February 2014
The Pastor’s Ponderings Pastor David’s cell phone—765-330-4170 and email address —fleeneda@gmail.com Mornings at Grandpa and Grandma's were always a treat when I was a kid. I'd usually get up by around 7 or 8, and Grandpa George would be puttering away in the kitchen making breakfast. He'd fry eggs, brown sausage or bacon, pour bowls of cereal, fill glasses with orange juice and milk, and set the kitchen table. There would be a stack of toast ten inches high on the table. We would sit and eat, and Grandpa would constantly encourage us to eat. I remember that if I wasn't particularly hungry, he would stop and say with a worried look, "What's wrong, David? You're not sick, are you?" Food was the way my grandparents showed love. I remember many special meals at Grandpa and Grandma's - Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter dinners with a full spread. Even the ordinary meals were special. Grandpa would buy a mess of Gulf Coast shrimp from the market, and would prepare them several
ways: fried, scampi, or on pasta. I can say that every meal I had with them, especially now that they are both gone, was special. With the family bonds in the church, I'm sure that many of you have had plenty of special meals with those you love. Nowadays, Grandma's Sunday brunch has been replaced by dinner at Richard's, or the Pickle, or La Palma. But are those meals any less special than Grandma's brunch, shared and eaten so many years ago? Any time family members and friends gather around a table to share a meal, something happens. Connection and emotional intimacy can happen around a meal. So can bruised feelings and harsh words. Meals with family and friends bring our true selves and the true nature of our relationships with one another to the surface - both our love and our pain. Jesus asks us to bring the same to his table each and every week. When we celebrate Holy Communion, we're sitting down to a meal with Jesus himself as the host. He welcomes us to eat and drink with
him - just as we are, with all of our love, all of our pain, all of our sin all that makes us human. Every meal with Jesus is a truly special occasion. How, then, is it possible to "wear out" this good gift of God by celebrating it too often? How is it possible to make Jesus' meal any less special by celebrating it every Sunday? God's gifts endure. Neither the passage of time nor the frequency of celebration has the capacity to diminish this amazing gift of God, which feeds, renews, strengthens, and forgives. While Zion has not traditionally celebrated Communion every Sunday, perhaps it is time to rethink what God offers us in this gift. Perhaps it is time to reconsider the frequency of our celebration. Jesus calls, each and every one of you, with all you qualities and sins, to feast.
Parish Register
Change of Address
Game Night
Fred Strine passed away on Monday, January 6th, at his residence. Pastor David Fleener conducted Fred’s funeral service at Zion on January 11th. Burial followed in Gardens of Memory, Muncie, with Military Rites by the Delaware County Veterans Organization. Our sympathy goes out to Fred’s family. “If we have died with Christ, we shall also live with him; if we are faithful to the end, we shall reign with him.”
Betty Bell has moved to Cincinnati to be closer to her son, Troy, and his family. She is living in an assisted living facility very close to their home. Betty would enjoy hearing from the members of Zion. Her new address is: 3801 E. Galbraith Rd., Apt. 138 Cincinnati, OH 45236
See you in church! Pr. David
Game night will be held on February 16th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Ben Kizer will organize a Sherlock Holmes mystery for the evening. If you don’t enjoy solving these mysteries there will be other games to play. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy an evening of games, mystery, snacks and fellowship.
February 2014
December Council Minutes Congregation Council met on December 10, 2013. Present: Pastor David Fleener, Shay Clamme, Pat Gillis, Barbara Hardwick, Cindy Knote, Kathy Sharp, Allen Stallsmith, Fred Strine, Neil Stroble and Linda Walker Absent: John Hendricks, Larry Hile, Libby Stroble President Linda Walker called the meeting to order and Pastor David Fleener gave devotions. A motion was made by Kathy Sharp and seconded by Allen Stallsmith to approve the minutes of the November council meeting. Motion carried. Correspondence: The synod council is proposing three changes to the Synod Constitution. These changes will be considered for adoption at the next Synod Assembly, June 5-7, 2014. Information was received from Church Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. They would like to visit. The council decided against this. Pastor’s Report—Pastoral care: visited 2 shut-in; 4 sick visits; 2 Lay
Care Team visits The confirmation class went bowling. Their final exam will be in January. Community Choir - 283 attended not including the choir. - May have a cantata on Palm Sunday. Thanksgiving Dinner - 24 ate at church, 5 picked up dinners, and 49 were delivered The Advent Service scheduled on Wednesday, December 12, 2013 was canceled because of a memorial service for Tiffany Abner, wife of Grace Village minister Robert Abner. Committee Reports—Parish Education & Youth: Pastor David talked to Katie at the Common Grounds Coffee Shop about having cookies for the children to decorate on the night of Christmas caroling on December 23rd. Worship/Music/Memorial Committee: Nothing - the meeting scheduled for December 12th was canceled. Motion to accept committee reports by Cindy Knote, seconded by Kathy Sharp. Motion carried. Council Reports—Deacons: Gave a check for $250 to a family who lost everything in a house fire. Nov. 3rd - 94 attended and 92 communed; Nov. 10th - 81 attended;
2nd Annual Sweet Sampler The East Central Indiana Conference will host its 2nd Annual Sweet Sampler, a benefit for the ministry of Grace Village at Ball State University, on Friday, February 28th, 7-9 PM. Come listen to live music (some performed by your pastor!) and sample
different wines and hors d'oeuvres. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be served. Tickets are $25/person, $45/ couple. Enjoy a classy evening and support the church's ministry! Talk to Pr. David for tickets.
Nov. 17th - 87 attended and 80 communed; Nov. 24th - 86 attended and 81 communed; Nov. 27th - 31 attended and 27 communed; Dec. 1st - 87 attended and 84 communed; Dec. 4th - 18 attended; Dec. 8th - 77 attended and 72 communed. Trustees: Garage door needs repaired at the parsonage. Treasurer: Increase in Water & Sewage - will talk with the Finance Committee. Budget to be given to council in January. A motion to accept council reports was made by Neil Stroble and seconded by Fred Strine. Motion carried. New Business: Cindy Knote made a motion to give to Isola Banter the cost of oranges for the Christmas Eve service. Fred Strine second, motion carried. The meeting was closed with all praying the Lord’s Prayer. The next scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Linda Walker will give the devotions. Submitted by, Barbara Hardwick Recording Secretary
Food Pantry February is one of Zion’s months to collect items for Community and Family Services of Blackford County. Your help would be greatly appreciated in collecting items such as: paper products, laundry soap, personal hygiene items, peanut butter, canned goods of any kind. Please leave your donations on the table in our fellowship hall.
February 2014 Lay Ministry Servers Greeters Feb. 2 Mike and Becky Saylor—Gene and Isola Banter Feb. 9 Chris and Tiann Coy—Claretta Dutro Feb. 16 Chris and Megan Stroble—Steve and Viola Willmann Feb. 23 Bill and Joretta Hiday—Louie & Joyce Willmann
Feb. 2 Feb. 9 Feb. 16 Feb. 23
Ushers Allen Stallsmith, Cindy Knote, Scott Clamme and Steve Willmann Allen Stallsmith, Bill Hiday, Steve Willmann and Neil Stroble Cindy Knote, Bill Hiday, Steve Willmann and Neil Stroble Scott Clamme, Bill Hiday, Steve Willmann and Neil Stroble
Lectors Feb. 2 Michelle Walker Feb. 9 Chris Coy Feb. 16 Megan Stroble Feb. 23 Cindy Knote
February Birthdays Tim Stanley 2-3 Allen Stallsmith 2-5 Drew Walker 2-5 Brad Hile 2-6 Griffin Banter 2-12 Jara Murray 2-12 Grant Banter 2-17 Don Ladd 2-17 Dorothy Swoveland 2-19 Catherine Wise 2-23 Denise Hile 2-24 Andy Langdon 2-24 Vicki Willman 2-26
Assisting Ministers Feb. 2 Ben Kizer Feb. 9 Mark Prout Feb. 16 Sarah Fleener Feb. 23 Chris Coy
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
Sunday School at 9:15 AM followed by Worship at 10:30 AM