Zion Lutheran Church, Announcements

Yesterday (Jan.20th) at the 4th Quarter Voter’s Assembly meeting we concluded the Church business for the year 2007, it was a good meeting... very well attended, the luncheon food was very good and though a little long, the meeting went well.

Several important news notes from the meeting were  1. Our financial condition is much improved, (but the increased level of contributions must be maintained throughout the year).  2. The 5:00PM Saturday Worship Service will be discontinued after the Saturday February 2, service, ( the Board of Elders had recommended discontinuance , the Church Council agreed and the Voter’s Assembly by a large margin of 32 to 13 voted to abolish the service.)  3. A committee is being formed to develop potential short term and extended uses for the Parsonage, the committee will begin meeting in several weeks.  4. The last portion of the Constitution/By-laws were approved by the Voters, after proof reading for spelling and grammar errors we can print and distribute it.  Thanks to Martha & Gerard, Allan C and many others who worked on the revision.

At the Retreat Church Council Meeting (Sat.Jan.6th’), Council members were presented with new initiatives by our Pastor that included a mission statement and church logo (more about this later) that would give our Church an easily recognizable identity but most importantly we heard about Consecration Sunday and plans for it, as well as other initiatives that will guide us into a good Christ and Community ministry effort.  The Church Council approved these proposals and Pastor presented them to the Congregation at the following Sunday Worship services.

I think we bad a good year in 2007, though Worship Service attendance was down, our total membership continued to grow.  We did well with our focus on Christian education and activities for our children.  It was a year of vacancy and the uncertainties that go with that.  But we hung together; we worked well together to continue the traditions of our Church and most importantly, continued our sincere worship of our LORD, while facilitating the ministry of Christ.

And now we begin an exciting 2008.  The seven new initiatives, as presented by our Pastor sound very good.  At the Church Council meeting several members and committees volunteered to head up some of these new initiatives while others will be managed by Pastor Gary.  I suggest we wholeheartedly support these members and committees who are heading up the new initiatives and our Pastor, not only with our efforts but with our prayers.

Del W.

Paul and Mary P - Paul and Mary were previously members of Zion.  We welcome them back.

Clint and Cathy F and their children, Clayton and Cailey - Cathy grew up here at Zion and is now an administrator in the Hillsboro School District.  Clint, also a Hillsboro graduate and former Hillsboro teacher, is an administrator in the Northwest School District.

After much study and consideration, the Voters passed a motion to eliminate the Saturday evening service in order to better use the resources of our Pastor and facilities here at Zion.  The last Saturday service will be held February 2, 2008.  This decision was not arrived at lightly.  If this decision adversely affects you, Pastor Gary encourages you to speak with him.

Holy Communion services this month will be February 2-3, and February 17.  Just a reminder that two, non-alcoholic (grape juice), individual communion cups are offered on the communion trays.  They are placed in the center of the tray and are usually lighter in color that the cups of wine.

February Happenings:

3rd-Last Day to sign up for Ski Trip. Zion Youth Account will help subsidize the cost—$25 for Zion Youth. Guests and adults-$50. Sign up sheet on bulletin board or contact Robert T or Steph S.

8th-Youth Night at Zion -  Meet in Youth Center @ 6 p.m., Songs, Prayer and Scripture, Activity—Broomball, Volleyball, etc.

18th-Ski Trip - Leave church @ 7:30 am., begin skiing by 9:00 a.m. and return to church @ 5:30 p.m.

20th-Youth Group Lenten Dinner - Youth will serve the dinner.  Free will donations will be accepted.

22nd-Youth Night at Zion, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

In February, we think of matters of the heart….celebrating Valentine’s Day, and focusing on heart health.  The American Heart Association promotes an educational campaign about women and cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of American women.
Some Facts About Women and Heart Disease
· 8,000,000 American women are currently living with heart disease
· Nearly 13% of women age 45 and over have had a heart attack
· 435,000 American women have heart attacks each year: 83,000 under age 65 and 9000 under age 45
· Women who smoke risk having a heart attack 19 years earlier than non-smoking women
· Women with diabetes are 2-3 times more likely to have heart attacks

But men also are at risk for heart disease.  Learn to recognize heart attack and stroke symptoms and act quickly when you notice the warning signs.

Lower your risk of heart disease and stroke with management of your blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol.  Get a regular check up from your health care provider.  Don’t smoke.  Drink alcohol in moderation.  Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes.  Eat healthy!  Floss your teeth! ( Flossing prevents gingivitis-a chronic gum infection that can trigger inflammation in your arteries and increase the risk of dangerous blood clots.)

During the month of February Zion’s Parish Health Ministry will be offering several opportunities for everyone to learn more about Heart Disease, Diabetes, and Stroke.

First, in cooperation with the Missouri Foundation For Health Grant, we will be offering individual information sheets on each of these health issues in your mail slots at church during the month of February, with a special review for women 35 years or older.

Second, there will be a Cardiac Risk Profile/Assessment offered at Zion at no charge on Sunday, February 10 from 7-10 A.M.  This includes Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure and Weight.  It is recommended that persons fast after midnight before the screening.  A sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board for appointments.

Angel Food Ministries offers a great selection of food items on a monthly basis at a very low cost and it is available to anyone, regardless of financial status.  They also accept Food Stamps.  Orders are placed at host sites in the area (churches) on a specified date and then the food is picked up at that site on the distribution date.  See the poster on the church bulletin board for more information or visit their website at www.angelfoodministries.com

Mark your calendar now for the next Blood Drive on March 4 from 3-7 p.m.  Share the gift of life by donating blood.

Like to sing your holiday favorites?  Do we sometimes not sing them enough at our special services?  Then join us every Wednesday evening at 7:15 p.m. in the sanctuary before Lenten services to call out your favorites from Lutheran Worship, the Hymnal Supplement, and even The Lutheran Hymnal.  We will then all sing along in 1 or 2 verses of your favorite!  We will start this February 13, the week after Ash Wednesday.  Hope to see everyone; and look for this again at Advent!

KIDS FOR CHRIST VALENTINES PARTY

Sunday, February 10, from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Kids for Christ will be meeting in the Fellowship Hall.  We will be making cards for our homebound members for Valentines Day and having a party.  This is not your typical cards and candy party.  It does have to do with hearts, YOURS!  Please bring a healthy snack to share with others and wear comfortable clothes.  Come and join the fun!  Contact Theresa W for more information.  All children are welcome, even pre-school, accompanied by a parent.

The special emphasis for FEBRUARY is LAYETTES.  These layettes are used in refuge camps, hospitals, and villages around the world to convey a warm welcome to newborns and their mothers.

Each LAYETTE includes:
        two shirts or onesies
        two gowns or sleepers
        two receiving blankets
        four cloth diapers
        one sweater
        two washcloths
        one bath-size bar of gentle soap
        two diaper pins

Sizes up to 24 months are needed and gently used, clean items are great for these kits.  Items can be placed in the tubs in the narthex.  Call Margaret W with any questions, for more details, or to volunteer to help.

Bring the whole family for an evening of conversation, fellowship, and musical entertainment.  There will be a variety of coffees and cheese cakes to taste.  Hot chocolate and cookies will also be served.  Bring a board game or a deck of cards to share.

Mark the night on your calendar — FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd.

Sponsored by the Board of Family Ministry.  Watch the board in the narthex for more information.

Christ the Vine Lutheran School

We are reaching the end of the first half of school.  It is amazing how quickly time goes by.  The classes are busy learning about winter activities and snow animals.  So far, the weather is not supporting our activities.  The children would love to see a few more snow flakes before it starts to warm up. 

January 16th we celebrated Carrie B’s 6th anniversary with Christ The Vine.  She is one of the many blessings we have here on staff.  Carrie is an incredible asset to our office staff and we are extremely grateful to her for everything she does.  Thank You Carrie!

Christ The Vine is busy preparing for upcoming events.  Keep your eyes open for our Golf Outing information.  We will be looking for hole sponsors, prize donations, and volunteers to help run the event.  Otherwise, talk to your golf partners and plan on entering a team and support CTV at the same time.

Stephanie M. Miller
Preschool Administrator

January sales:  $2165 January profit: $55.60.  Thanks for your support.

A check for $675.76 was given to Christ the Vine in January.  This represented our profit for 2007.

Our next SCRIP ORDERING is planned for Saturday / Sunday February 2nd and 3rd.

What’s NEW:  Amazon.com is now available in $100 denominations

We have Wal-Mart, Shop-N-Save, Dierberg's, Shell Gas, and Imo’s Pizza SCRIP in-stock, on-hand, and ready for purchase.

Check out the program and the retailers at www.glscrip.com.  Information and Order Forms are on the table in the Narthex.

Cell Phone and Ink Cartridge Recycling collection box is in the fellowship hall.  Remember to use your FREE Schnucks e-Scrip Community Card.

Call Margaret W with any questions, for more details, or to volunteer to help.

Sunday, March 2, 2008 Noon-4:00 p.m.  Watch the narthex board for sign up sheets, help will be needed.

In chapter 21, we transition from the moral / categorical law of the 10 commandments to the detailed case law of the ordinances, which take up much of the rest of Moses' five books.  God gets down to the nitty gritty in excruciating detail.  Many of these ordinances come across as primitive, hardcore and, frankly, downright weird to the modern mindset.  Even faithful Christians have difficulty understanding them in light of the gospel of grace they've been taught in Christ Jesus.  So how are we to interpret Old Testament Covenant law?  The first thing to understand is that these laws are given in the context of a theocracy - the only true one to ever exist in world history.  YAHWEH has chosen and redeemed this nation for a very unique, unprecedented and specific mission.  They are to stand out and be radically different in every conceivable way in order that they might indeed be a light to the nations.  With that in mind, we can begin to explore other considerations God had in mind when giving His people the Mosaic law:

1. Compassion for the disenfranchised - Concern for the widow, the orphan, the poor, the alien and the slave permeates these ordinances.  And the basis for this moral imperative is always the compassion YAHWEH showed His own people in delivering them from their bondage in Egypt.  Ransom and redemption are especially big ideas.

2. Justice and mercy in judicial proceedings - Many say the tit-for-tat dictum "an for an eye" is evidence of the "primitive", more "brutal" and "vengeful" God of the Old Testament.  They say further that Jesus represents some kind of evolution of our understanding of God, if not of God himself.  Those who say such things fail to understand the context.  This is actually a gracious restriction, given in a strictly judicial context, on gross abuses of authority.  The punishment is always to fit the crime.  No more can a man avenge himself sevenfold (Genesis 4:24).  This strictly legal principle is not intended to govern personal relationships.

3. Cultic purity - The commandment "You shall have no other gods before me" drives everything.  The covenant is central.  That's why YAHWEH keeps re-confirming it all the time even though His people keep messing up.  The people are not to be corrupted by idolatry, especially in light of their special call and mission to the world.  This is where some of the "weird" prohibitions come in.  For example, "cooking a young goat in its mother's milk" (23:19) was part of a Canaanite ritual involved in the casting of a spell.

4. Maintenance of the creative order - This idea is central to God's plan for the redemption of the world.  The very first sin was a perversion of the creative order.  In fact, that's what all sin is.  This is where the prohibitions against bestiality and later homosexuality (Lev. 20:13) come in.  There are also cultic considerations in regard to these practices (see #3).

All of the above concerns apply to Christ in equal measure.  God does not change or evolve.  In fact, if you think YAHWEH is stern, consider the fact that the Sermon on the Mount is the Mosaic Law on steroids.  All the detailed externals are cast aside as Jesus zeroes in on our internal motivation.  "Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect"??!!!  WHOA!!!  The only change of great significance is that, once and for all, Christ has fulfilled on our behalf the nitty gritty of not only the law that governs externals, but all of it.  In so doing, He's absorbed every last bit of its "tit-for-tat" that we disenfranchised slaves and aliens might be ransomed and redeemed for eternity and given a land to call our own.  God's "sent One" is leading us safely there as freed captives in His train (Eph. 4:8).  And, If you think it's pretty cool that Moses and the elders got to see God and live, that's got nothing on the miracle of the incarnation.  YAHWEH of the Old, Jesus of the NEW. A holy and pure God of compassion, order, mercy and presence.  The exact same ideas, only much broader application.