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One Great Hour of Sharing
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) funds enable the United Church of Christ to respond quickly to disasters and other urgent and unexpected needs as they arise. In addition to the OGHS offering funds the UCC also receives designated gifts for specific disasters and crisis situations that further enhance our capacity to respond.
This is our first UCC Special Offering of the year and the OGHS offering will be taken up during worship on March 10. In recent years our giving for these important mission purposes has increased dramatically. Let's keep that going! Please consider an offering, in whatever amount, to support these efforts.
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 Andrews House Open House
This is late notice but please consider attending an open house this evening (Friday, March 1) at Andrews House (corner of West Winter and North Franklin one block south of Zion). The house will be open from 6:00 until 8:00. Partner agencies will be present to share information on the good work being done at Andrews House. There will be kids activities provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters and Action for Children, free memory tests from the Alzheimer's Association, and much more.
As you know, we are in covenant with Andrews House as community partners working to improve the quality of life we enjoy in Delaware. We are currently deeply engaged in mission with Andrews House and the MidOhio Food Bank, providing volunteers and support for the semi-monthly Mobile Food Market (see article below).
Stop by to tour the historic building, built in 1846, and enjoy some refreshments. See you there!
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Carbon Fast Update
Your hot water heater represents about 20-30% of the carbon emissions of your home, the biggest user of energy in your house. Consider setting your hot water thermostat to 120°F.  Insulate your hot water tank with an insulation jacket if available for your system. Arrange for your boiler to be serviced so it runs more efficiently. If your boiler needs to be replaced, learn all you can about energy efficiency.
We love fireplaces and we want to use them. However, as Grist's "Ask Umbra" says, "the fireplace accounts for 14 percent of air lost out of a home, more than the windows. So before we get all excited about window glazing, it pays to stop up the chimney. At the very minimum, close the damper when you're not using the fireplace. If you know for sure you will not use it for an extended period, plug and seal the flue... and put a note on the fireplace, so that no guest or forgetful resident lights a fire in the plugged chimney."
Only use your washing machine when you have a full load, and run it on cold whenever possible. Run at maximum spin to reduce drying times and avoid using a tumble dryer, opting instead for a clothesline. A typical washing machine uses 90% of its energy to heat the water. Generally, cold water gets your clothes just as clean and saves about 2 pounds of CO2 per load.
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Easter Lilies
The church will once again be offering Easter Lilies for purchase to adorn the sanctuary for Easter Sunday. In addition, hyacinths and tulips may be purchased. This is an opportunity to memorialize or honor a family member or friend. This is a time honored tradition at Zion.
The cost is $8.00 per pot and each flower has 4 to 6 blooms.
There will be an order form insert in the church bulletin for the next several Sundays. Please fill out the requested information and return it to the church office, or drop the completed form in the offering plate. We request that flower orders be accompanied by payment.
 However, if you are unable to make a payment but want to honor a family member or friend in this way, please leave a note for Beth or tell Pastor Pete and we will make arrangements for payment.
Lilies are very popular at this time of year with many churches in Delaware, not just Zion. It is important, therefore, for us to submit a timely order. Please have your order to us by March 17.
Thank you for participating in a tradition that not only beautifies our sanctuary on our holiest of days, but also honors those who have gone before us and those who hold a special place within our hearts.
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 Mobile Food Market
The Mobile Food Market needs volunteers for next Monday, March 4. Please join us in the Eagles parking lot on East William Street as we prepare and distribute fresh produce to families in need within the Delaware Community.
We are pleased to be in partnership with other area churches and with Andrews House in this important and much needed project. Set-up begins at 11:30 and work concludes by 1:00. Last month over 180 families received important dietary staples at our distribution. See you on Monday!! |
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Coffee Mugs and Coffee Cups
As part of our effort at Zion to participate in the Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast and our ongoing effort to make Zion more "green", we are encouraging members to bring a designated coffee/tea mug or cup to church to leave for your use during fellowship hour and at other times you are at the church.
So far, the response has been good. But we need many, many more mugs and cups. It will not be long before we stop buying paper and styrofoam cups.
The mugs will ultimately be displayed in a yet-to-be designed display on one of the kitchen walls. Even if you don't drink coffee or tea you will want your mug or cup prominently displayed to showcase and promote our effort and to make the display an accurate representation of the diversity of Zion.
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From the Pastor's Desk
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Pastor Vogt
Zion's longest serving pastor
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How do we establish the value of a life? How much is a life worth? Courts of justice are called upon to make that calculation every day in cases where a death has occurred and aggrieved parties have petitioned the court for compensation.
Our text for Sunday suggests that God's method of calculating the "net worth" of a life may use different variables than a court would use. "Your ways are not my ways", says the Lord to Isaiah. (Isaiah 55) What variables would God's formula use?
A court, as one suggestion of value, will try to determine the earning potential of the deceased person over the remainder of that person's life had that life not been wrongfully ended. How much would that person have received as earned income?
Perhaps God's determination of value would be not what that person might have received over a life but what could and would that person have given; given to his neighbor, given to her community, given to the Lord.
The question of determining the value of a life according to God or the value of a life according to cultural norms is just as much a conversation about the living. How do we act in ways God values. We are pulled to live lives judged by standards we cannot live up to; good looks, perfect families and money for whatever we want. These may be false values in God's view. "My ways are higher than your ways", says the Lord.
So, during this time of lenten sacrifice, we turn our hearts to God asking that God teach us, inspire us, and convict us that the Lord's ways are better than our ways and the Lord's thoughts are more useful than our thoughts.
In Christ,
Pastor Pete
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ACH Deductions?
Some persons like the ease of making automatic donations to the church by designating a weekly or monthly recurring deduction to their bank account. This method helps ease any worry you may have of missing donations to your church when you are unable to worship on Sunday. If you are interested in this alternative, please contact Carrie and she will assist in setting up this method of supporting Zion.
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** Happy Birthdays to Gunnar Cerda and Dale Wilgus !! **
**Happy Anniversaries to Rusty & Kay Lundy and John & Sue Robinson!! **
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Immediate Prayer Concerns
Kay Lundy Jeff Burkam
Lowell Allen Donna Jarrell
Lucas Sandy Nichols
Charlotte Randolph The Families of Newtown
Tom Bordner Gary Zicht
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This Week at Zion
Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. We will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion and we will reflect on scripture texts from the Old Testament (Isaiah 55:1-9) and the Gospel of Luke (13:1-9). Pastor Pete's message this week is Net Worth.
No reason to be any place but Zion Sunday morning, we'll be looking for you!!
Voices of Zion Zion Handbell Choir Rehearsal at 6:00 Wednesday Rehearsal after worship on Sunday Thank you for serving Zion this Sunday
Liturgist
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Thank you Zion for sharing!!
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Debbie Morris
Ushers/Greeters
Jason Abahazi & Kellye Powell
Acolyte
Jason White
Nursery Care
Melissa Peterson & Sarah Newcomb
Fellowship Dan & Deb Fuchs
Office Hours for Beth
Monday, Wednesday. & Thursday 10-2
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