherwindt for leading our carols on piano, and to Mike and Tim Aquilo for moving the piano into Luther Hall!
THE LYO WINTER GATHERING is set for January 7-9, 2005, at the Holiday Inn in Independence. Our theme this year is "Back to Basics, with B.A.S.I. C. standing for Brothers And Sisters In Christ). Bob Lenz, a very popular speaker from Winter Gatherings past, will help us learn to rely on one another as we rely on Christ. Zion will send 20 participants, 14 youth and 6 leaders.
THE 2004-2005 BIBLE BOWL will focus on the Gospel of Matthew. Wayne Slease and Todd Elsass are preparing Zion's team for the Canton-Massillon Conference competi-tion, scheduled for February 13, 2005, at 2:00 p.m., at St. Jacob's Lutheran Church, 1460 State Street NE, here in North Canto
As we approach the holiday season, the needs of our clients reflect our changing weather patterns in northeast Ohio. In other words, think winter clothing. Updated lists itemizing our need for coats, scarves, boots, and the like will appear regularly on the door of our Clothing Closet. Check it out, please. Also, as was the case last year, we will be working with Zion's Youth in adopting several families for the Christmas season with a variety of gifts listed on our Giving Tree, which will appear in the Narthex with the First Sunday of Advent.
THANKOFFERING SUNDAY WAS A GREAT SUCCESS: The Women of the Church would like to thank the congregation for your generous support is making use of the Love Envelopes, which we provided with worship at our Thankoffering Service on November 14th, when Zion celebrated the work and witness of the Women of the ELCA. Once again, we exceeded last year's generosity, with an offering in excess of $963.00. This money is used to the work of our women locally as the Women of Zion support the work of the Women of the ELCA around the world.
LUTHERAN WOMEN TODAY:
The Women of Zion meet on the 3rd Tuesday for their monthly Bible Study, which focuses on the practical issues that are raised with the parables of Jesus. Each year we prepare for the coming of the birth of Jesus with great expectancy. We light candles, sing songs, decorate trees, put out our crèche. We're quite good at celebrating Christ's first coming, but are we as diligent in preparing for his second coming? How do we keep our lamps trimmed and burning? Join us on December 21st in Luther Hall at 9:30 a.m., when we will take a closer look at the story of the Ten Bridesmaids in Matthew 25.
ZION'S CHANCEL GUILD HOSTS THEIR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER in Luther Hall on Tuesday, December 14th, with a social gathering at 6:00 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m. The food is always delicious, and the company, simply divine. Also, we would like to thank our women for their help in preparing a very tasty supper for our first Sunday Evening Advent Program of the new church year on November 28th.
Zions Food Pantry and Giving Tree
ZION'S FOOD PANTRY AND GIVING TREE offered the perfect complement to our seasonal services. Worship and service form the heart of our witness to faith and our growth in grace. Zion's Food Pantry was busy on December 14th, distributing well over thirty Christmas hams (with all the holiday fixin's) here at the church and on the road with deliveries to households served by the Siffrin group homes. Our thanks to Shirley Cavender and Margaret Porter, along with the many persons whose donations in cash and kind joined the faithful cast of volunteers on hand here at Zion to make this wonderful tradition a thriving reality year in and year out.
Our Giving Tree also added a very nice touch to our holiday tradition of caring through outreach. Forty-eight tags were placed on the tree, and Zion's friends and members came through with all the gifts we asked for, with a few changes here and there. We brightened the day for several of the families that know us through the ministry of our Food Pantry, overwhelming both adults and kids with plenty of presents to place under the tree for Christmas. Again, our thanks to Zion's Youth, our Youth Leaders, Karen Kirk, Chuck Danner, and our many members and friends of Zion who made this project another great success.
None of this would happen without you. We have included some of the many THANK YOU'S we've received acknowledging the connection we've made with those we've tried to help. While there is no substitute for the pleasure of being there in person when the recipients of our good will respond with heartfelt joy, these brief notes help to underscore the satisfaction all should feel for a job well done.
THE MEN OF ZION met on Wednesday, November 10th, when we gathered for a delicious dinner of chili and corn bread prepared by Dale Jacobs. We then spent much of the evening wondering how we might contribute to the celebration of Zion's 190th Anniversary. Great progress was made in planning for a hay-ride, in volun-teering to make some follow-up telephone calls inviting members and friends to join us, arranging for refreshments, and helping with set up and clean up.
All agreed that it is important for Zion to remember our past, but it is even more important to plan for our future. A lively discussion about our discussion of The Purpose-Driven Church ensued, with many suggesting that we need to do even more to broaden participation in our efforts to learn more about becoming a "purpose-driven church. We are happy with the numbers that have shown up on Sunday mornings, and with the members who are supporting our three midweek discussion groups. We are also happy with efforts to enlist the involvement of Church Council members as participants and leaders in this discussion. Still, more needs to be done. Perhaps some afternoon workshops on Saturdays and/or Sundays will help to involve more members in the challenge of identifying realistic and measurable goals that will help us grow the church in love and service by grace.
Our Coed Volleyball League has finished it first half-season. Northminster Presyterian won bragging rights with a sweep of Zion Lutheran on Sunday, November 14th. We'll start up again on January 16th. We hope to have more teams playing and more courts to play on. It has really been great fun.
Remembering with Nancey - Peace and Pieces From Nancy Meuschke
[Last month's edition ended with a note of thanksgiving for the love that abounds at Zion, especially when the Meuschke family had to deal with Pastor's battles with cancer. Pastor Kurt Meuschke served Zion from 1968 to 1984. These memories come from a recent letter that Nancy wrote as we were preparing for the celebration of our 190th Anniversary.]
"Pastor Meuschke had established a prayer group that met each week. They were my special support. Pastor Findlay had been added to the staff and he tried to take on some of the burden of ministry. My ear was still glued to the phone each evening and I ate on my way home in the car. Yes, I would have felt terrible if you hadn't been concerned! Blair Woodside, Mike Babich, and Chuck Danner were always there to do anything, or just give Pastor a visit. Carl Geib and Mark Padjen kept the yard mowed and repairs made.
"There was a ramp to the back den, so Pastor always used that. He asked everyone to make a ramp for the pulpit, and then one Saturday he announced, "I'll preach tomorrow." As it turned out, he had learned to pull himself into the pulpit. No ramp had to be made. The Luther Leaguers decorated the front of the church for his homecoming. He was so overcome, he stepped backward and fell. He had no leg muscles for stepping backwards. We picked him up and that worry was behind us, because it was the first of many spills.
"Yes, the building had grown and the additions were GREAT! Memorial Hall, which was dedicated to Mark Peterson, was so needed. [We were dining with the Petersons the evening the knock came on their door. The war was over and we had just scheduled a special service of rejoicing that morning. It was heart-breaking to hear that he was missing in action.] The kitchen was such an improvement, although stainless steel needs polishing! I'd gotten the word that Friendly's Restaurant was going to redecorate and pitch everything. I checked it out and got some fellows and trucks lined up at 10:00 p.m. for catching the equipment, after they closed at midnight. SUCCESS! We filled the youth room, and surprised the kids! I fixed breakfast for the crew and everyone was in bed by 2:30 a.m. The kids added a jukebox and pop machine and hours and hours of fun!
"Mabel Carlson was the Women of the Church President, followed by many able, willing leaders. We were able to enjoy her courtship, marriage, and life together as she became Mrs. William Snyder. Earl Gopp was the Choir Director and Christine was the Church Organist. We saw them retire, tour, settle in Florida and return. Do you know Earl rode a motorcycle? It might have been a Harley, too. In retirement, Pastor had a Harley. It was a golf cart and got him everywhere in our neighborhood. It always had his seat, too.
"There were several other organists and choir directors, and Pastor even did the cantata, which he wrote, several times at Christmas with the choir. A Couples Club began with 76 for dinner at the parsonage. Oh my, it was a tight budget that month and I still have the menu and amounts in my file. Staff dinners, members received during the year, and the annual Open House, were all ways we tried to get to know you better...."
ZION TAKES A MOMENT TO RECEIVE GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFTS IN 2004!
During the weekend of December 18-19, between the Children's Christmas Pageant and our Christmas Eve Services, we took some time as a congregational family to receive some new members into our midst. In some cases, we added to families already present as members, and in other cases we added whole new families to our numbers. Becky Aquilo has been a member at Zion for a couple of years. On the evening of Sunday, December 19th, with SHAMELESS providing music to accompany our Advent Youth Services, Becky's sons, Michael and Tim, sensed our love and God's call and joined our ranks as fellow members of the priesthood of believers gathered for service to the kingdom here at Zion. Mike and Tim have already been great assets in giving us that winning edge on the softball field and the volleyball court. We are thrilled to have them as new members of our church family.
Our newest confirmand, Chase Weinman, proved to be a valuable connection in drawing the blended family of his mother, Lorraine Weinman, and father, Mark Votaw, along with brothers Tom and Jon Votaw into our congregational family. Lorraine and Chase transferred their membership from Christ Lutheran in Cambridge, Ohio. Mark and sons hail from an Episcopalian background, with church connections in Virginia, New York, and New England. One of Mark's first jobs in life involved working for the Episcopal priest who is presently the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, Fr. Gene Robinson. How's that for a small world! Welcome to North Canton, and to Zion.
When Don and Shirley Hertler were enjoying the warmth of sunny Florida, they were also doing some evangelism for Zion; and when they returned this past spring, they brought with them a friend who felt at home at Zion. Jean Scheck felt so comfortable in our midst that she invited her daughter Melinda McElfresh, who also decided that Zion made a great family connection. Of all the ways to grow a church, you don't often see northeast Ohio attracting Lutherans from the sun-belt. If there's a formula here, or a trend emerging, let's get Jean to share it with us! Another of Don and Shirl's successes in outreach is Edna Fischer's dear friend, Al Tessmer, who calls Zion home when he is back in Ohio for the summer months.
Finally, we have also enjoyed some success through reaching in among some of Zion's longer terms members. Helen Alex enjoyed an intergenerational connection when daughter Karen presented her son Logan James Alex to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism with the arrival of Advent on November 28th. Speaking of extended families, we were happy to welcome the connection between Dick and Edna Smith with their daughter Renee, and her husband Dave Palumbo. Dave, a Certified Public Accountant with extended roots and extensive connections in the Akron and Canton areas, has jumped into Zion head-first with his willingness to take over the reins as Treasurer at Zion. What a gift, and how timely!
These are all wonderful reminders of the Good News that God does provide. We extend a hearty welcome to all, and offer our thanks to God for making this Christmas absolutely perfect. Receiving new members is a great way to begin year number 191. Let's hope for more of the same as we look ahead to ZION 200, the event of Zion's 200th anniversary, which is set on the calendar for the year 2014!
Dear Shirley, Margaret, and Zion,
Thank you for all the help in securing food for the Thanksgiving holiday. Your help in securing the abundance of food was greatly appreciated. As you know, many of our people do not have the financial means or family support to enjoy such a feast that you provided for Thanksgiving. Our people thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful items, especially the homemade cookies and the wonderfully decorated bags. Again, thank you for your help and support during the holiday season. You have given our folks something to be truly thankful for this year. Your generosity is very much appreciated.
Sincere gratitude,
Matt Myers,
Director of Program Services
To our friends at Zion Lutheran,
We would like to thank you for the turkey and the essentials you contributed to our home for Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays!
Jennifer Mattern
Samantha, Keera, Scott, Mike
The Siffrin Group Homes
Dear Shirley, Margaret, and Zion,
Thank you for the turkey and all the goodies.
The Mollane Home - Siffrin
Dear Shirley, Margaret, and Zion,
Thank you for the turkey and all the goodies.
The 12th St. Home - Siffrin
Dear Friends at Zion,
We here at Wales would like to thank you for the wonderful Thanksgiving basket we received. Thanks, again, and God bless.
The Staff at T. Latimore
Dear Zion Lutheran Members,
All the guys here greatly appreciated the turkey and the groceries. They thank you very much for your generosity.
The Siffrin Group Home
To the kind people of Zion,
Thank you so much for all your help to meet so many of our needs. May God bless each one of you!
Love and gratitude,
The Miller family
Dear Friends at Zion,
A sincere Thank You for providing the Thanksgiving Dinners to those in the Siffrin Group Homes. The beautiful dinner was enjoyed by the young men in our home. Your generosity will long be remembered. Thank you so much. By the way, my grandson, Seth, lives in this home. The boys helped prepare the meal. We appreciate this beautiful act of kindness.
Sincerely,
Beth Geiselman
Dear Zion Lutheran Members,
Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. Thank you for the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. We are very thankful for the kind friends we have as neighbors. May God bless you all throughout this holiday season.
Sincerely,
Jason, Richard, Joe, Keith, and Staff
Dear Pastor and Members of Zion,
I want to thank you and your congregation for letting us use your church again this year for our overnighter. The boys had a blast and so did the parents. The pack wanted to thank you for the use of the church by contributing to your food shelter. Dale Jacobs tells us that you can put the food to good use. Hopefully we can continue to use the church in future years. Keep God first in everything you do.
Sincerely,
John J. Harter
Cubmaster, Pack 921
Zion's Vacation Bible School Participants,
On behalf of our 400 Special Olympians in the Stark MRDD program, thank you for the donation of $300.00 to our Skills Basketball program. Your donations will be used to help provide uniforms to our skills players, some of whom will also have the oppor-tunity to compete on the state level against others in the skills programs. Our athletes love the opportunity to improve their skills, and even more, they enjoy the chance to make new friends in 'fun' situations.
A Yale University study has proven what we have seen first-hand. Persons with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities who take part in Special Olympics do better overall than their peers who do not participate. Furthermore, the study concluded that the benefits of participation in Special Olympics increase in direct proportion to the length of time an athlete is actively involved.
Thank you for helping to make this experience even more enjoyable for our Special Olympians, as they take pride in being part of a 'team'. [As you might recall, our VBS theme was TEAM, which means, Together Everyone Accomplishes More!]
Sincerely,
Jane Mathie
Special Olympics Coordinator
Dear Debbie, Zion Lutheran, and VBS,
Thank you so much for your Bible School collection for the Stark County Hunger Task Force. We are especially pleased to receive donations from children. You have taught them a valuable lesson about sharing with those who are less fortunate than them-selves. That lesson will serve them well as they grow up. Your donation of $300.00 will provide over 2,000 pounds of food for our food pantries. Many people will be fed because of your kindness. We appreciate your efforts and look forward to working with you again in the future. Zion Lutheran Church is a real blessing to the community.
Sincerely,
Donna Berkebile
Program Director
To Santa's Helpers at Zion Lutheran,
God bless you all for all that you have done for our family. Thank you so much for making Christmas a true joy this year.
Lori and family