September 2016
The Pastor’s Ponderings Pastor David’s cell phone—348-330-4170 and email address—fleeneda@gmail.com Every few months, I see a pastor to confess my sins and receive God’s forgiveness. It can be frightening to name my particular sins out loud. But it is also cleansing. Once a sin is named and no longer hidden, we can more easily hear the good news that God forgives that sin and accepts us as the flawed human beings we are. That’s the point of the silence during confession and forgiveness at the beginning of worship. When we can name particular sins to ourselves (and thus to God), we can more easi-
ly hear the words of forgiveness which cleanse and bring new life. We can hear the words of absolution not as just a general truth, but as a truth spoken to and for us, absolving us of our particular sins. When Dietrich Bonhoeffer ran his illegal seminary at Finkenwalde, he shocked the students by insisting on regular confession to each other. Each student had one confessor; Bonhoeffer’s was his friend Eberhard Bethge. For a small Lutheran seminary, this practice was seen as “too Catholic” and out of place in the modern era. But Bonhoeffer insisted on regular confession, as well as prayer and meditation, as essential to the spiritual formation of all Christians, especially pastors-
Zion’s 2016 Council Members Elder & President ...................................................................... Jody Stanley Elder & Vice-President ................................................................. Larry Hile Secretary ............................................................................... Barb Hardwick Deacons ................................................................................... Scott Clamme Drew Walker Allen Stallsmith Trustees .................................................................................... Chris Stroble Tom Armstrong Mark Prout Treasurer ................................................................................. Max Langdon Financial Secretaries .................................................................... Tiann Coy Kathy Sharp
in-training. None of this is law; a “thou shalt”. All of these things – prayer, meditation, confession – are means of grace by which God works. The primary thing isn’t our action. The primary thing is what God does through them. I welcome anyone and everyone who wants to experience the grace found in personal confession and forgiveness to come by my office sometime. There is even a neat little pamphlet in the storage room, handed out long ago, that gives direction on how we might order our confession. Love to you all, Pr. David
Worship Schedule Please note that Zion’s worship schedule will change on September 11, 2016. Sunday School classes will begin at 9:15 a.m. and Worship will begin at 10:30 a.m.
September 2016
Luther League at Ohio Church 1945
150th Anniversary Celebration Come celebrate our 150th anniversary on October 23rd! There will be a special worship service at 10:30 a. m. with Holy Communion. Our bishop, Bill Gafkjen, will preach and preside. After worship, enjoy a meal prepared by Larry Hile, Steve Weschke, and the Zion Kitchen Committee. Please let Larry know by October 16th if you, family members, or friends plan to partake in the meal. You can reach him at 765-3486445.
Rally Day is September 11th! Rally Day kicks off the Sunday school year on September 11th! Sunday school for kids and adults is at 9:15 a.m., with three classes: the kids will be with Linda Walker and Judy Clamme upstairs, young adults will be with Pr. David in the church library, and Nolan Willman's adult class will be in the Fel-
lowship Hall. Because of the church picnic on September 18th, we will skip Sunday school that day, but we will be back on September 25th. After worship on Rally Day, we will have a coffee hour hosted by Zion's Kitchen Committee, where the kids will release balloons on the church lawn. Come join us!
September 2016
Outdoor Worship and Church Picnic Zion’s Annual Outdoor Worship and Church Picnic will be held at Ray and Linda Stanley’s, 1287 S 200 E, on September 18th at 11 a.m. A carry-in dinner will be held after the outdoor worship
service. Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be provided. Please come join in the fellowship and bring your lawn chair, a dish to share, and your table service.
September Lectionary Readings Pentecost 16 - September 4th 1st Reading - Job 38:25-27; 41:1-8; 42:1-6 Psalm 139 Gospel - Matthew 7:7-8 Pentecost 17 - September 11th 1st Reading - Job 42:7-17 Psalm 116 Gospel - Luke 6:20-23 Pentecost 18 - September 18th 1st Reading - Amos 8:4-7 Psalm 113 2nd Reading - 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Gospel - Luke 16:1-13 Pentecost 19 - September 25th 1st Reading - Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm 146 2nd Reading - 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Gospel - Luke 16:19-31
Stewardship Project for September This year for Lutheran World Relief we will collect SOAP. Soap keeps hands clean, germs at bay, and helps people present themselves with dignity. LWR accepts new bars of any brand of soap, in the original wrapping. Bath-size bars are preferred. September will be our month for collecting soap. A wash tub will be placed in the narthex under the coat rack for your donations. Lets fill the wash tub with soap!
September 2016
July Council Minutes Congregation Council met on July 14, 2016. Present: Pastor David Fleener, Barb Hardwick, Jody Stanley, Max Langdon, Kathy Sharp, Tom Armstrong, Larry Hile, Mark Prout, Tiann Coy, Allen Stallsmith and Scott Clamme Absent: Chris Stroble and Drew Walker The meeting was called to order by Jody Stanley. Devotions were given by Pastor David. A motion was made by Larry Hile to accept the minutes of the last council meeting. Max Langdon seconded. Correspondence: Discuss later Add items to agenda: Comments in Treasurers Report by Max. Pastor’s report: Pastoral Care— June, by Pastor David: 1 shut-in (phone), 2 sick/hospital, 1 funeral, 1 home communion. Soul Care Team—4 shut-ins, 1 sick/hospital, 1 pastoral visit, 4 home communions Louise Clamme and Kathy Sharp did a wonderful job of visiting people in my absence. We all owe them our gratitude. Deacon’s Fund—No deacons’ fund use since June meeting. Attendance Report—6/5 – 71 attended, 67 communed; 6/12 – 79 attended; 6/19 – 78 attended, 75 communed; 6/26 – 72 attended Retreat Report—I want to thank all of you for the opportunity to take time away for retreat and renewal. I went to St. Augustine’s House outside of Ox-
ford, Michigan, the only Lutheran monastery that I know of in the Western Hemisphere. The day was structured around times of prayer and work. My “work” was mostly reading and journaling. I focused on these two books: The Return of the Prodigal Son by Fr. Henri Nouwen, which focused on the Rembrandt painting of the Prodigal Son and how we as Christians can view ourselves from three points of view: the younger son, the elder son, and the father. Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker by Andrew Root, which focused on Bonhoeffer’s work with youth not merely as a means of bringing them up with the right faith, but as community building on Christ. I remarked at the end of my retreat to the prior (the leader of the monastery) that I had not felt this spiritually rejuvenated in years. I hope that I will be able to return from time-to-time, and I hope to bring some of you with me some time. Other events in June—June 1 – Altar Care cleaned the sacristy! June 2 – Parish Ed June 7 – ECIC Ministerium at Grace Village (Matthew Manning was re-elected as dean of the conference) June 9-11 – IK Synod Assembly (oral report) Motion to accept by Kathy Sharp. Seconded by Tiann Coy. Committee reports—Parish Ed: Getting geared up for Vacation Bible School at Trinity United Methodist Church July 18-22 from 6-8 p.m. Worship/Music/Memorial: Meet-
ing on July 27th. Land use: Dennis Walker is getting ready to build a bell tower. 150th Anniversary Committee: No meeting, need to have one in the near future. Carolyn Goetz has resigned from committee. Constitution Committee: Need to have a meeting. Council reports—Trustees: Work already done at parsonage. Cleaned up tree limb that fell. Chris brought a chain saw to the parsonage. Insurance inspection, reminded again that (4) repairs need to be made by October. Treasurer: General Fund $5,119.76 Semi-Annual meeting after service on July 17. Motion to accept the committee reports by Kathy Sharp. Seconded by Larry Hile. Old Business: Semi-Annual meeting agenda New Business: Kathryn Rogers’ estate. A brand new stove in the kitchen was one thing she requested. Kathryn gave $11,110.72 to the church. Need to decide where the rest of the money goes. For now it will be placed in the Memorial Fund. The meeting closed with all praying the Lord’s Prayer. The next meeting will be on August 11, 2016. Larry Hile will have the devotions. Respectfully submitted, Barb Hardwick Recording Secretary
The Zion Herald September 2016
“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
Serving the Lord in Gladness David Fleener, Pastor Church Office: 348-3157 Zionluth.hc@gmail.com www.zionhc.org
Sunday School at 9:00 AM with Worship at 10:00 AM
September 2016 Lay Ministry Servers Greeters
Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25
Gene and Isola Banter—Tom and Vikki Armstrong Max and Sandy Langdon—Dorothy Hale Outdoor Worship at Ray and Linda Stanley’s Owen and Mary Ehlers—Tom and Vikki Armstrong
Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25
Ushers Scott Clamme, Drew Walker, Allen Stallsmith and Gene Banter Drew Walker, Gene Banter, Larry Hile and Ray Stanley Scott Clamme, Gene Banter, Larry Hile and Ray Stanley Allen Stallsmith, Gene Banter, Larry Hile and Ray Stanley Lectors
Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25
Cindy Knote Sandy Langdon Virginia Langdon Carolyn Smith
Assisting Ministers
Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25
Sarah Fleener Mark Prout Denise Hile Jody Stanley
September Birthdays Margaret Hunnicutt Pastor David Fleener Debbie Jones Don Goetz Tanner Hendricks Tom Willmann Viola Willmann Dennis Walker Bob Thomas Orville Uggen Gene Banter Max Langdon Autumn McCammon
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