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THE MESSENGER of

Zion Lutheran Church 402 East Charles St. Oelwein, Iowa 50662 319-283-1207

Email address: zionoelwein@gmail.com A Church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the ELCA)

Pastor Josh Schunk Pastoral Assistant – ChyAnne Jha

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Worship Schedule: Saturday – 5:30pm, Sunday – 9:00am - Sunday School & Bible Study 10:10 ZOWe (grades 5-6 at 5:30-6:30pm – Confirmation 7-8pm

At Zion we desire to be: “The Welcome Place, Reaching Out with the Love of Jesus”

Website: zionlutheranoelwein.org Facebook: Zion Lutheran Oelwein Page

God Is with Us April 2020 in All Things

Zion’s Mission Statement “As people of God, called and forgiven by Jesus Christ, we understand God’s mission through us,

to be reaching out in love to the community, nation and world. To do this we will share God’s Word of salvation through witnessing, teaching and the sacraments, and build opportunities for

growth in Christian life and service.

Friends in Christ,

Greetings to each and every one of you

from God our loving heavenly Father and our

living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope and

pray that this newsletter finds all of you safe

and healthy in the midst of our current state of

life.

Speaking of our current state of life, we

are in a new and different place than many of us

have ever been in during our lives. We are in a

state of constant unknowns. We do not know if

we or if someone we love has been exposed to

COVID-19. We do not know what the next

news conference from our President or our state

leaders is going to bring. We do not know what

businesses will be closed next. We do not know

if our congregation is going to be together for

Palm Sunday, Holy Week, or Easter. We do not

know if our children are going to go back to

school after Easter.

Living in the unknown is never easy. It is

a struggle to watch more news conferences. It is

difficult to live with questions about whether or

not it is safe for us to go to those places we

enjoy going and to interact with people we

know and love. It is challenging to wonder what

items will be in stock at the grocery store or

department store when we go shopping. It is

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hard for the members of our family of faith to

journey through Lent when we are not together

for our Wednesday evening meals and worship

services.

Going through this problematic time can

also have many effects on our bodies, on our

emotions, and on our spirits. The other night,

Kelli and I looked at each other and said, “This

is tiring.” Even though there was no place for us

to go, and we were not doing anything, we felt

the fatigue of not going about our normal

routine of taking our kids to school and then

following them to all of their usual activities.

How do we get through this difficult

time? How do we reenergize ourselves when it

seems like there are so many things around us

such as social distancing and isolation and

COVID-19 are full of what my kids would call

“fun-sponges?”

One way we get through this time is by

remembering that we are not alone right now or

ever. In Matthew 28, Jesus tells His disciples

and us that He will be with us always. There is

never a time when Jesus walks away from us or

abandons us. As we sit in our homes alone for

one more day, we are called to be reminded that

Jesus is sitting there with us. He is there to talk

with us, to listen to us, and to live life with us.

Another way we get through this time is

by staying connected to one another. There has

never been a better time for us to pick up our

phones and call one another or take a few

moments to send a text or e-mail message to

each other. Just last week, I received a text

message just asking how I was doing. I cannot

tell you how much that made my day. I have

been having moments when I have been feeling

disconnected from things right now because I

am not in the office, and when I do go to the

church, I see the empty pews (which I

mentioned on the video Sunday). That short text

message reminded me of the connection we

have as a family of faith. Even when we are not

physically together, we are joined to one

another as members of the body of Christ. That

bond cannot be broken by anything this world

tries to throw at us.

Finally, we are called, during this time,

to spend time reading God’s Word and praying

together. It is important for us to be nurturing

our faith right now. When we are in our homes

and with our families or by ourselves, God

wants us to open His Word to hear what He has

to say to us during the day and in the midst of

the situations we are facing. When we read

God’s Word, we receive the comfort we need to

have the strength to retain our energy during

this difficult time.

As we read God’s Word, we are also

called to respond to that Word. We are called to

pray and to tell God our deepest feelings, our

deepest wants, and our deepest desires. As I

said in my sermon a couple weeks ago, God

wants a relationship with us that is living and

growing. For our relationship with God to grow

and flourish, we are called to have a two-way

conversation with God. God speaks through His

Word, and we respond through our prayers.

This month, as we continue through this

time of unknowns, I pray that all of us would

take the time to grow our relationship with God

and find ways to stay connected with one

another. We do all these things looking forward

to being together in worship, in Bible Study, in

Confirmation, and around tables in fellowship

again soon.

Just a thought…

Pastor Josh

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ZION EVAN. LUTHERAN

CHURCH MINUTES

March 10, 2020

Meeting called to order @ 6:35 PM by Pres.

Michelle

Attendance: Pastor Josh, Joe Bahe, Gary

Goeller, Charter Leete, Michelle Mulfinger,

Roger Westendorf, Twyla Larsen

Excused: Brad Brown, Justin Duffy, Kris Rex,

Julie Williams, ChyAnne Jha

Opening Prayer: Joe

Approval of Agenda/Additions: Motion by

Joe/Gary to approve as printed. Carried.

A. Motion by Joe/seconded by Roger to

appoint Charter Leete for Council until next

Annual meeting (Feb. 2021). Carried. Pastor

Josh installed him.

B. Secretary’s Feb. Minutes: Motion by

Joe/Charter to approve as printed. Carried

C. Treasurer’s Feb. Report: Motion by

Charter/Roger to file treasurer’s report for end-

of-year audit. Carried.

Feb. Income: $ 12,050.51

Feb. Expenses: $ 19,715.03

Net Income: (Minus) $ -7,664.52

YTD Income: $ 22,472.90

YTD Expenses: $36,062.25 YTD

Net Income: (Minus) $ -13,589.35

D. President’s Report: Council members

serving Walking Taco’s March 18 Lenten

supper.

E. Pastor’s Report - Action Item =

Communion Age: Motion by Gary/seconded by

Charter to change the age for First Communion

to 3rd grade, starting in 2021. Carried.

F. ChyAnne’s Report handed out.

G. Unfinished Business: None

H. New Business:

1. Volunteer Day for church repairs set for

Sunday, April 26. Council members will serve

noon lunch in appreciation to all the Zion

volunteers.

2. Replacing office computer: Gary will get

info on cost; Pres. Michelle will send out an

email to council with the info and ask for a

motion and approval to purchase.

3. Bank Signatures for Fidelity Bank,

Community Bank, and Thrivent: Motion by

Joe/seconded by Charter to remove Brad Brown

and add Michelle Mulfinger along with Bob

Meihe and Roger Rueber as Zion account

signers for Fidelity Bank, Community Bank,

and Thrivent. Carried.

4. Celebration Service will be May 3rd for

the new worship and fellowship items

(televisions, popcorn machine, etc.).

5. Thank you to ChyAnne for joining our

team - she has been able to make it to the

nursing homes; here in town twice this month,

has made home visits and has been able to help

with a few services already - she is doing

amazingly well!

I. Committees and Organizations reports:

1. Building and Grounds - Roger, Justin

a. Having someone come to find/fix where

water is getting in NW corner of church

b. See: H1

c. LED light bulbs have been purchased to

replace non-working bulbs in Sanctuary

2. Constitution Comm.-Brad

a) Corrected/Updated 2019

Constitution/By-Laws sent to Synod office Feb.

28, 2020 for their approval

3. Fellowship/Outreach Comm- Julie

a. Finalized the Lenten Suppers

4. Sr. Head Usher-Kris

5. Parish Ed: Joe

6. Roepke Scholarship: Pastor Josh

a. Waiting for applications

7. Stewardship & Finance: Kris

a. Parsonage sale monies: 6 CD’s were

purchased (3 at Community Bank and 3 at

Fidelity Bank). Transferred $24,000 from the

Edel Thrivent funds to Zion’s general fund.

8. Technology: Gary

9. WELCA:

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10. Worship & Music - Charter/Michelle/Roger

a. Palms ordered for Palm Sunday

b. Singing The Lord’s Prayer will start in

May

c. Recognizing Seniors May 10th.

d. Rogation Sunday is April 26

Closed with The Lord’s Prayer

Adjournment at 7:54 PM.

Respectfully Submitted, Twyla Larsen, Council

Secretary

** Subject to approval at next month’s meeting

TRIENNIAL GATHERING 2020

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July 16-19, 2020

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women just like you who are eager to grow,

learn, pray and party – together!

Join us in Phoenix, and live your faith in

love that leads to justice.

Register online: welcatg.org

Opens September 30, 2019

Early bird discount through January 6, 2020.

Registration materials are online only.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN CUPBOARD

If you would like to help people of our

community who are short of food, please bring

the food items to the church and place them in

the collection box located in the entry of the

church. They will be taken to the Cupboard.

Our assigned item for months of April and May

is Muffin mixes.

BIBLE STUDY –

WEDNESDAY MORNINGS

Zion Lutheran Church has an awesome Bible

Study every Wednesday morning at 7:45 to 9.

It is based on the Gather magazine. Maxine

Losen leads this study and with her knowledge

of the Bible, we always end up learning

something new every week. We have

interesting conversations and lots of laughter

and even sometimes, tears.(There are treats

involved too)

Please come and join us, everyone is welcome!

KCRG, KWWL, KGAN Cancellation of Church service or Office

closing

Watch your favorite TV station to see if service

has been cancelled or the office is closed due to

BAD WINTER weather conditions.

BULLETINS/FLOWERS

Flower and bulletin charts are in the narthex on

clipboards on the big table. If you haven’t

picked out your favorite dates yet, please do so.

Between right now and May 10, we only have 2

people signed up. Let’s not leave our altar bare

for too long. It always looks so beautiful with

the flowers that Charter and Linda make up for

us.

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APPLICATION FORM FOR EWALU

CAMPERSHIP

There are 10 EWALU camperships

available for the 2020 summer camping

season funded by the Arthur Roepke

Scholarship Fund. The fund will pay

EWALU the remaining cost after the deposit

has been paid by the camper’s family. The

deposit paid by the camper is $100. If

additional family members attend, the

additional deposit amounts paid by the

family will be $50 for each camper.

The scholarships are awarded on a first

come, first serve basis. If camp attendance is

contingent upon receiving a campership,

please check with the office for availability.

Requirements:

The child has completed grades 1-12

The child is a Zion Lutheran Sunday

School or Confirmation student or a H.S.

confirmed member of Zion

The completed camp form and deposit

has been sent to EWALU

Camper’s

Name_______________________________

Parent’s Name(s)

____________________________________

Address

____________________________________

Grade completed

____________________________________

Date form and deposit mailed to EWALU

____________________________________

RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO THE

CHURCH OFFICE.

There are Roepke Scholarships available

to high school seniors who are confirmed

members of Zion. An application can be

picked up in the church office or on the table

in the Narthex. Applications are due to the

church office on or before Friday, May 1,

2020.

There is a $500 Roepke non-traditional

student scholarship available. The definition

of a non-traditional student is an adult who

has been out of the educational system for a

minimum of 10 years. Applicants will be

active members of Zion Lutheran Church.

They will be adults who intend to pursue a

second career or complete their formal

education. They must plan to attend an

accredited institution of higher learning.

Please submit an application stating in your

own words why you are applying for this

scholarship. Applications are due to the

church office on or before Friday, May 1,

2020.

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2020 NORTHEASTERN IOWA SYNOD

ASSEMBLY

The Northeastern Iowa Synod Assembly

will meet at Wartburg College in Waverly

June 12-14, 2020

The 2020 Synod Assembly will gather at

Wartburg College, Waverly, June 12-14, for

business surrounded by word and sacrament.

The election of a Bishop will be the primary

business on Friday and Saturday.

In honor of 50 years of women being

ordained in the ELCA, Sunday morning will

include small group study on the ordination

of women and its implications, an open mic

during the plenary session about the impact

of the ordination of women on the ministry

of the church, and a worship service that

honors this breakthrough.

KEYNOTE – The keynote address will be

presented by the Rev. Dr. Martin J.

Lohrmann, associate professor of Lutheran

Confessions and Heritage for Wartburg

Theological Seminary, Dubuque.

CHURCHWIDE REPRESENTATIVE –

Lori Fedyk, treasurer of the Evangelical

Lutheran Church in America, will preside

over the election of the Bishop.

FORUMS AND SEMINARS – Saturday

afternoon forums and seminars will focus on

“Celebrating Renewal: Johannes

Bugenhagen, Parish Pastor of the

Reformation,” the year-long synod

emphasis.

ASSEMBLY FACTS –

o Theme/Emphasis – “Celebrating

Renewal: Johannes Bugenhagen,

Parish Pastor of the Reformation.”

o Elections – Voting members will

elect a synod bishop, synod secretary,

synod council members and

nominating committee.

o Forms – General information and

registration forms are available at

your church office.

o Fees – Fee categories are non-

commuter (meals, housing),

commuter (meals, no housing), and

visitor (no meals, no housing). Early

bird registration fees will be available

until Tuesday, May 12. An additional

fee of $25 will be added after May 12.

o Information – A pre-assembly

notebook will be mailed or a digital

copy emailed to registered voting

members on May 12.

o Youth – Congregations are

encouraged to elect a youth voting

member.

o Voting Requirement – Voting

members must be voting members of

their congregation.

o Resolutions – Business is presented

in resolution form. Resolutions may

be submitted to the Resolutions

Committee by a voting member of a

congregation in the Northeastern Iowa

Synod, a congregation, or a

conference.

o Visitors – Both adults and youth are

welcome and encouraged to attend.

Learn more at www.neiasynod.org/synod-

assembly 2020.

Linda J Hudgins

Assistant to the Bishop

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NORTHEASTERN IOWA STAR

March 2020.Volume 33, Issue 3

MINISTRY PARTNERS ARE GIFTS

TO THIS SYNOD

One of the life-changing and life-giving

ministries in our synod is Lutheran Services

in Iowa’s Bremwood Lutheran Children’s

Home. We have partnered with them in

several ways over the years. Here are a

couple of examples.

The Men in Mission group met on their

campus. After some time to get acquainted,

one of the residents asked one of the men,

“Will you teach me how to play catch?” No

one had ever taught him how to do

something that basic.

Our Lutheran Youth Organization met on

campus. There was a resident who was

from the same town as a member of the

LYO. Again, after some trust was built, a

resident asked the LYO student from the

same town, “Will you say ’Hi’ to me in the

hallway at school?” “Yes.” “Will you sit

with me at lunch?” This is the ultimate

question in high school. “Yes,” said our

youth. Both were blessed.

When you view the institutional ministries

that are located in our synod, you realize

what remarkable gifts we have. Your

support is well deserved.

Steven L. Ullestad

Bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod

WOMEN’S DEVOTIONAL BIBLE

New International Version

Author: Ann Spangler

SURROUNDED BY CHRIST

The story of Exodus is played out in

miniature in the life of every believer. Like

the Jews of old, we are held in bondage.

Pharaoh represents Satan, who enslaves

every person who does not belong to God.

But God saves us from our enemy and leads

us into freedom and into the promised land

of his presence.

While we live on earth, we are involved in

this exodus journey. Often, our pilgrimage

seems agonizingly slow and confusing. We

seem to wander in a desert of our own

weakness and sin. Our faith is tested by

difficulty. We have fears, many of which

are real. It is not only “the things that go

bump in the night” that terrify us. We sense

an evil presence intent on overtaking us.

But like the Jewish people fleeing the wrath

of Pharaoh, we can be certain that God will

surround us with his protection. He will

send angels to battle our enemy and a pillar

of fire to brighten our darkness. Though

evil may threaten us, it will never

overwhelm us. We can take comfort from

the prayer attributed to Patrick of Ireland:

“Christ be with me, Christ before me, Christ

be after me, Christ within me, Christ

beneath me, Christ above me, Christ at my

right hand, Christ at my left.” Surrounded

by Christ, we will pass safely through this

world to the next.

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One of the funniest things to be in this office

is a book called “Wonderful Memories &

Treasures” by Jim Doyne. I am including

some excerpts in this issue of the Messenger

because I think we need something right

about now to make us smile. I hope some of

these passages make you laugh out loud.

o One good thing about being wrong is

the joy it brings to others.

o Marriages are made in Heaven….but

then so is thunder and lightening.

o Medication is so expensive these

days that doctors are giving

prescriptions with a note, “Take one

pill as often as you can afford it.”

o You know you are getting older, if

before you step off the curb, you look

down once more to make sure the

street is still there.

o You can tell you are getting old,

when your feet hurt even before you

get out of bed.

o The real reason that mountain

climbers tie themselves together is to

keep the sensible one from going

home.

o If all the people who slept in church

were laid end to end they would be

more comfortable.

o Mid-life crisis is when you realize

you will need the entire second half

of your life just to undo all the

damage you caused during the first

half.

o Among life’s mysteries is how a 2

pound box of candy can make a

person gain 5 pounds.

o Notice in a church bulletin: The

Lord loveth a cheerful giver. He also

accepteth from a grouch.

GODS WORK. OUR HANDS

There will be a work day here at Zion on

April 26, 2020 right after church services are

over. Some of the work will be inside and

some outside. It might be faster and make

things easier if we all wear our work clothes

to church. Church Council is making a

lunch to be served at noon.

AED (Automatic External Defibrillators)

Church Council would like to add two

automatic external defibrillators to the

church; one for upstairs and one for

downstairs. The cost would be $2848.10.

We have a family that is willing to donate

the first $1000 and we are asking the

congregation to donate towards the balance.

Please consider helping out on this special

project.

First Communion Instruction

First Communion Instruction will be offered as

soon as possible after Zion reopens. We will

have one night of instruction with parents and

students. We will still make this a special

celebration.

ZOWe and Confirmation

ZOWe and Confirmation classes and sessions

will resume as soon as we can after Zion

reopens. More details will be coming!

Pastor Josh Schunk

Zion Lutheran Church

Oelwein, Iowa

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