March 2013
The Pastor’s Ponderings Pastor David’s cell phone—765-330-4170 and email address —fleeneda@gmail.com Okay. I admit it. Sometimes I don’t practice what I preach. Hey, conscience, stop twisting my arm! What I mean is, I don’t practice what I preach a lot of the time! In the pulpit I preach about God’s love for sinners, God’s invitation to repent, and God’s unshakeable promises. But outside of the pulpit, I doubt those promises as much as any human being. It’s so easy to look at the world and all the tragedy in it and think, “This is it? Couldn’t God have done any better?” All of us experience tragedy which shakes our faith in God and God’s promises – specifically, the promises that God will one day destroy death, and that our ultimate destiny is to be with God. All of us hear that nagging voice in our head. This isn’t true. This is a bunch of baloney. I was stupid to believe in this stuff in the first place.
We find ourselves feeling miserable. Perhaps we even feel judgmental – both toward others and toward God. We might be tempted to think that no one has ever felt this level of anger or sadness before. But it isn’t true. Many heroes of faith knew doubt and despair. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Spanish monk, wrote about his own spiritual depression, calling it “the dark night of the soul”. Martin Luther suffered from bouts of depression, withdrawing to his study or bedroom for days at a time. Once, his friends, unable to rouse him in his office, broke the door down. They brought him to, and he described the fears and doubts assailing him. In a letter to a friend, Luther wrote, “Christ holds me but by a thin thread.” Luther later described this time of dread as a time of “testing” or “affliction”. The opponents which Christ defeated on the cross – sin, death, and the devil – appear to be resurrected and attack our faith. We find ourselves assailed by false messages.
Give up. God doesn’t care about a sinner like you. But God does. In times of spiritual testing like this, Luther eventually found it helpful to find God working through it, destroying all pride and complacency to turn him back to God. While the devil seems powerful in such times, God is more powerful and uses that time of testing to bring us closer. Even in those times we feel abandoned, God is very much present. We Lutherans believe that God is most fully revealed not in moments of triumph or glory, but on the cross, when Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God is likewise most present when we carry our crosses. God continue to strengthen us in our Lenten “wanderings”, confident that eventually we will reach the Promised Land. See you in church! Pr. David
Holy Week Schedule March 24, Palm Sunday: we will meet outside on the north lawn by the cross and process into the sanctuary with palms as the opening hymn is sung. 10:30 AM (weather permitting) March 28, Maundy Thursday: worship with Holy Communion begins at 7 PM March 29, Good Friday: our worship service will also begin at 7 PM March 30, Easter Vigil: our service will begin at 8 PM with cake and sparkling grape juice reception afterward. March 31, Easter Sunday: worship with Holy Communion will begin at 10:30 AM
March 2013
Birth Announcement
Makenna Lynn Walker
Congratulations to Drew and Michelle Walker on the birth of their daughter, Makenna Lynn. Makenna was born at 9:22 a.m. on Thursday, February 7, 2013. She weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces and measured 19 inches in length. Makenna’s proud grandparents are Fred and Linda Walker and Charles and Betty Walker are her great-grandparents. God’s blessings to Drew, Michelle, big brother’s Keaton and Reece, and Makenna Walker.
Lectionary Readings March 3: Isaiah 55:1–9 Psalm 63:1–8 1 Corinthians 10:1–13 Luke 13:1–9
March 28, Maundy Thursday: Exodus 12:1–14 Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 John 13:1–17, 31b–35
March 10: Joshua 5:9–12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32
March 29, Good Friday: John 18:1—19:42
March 17: Isaiah 43:16–21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b–14 John 12:1–8 March 24, Palm/Passion Sunday: Readings Isaiah 50:4–9a Psalm 31:9–16 Philippians 2:5–11 Luke 22:14—23:56
March 30, Easter Vigil: Genesis 1:1-2:4a Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21 Isaiah 55:1-11 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Zephaniah 3:14-20 Jonah 1:1-2:1 Daniel 3:1-29 Romans 6:3–11 John 20:1–18 March 31, Easter Sunday: Isaiah 65:17–25 Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 Acts 10:34–43 Luke 24:1–12
Stewardship Stewardship ladies will be meeting on Tuesday, March 12th from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Also, Monday, March 18th, an evening Stewardship session is planned from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to work on quilts. There is no sewing, just making knots to hold the layers of the quilts together. You are invited to come and help make the much needed quilts to be sent to Lutheran World Relief. Bring a pair of scissors and a thimble (if you need one).
Lent/Easter Offering
Offering received at Zion during Lent and Easter will be divided between Grace Village at Ball State and Community and Family Services of Blackford County. Lenten Coin Folders are available on the table at the back of the sanctuary for those who wish to use them.
Easter Lilies
If you would like to help furnish Easter Lilies for the front of the sanctuary on Easter morning please give your order to Isola Banter by March 24th. Cost is $10 each. Please make your checks out to Isola.
March 2013
January Council Minutes Congregation Council met on January 8, 2013. Present: Pastor David Fleener, Barbara Hardwick, Larry Hile, Cindy Knote, Kathy Sharp, Allen Stallsmith, Libby Stroble, Neil Stroble and Linda Walker Absent: Shay Clamme, Pat Gillis, John Hendricks and Fred Strine Pastor David called the meeting to order. Linda Walker was elected to be the new President and Libby Stroble will be the Vice President. A motion was made by Neil Stroble and seconded by Kathy Sharp to approve the minutes of the December Council meeting. The motion carried. Correspondence: 4-H Booster Club sent a Thank you for last year’s donation and are hoping for a donation this year. ELCA Foundation sent endowment funding information. Add items to agenda: Air conditioning funds. Pastor’s Report: Pastor Fleener made 6 shut-in visits, 1 pastoral counseling, 5 hospital visits and 2 renewal of wedding vows Children’s Sunday School average around 4. I continue to meet with
parents in a young-adult Sunday School Class. Worship on Saturday night not working - 1 person in attendance. Perhaps I’ll try again, but it won’t be for a few months. For now, we might try a different setting of the Sunday liturgy. We will use a particular setting for a month or two, and then use it once a month or so. Committee Reports: Select people to be on committees. Parish Education & Youth: Shay Clamme Evangelism/Social Ministry: Claretta Dutro, Sandy Langdon and Cindy Knote Worship/Music/Memorial Committee: Fred Strine Council Reports—Deacons: Dec. 12, Advent Wednesday, 15 attended; Dec. 16, Sunday, 97 attended and 91 communed; Dec. 19. Advent Wednesday, 18 attended; Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, 117 attended and 108 communed; Jan. 6, Sunday, 79 attended and 71 communed; we paid $100 in rent for someone and $100 for an electric bill for someone else. Trustees: Thanks to Neil Stroble for showing John Hendricks the duties of a trustee. We received a letter from the assessment office. Treasurer: A letter from Pat Gillis and Dennis Walker about chang-
ing our financial accounts from First Financial to VIA Credit Union. Larry Hile made a motion to approve and Neil Stroble seconded. Motion carried. The council president will contact someone to audit the books for the Annual Meeting. Larry Hile made a motion to accept the council reports. Allen Stallsmith seconded. Old Business: Air-conditioning fund - $4385 has been received. Neil Stroble will check with the contractors for an extension of time on the quoted price. There was a discussion about whether to keep the account open to see if the contractor’s are willing to extend or refunding or applying the money to the Roof Fund. New Business: Neil Stroble will be on the Pastor Parish Committee. Dennis Walker’s balance sheet not stating about air conditioning fund. The money is included in the General Fund. The meeting was closed with all praying the Lord’s Prayer. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Hardwick Recording Secretary
March 2013 Lay Ministry Servers March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31
Greeters Bill and Joretta Hiday—Tom and Peggy Willmann Barb Hardwick—Anita Reid Pat Clamme—Max and Sandy Langdon Chris and Tiann Coy—Edi Tarter and Larry Gibson Cindy Knote—Chris and Megan Stroble
March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31
Ushers Fred Strine, Allen Stallsmith, Cindy Knote and Drew Walker Fred Strine, Drew Walker, Don Goetz and Gene Banter Allen Stallsmith, Drew Walker, Don Goetz and Gene Banter Cindy Knote, Drew Walker, Don Goetz and Gene Banter Fred Strine, Drew Walker, Don Goetz and Gene Banter
March 3 March 10 March 17 March 24 March 31
Lectors Fred Walker Linda Walker Sandy Langdon Chris Coy Joan Strine
Assisting Ministers March 3 Jody Stanley March 10 Mark Prout March 17 Ben Kizer March 24 Joan Strine March 28 Chris Coy March 30 Denise Hile March 31 Sarah Fleener
March Birthdays Carolyn Zigler Wade Carnes Chris Stroble Chris Coy Joyce Willmann Imogene Schmidt Brent Walker Angie Weddle Betty Rinker Susan Cook Scott Clamme Isola Banter Betty Walker Helen Stroble
3-2 3-8 3-8 3-11 3-12 3-16 3-16 3-17 3-19 3-23 3-26 3-28 3-30 3-31
The Zion Herald
“Happy are those whose strength is in God, In whose heart are the highways to Zion.” (Psalm 84:5)
Zion Lutheran Church 308 S. Monroe Street Hartford City, IN 47348
U Serving the Lord in Gladness U
David Fleener, Pastor Church Office: 348-3157 zionluth.hc@gmail.com www.zionhartfordcity.org
Easter Sunday Worship begins at 10:30 AM on March 31st. Come join us!
Sunday School at 9:15 AM followed by Worship at 10:30 AM