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FEBRUARY

2017

Zion’s Good News

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

Sunday, February 5th

9:00 a.m. Worship and Baptismal Anniversary

Sunday, February 12th 9:00 a.m. Worship with

Promise Quartet

Sunday, February 19th 9:00 a.m. Worship

Disciples for Christ

Sunday, February 26th 9:00 a.m. Worship

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

at 10:00 in the Conference Room.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES: February 15th, 6:00 p.m. “Love Your Selfie”

February 22nd, 6:00 p.m. “Men of Faith”

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The Season of Epiphany?

I think it’s wonderful that the season of Epiphany is a bit longer this year, not just because it gives me more time to get ready for Lent to begin, but with Easter at a later date, we might have a warm spring Easter Sunday with flowers blooming, which is the way I like Easter to be. I’ve had enough snowy Easters. Epiphany doesn’t come up on most peoples’ list of favorite seasons of the church year. Christmas and Easter are usually at the top of that list, but Epiphany has its calling for us. It’s the season that is sand-wiched between Christmas and Lent and is significant for us to pon-der. Epiphany is a season. It is a season that begins with the wise men fol-lowing a star to Bethlehem and ends with Jesus’ face shining on a mountain. In between, we get stories about light, and stories about Jesus calling his disciples. We get the story of Jesus’ baptism and sto-ries of him healing people. But why? Why these particular stories right now? They are small windows of light, small revelations of who Jesus is in the world, and of who we are in the world as well. An epiphany is like an “aha” moment of light when we suddenly be-come aware of something that otherwise seems to be in the dark. The light comes on as we see with new eyes and we grow in our under-standing of that moment. Epiphany season is about seeing who Jesus is as he walks this earth in our skin (human), experiencing all that we do as we walk this earth. And Jesus shows us a better way, a new way, an epiphany of who we might be as children of God. Come and see what God has for us in this season of Epiphany. Sing songs about the light, the light of a candle, the flame of the fire, the light in the darkness. Let your light shine and share the journey with those close to you and take the risk of sharing it with someone you don’t know well. Epiphany is a season to grow. Pastor Sue

YOUR CHURCH STAFF

COUNCIL MEMBERS

President: Keith Grell

V. Pres.: Brenda Castellano

Secretary: Angie Guralski

Treasurer: Adam Maguire

Evangelism: Rhonda Thompson

Faith Formation: Jackie Fischer & Kaitlyn Ulrich

Property: Lee Spindler

Stewardship: Angela Ford

Worship: Brenda Garrigan

PASTOR: Sue Eidahl

Home Phone: 687-4381

E-mail: eides@zionlc.com

DCM: Ben Natzke

E-mail: ben@zionlc.com

Secretary: Lori Lang

E-mail: office@zionlc.com

WAYS TO CONNECT

WITH ZION

Write us at Zion Lutheran Church, 700 North Second Ave, Stratford, WI 54484-9632

Phone us at 715-687-4110 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. or leave a mes-sage on the phone recorder

Or email us at office@zionlc.com or directly to emails above. WEB SITE: www.zionlc.com

TRADITIONAL WORSHIP 9:00 a.m. Sunday

INDEX Page 1 February Schedule 2 Pastor Sue’s Letter 3 First communion Classes /

Scrip Fundraising 4 Little Lutherans and J-Team /

Building Update 5 Council Minutes / Pastoral

Acts / Prayer Shawl Ministry 6 Birthdays and Anniversaries 7 Church Staff and Index Pull out: February Calendar, Serving Schedule and Faith Five Grateful to be Faithful WEEKLY E-MAIL Goes out on Monday morning. Email office@zionlc.com to be added to the receiver list. PLEASE keep the office updated: Address & email changes Births, Deaths, Hospitalizations Phone / Cell changes

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE The 21st of each month. ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINE Wednesdays by 9:00 a.m.

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17 - Shelby Schmitz Grayson Cole Cole Kramer Betty Spring Landen Kissner Jordy Spindler 18 – Grace Kobs 19 - Brenda Van Der Leest

Mikayla Foley Troy Kuyoth

20 - Jacob Federwitz Patrick Kilty

Melissa Meyer 21 - Robert Ulrich Dawson Moen Daxtyn Wenzel 22 - Richard Anderson 23 - Austin O’Neil 24 - Eliot Waddell Brock Fischer Lee Spindler 25 - Jeanne Griesbach 26 - Amy Schoenfuss 27 - David Marg 28 - Karen Rock Keith Grell

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FEBRUARY

ANNIVERSARIES

7 - Don & Delores Pernsteiner 16 - Dean & Mary Schmidt Gary & Lori Lang 23 – Ted & Pam Wilde

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

1 - Jill Schillinger 2 - Cari Frueh 3 - Angela Ford 4 - Bonnie Zawislan Kris Homann 6 - Kristine Blyton Patrick Greenberg Alex Pupp 7 - Tammy Draper 8 - Darin Grell 10 - Rob Hughes 12 - Doris Weber Wes Manecke 13 - Kathy Ballerstein 14 - Darrel Schraeder Julia Nikolai 15 - Judy Polege Charlotte Schoenherr

John Schuette Bryce Ford

16 - Terry Hoesly Anika Weber

First Communion Classes

Discerning Your Child’s Readiness A child’s readiness is best determined by a parent or one who knows the child well, in consultation with the Pastor. Every child is different and each will pick up on the significance of the meal at a different point. Use questions like these to help you understand your child and her/his sense of belonging in the faith community, so you can make a decision about readiness. Is your child comfortable in various locations around the church,

including the altar? Will the child extend his or her hands when asked to do so? Does your child seem able to interact with others enough in order

to receive the elements? Is he/she aware enough of others in the congregation and their

needs to show a degree of respect for their communion experience? Are you as parents or caregivers prepared to help make this a posi-

tive process? Such questions are meant to assist you in understanding your child’s readiness. These questions are meant to simply generate conversation, set goals, and direct the preparation process for each child and her/his family.

First Communion classes are as follows: Sunday March 26—10:00 a.m.

Saturday April 1—8:30-10:00 a.m. Sunday April 2—First Communion at 9:00 a.m. worship service.

(Invite sponsors and grandparents)

At Zion, children have a place with Jesus at the gracious and wondrous meal of forgiveness, life, hope, joy, renewal, nourishment, peace, comfort, chal-lenge, courage, and strength; a place like no other — the Lord’s Table. The arms of Jesus are open. The table is set. There is room for all, and Jesus has never stopped saying, “Let the children come to me.”

Check out the Scrip kiosk every Sunday!

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Council Minutes

Zion Lutheran Church Council met on Monday January 23, 2017 President Keith Grell called the meeting to order,

Brenda Castellano led with devotions. During the meeting the council:

Approved the Secretary Report.

Approved the Treasurer Report.

Approved the Ministry Team Report

Pastor and Ben attended the Christmas Concerts held at Stratford Schools

Ben is planning an Adventure Trip 2017 the plan is to go Voyageur Canoeing on Lake Superior

Went over the Annual Meeting Agenda

Will purchase a Security camera system and will install

We will being having the pie sale again this year watch for details Respectfully submitted by

Angie Guralski, Secretary

Building Update 2016

Bi-Weekly Payment Start Payment Interest Principal Ending Date Balance Amount Paid Paid Balance 10/14 & 10/28 $469,860.19 $ 3,100.00 $1,414.83 $ 1,685.17 $468,175.02 11/14 & 11/25 $468,175.02 $ 3,100.00 $1,410.19 $ 1,689.81 $466, 485.21 12/09 & 12/23 $466,485.21 $ 3,100.00 $1,390.12 $ 1,709.88 $464,775.33 12/14 $468,175.02 $15,000.00 $ 0.00 $ 15,000.00 $449,775.33

Total monthly principal payments $ 20,084.86 Total monthly interest payments $ 4,215.14 Balance of loan as of 12-23-2016 $ 449,775.33 Stratford State Bank Building checking acct balance as of 01-03-2017 $ 27,161.15

Who: Little Lutherans = Kindergarten – 3rd Grade J-Team = 4th – 6th Grade

What: FAITH5: Share, Read, Talk, Pray, Bless

When: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays; 3:00-5:15pm

February 1 & 15 March 1 & 15

Where: Zion Family Center and Education Wing

Why: Family faith formation! Remember: Faith formation begins at home! Faith is caught more than taught and passed on through

personal, trusted relationships. This happens first at home! Little Lutherans and J-Team provide a supplemental faith formation

opportunity for children. Our ministry should reinforce the work done at home and give children opportunities to build relationships with

adults, young adults, and peers in our faith community.

Calling All Knitters and Crocheters! The Prayer Shawl Ministry at Zion Lutheran creates beautiful shawls to share with folks who struggle with various issues of life. People facing surgeries, loss of loved ones, and other difficult situations are given a prayer shawl to wrap them with God’s love and care in the midst of their struggle. A prayer shawl also reminds

the recipient that the congregation of Zion are praying for them. Anyone who knits or crochets (or who would like to learn how) is invited to join us in the Gathering Area on Thursday evening, February 16th, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. for a time of fellowship and prayer, pattern-sharing and encouragement. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

PASTORAL ACTS Baptism of Ellie Ann Southwick, daughter of Kyle and Jessica Southwick. Baptism of Kali Jo Lynn Southwick, daughter of Tyler and Brittany Southwick.

to be Grateful Faithful

A FAITH5 Devotion Guide

© Faith Inkubators; www.faithink.com

February

1 Mark 12:30-31

2 Romans 12:9

3 Romans 13:10

4 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

5 1 Corinthians 13:13

6 Ephesians 4:2

7 1 Peter 4:8

8 1 John 4:7-8

9 1 John 4:18-19

10 John 15:13

11 Colossians 3:14

12 Proverbs 10:12

13 Proverbs 17:17

14 1 John 3:16-18

15 1 John 4:8

16 John 3:16

17 Psalm 18:1

18 Matthew 6:24

19 Matthew 22:37-39

20 1 Corinthians 13:8

21 Isaiah 49:15

22 Song of Solomon 8:7

23 Psalm 37:4

24 Romans 5:5

25 John 4:16

26 Ephesians 5:1

27 Romans 8:28

28 1 John 3:1

As Valentine’s Day approaches, bright red and pink cards, candy, flowers, and hearts are

everywhere. This February focus on GOD’S LOVE. Send a valentine to God by devoting

time to him with the simple, 5-steps of FAITH5 (Faith Acts In The Home). Share this routine

with the people you love the most or just keep it between you and God. Begin with “highs and

lows” the best and worst moments of your day, read the love themed verse of scripture found on the other side of this sheet, pray and end with a

blessing, perhaps tracing a cross on the forehead and saying something like “I love you, but God

loves you even more.”

To Fall in love with God is the greatest romance.

To seek him the greatest adventure.

-Augustine of Hippo