our journey of faith leads us to build bridges current
TRANSCRIPT
Our journey of faith leads us to build bridges of understanding and peace, to reach out
with compassion, and to share the hope of Jesus.
Zumbro Lutheran Church | A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
SEPTEMBER 2021
THE ZUMBROCurrent
3 FALL KICK-OFF WEEKSEPTEMBER 8 & 12
We’re planning some great events at ZLC to help us regather.
4-5 MUSIC @ ZUMBRO
Jazz trumpeter, Jon Ailabouni returns to Zumbro September 12, fall music opportunities and guitar lessons.
8-9 OPEN TABLECOMMUNITY CONNECTIONSWork with Community Engagement Response Team, Meadow Lake Park Initiative and more.
6-7 CELEBRATING A RENEWED PLACE OF MISSION AND MINISTRY - On Sunday, Sept. 19, as well
as during Wednesday Worship on Sept. 22, we will celebrate and give thanks for our renovated building.
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From the Pastorsby Pastor Vern Christopherson
We are making
a concerted
effort to
do some
regathering
this September and October.
As fall begins, we’ll be hearing
from people in the congregation
about what it means to be and
do church together. We have high
hopes!
Here are a few of
the ideas about
which we’re
hopeful:
1) For people
to give in-
person worship
a try, either
on Sundays,
Wednesdays,
or both. Every
week seems
to bring a few
more people
our way.
2) For
Children’s and
Youth Ministry to be safe and
engaging for our young people
and their parents.
3) For adults to gather in learning
and fellowship events.
4) For life-giving service
opportunities both here and in
the community.
5) For the ZLC Choir to be able
to sing again, if not with all the
members at once, at least with
some on a rotating basis.
We are looking forward to welcoming Bishop Regina Hassanally to Zumbro on Sunday, Sept. 19. It’s time to dedicate our new space! Many
of you have seen it, but some of
you haven’t. Come and check it
out! We’ve been hearing lots and
lots of positive comments. In the
words of Bob Giere, this building
continues to be “our platform for
ministry and mission.”
I want to say a big thank you
to the call committee for their
continued hard work. It takes time
to call a pastor. I was recently
reminded by someone on my
call committee that I was in the
second round of interviews at
Zumbro. Keep the faith! And
keep those prayers coming!
Just so you know, Zumbro is
probably not going to call a new
directing pastor before I leave. In
anticipation of this, the Zumbro Council has invited Pastor Peter Strommen to serve as a bridge pastor between my departure in October and the call of a new directing pastor sometime down the road. Pastor Strommen
comes highly regarded. He
has served as bishop in the
Northeastern Minnesota Synod
and also served
a number of
congregations in
interim ministry.
Expect to meet
Pastor Strommen
soon.
Zumbro, thank
you for being the
church that you
are! No doubt I’m
going to miss you
after I’m gone.
I’ll have more to
say about this in
the weeks to come. And I have a
sneaking suspicion that you might
have a few things to say as well.
In the strong name of Jesus,
Pastor Vern
Starting Sept. 12 the second worship service on Sundays will begin at 10:30am (1/2 hour later)
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SERMON SERIES:Following Jesus is an invitation to new life. It’s also an invitation to share this new life with others. After so much disruption over the last year and a half, you may be ready for some kind of new life. Over the next eight weeks, we’ll explore the kind of new life Jesus offers, and why gathering as God’s people is key to the life Jesus offers.
COME AND SEE | TEXT: John 1:35-42WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 | PREACHING: Pastor Shelley CunninghamSUNDAY, SEPT. 12 | PREACHING: Pastor Vern Christopherson
SUNDAY MUSIC: Jon Ailabouni’s Jazz Liturgy, Fall Kick-off - Lunch and Music after worship
A HOLY PLACE TO GATHER | TEXT: Ezra 3:8-13WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15 | PREACHING: Jen Gruendler SUNDAY, SEPT. 19 | PREACHING: Bishop Regina Hassanally | Building Dedication
SUNDAY MUSIC: He Tore Down the Wall liturgy
GOD'S GUEST LIST MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN YOU THINK | TEXT: Isaiah 56:1-8WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 22 | PREACHING: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner | Building Dedication/PrayersSUNDAY, SEPT. 26 | PREACHING: Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner
SUNDAY MUSIC: He Tore Down the Wall liturgy
PARTNERS IN MINISTRY | TEXT: Philippians 2:12-15; 4:10-20WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29 PREACHING: Pastor Vern ChristophersonSUNDAY, OCT. 3 | PREACHING: Pastor Vern Christopherson | Pastor Vern's last day and reception
SUNDAY MUSIC: He Tore Down the Wall liturgy
REGATHERAN INVITATION TO BE CHURCH TOGETHER
FALL KICK-OFF WEEK SEPTEMBER 8 &1 2We’re so eager to gather as a church community this fall. As we come back together we’re planning some great events to help us regather. Food will be eaten outside both on Wednesday, September 8 and Sunday, September 12. Faith formation for kids and confirmation and high school ministry are back this fall, as well as ZED Talks for adults. On Sunday after the 10:30am service, we’ll be serving walking tacos out of the Open Table food truck and will welcome local Americana/bluegrass band Crooked Willow, to perform out on the lawn. We hope you’ll join us and invite a neighbor or friend to gather with us this fall! If you’re interested in volunteering for kick-off events, contact Pastor Jason, [email protected].
Wednesday Evening, September 85:00 Bring Your Own Dinner on the Patio
Tables will be set up for families to eat together. Lawn games will also be available for kids before worship.
6:15 Wednesday Worship6:45 Flapdoodles Ice Cream ($5)
Ice cream available in the parking lot after worship, before and after education and music rehearsals.
7:05 Joyful Noise (PreK-2)Be BOLD! (gr. 3-6)Confirmation (gr. 7-9)ZLC Choir Rehearsal (Check for COVID Team updates)
Sunday Morning, September 128:30 Jazz Worship9:30 Faith Formation (gr. PreK-6)
ZED Talk - Jazz, Faith, and Worship, presented by Jon Ailabouni
10:30 Jazz Worship11:30 Walking Tacos, Gelato and Music on the Lawn
(Please bring canned corn, black beans, fruit cups, or boxes of granola bars to support Open Table)
7:00pm 10th-12th Grade Fall Kick-Off Gathering
As we keep journeying through the pandemic, we will continue to take precautions recommended by public health officials and our own COVID-19 Task Force. As of now, masks are required for all indoor activities, regardless of vaccination status, so that we can protect the most vulnerable in our community.
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A lineup of talented musicians
will join jazz trumpeter, Jon
Ailabouni in Zumbro’s Fall Kick-off
Sunday worship on September
12 at 8:30am and 10:30am. Jon
Ailabouni's last visit to Zumbro
was early March of 2020.
Trumpeter, composer, and
educator, Jon Ailabouni is
the trumpet studio and jazz
combo instructor at Winona
State University and an in demand
freelance artist in the tri-state
region, performing with the Iowa
Jazz Composers Orchestra, La
Crosse Symphony Orchestra,
FALL KICK-OFF WORSHIP MUSIC
La Crosse Jazz Orchestra, and
the Optimism Jazz Sextet. His
improvisation as a soloist has
been described as “sharp and
resourceful” (AllAboutJazz.com).
Jon regularly serves as a Jazz
Worship Consultant, bringing the
sophistication and spontaneity
of the jazz tradition into familiar
hymns and liturgy in churches
across Iowa, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado, and
Texas. He has self-published over
50 arrangements of hymns on his
website at jonailabounimusic.com.
Check out the Zumbro website for information on many of the opportunities for getting involved in music at Zumbro this fall.
Zumbro Lutheran Choir Bel Canto Handbell Choir Zumbro Brass Ensemble Intergenerational Band and Strings Wednesday Worship Band
Fall Music Opportunities
Paul Bye, saxophone; Bob Giere, guitar; Jon Ailabouni, trumpet
Men's Bible and Book Study GroupOn Tuesday, Sept. 14, the Zumbro
Men’s Bible and Book Study will
resume after a brief summer
“recess.”
If you have been thinking about
joining the group — and even
if you haven’t thought about
joining before — this would be
the perfect time to do so. We
meet at the church on Tuesday
mornings at 9am to read and
discuss books, Bible selections,
and the Big Idea as chosen by
the group.
We will start by reading Harold
Kushner’s book, "The Lord Is My
Shepherd" and discussing Psalm
23 over the following few weeks.
The book has been described
as “a nurturing book that will
bring comfort to those who are
grieving and peace to those who
are caught in the vise of constant
fear.”
We are happy to welcome new
members to the group. If you are
interested, contact Kari MacIver
(karimaciver@zumbrolutheran.
org) and give her your contact
information so we can get a copy
of the book to you.
Opportunities for kids will evolve as vaccinations for children 5-12 become available.
Questions? Contact Kristy Giere, Music Minister at [email protected]
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SEPTEMBER ACTION PROJECTSBENEFICIARY:MISSION QUILTING AND WEAVING
Sewing of quilts for Lutheran World Relief, Francis House, Women’s Shelter, Lutheran Social Service and The Landings
ITEMS NEEDED:• Fabric• Bed Sheets, flat or fitted• Pillow Cases• Duvets• Curtains• Quilting Thread (large spools)• Financial donations needed
for supplies
ITEMS NEEDED FOR QUILTS FOR KIDS (LOCAL) • New cotton or flannel fabric
with patterns for children
Volunteer with Quilts for KidsThis quilting group's focus is
making baptism quilts. They meet
the first and third Thursdays of
each month from 1-3pm.
Call Jean Streyle at
(507) 272-1512 or Dorothy Bacon
at (507) 282-0170 for more
information.
Well, maybe not a rock star, but have
you ever wondered what it would
be like to play guitar in a band or be
part of leading singing in worship
in a contemporary ensemble? Bob
Giere, director of the Wednesday
Worship Band, will lead a series of
three Saturday sessions on October
16, 23 and 30 from 10 to 11am where
he will walk you through some of
the basics of reading a guitar chord
chart, playing extended chords,
crafting a lead solo, and experiencing the nuances of ensemble playing
(keeping a steady beat and staying together). Participants should
already have the basics of guitar playing down pretty well. This is not a
beginning guitar class but will provide an opportunity to expand basic
guitar knowledge and skill as it relates to ensemble playing and leading
worship singing. You MUST have your own guitar and be proficient at
tuning it.
For more information or if you have questions, contact Bob Giere at
[email protected]. Sign up on the website.
So, You Wanna Be a Rock Star
The youth area of Zumbro's new
library is called The Loft. Though
furnishings have been selected,
The Loft will not be ready for the
September Kick-off events.
You are welcome to look through
the boxes and checkout the
youth books. Please fill out the
library card found in the back of
the book, and place it in the card
holder on the circulation desk.
Also, look for new youth books
on display inside the library. The
puzzle exchange is also housed in
this area.
New Library Youth Area is "The Loft"
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On Sunday, Sept. 19 we will celebrate and give thanks for our renovated building. In celebration, Bishop Regina Hassanally, our synod bishop, will preach and dedicate the space to the glory of God. On Wednesday, Sept. 22, a video of Bishop Hassanally, along with prayers of dedication will be part of Wednesday Worship.
We couldn’t have anticipated some of the ways our building enables us to extend hospitality, enhance worship, and expand mission in light of what has happened over the last year and a half. When we set out on this project, we had no idea how important open spaces,
improved technology, flexible seating, greater accessibility, and a high efficiency HVAC system would be. It has been useful as small groups of youth and adults have regathered to serve and learn, and as we have returned to worship, mindful of physical distancing and air exchanges.
When construction was first complete, it was Luther College Nursing students who met for class in the sanctuary so that they could safely learn about health care in the midst of the greatest health crisis our world has seen in 100 years. It felt so right that these nursing students be in this place at this time. And there are
Celebrating Our Renewed Place of Mission and Ministry
still so many ways we can only imagine this renovation will shape our church and our future as a faith community in downtown Rochester as we move toward the future.
When construction continued, even as the rest of the world shut down, so many good and faithful members made sure this vision would be brought to completion. We owe tremendous thanks to the leadership teams, the working teams, the campaign team, and the staff for their commitment and hours and hours of time to this project over the course of the last five years.
by Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner
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BUILDING VISIONING TEAM (2016-2018) Alan Hansen, chair Pastor Vern Christopherson Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner Jane Callahan Dan Dokken Kirk Gill Bill Horlitz Bob Jenkins Dave Larson Teresa McCormack Mike Neuman Noel Peterson Shelley Sperling
BUILDING LEADERSHIP TEAM (2018-2020) Chris Gade, co-chair Dave Kinneberg, co-chair Joe Ahrens Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner Jane Callahan Pastor Vern Christopherson Dan Dokken Marne Gade Kirk Gill Alan Hansen Bob Jenkins Teresa McCormack Noel Peterson Shelley Sperling
DESIGN TEAM (2019) Karen Cohen Lizzie Cozine Dave Erickson Bob Giere Leah Holmes Steve Kokal Rebecca Nesse Enid Weichselbaum Brenda Wichmann
CONSTRUCTION TEAM (2019-2021) Alan Hansen, chair Joe Ahrens Kirk Gill Teresa McCormack Dave Kinneberg Tracy Schar Robert Schneider Pastor Jason Bryan-Wegner
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TEAM (2019)Ann Beatty, co-chair Bob Giere, co-chair Emily Carson Ben Clarkson Chris Gade Sara Gilliland Jolene Hansen Kari Jadin Tracey McGuire Emily McLaughlin Rob Nesse Phil Quanbeck Mike Willard Otto and Marie Hemmah Jeff and Kathy Windt
MANY THANKS TO ALL OUR TEAMS!
The building plans for the Better Days LSS Youth Resource Center
As part of the ourchurch. ourfuture. Building Campaign mission tithe, the Better Days LSS Youth Resource Center will be coming later this fall.
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CERT In July, Community Engagement
Response Team (CERT) invited us
to partner with them downtown,
on Friday nights. CERT has been
active in the midnight hours
downtown, after bars close,
Open Table Community Connectionsby Sarah Lichty | Director of Mission
helping to create a culture of
safety, and community. With
volunteers downtown, they
serve food to help sober up
inebriated folks and be present to
deescalate situations that could
easily become violent. We were
excited when they asked Open
Table to join their efforts.
Open Table approved the use
of our truck and contributes to
the free food being distributed.
Carol Ann, a CERT volunteer,
has become an official Open
Table driver. On Friday nights,
she picks up the truck stocked
with hot dogs, buns, and chips,
and drives just a few blocks
to the Hilton Garden Hotel off
3rd Ave. SW. where volunteers
engage folks in pickup basketball
games, haircuts, quick meals and
conversation.
We have been so impressed with
the way CERT has cared for our
community and our truck. It feels
good to be their partner.
MEADOW PARK INITIATIVE This summer, we partnered
with Meadow Park Initiative
to serve burritos once a week
for six weeks during their first
summer day camp. It was a
learning experience for all. New
connections and relationships
were made, and we look forward
to future opportunities to partner
together.
OPEN TABLE SUMMER 2021 INTERN Our summer intern, Mia Suzuki,
completed her internship with
us in August. Her trustworthy
leadership on Thursdays helped
us to have the capacity to
make these new community
connections. We wish her the
very best as she returns to Luther
College for her 2nd year! Good
luck, Mia!!
FROM MIA... “As many people already know,
Open Table is an organization
that has done and continues to
do great things for everyone who
encounters it. In my experience,
Open Table has proven the
importance of extending kindness
and understanding to others all
the time. Although the burritos continued on page 9
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are delicious, it seems that for
a lot of people the value of
Open Table comes from the
conversations that sparked
in front of the truck and the
connections that were made for
volunteers and customers alike.
I have met so many wonderful
people in my short time with
Open Table everywhere from
the kitchen to in front of El
Gallo. Giving kindness and
understanding to others is
what allowed me to make these
connections. In return, they
also extended their kindness
and understanding to me! I am
always nervous when I have to
tell someone that we are out of a
certain snack, or that their order
will take longer, but I am almost
always met with a smile and a
comforting "that's alright." With
this kindness and understanding,
I have heard many stories and
learned many new things. Thank
you to Open Table for showing
me and everyone else the value
in actively connecting to others.
I know that I will value this
experience and knowledge as
I continue through school and
beyond, and I hope that everyone
gets to experience the joy and
shared kindness that Open Table
shares every Thursday.”
~ Mia Suzuki
Open Table Community Connections (continued)
ZLC will be at Rochester PRIDE again this year! We'll be making buttons, talking all things Zumbro, and
living into our mission by sharing hope, elbow bumps, and love to our LGBTQIA+ family, friends, and
neighbors. To volunteer, contact [email protected]
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Youth Mission Trip Reflections
What do the Appalachian Mountains, insulation, Jesus, a house in the woods, hiking, staining, power washing, and scary snakes all have in common? They all played a big role in the amazing week that twenty high school youth and leaders had in Irvine, Kentucky this past June.
This mission team insulated the foundation of a homebound elderly man’s home that was flooded in March. The team spent days under the house stapling insulation and in the garage power washing oil off everything,
so that the gentleman could live in a cool, safe home again.
When the team wasn’t working, they hiked mountains, kayaked in an underground mine, lived as a community together in a cabin on the side of a mountain, and wrestled with the promise that God is forever with them (and for them) both on the mountain tops and in the darkest valleys of life.
In August, sixteen rising 7th-9th graders, and adult leaders headed to the North Shore of Minnesota for a week of
immersing themselves in God’s beautiful creation, serving their neighbors and earth, living together at an ELCA camp called Camp House in rustic cabins on a lake, and playing, and praying, and laughing themselves through their mission trip week. They ate pie, worked in a garden, served their neighbors in Two Harbors, and remembered their baptisms, and the ways God calls them beloved and child every single day. No matter what.
by Jen Gruendler | Youth and Young Adult Minister
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Sunday ZED Talks STARTING SEPT. 12 | 9:35AMZED Talks are recorded each week and can be found at www.youtube.com/zumbrolutheran
Jazz, Faith, and WorshipSEPT. 12 | Presenter: Jon Ailabouni, jazz musician and instructor. From the music of Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams to John Coltrane and Albert Ayler, jazz music has a long history of being explicitly tied to worship and spirituality. Jon will explore how jazz carries meaning through sound and how the music offers a fresh perspective in worship and our faith lives.
Church Together: What Does This Mean? SEPT. 19 | Presenter: Bishop Regina Hassanally, SE MN SynodWe are part of the ELCA, a church body that spans the whole country and reaches out with compassion around the world. With over 9,000 congregations, we express our faith through a variety of worship practices, ministries, and ways in which we live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet we are church together. Bishop Hassanally will share some of the ways we are part of this larger church we call the ELCA.
Zumbro’s Prayer Chain Ministry The Zumbro Prayer Chain team is always ready to pray! The Prayer Chain team is a dedicated group of members who faithfully lift our requests to God. You are invited to submit prayer requests for yourself or on behalf of a loved one in your life. Requests can be given to ZLC’s office manager Kari MacIver by phone, 507-288-2649, or by email, [email protected] Kari will then forward your request to the Prayer Chain team.
If you are interested in joining the Prayer Chain team, please call or email Kari, [email protected]
Samaritan Bethany Church Volunteers NeededSamaritan Bethany is in the process of restarting their chapel service and is in need of volunteers to assist with transportation of residents. The program will be a little different than in the past. There will be one service at 10am. Sponsoring churches will not be assigned certain months, but volunteers will be able to choose the Sundays they wish to serve. Volunteers are required to be masked, vaccinated and attend a brief orientation. For more information or are interested, please contact Nancy Berg at (507) 282-0162 or [email protected] Your help would be greatly appreciated.
ZED Talks
Beethoven’s Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110 SEPT. 26 | Presenter: Kathryn Horntvedt, NCTMLudwig van Beethoven completed his 31st out of 32 piano sonatas on December 25, 1821. The subject of Fugue 1, with its rising 4ths, might represent our faith looking up in spite of all of life’s challenges, while later the subject of Fugue 2, an inversion of the first subject with its 4ths reaching downwards, manifests the grace of God — Emmanuel, God with us. One might also hear the redemptive power of Christ’s sacrificial love for us, and God’s final triumphant gift to us of heavenly life eternal. Kathryn has studied and performed this work in honor of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth last year, and is glad to share it with you!
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Zumbro StaffNewsletter Deadline
Please submit items for the October
issue of
The Zumbro Current to
by September 10.
Vern ChristophersonDirecting [email protected]
Jason Bryan-Wegner [email protected]
Shelley [email protected]
Kristy GiereMusic [email protected]
Janette ReevesChildren and Family [email protected]
Jen GruendlerYouth and Young Adult Minister [email protected]
Ruth MonsonCongregational Life Minister [email protected]
Tracy ScharBusiness [email protected]
Sarah LichtyDirector of [email protected]
Margaret DillardCommunications [email protected] KnowltonCommunications [email protected]
Bob GiereDirector of Zumbro Lutheran ChoirDirector of Wednesday Worship Band [email protected]
Ralph SchornackMusic Assistant
Robert Schneider Building Manager [email protected]
Angie SchneiderCustodian
Nick KinnearCustodian
Mark AldenCustodian
Kari MaciverOffice [email protected]
Karla DexterOffice [email protected]
William DengDinka Lay Evangelist
Jeremy StortzSound and Livestream Technician