We continue to explore

and discover the Bible

through our 31 week

intergenerational faith

formation series,

“THE STORY” See page 3 for Full Details

Share. Grow. Serve. www.zionmiddletown.org

Zion Lutheran Church, Middletown, MD

Pastor Beth’s Message p. 2

The Story, p. 3

Council High-lights p. 5

Operation Christmas Child, p.7

Save a Date p.10

I was wondering p.10

Music Calender p.12

Youth Ministry p.13-15,

Nursery News p.17

Clothes Closet update P. 18

Poinsettias & LWR p.19-20

Safe House p.23

Christmas in the Valley p.24

Bishop Gohl to Visit Zion!

On the weekend of

October 15 and 16 we

will have Bishop Bill

Gohl as our preacher.

You won't want to

miss his inspirational

message as he continues “The

Story” of God's power, presence

and plan through the New Com-

mands and a New Covenant estab-

lished with the people of Israel and

renewed for us today.

Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Church of the Transfiguration in

Braddock Heights November 20th

at 7:30 p.m.

2

Hello Zion Family!

First of all, I want to take a moment to say “thank you!” Words cannot express how thankful I am to all of you as you have been so incredibly generous and welcoming to me in my first month here at Zion. I have enjoyed our ministry together so far, and I am excited to see where the Holy Spirit leads us as we continue this journey together!

As many of you know, on October 23rd, I will be ordained into the ministry of Word and Sacrament. Some of you, however, may be wondering what that means. We teach in church that all baptized members of the church share in Christ’s ministry of love and service. The church helps to support, encourage, and prepare those members for their ministries in the world.

According to the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Book for Occasional Services, it is “within this context of ministry, the church calls some of its baptized members for specific ministries. Within the people of God and for the sake of the gospel ministry entrusted to all believers, God has instituted the office of ministry of word and sacrament. In the service of the Ordination, the church entrusts this office to those who have accepted the church’s call and sends them into this ministry.” The ordination service is a time where I will officially ac-cept the church’s call to this office of word and sacrament and the offices will be entrusted to me. If you are unsure what I mean by word and sacrament, I am referring to preaching and teaching Scripture (the office of word) and presiding over Holy Communion and baptisms (the office of sacrament).

Our newly elected and installed bishop, Bill Gohl, will preside over the ordination. This is particularly exciting, because this will be the first ordination that Bishop Gohl will pre-side over in his new call. I think this will be an exciting moment for us as we begin new calls together. Through Christ, we are constantly being made new. This ordination service is a prime example of Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, starting a new chapter in my life and in the life of the church.

I would like to extend an invitation to all of you. I would love for all who are able to come to participate in the service. It will take place on Sunday, October 23rd at 4:00pm. The service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church: 21 Carroll Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. There will be a lite dinner following the service. Everyone is welcome!! I hope to see you all there, but if you can’t make it, I would welcome your thoughts and prayers.

Peace,

3

499 Years and Counting…. On October 29 and 30, we celebrate our Heritage as we remember what happened 499 years ago when Mar-tin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Theses to the Castle Church door of the University of Wittenberg. He called it his Disputation on the Power and Effi-cacy of Indulgences. It became the birthday of the Reformation. As we prepare to celebrate the 500th anniversary, we recognize that almost all of what he dis-puted no longer exists in the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, the anniversary will be an opportunity to acknowledge all that unites us as the holy catholic (universal) church. In Martin Luther’s protest, he was able to articulate what he understood to be the power of repentance and the salvation by grace through faith.

At all three services we continue The Story with our focus being on Joshua and how the walls of Jericho fell down. These walls that separate us from God’s power, presence and purpose also fell down with the reformation. We will also celebrate our heritage as a congregation with the recognition of our 50 year members. Unlike the last few years, our Reformation celebration will not include Confirmation. Be sure to wear red!

The Story Continues…

In our story we have traveled from Eden to Egypt. We have followed the highs and lows of the first family of Adam and Eve to the chosen family of Abraham and Sarah. In the story we have seen how God continues to build relationships with humans even as they misunderstand, fail to withstand and even ignore God’s stand on all that is good. In the weeks to come the plot thickens and the challenges persist as God reveals his presence, power and purpose for God’s people. In, with, and under this story we recognize Jesus, the Living Word. And so it continues…. Continue to p.4

4

Welcome to our new Financial Secretary Debbie Stup

Debbie is the only daughter of Donald Palmer and Lynn Sheffer Palmer, raised in Myersville. She is a lifelong member of Zion, where her family has attended church for many generations. Debbie has a strong accounting back- ground obtaining her Master's degree from Mount St. Mary's College and has been employed as an auditor and corporate accountant. After taking a year off to be a stay- at- home mother she has returned to accounting as the Financial Secretary at Zion. Debbie is also a Troop Leader for Girl Scouts. She and her husband, Jason Stup, reside in Myersville along with their daughter ,Danica, and son, Andrew.

Zion would like to offer our thanks to Faith Hoover for filling in as financial Secretary while seeking out and finalizing things with Debbie.

It is not too late to pick up The Story and to join the hundreds of others who have attended a class to get more of this story. Below is our schedule for our weekend worship and classes. For more information go to www.zionmiddletown.org for class and worship times.

Homeward Bound

10/16—#5 10 Commandments: New Commands and a New Covenant (Stewardship) 10/23—#6 Wandering 10/30—#7 Joshua: The Battle Begins (Reformation)

Unlikely Heroes

11/6—#8 Judges: A Few Good Men….and Women (All Saints) 11/13—#9 Ruth: The Faith of a Foreign Woman

11/20—#10 Saul: Standing Tall, Falling Hard

5

CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

September 12, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. – Garden’s Edge

August Current Ministry Income and Expense: August current ministry income of $45,491.31 was less expenses of $50,764.56 for a deficit of $5,273.25 for the month of August. (4 Sunday month)

August Total Church: The August year-to-date total church surplus is $27,036.99.

YTD Budget income $418,332.64 vs YTD Actual Income $394,672.94.

YTD Budget Expense $418,478.76 vs YTD Actual Expenses $385,982.21.

Council voted to provide financial assistance for the seminary education of Karl Mulbach in the amount of $500 for the fall 2016 semester and $500 for the spring 2017 semester.

Council approved promoting the Unity Campaign.

Council watched a video “Starting with Why” for leadership develop-ment.

The next Council meeting will be held on Monday, October 12th at 7 p.m.

Volunteer Opportunity

The Altar Guild is looking for some new members to assist with

various activities, such as communion setup, altar flowers, deco-

rating for Christmas, etc. These activities do not require a lot of

your time. We work as a team of four to five members each Sunday for one month

every three months. If you are interested, please talk to an Altar Guild member or

attend our November 5 meeting, 9:00 a.m., in the Conference Room. We would love

for you to join our group!!

6

LIVING INTO OUR STEWARDSHIP STORY

Tradition. What is it about that word we love so much? Does it remind us of family memo-ries during certain times of the year? Does it make us think of certain things we might do for New Year’s, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or Christmas? Or maybe it reminds us of certain foods and activities that warm our heart.

We grew up hearing the word stewardship in the church. Most likely we heard of steward-ship in November and December when it was the “season of giving.” It was the time of the year when the giving envelopes were printed for the following year, a letter may have gone out to your family’s household asking for a tithe in the coming year, or a sermon was given about what our responsibility was to just give money to the church.

Fast Forward to 2016. Better yet, fast forward to 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church. You know that church. Folks might say, “I know that church. That’s the church with the big, white steeple that has the town clock.” Yes, that church. Our church. It is also the church where we are warm and welcoming to those who have not yet experienced the love of Christ.

In April, we shared with you a true-false question as to whether stewardship is just about giving money. It turns out the answer is false. The fundamental heartbeat of stewardship is our love for Jesus mirrored in our relationship with each other. Our relationship with Jesus gives us the capacity to expand that relationship with each other, with the needs of our local community, and with the world around us. Love frames the conversation of stewardship.

Do you remember Pentecost Sunday in May? That was the day we watched a video from the Stewardship Team where we asked What does stewardship mean for you?

Just last month Jim Huckleberry, Bruce Albright, and Debbie Reichelt raised our awareness when they discussed stewardship through their eyes of service. And then there was the 9/11 Day of Giving where we gave of our time and talents. Using our time and talents to provide hope for the hopeless is stewardship in action.

Can you see what is happening? Our congregation has been doing stewardship 365 days a year! We have volunteers embedded in the fabric of our church and in our community. We have broken with tradition and may not have even been aware of it. We share in this church family together as stewards.

Continued on P7

7

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD 2016

How might you demonstrate God’s love and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every shoebox gift placed into the hands of a needy child provides that

opportunity.

Filling a shoebox with age appropriate school supplies, hygiene items and toys is a wonderful way

to involve our children/grandchildren or neighborhood youngsters in caring for others less fortu-

nate than ourselves. Praying for the child who will receive the gift, including a note and photo is

also encouraged.

Our main drive this year will be OCTOBER 9th to NOVEMBER 7th. Our goal is 300 boxes; last year

Zion collected 258 boxes. Brochures detailing packing information (what and what not to include)

will be available, as well as empty shoeboxes for you to take home, fill and return.

A $7 donation per box is requested to defray international shipping and other processing costs.

National collection’s week is November 16th-23rd. Monetary gifts are also welcome. Donation

boxes will be available in several locations in the church.

Let’s be the hands of Jesus as we pack one or more shoeboxes for needy boys and girls, knowing we

will be bringing joy to the hearts of God’s children.

Any questions please contact: Linda Huckleberry, (301) 371-6677, email huckhuff@gmail.com

or Connie Ahalt, (301) 371-7319, email bwaconway@comcast.net

When willing and able, stewardship also means sharing our resources, or our money, to sustain and expand ministries. This still remains a tradition. Sharing our resources is a calling. It is a calling that is part of our covenant relationship with God. To hear more about our role in that covenant relationship, keep turning the pages to see what’s next…..

On behalf of the Stewardship Team, thank you for all that you do to share in our community of faith together.

With you in Christ,

Carla Palamone, Stewardship Ministry Team

8

ZION’S WELCOME CENTER Our beautiful new Welcome Center is open and func-tioning thanks to the contributions of several people. A special thank you to Jon Minchoff, Mitchell Boyer, George Harne, and Eddie Pulzone for the demolition, construction, finishing work, and painting of the new center.

The Welcome Center Host team is also functioning and gearing up to serve visitors and members of Zion.

This team would be responsible for:

recruiting Welcome Center hosts to serve at the Welcome Center.

serving at the Welcome Center to provide welcome packets, information and directions for new visitors.

sharing information about places to serve and volunteer in outreach ministries.

assisting people in purchasing books, resources, and items needed for bible study groups.

providing information about the church’s website, free mobile app and social media.

assisting people in making stewardship contributions through square register.

Our current Welcome Center hosts are: Shelly Gladhill (coordinator), Jay Goodman, Carolyn Toledo, Dana Lichtenberger, and Pastor Mark Hoffman.

The Welcome Center will be completed in the coming months, but is functional and looks great as is!

9

Celebrate Recovery is a biblical and balanced program

to help people overcome their hurts, habits and

hang-ups. Based on the actual words of Jesus rather

than psychological theory, the Celebrate Recovery

program is unique. Celebrate Recovery is based on the

principles of recovery, and even their logical order, as given by Christ in his most famous message, the

Sermon on the Mount.

There are seven features that make Celebrate Recovery unique:

This recovery program is based on God’s Word, the Bible. When Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount,

he began by stating “Eight Ways to Be Happy.” Today we call them the Beatitudes.

This recovery program is forward-looking. Rather than wallowing in the past, or dredging up and re-

hearsing painful memories over and over, Celebrate Recovery focuses on the future.

This recovery program emphasizes personal responsibility. Instead of playing the “accuse and excuse”

game of victimization, this program helps people face up to their own poor choices and deal with what

they can do something about.

This recovery program emphasized spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ. Lasting recovery cannot hap-

pen without this step. Everybody needs Jesus. Celebrate Recovery is thoroughly evangelistic in nature.

This recovery program utilizes the biblical truth that we need each other in order to grow spiritually and

emotionally. It is built around small group interaction and the fellowship of a caring community. But

Celebrate Recovery is built on the New Testament principle that we don’t get well by ourselves. We

need each other.

This recovery program addresses all types of habits, hurts and hang-ups. Some recovery programs deal

only with alcohol or drugs or another single problem. But Celebrate Recovery is a “large umbrella” pro-

gram under which a limitless number of issues can be dealt with.

Finally, this recovery program produces lay ministers! Because Celebrate Recovery is biblical and church-

based, it produces a continuous stream of people moving into ministry after they’ve found recovery in

Christ.

We currently have a group of people in leadership training preparing to lead a Celebrate Recovery pro-

gram at Zion early in 2017. Pastor Marv Tollefson

10

Middletown Food Bank The Middletown Food Bank is in need of

certain food items in order to prepare for

the Thanksgiving Holiday. The Food

Bank makes every effort to provide what

is needed for clients in our community in

order for them to have a delicious holiday

meal. Items needed include: cans of

gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce,

sauerkraut and apple sauce. Boxes of

stuffing, brownie mix, corn muffin mix

and instant mashed potatoes. The Food

Bank thanks you for your much needed

help.

Save the Date... Oct.26: Youth & Family Team (7p.m.) October 21-23: FreeRide for Middle

Schoolers October 30: Reformation Sunday October 30: High school dinner and

Pumpkin carving Oct 31: Day off program for

Elementary and Middle school youth Nov 11:Middle school dinner and fun December 3: Christmas in the Valley June 28-July 1,2017: Creation Festival July 23-28,2017: Work Camp

I Was Wondering…… Who are all these folks and families

roaming around the Memorial Garden and rear of the church?

Zion Lutheran was honored to be one of 15 Heart of the Civil War GeoTrail cache sites throughout Carroll, Frederick, and Washington Counties. Geo Cachers are folks who explore historical sites using clues and GPS coordinates. So if you notice folks looking around don’t worry they are just GEOCACHING!

The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area GeoTrail was launched on October 1, 2016, with 15 geocaches within Maryland's Carroll, Frederick, and Washington Coun-ties. The trail is suitable for geocachers of all experi-ence levels. The trail was created by the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area with support of the Rural Maryland Council MAERDAF grant. Thanks to the Maryland Geocaching Society and the Hagerstown/Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau for their support in developing this trail. See more at: http://www.heartofthecivilwar.org/geo-trail

11

ELCA World Hunger; All members

of Zion Lutheran are encouraged to

join in this important ministry. See

page 14 for more information

12

Zion Lutheran Music & Liturgical Dance Calendar Fall-Winter 2016

Rehearsal & Program Schedule

CHILDREN’S CHOIR and CHILDREN’S HANDBELLS: every Sunday, 11:00 – 11:30 am

and select Wednesday evenings during Advent and Lent

Begins 9-18 on lower level of sanctuary. See Director, Dana Lichtenberger

Programs: Select Sunday worship services throughout year

HANDBELL CHOIR: every other Tuesday., 7:15 – 8:15 pm Begins Sept. 13, in Music Room.

See Director, Jim Dent

Programs: Sun., Oct. 30, 11:00 am Pre-service music on main level

Sat., Dec. 24, 10:30 pm Pre-service + other anthem

WORSHIP CHOIR: every Thursday, 7:15 – 8:45 pm Begins Sept. 8, in Music Room.

See Director, Jim Dent Ministry every Sunday morning for 11:00 am Worship.

WORSHIP TEAM: every Wednesday, 7:00 – 8:30 pm throughout year.

See Director, Matt Puziss — Ministry every Sunday morning for 9:00 am Worship.

LITURGICAL DANCE: rehearsal times/location and programs to be announced.

See Directors, Anna Beth Fowler or Dee Buchanan for details

YOUTH ENSEMBLE: every Sunday, 10:50 – 11:30 am Begins Sept. 18, in the Music Room.

See Director, Jim Dent

Programs: Sun., Oct. 23, 11:00 am, Sun., Oct. 30, 9:00 am, Sat., Dec. 24, 7:00 pm

ORCHESTRA: middle school, high school, and adult players

See Director, Jim Dent, or come to the following rehearsals:

Wednesdays: 8:00 – 8:45 pm, Nov. 16, 30, Dec. 21

Thursdays: 7:15 – 8:00 pm, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 22

Orchestra Programs:

Reformation Sunday (Brass on hymns), Sun., Oct. 30, 11:00 am

Thanksgiving Sunday (all Orchestra), Sun., Nov. 20, 11:00 am

Christmas in the Valley (all Orchestra), Sat., Dec. 3, 7:30 pm

Christmas Eve (all Orchestra), Sat., Dec. 24, 10:30 pm

13

Summer Work Camp:

Save the Date! Work Camp this summer will be July 23-28, 2017. We are going to Pittsburgh, PA for a week of service in the city!

There will be a brief informational meeting, Sunday, October 30th. immediately following the 11:00am service for all high school students (and their parents) interested in going. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Beth.

Youth and Family Ministry News

Senior High:

Attention all High School students! We will be gathering to-gether for dinner and a pumpkin carving competition on Sunday, October 30 at 5:00pm. Please let Pastor Beth know if you are planning to be there!

Middle School:

Middle Schoolers! We will begin meeting every 2nd Friday of the month starting on Friday, November 11th at 7:00pm. We will have dinner and an evening of fun, so plan to be there!

Youth and Family Team:

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00pm. We have a number of events to discuss, so please be there if you can!

14

Creation Fest:

Do you like Christian music? Do you like live shows? Do you

like camping? Join us at the Creation Music Festival!

The event takes place at Agape Farm in Mt. Union, PA on June 28-July 1, 2017. We currently have 15 tickets available.

If you would like to reserve your spot or have any questions, contact Patricia

Staples or Pastor Beth.

ELCA World Hunger:

There are nearly 800 million people in the world today that are going hungry. As members of the ELCA and Zion Lutheran Church, we are called to respond. If you have any interest in responding to this call, advocating, raising awareness, and helping to get the church involved, please contact Pastor Beth. She is starting to put to-gether a task force that will get Zion involved in the movement and would love your help!

Puppeteers needed! The No Strings Attached puppet

ministry is working on their piece for Christmas in the Valley (December 3rd). The number we are doing is rather big and we are in need of a couple more hands to help us out. No experience necessary. None of the parts have speaking parts. Practices are Tuesday nights beginning October 18th from 6:30-8:30p.m. If you are interested please contact Ginger Trautman at 240-328-7724 or savanaranda@yahoo.com.

15

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

DAY OFF PROGRAM

Zion is offering day programs for elementary and middle school

aged children (K-8th) on certain days FCPS schools are closed.

Join us for structured crafts and other activities.

On October 31st we will be going to the

Crystal Grottoes Caverns in Boonsboro

to explore the caverns!

Bring your lunches with you! Who: Elementary and Middle School aged youth (K-8th Grades)

Who else: YOUR FRIENDS!

When: Monday, October 31st 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Cost: $20/Child

(Checks payable to Zion Lutheran Church)

RSVP: Advanced sign-ups are requested by October 25th for this

event

because we will be traveling to the Crystal Grottoes Caverns and

we need to ensure sufficient transportation.

Please send your children with

appropriate play clothes and closed toe shoes.

Please return forms and money to: Zion Lutheran Church

Attn: Day Off Program Director 107 West Main Street

Middletown, MD 21769

Contact the church office with questions. (301-371-6500)

16

Gods Work. Our Hands.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

We had a wonderful response from our entire congregation for our

9/11 day of service. We began our day at 8:30 a.m. by serving

breakfast for first responders and their families. After a very

meaningful worship service at 10 a.m. we began our day of service.

We baked 100 loaves of pumpkin bread for the Middletown Food Bank, sorted clothing for

the Clothes Closet, wrapped shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, assembled 50 per-

sonal care kits for the Middletown Food Bank, assembled 100 paper product kits for the Mid-

dletown Food Bank, collected a truck load of books for the Myersville Lions Club. Our quilters

and knitters spent the day knitting hats and scarves for the cold weather shelter and making

pillowcases for the Veteran’s Hospital. We also had a children’s station where we made

friendship bracelets and bookmarks for the shoebox ministry and thank you cards for service

men and women serving overseas and our local police and firefighters. Thank you to every-

one who helped make the day so special and spirit filled! Special thanks to Troop’s 81213

and 81327 who helped with the breakfast and the day of service!

Middletown Heritage Days

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Thank you to the volunteers who manned our booth for Heritage Days 2016. We handed

out cold water, Frisbees and our yellow bags for kids to collect candy from the parade. It

was a beautiful day and everyone who attended had a wonderful time! We had litera-

ture available for our youth programs, our worship services and “The Story”. In the Sanc-

tuary we showed the 275th anniversary video.

For 2017 we are planning to have a Heritage Day Commit-

tee to plan and organize other types of things we could be

involved in on that day . If you would like to serve on the

committee, contact Pastor Beth, bclement-

son@zionmiddletown.org. We would love to have as many

to help as possible!

17

Newcomers ‘ Gathering

Are you new to the Zion community? Are you interested in learning more about

our congregation? Are you interested in becoming a member of our church? If

you answered yes to any of these questions you are invited to a Newcomers

Gathering on Wednesday November 2, with refreshments served at

6:45p.m. and the meeting beginning at 7:00-8:00p.m. in the Garden’s Edge.

Childcare and activities will be offered for children and youth. Please contact

the church office at 301-371-6500 or office@zionmiddletown.org to let us

know that you are coming. If you are unable to attend this orientation but are

still interested in becoming a member of our congregation, let us know through

the church office. (Filling out the yellow welcome card in the pew and by the

office are also ways to communicate with the church.)

Help Wanted!

We are excited to announce that we will have

childcare available for both services on Sunday

mornings. We are looking for 2-3 people who

would be interested in staffing the nursery on

Sundays. The hours would be from 9 a.m. -

Noon every Sunday. This is a paid position but we are looking for volunteers too!

We would set up a rotating schedule so that you would only work one Sunday a

month. If you are interested please contact the church office for details, of-

fice@zionmiddletown.org or 301-371-6500.

Pianists needed

Our congregation is in need of pianists to accompany songs for our Saturday night

worship. This is a paid position, in a rotation with four other accompanists, playing

once a month. For more information, contact Bobby Staples - rstaples93@gmail.com

18

Clothes Closet News:

It has been an exciting time for the Clothes Closet Ministry! We recently changed our hours to be open every Saturday 9-11 am. This has made it easier for our clients and those who wish to do-nate because they know when they can find us. Soon it will also be easier to find us as we are having new signs installed on the building. This will give us more visibility to the entire community and help spread the word about this outreach program.

We have been busy providing clothes to many clients and almost every week we have a new client who has never been there before come in for clothing. Recently we also hosted clients from the Way Station who were in need of clothes and shoes. We continue to ask for your donations of gently used clothes and shoes, we especially need men's

clothes and with the beginning of colder weather, coats of every size. Donations are accepted on both Saturday and Monday mornings 9-11 at the Closet.

I would like to thank everyone who has donated in the past. We are very grateful for a monetary donation we recently received to help us purchase an air conditioner for our space. We appreciate all of the support.

All Saints Sunday All Saints Sunday is November, 6th.

We will be remembering those who passed on to the Lord during the past year. To have a friend or

loved one recognized in our service, Contact the church office at

301-371-6500 or office@zionmiddletown.org

19

2016 POINSETTIAS

Members of the Altar Guild will be available to take orders for poinset-tias after the Saturday 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. worship services on November 5-6, November 12-13, November

19-20, and November 26-27. The cost is $8.50 per plant. We encourage you to pick up your poinsettia(s), but those that are left will be delivered to the sick and homebound members of Zion. Poinsettias will be placed in the Church the weekend of December 17. If you indicate on the form that you will pick up your plant, you may do so after the 10:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

Orders will also be accepted by mailing the completed form below with a check to Zion Lutheran Church, 107 West Main Street, Middletown, MD 21769. Please mark your envelope “Poinsettia”. Orders must be received by Nov. 27. No orders after

that date please.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2016 Order Form for Poinsettias

Each Plant is $8.50 Total Amount enclosed $________

In Memory of: Given by:

__________________________________ _______________________________

__________________________________ _______________________________

In Honor of: Given by:

__________________________________ _______________________________

__________________________________ _______________________________

_______I will pick up _____ (Put in number you are picking up)

_______ Please deliver to the sick or homebound

_______ I will deliver to _____________________________________________

(Please put in name if member of Zion.)

20

Monetary Gift in Memory or Honor of Loved One

(Alternative to Poinsettia)

Zion is providing an opportunity to remember or honor a loved one with a monetary gift to Lutheran World Relief (LWR)—an alternative to purchasing a poinsettia. All gifts will be com-bined to make a purchase from the LWR gift catalog to help a family and/or a community in need.

Members of the Altar Guild will be available to take donations the same days that the poinset-tia orders are taken, November 5-6, November 12-13, November 19-20, and November 26-27. Monetary gifts will be accepted no later than December 11 by mailing the completed form below with a check to Zion Lutheran Church, 107 West Main Street, Middletown, MD 21769. Please mark your envelope “Monetary Gift for LWR”.

—————————————————————————————————————————--

2016 Monetary Gift for LWR

Each gift is $8.50 Total Amount enclosed $________

In Memory of: Given by:

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

__________________________________ __________________________________

In Honor of: Given by:

_____________________________________ _____________________________________

_____________________________________ _____________________________________

_____________________________________ _____________________________________

_____________________________________ _____________________________________

21

With our deepest sympathy we keep in our thoughts and prayers the family and friends of:

Anna Hoffman Bill Newkirk Louise Huffer Stup

The Family of Paul K. Coblentz wishes to thank

members of Zion for the many prayers offered in

his behalf during his illness and death. Also your

thoughtfulness in sending cards and visiting with

Paul was greatly appreciated. He loved the fel-

lowship with friends at Zion and longed to return

to worship there once again.

So Grateful,

Virginia Coblentz and family

Dear Mrs. Reichelt and members of Evangelical Lutheran Church Zion: Thank you so much for your contribution of toiletry items for the clients of the food bank. On Sunday 9/11 members of the Girl Scouts and parents helped to bag toiletry items at the church and to hand out to our clients. Despite the huge amount of items contributed their help made the work go fast. Boxes were piled in the back of a pick up truck filling the bed. Then they helped unload the truck at the food bank. They were a delightful group that made the work fun. We are indebted to them for their help, to you for organizing the donation and to the church for the wonderful contribu-tion. GOD BLESS YOUR GENOROSITY Phyl Thompson Manager - Middletown Food Bank

Are you someone who finds yourself eating alone many times? How about joining some Friends Around the Table on the last Mondays of the Month? Join this opportunity to make some new friends and find out that you are not alone. On Monday, October 31st, we will meet at the church parking lot at 2:45 p.m. and carpool to a restaurant of choice.

For more information contact: Dixie Eichelberger at 301-371-4232 All are welcome!

Faith to Hope welcomes you to join Friends Around the Table

Best wishes to:

Elizabeth Ann Vitalis and

Joseph Wayne McDonald

Sister of Pastor Kathy Vitalis Hoffman

Thank you all very much for the prayers, cards,

and phone calls while I recuperate from my bro-

ken femur. I especially want to thank Pastor

Kathy for her visits and Jim and Wendi for help-

ing me get a wheelchair.

Nancy Stroup

9/11 Thank You

22

Weekend Food for Children

Since its inception in the fall of 2011, the Weekend Backpack Ministry has provided a weekly bag of food for children who are food insecure in seven local schools. Currently 100 volunteers from 8 churches and 2 community organizations in the Middletown valley purchase, pack and deliver the food each week to approximately 100 students.

Bjorn Lomborg stated in the Washington post (11/23/2014), “There is robust evidence that proper nutrition for young children leads to a lifetime of large benefits, such as better brain de-velopment, improved academic performance and, ultimately, higher productivity as adults. For every dollar spent now, future generations will receive $60 in benefits.”

With this in mind, please consider donating food which is listed weekly in the bulletin. You can also purchase any of the foods that are listed on the wallet size cards and place in one of the two boxes. Another way to help is to sponsor a child for a year for $150.00 by making a check to Zion and putting Weekend Backpack in the memo line.

Thank You

We would like to thank the congregation for the many prayers, cards, visits and phone calls during the time of our son, Brian Rapp's recov-ery from a severe car accident in April. Many thanks to Rosella Wilson and Fran Taylor for keeping everyone informed of his progress. A special thanks to Pastor Kathy, Pastor Ron and Pastor Marv for their prayers and visits to Brian while he was in the nursing home and then back home. We truly appreciate being so blessed to be members of such a loving and supportive congregation. Charles and Loretta Rapp and family

I want to thank members of Zion for your

cards and prayers during my knee surgery.

Also for the lovely flowers from church and

Pastor Kathy’s visits.

Annette Goodman

Thanks to the thoughtful congregation and

friends of Zion Lutheran Church. Your toughts

and prayers are greatly appreciated. In our

travels thru life we are dealt many bumps in

the road. With the many prayers and our faith

we will get thru. I have started my cancer

treatments today and will have 5 more until

October 27. Thanks again for the beautiful

Flowers. Shirley P. Thompson

Thank you for blessing me with the beauti-

ful shawl you had Kathy Shankle bring to

me. The symbolisim in the stitches and

blessing by your pastor make it even more

special. The pocket prayer cross will be spe-

cial to me also. Thank you again for the

blessings from your church.

Maridell Mason

23

Middle School SAFE HOUSE

October - December 2016

Come join us!

Thursdays: October 6, 13, 20, 27 3:00p.m – 5:30p.m.

Social time, games, HW room & tutoring

Extended Safe House on Oct 20 – trip to Jumbo’s Pumpkin Patch

Registration Form and Permission form needed—see bulletin board for copies

Thursdays: November 3, 10, 17 3:00p.m. – 5:30p.m. Social time,

games, HW room & tutoring

No Safe House on November 24 - schools closed for Thanksgiving

Thursdays: December 1, 8, 15, 22 3:00p.m. – 5:30p.m. Social time, games,

HW room & tutoring

For more information, please contact

office@zionmiddletown.org or 301.-371-6500

Special thanks to our volunteers!

Adults: Bob Gunsallus, Chris Perry, Deb Reichelt, Jackie Bello, Joe

McIntosh, Karen Hollis, Karl Muhlbach, Kim Marcantonio, Lee Ropp, Meghan

Gunsallus, Vince Bello

High School Mentors: Keegan Waters, Savannah Trautman, Shannon

Baker, Tyler Harrison

Church Staff: Beth Clementson, Marv Tollefson

Submitted by Trish Tollefson, Director

24

www.zionmiddletown.org

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage PAID

Frederick, MD Permit No.

2205

Evangelical Lutheran Church Zion

107 W Main Street Middletown MD 21769

ZION BEACON Phone: 301-371-6500; FAX 301-371-8100

office@zionmiddletown.org

Christmas In The Valley Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 It is that time again to prepare to invite all our Middletown friends into Zion to Celebrate Christmas in the Valley. This long–standing tradition will take place on Saturday December 3rd, with festivities ending in our Sanctuary, and an end of celebration snack in the Social Room. We will need about 26 volunteers to man the entrances and to show folks where to go, etc. Please contact the office if you are able to assist in this wonderful outreach program. Contact the Church office at: office@zionmiddletown.org or 301-371-6500

The Connections Team will meet on Wednesday, October 19th at 7:00pm.

In the Living Library