November 2022 - Zion Lutheran Church

ELCA Good Gifts

11/21/2022

ELCA Good Gifts are the perfect gift for the giver who wants to make a difference—and for the receiver who has everything! The Lutheran Church has always made Christ known in both word and deed. One way we do that is by providing meaningful resources to people in need, both in our country and all over the world. The ELCA provides a wonderful avenue for gift giving, appropriately called: “Good Gifts”. The ELCA Good Gifts website (ELCA.org/goodgifts) provides the best

Call Announcement

11/21/2022

On behalf of the Senior Pastor Call Committee and the 2022 Church Council, Call Committee Chair Eric Mattson and I would like to inform the Congregation of the Call Committee’s recommendation. After working through the Transition Committee process, creating a Ministry Site Profile to help define Zion’s current and future needs, and meeting with our Minneapolis Area Synod representative, the Committee chose to interview an internal candidate on the recommendation of the Synod. The Call Committee invited Pastor Kari Bahe

Year End Charitable Giving Strategies

11/20/2022

It’s smart and responsible to take advantage of available tax benefits when giving to a worthy charity like Zion. Following are a few ideas you may want to implement before the end of the year. Donating Appreciated Securities Stocks and other securities like mutual funds that have gained value since purchase can be tax-efficient charitable giving tools. Don’t sell the investment, pay tax on the gain, donate the proceeds and take your charitable deduction on the value of the proceeds.

Fling Wide the Door!

11/20/2022

In a culture that is forever trying to sell us on the lie that there won’t be “enough” to go around, the Advent theme of “fling wide the door” is a welcomed image. Or, is it almost an impossible concept? What comes to mind when you think of a door flung wide open? Wastefulness: “Close that door! We are not living in a barn!” Wandering: “Ah, the door is wide open, I can do anything!” Wild abandon: “Life is full

Family

11/14/2022

The interesting thing about writing these newsletter articles is I’m writing them a month before you read them. It’s like those movies that jump around in time during the story and you never know if you are in the present (i.e., the past) or in the future (i.e., the present). So, please indulge me as I address events from October and November, as well as thoughts about the congregation as we enter the Christmas season. Why the title of family?

Diapers Distributed

11/14/2022

The Serve Planning Team and The Social Ministry Team are so thankful for the generous donation of diapers that took place in September to highlight the ELCA’s annual “God’s Work. Our Hands” service project. The Diaper Program was implemented in 2021 in conjunction with the Blessing Closet and serves fifteen families each month with a large box of diapers (125-160 count) in our community. This year Zion will distribute diapers to about 180 families at the value of $4,500. None

Thanks from Kim

11/14/2022

A grateful and heartfelt thank you to all of you who have served in any capacity at Zion this year! You are the people who are making things happen. In Thomas Rainer’s book, “I Am a Church Member,” he discusses how as church members we all have a different role or function. Some are the hands, some the feet, some the ears or eyes — all different but all with something necessary and important to contribute. He goes on to

Thankful Giving

11/14/2022

In the United States, we just celebrated Thanksgiving; a time to thank God for all the blessings He has provided to us. In Zambia, we are also grateful, but basic needs remain a struggle. Zambia is facing another year of severe drought. Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made lake and the nation’s main reservoir is at the lowest level since it was constructed 63 years ago. This is creating an impending major food crisis for the country. At the Village

Harvest of Hands Thanks You

11/10/2022

At the time of this publication, our event is still in progress, but here’s what we know so far… Many hands were involved in making this event a success! We are so grateful for the many people who came to help and for the many donations. We had a wonderful time, and it was such a blessing to work together with others to accomplish our goal of raising money for the hungry. Everything looked fabulous! The Silent Auction area is

Josie LaFave

11/09/2022

Josie was elected to the Zion Council in 2022 to serve 2023-2025. Getting To Know Your Zion Volunteers Josie LaFave is an amazing volunteer at Zion! She has served with Wednesday Night Suppers, and the Transition Team, and is currently active as part of a Welcome Crew, lector, Meals on Wheels, on the Call Committee for our next Senior Pastor, and is excited to re-join the Global Missions Committee after a two-year absence.Josie loves to be a team player and