2011.03 Newsletter

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH • BUFFALO, MN MARCH 2011

O f f i c e@ Zi on Bu f f a l o . o r g ( 7 63 ) 6 82 - 12 45 w ww. Z i on Bu f f a l o . o r g

Sunday Worship Services

8:30 am Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary with nursery available 9:45 am Family Express in Trinity Hall 10:30 am Jubilee Worship in the Sanctuary with nursery available

Sunday School

Available for children ages 3 to grade 6 at 8:30 and 10:30 during the school year.

Wednesday Nights

Programs for elementary students, choirs, handbells, confirmation and supper during the school year.

Contact Us

Email [email protected] Online www.ZionBuffalo.org Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (noon summer Fridays) Church Office 763.682.1245 Fax 763.684.1967 Street Address 1200 Highway 25 South, Buffalo (across from 13th St S.) Mailing Address PO Box 88, Buffalo, MN 55313

Prayer Requests

Call the church office at 763.682.1245 or visit Zion online at ZionBuffalo.org with your prayer requests. If you want a pastoral visit or would like to be included in pastoral prayers during worship, please use a yellow pew card or call the church office.

Address, Phone & Email Corrections

Zion maintains a database of all members. If you have had any changes to your address, phone number, marital status, etc. please contact Angela with your name, phone number and the changes that need to be made.

If You Are Ill

Hospitals no longer notify churches when their members are admitted for care. Call 763.682.1245 and let us know so we can support you with prayer and with presence.

Weekly Bulletin Insert

The weekly bulletin announcement insert is also available to download as a PDF at ZionBuffalo.org/Weekly. Contact Diane Montplaisir with submissions as early in the week as possible, but no later than Thursdays at Noon.

The Voice

A monthly publication of Zion Lutheran Church

Upcoming Deadlines

March 14 at 8am for April Issue

April 11 at 8am for May Issue

Editor: Angela Bengtson

[email protected]

This Month’s Cover

Dave Wright teaching children about cows at

the Villages of Hope school in Zambia.

Zion Staff

Ted Vanderpan: Senior Pastor

ext. 304 | [email protected]

Karri Anderson: Interim Associate Pastor


Sherilyn Burgdorf: Shared Ministry Director


Roxie Otten: Co-Director of Christian Education


Holly Husom: Co-Director of Christian Education


Myron Crawford: Director of Youth Ministries


Jim Onstad: Youth Staff

Diane Montplaisir: Administrative Secretary


Angela Bengtson: Communications & Membership


Sue Stensrud: Financial Secretary


Tom Janzen: Facility & Grounds Manager

[email protected]

Louis Nagel: Part Time Custodian

Missy Peterson & Stephanie McClanahan:

Nursery Staff

Michael Walsh: Coordinator of Music

Congregational Council

Kevin Bergquist

Roger Brenny

Bill Deneen

Mike Davis

Tracy Gurneau

Kelly Hanson

Devonne Kent

Beverly Koopman

Sue Lyrek

Colleen Manninen

Scott Morin

Steve Peterson

Wanda Weber

Zion seeks to share Christ’s word, strengthen faith and serve those in need. 2

Information

Cultivating Holy Gardens

“We’re going to the farm.” Few other words in the days of my youth could bring me such instantaneous joy and excitement. Whether it was by car with family, or on the train with my grandmother, going to the farm meant a trip to Black River Falls, WI to visit my mother’s sister and her family. Sometimes I could barely contain myself when I knew that “this time” I would be staying while everyone else went back home. I would be overjoyed knowing there would be many days ahead to help milk the cows and to go on scavenger hunts to find all the eggs that the chickens refused to lay in the hen house. To discover what new animals might have moved in since my last visit or which ones might have had babies. To play in the hay mow and the granary, or help with the planting or the harvesting of the crops. And to know that in the summer there would be all those fresh vegetables and berries there for the picking right outside the back door!

There is something special about a garden. The smell of dirt that has just been turned over to get ready for the planting of seeds. The thrill of seeing those tiny green fingers begin poking out from beneath the earth, the swiftness with which the plants grow to maturity and the wonder that comes with the ripening of the produce. The whole process connects us to the Holy in a unique and profound way. Seeing and participating in the cycle of life through the nurturing of animals or crops on a farm or the tending of a garden is becoming less and less of a universal experience for people.

And so for Lent 2011 we will be using the theme Practicing Our Faith: Cultivating Holy Gardens as the means for discovering new ways of discipleship and deepening our relationship with God. Through weekly worship, sermons, readings and gathering together in small groups we will continue to work at strengthen our lives of discipleship.

Each midweek Lenten sermon will focus on one of the 6 marks of discipleship that we learned while reading Michael Foss’s book Power Surge this past fall. We will examine each of the marks and how nurturing them helps in growing a strong faith. Along with the 6 marks we will study the book, Practicing Our Faith by Dorothy Bass to help us imagine new ways of growing our faith gardens. Zion’s children will be exploring, right along with the adults, through their Sunday School programming. The results of their project will be used in a variety of ways to continue their learning beyond the Lenten season and to involve other groups that will help develop relationships across generations.

As the time grows near for me to leave Zion I wanted to share with you that one of the things that has been such a blessing for me has been the daily reminders of the farm on my drives out to Buffalo. The long drive I was so dreading when I was called to Zion became a sacred time that I actually looked forward to. Knowing I would be spending my days working with such a gifted and caring staff made it worthwhile as well.

I want you to know that I feel incredibly blessed by all of you as we have worked together toward Zion’s promising tomorrow. And while I may be leaving Buffalo, I am taking all of you with me in the seeds that have been planted during our time together. Seeds that will continue to grow and bear fruit wherever I go.

In Christ’s Love,

From the Pastor

Worship Schedule

Sunday, March 6

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Matthew 17:1-9

Pastor Karri Preaching

Wednesday, March 9

Ash Wednesday


Sunday, March 13

First Sunday in Lent

Matthew 4:1-11

Pastor Ted Preaching

Wednesday, March 16


Sunday, March 20

Second Sunday in Lent

John 3:1-17


Wednesday, March 23

Sunday, March 27

Third Sunday in Lent

John 4:5-42

Pastor Ted Preaching

Wednesday, March 30

3

Meet Pastor Luke Schmidt

The congregation met on Sunday, February 20, to extend a call to fill the position of Associate Pastor for our Zion Lutheran Congregation. The Call committee selected Pastor Luke Schmidt and the church council has affirmed their selection. This newsletter went to print before the February 20 meeting, so check ZionBuffalo.org or the weekly announcements for the results of that meeting.

Pastor Luke Schmidt has been working in ministry since 2004. Most recently he has been serving as Pastor of Community Life at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. In that role, Pastor Luke enjoyed time spent connecting people, launching an experiential worship service, leading a congregational vision process, restructuring the church council around areas of ministry and life passion, and revamping the way the church talks about stewardship. Some of Luke’s other activities include involvement in the Hanson preaching fellowship, the Augsburg Pastoral Leadership program, training other pastors in money leadership, and serving on the Minneapolis Synod Stewardship Team. Pastor Luke is passionate about preaching, discipleship, growing new leaders, and whole-life stewardship.

Pastor Luke grew up in New Ulm, MN. He graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and Luther Seminary. Ministry is his second career after some time spent in the corporate software industry. He has been married to his wife Jessica for 10 years and they have two children; Kate (4) and Will (1). Pastor Luke and his family live in Brooklyn Park but are excited to move to Buffalo.

Pastor Luke enjoys technology, playing volleyball and basketball, riding roller coasters with Kate, wrestling with Will, watching movies with Jess, and cooking for large groups of people.

Births

January 7

Gavin Lee Breuer, son of Brandi & Joey

January 17

Savannah Caroline Smith, daughter of

Angie Peterson & Darroch Smith

Baptisms

January 23

Nora Nicole Pemberton

Connor Patrick Heideman

January 30

Cody Stephen Gillman

Funerals

January 2

Harvey Berglund

January 15

Ted Callerstrom

January 16

Don Borscheid

February births & pastoral acts will be

reported in the April Newsletter.

Active Military

Please Pray For

Will Dobbins

Stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA

Fred Pierce

Stationed in Miramar, CA

Cody Bauman

Stationed at Fort Bragg, NC

Doug Pecarina

Army National Guard

Charles Mandery

Army National Guard

Chris Paulsen-Schmidt

Stationed at Norfolk, VA

Korey Siltman

Stationed in Washington State

Christopher Brophy

Stationed at Fort Reiley, KS

Ben Pecarina

Stationed at Las Vegas, NV

Greg Bremseth

Stationed at the MEPS in Houston, TX

DeAnna Strommen

Stationed at Fort Hood, TX

News and Views

4

No Chimes on the Organ

Zion has Diane Johnson to thank for

doing the impossible with Zion's pipe

organ since Christmas.

Few people know that in the middle of

the 5pm worship on Christmas Eve a

portion of the pipe organ quit working.

The organ lost its capability to do any

presets that organists use to switch the

sounds of the organ quickly. Since

Christmas, Diane Johnson, Minda

Squadroni and other organists have

been making adjustments to use the

organ in its present state.

Zion Worship Committee has appointed

a task force to look into options for

repair/upgrade to a digital system that

would replace the broken circuit boards

inside the organ. A temporary "bypass"

has been done to give organists some

flexibility for playing during the

upcoming months until a more

permanent solution is found. Watch for

updates from the Pipe Organ Task

Force during the next months. If you'd

like to join the task force to hear about

needed repairs or possibly help with

fundraisers, memorial funds or gifts,

talk with any of the existing task force

members: Anita Bazan, Sherilyn

Burgdorf, Diane Johnson, Gary and

MaryLynn Leff, Sue Lyrek (church

council representative to the Worship

Committee), Mark Minkler, Dale and

Ione Olson, Diane Paulu, Minda

Squadroni, Jason and Amy Chalupnik,

and Mike Walsh.

Bishop Hanson to Serve on

Presidential Council

In February, President Obama

announced his intention to appoint the

Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop

of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in

America (ELCA), to the President‘s

Advisory Council on Faith-based and

Neighborhood Partnerships.

The advisory council brings together

religious and secular leaders, as well as

scholars and experts in fields related to

the work of faith-based and

neighborhood organizations, to make

recommendations to the government on

how to improve partnerships, according

to a White House news release.

5

Lent 2011

Practicing Our Faith: Cultivating Holy Gardens

Lent begins on March 9

These forty days are our time to walk the journey with Christ to the cross, ending when we reach the triumphant Easter day. The forty days offer the time to come to Zion for midweek worship, be intentional about devotions at home, and participate in special events for the season. Be watching for further Lenten details at ZionBuffalo.org/Lent.

Ash Wednesday, March 9

Wednesday, March 9, Ash Wednesday worship at noon and 6:30pm in the sanctuary with imposition of ashes and holy communion.

Practicing Our Faith adult study will begin after the noon and 6:30pm services. See page 11 for more information.

Wednesdays March 16 to April 13

Choose the worship time that fits your schedule. Confirmation students are encouraged to attend worship each Wednesday.

Practicing Our Faith study will continue after the noon and 6:30pm services.

Noon in the Library/Chapel

Worship service of scripture, hymns, prayer and pastor’s meditation during the lunch hour.

6:30pm in the Sanctuary

The familiar Holden Evening Prayer service will be led by the Zion Youth Choir and will include scripture, pastor’s meditation, and music from Zion’s choirs.

The Table is Set!

Come for a family meal before worship each Wednesday at Zion. The cost is a reasonable $3 per plate and the connection with family and friends is great! Serving starts at 5pm, and menus are on page 6. The meal served on March 30 will be a fundraiser for the Zion Youth summer mission trip.

Devotional Materials

Email devotions can be found at www.luthersem.edu/lent.

Supporting Mission Partners

Lenten self-denial folders will be sent to those who have used them in the past and to new members. More folders will be available in the narthex. These quarters assist Zion’s ministry at home and throughout the world. By denying ourselves, we spread God’s love in many parts of the world.

Mission Sunday

On Sunday, March 13, come to Zion for a special focus on all of the ways that Zion reaches out to our community and the world. Various mission groups will be participating in the worship services and providing displays and information in the lobby/narthex after worship. Special music will also be provided by the Senior Choir, Jubilee, Youth Choir, and all handbell choirs.

Beads and More

Projects that Harvest of Hands will work on in March are:

Poinsettia Felt Wreath Project (pictured) on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday mornings from 9 to 11 in Wilderness Room.

Beading projects, jewelry, felt and ornament projects on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 in the Wilderness Room.

Beading has become so popular with the group that there is always a beading project going on in the evening sessions. An alternate project is available for anyone that does not want to work on beading. The group hopes to complete more projects this year with this approach. If you have an idea of a project that would be great for the sale, please contact the group, as they are always looking for new projects and volunteers.

Please join the Harvest of Hands crafters for some friendship, laughter, and the rewards of helping others.

Holy Yoga

Holy Yoga is an exercise of worship combining yoga exercise with beautiful music and God’s word. Jonnie Goodmanson is a certified master holy yoga instructor and will lead a six-week Holy Yoga series for beginners at Zion on Wednesday mornings from 9:30-10:30am beginning March 23. There is no fee but a free-will offering will be accepted. Contact Nancy Elam at 612.581.0377 with questions or sign up at the information desk.

Fellowship & Study

Wednesday Menu

Make plans to come to Wednesday

Night Suppers at Zion! There‘s a tasty

meal waiting for you every Wednesday

from 5:00-6:15 in the Fellowship Hall

for a suggested donation of $3 per

plate.

March 2: Pizza

March 9: Sub Sandwiches

March 16: Sloppy Joes

March 23: Tacos

March 30: Grilled Cheese & Tomato

Soup served by the Youth

Meals will be served each week until the

end of the school year excluding school

breaks.

If you would like to try serving on a

supper team or sponsor meals, please

contact Cindy Bonde

([email protected]).

Boundary Waters

Men’s Canoe Trip

Zion men interested in participating in

the fifth annual canoe trip to the

Boundary Waters please contact Jud

Goerss at 682.4756 or

[email protected].

In the past, a group of eight

Zion men share this adventure

and fellowship experience. A

BWCA outfitter provides

everything, so canoes, camping

equipment and previous

experience is not required. The

group will leave on the

afternoon of June 26 and return

back to Buffalo on June 30.

6

Copper River

Buffalo Community Book Read

In February, the Zion Book Club will take part in the sixth annual Buffalo Community Book Read. William Kent Krueger will lead a discussion on Copper River, on Tuesday, March 15, at the Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center. From 5-6 pm there will be snacks and a reception for the author, from 6-7 there will be student led discussions, 7-8 pm there will be a presentation by the author.

Copper River finds Cork O'Connor running for his life from professional hit men who have already put a bullet through his leg. Desperate, he finds sanctuary outside a small town called Bodine on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in an old resort owned by his cousin, Jewell DuBois. Though Jewell, a bitter widow whose husband may have been killed by cops, keeps Cork at arm's length, her fourteen-year-old son, Ren, is looking for a friend. But being a father figure to Ren will prove more difficult than Cork could possibly imagine... (Author's website)

In Coming Months

Details of all these books are online at ZionBuffalo.org/Social

April 11: The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

Star Gazing and Old Log Theater

There are two Zionaires events scheduled for seniors and retirees in March.

First, catch the celestial skies over Buffalo. Mike Lynch, meteorologist and astronomy expert from WCCO radio, will be giving us a short class and then a look at the wonders of our stars. It will be held at Northwinds Elementary on March 7 from 7-9pm. Cost is $13 or $20 for a couple. Sign up at the church by March 4 or call Roger and Sandy Brenny at 763.682.2979 for more information.

Then on Thursday, March 31, we will be joining a group to take a trip to the Old Log Theater in Excelsior to have a meal and see the popular acclaimed Broadway play, On Golden Pond. The day will include transportation from the Buffalo Community Center at 11am with a nice choice of a meal and the play at the Old Log for $56. The group will return at about 4:30pm. Register by March 18 at the information desk or, again, you can call Roger and Sandy at 763.682.2979 for more details.

By the way, even if you are not a senior, all are welcome to attend Zionaires programs!

Baptism Class

Zion offers a class for new or

prospective parents wishing to schedule

a baptism at Zion.

Anyone wishing to schedule a baptism is

asked to attend a class prior to the date

of the baptism. Expectant parents as

well as those who already are parents

may attend the class.

Scheduling of baptisms will take place

at the class.

The next classes are Wednesday, March

2, at 6pm or Sunday, April 10, at

noon.

Register online or by calling the office.

Membership Class

The next Membership Class will be held

after worship on Sunday, April 10. This

orientation to membership provides an

introduction to Zion ministries and

staff, an opportunity to meet others at

Zion, and a little about what it means

to be Lutheran. Those that decide to

become members will be formally

received into our congregation

on Sunday, April 17.

The meeting will include:

Lunch for you and your family,

served at 11:45am, and meeting

beginning about 12:15pm.

Your photo will be taken for the

reception on April 17.

Information will be collected for

church records.

Child care and activities for

children will be available after the

meal if requested in advance.

Plenty of informal conversation

with staff, existing members, and

other prospective new members.

An overview of a wide variety of

Zion programs and ministries.

Zion Pastors briefly introduce what

it means to be Lutheran.

An opportunity for participants to

ask questions about the Bible, the

Christian faith, and Zion Lutheran

Church.

7

Mission Jamaica

The Mission Jamaica team are posting updates at ZionBuffalo.org/MJ and on Facebook throughout their trip which ends on March 5.

News From Zambia

Zion Members, Dave and Sue Wright, recently spent several weeks in Zambia working with Zion’s mission partner, Villages of Hope.

As I write this note, it is our final day in Africa. We are thankful for a rich and rewarding experience. Sue and I approached this trip with an open mind. We set goals but knew that our expectations for results in Africa might have been unrealistic.

Surprisingly, we have been blessed with results to go along with our good intentions. We spent the first week and a half in the Villages of Hope researching local farms and identifying "experts." After attempting to sort the grain from the chaff, we drew up plans for the milking shed, purchased building materials from Lusaka, and began construction. No time for second guessing yourself.

By the time we had to leave Villages of Hope, the design had been transformed from paper to reality. Waesey, our carpenter, fashioned hinges for the gates out of scrap metal and set the wood stanchions in place. The concrete floor was to be poured the following week and everything was ready except the roof. A roof can wait in Zambia weather. The five cows and three calves are ready to check out their new home.

We spent the final day training the staff in proper milking techniques. It is amazing to see what God can accomplish when people of faith share a common purpose. It has been another faith-growing experience for us as we return to our "normal" lives in the States.

Thank you for your tremendous support of prayers and finances. None of this could have happened without you.

Cheers!

Dave and Sue Wright

Photo: Sue at the newly constructed milking facility.

Global Mission Ministry

The following article appeared in the

February Redeemer newsletter. It is about

Pastor Kelly Chatman and his wife going

on two church related trips during

February. A report on their trips will be

included in a future Zion newsletter.

C heryl and I are excited that February

is actually here. We are especially

excited because this month blesses us with

two wonderful travel opportunities. Our

first travel opportunity is to our nation‘s

capital. Cheryl and I have been invited to

be a part of the Minnesota delegation to

attend the National Prayer Breakfast in

Washington, D.C. The Minnesota

delegation will join with 3,500 faith

leaders who will join with President

Obama and First Lady Michelle. In

addition to attending the Prayer Service,

we will attend the banquet, meet with

elected leaders and visit the future site for

the Martin Luther King Memorial.

As if that was not enough to be excited

about, on February 14, Cheryl and I will

depart for our twelve-day pre-Lenten

journey to the Holy Land. The trip is a

Book of Faith seminar. Beginning

Monday, February 14, we will depart

from Minneapolis to Newark, New Jersey,

where we will join up with Professor

Diane Jacobson, and a group of thirty

fellow travelers to the Holy Land. We will

arrive in Tel Aviv. From Tel Aviv we will

travel to sites including Galilee, Jesus‘

home town of Nazareth, Mount of

Beatitudes (Sermon on the Mount

location), Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi,

Sea of Galilee, Jordan River Valley,

Petra, Dead Sea, Qumran, Jerusalem,

Garden of Gethsemane, Bethlehem and

many other sites. We are excited that we

will also meet with Palestinian Lutheran

pastor, Mitri Rehab, who will share with

us some of the rich history of Palestinian

Christianity, while we are in Bethlehem.

I know there will be so much to share with

you when we return at the end of

[February] and Cheryl and I hope that

you will hold us in your prayers. I pray

that God will use this time of travel to

strengthen me in telling the story of faith.

Thank you for remembering us in your

prayers.

ZionBuffalo.org/Global 8

How Can You Help Love INC

Churches sometimes tend to focus primarily on the pastors’ or leaders’ gifts and can ignore the many other gifts and skills possessed by Christ’s people. We know all of God’s people are called to serve in some capacity, yet not all of God’s people are equipped to serve inside church building as pastors, leaders, teachers, singers, ushers, etc. There are many Christians who want to do something, but their talents are not fully utilized within the church. The Church needs a way to mobilize God’s people, and all their many talents, to have an impact on the local community.

Hidden assets within the Church can meet real needs of people in the community. So many people need more than a warm coat or bag of groceries; they need to interact with positive Christian role models. Love INC-Big Woods is helping their partner churches survey their members’ skills to organize those who are available to volunteer through an individual resource inventory which is listed below. The Social Ministry Committee will be handing these out on Mission Sunday, March 13. This form can also be found online with a link at ZionBuffalo.org/Local.

Leave His imprint on someone’s life!

Individual Resource Inventory

Check the talents and skills you are willing to share with a person or family in need:

Household repairs: __Painting __Electrical __Plumbing __Carpentry

Yard work: __Mowing __Raking __Leaf blowing __Snow removal

Transportation: __Local __Long Distance __Medical

___ Pray for Love INC-Big Woods ministry & clients

Other talent or professional skills you would be willing to share: __________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Name: _________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________ ZIP:__________

Phone: __________________________email__________________________________

Please return this form to the church office – Thanks!

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18

Pancake Breakfast

The Social Ministry Committee will

host a pancake breakfast at Zion on

Sunday, March 6, to benefit Faith in

Action and Zion‘s 2011 Middle School

Mission Trip.

3rd Annual Friends of the

Food Shelf Gala

Come help support the Buffalo Food

Shelf and have some fun on Saturday,

March 5, at the St. Francis Xavier

Faith and Education Center.

5:30pm - Social Hour/Silent Auction

6:30pm - Dinner catered by Russell‘s

On The Lake

8:00pm - ‘Deal or No Deal‘ Game

Your ‗Deal or No Deal‘ game tickets

will be available at event. Also, there

will be prize drawings throughout the

evening. Dinner tickets are just $25 in

advance and $30 at the door. A limited

number of tickets are being sold so be

sure and get yours today. Tickets

available at the St. Francis Xavier

Parish Office, Buffalo Food Shelf,

Buffalo Books, and IntegriPrint. For

more information call St. Francis

Xavier Food Shelf Co-Chairs, Simone

Brovege at 763.684.0759 or Jean

Carlson at 763.682.6345.

ZionBuffalo.org/Local 9

Community Mission Ministry

___Car Maintenance and Repair

___Help people move

___Housecleaning

___Laundry Services

___Provide Short term emergency housing

___Shopping assistance

___Storage for donated items

___Visit shut-ins

___Make follow up calls or visits

Wednesday March 9

Ash Wednesday

10:00am Devotions at Park View

12:00pm Ash Wednesday Worship with

Holy Communion

1:00pm Adult Book Study

2:45pm Class Ring

3:45pm SONshine Choir

3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place

5:00pm Wednesday Night Supper

5:15pm Youth Choir

6:30pm Ash Wednesday Worship with

Holy Communion

7:15pm Harvest of Hands Crafts

7:30pm Senior Choir

7:30pm Joyful Ringers

Thursday March 10

Friday March 11

10:30am Lenten Book Study at BJ's Deli

TBA Youth Un.Tour

Saturday March 12

3:30pm Wedding at Zion

TBA Youth return from Un.Tour

Sunday March 13

The First Sunday in Lent

Mission Sunday

Change for Children Crazy Hair Day

8:30am Traditional Worship Service

8:30am Sunday School and Grapple

9:30am Lenten Bible Study

9:30am Coffee Fellowship

9:45am Family Express Worship

10:30am Contemporary Worship Service

10:30am Sunday School and Grapple

Monday March 14

VBS online registration opens

8:00am Newsletter Deadline

8:00am Men's Bible Study Group

6:00pm First Sunday Rehearsal

7:30pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Tuesday March 15

9:30am Staff Meeting

9:30am Naomi Circle

5:00pm Community Book Read at BHS

5:30pm Stewardship Meeting

6:30pm Christian Education Committee

7:00pm Property Committee Meeting

7:00pm Jubilee Rehearsal

7:30pm Visioning Task Force Meeting

Wednesday March 16

6:30am Men's 50+ Bible Study

9:15am Devotions at Sunrise

12:00pm Lenten Worship Service

1:00pm Lenten Book Study

2:45pm Class Ring


3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place


5:15pm Youth Choir



7:15pm Senior Choir


7:30pm Church Council Meeting

Thursday March 17

St. Patrick's Day

8:00am Men Seeking Wisdom Bible Study

7:30pm Rebecca Circle

Friday March 18


6:00pm Friday Night Fun Night

Saturday March 19

Sunday March 20

The Second Sunday in Lent

Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:30

Change for Children Pajama Day


8:30am Sunday School & Club 4





10:30am Sunday School & Club 4

2:00pm Park View Devotions

Monday March 21




Tuesday March 22



7:00pm Personnel Committee Meeting

ZionBuffalo.org/Calendar 10

Tuesday March 1


6:30pm Social Ministry Committee


Wednesday March 2

6:30am Men's 50+ Bible Study

2:45pm Class Ring


3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place

4:00pm Confirmation / Sr High Tubing


5:15pm Youth Choir


7:00pm Senior Choir

Thursday March 3

Friday March 4

6:00am Friday Breakfast Crew

Saturday March 5

Mission Jamaica team Returns

Sunday March 6

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Holy Communion at 8:30, 9:45, and

10:30 and Recognition of First

Communion Class at 8:30 and 10:30


8:30am Sunday School & Club 4 with

Change for Children Kick Off

9:30am Pancake Breakfast

9:30am Adult Bible Study



10:30am Sunday School & Club 4 with

Change for Children Kick Off

11:45am Executive Committee Meeting

Monday March 7



7:00pm Zionaires Stargazing


Tuesday March 8

9:00am Kitchen Cleaning


6:30pm Outreach Evangelism Meeting


7:00pm Global Missions Committee

7:30pm Visioning Task Force Meeting

March Calendar

Practicing Our Faith


Everyone is encouraged to participate in this year’s Lenten book study. The study will be based on the book Practicing Our Faith by Dorothy C. Bass, and will follow the same themes as Wednesday Lenten worship services.

Scheduled studies will be on Wednesdays immediately after the worship services, Fridays at 10:30am at BJs Deli (downtown Buffalo), and Sundays at 9:30am. Sign up at the information desk or online.

If you are already a part of a small group, consider using this book in your small group study time during the season of Lent.

The book is available through Zion for $14 each and a Kindle electronic edition is available at Amazon.com.

Sunday School children will be participating through their own curriculum and gardening project. Others interested in participating in the community gardening project this spring please sign up at the information desk or watch for more information at ZionBuffalo.org.

Book Study Schedule

Wednesday March 23

9:00am Newsletter Assembly

9:30am Devotions at Lakeridge

9:30am Holy Yoga

10:30am Devotions at Park View



2:45pm Class Ring


3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place


5:15pm Youth Choir



7:15pm Senior Choir


Thursday March 24


Friday March 25


Saturday March 26

1:00pm Club 456 Pool Party

Sunday March 27

The Third Sunday in Lent

Sanctuary Sunday with Noisy Offering:

Children are encouraged to worship

with their families.






Monday March 28



6:30pm Read to Feed the Mind Meeting


Tuesday March 29



Wednesday March 30

9:30am Holy Yoga



2:45pm Class Ring


3:45pm Ring Forth

3:45pm Kids' Place


5:15pm Youth Choir


7:15pm Harvest of Hands Crafts


7:15pm Senior Choir


Thursday March 31


11:00am Zionaires Old Log Theater

Week 1 (March 9, 11, or 13)

Prayer (Chapters 1 & 14: Times of

Yearning/Practices of Faith/Growing

Practices of Faith)

Week 2 (March 16, 18, or 20)

Worship (Chapters 2 & 3: Honoring the

Body/Hospitality)

Week 3 (March 23, 25, or 27)

Scripture (Chapters 4 & 5: Household

Economics/Saying Yes and Saying No

Week 4 (March 30, April 1 or April 3)

Serve (Chapters 8 & 9: Discernment/

Shaping Communities)

Week 5 (April 6, 8, or 10)

Give (Chapters 10, 11 & 12: Forgiveness/

Healing/Dying Well)

Week 6 (April 13, 15, or 17 )

Relationships (Chapters 6, 7 & 13:

Keeping Sabbath/Testimony/ Singing

Our Lives)

11

Financial Report

January 2011

General Services Fund

Income Jan 2011 Jan 2010 General Offering $55,610.47 $58,009.69

Rent and Sunday School 2,254.47 1,950.12

WedNite Supper Income 896.50 0.00

Missions and Hunger 867.00 862.00

Other Designations 281.00 525.00

Total Income $59,909.44 $61,346.81

Expenses Synod Benevolence $1,000.00 $1,500.00

Other General Services 54,880.62 57,238.78

Total Expenses $55,880.62 $58,738.78

Account Balance as of 1-31-2011: -$2,469.61

General Fund Note: $40,000 has been borrowed from Klein Bank from 2009 to 2011 on an established Line of Credit to assist with cash flow. We have been making Interest only payments on this line of credit.

A Promising Tomorrow—Building Fund

Income Jan 2011 Jan 2010 Offerings and Interest $19,241.86 $13,626.06

Other Receipts 0.00 0.00

Total Income $19,241.86 $13,626.06

Expenses Building Mortgage $17,087.30 $17,087.30

Roof/Parking Lot Loan 913.37 1,305.03

Major Building Repairs 0.00 0.00

3% Tithe Commitment 0.00 0.00

2010 CapCampaign Exp 0.00 0.00

Kairos Consulting 7,000.00 0.00

Bank Service Charge 0.00 0.00

Interest Expense on LOC 0.00 0.00

Total Expenses $25,000.67 $18,392.33

Account Balance as of 1-31-2011: $19,302.25

Thank you for your continued support of God’s work at Zion Lutheran Church.

Memorial Gifts

Gifts to the preservation of Marysville

Church Fund in memory of Ted

Callerstrom from Orlin and Mary

Bonstrom, Colleen Rustad Sampson,

Sheryl Rustad Clarke.

A gift to the Jubilee in memory of Kevin

Bergquist‘s father Rueben Bergquist

from Wes and Mary Mahlberg.

A gift in memory of Donald Borscheid

from Ruth Borscheid.

Financial Snapshot:

General Fund ($736,000 income need

for 2011): $375,737 pledged or 51%

of income need.

Building Fund ($780,000 three-year

goal): $454,869 pledged to date or

58% of income need.

For year 2011 the total Building and

General fund need is $975,000.

$541,611 has been pledged or 56% of

the need.

12

Finance & Stewardship

Three Giving Truths

By Tom Moline

If you keep something, that’s all you’re ever going to have. But if you take what you have and you give it, if you take it and turn it into seed and plant it in good soil God can multiply it.

I want to show you three giving truths that I pray will totally transform your life as they have

mine.

Your Heart Matters When You Give

The attitude of your heart matters when you give. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Paul said:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly….

In other words, if you keep a lot and don’t give much, don’t expect a lot in return. You don’t reap what you don’t sow. He says:

…and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

You plant a lot of seeds, you’ll get a better harvest. Then here’s the key to me, he says:

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

God loves a cheerful giver. In fact, the word in Greek that is translated as cheerful can actually be translated as hilarious. It’s like going, “Ha, ha, ha, I love to do this!”

The heart matters. Give and give and give and give, until you love it.

Whatever you keep, it’s all you have. What you give, God multiplies.

You Cannot Out Give God!

You can never out give God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-9 says:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: He scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.

This again is like the metaphor of the sower sowing seed. He is giving gifts. What seeds do you have to give? You have your time, you have your gifts, you have your heart, you have your words, you have your things, you have your financial resources. He’s given you seeds.

Then 2 Corinthians 9:10 says:

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

(Three Giving Truths continued on page 18)

13

Love Your Heart

In the Winter 2011 issue of Thrivent

Magazine, Richard Laliberte discusses

eight steps suggested by Dr. Michael

Miller, director of the Center for

Preventive Cardiology at the University of

Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore,

that you can take to cut your risk of

having a heart attack.

―The number of Americans hospitalized

for a heart attack has dropped 24%

over the past decade. Yet heart disease

remains the leading cause of death –

more than 615,000 lives are lost to it

each year.

What can you do to lessen your risk?

Five basic lifestyle choices have been

proven to reduce the risk of a heart

attack: eating plenty of fruits and

vegetables, keeping weight in check, not

smoking, staying physically active and

drinking a daily half-glass of wine.

Medical experts also encourage

everyone to adopt at least a few of these

eight simple steps.‖

The suggestions include

Eat a handful of unseasoned nuts in

the afternoon to promote a healthful

balance of good and bad cholesterol.

Build social connections to relieve

anxiety and fight depression.

Eat more Omega-3 rich fish such as

salmon and tuna.

Use butter substitutes that don‘t

contain trans fat such as canola,

olive, or peanut oil.

(Love Your Heart continued on page 14)

Reaching for Tomorrow

Where Are We In This Spiritual Journey?

Thank you to all who completed the assessment! The Vision Task Force welcomes your continued prayerful participation as we move forward together in Reaching for Tomorrow.

The Task Force continues to make progress on Zion’s visioning process for 2011. During February, Zion members were asked to complete an assessment for the purpose of getting a picture of the congregation as it is today—our ideas, perceptions and opinions.

In March the Vision Task Force, church council members, staff and other leaders in the church will meet to:

1. have the results of the assessment interpreted for us and then,

2. begin the process of identifying key initiatives for Zion as a congregation to focus our ministry on for the next few years.

Once possible initiatives are identified, all Zion members will be given the opportunity to participate in various small group discussions as, together, we further condense and refine our key initiatives.

The excerpts below from Russ Crabtree, the designer and interpreter of the assessment tool, help us to understand just how the assessment tool will aid us on our spiritual journey to discover God’s call for Zion.

The process of discovering the perspectives, experiences, and aspirations of a church using the Church Assessment Tool© is also one of revelation and has the revelatory quality of moving from darkness into light. It is not uncommon for people to speak of “a light coming on” in the experience as they come to understand aspects of the entire body that they could not possibly have known from the relatively small number of interactions that characterizes the day to day relationships in most organizations. This process of reality moving out of the shadows and into the light is a spiritual journey.

As a spiritual journey, it has all the elements one would expect. There are insights that evoke a liberating “aha” as connections are uncovered that were not intuitively obvious. Some aspects of the process tell us nothing new, but they express what we do know using language that enables us to get a firmer grasp. Finally, there is the concrete action that must root itself in the earth of any spiritual journey and express itself in fruit for the Kingdom of God – and these roots, and the fruits they bear, will become our Vision and key initiatives!

Jesus said,

“I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Vision Task Force Committee members

are Pastor Ted Vanderpan, Rick

Johnson (chair), Jill Davis, Julie Kabe,

Karen Mattson, Scott Morin, Diane

Paulu, Idella Ziegler and Jim Pence

(KAIROS consultant).

14

Attend worship services and

participate in prayer and Bible study

to reduce stress and anxiety.

Get your flu shot to reduce the risk of

infections that can increase the risk

of cardiovascular problems.

Eat the recommended five to nine

servings of produce each day to lower

blood cholesterol.

Laugh. Miller‘s theory is that

laughing releases a chemical that

curbs inflammation and prevents

blood clots.

The complete article can be found at

thrivent.com/magazine.

To learn more about Thrivent Financial

and its products call Mark Worner at

763.682.6011.

(Love Your Heart continued from page 13)

Joy Arens

This month’s Harvest of Hands artist is Joy Arens. Joy joined Zion in 1987 and became involved in Harvest of Hands shortly thereafter. She has been an active volunteer ever since. Her family has also volunteered, including her husband Rich, her daughters Brandi and Sam, and her sister, Cindy. Her parents have also donated many items for the sale over the years.

Joy became the coordinator for the Harvest of Hands event about 5 years ago. Since then she has worked tirelessly for world hunger. Her many jobs include requesting matching funds, organizing many details and writing articles for the bulletin and newsletter. She also frequently suggests ideas for crafts and brings the supplies and last, but not least, she often brings treats for our meetings! She is also a talented crafter, making jewelry, ornaments and other items for the sale. She does it all with a true Christian attitude. The Harvest of Hands group is blessed to work with Joy to raise awareness and money for world hunger!

The Freezer Is Full!

By Julie Kabe

Once again, the Lord blessed Food for

Friends … One of the multiple ways He

blessed us was bringing us extra cooks

in the kitchen when were skeptical if we

had enough. I‘m always amazed at

how He provides. We had 4 different

people precook and prepare meat for

Saturday. On Saturday, February 12,

a group of 14 volunteers turned 65

pounds of meat into a freezer full of

meals. So, a big thank you to these 18

people who used their time and talents

to stock our freezer— to whom we are

very grateful!

If you know of someone who could

benefit from a meal, feel free to get a

meal from the FFF freezer and deliver

it to them (or call the church or email

us at [email protected] and we‘ll

arrange for it to be delivered). We can

also arrange warm meals, too!

Like to cook? Food For Friends knows

of a couple of families that could use

meals (families of 4 and 5) and are

always excited when someone

volunteers to cook. If you‘re interested,

please contact Julie Kabe at 682-2889

or send an email to

[email protected].

Do you have a good freezer recipe to

share? We‘d love to try it! Please send

it to [email protected].

Photo below: Some of the volunteers

and the freezer full of food they

prepared in February.

ZionBuffalo.org/HOH 15

Joy, second from left, is pictured at the 2010 Harvest of Hands Event with her sister, Cindy, and daughters Brandi, and Sam.

his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.

This is where you can get involved.

Normally, people take this time as a time of reflection on what Christ and His actions mean to them. This year, though, take time throughout Lent to do something that you might not usually do.

Pray for someone you don’t know, serve at a non-profit, give financially to somewhere that needs it, read the Bible, have a conversation with someone new, be open to listening to God’s beautiful plan for you, start a prayer journal.

In Psalm 46:10 it states “Be still and know that I am God.” Maybe this year, with your busy schedule, maybe this is the year that you just be still.

Take your time and just listen to who God is. Listen for the answers that you might be looking for in the whispers in the wind.

May God bless you abundantly this Lenten season.

(Musings from Myron continued from page 16)

Un.Tour - March 11/12

Un. It's where teens live. Often unappreciated, unloved and deemed unworthy.

But God flips that idea on its head. He uses unlikely teenagers to do unbelievable things for His Kingdom. Like David. No one gave him a chance, not even his own family, yet he faced a giant unafraid while an entire army trembled.

At the un.Tour, David's life will highlight what it means to be un:

un.cool - God using uncool people to accomplish his misson

un.alone - always in fellowship with the Trinity

un.afraid - taking a stand & defeating giants in their lives

un.leashed - motivated & mobilized to share the unstoppable Gospel message

This high impact training will inspire and equip you to be able to share Jesus with your friends. You will never be the same as you witness the unstoppable power of the Gospel.

This is open to all Senior High Youth. Cost is only $40 + spending money. Check Facebook for further details, and please register by March 2 to reserve your spot!

Musings from Myron...

In case you might be wondering what Lent is, here is a description:

Lent in the Western Christian Tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer - through prayer, reflection, service and self-denial - for the annual commemoration during Holy Week.

Conventionally, it is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. The forty days represent the time that, according to the Bible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of

(Musings from Myron continued on page 15)

Youth Ministry Director of Youth Ministries

Myron Crawford

763-682-1245 ext. 308

[email protected]

Zion Youth Ministries exists to

reach out to youth, to come

together and learn how to be for

God and others through worship,

study, fellowship and service.

Confirmation Schedule

Confirmation meets Wednesday nights

in Trinity Hall 6-7:30pm.

Dates and weekly topics:

March 2: No Class - Snowtubing

March 9-30: No Class - Lent

Confirmation Students are asked to

attend Wednesday evening Lenten

Services. Students need to attend at

least three services for sermon notes.

Graceland Schedule

Graceland, Senior High Youth Group,

meets Wednesday nights in the youth

room.

March 2: No Graceland - Snowtubing

March 9: Ash Wednesday

March 16-30: Lenten Bible Study

Throughout Lent, Graceland will meet

at 7pm, after worship. Please bring

your Bibles and a notebook.

ZionBuffalo.org/Youth 16

Summer Camp

Where fun and faith collide! Camp Wapogasset offers programs for 2nd grade through senior high and for families as well. Encounter God’s word, make friends and create memories to last a lifetime. Come to Camp Wapo in Amery, WI.

Students who are completing grades 2 and 3 this year will attend “SEEDS” from Friday, July 8, to Sunday, July 10. The cost will be $95 per student.

Students who are completing grades 4 through 8 this year will attend “Youth Camp” from Sunday, July 10, to Friday, July 15. The cost will be $280 per student.

On Sunday, March 6, a representative from Camp Wapogasset will be at all three services, and will be available after service to answer any questions. March 13 is the deadline for registrations and down payments.

Change For Children

During Lent, Sunday school students are raising money to help fight hunger. Be on the lookout for fun events like Crazy Hair Day, Pajama Day, Noisy Offering, Sports Day, Beach Day, and Dress Your Best. Also, mark your calendar for April 17, when we will help package food from 8:30am to 1pm.

Club 456 Event

Students in grades 4, 5 & 6 are invited to a Pool Party at Otsego Water Park on Saturday, March 26, leaving at 1pm. This event will include sufficient Zion adult supervision for competent swimmers (1:4 ratio). If your child is not a competent swimmer, please contact Holly or Roxie before signing them up. Details and registration are online at www.ZionBuffalo.org/Club456.

Pictured below from the Sweetheart Dance. More on the Children’s Ministry Facebook page.

Children’s Ministry

First Communion

Celebration

On Sunday, March 6, Zion will celebrate

with a ―First Communion Sunday‖ where

the worship services will be centered

around this gift of grace. We will share

the first communion with those who have

recently received instruction regarding

this sacrament.

Vacation Bible School

This summer, come join us on Main Street

for an inside-out, upside-down experience

like no other…and let Jesus make a

difference in YOU!

VBS online registration for Main Street

Vacation Bible School begins on March 14

at ZionBuffalo.org/VBS.

Calendar Note

March Schedule is included in the church

calendar on pages 10-11.

CoDirectors of Christian Education

Holly Husom

763-682-1245 x308

[email protected]

Roxie Otten

763-682-1245 ext. 311

[email protected]

ZionBuffalo.org/Children 17

http://www.hielkriver.com/index.php/wildwoods-waterpark

18

People Will Thank God Because of What You

Give

In 2 Corinthians 9:11 it says:

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Only financially? No way! Don’t you dare limit the blessings of God to just money. You will be made rich in every way! In a good marriage, in good children, in generations to come.

People around the world will thank God because of your generosity. When you sow seed, God will give you more seed. If you keep it, that’s all you have. But if you give it back, He will increase your harvest of righteousness and people around the world will thank God because of you.

God has made us rich, not so that we could drive better cars

or live a life of comfort, but so that we could be generous on every occasion. As a church and as a people, we will strive to be the most generous people on planet earth, because we cannot out give God. When we give, people will thank God for our generosity. Don’t you dare hear a name it and claim it, get wealth message, because that’s not we are about. We are about saying, God, whatever you’ve given me, what I keep is all I have, but what I give you can multiply for your Kingdom.

A prayer

God, I ask that you would speak to all of us in a way that would transform us and enlarge the harvest of righteousness in our lives. I pray that you would bless your people in every way. God we would never want to limit it to just finances, but I pray you’d bless us in health, with great relationships, with great children, and with generations of a spiritual legacy. God, what have you given me that is seed? You give me the freedom to keep it and that’s all I will have or I can plant it and give it and God will multiply. Help me to find joy in the giving. Amen

(Three Giving Truths continued from page 13)

Inside

Zion Lutheran Church

1200 Highway 25 S.

PO Box 88

Buffalo, MN 55313

www.ZionBuffalo.org

Address Service Requested

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U.S. Postage

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Buffalo MN 55313

Address Label Here

Lent 2011 5

Mission Sunday 6

Holy Yoga 6

Community Book Read 7

Love INC Inventory 9

Practicing Our Faith 11

Three Giving Truths 13

Love Your Heart 13

Reaching for Tomorrow 14

Musings from Myron 16

Summer Camp 17

March 2

01

1

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ZionBuffalo.org

Practicing Our Faith


2011.03 Newsletter

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Transcript of 2011.03 Newsletter