December 2018

The Pastor’s Ponderings

Pastor David’s cell phone—765-330-4170 and email address—fleeneda@gmail.com

Zion’s 2018 Council Members

Elder & President ........................................ Fred Walker

Elder & Vice-President ............................... Jody Stanley

Secretary ................................................. Barb Hardwick

Deacons ................................................. Allen Stallsmith

Mike Clamme

Tim Stanley

Trustees ......................................................... Mark Prout

Neil Stroble

Max Langdon

Treasurer ................................................. Dennis Walker

Financial Secretaries .................................Claretta Dutro

Nyla Hile

Do you remember what it was

like to be a kid on Christmas Eve,

scarcely able to sleep in anticipation

of what the next day would bring?

Or do you remember what it

was like to prepare for your wedding day, knowing that

you were committing your love and loyalty to another

person for the rest of your life?

Or maybe you remember what it’s like to await a

newborn child with anxiety and excitement, with great

uncertainty and hope.

And then the event happens. Christmas Day comes.

The wedding is solemnized. The baby is born. Happiness

and awe abound. We long for the moment to last forever.

But then everyday reality sets in. The toys received

with so much excitement break. The honeymoon ends.

The baby poops! (And pees, and spits up, and cries, and

screams, etc.)

Often, our anticipation of the event outweighs the re-

alization. We often have overly-idealistic expectations

for our relationships or the events of our lives. And when

those expectations aren’t fulfilled, we can get frustrated,

anxious, or despondent. Sometimes, to soothe ourselves,

we sink into a more-or-less gray apathy.

Can you imagine what the anticipation must have

been like for Mary and Joseph? In Luke’s Gospel, Gabri-

el told Mary straight out that her child “will be great

and…will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord

God will give him the throne of David his father. He will

rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end

to his kingdom (Luke 1:32-33, all CEB).” Imagine the

expectations Mary had! Mary was going to give birth to

a king!

But then strange things began to happen. When Jo-

seph and Mary brought Jesus to the Temple for their rit-

ual purification, a man named Simeon warns them, “This

boy is assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising

of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposi-

tion so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed.

And a sword will pierce your innermost being too (Luke

2:34-35).” Hearing that must have caused quite a shock.

Twelve years later, Jesus creates quite a stir by remain-

ing behind at the Temple after Passover, speaking with

the teachers. When confronted by his frightened (and

probably infuriated!) parents, he nonchalantly responds,

“Didn’t you know I must be in my Father’s house?”, a

statement that flies over their heads (Luke 2:49-50).

It gets worse. Jesus infuriates the people of his

hometown when he gives his first sermon (Luke 4:14-

30) and disregards his family when they come to see him

in the middle of his preaching tour, declaring “My moth-

er and brothers are those who listen to God’s word and

do it (Luke 8:21).” When a woman tries to compliment

his mother, Jesus shrugs it off (Luke 11:28). Jesus also

says, outrageously, that he has come not to unite families

but to divide them (Luke 12:49-53, 14:26-27, 18:29-30).

Jesus also continues to anger the religious leaders—the

very people he would want on his side if he was to be

king in the normal, earthly way.

Despite all this, Gabriel’s words came true. Jesus is a

king and came into his kingdom, but not in the way that

anyone expected. Gabriel left the means out! Jesus came

into his kingdom on the cross, dying the death of an ene-

my of the state, with a penitent thief beside him (Luke

23:40-43).

The expectations of Jesus as king certainly did not

match the anticipation. All his family’s hopes must have

been dashed at the cross. But notice what happens after

the resurrection. Mary does not sink into apathy, but be-

comes one of the earliest members of the church (Acts

1:14). Likewise, Jesus’ brother James becomes one of

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December 2018

Advent 1 - December 2nd

1st Reading - Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm 25:1-10

2nd Reading - 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Gospel - Luke 21:25-36

Advent 2 - December 9th

1st Reading - Malachi 3:1-4

Psalm - Luke 1:68-79

2nd Reading - Philippians 1:3-11

Gospel - Luke 3:1-6

Advent 3 - December 16th

1st Reading - Zephaniah 3:14-20

Psalm - Isaiah 12:2-6

2nd Reading - Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel - Luke 3:7-18

Advent 4 - December 23rd

1st Reading - Micah 5:2-5a

Psalm 80:1-7

2nd Reading - Hebrews 10:5-10

Gospel - Luke 1:39-55

Christmas Eve - December 24th

1st Reading - Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96

2nd Reading - Titus 2:11-14

Gospel - Luke 2:1-20

Christmas 1 - December 30th

1st Reading - 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26

Psalm 148

2nd Reading - Colossians 3:12-17

Gospel - Luke 2:41-52

December Lectionary Readings

The Pastor’s Ponderings continued

the great leaders of the Jerusalem church (Acts 21:18-25,

Galatians 2:9). Jesus’ family, so disappointed in him in

the Gospels, found that disappointment transformed into

joy and new life that surpassed their wildest dreams.

When we set our disappointments aside, we may find

more fulfillment, more life, more joy, and more hope in

Christ than we ever thought possible. We may see signs

of him in our present day that we haven’t seen before.

That joy may be a different kind of joy than we ex-

December Birthdays

Betty Hendricks 12-2

Owen Ehlers 12-3

Cindy Knote 12-3

Peggy Willmann 12-5

Ashley Armstrong 12-11

Brady Monce 12-14

John Hendricks, Sr. 12-15

Vikki Armstrong 12-22

Shelly McCammon 12-22

Mark Grile 12-23

Mary Ehlers 12-27

Soup Suppers and Evening Prayer

Advent Soup Suppers and

Evening Prayer begin on Wednes-

day, December 5th. Supper is at 6

p.m., followed by worship at 7:00.

The Council members will

serve the supper on Dec. 5th, Choir members on Dec.

12th, and the Piecemakers along with Nolan’s Sunday

School Class on Dec. 19th. This year we will commemo-

rate three prominent, yet often overlooked, women of

faith: Julian of Norwich (c. 1342-c. 1416), Argula von

Grumbach (c. 1492-1554), and Sojourner Truth (c. 1797

-1883).

Advent Dinner

Please join us on December 9th.

Bring food to share and get ready for

music, playlets, and lots of great con-

versation!—Nyla and Jody

pected. But it is one that lasts. We may feel let down by

God sometimes. Jesus’ family must have felt that way,

especially at the cross. Many of the great heroes of faith

certainly felt that way (including our denomination’s

namesake). But God never leaves us out. God is always,

continually, fulfilling his promises to us, in ways we can

scarcely imagine.

Love to you all,

Pastor David

December 2018

Zion’s Christmas Eve service will

begin with music provided by members of

our congregation from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m. A

worship service of Lessons and Carols will

follow including a celebration of Holy

Communion. The service will close with candle-lighting

and the hymn “Silent Night”.

Offering received at the Advent services and at our

Christmas Eve service will be given to Grace Village at

Ball State.

Christmas Cantata

The Blackford County Commu-

nity Choir, conducted by Pastor Da-

vid, will present their Christmas can-

tata, Christmas Presence by Pepper Choplin, on Sunday,

December 16th, at Zion. There will be two performances

at 3 and 6 p.m. Pastor David will also be a soloist, and

Jean Hughes will conduct the Southern Wells Elemen-

tary Choir. There is no charge for admission, but a

freewill offering will be taken to support the choir's min-

istry. Come hear some wonderful music as we celebrate

the Advent and Christmas seasons!

Christmas Eve Worship

Members on Zion’s Visitation List

The following is list of the names and addresses of members on Zion’s visitation list. They would be happy to

receive a Christmas card, a letter, or a visit during the Christmas season.

Betty Bell, c/o Troy Bell, 3709 Langhorst Ct., Cincinnati, OH 45236

Carolyn Chandler, 1601 N. Richmond, Apt. #204, Hartford City, IN 47348

Margaret Hunnicutt, Crown Pointe, 100 Independence Pkwy., Rm. 23, Hartford City, IN 47348

Sue Rinker, 1587 E - 075 S, Hartford City, IN 47348

Imogene Schmidt, 4571 E - 200 S, Hartford City, IN 47348

Russell & Joan Stanley, 1925 Memorial Blvd., Apt. #313, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Helen Stroble, 801 Huntington Ave., Warren, IN 46792

Barbara Thomas, 801 Huntington Ave., Warren, IN 46792

Bill Thomas, 3400 W. Community Dr., Bethel Pointe, Rm. 55, Muncie, IN 47304

Miriam Wise, 1591 W - 100 N, Hartford City, IN 47348

Zion is adopting four families

from Southside Elementary for

Christmas. There are two ways you

can help.

1. Donate. There will be a basket at the back of the wor-

ship space for those donations.

2. Come to a wrapping party during the Sunday School

hour on December 16th at 9:15 a.m. Coffee and dough-

nuts will be provided!

Thank you for being an active part of Zion's ministry in

Blackford County.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this

is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the re-

sult of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what

he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. -

Ephesians 2:8-10

Southside Families

December 2018

October Council Minutes

The October 18th Congregation Council Meeting

was called to order by President, Fred Walker.

Present: Pastor David Fleener, Fred Walker, Jody

Stanley, Barb Hardwick, Dennis Walker, Allen

Stallsmith, Tim Stanley, Claretta Dutro and Nyla Hile

Absent: Mike Clamme, Mark Prout, Neil Stroble

and Max Langdon

Devotions were given by Allen Stallsmith.

Secretary’s Report: Secretary’s report was read and

approved with a motion to accept by Jody Stanley and

seconded by Allen Stallsmith.

Correspondence: Received a request from

LifeStream for their Angel Wish program to benefit iso-

lated senior citizens. $50.00 will be taken from the Dea-

con’s Fund. A motion to do this was made by Jody Stan-

ley and seconded by Allen Stallsmith.

Pastor’s Report was read and Pastor will be going

to Iowa, Friday, October 19th, and Saturday, October

20th, to see his only living grandfather who is not in

good health.

Pastor’s Report: As written

Pastoral Care in September: Pastor's totals for Sep-

tember: 4 shut-in visits, 1 sick/hospital visit, 1 pastoral

visit, 4 home/hospital communions. Soul Care Team for

September: 1 shut-in visit, 1 home/hospital communion.

Deacons’ Fund use in September: No requests dur-

ing September.

Christian Education: In Confirmation, we are still

learning about the sacraments and what Luther says

about them in the Small Catechism. We are having class

on Sunday mornings.

When I have the Confirmation class, Linda Walker

is introducing the younger ones to the life and work of

Martin Luther. They will also receive their own copy of

the Small Catechism.

Other Events in September:

4, 11, 18, 25 – The Story at Grace UMC (taught class on

the 25th)

5 – Mentoring meeting at Southside Elementary

10, 17, 24 – Joe and Jesus at Common Grounds

11 – ECIC ministerial meeting at St. John’s, Anderson

11, 18 – Listening Post at CFS Food Pantry

13, 20, 27 – Mentoring at Southside Elementary

13 – Lunch at The Pickle with Blackford Co. ministers

15 – Organ concert and 175th anniversary celebration at

1st Presbyterian

22 – Faith Builders Block Party

Committee reports—Worship/Music/Memorial:

Dennis - Will meet in the next two weeks.

Mission and Ministry: Zion is participating in

“Warm Up With Us” at First Presbyterian on Friday, Oc-

tober 26th. There is a sign-up sheet for item donation

and volunteers in the narthex.

Council reports—Trustees: Cleaned out gutters and

cut down trees at parsonage.

Treasurer’s Report: General Fund Balance

$4,107.47 as of October 18th.

Motion to accept committee reports was made by

Jody Stanley and seconded by Claretta Dutro. Motion

approved.

New Business: Budget to be comprised by Pastor, 1

Trustee, 1 Elder, 2 Financial Secretaries, and Treasurer.

They will meet on November 5th.

Thanksgiving offering will be given to the Food

Pantry and the Advent and Christmas offering will be

given to Grace Village.

Suggestions were made for a fee schedule by the

Kitchen Committee to the Council for usage of Fellow-

ship Hall and kitchen. Suggestions as follows:

For non-members and outside groups: $50 for use

of Fellowship Hall only. $150 for use of Fellow-

ship Hall plus provision of meal by Kitchen Committee.

Recommended that the church treasurer reconcile Kitch-

en Fund books and Joyce Willmann will be writing

checks.

A motion to accept these considered recommenda-

tions was made by Dennis Walker and seconded by Jody

Stanley. Motion approved.

Jody Stanley made a motion to enter Executive Ses-

sion. Fred Walker seconded. Motion approved. The

Council was in Executive Session for fifteen minutes.

Fred Walker made a motion to exit Executive Session.

Jody Stanley seconded. Motion approved.

Meeting closed with all praying The Lord’s Prayer.

Next meeting will be November 8th with Barb Hardwick

giving devotions.

Respectfully submitted,

Barb Hardwick, Recording Secretary

The Zion Herald December 2018

“Happy are those whose strength is in God, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.” (Psalm 84:5)

Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. with Worship at 10:30 a.m.

Zion Lutheran Church

308 S. Monroe Street

Hartford City, IN 47348

David Fleener, Pastor

Church Office: 765-348-3157

zionluth.hc@gmail.com

fleeneda@gmail.com

www.zionhc.org

Serving the Lord in Gladness

December 2018 Lay Ministry Servers

Greeters

Ushers

Acolytes

Assisting Ministers

Dec. 2 Edi Tarter—Ray and Linda Stanley

Dec. 9 Tim Stanley—Dennis and Debbie Walker

Dec. 16 Bryce Stroble and Sydney Stroble—-Roger and Judy Willmann

Dec. 23 Neil and Libby Stroble— Pat Gillis

Dec. 24 Roger and Judy Willmann—Barb Hardwick

Dec. 30 Chris and Megan Stroble—Roger and Judy Willmann

Dec. 2 Allen Stallsmith, Tim Stanley, Mike Clamme and Neil Stroble

Dec. 9 Allen Stallsmith, Neil Stroble, Chris Stroble and Kelly Ford

Dec. 16 Mike Clamme, Neil Stroble, Chris Stroble and Kelly Ford

Dec. 23 Tim Stanley, Neil Stroble, Chris Stroble and Kelly Ford

Dec. 24 Allen Stallsmith and Tim Stanley

Dec. 30 Tim Stanley, Neil Stroble, Chris Stroble and Kelly Ford

Dec. 2 Keaton Walker

Dec. 9 Sydney Stroble and

Bryce Stroble

Dec. 16 Deacons

Dec. 23 Keaton Walker

Dec. 24 Kaylin Clamme and

Ryne Clamme

Dec. 30 Bryce Stroble and

Sydney Stroble

Dec. 2 Sarah Fleener

Dec. 9 Jody Stanley

Dec. 16 Denise Hile

Dec. 23 Chris Coy

Dec. 24 Sarah Fleener

Dec. 30 Mark Prout

Lectors

Dec. 2 Linda Baker

Dec. 9 Jody Stanley

Dec. 16 Sydney Stroble

Dec. 23 Neil Stroble

Dec. 24 Neil Stroble, Nolan Willman and Linda Walker

Dec. 30 Megan Stroble