July 2018

The Pastor’s Ponderings

Pastor David’s cell phone—348-330-4170 and email address—fleeneda@gmail.com

Depending

on how well

our printer

works, you

may or may

not be able

to see the

photo well.

It’s supposed

to be a pic-

ture of the

confluence

of the Co-

lumbia River

and the Pa-

cific Ocean,

which I took

from the top

of the Asto-

ria Column in Astoria, Oregon (perhaps better known to

some of you as the location for The Goonies!).

I am always refreshed by traveling to a place of

great natural beauty. And Oregon certainly has plenty of

it. But natural beauty – in an obvious sense – isn’t the

only kind of beauty there is. While we can certainly see

God’s handiwork in a beautiful sunset, or in stunning

geographical features, it can be more enriching for our

relationship with God and others to see God in our eve-

ryday, ordinary environment. To see the beauty of God’s

handiwork in the people and places around us. To even

see that beauty in people, places, or things that are not

obviously beautiful.

Can we see God in the slate gray sky of an Indiana

winter?

Can we see God in the neighbor that we don’t par-

ticularly care for?

Can we see God at the hospital bed or in the loved

one who is dying?

Can we see God in the child who won’t listen?

Can we see God in the parent who just doesn’t un-

derstand?

Can we even see God in (dare I say it?) politicians

whom we otherwise would have utter contempt for?

God is present in all these people and places. (That

doesn’t necessarily mean that God approves of what is

happening!) We might also keep in mind that throughout

Scripture, God shows a preference for appearing in “the

least of these” – in the least beautiful, in the least power-

ful, in the least capable. God can perhaps even be best

apprehended in the least apparently beautiful natural

phenomena as well. As Kathleen Norris wrote in her

book Dakota, “Once, when I was describing to a friend

from Syracuse, New York, a place on the plains that I

love, a ridge above a glacial moraine with a view of al-

most fifty miles, she asked, "But what is there to see?"

The answer, of course, is nothing. Land, sky, and the ev-

er-changing light.”

When all we can see is nothing, perhaps that is

when we are closest to seeing God.

Love to you all,

Pr. David

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

More History Books

are Available

We ran out of our 150th Anniversary History Books

and were getting requests for more, so an order was

placed for 25 additional books. The shipment has been

received. The cost for the books is still $20. The history

books are available in Debbie’s office if you know of

anyone who is interested in buying one.

July 2018

May Council Minutes

The May 10, 2018 Congregation

Council Meeting was called to order by

Vice President, Jody Stanley.

Present: Pastor David Fleener, Jody Stan-

ley, Dennis Walker, Allen Stallsmith,

Mike Clamme, Tim Stanley, Max Lang-

don, Claretta Dutro and Nyla Hile

Absent: Fred Walker, Barb Hardwick, Mark Prout

and Neil Stroble

Devotions were given by Claretta Dutro.

Secretary’s Report: Last month’s secretary’s report

was read and approved with a motion to accept by Max

Langdon. Second by Allen Stallsmith.

Items added to Agenda: Lifetouch Directory, First

Aid Boxes

Pastor’s Report: Pastoral Care in April

Pastor's totals for April: 2 shut-in visits, 9 sick/

hospital visits, 6 home/hospital communions.

Soul Care team totals for April 2 shut-in visits

Deacons’ Fund use in April—One check on 4/2 to

Relax Inn for $45.

Christian Education—Confirmation met on April 15th

and 29th. We discussed essentials and non-essentials of

the Christian faith (i.e., what do you have to believe/do

in order to be a Christian?) and Luther’s explanation to

the Ten Commandments. We already met last Sunday

with a lesson on the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed,

and will meet again on May 20th. We will also have a

“camp” week with daily sessions, June 4th-8th, 10 a.m.-

noon.

Other events in April:

2, 16, 23, 30 – Joe and Jesus

3, 17, 24 – Attended The Story study at Grace

4 – Met with Brandy Aschliman, director of Helping

Hands (pregnancy resource center out of Bluffton, with a

center in Montpelier)

5, 19, 26 – Mentoring at Southside

8-12 – Spiritual Companionship Session at Lindenwood

Retreat Center, near Plymouth, IN

14 – Tour of Victory Noll motherhouse and retreat center

in Huntington, IN

19 – Dream Builders’ breakfast (Habitat for Humanity)

at the Horizon Convention Center, Muncie

19 – Lunch at The Pickle with local ministers

21 – Synod Worship Committee meeting

23 – Mission and Ministry meeting

24 – Listening Post at the food pantry

26 – FCA banquet at the Horizon Convention Center,

Muncie

29 – Led Lutheran Church of the Cross, Muncie, in a

council retreat

Upcoming events in May/June:

11 – Grace Village fundraiser at Lutheran Church of the

Cross, Muncie. 7-9 p.m. This should be a lot of fun! See

me for tickets.

20 – Semi-annual meeting at Lutheran Church of the

Cross. This should be my last official event with them

before Pr. Robert Abner begins his call.

31-1-2 – Synod Assembly. I will need to leave on Friday

afternoon/evening for my next Spiritual Companioning

Session.

Committee reports—Parish Education: Meeting on

May 14th to discuss Four-way VBS hosted by Grace

United Methodist Church.

Mission and Ministry: Southside visits thru school

year. May 20—Silver Linings fundraiser, Kuerig ma-

chine in Library

Council reports—Deacons: Meeting on May 9th to

discuss proper setting of communion table, serving con-

gregation, cleaning sacristy, altar care/deacons will take

care of.

Attendance and Holy Communion report—April 1 -

75 attended, 64 communed; April 8 - 78 attended, 74

communed; April 15 - 77 attended, 68 communed; April

22 - 82 attended, 75 communed; April 29 - 63 attend-

ed, 62 communed

Trustees: Door to sacristy sticking—will look at

Treasurer’s Report: IRS-WH3 tax form not filed -

OnPay took care of (software glitch).

No surplus in checking this month - still have bills

that may need to wait (benevolence).

Payment for supplies for the new Kuerig machine in

the library will be placed under Supplies/Postage -

“Coffee Fund” - will have a donation cup.

A motion to accept the committee and council reports

was made by Mike Clamme and seconded by Claretta

Dutro. Motion carried.

Old Business: Wabash Pastoral Leadership Pro-

gram—Pastor David has applied for and should hear

(continued on following page)

from the program’s administrators by mid-June.

Repairs - list for Mark: shingles, bricks (chimney)

and loose gutters.

New Business: Mildew by offices, chapel area (kids)

-Trustees

Lack of signage - restrooms, offices - Worship &

Music Committee

Need new First Aid boxes in kitchen - needs new

July 2018

May Council Minutes continued

items - Trustees

Lifetouch Directory - too early - will wait

The meeting closed by all praying The Lord’s Prayer.

Next meeting will be June 14, 2018 with devotions given

by Max Langdon.

Respectfully submitted,

Jody Stanley,

Acting Recording Secretary

Penetecost 6 - July 1st

1st Reading - Lamentations 3:22-33

Psalm 30

2nd Reading - 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Gospel - Mark 1:29-39

Pentecost 7 - July 8th

1st Reading - 2 Kings 2:1-12

Psalm 50:1-6

2nd Reading - 2 Corinthians 8:7-15

Gospel - Mark 5:21-43

Pentecost 8 - July 15th

1st Reading - Amos 7:7-15

Psalm 85:8-13

2nd Reading - Ephesians 1:3-14

Gospel - Mark 6:14-29

Pentecost 9 - July 22nd

1st Reading - Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 23

2nd Reading - Ephesians 2:11-22

Gospel - Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Pentecost 10 - July 29th

1st Reading - 2 Kings 4:42-44

Psalm 145:10-18

2nd Reading - Ephesians 3:14-21

Gospel - John 6:1-21

July Lectionary Readings

Parish Register

Charles Walker passed away on Fri-

day, June 8, 2018. Pastor David Fleener

officiated at Charles’ funeral service at

Zion on Wednesday, June 13th. Burial

followed at the Greenlawn Cemetery.

Our sympathy goes out to Charles’

family.

“If we have died with Christ, we shall

also live with him; if we are faithful to the end, we shall

reign with him.”

Mission and Ministry is collecting

school supplies the month of July. Items

included are: school boxes

(no handles or locks), book

bags (no wheels), no. 2 pen-

cils, pink pencil erasers,

glue sticks, colored Crayola

pencils, expo dry erase markers, Crayola

markers, highlighters, wide lined spiral

tablets, composition books, pointed scissors, crayons,

plain pocket folders, 3x5 index

cards, and earbuds (no over the

ear). Put all items on the table in

fellowship hall.

Collecting School Supplies

Semi-Annual Meeting Please note that Zion’s Semi-Annual Congregation-

al Meeting will be held following the worship service on

July 15th.

Hero Central VBS will be held at Grace United

Methodist Church, 312 E. Washington St., July 23-27, 6-

8 p.m., for nursery-5th grade. Parents and volunteers may

register online at: https://hc.cokesburyvbs.com/

graceumchc. Registration forms will also be available in

the back of the worship space on the table.

Hero Central VBS

The Zion Herald July 2018

“Happy are those whose strength is in God, in

whose heart are the highways to Zion.” (Psalm 84:5)

Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. with Worship at 10:00 a.m.

Zion Lutheran Church

308 S. Monroe Street

Hartford City, IN 47348

David Fleener, Pastor

Church Office: 348-3157

zionluth.hc@gmail.com

fleeneda@gmail.com

www.zionhc.org

Serving the Lord in Gladness

July 2018 Lay Ministry Servers

Greeters

Ushers

Acolytes

Assisting Ministers

July 1 Cindy Knote—Ray and Linda Stanley

July 8 Fred and Linda Walker—Claretta Dutro

July 15 Gene and Isola Banter—Madeline Lennon

July 22 Claretta Dutro—Linda Baker and Carolyn Hughes

July 29 Madeline Lennon—Neil and Libby Stroble

July 1 Allen Stallsmith, Mike Clamme, Tim Stanley and Tom Armstrong

July 8 Allen Stallsmith, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker

July 15 Tim Stanley, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker

July 22 Mike Clamme, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker

July 29 Tim Stanley, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker

July 1 Keaton Walker

and Ryne Clamme

July 8 Kaylin Clamme

July 15 Deacons

July 22 Sydney Stroble

July 29 Bryce Stroble

July 1 Mark Prout

July 8 Chris Coy

July 15 Sarah Fleener

July 22 Jody Stanley

July 29 Mark Prout

Lectors

July 1 Cindy Knote

July 8 Linda Walker

July 15 Cindy Knote

July 22 Linda Baker

July 29 Neil Stroble

July Birthdays

Ashley VanDevender 7-1

Linda Walker 7-1

Debbie Walker 7-5

Eldon Willmann 7-5

Tryce Hendricks 7-7

Kevin Miniear 7-8

John Hendricks 7-9

Paige Walker 7-15

Trenton Grile 7-21

Nancy Cortright 7-21

Alison McCammon 7-21

Kim Winningham 7-22

Bill Hiday 7-23

Jessica Avant 7-30

Kean Coy 7-31

Sandy Langdon 7-31

Semi-Annual Meeting

July 15th after worship