FEBRUARY 2012
Zion Times
Please remember to pick up your 2012 offering envelopes from the Narthex. We still have approximately 49 boxes that need to be picked up or delivered.
GIVING ELECTRONICALLY
Last year eight of our families made use of Simply Giving for their regular offerings. The total given was $11,890.00.
It is a great way for you to make sure your offerings are tracked, recorded and regular. No more writing checks.
Pick up an Authorization Form in the narthex, fill it out and return it to the church office with a voided check.
THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS
$12,093 was given to Zion through Thrivent Choice Dollars from August 2011 through December 2011! This is amazing!
Most of the dollars were designated by our members, but some were designated by others who knew of Zion’s work here in Westwood!
The Choice Dollars program replaces all of the former “matching gift” programs from Lutheran Brotherhood and AAL. Now Thrivent members can go online or call Thrivent and designate dollars generated by their accounts! It costs the donor a little time, but nothing else.
Online: 1) visit our website at www.zionwestwoodnj.org; 2) click on the Thrivent for Lutherans link (left hand column) 3) find Thrivent Community on their site and click on Thrivent Choice. 4) Follow the directions from there.
or telephone: 1-800-847-4836 and follow the prompts.
If you are an eligible Thrivent member, please sign up today. Thank you!
Join us on our Lenten journey. . .
Ash Wednesday is on February 22nd. There will be three worship services that day: 7:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
All services have the celebration of Holy Communion and the imposition of ashes is offered at all services for those who so desire. There is no Soup Supper on Ash Wednesday.
Soup Suppers will be held at 6:15 p.m. in the church undercroft on February 29, March 6, 13, 20, 27. Volunteers are always need to make soup, set up and clean up. Please contact Deaconess Gloria at 201-263-9708 if you can help in any way.
After Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22) we will have regular Lenten services on Wednesdays at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.
The Circuit One (our cluster of churches in the New Jersey District LC-MS) clergy are preparing a pulpit exchange. All participating pastors will visit, conduct worship and preach at a different church each Wednesday for the evening service. It is a good time to meet the other clergy and hear God’s word proclaimed by a different voice. As this goes to print, the schedule and theme have not yet been solidified. Pastor Pranschke will do our 12:30 p.m. service at Zion and will follow the theme chosen by our circuit.
THE CHRISTIAN VOLUNTEER
“Reflecting Christ’s Love”
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
“Hark the Voice of Jesus Crying, who will go and work today” is the beginning of my favorite hymn. So far this month, no NEW workers (Zion FAMILY members) have responded to His cries for help. However, we continue to be blessed by the Lord for the continued efforts of our Regular servants, whom I can always count on to do His work at Zion.
It is with a saddened (yet joyful) heart that I write this column. Our dear sister-in-Christ, EDITH TRAMM, was called home to be with her Lord on December 10, 2011. Before moving to New Hampshire in August, 2011, Edith had served at Zion as a Homebound Ministry Sponsor and as an usher at our worship services. She will be missed by those who knew and worked with her.
Special thanks to JAMIE CARENZA (reader—midweek service); NOELLE CARENZA (reader—Christmas Eve 4 p.m. & greeter—Christmas Eve 11 p.m.); RICHIE and JONATHAN MAUL (ushers—Christmas Eve 4 p.m.); MATT and SHAUN MAUL and LARA, Shawn’s friend (ushers—Christmas Eve 11 p.m.); KENNY and ROBBIE WEISS (greeters—Christmas Eve 7:30 p.m.); KATIE and RONNY WEISS (ushers—Christmas Eve 7:30 p.m.); and MAUREEN MAUL WOLFE (usher—Christmas Eve 11 p.m.) Welcome back to Matt, Maureen and Shaun — sorry I wasn’t able to see you and say hello! (God’s Blessings to all of you!)
And a VERY SPECIAL “THANK YOU!” to ELISABETH MAUL, who served as a greeter on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m.
To all of you younger people, what a beautiful example of service to Jesus that you set each time you serve, for all of the other children/young adults to see! All of you are VERY SPECIAL BLESSINGS to Zion Lutheran Church and to your Lord!
In February, I will be posting the sign-up sheets for all of the special worship services in Lent. Again, here is another opportunity for THOSE PRESENTLY NOT SERVING to TRY serving your Lord. Remember, there is NO FURTHER OBLIGATION for you to continue to serve beyond what you have signed up to do! BUT TRY IT, YOU MAY LIKE IT! I pray you will do so.
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!
In His Service,
Richard Johnson, Scheduler
A person’s steps are directed by the LORD, and the Lord delights in his way. Psalm 37:23 (GWN)
WESTWOOD CLERGY ASSOCIATION FOOD DRIVE
A food drive for local community food pantries has begun. This drive will be an ongoing event, continuing through the Good Friday Walk of Faith on April 6, 2012.
Zion is in partnership with Lebanon Baptist Church. Our food category is Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans & Nuts. Suggested items are (but not limited to): canned tuna, canned chicken, canned beef stew, bean soups, canned or dried beans, baked beans, canned chili, peanut butter and canned nuts.
Remember to always check expiration dates on any donated products.
ZELCOWA MISSION TO GHANA
First of all I would like everyone who supported ZELCOWA during the past year. In addition to our individual contributors we were helped by the Quilters for Missions, the LWML, and our own ZION SCHOOL who sold crafts and had N.U.T. DAYS for our benefit.
Even though all our current secondary and tertiary school Ghanaian scholarships have been paid for this academic year, the end of the year was busy. In addition to our running our recycling program, we sent 3 more MBAGS of reference books (about 150 pounds) to be distributed by Peace Corps Ghana Volunteers and we awarded another inner-city student a partial scholarship to attend a Christian School in Newark.
In December, we were able to send LIVING SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, the final payment for the adjacent plot land to construct classrooms /expand the school. They had spent the year raising all the other funds in Ghana. I spoke with Esther and the paperwork is in the offices of the Ministry of Lands and Development.
We were able to accomplish a lot both here and in Ghana during 2011 and by God’s Grace we look forward to continuing our work.
Our plans for 2012 include continuing our scholarship and book distribution program, increasing our assistance to Living Springs International School through scholarships and materials, maintaining our relationship with PEACE CORPS GHANA, and working with the Lutheran Christian Development Fund in Ghana to support.
Again, thank you for your prayers and support.
Barbara Tobiassen
Please do not forget that Zion embraces recycling. The LWML collects aluminum. There is an outside container on the side of the church building by the office door.
ZELCOWA collects ink cartridges, toner cartridges, bubble wrap and cell phones. There is a bin in the narthex.
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON
(and entertainment you won’t believe!)
Harkening back to the great success of our Circuit One Reformation Service at St. Paul, Closter (a great turnout and fellowship despite the October 30 blizzard), the Circuit One pastors are sponsoring an appreciation luncheon for all of you, our church volunteers, on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Maywood.
Of course, as much as we would like to, none of our congregations have the financial ability to pay for the luncheon, so tickets will be on sale at a reasonable price ($12—$15) and feature a nicely catered, hot buffet lunch from a local Maywood deli suggested by Pastor Lazarcek (Zion, Maywood.)
The pastors will serve the luncheon and then provide what is hoped will be “Rockin’” fun with some 60’s and 70’s tunes with rewritten (by Pastor Pranschke) lyrics! Come and hear some hits like “Teach in our Sunday School”, “Someone Was Sitting in My Pew”, and “Go to Church” just to name a few!
Again, save the date — April 22, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. More details will be available in upcoming issues of The Zion Times.
ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL NEWS
3 YEAR NURSERY — 8TH GRADE
Munsch-kin News
Happy New Year! Love is in the air! Happy February! It’s a great time of year to see God’s love in everything. As we proclaimed in Westwood’s ‘Home for the Holidays’ Parade back in December, Jesus loves you snow much! We started our celebrations of Jesus’ birthday on Art Day when the children made decorations, ornaments and presents, keeping in mind, that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. We continued to wish ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ greetings with the Touring Handbells when they played on Westwood’s Post Office steps and at the Shops at Riverside. Thanks to Miss Curto for all her hard work and dedication with the Touring Handbells. The Christmas Concert was wonderful. We certainly are blessed with talented musicians. The music put our school right in the Christmas spirit. Thanks again to Miss Curto, Mrs. Walz and Dr. Pierre.
Mrs. Dawson and the seventh and eighth grade junior high started our Advent season with a special chapel about the Advent candles. Mrs. Munsch and the fifth grade also presented an Advent chapel with Advent, Christmas and Easter songs, and displaying Christmas ornaments on a cross, the tree of life. At another chapel, Pastor told us about his baptismal birthday. It certainly is terrific to be a child of God. The seventh and eighth grade along with the kindergarten and first grade and Mrs. Bolch, Mrs. Walz and Mrs. Dawson presented a wonderful Christmas chapel about the ABC’s of Christmas. Thanks for Miss Hoglund and the second and third grades for her inspiring chapel, “First things first.” Remember put Jesus first in everything. Mrs. Munsch and the seventh grade girls presented a chapel about the beauty of the universe and snow. Remember children (and all people) are like snowflakes, no two are alike. Thank you God for ‘snow’ many blessings. The sixth grade will celebrate Valentine’s Day seeing God’s love in heart shapes all around us. We truly know the God is true love. Come worship with us every Tuesday morning at 8:30 AM.
Our Service Learning – Mission project was helping out children in Ghana through Zelcowa. Please keep all missionaries in your prayers. We are currently helping “Pennies for Patients” which is a school youth program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s N.J. Chapter.
Our basketball team’s games are underway. Thanks, Coach Schama. We’re enjoying our new scoreboard.
We enjoyed an enthusiastic visit from a Chinese teacher visiting America on a mini sabbatical. Yolanda Zhu shared stories of Chinese New Year customs. The students learned Chinese phrases and songs as well as receiving little Chinese souvenirs.
Please save these dates:
Friday, February 24, 2012 - 7PM Our 4th, 5th & 6th grade Original Play & Musical
Sunday, March 4, 2012 Lutheran Schools Sunday and our delicious
Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, March 10, 2012 Our Annual Beefsteak Dinner, Tricky Tray
& Auction (our biggest fundraiser)
Hope to see you there!
Serving Him with Joy & Love,
Donna J. Munsch, Principal
FAMILIES MATTER MINISTRY OF ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH
Invites parents & caregivers with children under the age of four to . . .”LOVE YOU”
Thursday, February 23, 2012
10:00 to 11:15 a.m. in the church basement
To make a reservation call 201-664-1325
Beefsteak/Tricky Tray Tickets Available Now – Get your tickets now for $40.00 per person for the Zion Lutheran School Event of the Year on March 10, 2012. A good time is had by all and it includes a filet mignon dinner with fries, salad and dessert. Great items are available for auction and chance.
Beefsteak/Tricky Tray Donation Requests – Zion Lutheran School needs your help. We need donations of new items. Smaller items can be used for the tricky tray. Anything that can be auctioned for $100.00 or more, we would use in the live auction. It can be a basket of items. Bring your items to the school office. All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a letter acknowledging your donation. Solicit donations from organizations/companies that you and your family support frequently. Zion is a 501c(3) organization (not for profit) and any donation that a company gives is tax deductible. There are letters in the office that you can present to companies.
We look forward to seeing you at the Beefsteak. We thank you for all your support to Zion.
Zion Lutheran School Sponsorship Program
2011-2012 School Year
Zion Lutheran School Board would like to thank those businesses and families that have donated to the Zion Lutheran School sponsorship program. Please consider patronizing those businesses, which have generously given to us.
Diamond Level Sponsors - $500 Sponsorship
The Ahn Family No Preference
The Ahn Family No Preference
The Roberts Family 3 & 4 yr. Nursery
The Jennings Family 3rd & 5th Grades & Activities
Platinum Level Sponsors - $100 Sponsorship
Becker Funeral Home Touring Handbells
Gold Level Sponsors - $100 Sponsorship
Michael Takach, Zion Alumni Class of 2002 Basketball & Touring Handbells
Susan Matloob No Preference
Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Munsch No Preference
In Honor of their grandsons, Zachary Douglas & Charles Nicholas Schneider
Silver Level Sponsors - $50 Sponsorship
The Thomas Family After school Activities
Nantucketlandscape.com No Preference
Heck Realtors 4 yr. Nursery
Grace Episcopal Church No Preference
In memory of Rose Bahto No Preference
Manna gift certificates are available for sale after Sunday worship service and Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m.—2:30 p.m. in the church and school offices. We have certificates for Shop Rite, Kings and A & P. You receive face value when you purchase these certificates and the school receives 5% of every $100 purchased.
General Mills Box Tops
Remember to save your box tops. Bring them to church and put them in the box in the narthex. The school gets money from General Mills for these!