God Doesn’t Always Answer My Prayers. Why?

In grappling with this fair question, we first need to remember that prayer is a

privilege. Because of our sin God has every right not to listen to a single word we

speak to him. However, because his Son, Jesus Christ, died for us and rose again, God

forgives our sins. He has made us his children by faith in Jesus, and has given us the

privilege of speaking to him in prayer. Through Jesus we may come to God the Father

“with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12).

Our Father in heaven promises to hear and answer our prayers. Jesus says,

“Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). God’s ears are always attentive to

our prayers. He is listening, and answering.

So why does it seem like God does not answer (at least sometimes). Since he

promises to answer all our prayers—and he keeps all his promises—the problem

might be with us. We need to evaluate ourselves.

Are we praying in faith? We might be approaching God on the basis of our

goodness or the deeds we think will lead him to listen. Prayers not offered by faith in

Jesus Christ are not answered.

Are we praying with improper motives? If we pray so that we might get

something to merely spend on our selfish pleasures, the Lord will not answer. The Bi-

ble teaches, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong mo-

tives” (James 4:3).

Are we praying according to his will? If our requests are contrary to his will

expressed in the Bible, then we will not receive an answer. So with every prayer, we

have in mind the petition in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your will be done.”

If we are following what God tells us in the Bible, yet our prayers seem like

they are not being answered, then what should we think? We humble ourselves before

God with the confidence that he still is listening and will answer. When he does not

seem to answer, he still is—probably in ways that we do not yet realize. He is our lov-

ing Father, who will bless us in the ways he knows are best. We have that guarantee

because he already gave his Son to claim us as his very own. How greatly our heav-

enly Father loves us to call us his children and give us the privilege to speak to him in

prayer!

For more Questions & Answers, go to www.WhatAboutJesus.com, then Questioning

God.

Coordinating Council Page 2

Birthdays and Anniversaries Page 3

Area WELS News Page 3

Financial News Page 4

Zion Lutheran Church News Page 5

Zion Lutheran School News Page 6

Women Serving Christ Page 6

Principal’s Report Page 7

Zion Church Calendar Page 8

Zion School Calendar Page 9

1. The Coordinating Council met on Tuesday, September 15, and opened with devotion.

Financial Secretary, Kevin MacNeill, reported that we are $1,300 under budget each

week.

Church Treasurer, Robert Wille, reported that the final cost for Maurer work is not yet

known.

Elder’s Board chairman, Steve Lane, reported that visits were made in early October.

Property Board Chairman, Ray Klipper, reported that the church roof needs attention and

that the sump pump may be installed.

Pastor Thomford plans to meet with Pastor Mielke of Christ, Oakley about our counter-

proposal for a joint school.

A Leadership Retreat has been scheduled for Sunday, January 31, 2016 at Riverfront

Grille for all of the Council, Elders, and Board members and their wives.

The Council will soon show a video about

the Synod-Wide Offering to help pay off the

debt to the congregation to inform them of

this situation.

A decision is yet to be made about whether

or not the church would like to hire the busi-

ness, Account Viking, to help keep the

books for our church.

The upcoming Semi-Annual Meeting will

be held on December 6, 2015.

The tiles of the church basement ceiling

may be replaced in January after Maurer has

tuned the system.

5. The meeting closed with Luther’s Evening

prayer.

Harold Blaine 11/2

Dawn McGrandy 11/4

James Weiglod 11/4

Chad Griffus 11/6

McKenzie Willson 11/6

Judy Mihalik 11/7

Mark Theile 11/8

Mary Wenzlick 11/9

William Frelitz 11/10

Maureen Wiltsee 11/11

Marilyn Gross 11/13

Joshua List 11/13

Courtney Schoch 11/13

Henry Searle 11/16

Karen Barckholtz 11/18

Jolene Archibald 11/19

Gerda Brendahl 11/22

Gerhardt Brendahl 11/22

Ralph Borucki 11/23

Joseph Donovan 11/23

James VanWagner 11/23

Ardith Neumeyer 11/24

Jerry Mose 11/25

Dennis Schoch 11/25

Breslyn Flowers 11/26

Edna Wiltsee 11/26

Larry Reiber 11/27

Caleb Walker 11/29

Steve and Lori Lane 11/7

Howard and Laurel Anderson 11/9

Jerry and Harriet Kukulis 11/10

Arthur and Patricia Schroeder 11/21

William and Diann Lucio Sr. 11/29

Our sister

church, Hope Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Michi-

gan, is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year!

They would like to invite their sister congregations to

join them in celebration on December 13, 2015 for

an Advent Organ Concert at 9:00 am.

Since opening day of

(gun) deer hunting season, November 15, falls on a

Sunday this year, Hope Lutheran Church in St.

Charles, Michigan will be having a “Deer Hunter

Service” on Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00 pm. It

will be a normal service with no special hunting

theme or camouflage paraments, but all are welcome

to attend (even if you aren’t a hunter)!

The Wizard of Oz is coming to Michi-

gan Lutheran Seminary. Please join them for this

well-loved story! Tickets are on sale now. Perform-

ances are November 5th and 7th at 7:00 pm and No-

vember 8th at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults

and $5 for kids (through eighth grade). Please call

989-793-1010 extension 264 for tickets!

Each year the

MLS Foundation sponsors a Light Up a Student's

Life Program. This program gives people the oppor-

tunity to purchase a light bulb on a special tree in

honor of, or in memory of someone special in their

life. The Foundation will send a Christmas card to

the recipient of this honor on your behalf. The tree

will be on display throughout November and Decem-

ber. Donations given are used for the MLS Founda-

tion Student Need Fund which helps provide student

assistance.

The home located at 1423

Bay Street (southeast corner of Bay and Hardin),

which is owned by MLS, is vacant and available for

rental. It is a four bedroom, one and a half bathroom

home, with an attached, one-car garage. Anyone that

is interested can contact the MLS Business Office at

989-793-1393, extension 240.

$25,815.80 September 2015 Offerings

-$3,513.00 minus memorials and non-budget offerings

$22,302.80 Offerings to pay 2015-2016 budget

$4,460.56 Offerings per week, 5 Sundays

$5,593.00 Offerings per week needed to pay budget

$1,132.44 Under budget per week for September 2015

$69,792.01 July 1, 2015 through September 27, 2015

-$10,115.75 minus memorials & non-budget offerings

$59,676.26 Offerings to pay 2015-2016 budget

$4,262.59 Offerings per week, 14 Sundays

-$5,593.00 minus needed to meet budget

$1,330.41 Under Budget per week

$18,625.74 Under budget for 14 Sundays

October 4, 2015: $5,929.00

October 11, 2015: $3,781.00

October 18, 2015: $7,727.06

October 25, 2015: $4,910.06

Illustrating the Deferred Charitable Gift Annuity

If you would like to make a gift towards the Lord’s work that provides income during retirement—and a charitable de-

duction now (while income is higher), consider a deferred gift annuity. A deferred gift annuity allows you to make a

gift in exchange for fixed quarterly payments starting at a future date and continuing until you go to heaven. Here is

how this would work for someone who is 55 with payments beginning in 10 years:

Single-life Annuity Illustration (Two-life annuities are also available.)

Transferring appreciated assets (e.g. stocks) may be an even more beneficial way to fund your deferred gift annuity

since it may allow you to avoid capital gains taxes now and pay them in a more favorable way later.

For a personalized illustration contact Jim Holm, executive director of WELS Foundation, at 414-256-3206 or e-mail

jim.holm@wels.net.

- WELS Ministry of Christian Giving

Remember that on Sunday, November 1, Daylight Savings Time

will end at 2:00 am. Be sure to set your clocks back before you go to sleep—or risk being really early for

church!

The Flint Pregnancy Counseling Center is looking for

volunteers who can help be receptionists, counselors, help-liners, and sorters. Without volunteer help, they

cannot keep their facility open all the time and therefore these young women who need counseling cannot

hear the life giving Word of God when they may need it most. The Counseling Center could also use dona-

tions of baby lotion, baby shampoo, wipes, size 0-3 pjs, onesies, winter outfits for boys and girls, newborn

diapers, and pull-ups. Any help you could give would be very greatly appreciated!

On Wednesday, November 25, Zion will hold its annual Thanksgiving Ser-

vice at 7:00 pm. Come join us to give thanks to God for the bountiful blessings He’s given!

On Friday, November 27, and Saturday, November 28, Zion Lutheran

Church will be running a booth at the annual Candlewalk in Chesaning. If you are interested in helping out at

or would like to donate to this event, contact Clayton Kaufmann at 989.838.4037

The new church year will begin on Sunday, November 29, 2015 with the First

Sunday of Advent. Remember that during the season of Advent, we will hold midweek services at 7:00 pm

on December 2, 9, and 16. Happy New (Church) Year!

The Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary is running a

food bank to help aid those students at WLS who are already married. These students work part-time jobs

around their classes and their intensive studying while they try to make ends meet to provide for their fami-

lies. Donations from the Michigan District are very greatly appreciated. Monetary gifts are very welcome.

These gifts are used to purchase grocery store gift certificates as well as other items needed for the Food

Bank. If you are giving a monetary gift, please make the check payable to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Do-

nations for the cost of the rental truck and the gas used to ship the Food Bank items are also very welcome.

Those checks should be made out to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Finally, if you wish to donate food and/or

other items to the Food Bank directly, the Food Bank could use the following items: disposable diapers, pa-

per towels, toilet paper, toiletries, coffee, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, spices, soup, cold cereal, oatmeal, ketchup,

mustard, Hamburger Helper (or similar packaged meals), gluten-free products, dish soap, and laundry deter-

gent. Please refrain from bringing any canned vegetables as there are already an abundance of those in

stock. Please bring any items you wish to donate to the Mother’s Room in the back of church by No-

vember 1, 2015. Thank you for helping out!

The new flower calendar for 2016 has been posted in the church lobby. If

you wish to donate flowers in memory of a loved one, please write your name on the line next to the date on

which you would like to donate. Thank you!

Pastor Thomford will be taking a week of vacation time from November 11-

November 18, 2015. The church office will still be open at this time, however, so please feel free to call or

stop by if need be. The church office number is 989-845-3006.

We thank all the families who displayed our Zion yard signs this summer, and with

cold weather coming we say farewell to the outdoor advertising season. Please return any remaining yard

signs to the church secretary's office. Thank you!

The ladies who make hot lunch at Zion Lutheran School would appreci-

ate it if people would take turns making the desserts for Wednesday hot lunch. If you are interested in helping

out, please sign-up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board in the church entryway. Also, feel free to fill out a

reminder slip for yourself to take home. These are also located on the bulletin board of the church entryway.

Thank you for your help!

1. Present for Business: Terry Barancik, Paula Huggard, Karen Thomford, Mary Ann Schoch, Priscilla

Bleisner, Kaylene VanWagner, Harriett Kukulis, Thelma Parshall, Jean Devereaux, Cindy Joyce.

-Pastor opened the meeting by reading Luke 11:1-13; Jesus instructs the disciples on how to pray.

-Roger Dones instructed the group on how to cook stir fry. Everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal.

-The Secretary's report was read and approved.

-The Treasurer's report was read and approved.

- Jean Devereaux gave a brief report on the LWMS fall rally. Zion will be sponsoring next year's fall rally.

Discussion took place on the month. Zion has befriended a mission and that we would like to send them a pic-

ture of our church and the members of Women Serving Christ.

2. Old Business:

New Member Recognition - It was decided that Sunday, November 1, 2015 during coffee hour would be our

first new member recognition. Groups 1 & 2 will organize. Karen Thomford presented angel pins and lapel

pins to present as gifts to the new members. A motion was made, seconded, and passed to purchase 12 of

each pin to give to each of the new members. We will provide cakes instead of donuts that day. A list will be

obtained from Pastor on which new members to honor.

Milk for Coffee Hour - Discussion took place on the recent change in donuts and milk on Sunday mornings.

It was decided that whoever is in charge of coffee hour will supply the milk. A gallon of chocolate each week

and a gallon of milk every other week.

3. New Business:

Bake Sale - The bake sale will take place on December 6, 2015. Jean Devereaux's group will be in charge

Bracelets and Necklaces - It was decided that we would construct necklaces and bracelets for the Central Af-

rican Medical Mission at the November Women Serving Christ meeting.

Nominations for 2016 - The election of officers for 2016 will be conducted at the November Women Serving

Christ meeting. We will be in need of a vice president and secretary. Anyone interested in nominating some-

one for one of these offices please contact Terry Barancik.

-The meeting was closed with the old version of Luther's Evening Prayer.

Harvest time in mid-Michigan is a time of hard work and celebration. The reaping of crops is the re-

ward a farmer receives for the investment of time, money, and sweat. The joy of this season was experienced

by Jesus during his public ministry, and he motivated us as missionaries in Matthew chapter 9.

“The Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

At our annual October teacher's conference, our faculty joined other Lutheran educators at various

presentations on topics ranging from Physical Education instruction to educator burnout. The keynote speaker

who ended the conference, a Lutheran pastor from Georgia, was possibly the most inspiring as he spoke of the

roller coaster inception of his congregation. Their humble beginnings included doubts and a lack of trust by

several in the church, but with God's blessing and planned outreach strategies, they have grown and continue

to grow. We can take cues from the successes that Pastor Schroeder has had at his congregation in Sharps-

burg, Georgia.

Being careful to not attack other evangelism strategies, Pastor Schroeder began by mentioning several

strategies that have not worked for their congregation. Humbly, I must admit that his list included several

ideas that I have encouraged and supported. Pastor Schroeder stood by three proven strategies for outreach:

Good preaching and friendly members bring prospects back for another worship service.

Quality education brings non-members to their preschool, and classroom parties allow faculty to de-

velop relationship with new families which harbor opportunities to invite prospects to church.

Avoid financial or church requirement gimmicks, but rather rely on personal relationships and Holy

Spirit to create faith through God's Word.

As our congregation begins a new church year, I pray that we gain an urgency for the evangelism op-

portunities that are available in our personal ministries. Keep our church and school in your prayers as we

continue the harvest work that our Savior commissioned to us two thousand years ago by developing true rela-

tionships with new and prospective members.

Girls basketball tournament at MLS – Our second game of the tournament will be on Saturday, December

5 at noon against Holy Trinity Lutheran School from Wyoming, MI. Another game will be played that

afternoon, with opponent and time TBD.

Wizard of Oz musical – Our students will be attending a musical the afternoon of Friday, November 6 at

Michigan Lutheran Seminary and the public is invited to attend the performances that night and Saturday

afternoon.

Parent conferences – Our school will dismiss at lunchtime on Thursday, November 12 to allow for parents to

meet with teachers during the afternoon. Reservations for specific times will be made the week prior.

Conference basketball tournament – Conference play for the girls' basketball season ends with our tourna-

ment the weekend of Friday, November 20. Location, game times, and opponents have yet to be deter-

mined, but will be advertised on Facebook as seedings are determined.

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8:00 a.m. 1st Worship Service

9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour

9:15 a.m. Sunday School

9:25 a.m. Youth Bible Class

9:25 a.m. Adult Bible Class

10:30 a.m. 2nd Worship Service