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NOVEMBER

2017

Zion’s Good News

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

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Saturday, November 4th Change your clocks - we ‘fall back’ one hour.

Sunday, November 5th All Saints’ Day Remembrance

Sunday, November 12th New Member Sunday Blessing of the Orange

Honoring Veterans

Sunday, November 19th

Rev. John Sutherland will join us for worship

Stratford Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship

We gather for worship as a village each year the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This year we will gather at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Sunday, November 19th. Bring your family and worship with thanks-giving. Pie fellowship following the service.

Sunday, November 26th Christ the King Sunday

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Give Thanks As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. --John F. Kennedy

In 2014, Kevin Durant, an American basketball player, was named Most Valuable Player. When he received his award, he delivered a memorable acceptance speech. Durant thanked his teammates and friends—nothing out of the norm there—but then he spoke directly to his mother.2

“I don’t think you know what you did,” Durant told her from the podium. His eyes welled with tears. “The odds were stacked against us: single parent with two boys by the time you were twenty-one years old. Everyone told us we weren’t supposed to be here. We moved from apartment to apartment by ourselves.” Durant went on to recognize his mother’s contributions to his own success. He took an incredible opportunity to thank her in a very public way. Like Durant, you may want to give thanks for people, circumstanc-es, and things in your life. And though you may not have a podium from which to do so, the expression of your gratitude can be just as powerful. Intentional thankfulness can make quite the difference in our per-ception of the world around us. Following are 10 verses of Scripture to keep in mind while giving thanks. 2 Chronicles 5:13—2 Corinthians 4:15—2 Corinthians 9:11—Psalm 9:1—Philippians 4:6-7—Psalm 107:8-9—Psalm 95:2-3—1 Chroni-cles 16:34—1Thessalonians 5:18—Psalm 100:4. In this season of giving thanks look for opportunities to share your thanks.

Pastor Sue

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YOUR CHURCH STAFF

COUNCIL MEMBERS

President: Brenda Castellano

V. Pres.: Becky Curtis

Secretary: Angie Guralski

Treasurer: Adam Maguire

Evangelism: Cory Wiesman

Faith Formation: Jackie Fischer & Kaitlyn Ulrich

Property: Lee Spindler

Stewardship: Angela Ford

Worship: Lois Custer

PASTOR: Sue Eidahl

Home Phone: 687-4381

E-mail: eides@zionlc.com

Secretary: Lori Lang

E-mail: office@zionlc.com

WAYS TO CONNECT

WITH ZION

Write us at Zion Lutheran Church, 700 North Second Ave, Stratford, WI 54484-9632

Phone us at 715-687-4110 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or leave a voice mail message.

Or email us at office@zionlc.com or directly to emails above. WEB SITE: www.zionlc.com

TRADITIONAL WORSHIP

9:00 a.m.

INDEX Page 1 November Schedule 2 Pastor Sue’s Letter 3 November Grateful to be Faithful 4 November Faith 5 5 Birthdays & Anniversaries 6 Children’s Christmas Program /

Hunting for Hunger / J-Team and Little Lutherans

7 Operation Christmas - Hurricane Relief

8 New Member Sunday / Rev. John Sutherland / Blessing of the Or-ange

9 Council Minutes / Building Up-date / Pastoral Acts

10 Christmas Wreath Sale / Confirma-tion Classes/ Facebook / German-fest Thank You

11 Church Staff and Index Pull out: November Calendar and Serving Schedule NEWSLETTER DEADLINE The 21st of each month. ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINE Wednesdays by 9:00 a.m. WEEKLY E-MAIL Goes out on Monday morning. Email office@zionlc.com to be added to the receiver list. PLEASE keep the office updated: • Address & email changes • Births, Deaths, Hospitalizations • Phone / Cell changes

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Zion is on Facebook.

You can go to our website at www.zionlc.com and click on the link to the Facebook page.

On behalf of the leadership here at Zion, I wanted to take a moment to send my appreciation for your assistance at our Annual Germanfest Community Meal this year. We are so thrilled to be able to have such a meal to be a blessing to the people in our community, a blessing that continues as we help those in need throughout the years to come. Your service and shared time and talents are greatly appreciated. Please know that whether you baked goods, made applesauce, sauer-kraut, dumplings, made a donation, peeled potatoes, washed dishes, waited on tables, or a number of behind the scenes jobs—your gift will make a difference in this community. Thank you so very much. Pastor Sue

CHRISTMAS WREATH SALE Christmas wreaths will be available again this year. Vicki Hughes will be selling the wreaths after services starting November 5th. Wreaths will be sold November 5th and 12th, with delivery on December 3rd. If you would like to order before November 5th, call Vicki at 715-897-6222. Proceeds will benefit the youth mission trip.

Confirmation Classes November 1st and 8th Core Class: The Lord’s Prayer.

November 10th and 11th: Godstock! November 29th: 12 Disciples.

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Pastoral Acts Pastor Sue officiated at the Funeral of William Shanks.

Council Minutes Zion Lutheran Church Council met on Monday, October 16, 2017

President Brenda Castellano called the meeting to order Pastor Sue led with devotions.

• During the meeting the council: • Approved the Secretary Report. • Approved the Treasurer Report. • Approved the Ministry Team Report • Sent a Thank You to: Ellen Leick and Stratford FCA Students • Pastor has been working on Stewardship Home Meetings, Planning

Germanfest, Confirmation and preparing for Advent services • Reminder to teams to get their budgets in by the November Council

Meeting • “Epic” has been reschedule to February 17th • Task Force will have an interview for the DCM position • FYI Start looking for nominates for council

Respectfully submitted by Angie Guralski, Secretary

* You can get a full copy of the Secretary’s notes from the office.

Building Update 2017 Payment Bi-Weekly Start Payment Interest Principal Ending Dates Balance Amount Paid Paid Balance 7/ 7 & 7/21 $438,333.40 $3,100.00 $1,319.74 $1,780.26 $ 436,553.14 8/04 & 8/18 $436,553.14 $3,100.00 $1,314.37 $1,785.63 $ 434,767.51 9/1 & 9/15 $434,767.51 $3,100.00 $1,308.99 $1,791.01 $ 432,976.50 9/29 $432,976.50 $3,100.00 $ 652.47 $ 897.53 $ 432,078.97

Total monthly principal payments $ 6,254.43 Total monthly interest payments $ 4,595.57 Balance of loan as of 8-18-2017 $ 432,078.97

Partners Bank Building checking acct balance as of 10-10-2017 $ 31,833.65

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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

1 - Stacia Burrows Tammie Christopherson

3 - Pete Leick John Zuelke 5 - Ian Mikelson 6 - Justin Schoenherr 7 - Darla Leick Kevin Van Der Leest 8 - Henry Uthmeier Barb Everson

Ryleigh Schiller 9 - Marilyn Bolen 10 -Terri Harteau Cooper Wiesman 12 - Doug Bolen 13 – Karey Foster Lily Cournoyer 14 - Jodi Maguire 16 - Melanie Nikolai

18 - Mary Wussow Cheryl Dahlke Tiana Hughes 19 - Jean Huser Scott Gebelein 20 - Leon Telschow 21 - Leroy Wiesman 22 – Dennis Schmidt Hudson Ballerstein 24 - Alex Mueller Hailey Homann 25 - George Schmidt Lisa Foley Jacob Griffith Caleb Wrensch Carter Foster 27 – Gary Polivka 28 - Heather Romatowski Rudy Werner 29 - Gordon Telschow 30 - Ed Polege Ashton Wrensch

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

2 - Tom & Brenda VanDerLeest 3 - Dennis & Carla Spindler David & Candy Ford 8 - James & Veronica Schmidt Ricky & Brenda Timm 11 - Duane & Christine Dalbeck 13 - Tim & Kari Schoenherr 17 – Mike and Karen Rock 26 - Tom & Beth Griffith

New Member Sunday We will be receiving new members to Zion on

Sunday, November 12th. If you are interested, or know of anyone interested in joining,

please call the church office at 715-687-4110.

Blessing of the Orange Sunday, November 12th

9:00 a.m. Blessing of the Orange

at worship service.

Wear your hunting orange!

Get blessed! Be safe! Good hunting!

Rev. John Sutherland will join us for worship on November 19th

Pastor Sutherland is an assistant to the Bishop and among his many duties, he is the companion synod coordinator with Malawi. John will join us for worship and share the story of our Sister Synod of Malawi.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM) is one of rapid growing churches on the Continent of Africa. It was established on 21st November 1982 by a group of lay people some of whom had returned work in neighboring countries where Lutheranism has been practiced. Zion has a sister congregation, Mpenda in Malawi who we support with prayer and financial giving. They are also praying for us and John’s visit will help us understand more about our sisters and brothers there.

Little Lutherans (Kindergarten – 3rd Grade) and J-Team (4th – 6th Grade) will meet Wednesday, November 1st and November 15th. These will be regular J-Team and Little Lutherans gatherings. On November 15th we will also practice songs and hand out parts for the Christmas program ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’. November 29th will be an extra session for only those kids that have parts in the Christmas program. Everyone will meet again for practice on December 6th and 13th. J-Team and Little Lutherans is cancelled for December 20th. The regular J-Team and Little Lutherans schedule resumes January 3rd.

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Operation Christmas = Hurricane Relief!

Zion members always rise to the occasion with great generosity when our Operation Christmas tags go up! Past year's Operation Christmas gifts have benefited Lutheran Social Services programs, but this year we've selected a different focus -- The Ark Book Pantry of Faith Luther-an Church in Dickinson, Texas! A bit about The Ark Book Pantry --

The name was born of the flood, but shows signs of hope and life. Think "pantry" not "library". These will be NEW books given as gifts. The focus is for children, ages 0-6, supporting young families who are

facing a host of challenges in the wake of the hurricane. (Faith Lu-theran was also heavily damaged.)

Each book will be sent with a prayer so the recipient knows that God is holding them close during this life-wrenching experience.

Through our Operation Christmas gifts, Zion will help to replenish chil-dren's books that were lost in the floods following Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area. Yes! You can put NEW books into the hands of young children in time for Christmas! Soon, a book display and donation envelopes will be up in the Narthex in the usual Operation Christmas fashion! Check out the sample books, review the book list, and select one or more to purchase for The Ark Book Pantry! The books will be purchased through Amazon.com and shipped directly to Dickinson, Texas. (You may also shop and select new books on your own, but keep in mind the focus is for young children -- "read to me" type books.) Another great need for the hurricane victims is diapers, so you'll also have the opportunity to donate toward diapers which will also be pur-chased and shipped through Amazon. The people of Faith Lutheran have challenged other ELCA churches to start a book pantry in their community, so we will be looking for a host location in Stratford to continue this effort locally.

Hunting for Hunger

Zion youth are invited to participate in our November food drive on Sunday November 5th from 1-3:30. Teams will venture out into different neighborhoods in Stratford, collecting items that will be donated to the Stratford Food Pantry. Hunters and drivers are needed! Please sign up in the Narthex. Any questions, please contact Jackie Fischer at 715-572-2858. Hope to see you there!

Children’s Christmas Program The practices for the Christmas program,

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ will begin on November 15th. Practices

will be held after school on Wednesdays, November 15th and 29th, December 6th and 13th. The Christmas Program will

be on Sunday, December 17th. If your child is interested in participating, please contact the church

office 715-687-4110.