ZION CHURCH COUNCIL

ZION CHURCH OF BALTIMORE

Greetings Everyone,

Zion Church is an exciting place to be, especially now that we are in a season of many activities. Please be sure to take note of all that is going on. Your full participation in these many activities can be a source of invigorating energy for you and for all us who share the fellowship. This fall has also been a busy time for the business of Zion. After a brief period without steam to heat our buildings, the steam company is working with us to be sure this interruption does not happen again. In our recent Congregation meeting we adopted the budget for next year. I want to thank everyone who participated in the budget preparation process by looking hard at our fiscal needs for the future and where we could trim our requests. Some hard decisions were made, but everyone worked with the collective best interests of Zion Church in mind. Please rest assured that many people are working hard to be good stewards of this, His house. At the Congregation meeting we also took a collective deep breath and agreed to proceed to the next step in rebuilding our Moeller organ. Please read Irene Duerr's letter for details. It was a big and bold step but, we are up to the task of supporting the beautiful music brought to us by John Heizer and our choir.

Please continue to support Zion and your Zion family with your prayers and participation. We are all enriched when we come together for our common good and to do the Lord's work.

Yours in Christ,
Pat Myers
President,
Zion Church Council

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We welcome these new members of Zion’s church council, elected at the congregational meeting for the 2012-2014 term:

• Lew Bringman

• Leanne Stack-Martin (2nd term)

• Bernard Penner

• John Vogt (2nd term)

The congregational meeting also confirmed the appointment of Claude Bowen to the council.

They will serve on the church council together with Anja Abbott (2012), Bonnie Brobst (2012, 2nd term), Irene Duerr (2013), Richard Hershberger (2012), C. Patrick Myers (2013), Dr Karl H. Schuleri (2013), and David Tabler (2013).

A new slate of officers will be elected at the January meeting

Christkindlmarkt Report

Chriskindlmarkt 2011 was a success!

1,724 people attended the market this year. This number does not include the many Zion and Baltimore Kickers volunteers who worked so hard to make the event so successful. A huge thank you to all volunteers.

We do have lots of Lebkuchen, Stollen, Schokolade, Spekulaten, Kekse and many other German sweets leftover. Zion Church has set up a German store on the stage of the Adlersaal where you can buy all of the items mentioned above at a 20% discount. Please stop by and stock up for Christmas! You my shop during the week during church office hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm), on Sunday between and after worship, or during German Language School hours. The Baltimore Kickers is also selling from their club house.

SOCIAL MINISTRY UPDATES- Submitted by: David Tabler, Chairperson
MEMORIES
I always get nostalgic this time of the year. I guess it’s the change in the seasons that first make their impact on me. Autumn triggers good memories.

As I get older I find myself remembering so many events from the past. My maternal grandfather lived into his nineties and kept his many grandchildren enthralled with tales of his frontier days on the Illinois prairie. So like my grandfather I too enjoy remembering and repeating stories handed down from earlier generations and of course, my own, somewhat embellished, remembrances of the 1940’s.

My memory was jogged when Pastor mentioned that the First Sunday in Advent would occur on November 27th. So soon I thought… and Thanksgiving Day has yet to take place. Just the mention of Advent brought a new rush of memories: Memories of bountiful harvests, rabbit hunting on Thanksgiving Day morning, feasting on turkey and all the trimmings and the many events that later occurred while preparing for Christmas festivities. The Advent season, in my childhood years, ushered in bitter cold temperatures accentuated by the brisk winds off Lake Erie. Despite that, the Season brought with it joyous occasions to be with family and friends that culminated with the celebration of the birthday of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We celebrated on Christmas Eve with song, Christmas Story pageant: A sullen yet joyous service that honored the Christ Child. The sanctuary was adorned with a magnificent crèche, a tall short-needled pine tree, pine boughs and cones on the window sills with candles lit while the winter wind whistled outside. I have been so blessed.

May this Advent Season bring to each and every one many beautiful events to remember in years to come. May God bless you all and have a very Merry Christmas.

Thank-you Letter Received from Public School #862
It reads as follows:
“Dear Zion Lutheran Church (Door Ministry) ----
Thank you so much for your gift of colorful tee shirts with the embroidered emblem. We would also like
to thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you and the community in lunch preparation for the
homeless. It was a rewarding experience and we would love to come back and serve again in the near future.
Truly, Students and Staff of P.S. #862.”
These students were very helpful and we hope they‟ll be with us again in the coming academic year.
Church members Bonnie Brobst and Cecelia Brown were instrumental in bringing the students to us. Bonnie
and Cecelia are both educators.

ELCA World Hunger Appeal & Disaster Relief
Providing financial gifts to these organizations are needed throughout the year. Special envelopes for
giving are available in the pew holders and/or from the ushers. Daily our news media show how famine and
disease has spread throughout the Third World countries. The sad faces and protruding bellies of individuals
portray how devastating such calamities can be. Place your special gift envelope in the offering plate and the
Church Office will forward it to the Synod. Your gift will be so noted on your end-of-the-year giving statement.
Please, give generously.