1

Zion Messenger

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

100 West Main Street

Hummelstown, PA 17036

717-566-2589

website: www.zluth.org

January 2020

On the threshold of a New Year, we tend to reflect on what has happened in the past year.

I’ve been giving much thought to where we’ve been as a faith community and where God is leading us. We are in a state of transition with the call of a permanent pastor, and seeking a new Minister of Music. I pray that God will provide candidates who are healthy leaders for a faith community that has the capacity to grow and to give.

My reflections have also raised a concern about those of you who are willing volunteers and others who do not step to the front when there is a call for service. I am a big believer that healthy congregations are full of healthy volunteers. After all, we’re called to equip the saints for the work of ministry and that means that we need people actually doing ministry.

A vibrant faith community is one that is filled with volunteers—not 20 percent of the people doing 80 percent of the work but at least 80 percent of the people doing the work of the Lord!

Many of you give so much of your time and talents that I am concerned about your health and the need for rest. However, you seem to manage your time well and serve with a willing heart. Thank you!

But others don’t step up to the plate when the call is made for volunteers. This came to light this fall when Shannon Bastian was seeking youth to participate in the Christmas pageant and again in the Advent

Season when we were seeking volunteers to serve as worship leaders (specifically acolytes, processional youth and ushers). Kelly Bastian invited her friend to play the part of Mary—thanks to Kelly and Maddie! On the Sunday evening before Christmas, I made a series of phone calls to ask people, especially youth, to

serve. As many of you know, my daughter, Elizabeth, heard me on the telephone for an hour or more, and offered to serve as crucifer for the processions on Christmas Eve. With some tongue in cheek humor, her only condition was that her name appear in the bulletin in fancy font—which is what we did!

But seriously, Zion is richly blessed with a wide variety of ages who can serve for worship and other needs.

When the call goes out for volunteers, especially for festival worship services such as Holy Week/Easter and Advent/Christmas, won’t you please sign up so that we don’t have to beg you to serve? Parents, you are a very important link to this process to encourage your children and youth to serve. Confirmed youth promise to continue in the life of the faith community by serving!

In closing, I am thankful for all of you who volunteer, for all of you who volunteered when I called, and for all of you who are waiting to find a niche to offer your time and talents at Zion. If you’re not sure about the responsibilities of a certain task, talk to me! I’ll be glad to help. Let this New Year change you by volunteering—you’ll never be the same—you’ll be a better person.

Blessings, Pastor Van Orden

2

Worship News Worship Services of Holy Communion

8:00 and 10:30 am

2 Epiphany

January 19, 2020

“Revelation of Christ as the Lamb of God.”

John 1:29-42

Christmas 2

January 5, 2020

“God with us in the Incarnation of the Word”

John 1:[1-9] 10-18

Baptism of Our Lord

January 12, 2020

“Revelation of Christ as God’s servant.”

Matthew 3:13-17

3 Epiphany

January 26, 2020

“Revelation of Christ as a prophet.”

Matthew 4:12-23

The Rev. Jim Stough, supply

January 5, 2020

10:30 am Worship

Installation of Council members.

January 26, 2020

7:30—11:30 am

Red Cross Blood Drive

Sponsored by Social Ministry

3

Membership News

Commended to God’s eternal care...

...on December 21, 2019, Diane

(Breckenmaker) Baten, widow of Jack,

mother of John (died in 1992) and Jeffrey.

Memorial service at Zion on December 27,

2019 with the Rev. Lois Van Orden

officiating.

Council News

The Congregation Council met on Thursday, December 19, 2019.

The first part of the meeting was a presentation by the Call Committee. The committee recommended a candidate for the Council to interview in January. Council voted to move forward with an in-person interview.

The second part of the meeting was business as usual followed by the election of officers.

Council President Peggy Wilson welcomed new council members, James Kelly, Diane Schubert and Jayanna Yeakle. Pat Graybill was elected for a second term.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Council bid farewell to outgoing members, John Kiessling, Nancy Weikel and Susan Zacher.

The election of Council Officers resulted in the following:

Rich Weiss, President

Bonnie Rudi, Vice President

Pat Graybill, Secretary

Their terms will become effective on January

5, 2020 with the Installation of the new

Council.

Council Installation

Sunday, January 5, 2020

10:30 am

All Council members are to plan to attend the January 5, 2020, 10:30 am worship

service for installation at the start of the new term of Council.

2020 Offering Envelopes

Offering envelopes for 2020 are available for

pick up in the hallway outside the church

office .

Please pick up your envelopes for 2020.

Thank you!

Lay Voting Members

for the 2020Assembly

of the Lower Susquehanna Synod Saturday, June 6, 2020

Day of Edification: May 16 at St. Peter Lancaster May 30 at St. Matthew, York

The 2020 Synod Assembly will be held once again at Messiah College on June 6, 2020.

Two lay voting members (one male and one female) are needed to attend both a day of edification in May and the one day worship and business meeting in June.

To be elected at this assembly are synod vice president, synod council: 5 adults (2 ordained, 2 lay female, 1 lay male), and Consultation Committee (3 pastors and 2 lay, male or female). God to the synod website to complete a nomination form:

www.lss-elca.org/synod-assembly/nominations

Please respond to this invitation for the 2020 Assembly to participate in a vital process for our synod.

Volunteers may contact the church office:

zluthoffice@gmail.com or 717-566-2589.

Thank you!

4

The Grateful Ladies of Zion

Sunday, January 12, 2020 Home of the Weikels

The grateful Ladies of Zion will meet for a luncheon and Bunco on Sunday, January 12, 2020 after the 10:30 am Sunday service. We will meet at the home of Nancy Weikel, 75 Carousel Circle in Hershey. Please bring food or a beverage to share. All ladies of Zion are invited. Please RSVP to Jill McGrorty l.mcgrosty@icloud.com or 717-903-7563.

Social & Outreach Ministries

Wonderful Women of God

Wednesdays at 11:00 am

Gatherings Resume

January 8, 2020

“Does Christianity Have a Future?”

“A year with Sister Joan Chittister OSB.”

Join the group as we follow the lectures of

Joan Chittister, joined by John Dominic

Crossan and Marcus Borg, as they explore

topics of faith and life with honesty, integrity

and expertise.

Jan 8 “Why I am Still a Christian”

Marcus Borg

Jan 15 “Why I am Still a Catholic”

Sister Joan Chittister

Jan 22 “Why I am Still a Christian”

John Dominic Crossan

Jan 29 “Progressive Christianity and the

Christian Future”

Marcus Borg

Feb 5 “”Who is God in an Evolutionary

World?”

Sister Joan Chittister

Sunday School Resumes on

Sunday, January 5, 2020

for all ages.

CROP Walk donations totaled $2,155.00

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Hummelstown

Food Pantry

Needs

Canned pineapple (20 oz) Canned sweet potato(15 oz) Scalloped/au gratin potatoes Instant mashed potato

Pasta sauce Black tea bags Peanut Butter Jelly

Partners in Christ

delivered 103

blankets to Christ

Lutheran Church and

the Bethesda

Mission. Your generous donations are

keeping the homeless and others warmer

this winter.

GLOVE, HAT AND SCARF DRIVE

Now through February 2020

Look for sales, make your purchases and bring in your donations, adding them to the

“glove tree” in the Chapel alcove.

Let’s keep others warm this winter.

5

Pennsylvania Veterans’ Memorial

Indiantown Gap National Cemetery

Cruciform Designations

We regret the error last month by understating the total donations given for the cruciform.

The donations totaled $3,040.00.

The total cost of the cruciform was $2,150.00.

The remaining amount of $890.00 will be given to “Tails of Valor Paws of Honor,” Coopersburg, PA. This organization trains and gives Service Dogs to Veterans with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and involve other Veterans in training the dogs. They go to the VA Hospital in Lebanon to teach Veterans with behavioral health issues how to work with the dogs and to train them. This is a “double gift!”

Outreach cont. VA Memorial

Zion's

"Closely

Knit"

Shawl

Ministry

Tuesday, January 14, 2020, 7:00 pm

The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers in the

Parlor on the second Tuesday of each month,

at 7:00 pm. The group knits and crochets

shawls for the sick, grieving, and joyful

occasions such as baptisms.

Share your talents and join this ministry.

Learn to knit or crochet, or just come chat for

an hour or so,

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call

Ginny Chittister, (717) 820-4240. We hope to

see you on Tuesday, January 14.

SEMI ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE

Sunday, January 26, 2020

7:30 am Leatherman Hall

Our annual blood drive will be held at Zion on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Mark your calendar with this date. Sign-up sheets will be passed during worship services. Donations are needed

and can also be made at any blood bank, at any time and designated for Zion. Please support this worthy cause. Thank you for you continued support!

6

Christmas Angel Tree

A huge thank you to everyone who joined

together on Friday, December 13, 2019 to

wrap at least 300 gifts for children of the

Hummelstown Food Pantry. The outpouring

of kindness and generosity from the faith

communities of Zion Hummelstown and St.

John’s Hoernerstown was amazing!

A very special thanks to members of the

Youth Advisory Committee, Beth Rager,

Shannon Bastian, Pat Graybill and Carrie

Amann for organizing this gift giving event.

Everyone worked together to make

Christmas brighter and happier for the

children who are served by the Food Pantry.

With Appreciation

Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,

I am deeply touched by your

expressions of appreciation for my

service to the Lord as interim pastor

of Zion. Your beautiful Christmas

cards, gifts, and poinsettias placed

in my honor warmed my heart and

carried me through a very busy

time of the year.

I am privileged to serve you and I

trust that the New Year will

continue to bring us joy and

guidance for Zion’s future.

With peace and joy in Christ,

Pastor Van Orden

The beauty of the worship space and the

inspiring worship services happen because of

those who graciously give their time and

talents by serving as worship leaders, singing

or playing in a choir (Chancel, Bells Angels

and Zion’s Junior Voices), as soloist or small

group ensemble, decorating, tending to the

multitude of candles that we use for the

Advent wreath and candlelight services, caring

for the altar paraments and communion,

cleaning (Custodians Jim & Deb Friedel),

preparing many bulletins (Vilma Linde),

leading the music (Adam Koch), and bringing

it all together to celebrate the coming of our

Savior, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

Thank you to everyone who served in some

way—visibly and behind the scenes.

Your service is priceless!

7

...with appreciation (cont.)

From Adam Koch…

Dear Friends of Zion,

I would like to take a moment to reflect on our time together. When I arrived at Zion I was not sure what I was getting into or what to expect. What I quickly found was a group of people who welcomed me as Minister of Music and my husband, Matthew, into the life of Zion. Choirs were eager to sing, ring, and socialize, so we ‘hit the ground running’ from the moment I arrived. In my 29 years working in a church I am not sure that I have encountered a congregation that is as supportive of music as you all are. I know that this will continue for generations to come both in worship and in inviting the greater community to Zion to share music and the arts with your neighbors.

Coming to Zion I also found an incredible staff to work with. Jim and Deb Friedel have been of great help in organizing the music

From Lutheran Immigration and

Refugee Services

Give online: LIRS.org

rooms. Vilma Linde is professional in all aspects of her work, a joy to be around and made sure I was on top my administrative duties! Working with Pastor Lois was not work at all. I enjoyed our collegial working relationship, creative thinking, chats about organs we played, taking in her sermons, and the continual support she provided me at Zion and while I was finishing my degrees at Shenandoah Conservatory.

Then it came time to say – “see you later.” Not goodbye. Thank you for the beautiful prayers during worship, the t-shirt, chocolates, and your incredibly generous gift. Over the years I have often wondered if my work has a positive or any impact on the congregation I am serving. Your send-off showed me that yes, it does. Matthew and I cannot thank you enough for your support, generosity, and open arms welcome.

With a heart full of gratitude,

Adam

8

Glenn Hoffer

Celebrates 87 years

January 2, 2020

Mr. Glenn Hoffer

22 Grandview Road

Hummelstown, PA 17036

Ruby Rineman

Celebrates 88 years

January 4, 2020

Mrs. Ruby Rineman

Traditions of Hershey #203

100 Larkspur Drive

Palmyra, PA 17078

Jon Gardner

Celebrates 80 years

January 9, 2020

Mr. Jon Gardner

1197 Jill Drive

Hummelstown, PA 17036

Jane Alwine

Celebrates 89 years

January 29, 2020

Mrs. Jane Alwine

PO Box 15

32 Arthur Street

Hummelstown, PA 17036

Naomi Lynn Boehler

Celebrates 84 years

January 30, 2020

Mrs. Naomi Lynn Boehler

14 Runyon Road

Hummelstown, PA 17036

Betty Kautz

Celebrates 95 years

January 31, 2020

Frey Village #336

1020 Union Street

Middletown, PA 17057

Special Occasions

Let’s join together to celebrate these milestone birthdays.

Thank you for helping to make these birthdays special.

Please send your greeting cards to:

From Thrivent Choice Dollars

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

One good act leads to another. And the impact grows. Thanks to eligible members of Thrivent Financial, that’s what we’ve experienced through the Thrivent Choice® program.

Many of you directed Choice Dollars® to our con-gregation. Through your individual recommenda-tion, you have helped to make a difference. The outreach funding we’ve received from Thrivent Financial through this program is continuing our important mission. Thank you for your support.

9

January Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

New Year’s Day - Church Office Closed

Happy

New Year’s!

2

Church Office Closed

12:00 PM Food Pantry 5:30 PM Chengs Karate

3

Church Office Closed

4

Church Office Closed

5

Christmas 2 8:00 AM Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15 AM Sunday School- All ages 10:30 AM Worship w/Holy Communion—Installation of Council Members 7:30 PM AA

6

8:00 AM Falcon Packs 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 5:30 PM Refuge Recovery 6:00 PM Social Ministry Commit-tee 6:30 PM Chengs Karate 6:30 PM Worship & Music Commit-tee 7:30 PM AA

7

8:00 AM Falcon Packs 6:00 PM Proper-ty 6:30 PM Chris-tian Ed 7:30 PM AA

8

9:00 AM Food Pantry 11:00 AM Won-derful Women of God 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 6:00 PM Youth Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir

9

2:00 PM ATCC 5:00 PM Food Pantry 5:30 PM Chengs Karate

10

Church Office Closed

11

Church Office Closed

12

Baptism of Our Lord 8:00 AM Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15 AM Sunday School- All ages 10:30 AM Worship w/Holy Communion 12:00 PM Grateful Ladies of Zion- The Weikels Home 7:30 PM AA

13

8:00 AM Falcon Packs 5:30 PM Evange-lism 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 5:30 PM Refuge Recovery 6:30 PM Chengs Karate 6:30 PM Youth Advisory Commit-tee 7:00 PM Open Audition- Minister of Music 7:30 PM AA

14

8:00 AM Falcon Packs 6:30 PM Stew-ardship 7:00 PM Prayer Shawl Ministry 7:30 PM AA

15

9:00 AM Food Pantry 11:00 AM Won-derful Women of God 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 6:00 PM Youth Choir 6:15 PM Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir

16

5:00 PM Food Pantry 5:30 PM Chengs Karate 6:30 PM Congre-gation Council

17

Church Office Closed

18

Church Office Closed

19

Epiphany 2 8:00 AM Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15 AM Sunday School- All ages 10:30 AM Worship w/Holy Communion 7:30 PM AA

20

Falcon Packs 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 5:30 PM Refuge Recovery 6:30 PM Chengs Karate 7:30 PM AA

21

8:00 AM Falcon Packs 7:30 PM AA

22

9:00 AM Food Pantry 11:00 AM Won-derful Women 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 6:00 PM Youth Choir 6:15 PM Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir

23

5:00 PM Food Pantry 5:30 PM Chengs Karate

24

Church Office Closed

25

Church Office Closed

26

Epiphany 3 7:30 AM Blood Drive 8:00 AM Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15 AM Sunday School- All ages 10:30 AM Worship w/Holy Communion 7:30 PM AA

27

8:00 AM Falcon Packs 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 5:30 PM Refuge Recovery 6:30 PM Chengs Karate 7:30 PM AA

28

8:00 AM Falcon Packs 7:30 PM AA

29

9:00 AM Food Pantry 11:00 AM Won-derful Women 5:30 PM LARK Theatre Studio 6:00 PM Youth Choir 6:15 PM Bell Choir 7:30 PM Chancel Choir

30

5:00 PM Food Pantry 5:30 PM Chengs Karate

31

Church Office Closed

1

Church Office Closed

Sunday Fellowship hosted by: Social Ministry

Join us for refreshments in the Parlor.

10

Zion Messenger

February Newsletter

Deadline is:

Monday

January 20, 2020

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

100 W. Main Street

Hummelstown, PA 17036

If you would like to receive the newsletter by email,

please call the church office at (717)566-2589.

Worship Services of Holy Communion

Two worship services: 8:00 and 10:30 am

Sunday School Classes for all ages at 9:15 am

The Rev. Lois K. Van Orden, Interim Pastor

Church Office: (717) 566-2589

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

Website: www.zluth.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/zluth/

January 2020