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Zion Lutheran Church
NEWSLETTER
WELCOME TO THE ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH NEWSLETTER
Zion is a member congregation of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC)
NOVEMBER 2014
Pastor Mark’s cell: 515-538-2200
5831 GRUNDY ROAD, HUDSON, IA 50643
Church & Parsonage: 988-4534 www.zionlutheranhudson.com
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you
forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’” (Psalm 42:9)
Do you think it is a bad thing to ask God
“Why?” There are some who say that we should
never question God, but have to be honest and say
that I question God every day. I am not saying that
I doubt God’s existence, but I do say, “Lord, i don’t
understand why you have done this ... Why, Lord?”
When you read the psalms, you see that many
times the psalmist cried out the same sentiment
repeating, “Why, God? Why have you allowed this in
my life?”
Jesus himself, while hanging on the cross,
asked, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken
me?” (Matthew 27:46)
So, I don’t believe it is wrong to ask, “Why
God?” It isn’t wrong. But let me also remind us not
to expect an answer. You can ask God all you want.
Maybe God will give you an answer, but in most
cases, He won’t. I also believe that even if God did
give an answer, we wouldn’t understand it anyway.
What we need to say is, “Well, Lord, I don’t
understand why this is going on, but I trust you.”
Even Jesus struggled with God the Father’s
will. On the night of his arrest, while Jesus prayed
in the Garden of Gethsemane, we read that his sweat
became like great drops of blood falling down to the
ground. (Luke 22:44) While sweat and blood perspired out of his pours, he said, “Father, if you are
willing, take this cup from me; yet, not my will, but
yours be done. (Luke 22:42)
At some point we can only say, “Okay, God, I
will do it. I don’t feel like doing it and I don’t understand. I don’t want to do it and I don’t think it’s an
idea I would have thought up in my own imagination.
But, I am going to try my best to do it, because you
told me to.”
That is what Jesus did, and that is what we
need to do as well.
In Christ, Pastor Mark Decker
LCMC ANNUAL GATHERING -- The LCMC 14th annual Gathering was held
in Des Moines, IA, Oct. 5-8, at the HyVee Hall. The
theme of this gathering was “Reason for Hope”.
Our church, Zion Lutheran Church, led the
music on the opening meeting on Monday. Sherrie
led this with her talents.
Scripture of 1Peter 3:15 was quoted: “But in
your hearts revere Christ Lord, always be prepared to
give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do this with
gentleness and respect”
From this then speakers guided us, Dr.
Walter Sundberg, Rev. Margaret Manning, Rev. Mark
Mattes, Rev. Randy Freund and Rev. Julie Smith.
Many others gave workshops, informative meetings
and business meetings.
Missionaries came from all parts of the world
and they were introduced and spoke of their areas.
LCMC has over 737 subscribed member congregations. In the US, we have 7 areas that are divided.
Some of these areas had elections for trustees. In
Iowa we have 55 congregations. There were over
1100 people that came to this gathering.
We went to different workshops and Breakout
sessions as to different interests. The workshop that
we went to was “Disciple Making at Home.” Parents
are the biggest faith influences for their children.
Many ideas on how to work as a family were
discussed.
A service project of “Meals from the Heartland”
was worked on Tuesday night. Volunteers packaged
400,000 meals for starving people locally, nationally
and globally.
We were able to visit with the people at lunch;
meetings and discussing problems brought us together.
We visited with Pastor Fred and Claudia and we are to
greet Zion members from them.
From my notes, this is the main theme – “Each
one of us is called to serve Jesus since we were baptized. We are called to give the message of Christ.
It is God’s Blessing.”
The next Gathering will be held at Dallas, TX.,
October 4-7, 2015.
Harris & Carol Jorgensen
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY is extended to Bob
Petersen and his family following the death of
Margaret Petersen. Margaret died on September 30
and her funeral service was at Zion on October 15.
May God grant comfort and peace to all the family
during this time.
“UNDIE SUNDAY” - Thank you to all who
donated “unmentionables” for the Friends of the Family Shelter in Waverly. We Gathered: 4 tee shirts; 110
girls underwear; 55 boys underwear; 10 pair boys
socks; 20 pair girls socks; 31 pair women’s socks; 28
women’s underwear; 3 brassieres and $40. Last year
the items we gathered were used “quite quickly” and
brought smiles of appreciation for homeless neighbors.
ALL SAINTS SUNDAY is November 2. The
families of Tony Harn, Jonsey Watson, Dennis Clarke
and Margaret Petersen will be lighting candles in
memory of these people who have died since last year.
HARVEST INGATHERING – Our annual
Harvest Ingathering continues through November 23.
The Grain Bin is slowly filling up. Can you help us fill
it to the top and meet our goal of $15,000? Thanks to
those who have already contributed.
HARVEST THANKSGIVING POTLUCK
BRUNCH will be held will be held November 23
immediately following worship services. Please bring
a dish to share, beverages and table services will be
furnished. Plan to join in with our church family as we
give thanks for our many blessings.
THE HUDSON COMMUNITY WIDE
THANKSGIVING SERVICE will be held at St.
Timothy Lutheran Church on November 23. Supper
will be served at 5:30 with the worship service at 7:00.
This is an opportune time to be together with the whole
community as we gather jointly for Thanksgiving and
fellowship.
THANK YOU to Cindy, Austin and Holly Appleton
for cleaning all the cupboards in the kitchen. This kind
gesture is very much appreciated by all who work in
the kitchen!
2015 USHER SCHEDULE - The Worship &
Parrish Life Committee will soon be working on the
usher schedule for next year. Please complete the
enclosed form regarding this schedule. This will ensure
that you will be assigned the dates that will work best
for you to serve your church in this way. If you do not
complete this form, you may be assigned at a time that
is not appropriate for you. Thanks for your consideration and help with this.
PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD
CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
classes - For several years, local churches in the Cedar
Valley have been hosting Perspectives on the World
Christian Movement classes. Perspectives is a fifteen
week course aimed at engaging Christians in what
God is doing in the nations and exploring their role in
missions - learning, praying, going, sending, welcoming, and mobilizing. Perspectives is life changing as it
opens up Scriptures and God’s heart for the unreached
people groups. It takes a look at God’s Word, starting
in Genesis and ending in Revelation, to show how it is
about reaching the nations. “Perspectives brings fresh
knowledge and understanding of God’s unchanging
purposes and why they’re relevant to your life.”
The class is composed of a reading component that
is done on your own time and then followed up each
week with a speaker from the mission field who goes
over the material. Each one is different - most have
been in the mission field - and all have amazing stories
to share about how God is at work to reach the unreached.
This year, Perspectives will start on the 18th
of January at Orchard Hill Church (3900 Orchard Hill
Dr. Cedar Falls, IA 50613) on Sundays from 1:30 to
4:30 PM. The class will be finished by the 3rd of May,
and there is usually no class during the weeks of spring
break and Easter.
The cost for the Key Reading students (those
who are not going for certification or college credit)
is $250. There is a $25 early bird discount if you
sign up by the 15th of December and a $50 discount
if a second person in your immediate family attends
with you. The cost goes toward flying the speakers in
- as they come from all over the U.S. - and for your
materials including the two books. Once you take the
class, you can go back any and every year and listen
to the speakers again anywhere in the U.S. for no
charge.
These classes are available to all those high
school aged and older. For more information or
questions, contact Holly Appleton at appletonholly@
gmail.com or during church. You can also visit the
Perspectives website at http://www.perspectives.org.
VIVE LA DIFFERENCE
There is a family that worships at two
different Lutheran Churches. One uses Traditional
Divine Service with liturgy and organ music and the
other uses Contemporary Praise and Worship ……
BOTH are faithful to the Word and sacrament spirituality of Lutheranism. In BOTH of them they found
more of Jesus. They love BOTH of them. Celebrating
the differences in worship is part of the joy of being a
Christian.
PRAYER LIST – if you have anyone you would
like posted on the prayer list please notify Pastor
Mark, 515-538-2200 or pastormark@myomnitel.
com, or Kay Degener, 988-3394, kaymdeg@aol.com.
Names will be listed only if one of these persons is
notified by a family member.
SIGN UP SHEETS - Please notice the sign up
sheets posted in the entryway and sign on the appropriate place where you are willing to serve your
church. Volunteers are needed for:
1. Controlling sound system during worship services;
2. Read lessons during worship services;
3. Baking communion bread;
4. Furnishing and serve treats for fellowship time.
THANK YOU to those who have previously
volunteered their time in any of these ways.
The WEB SITE for LCMC – Lutheran
Congregations in Mission for Christ, is www.lcmc.
net
If you have an announcement, message, quote,
picture, or prayer, that you would like to share in the
newsletter, contact Kay Degener, (319-988-3394) by the
25th of the previous month.
Minutes of council meetings which will be included
in the newsletters will be from 2 months earlier as they
have to be approved at the next monthly meeting before
they can be published.
DATE
USHERS
2
Jerry & Donna Dufel
9
Kevin & Marj Simpson
16
Kevin & Marj Simpson
23
Steve & Tanner Wright
30
Steve & Tanner Wright
ACOLYTE
Zach Young
Zander Young
Austin Appleton
Tyler Laube
Maria Avino
READER
Kay Degener
Gayle Juhl
Austin Appleton
Andy Appleton
TBA
COMMUNION SERVERS
2
Gerald & Janet Brandhorst
9
Judy & Jenna Shirley
16
Judy & Jenna Shirley
23
Michelle & Carson Wright
30
Michelle & Carson Wright
COMM. CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE
Sheila Petry & Kay Degener
Sheila Petry & Marian Grover
Julie & Jenni Sorensen
Julie & Jenni Sorensen
Marj Simpson & Molly Volding
BAKE COMMUNION BREAD – NOV. 16
Donna Dufel
BIRTHDAYS
1 Diann Wulf
8 Anna VanHemert
12 Fred Wulf
12 Cameron Wright
24 Harley Bergman
24 Lorraine Joens
24 Janine Knapp
28 Allison Bergman
28 Michelle Wright
ANNIVERSARIES
1 Tony & Cindy Young
19 Harlan & Deb Brandhorst
28 Ronnie & Kay Degener