ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH, SKANEE NEWS; JUNE/JULY 2010
Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Greetings!
What a month! It was a month full of joyous celebrations!
Mason Lightfoot Spruce was baptized into the Body of Christ!
Mackenzie and Winter Keefer, and Katelyn Haataja were confirmed as they affirmed their baptisms with their mothers, Jennifer Lynn and Debbie Haataja, as they officially joined Zion Lutheran on Pentecost Sunday.
We celebrate graduations in the community this month as well. Congratulations to Michael Jones who graduated from Baraga High School, Kenneth Majeski and Joshua Keinz from L’Anse High School, Hannah Beesley who graduated from Michigan State. And, I graduated from Wartburg Lutheran Seminary. (I hope I haven’t missed anyone)
And, we celebrated my ordination. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and put up with me these past years in seminary and thank you for the wonderful day of ordination! I am totally grateful that as you all prepared for that day, it was with a spirit of evangelism, that all who would join us would be welcomed and would have the opportunity to hear the word of God proclaimed and see it in action through all of you.
We enter God’s gates with thanksgiving for all that God has done for us, assured that through Jesus Christ all things will work for the good of those who love him. Our Synod Assembly again this year was a little rough. Yes, there were wonderful moments of thankful celebration. There were also moments when there was much grief. Dr. Karlo Keljo, who was the Dean of the Lay School when I was attending, gave me some of his books as a gift. One of them was written by Dr. Douglas John Hall; “God & Human Suffering – An Exercise in the Theology of the Cross.” It asks the question if suffering is a necessary part of life and if it is a part of God’s plan? So far and I’m not through with the book yet, the answer is yes and no. Not all suffering is necessary – much of it is brought on by our own self-centeredness and we need to work on that.
However, it also points out that as far back as the garden of Eden there were signs of suffering. Adam suffered from loneliness and so God, in his mercy, created Eve. We cannot really know the joy of relationship unless we know what it is to be alone. Dr. Hall also suggests that limits, temptations, and anxiety are in some degree necessary for us to grow in Christ and in the community of God. For example, without experiencing anxiety, how would we know and be able to appreciate the peace of God. We live in a tension, between good and what we consider to be evil. Yet, even in times of trouble, we can rejoice for we know that God is with us. God turn our sorrows into joy!
The ELCA has been struggling and suffering since its inception. I believe this suffering, although uncomfortable, is probably necessary for the growth of the Body of Christ. I recall in a lay school class, years ago, Pr. Echlebarger asked us how important the ELCA’s survival was to us. We were to line up on an imaginary line from 0 to 10. Zero being not important and 10 being very important. I was a little uncomfortable as I found myself standing alone at about number 3. The rest of the class was standing at 7 or higher. I found myself standing alone, not because I don’t care for the ELCA. I care for the ELCA very much! But, denominations are not the end all – be all. They are institutions, indeed important to the work of the church and part of the church on earth, but they are not the whole Church. The Church of God cannot be confined to human institutions. According to the Augsburg Confession, Article 7, the church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered. Whenever congregations are gathered together to hear the word and receive the sacraments rightly they are the church. But, we are also members of that great and glorious unseen Church, where we are united with God and with all believers of every place and time by virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection and not by constitutions.
We do not know what the ELCA will look like in 10 years or 100 years. But, no matter what suffering this institution goes through, we can be assured that in the end we will rejoice for God works all things, even in suffering, as was seen on the cross, for the good. So rejoice and be glad for the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. God’s Peace – Pr. Judy
CONGRATULATIONS to those who graduate this spring! Please forgive us if we missed anyone!
Kenneth Majeski - L’Anse High School
Joshua Keinz - L’Anse High School
Michael Jones - Baraga High School
Hannah Beesley - Michigan State University
Judy Mattson - Wartburg Theological Seminary
ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
A "Teaching Company" DVD presentation by
Dr. Phillip Cary, Eastern University
During June & July we will cover areas such as: Varieties of Early Christianity, Emergence of Christian Doctrine; Doctrines of the Trinity, Incarnation, & Grace, The Incomprehensible and the Supernatural
Join us on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. in the church library.
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“LUTHERAN WOMEN TODAY”
Study led by Arline VanBuren every 2nd Wednesday at ~12:30 pm following WELCA lunch.
Everyone is welcome!
No Study in July.
SUNDAY SCHOOL/YOUTH
No Sunday School until the fall. But, youth are always encouraged to attend Worship and volunteers for ushering and reading are welcome and needed at the 10:45 a.m. Worship Service. Sign up for reading on the bulletin board in the narthex.
YOUTH/FAMILY MINISTRY COMMITTEE/COORDINATOR ARE
NEEDED
This committee would be separate from Sunday School. We need more parent participation in planning. This summer’s planning is not going well as the church and my schedule is full and it is difficult to know when families are taking vacations.
Our Day at Camp this year is at risk of being cancelled due to lack of attendance - last year we had over 20 youth attend.
SUNDAY SCHOOL/YOUTH SERVICE PROJECT
Cans for Toys for Tots: As a special service project, Sunday School Students and their families are encouraged to collect returnable cans and bottles from the sides of roads. Returnable’s can be placed in the garbage can at the church or if you have too many - contact Les Elmblad. Les has volunteered to coordinate. This will not only help to keep our roadsides clean, but the money raised will be given to Toys for Tots by the children at the Toys for Tots concert this fall. We are also planning a youth event this summer to do this as a group. (Confirmands you can count time collecting cans as a service project!)
CONFIRMATION
Summer Confirmation classes will be held on Mon - Wed, August 23-25 from 8:30 am till noon. Classes will also be held during the school year following the 2nd Worship Service every first Sunday of the month at Zion. We will also meet online once per month during the school year. If participation wanes during the online sessions that will also have to be changed to an in-person class at Zion.
Attending Worship regularly and service hours are also requirements of Confirmation. All youth grades 7th and up are invited and encouraged to attend.
Contact Judy for more information.
FUN & FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!
Coffee Fellowship June 13th - no coffee fellowship in July - due to Pie Social.
Pie Social Sunday, July 11th at 1 pm. The Historic Parsonage Museum will be open.
ZION’S ANNUAL MUSIC FEST
July 25st at 2:00 pm
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
READERS for 10:45 a.m. Worship for summer. Sign up in narthex.
ALTAR GUILD needs members.
Volunteers from the 10:45 a.m. service would be appreciated for after Worship so whoever sets up prior to the 9 am service does not have to come back. Free training. Contact: Deb Vizinia @ 524-5261
WELCA is collecting items for Health Kits for
Lutheran World Relief. Each kit includes:
*One Hand Towel & One washcloth - dark colors; One bath size bar (4-5 oz.) soap in original wrapper; One wide tooth comb; One metal nail file or nail clipper.*
Your donations are appreciated. There is a box in the library for donations.
WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
WORSHIP SUNDAYS: 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
LET US PRAY….
In Our Prayers - Dave Bruskiewicz, Dr. & Mrs. Carmody, Bob Collins, Rose Collins, Evelyn Corgan, Doris Cote, Sulo Ellis, SunYi Elmblad, Dave Erickson, Kelly R. Erickson, Barbara Hanshaw, Catherine Harrison, Pr. John Henry, Dar Hill, Zelma Hoffman, Tom Larson, Mike Luusua, Jan Magnant, David McDonnell, Tim McIntyre, Charles Mink, David Rajala, Jeffrey Roberts, Dan Roth, Tim Shanahan, Marie Stiebe, Mrs. Suminski, Jim Turunen, Derek VanBuren, Marv Wrege.
Our Service Men - Noah Beesley, Nathan Davis, Scott Elmblad, Tim Houle, Mike Roberts, Sam Roth, Dan Turunen, Matt Turunen, Derek VanBuren, Drew VanBuren. (Let us know if we are missing anyone)
Our Shut-Ins - SNU Viola Porter; at home Matt Toyras, Zelma Hoffman.
REMINDER: If you, or a family member, are hospitalized, please place your name on the hospital’s list for Zion so Judy can visit. Better yet, give Judy a call and she will be happy to visit. Under HIPPA regulations, Judy cannot visit unless you request it.
For more info contact: Judy Mattson, Pastor
Phone: 524-6524, Emergencies: 524-5993, email zlcs@up.net
Website: www.zionlutheranskanee.org
