july 2018 the pastor’s ponderings · july 2018 the pastor’s ponderings pastor david’s cell...
TRANSCRIPT
July 2018
The Pastor’s Ponderings
Pastor David’s cell phone—348-330-4170 and email address—[email protected]
Depending
on how well
our printer
works, you
may or may
not be able
to see the
photo well.
It’s supposed
to be a pic-
ture of the
confluence
of the Co-
lumbia River
and the Pa-
cific Ocean,
which I took
from the top
of the Asto-
ria Column in Astoria, Oregon (perhaps better known to
some of you as the location for The Goonies!).
I am always refreshed by traveling to a place of
great natural beauty. And Oregon certainly has plenty of
it. But natural beauty – in an obvious sense – isn’t the
only kind of beauty there is. While we can certainly see
God’s handiwork in a beautiful sunset, or in stunning
geographical features, it can be more enriching for our
relationship with God and others to see God in our eve-
ryday, ordinary environment. To see the beauty of God’s
handiwork in the people and places around us. To even
see that beauty in people, places, or things that are not
obviously beautiful.
Can we see God in the slate gray sky of an Indiana
winter?
Can we see God in the neighbor that we don’t par-
ticularly care for?
Can we see God at the hospital bed or in the loved
one who is dying?
Can we see God in the child who won’t listen?
Can we see God in the parent who just doesn’t un-
derstand?
Can we even see God in (dare I say it?) politicians
whom we otherwise would have utter contempt for?
God is present in all these people and places. (That
doesn’t necessarily mean that God approves of what is
happening!) We might also keep in mind that throughout
Scripture, God shows a preference for appearing in “the
least of these” – in the least beautiful, in the least power-
ful, in the least capable. God can perhaps even be best
apprehended in the least apparently beautiful natural
phenomena as well. As Kathleen Norris wrote in her
book Dakota, “Once, when I was describing to a friend
from Syracuse, New York, a place on the plains that I
love, a ridge above a glacial moraine with a view of al-
most fifty miles, she asked, "But what is there to see?"
The answer, of course, is nothing. Land, sky, and the ev-
er-changing light.”
When all we can see is nothing, perhaps that is
when we are closest to seeing God.
Love to you all,
Pr. David
Zion’s 2018 Council Members Elder & President ........................................ Fred Walker
Elder & Vice-President ............................... Jody Stanley
Secretary ................................................. Barb Hardwick
Deacons ................................................. Allen Stallsmith
Mike Clamme
Tim Stanley
Trustees ......................................................... Mark Prout
Neil Stroble
Max Langdon
Treasurer ................................................. Dennis Walker
Financial Secretaries .................................Claretta Dutro
Nyla Hile
More History Books
are Available
We ran out of our 150th Anniversary History Books
and were getting requests for more, so an order was
placed for 25 additional books. The shipment has been
received. The cost for the books is still $20. The history
books are available in Debbie’s office if you know of
anyone who is interested in buying one.
July 2018
May Council Minutes
The May 10, 2018 Congregation
Council Meeting was called to order by
Vice President, Jody Stanley.
Present: Pastor David Fleener, Jody Stan-
ley, Dennis Walker, Allen Stallsmith,
Mike Clamme, Tim Stanley, Max Lang-
don, Claretta Dutro and Nyla Hile
Absent: Fred Walker, Barb Hardwick, Mark Prout
and Neil Stroble
Devotions were given by Claretta Dutro.
Secretary’s Report: Last month’s secretary’s report
was read and approved with a motion to accept by Max
Langdon. Second by Allen Stallsmith.
Items added to Agenda: Lifetouch Directory, First
Aid Boxes
Pastor’s Report: Pastoral Care in April
Pastor's totals for April: 2 shut-in visits, 9 sick/
hospital visits, 6 home/hospital communions.
Soul Care team totals for April 2 shut-in visits
Deacons’ Fund use in April—One check on 4/2 to
Relax Inn for $45.
Christian Education—Confirmation met on April 15th
and 29th. We discussed essentials and non-essentials of
the Christian faith (i.e., what do you have to believe/do
in order to be a Christian?) and Luther’s explanation to
the Ten Commandments. We already met last Sunday
with a lesson on the First Article of the Apostles’ Creed,
and will meet again on May 20th. We will also have a
“camp” week with daily sessions, June 4th-8th, 10 a.m.-
noon.
Other events in April:
2, 16, 23, 30 – Joe and Jesus
3, 17, 24 – Attended The Story study at Grace
4 – Met with Brandy Aschliman, director of Helping
Hands (pregnancy resource center out of Bluffton, with a
center in Montpelier)
5, 19, 26 – Mentoring at Southside
8-12 – Spiritual Companionship Session at Lindenwood
Retreat Center, near Plymouth, IN
14 – Tour of Victory Noll motherhouse and retreat center
in Huntington, IN
19 – Dream Builders’ breakfast (Habitat for Humanity)
at the Horizon Convention Center, Muncie
19 – Lunch at The Pickle with local ministers
21 – Synod Worship Committee meeting
23 – Mission and Ministry meeting
24 – Listening Post at the food pantry
26 – FCA banquet at the Horizon Convention Center,
Muncie
29 – Led Lutheran Church of the Cross, Muncie, in a
council retreat
Upcoming events in May/June:
11 – Grace Village fundraiser at Lutheran Church of the
Cross, Muncie. 7-9 p.m. This should be a lot of fun! See
me for tickets.
20 – Semi-annual meeting at Lutheran Church of the
Cross. This should be my last official event with them
before Pr. Robert Abner begins his call.
31-1-2 – Synod Assembly. I will need to leave on Friday
afternoon/evening for my next Spiritual Companioning
Session.
Committee reports—Parish Education: Meeting on
May 14th to discuss Four-way VBS hosted by Grace
United Methodist Church.
Mission and Ministry: Southside visits thru school
year. May 20—Silver Linings fundraiser, Kuerig ma-
chine in Library
Council reports—Deacons: Meeting on May 9th to
discuss proper setting of communion table, serving con-
gregation, cleaning sacristy, altar care/deacons will take
care of.
Attendance and Holy Communion report—April 1 -
75 attended, 64 communed; April 8 - 78 attended, 74
communed; April 15 - 77 attended, 68 communed; April
22 - 82 attended, 75 communed; April 29 - 63 attend-
ed, 62 communed
Trustees: Door to sacristy sticking—will look at
Treasurer’s Report: IRS-WH3 tax form not filed -
OnPay took care of (software glitch).
No surplus in checking this month - still have bills
that may need to wait (benevolence).
Payment for supplies for the new Kuerig machine in
the library will be placed under Supplies/Postage -
“Coffee Fund” - will have a donation cup.
A motion to accept the committee and council reports
was made by Mike Clamme and seconded by Claretta
Dutro. Motion carried.
Old Business: Wabash Pastoral Leadership Pro-
gram—Pastor David has applied for and should hear
(continued on following page)
from the program’s administrators by mid-June.
Repairs - list for Mark: shingles, bricks (chimney)
and loose gutters.
New Business: Mildew by offices, chapel area (kids)
-Trustees
Lack of signage - restrooms, offices - Worship &
Music Committee
Need new First Aid boxes in kitchen - needs new
July 2018
May Council Minutes continued
items - Trustees
Lifetouch Directory - too early - will wait
The meeting closed by all praying The Lord’s Prayer.
Next meeting will be June 14, 2018 with devotions given
by Max Langdon.
Respectfully submitted,
Jody Stanley,
Acting Recording Secretary
Penetecost 6 - July 1st
1st Reading - Lamentations 3:22-33
Psalm 30
2nd Reading - 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Gospel - Mark 1:29-39
Pentecost 7 - July 8th
1st Reading - 2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2nd Reading - 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Gospel - Mark 5:21-43
Pentecost 8 - July 15th
1st Reading - Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:8-13
2nd Reading - Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel - Mark 6:14-29
Pentecost 9 - July 22nd
1st Reading - Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23
2nd Reading - Ephesians 2:11-22
Gospel - Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Pentecost 10 - July 29th
1st Reading - 2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145:10-18
2nd Reading - Ephesians 3:14-21
Gospel - John 6:1-21
July Lectionary Readings
Parish Register
Charles Walker passed away on Fri-
day, June 8, 2018. Pastor David Fleener
officiated at Charles’ funeral service at
Zion on Wednesday, June 13th. Burial
followed at the Greenlawn Cemetery.
Our sympathy goes out to Charles’
family.
“If we have died with Christ, we shall
also live with him; if we are faithful to the end, we shall
reign with him.”
Mission and Ministry is collecting
school supplies the month of July. Items
included are: school boxes
(no handles or locks), book
bags (no wheels), no. 2 pen-
cils, pink pencil erasers,
glue sticks, colored Crayola
pencils, expo dry erase markers, Crayola
markers, highlighters, wide lined spiral
tablets, composition books, pointed scissors, crayons,
plain pocket folders, 3x5 index
cards, and earbuds (no over the
ear). Put all items on the table in
fellowship hall.
Collecting School Supplies
Semi-Annual Meeting Please note that Zion’s Semi-Annual Congregation-
al Meeting will be held following the worship service on
July 15th.
Hero Central VBS will be held at Grace United
Methodist Church, 312 E. Washington St., July 23-27, 6-
8 p.m., for nursery-5th grade. Parents and volunteers may
register online at: https://hc.cokesburyvbs.com/
graceumchc. Registration forms will also be available in
the back of the worship space on the table.
Hero Central VBS
The Zion Herald July 2018
“Happy are those whose strength is in God, in
whose heart are the highways to Zion.” (Psalm 84:5)
Sunday School at 9:00 a.m. with Worship at 10:00 a.m.
Zion Lutheran Church
308 S. Monroe Street
Hartford City, IN 47348
David Fleener, Pastor
Church Office: 348-3157
www.zionhc.org
Serving the Lord in Gladness
July 2018 Lay Ministry Servers
Greeters
Ushers
Acolytes
Assisting Ministers
July 1 Cindy Knote—Ray and Linda Stanley
July 8 Fred and Linda Walker—Claretta Dutro
July 15 Gene and Isola Banter—Madeline Lennon
July 22 Claretta Dutro—Linda Baker and Carolyn Hughes
July 29 Madeline Lennon—Neil and Libby Stroble
July 1 Allen Stallsmith, Mike Clamme, Tim Stanley and Tom Armstrong
July 8 Allen Stallsmith, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker
July 15 Tim Stanley, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker
July 22 Mike Clamme, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker
July 29 Tim Stanley, Tom Armstrong, Neil Stroble and Chris Walker
July 1 Keaton Walker
and Ryne Clamme
July 8 Kaylin Clamme
July 15 Deacons
July 22 Sydney Stroble
July 29 Bryce Stroble
July 1 Mark Prout
July 8 Chris Coy
July 15 Sarah Fleener
July 22 Jody Stanley
July 29 Mark Prout
Lectors
July 1 Cindy Knote
July 8 Linda Walker
July 15 Cindy Knote
July 22 Linda Baker
July 29 Neil Stroble
July Birthdays
Ashley VanDevender 7-1
Linda Walker 7-1
Debbie Walker 7-5
Eldon Willmann 7-5
Tryce Hendricks 7-7
Kevin Miniear 7-8
John Hendricks 7-9
Paige Walker 7-15
Trenton Grile 7-21
Nancy Cortright 7-21
Alison McCammon 7-21
Kim Winningham 7-22
Bill Hiday 7-23
Jessica Avant 7-30
Kean Coy 7-31
Sandy Langdon 7-31
Semi-Annual Meeting
July 15th after worship