2011.01

O f f i c e@ Zi on Bu f f a l o . o r g ( 7 63 ) 6 82 - 12 45 w ww. Z i on Bu f f a l o . o r g

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH • BUFFALO, MN JANUARY 2011

Sunday Worship Services

8:30 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary with nursery available 9:45 am Family Express in Trinity Hall 10:30 am Jubilee Worship in the Sanctuary with nursery available

Sunday School

Available for children ages 3 to grade 6 at 8:30 and 10:30 during the school year

Wednesday Nights

Programs for elementary students, choirs, handbells, confirmation and supper during the school year.

Contact Us

Email [email protected] Online www.ZionBuffalo.org Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (noon summer Fridays) Church Office 763.682.1245 Fax 763.684.1967 Street Address 1200 Highway 25 South, Buffalo (across from 13th St S.) Mailing Address PO Box 88, Buffalo, MN 55313

Prayer Requests

Call the church office at 763.682.1245 or visit Zion online at ZionBuffalo.org with your prayer requests. If you want a pastoral visit or would like to be included in pastoral prayers during worship, please use a yellow pew card or call the church office.

Address, Phone & Email Corrections

Zion maintains a database of all members. If you have had any changes to your address, phone number, marital status, etc. please contact Angela with your name, phone number and the changes that need to be made.

If You Are Ill

Hospitals no longer notify churches when their members are admitted for care. Call 763.682.1245 and let us know so we can support you with prayer and with presence.

Weekly Bulletin Insert

The weekly bulletin announcement insert is also available to download as a PDF at ZionBuffalo.org/Weekly. Contact Diane Montplaisir with submissions as early in the week as possible, but no later than Thursdays at Noon.

The Voice

A monthly publication of Zion Lutheran Church

Upcoming Deadlines

January 17 at 8am for February 2011 Issue

February 14 at 8am for March 2011 Issue

Editor: Angela Bengtson

[email protected]

This Month’s Cover

Shelby, Hailee, & Hannah as three kings in the

Sunday school Christmas Program

Zion Staff

Ted Vanderpan: Senior Pastor

ext. 304 | [email protected]

Karri Anderson: Interim Associate Pastor


Sherilyn Burgdorf: Shared Ministry Director


Roxie Otten: Co-Director of Christian Education


Holly Husom: Co-Director of Christian Education


Myron Crawford: Director of Youth Ministries


Jim Onstad: Youth Staff

Diane Montplaisir: Administrative Secretary


Angela Bengtson: Communications & Membership


Sue Stensrud: Financial Secretary


Tom Janzen: Facility & Grounds Manager

[email protected]

Louis Nagel: Part Time Custodian

Missy Peterson: Nursery Staff

Michael Walsh: Coordinator of Music

Congregational Council

Kevin Bergquist

Roger Brenny

Bill Deneen

Mike Davis

Tracy Gurneau

Kelly Hanson

Devonne Kent

Beverly Koopman

Sue Lyrek

Colleen Manninen

Scott Morin

Steve Peterson

Wanda Weber

Zion seeks to share Christ’s word, strengthen faith and serve those in need. 2

Information

Called to Be

By Pastor Ted Vanderpan

Happy New Year! I pray that your 2011 will be filled with God‟s presence and peace no matter what circumstances the year brings your way.

I love the natural inclination to look both backward and forward at this time of year. Most of us reflect on the year completed. We think about what has taken place. Most years hold joys and sorrows, celebrations and lamentations. In our own ways, we “take stock” of where we are at in life. We also look ahead. I am sure you have some things you are hoping for in 2011. You may have career goals like a promotion or a new job. Maybe you have family goals like more time with your loved ones or a special vacation. We all want good health. Your hopes and goals for the coming year will shape your thinking, planning and decision making in 2011. What you want to happen in 2011 will affect where you spend your time and effort. I truly pray that God will fill your 2011 with all of the good things you are hoping for!

Healthy, vibrant congregations go through that same kind of process – 1. Looking back and assessing where we are, 2. Looking ahead and identifying where we want to be, 3. Making plans to determine how to get there. At church we call it visioning.

At our Annual Congregational Meeting on December 5, we adopted a proposal to make 2011 a year of visioning at Zion. A Visioning Task Force is working on the details of how this will happen, but as voted on at the Annual Meeting, the process will:

Provide opportunity for the entire congregation to participate,

Review Zion‟s current mission statement and put into written form both a Mission and Vision statement for the next stage of Zion‟s life,

Identify several key initiatives which will provide direction and focus for the mission and ministry of Zion for approximately the next 5 years,

Develop a strategic plan to implement the initiatives into the life of the congregation,

Present the above for approval at the 2011 Annual Congregational Meeting.

During January I want to share these important shaping and direction determining ideas with you in a series of messages titled Called to Be...

January 9 Members of God‟s Family

January 16 Models of God‟s Character

January 23 Ministers of God‟s Love

January 30 Messengers of God‟s Grace

If you call Zion your church home, I invite you to make a special effort to be in church during January. The ideas we share in these messages will bring focus for ongoing discussion in the congregation. The responses of individuals like you will add to the ideas and together we will continue discussing and clarifying the course of Zion for the next three to five years. I look forward to seeing God lead us and direct us through this process.

From the Pastor

Worship Schedule

Sunday, January 2

Second Sunday of Christmas

John 1:10-18

Pastor Karri Preaching

Sunday, January 9

Baptism of Our Lord

Matthew 3:13-17

Pastor Ted Preaching

Called to Be Members of God’s Family

Sunday, January 16

Second Sunday after Epiphany

John 1:29-42


Called to Be Models of God’s Character

Friday, January 23

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Matthew 4:12-23


Called to Be Ministers of God’s Love

Sunday, January 30

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Matthew 5:1-12


Called to Be Messengers of God’s Grace

Visioning Questions?

What is visioning?

Visioning is the process of determining

where we are now and where we want to

be in the future. It is strategic planning

to help an organization focus and utilize

its resources of staff, finances, time,

talents and members most effectively.

Why should Zion do visioning?

To help us determine what God is

calling us to do as a congregation and

as individuals, to set goals for the

congregation for the next 3 to 5 years

and plan how to accomplish those goals.

When will we do it?

The process began with the Reaching

for Tomorrow events which were held

this fall and will proceed thru much of

2011.

(Visioning continued on page 13)

3

Mission Jamaica Team Preparing

By Terry Peterson

We are excited about our upcoming Mission trip to Jamaica. A group of 24 will leave Minnesota on February 26, and returning on March 5.

Mission Jamaica is a short-term "vacation with a purpose" program, which began at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi in 1990. Mission Jamaica provides Christians a meaningful way to put their faith into action through short-term mission trips to Jamaica. We serve our Jamaican partners by planning, funding and implementing Christian teaching, medical care, childcare, and construction projects.

Zion‟s group will be participating in two projects, with six serving at the medical clinic and 18 serving with J'Bode, which is similar to Habitat for Humanity. The group covers all of their own expenses related to the trip, and members of the congregation will be able to contribute towards supplies that we will be leaving in Jamaica. All will be invited to participate in a prayer chain where we will be praying for the people we will be helping as well as our journey to serve. Paul tells us in Romans 10:12. "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

More information about contributing supplies, joining the prayer chain, and eventually updates from the group while they are in Jamaica will be available online at ZionBuffalo.org/MJ.

Baptisms

November 14

Liam Andrew Gleason

Madeline Claire Mundt

November 21

Henry Francis Umhoefer

Brennan Thomas Jacobs

November 28

Eloise Adele Kohls

Weddings

November 27

Sarah McBroom & Aaron Squadroni at Zion

Funerals

November 13

Edmund “Swede” Anderson

November 19

Evangeline Callerstrom

November 21

Judith Seibert

December births & pastoral acts will be

reported in the February Newsletter.

Active Military

Please Pray For

Fred Pierce

Stationed in Miramar, CA

Cody Bauman

Returned from Afghanistan and stationed at

Fort Bragg, NC

Doug Pecarina

Army National Guard

Charles Mandery

Army National Guard

Chris Paulsen-Schmidt

Stationed at Norfolk, VA

Korey Siltman

Stationed in Washington State

Christopher Brophy

Stationed at Fort Reiley, KS

Ben Pecarina

Stationed at Las Vegas, NV

Will Dobbins

Stationed in Japan

Greg Bremseth

Stationed at the MEPS in Houston, TX

DeAnna Strommen

Stationed at Fort Hood, TX

News and Views

4

The Mission Jamaica Team: Jeff Bonde, Andrew and Sherilyn Burgdorf, Denny Gleason, Laurel Lundeen, Linda and Vernon Lear, Missy Peterson, Pastor Ted Vanderpan, Sue Lyreck, Pat Schmidt, Jeanne Holland, Russ and Terry Peterson, Teresa Mandery, Rick Dehmer, Pat Peterson, and . Not pictured: Michael Burgdorf, Howard Burgdorf, Nancy Dehmer, Wes Holland, Gary and Mary Lynn Leff.

Baptism Class

Zion offers a class for new or

prospective parents wishing to schedule

a baptism at Zion.

Anyone wishing to schedule a baptism is

asked to attend a class prior to the date

of the baptism. Expectant parents as

well as those who already are parents

may attend the class.

Scheduling of baptisms will take place

at the class.

The next classes are Wednesday

January 5 at 6pm or Sunday, February

13 at noon.

Register online or by calling the office.

5

Gayle Dramen

Gayle has been a life long member of Zion. She lives with her husband and their two children on a hobby farm a few miles south of Zion. On their farm they have pigs, chickens and peacocks (who provided peacock feathers for sale at the last Harvest of Hands). She works as an optometrist in Buffalo

Any extra time Gayle has is spent making jewelry for Zion‟s annual Harvest of Hands festival raising money to feed the hungry. She most enjoys making bracelets and necklaces by weaving crystals and seed beads together into intricate designs.

Gayle says, “I first got into beading two years ago by learning the basics at the Harvest of Hands biweekly meetings at Zion. Now I am so obsessed with the craft that I go to at least two jewelry making classes a month at various bead stores in Minneapolis to learn new designs. I feel like a scout for our Harvest of Hands group. I always look forward to the next meeting to show what I have learned and pass along the fun of beading.”

Gayle is pictured with her daughter Maddi, who also helps with

beading for Harvest of Hands.

Annual Congregational Meeting Report

Church Council

Wanda Weber, Bill Deneen, Mike Davis, & Beverly Koopman were elected

Nominating Committee

Dirk Foster & Lorraine Statema were elected. Jane Crawford (write-in) has accepted the remaining position.

Zion Foundation

Dirk Foster & Wade Swenson were elected.

Minneapolis Area Synod Voting

Members

Harley Pommier, Tracy Gurneau, Sue Foster & Taylor Moynaugh-Gurnea were elected. Vernon Lear (write-in) has accepted the remaining position.

Other Actions

Three motions that were included in the agenda regarding Bridgebuilder, Visioning, and Vital Mission all passed. The full content of those motions are available from the church office and at ZionBuffalo.org/AM2010.

Wanda Bill

Mike Beverly

Membership Class

Those who are ready for a deeper commitment to this ministry are invited to the next Membership Class at 11:45am on Sunday, January 30. This orientation to membership provides a brief overview of Lutheran Christian beliefs and practices, the ministries of Zion, and expectations of members. Those that decide to become members will be formally received into our congregation on the following Sunday, February 6. Sign up at www.ZionBuffalo.org or at the information desk.

Can You Spare Three Wednesdays?

Zion always welcomes adults to join a Wednesday Supper team, even in the middle of the school year. The Wednesday Supper schedule is already at the halfway point so joining a team now would require only 3-4 nights of your time between now and May. It‟s a simple commitment and a great way to meet a few more folks from Zion. You‟ll be making the same menu each time you serve so your team can build on past experience to make serving easier each time. The taco and baked potato team particularly need a few more hands. Call Cindy Bonde at (763) 684-1467 for more information.

Zeitoun

Zion Book Club

The Zion Book Club will meet on Monday, January 10, at 7pm in the Library to discuss Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.

Through the story of one man’s experience after Hurricane Katrina, Eggers draws an indelible picture of Bush-era crisis management. Abdulrahman Zeitoun, a successful Syrian-born painting contractor, decides to stay in New Orleans and protect his property while his family flees. After the levees break, he uses a small canoe to rescue people, before being arrested by an armed squad and swept

powerlessly into a vortex of bureaucratic brutality. When a guard accuses him of being a member of Al Qaeda, he sees that race and culture may explain his predicament. Eggers, compiling his account from interviews, sensibly resists rhetorical grandstanding, letting injustices speak for themselves. His skill is most evident in how closely he involves the reader in Zeitoun’s thoughts. Thrown into one of a series of wire cages, Zeitoun speculates, with a contractor’s practicality, that construction of his prison must have begun within a day or so of the hurricane. (Amazon.com)

In Coming Months

Details of all these books are online at ZionBuffalo.org/Social

February 7 (change due to Valentine's Day): Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blom

March 14: The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

Fellowship & Study

6

Wednesday Menu

If you’re looking for a new year’s

resolution that you can keep, make

plans to come to Wednesday Night

Suppers at Zion! There’s a tasty meal

waiting for you every Wednesday from

5:00-6:15 in the Fellowship Hall for a

suggested donation of $3 per plate.

January 5: Soup & Chili & Hotdogs

January 12: Pasta

January 19: Baked Potatoes

and Mac & Cheese

January 26: Sub Sandwiches

Meals will be served each week between

January 5 and the end of the school

year excluding school breaks.

Odd Jobs

A special thanks to all who helped with

the snow removal on December 12; it

went really well with so many

volunteers.

Another upcoming volunteer project will

be to install new partitions in one of the

restrooms.

If you would like to help out with snow

removal next time, with the partition

project, or would like to get involved

with other projects around the building

and grounds, email Tom Janzen, the

Facility and Grounds manager at

[email protected].

Board Games & Potluck Lunch

This is a great time of year to spend some time relaxing over board games and hotdish with friends old and new at Zion at one of these two events:

For Everyone on January 9

Bring a potluck lunch dish to share, your favorite board games and your family and friends, and join other Zion friends for a Family Game Day on Sunday, January 9. A potluck lunch will start in Fellowship Hall immediately following the 10:30 worship service, followed by an afternoon of family fun. Contact Beth Wychor at [email protected] with any questions.

For Zionaires on January 18

Zionaires have their own game day and lunch on Tuesday, January 18, from 10am to 1pm, also in Fellowship Hall.

Photo: Kurt Schenk, Kasenia Keller, Kelly Hanson, Jane & Kacy (in the striped hat) Crawford playing Blokus at a previous game day.

Beaded Bracelet Class

On Wednesday, January 12, the Harvest of Hands group is offering a beading class at 7pm led by Linda Nerothin & Gayle Dramen. Learn how to make a flat spiral bracelet (pictured) for yourself and then make one for next November‟s Harvest of Hands event.

Please RSVP on Facebook or at the information desk to help plan for sufficient supplies. There is no class fee but a donation will be accepted to help offset the cost of supplies.

10 Things to Know about

Wednesday Suppers

1. Many have found it a great way to

conquer the busy night of children’s

choirs, handbells, adult choir,

confirmation, meetings, Harvest of

Hands craft nights, and other

commitments on the family schedule.

2. You’ll make connections with others.

Children and parents get to know

seniors who become “grand-friends”

and parents get to meet other parents

with children of similar ages. There’s

even Kids’ Place offered for parents

who are in a choir or Bible study after

supper.

3. You can create new menus and give

suggestions on the existing ones.

4. You might get to celebrate a birthday

or anniversary with more than 100 Zion

friends (as Michael will on January 5).

5. You’ll have a nice meal with friends

at a less expensive price than a

restaurant visit. (Suggested donation:

$3/person or $12/family)

6. If you’re interested in helping serve

on a supper team, you’ll cook the same

thing each time you work and there’s

only 2-3 more times left for this school

year on the schedule for all teams.

7. When someone asks, “What’s for

supper?” you won’t have to think before

asking; you’ll know it’s covered!

8. You can avoid a grocery store trip on

the way home from work on

Wednesday.

9. You can eat a family meal without

set up and very minimal cleanup.

10. You can invite someone else to

come to the suppers … a great way to

show someone what’s happening at Zion

on Wednesdays.

7

Global Missions Are Active

The Global Mission initiatives are in full swing for 2011.

Dave and Sue Wright will be leaving on January 15 for their trip to the All Kids Can Learn Village of Hope in Zambia, Africa. Dave will be working to establish a dairy farm and Sue will be helping with landscaping projects. Look for updates at www.wright2us.blogspot.com.

The Mission Jamaica team will be leaving in February for their mission work. We have many dedicated Zion members who are committed to sharing their time and talents with those in need. Look for more information on page 4 and continuing updates at www.ZionBuffalo.org/MJ.

Redeemer Lutheran Church in Minneapolis also remains a vital part of our Zion mission.

Please continue to support these projects with your prayers. God continues to call us to service in the world.

A Note from Dave and Sue Wright

We would like to offer our sincere thanks for the generous support of our dairy project at Villages of Hope for All Kids Can Learn International (AKCLI) in Zambia. We can already feel your prayers providing inspiration and calmness for our preparations. Your financial support will not only cover our expenses but allow us to provide a substantial gift toward the dairy project. We will keep you updated through our blog at www.wright2us.blogspot.com.

Sue and Dave Wright

Global Mission Ministry

8

‘Tis the Season

By Vicar Caleb Crainer, seminary student

and intern at Redeemer Lutheran Church

”Merry”, “Happy”, and Joyful,” are

words that we are going to be hearing a

lot over the next month. They will appear

in billboards, on greeting cards, in emails,

and just about everywhere else one might

print something. If you’re like me, the

Holidays are indeed times of celebration,

but sometimes they are also occasion for

deep pain and difficulty.

Growing up in

a divorced

family meant

that

Holidays

were

always a time when

the pressures were at

their peak. Interpreting

everyone’s moods,

balancing all the stress, and making sure

that everyone was getting enough

attention always wore me out. Then one

year, while at my grandparents’ house on

Christmas Eve we decided to order Pizza

instead of working all day to prepare a

fancy meal. That gave us more time to

spend with each other. Then my grandpa

left the room and came back with four

brown paper-sacks; the kind you get at

the grocery store. I could tell each was

full, and had been stapled at the top. He

set them down and said, “we were driving

in the country this fall and stopped at a

flea-market and someone was selling

these for one-dollar each. I have no idea

what’s in them. Merry Christmas!” We

passed them around till everyone had a

bag, and then we each opened

them. Inside mine was, among other

things, a stack of Tupperware containers

without lids, a tangle of hideous yarn, and

an actual brick! I don’t think I’ve ever

laughed as hard as I did that

Christmas. It was unexpected and life-

giving to receive the gift of laughter

during an intense time. It was a gift that

(Pizza and gag gifts continued on page 18)

http://www.wright2us.blogspot.com

One Year of Community Mission Ministry

As we begin the new year of 2011, the Social Ministry Committee compiled a list of their activities in 2010. It shows the number of volunteer hours and money that was contributed by the people of our Zion congregation to help people and organizations in our community.

January: Serving a meal for youth at Timber Bay ($400 plus 50 hours)

February: BINGO Party at local nursing homes ($25 plus 15 hours)

March: Breakfast benefiting Zion youth and Faith in Action ($870 plus 50 hours)

April: Easter Meal Baskets with Buffalo Food Shelf ($3,000 plus 200 hours)

May: Red Cross Blood Drive (10 hours not including donors), Donation to Faith in Action ($250)

June: Delivering Meals on Wheels (90 hours)

August: Collecting school supplies for the Food Shelf and Love INC ($500 plus 40 hours)

September: Serving a community breakfast ($200 plus 70 hours)

November: Red Cross Blood Drive (10 hours not including donors of 57 units), collecting clothing for veterans (100 hours), delivering Meals on Wheels (90 hours), and Thanksgiving Easter Meal Baskets with the Buffalo Food Shelf ($20 plus 80 hours)

December: Christmas Meal Baskets with the Buffalo Food Shelf ($300 plus 80 hours), collecting Christmas gifts for Rivers of Hope and Buffalo Adult Day Care ($800 plus 15 hours), and the Bethlehem Star fundraiser for Love INC ($850 plus 130 hours)

This totals $7,215 plus 1020 hours which, if valued at $20 per hour, is worth another $20,400 to our partner organizations.

Watch this Social Ministry page and Sunday worship bulletin announcement insert for opportunities in 2011 where you can get involved in meeting the third part of Zion‟s mission … „to serve those in need‟!

Thank you for supporting us,

The 2010 Social Ministry Committee: Deb and Rick Johnson, Nancy and Ron Elam, Mary and Wes Mahlberg, Judy Sandeen, Sandy and Roger Brenny, Beth Jansen, Cheryl Mager, Beth Wychor, and Pastor Karri

ZionBuffalo.org/Local 9

Community Mission Ministry

What to Give?

After complaining that I never knew what to give people for

Christmas, my pastor sent me this list: To your enemy,

forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your

heart. To a customer, service. To all men, charity. To every

child, a good example. To yourself, respect.

-Oren Arnold in The Head Man

Volunteers preparing meal baskets for distribution through the Buffalo Food Shelf.

Monday January 10

7:00am Staff Retreat

8:00am Men's Bible Study Group

6:00pm First Sunday Rehearsal

7:00pm Zion Book Club

7:30pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Tuesday January 11

9:00am Kitchen Cleaning

9:30am Staff Meeting

1:00pm LSS Counseling

6:30pm Outreach Evangelism Meeting

7:00pm Jubilee Rehearsal

7:00pm Global Missions Committee

7:30pm Visioning Task Force Meeting

Wednesday January 12

2:45pm Class Ring

3:45pm SONshine Choir

3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place

4:45pm Joy Choir

5:00pm Wednesday Night Supper

5:15pm Youth Choir

6:00pm Confirmation

6:30pm Confirmation Small Groups

6:30pm Joyful Ringers

6:30pm Mission Jamaica Meeting

7:00pm Senior Choir

7:00pm Harvest of Hands Beading Class

Thursday January 13

8:00am Men Seeking Wisdom Bible Study

6:30pm Grief Support Group

Friday January 14

Saturday January 15

Sunday January 16

Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:30

8:30am Traditional Worship Service

8:30am Sunday School

9:30am Coffee Fellowship

9:45am Family Express Worship

10:30am Contemporary Worship Service


3:30pm Club 456 Snow Tubing

Monday January 17

Martin Luther King's Birthday




Tuesday January 18


9:30am Naomi Circle

10:00am Zionaires


5:30pm Stewardship Meeting

6:30pm Christian Education Committee

7:00pm Property Committee Meeting


7:30pm Visioning Task Force Meeting


6:30am Men's 50+ Bible Study

9:15am Devotions at Sunrise

2:45pm Class Ring


3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place

4:45pm Joy Choir


5:15pm Youth Choir

6:00pm Confirmation

6:00pm Worship and Music Committee



7:00pm Senior Choir

7:30pm Church Council Meeting

Thursday January 20



7:00pm Zion Foundation Meeting

7:30pm Rebecca Circle

Friday January 21

6:00pm Italian Dinner Set-up

Saturday January 22

8:00am Council Retreat

12:00pm Italian Dinner Preparations

5:45pm Nursery Care

6:00pm Italian Dinner & Variety Show

Sunday January 23

Sanctuary Sunday





12:00pm Sunday School Volunteer

Appreciation Dinner

ZionBuffalo.org/Calendar 10

Saturday January 1

New Year's Day

Sunday January 2

Holy Communion at 8:30, 9:45, and 10:30





11:45am Executive Committee Meeting

Monday January 3

Office Closed




Tuesday January 4



6:30pm Social Ministry Committee


Wednesday January 5

6:30am Men's 50+ Bible Study

2:45pm Class Ring


3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place

4:45pm Joy Choir


5:15pm Youth Choir

6:00pm Baptism Class

6:00pm Confirmation Guide Meeting


7:00pm Senior Choir

Thursday January 6

The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ



Friday January 7

Saturday January 8

Sunday January 9







11:30am Board Games & Potluck

January Calendar

Monday January 24




Tuesday January 25




7:00pm Personnel Committee Meeting


9:30am Devotions at Lakeridge

10:30am Devotions at Park View

2:45pm Class Ring


3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place

4:45pm Joy Choir


5:15pm Youth Choir

6:00pm Confirmation



7:00pm Senior Choir

7:00pm Harvest of Hands Crafts

Thursday January 27



Friday January 28

Saturday January 29

Sunday January 30







12:00pm New Member Meeting

Monday January 31




11

Financial Report

November 2010

General Services Fund

Income Nov 2010 YTD 2010 Nov 2009 YTD 2009 General Offering $47,228.16 $581,717.20 $65,628.13 $590,140.20

Rent and Sunday School 2,482.17 22,591.54 2,546.16 28,171.94

Missions and Hunger 917.00 11,207.00 1,000.00 10,991.95

Other Designations 120.00 9,523.25 1,435.00 13,649.44

Total Income $50,747.33 $625,038.99 $70,609.29 $642,953.53

Expenses Synod Benevolence $1,500.00 $16,500.00 $1,500.00 $16,000.00

Other General Services 53,377.01 622,655.75 55,053.96 649,589.85

Total Expenses $54,877.01 $639,155.75 $56,553.96 $666,089.85

Account Balance as of 11-30-2010: $8,242.91

General Fund Note: $40,000 has been borrowed from Klein Bank in 2009 and 2010 on an established Line of Credit to assist with cash flow. We have been making Interest only payments on this line of credit.

Forward in Faith Fund

Income Nov 2010 YTD 2010 Nov 2009 YTD 2009 Offerings and Interest $14,758.75 $187,382.04 $16,346.71 $159,641.37

Other Receipts 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,500.00

Total Income $14,758.75 $187,382.04 $16,346.71 $161,141.37

Expenses Building Mortgage $17,087.30 $187,960.30 $17,087.30 $187,960.30

Roof/Parking Lot Loan 913.37 13,963.67 1,305.03 8,171.32

Major Building Repairs 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,225.00

3% Tithe Commitment 0.00 0.00 2778.89 5,340.79

Kairos Consulting 0.00 12,000.00 0.00 0.00

Bank Service Charge 15.00 90.00 0.00 0.00

Interest Expense on LOC 0.00 438.31 0.00 0.00

Total Expenses $18,015.67 $214,452.28 $21,171.22 $205,697.41

Account Balance as of 11-30-2010: $13,069.01

Thank you for your continued support of Zion Lutheran Church.

Memorial Gifts

A gift in memory of Francis Schmidt

from the Pfeifer families.

A gift in memory of Carol Isaacson

from Kenneth and Lynn Ogden.

Gifts in memory of Swede Anderson

from Gene & Rosie Persian and Arleen

& Wallace Peterson.

Promising Tomorrow

Response

In 2010, as part of A Promising

Tomorrow, many participated in Power

Surge book study groups, Reaching

for Tomorrow discussion events, and

devotional study. We also enjoyed

getting to know a handful of members a

little better through their Promising

Tomorrow Moments in worship.

Thanks to those who have returned their

Growing as Disciples and Financial

Pledge response cards. You will receive

a formal acknowledgement of your

financial pledge from Zion’s financial

secretary, Sue Stensrud.

If you have lost your response cards,

you can print them from

ZionBuffalo.org or pick them up from

the information desk. Completed

response cards can be returned to the

church office, offering plate, or

information desk.

May the Holy Spirit guide and bless us

in our response to this invitation to give

generously through Zion for God’s work

in the world. God is calling us to a

promising tomorrow. Our gifts are our

response.

12

Finance & Stewardship

Giving and Accepting Gifts

Submitted by Dave Wright

As I searched to find an appropriate stewardship topic for this newsletter, I came across these stories from a missionary couple in Honduras. I believe they speak to us in this holiday time as we joyously give and graciously accept:

Solomon has a small milpa (cornpatch) in front of his house. He is so proud of the harvest and wants to give us ears of the young field corn…a delicacy here in Honduras. We know that Solomon needs this corn to feed his family of 12. We are not fans of the tough milpa corn. It just doesn‟t compare to our sweet corn from Pennsylvania. But we would disappoint Solomon by not accepting his gift. So after trying to bite into the hard kernels of field corn, and coming up short, I began accepting the corn and smashing it up in my food processor. Then I make corn fritters that I give back to Solomon‟s family. The problem with this plan is that they love the fritters….and very willing give us more corn…

Elias used to put fishing nets out every night so that his family had fish soup most days. Without a steady job, it was a good way of feeding his family. Nearly every morning he would send two fish with his girls to our gate (at 6:30). His gift humbled us, knowing he gave us his biggest fish and this family had little else to eat. But it was tough to be thankful looking at the two goldfish-sized fish that we knew were filled with tiny bones that you couldn‟t chew nor swallow. How the folks here do it, still amazes us. Are their esophagi as tough as leather, or ripped to shreds? After trying many times to eat these fish, and ending up spitting them out, I finally came up with a solution. Gratefully I accepted the fish, then dug a hole under my flowers and banana plants that need constant nutrition. My guilt went away, and I got healthy plants.

In the North American culture, it is custom to give presents to newborns. So when a friend here has a baby, I make a baby blanket and give it to them. The mother usually accepts the gift and puts it in a corner without looking at it. I have to ask her to open it.

In the Honduran culture, it is not polite to open a gift in front of anyone. If you don‟t like it, it might show. And if it is of value, you don‟t want others to know about it. Plus, they don‟t‟ ever GET gifts here, so nobody ever told them what to do when they were given one.

These are just three dilemmas we have faced in dealing with ACCEPTING gifts. WE are always amazed at the generosity of the

(Accepting gifts continued on page 18)

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How do we do it?

We have interviewed several outside

groups who specialize in visioning and are

recommending that we continue to work

with Jim Pence of Kairos Associates who

has been our “A Promising Tomorrow”

consultant. He will work with a vision

team from the congregation, Zion staff,

church council, committees and the

congregation to develop our vision.

Why do we have to hire someone to help

us vision?

The vision task force feels that it is

beneficial to hire an outside consultant

who specializes in working with

congregations and other groups in

planning for the future. They are the

experts in doing this type of planning and

use proven effective assessment and

planning tools.

How much will it cost?

We expect the visioning process to cost

about $6000 in 2011. The cost of

implementing vision recommendations

after that will vary.

How can I have input in the process?

There are several ways—volunteer to

serve on the vision committee, attend

focus groups which will be announced,

read and react to planning updates

throughout 2011, speak with the pastors

or vision committee members, pray about

your involvement in Zion’s ministry and

be an active participant in implementing

the recommendations.

(Visioning continued from page 3)

Zionaires Recap

The Seniors’ Group had a very active

year in 2010. Here are the monthly

activities that people were invited to

attend:

January: Heritage Center Visit &

Modern Farming Presentation by

Charles Krause

February: Marti Gras Party & Holy

Land trip presentation by Maurean

Fellger

March: Help with Easter Baskets

April: Biblical Health and Nutrition

speaker

May: Arboretum Trip

June: Missionary presentation by Lew

and Marian Hille

July: Science Museum—Dead Sea

Scrolls

August: Fishing, picnic on Lake Pulaski

September: St Cloud History Museum,

Lunch at Cold Spring Bakery, & Visit

grasshopper Chapel

October: Community Center

presentation by Eric Nagel & Love

INC—Big Woods presentation by

Sandy Brenny

November: Decorate Christmas Tree at

Wright County Heritage Center

December: Worship and Lunch with the

Zion Staff

If you are 55+ and have not been a

part of the fun and fellowship, please

watch this space in the monthly

Newsletter and in Sunday Worship

bulletins for

announcements of

our monthly

activities. We’d

love to have you

join us.

First up is a game

day on January

18. See page 7 for

details.

14

Have a QR code reader on your

smartphone?

Snap a picture of this code to find

more photos from The

GodLight Zone Christmas Program on December 12 ...

Or ... just go to ZionBuffalo.org/GLZ

Harvest of Hands Thanks You

The reasons volunteers participate in Harvest of Hands Festival are as numerous as the volunteers themselves. What is important is that they all come together for one special day focused on raising dollars to help feed the hungry in Buffalo and around the world.

Event supporters work throughout the year organizing and creating crafts which will be sold at that event. Harvest of Hands volunteers often start just filling a need but find so much more; especially new friendships and a feeling of doing something that is truly needed and worth their time.

This year, Harvest of Hands involved approximately 68 on-site volunteers helping make egg rolls, baking, setting-up, conducting event day activities and cleaning-up – some volunteers participated in several areas of need. From the initial moving of Sunday School tables into Trinity Hall to the “teardown” and the rearranging of tables for Sunday sales, it is a work of art to see everything come together to make this event the success it is. Countless additional volunteers dropped off crafts, food and supplies for the event or volunteer throughout the year.

This year‟s auction had 77 baskets with fun themes and fabulous items including art work, a baptismal gown, event tickets, hand carvings, holiday cookie baking, paintings, stuffed animals, wood bowls and more. It was great fun to see everything and enjoy everyone‟s imagination.

A number of volunteer coordinators that take charge of each area of Harvest of Hands. There is J.T. Sandberg in “Baked Goods” who brings in decorations of the season to add focus and dimension. Roxie Otten and Sue Myhre, coordinators in “Candy”, quickly sell-out in their tasty area. Omelets and crepes are always yummy thanks to the coordination of Diane Huston and Joyce Dehmer. Hostess Bev Smith oversees the donuts and coffee in the Fellowship Hall along with all the other needs of brunch guests. Pete and Judy Weiss and Bob and Bonnie Koring coordinate the “White Elephant” along with a dedicated crew that works hard to bring order to an overwhelming array of “stuff”. Idella Ziegler started the recycled sweater area a couple of years ago and it remains a success due to her energies. In another corner of Trinity Hall, Chong Jones sells her famous egg rolls – another “yummy”. Cindy Becker, Joy Arens sister, brought new efforts and talents to the Silent Auction this year, and drove all the way from Glencoe to participate both in the Wednesday night group and event day. Behind the scenes, Kim Gleason coordinates beautiful centerpieces to decorate the Fellowship Hall each year. We are so thankful for all of people involved in Harvest of Hands – truly their hands make this a Harvest of Many Hands.

The next Harvest of Hands event is already being planned for November 5, 2011. Perhaps this is your year to join the fun and friendship at Harvest of Hands craft groups that meet on the second and fourth Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening of each month. On Wednesday evening, January 12, all are invited to learn how to make a flat spiral bracelet (details on page 7).

Join in the fellowship, and join in the mission to feed the hungry. Come to one session, come to many sessions, you are always welcome at Harvest of Hands.

Harvest of Hands wishes everyone a very blessed 2011.

How Much Was Raised?

It is always interesting to see where the money was raised. Here‟s the break down for 2010:

Café/Brunch $ 1,618.70

Crafts/Baked Goods/Candy $ 7,771.35

White Elephant $ 942.85

Donations $ 79.00

Silent Auction $ 3,499.05

Thrivent Matching $ 800.00

Total $14,710.95

Where Does It Go?

Funds raised at the 2010 event will be donated to food shelves in Wright County, Heifer International Project for a cow, and one project yet to be decided.

ZionBuffalo.org/HOH 15

Musings from Myron...

A new year is upon us. With this new year comes new resolutions, new challenges and new obstacles. Unfortunately, they often come with the same old results.

Did you know that 88% of all resolutions fail? In fact, 50% of all resolutions fail by Jan 2. So, how do you measure success of a resolution? Better yet, how do you measure the success of the past year of your life?

There are 525, 600 minutes in a year. What have you done with those minutes this last year? What are you going to do with them this year?

I have been doing a lot of reflecting on these questions for quite some time now. The answer is not simple. This is one that changes entire cultures. The way we think, the way we learn, the way we love.

What if? What if we were to measure our success, not by our bank account, a high score on Call of Duty 3 or how many how many buffalo wings we can eat in an hour. What if we measured success by how many people we reach out to and serve?

Matthew 7:12 states: “So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

What if we measured it by how we treat others? By taking time and listening to their stories. By being there for them, praying for them and loving them in the way that Christ unconditionally loves us and has called us to love?

How could your life change by serving others? Especially those that might be different than you? Reaching out across racial, social, economic and gender lines? How can our world/culture be changed by this gracious giving attitude of life that we are commanded to do anyways?

I think that we have probably all had seasons in our lives where we have had struggles and heartbreak. Yet, others where we might have had joy and victory. What if we were to take those times and turn them into a season of love?

You can keep doing what you are already doing and be fine. Or, you can do something out of the ordinary and change your life forever.

Friday Breakfast Crew

Wake up early and come to Perkin‟s to enjoy a great meal with other Senior High students the first Friday of each month. This month‟s breakfast is January 7, from 6am - 7:10am. If you need a ride to school afterwards, it will be provided. Friends are always welcome! Make sure to bring money for food!

ZionBuffalo.org/Youth

Youth Ministry

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1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you

because you are young, but set an

example for the believers in speech, in

life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Director of Youth Ministries

Myron Crawford

763-682-1245 ext. 308

[email protected]

Zion Youth Ministries exists to

reach out to youth, to come

together and learn how to be for

God and others through worship,

study, fellowship and service.

Confirmation Schedule

Confirmation meets Wednesday nights

in Trinity Hall 6-7:30pm.

Dates and weekly topics:

Jan 5: First Disciples

Jan 12: Beatitudes

Jan 19: Feeding of 5000

Jan 26: Lost Sheep

Remember your Bibles & handbooks

Confirmation Parents:

If your student regularly eats

Wednesday Night Suppers at Zion,

consider making a one time donation to

the Supper Fund so that your student

doesn’t need to worry about cash each

Wednesday.

Graceland Schedule

Graceland, Senior High Youth Group,

meets Wednesday nights in the youth

room from 7:30-9pm.

Jan 5: Resolutions

Jan 12: Crazy Love 1



Remember your Bibles

You Make a Difference

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

Thank you to all of the volunteers who are helping with children in the nursery through grade 6 during the current school year. Please join staff for a soup and salad appreciation meal on Sunday, January 23, beginning at noon in Fellowship Hall. Please RSVP to Roxie or Holly, by Wednesday, January 19. Thank you for all of the time and talents that you have shared!

Club 456 Snow Tubing

Club 456 will go tubing on Sunday evening, January 16 (no school on Monday)! The bus will leave Zion at 3:30pm and return at 8:30pm. $15 includes bus and tubing, but children should bring a sack lunch. Register and print the required waiver form at www.ZionBuffalo.org/Club456.

Father Daughter Sweetheart Dance

It is time for girls of all ages to bring that special man in their life (Dad, Grandpa, uncle, neighbor, friend) for dancing, games, treats and fun at the 4th Annual Sweetheart Dance at Zion on Saturday, February 5, from 6-8pm. Posed photos will be taken and sent to you via email (if you don‟t use email other arrangements can be made). Semi-formal attire is requested (but certainly not required). There is no cost and no RSVP needed.

Christmas Program

Thank you to all of the kids who worked so hard to make the Christmas Program successful. Thank you to the parents who were cab drivers, door keepers and snack servers. Thank you to all who gave your time and talent to the program.

Children’s Ministry

January Schedule

Sunday January 2

No Sunday School (All are

welcome in worship)

Wednesday January 5

Kids’ Place, Choirs and Wed. supper

Sunday January 9

Sunday School (grade 4-Club4)



Sunday January 16

Sunday School (Grades 5 & 6 Grapple)

Club 456 Snow Tubing



Sunday January 23

Sanctuary Sunday: Please Join us for

worship. Children are encouraged to

worship with their families.



Sunday January 30

Sunday School (grade 4-Club4)

The cast of The GodLight Zone. More photos on page 14.

CoDirectors of Christian Education

Holly Husom

763-682-1245 x308

[email protected]

Roxie Otten

763-682-1245 ext. 311

[email protected]

ZionBuffalo.org/Children 17

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giving from folks who have so little to give. God knowingly gave us the perfect gift in His Son. God waits for us to ACCEPT His gift with open arms…no strings attached. No using it for fertilizer, nor making a new recipe, nor hiding it in a corner. Are we cherishing the perfectness of His gift and being extremely grateful in our acceptance of it?

Scott and Diane Karper, Christian Veterinary Mission, December 2010

(Accepting gifts continued from page 13) Sound Techs

Are you interested in helping Zion

deliver smooth, distraction-free worship

services each week? Bob Strommen

is recruiting additional volunteer sound

technicians. Please contact Bob or the church

office or any sound tech on duty on a Sunday

morning if this sounds like you:

Have some kind of musical background,

i.e. playing an instrument or singing in a

choir or small group.

Previous experience with sound

equipment is a plus but not required.

Willing to commit some time in learning

to operate Zion’s equipment.

Available at least two Sundays a month

and some Jubilee rehearsals on Tuesday

evenings.

Able to work with others on special

projects.

shattered expectations and reminded us

that coming together was about our

family not about food or presents.

I think God’s gift of Jesus comes to us in

the same way; unexpected and life-giving

in the upheaval of stress. It truly is a

miracle that we find God present in the

child of an unwed teenage mom this

year. For Mary, the words “Merry”,

“Happy”, and “Joyful” probably wouldn’t

have been what she was feeling as they

journeyed to the village of Bethlehem and

were denied lodging. But because we

know that God was with her during

difficult times we know God is with us

too. My family has continued the

tradition of pizza and gag-gifts as a way

to enjoy our time together even if our

moods don’t reflect the words in the

greeting cards. I pray that you too will

experience God’s surprising relief this

season.

(Pizza and gag gifts continued from page 8)

Inside

Zion Lutheran Church

1200 Highway 25 S.

PO Box 88

Buffalo, MN 55313

www.ZionBuffalo.org

Address Service Requested

Standard

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit 11

Buffalo MN 55313

Address Label Here

Called to Be 3

Gayle Dramen 5

Annual Meeting Report 5

New Member Class 6

Board Game Day 7

Beaded Bracelet Class 7

Italian Dinner & Variety Show 11

GodLight Zone Photos 14

Musings from Myron 16

Sunday School Appreciation 17

Sweetheart Dance 17

Janu

ary 2

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ZionBuffalo.org

Sherilyn Burgdorf directing the Jubilance high school handbell group at the St. Lucia Supper in December

2011.01

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