Zion News for January 2019

Zion Evangelische United Church of Christ - Evansville, Indiana

4-January Bonnie Barnhart

4-January Kristy Brown

5-January Michele Daum

8-January Colton Lord

11-January Steve Kuehn

19-January Rev. Kimron Reising

22-January Michael Caufield

23-January Kacy Jones

30-January David haddix

UCS Meal Ministry

Zion volunteers will meet at UCS on January 10

at 3 pm to start meal preparation. We can use

extra hands from 4:45 to 5:30 when we serve the

meal. Let us know if you would like to help.

You can call the Zion office at 812-425-7029 .

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January Church Meetings:

Council: Monday, January 14, 3:30 pm

Trustees: Monday, January 14, 5:00 pm __________________________________________

Zion UCC Choir

Zion UCC Congregation Dec. 16, 2018

Isaiah 42:6-9

I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations, to open eyes that are

blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to

no other, nor my praise to idols.

See, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Thank YOU! Thank YOU! Thank YOU!!!!

You have been an inspiration and a blessing over

the three and half years that we have journeyed

together.

Thank you for allowing me to minister with you, to

teach among you, to learn from you and to experience

God’s presence, God’s calling, God’s faithfulness and

God’s unconditional love with you here at Zion.

God is, and will continue to

“declare new things” in Zion

Once again we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the

opportunities of a New Year, to live the way Jesus

lived, love the way Jesus loved, and care for our

neighbor the way Jesus cared for everyone he met.

Let us always hold fast to the wisdom which reveals

that Jesus was not born in order to establish a new

religion, a new group to which people belong or not be-

long. God did not come to live among us in order

to give us another way to separate and alienate

ourselves from each other according to which

spiritual practices we adopt, what day of the week we set

aside for worship, what “sacraments” we practice,

Or what hymns we sing….

Jesus was born so that we might establish a new

covenant with God, being assured beyond any

shadow of doubt that God loves us unconditionally,

that love is the most powerful force in the universe, and

that we can live our lives free from guilt over our failures

and mistakes, and free from the fear of death itself!

The motto of the United Church of Christ is from

Gospel of John, chapter 17, verse 21: “that they may all be

one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they

also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have

sent me.” This is Jesus speaking to the promise, the vision

that is born anew each Christmas.

God has indeed taken us by the hand and led us along the

path of grace and unconditional love. It has required cour-

age and faith to travel the path we have been on together,

and I am so thankful for your willingness to take this jour-

ney.

I could not wish for a more fulfilling and inspiring congre-

gation, with which to bring my formal Pastorate to con-

clusion, you have been a “dream team” for me and

Jenny.

You have provided sacred space for the vision of a place

that welcomes all, as Jesus did. A safe space for those who

are seeking a new way to live in community that is focused

on growing in our relationship with God, loving one an-

other unconditionally, without judgement, and caring for

one another as best we are able. Zion is “Holy Ground”,

thank you for allowing it to be so.

Merry Christmas

And Blessings for the New Year,

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Farewell Reception for Pastor Kim and Jenny Reising

Pastor Kimron Reising and his wife, Jenny Reising

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Retirement T-Shirts from the congregation

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Great Food and delicious cake was shared with Pastor Kim and Jenny

Jenny Reising, Susie Niethammer and Pastor Kim

Pastor Kim and Neal Biggers, Minister of Music

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Epiphany: Spreading Light and Energy

by Neal Biggers, Minister of Music

This year Sunday falls on the sixth of January, which means we get to gather for worship on the traditional date for celebrating Epiphany. On Epiphany we think about the story of the wise-men following the star to Bethlehem, of people beginning to see in Jesus the “light of the world” and eventually to identify him with the very Source of that light.

That's why some of our music on January 6th will focus on the theme of light. The organ prelude will be based on the familiar Epiphany hymn:

As with gladness men of old Did the guiding star behold, As with joy they hailed its light, Leading onward, beaming bright, So, most gracious Lord, may we Evermore be led to Thee....

The offertory is based on a German hymn: “Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern.”

How brightly shines the morning Star! The nations see and hail afar The light in Judah shining....

During a recent after-worship discussion we talked about light/energy in connection with Jesus, going back to the story of Je-sus's mother's visit with her relative Elizabeth when they were pregnant with Jesus and John the Baptist. Mitzi, our office ad-ministrator, observed that during Mary's visit with Elizabeth there was a special energy in the room which spread in and around both excited mothers and the sons in their wombs, as evidenced by John's “leaping in the womb.” We talked about how that energy was connected with light and how it was part of the “light of the world” that would radiate beyond that room, and be seen more and more brightly in John's preaching and in Jesus as his life and ministry unfolded.

That after-worship discussion had some twists and turns that are probably unique here at Zion due to our openness to sharing our space and time with people who look at things from a variety of spiritual perspectives. Mitzi has special training in one of those perspectives, Reiki, which is about sensing and moving life ener-gy through physical presence and touch. That life energy is light and love, and Jesus was all about moving light and love around through physical presence and touch. That's what we celebrate in a special way on Epiphany, and in many different ways throughout the year.

Happy Epiphany!

There Is a Hole in My Sidewalk Autobiography in Five Short Sentences

By Portia Nelson

Chapter One

I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in. I am lost…I am helpless.

It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend that I don’t see it.

I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in this same place.

But, it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there.

I still fall in…it’s a habit…but, my eyes are open. I know where I am.

It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Chapter Four I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Chapter Five I walk down another street.

It is that time of year when many of us in the world begin to re-flect and re-organize their priorities. The phrase used in acknowl-edgement of this process is, New Year’s Resolutions. Often times those resolutions are health related. In those moments of reflec-tion, revisiting what didn’t work out quite as hoped for will lead individuals to simply give up and allow the old patterns to return. The poem, There Is a Hole in My Sidewalk serves as a gentle re-minder to stay steady and work with what is serving to keep mov-ing in the new direction. What are your choices in support of new directions? For myself, this year I will be giving more focus to a phrase I hold near and dear, “nothing in excess”. The modern term may be “minimalist” and I certainly, am growing to appreci-ate how helpful that is in relation to my own health needs. What-ever your direction, I hope, this poem will help you in support of any new path that appears to have failed.

Happy New Year to all! Kay __________________________________________________

THANK YOU!!

A BIG APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE SOCKS THAT

WERE DONATED TO UNITED CARING SERVICES FOR THE ZION

CENTER PROJECT!!

ZION CENTER

Mindscapes Art Galley

Open Monday-Thursday 11:30-2:00 pm

_____________________________

Second Tuesday Song Circle

January 8 at 6 PM

Common Ground Community Kitchen Hours for lunch are:

11:30 am to 2:00 pm Mondays thru Thursdays

Offering Soup to Go—Call 812-204-1182 to order or

Visit the website at:Commongroundkitchen.com

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Common Ground Kitchen will be closed Christmas Eve/

Christmas Day and New Years Eve/New Years Day

____________________________________________

Watch for more information on Soups-To-Go

offered in January at commongroundkitchen.com.

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Kombucha in the Kitchen

Tuesday & Thursday—12 noon—2 pm

Mychele will be at the Kombucha Counter with her healthy brew made from organic and locally grown foraged ingredi-

ents at a fizzy-sweet pay-what-you-can-price.!

SPECIAL EVENTS

CLASSES & RESOURCES:

Kundalini Yoga:

6 PM on Mondays led by Bambi Hansen.

6 PM on Thursdays led by Pastor Kim, Bambi or

Michael Below.

Introduction to Qigong:

6 PM on Tuesdays, Richard Ogilvy, Instructor

Yin Yoga:

6 PM, Wednesdays led by Bob Tenbarge

Meditative Walking and Music:

12 PM -1 PM on Wednesdays, Music by Neal Big-

gers

Linda’s Little Bookstore:

Used books on religion, spirituality, health, fiction,

etc.

at reduced prices

Kay Hummel / Optima Flow 2 Wellness:

Alternative & holistic health. By appointment

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Organic Produce Club & Frontier Co-Op:

Organized by Missie Carrigan, Blythe Anne & Linda

Howard,

Tuesdays 10am to 2pm

Wednesdays—11:30-2:00

Thursdays 11:30am to 2pm

Join Us:

Veggie Pot Luck

At Zion C enter

Changing to the First Friday of every month

Starting: January 4—5:30 pm—7 pm

Bring a dish, share recipes, try new foods, meet old and

new friends

Cooking Class

Go to commongroundevans-

ville@gmail.com for January

and February class sign up!!

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Groove Yoga

With Tami Tenbarge

Light, gentle movement

January 3, 7 & 10.

4 PM

Exciting things happening at Zion Center

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Zion Center Presents:

Paint Pouring with Elizabeth Pierce

This class is offered to teach you the skill of letting go

while creating your own piece of art. Only ten spots

open to anyone over 18 years and older.. Please

RSVP by January 2nd.

Call Zion Center at 812-425-7029 or email:

Epartdesigns@gmail.com or zionucc@zionucc.net

Cost is $15 per person

Fun times at the Common Ground Cooking Class

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Office Closed

2

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

Noon-1pm Walk-

ing Meditation &

Music

6:00 pm Yin Yoga

3

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

11:30-2:00 Veg-

gie Co-Op

4:00 pm Groove

Yoga

6:00 pm

Kundalini Yoga

4

Veggie Pot Luck

5:30-7:00 pm

5

Paint Pouring

1-2 pm

6

10:30 am Worship

with Communion

Discussion Group

after Worship

7

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

4:00 pm Groove

Yoga

6:00 pm Kundalini

Yoga

8

10am-2pm Veggie

Club

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

5:00 pm Choir

Practice

6:00 pm Qigong

6:00 pm Song

Circle

9

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

Noon-1pm Walk-

ing Meditation &

Music

6:00 pm Yin Yoga

7:00 pm Spirit

Share Group

10

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

11:30-2:00 Veg-

gie Co-Op

3:00-5:30 pm

UCS Meal

Ministry

4:00 pm Groove

Yoga

6:00 pm

Kundalini Yoga

11 12

13

10:30 am Worship

11:30 am Christian

Board of Ministry

Mtg.

14

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

3:30 pm Council

Mtg.

5:00 pm Trustee

Mtg

6:00 pm Kundalini

Yoga

15

10am-2pm Veggie

Club

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

5:00 pm Choir

Practice

6:00 pm Qigong

16

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

Noon-1pm Walk-

ing Meditation &

Music

6:00 pm Yin Yoga

17

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

11:30-2:00 Veg-

gie Co-Op

6:00 pm

Kundalini Yoga

18

19

20

10:30 am Worship

Discussion Group

after Worship

21

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

6:00 pm Kundalini

Yoga

22

10am-2pm Veggie

Club

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

5:00 pm Choir

Practice

6:00 pm Qigong

23

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

Noon-1pm Walk-

ing Meditation &

Music

6:00 pm Yin Yoga

7:00 pm Spirit

Share Group

24

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

11:30-2:00 Veg-

gie Co-Op

6:00 pm

Kundalini Yoga

25

Plant Based for

the New Year

Cooking Class

6:00—8:00 pm

26

Chanting, Pra-

nayama and

Meditation Yoga

9:30-11:00 am

27

10:30 am Worship

Discussion Group

after Worship

28

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

6:00 pm Kundalini

Yoga

29

10am-2pm Veggie

Club

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

5:00 pm Choir

Practice

6:00 pm Qigong

30

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

Noon-1pm Walk-

ing Meditation &

Music

6:00 pm Yin Yoga

31

11:30-2:00 C.G.

Kitchen

11:30-2:00 Veg-

gie Co-Op

6:00 pm

Kundalini Yoga

January 2019

Zion United Church of Christ Evansville, IN

Zion United Church of Christ

415 N.W. Fifth Street

Evansville, IN 47708

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Zion United Church of Christ

Evansville, Indiana

Rev. Kimron Reising, Pastor

Rev. John Schroeder, Pastor Emeritus

Neal Biggers, Minister of Music

Mitzi Windsor, Office Administrator

Sara Miller, Handbells

Freddie Greer, Custodian

Allen Powers, Security

Phone: 812.425.7029

Office Email: zionucc@zionucc.net

Pastor’s Email: revreising@zionucc.net

Website: zionucc.net

Facebook: Zion Center for

Spiritual Development

and Healing

Worship Service: Sundays @ 10:30