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JANUARY

2018

Zion’s Good News

ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

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JANUARY Worship and Learning Schedule

Sunday Morning Worship

9:00 a.m. January 7, 14, 21 and 28

Tuesday Morning Bible Study 10:00 a.m. January 9, 16, 23 and 30

Contemplative Worship

6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 25th

Craig Gauerke Installation

Sunday, January 14th Read Craig’s Introduction on Page 3

Annual Meeting January 28th at 10:00 a.m.

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Ecumenical Worship Service

in the Family Center

Led by The Mill Church, St. Joseph, Ebenezer UCC,

and Zion Lutheran. January 14, 2018

6:30 p.m. Worship in song, prayer

and candle lighting.

2

New Beginnings New beginnings really matter. Here we are at the beginning of a new year. In worship we have new liturgy for the year and we will be reading from the gospel of Mark in this Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary. We also have a new staff person joining us in the new year. Craig Gauerke is beginning his time with us as the Director of Congrega-tional Ministry. Please welcome Craig and introduce yourself to him. That Gauerke name is a familiar one here at Zion. Craig is the great nephew of Pastor Don Gauerke who served Zion from 1969 through 1981. It’s a new beginning for Craig and a new beginning for us. I look forward to what God has in store for all of us. Every January brings a new beginning to the calendar year. Look-ing to the new year, do you see it as a time of new beginnings with your walk with God? Do you see this as a new start away from law-living and following man-made religion? It’s beginning a path walk-ing with Jesus as our friend and partner in the grace and freedom He provided. It is a walk consisting of loving God and loving others; accepting all those we encounter each day. It is not a set of rules to follow or things we need to do to be a better Christian. It is coming to realize that what we do or don’t do does not make a difference in our relationship to God. It is letting Christ live through us and let-ting His love touch people. It is knowing that Christ paid the price for our salvation and learning to live by grace, and grace alone, not by adding law and works. It's new beginnings time. May we look forward to seeing where God

will take us and how He will touch people with His love as we walk

with Him day by day.

Pastor Sue

7

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 January Schedule 2 Pastor Sue’s Letter 3 Introducing Craig Gauerke 4 Contemplative Worship / Little Lu-

therans and J-Team / Fellowship 2018

5 Council Minutes / Building Update 6 Anniversaries and Birthdays / Ark

Book Pantry Update 7 Church Staff and Index Pull out: January 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

6 3

INTRODUCING CRAIG GAUERKE

In this New Year to come, I am thankful to be joining the Zion Lutheran Church family, to share my gifts with the whole community and grow in Faith with you. I am excited to see what God has in store for Zion. Before joining the Zion staff I was working with my fa-ther, in my hometown of Waupaca. I felt the yearning and Call from God to return to my area of study and mission. This faith journey has lead me here to Zion Lutheran.

I attended Wartburg College in

2009 and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Religion with an emphasis in Youth Ministry. My first Call was at Trinity Lutheran in Great Bend, Kansas, this Call was a unique learn-ing experience. From Kansas, I had a desire to return to Wisconsin, and did so by accepting my next Call at Saint Andrew Lutheran in Wausau. This opportunity lead me to consider my path in the larger context of the community of Faith, which in turn has brought me to Zion Lutheran.

Outside of my educational and Faith journey some activities I

enjoy include: golfing, camping, hiking, fine arts, and civic engage-ment. As a respectable follower of Martin Luther I am on a mission of sorts, with a group of friends, to have one brew at every craft brewery in Wisconsin. I have been to 72 of the roughly 130 brewer-ies in the past three years. If you would like to know more, this would be a great conversion starter.

I am looking forward to collaborating with the Zion Lutheran

community in areas of passion, mission, and Faith with the guiding

help from Christ. May God be with you ALL in this New Year.

Peace, Craig

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 1 - Brenda Huther 2 - Mikayla Mercer 3 - Lexie Christopherson 5 - Don Thompson 6 - Marisa Miller 8 - Courtney Johnson 9 - Todd Schillinger 10 - Stacey Spindler Megan Stroetz 11 - Abbygail Oertel Autumm Oertel Zayden Wenzel Scott Fischer 12 – Lori Werner 13 - Arnold Polege Neil Kolbeck Joel Christopherson 16 - Brian Leick 17 – Mila Johnson 18 – Hadley Kramer 19 - Colin Cournoyer 20 – Todd Schoenherr 21 - Michelle Thompson Hunter Ford 22 - Tadd Schoenherr 23 – Hannah Castellano Gerald Viegut 24 – Dean Wieland 26 – Alexyn Krueger Connor Multerer 27 - Aric Miller Dalton Schoenherr 28 - Logan Peterson 29 - Duane Dalbeck 30 - Bob Aschenbrenner 31 - Lauryn Nagel

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

8 - Leon & Patricia Tietyen 10 - Richard & Diane Dennee 13 - Tom & Nancy Schoenherr 27 - Don & Lori Uthmeier 28 - Charles & Sue Kramer 30 - Don & Fay Stolp 31 – Ken & Amber Knetter

The total donation amount for the Ark Book

Pantry was $870!

The total of everything sent to Texas for

hurricane relief is: 11 Spark Bibles

68 children's books 8 cases of diapers

2 cases of baby wipes

A big thanks to everyone for their generosity and

support of Operation Christmas!

4 5

Council Minutes

Zion Lutheran Church Council met on Monday December 18, 2017 President Brenda Castellano called the meeting to order

Brenda Castellano led with devotions. During the meeting the council: • Approved the Secretary Report. • Approved the Treasurer Report. • Approved the Ministry Team Report • Pastor is wrapping up Advent services, enjoyed the kids • Christmas program, attended the elementary and MS/HS concerts, is getting ready for Christmas eve services, will be heading home for Christmas • Looking for people who would like to be on council • Voted on Staff Christmas gifts • Epic will be held on Feb 17th in Rice Lake • Contemplative service will be the 4th Thursday of the month

Respectfully submitted by Angie Guralski, Secretary * A full copy of the Secretary’s notes is in the office.

Building Update 2017 Payment Bi-Weekly Start Payment Interest Principal Ending Dates Balance Amount Paid Paid Balance 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 10/13 & 10/27 $432,078.97 $3,100.00 $1,300.87 $1,799.13 $ 430,279.84 11/10 & 11/24 $430,279.84 $3,100.00 $1,295.44 $1,804.56 $ 428,475.28

Total monthly principal payments $ 6,292.23 Total monthly interest payments $ 4,557.77 Balance of loan as of 11-24-2017 $ 428,475.28

Partners Bank Building checking acct balance as of 12-05-2017 $ 36,037.65

Little Lutherans (Kindergarten – 3rd Grade) and J-Team (4th – 6th Grade) will meet on Wednesday, January 3rd and January 17th, at 3:00 p.m.

Fellowship 2018 The 2018 sign-up sheets are available on the table in the Fellowship area. Please consider hosting fellow-ship during 2018. It’s a great place to meet new people or catch up with old friends. Don’t feel that you need to make a lot of food . . . it’s not a competi-tion. Feel free to make or buy as much as you are comfortable with. If you have never served before, invite a friend to help or ask one of the Evangelism Team members. We’re more than happy to help.

Nicole Curtis, Rhonda Knoll, Dan and Rhonda Thompson, Dan and Deb Wieland, Cory Wiesman

Fourth Thursday of the Month starting January 25th

Readings, Prayer, Silence, Music

“Opening to God” (Contemplative Worship)