From the African American Lectionary

 

Palm Sunday brings us to the close of Lent, a season of denial and sacrifice, and ushers us into Passion Week (Holy Week) with all of its hope and expectations of liberation and salvation. Palm Sunday on the Christian calendar coincides with the week leading to the Passover celebration on the Jewish calendar. These days remind Christians of our connection with the Jewish faith and how both faith traditions look for God's in-breaking in human affairs by the Messiah. Palm Sunday demonstrates how no amount of oppression can dash the hopes of a people who believe that their king will come.

 

A major theological theme of Palm Sunday is hope. The entry of Jesus into the holy city of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday is the witness that God will not leave creation to continue in the status quo of power arrangements that rob persons of what the Divine intended, whether those power arrangements have Roman origin or Jewish origin or other origins. For African Americans who have often suffered from the power arrangements of the status quo, Palm Sunday is a day of hope and celebration that speaks to divine possibilities for change.

 

Palm Sunday reminds us we may need to visit and engage some dangerous places in our lives if we are to prophetically respond to God's call.  That is certainly part of the message this Sunday.  We must consider that some of the places we encounter on the way to a world filled with justice and peace, mercy and grace, may be less than hospitable.  Amen?

 

Can't wait to see you on Sunday morning!

 

Plan to be with us.  Bring your ideas for what you would like our grounds to look like this spring and then come and make that happen! 

 

 

Wearing the stole has, since very early times in our tradition, been the symbol of the priestly office and, as such, jealously guarded by the ordained.  Why might not the pastor, when others are about to lead the community of faith in reading, preaching, singing or praying, remove the stole and vest with it the person who will at least for the next few minutes, address the congregation?  In this way, individuals, lay or ordained, are empowered, authority is shared, and priesthood expanded to embrace many who minister in Christ's name. (Giles, Times and Seasons, page 11) That is why we pass the stole at Zion during worship and it is also important for reasons set out below.

 

There is no magic formula today by which mainline denominations will survive or grow.  Many, as you know, are dying and closing.  In fact, three years ago only 25 to 30 were worshipping at Zion each Sunday and many in this community had written our church obituary.  For some reason, we have survived at Zion and we have begun to grow. As you know, the number worshipping at Zion on Sundays has doubled since that time three years ago. Members of this church have told me they  enjoy Zion because we, frequently, "change things up" and repetition is avoided.  Some of this just happens spontaneously and some of this is intentional. It is what I refer to as "resurrection liturgy".  Our liturgy and service need to continually die in order that they be reborn in ways that are meaningful to the congregation.  Does every member need to embrace every change?  No, of course not.  But it has been my experience that every change has resonated with some. We are a very eclectic gathering.

 

A key to success for those mainline congregations that are thriving in the country today (and there aren't too many) is this.  They have been willing to shed the ecclesiastical and liturgical encumbrances of the past in order that they welcome a new emerging church

Stoles for everyone at this UCC church!

tradition. In the absence of these changes we find that many persons simply are not interested in worshipping in a traditional church setting.  The art form, of course, is in balancing components of our traditional liturgy with new emerging traditions.  That is not always easy and we don't always do it well but we are trying, and that is the important thing.  And, judging by the numbers of those who have come and stayed to worship at Zion, there is some appeal.  I don't think we have found a church home at Zion by coincidence or randomly, I think we find something in the liturgy and in the fellowship that nourishes and sustains us.  We are receiving spiritual food here at Zion.

 

Now, back to the stole.  In the near future, I will be asking you to help me design a stole which represents the values of who we are at Zion.  The stole will be used during worship. and shared.  We are all ministers at Zion whether we are clergy or not.  We frequently echo our welcome of "no matter who you are or where you are in life's journey, you are welcome at Zion."  I want to express that symbolically in our church community stole here at Zion.  Will you help?  Thank you, in advance, for your help and assistance.

 

In Christ,

 

Pastor Pete

 

Family Promise is selling brick pavers to raise money for the final stage of renovating the new Family Promise home located two blocks from Zion. The pavers will decorate the walkway surrounding the home.  Zion Church is a covenant partner with Family Promise which provides emergency services to homeless families in the Delaware area.  Each paver is $100.  

 

The church is purchasing pavers which will read In Memory of Dick Ellis.  Dick Ellis was a strong and passionate voice for Family Promise at Zion in the earliest days of our connection with these efforts. His sudden passing was a great sadness to the Zion family. Contributions for the bricks can be made to Zion UCC with brick mentioned in the memo space.  Any amount, no matter how large or small, is welcome.

 

Members and friends will remember that, shortly after Dick's passing, collections were made to replace tables in the fellowship hall (Dick wanted this done!).  The tables we use today are a testament to Dick's love and caring attitude for his brothers and sisters.  The Memorial Service at Zion for Dick remains, to this day, a lasting and fitting tribute and testimonial to what God's love can and will do in the world. These gifts in his memory will provide another memorial to the time he                                spent with us sharing his gifts to God's glory.

 

PIN Food Pantry "CAN"paign - Feed Our WOW Wagon

People In Need (PIN) began its 2013 Food Panty "CAN"paign on March 18.  We have set our goal at 1,000 pounds for this year which, when attained, will exceed our highest previous year's result, 820 pounds in 2011. We can do it!

Our newest addition to the PIN family, the WOW (Wheels of Warmth) Wagon, awaits your donation at the rear of the sanctuary.  Fill up the WOW Wagon!

A list of the most needed food and taxable items are posted on the sanctuary bulletin board. Most needed food items include canned meats, canned fish, and, always the popular favorite, peanut butter.  Most needed taxable items include toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, bar soap and diapers.

It was suggested by a friend that for our Maundy Thursday meal this year we replace our staple of onion soup with Stone Soup.  We are going to honor his request.

Stone Soup is an old folk story in which hungry strangers persuade local people of a town to give them food. It is usually told as a lesson in cooperation, especially amid scarcity.  Some travellers come to a village, carrying

nothing more than an empty cooking pot. Upon their arrival, the villagers are unwilling to share any of their food stores with the hungry travellers. Then the travellers go to a stream and fill the pot with water, drop a large stone in it, and place it over a fire. 

One of the villagers becomes curious and asks what they are doing. The travellers answer that they are making "stone soup", which tastes wonderful, although it still needs a little bit of garnish to improve the flavor, which they are missing. The villager does not mind parting with a few carrots to help them out, so that gets added to the soup. Another villager walks by, inquiring about the pot, and the travelers again mention their stone soup which has not reached its full potential yet. The villager hands them a little bit of seasoning to help them out. More and more villagers walk by, each adding another ingredient. Finally, a delicious and nourishing pot of soup is enjoyed by all.

Church Council and the Endowment Board at Zion are seeking an interested church member who will be willing to share his or her gift of financial acumen. With Amy Fields' recent move to North Carolina, our Endowment Board is seeking to fill a vacancy.  The Endowment Board is responsible for managing church funds which have been set aside as an endowment for future emergency capital needs.  The Endowment Fund was initially established in the early 1900's through gifts from estates of generous members and their families.  Please contact Chad Allen or Jason Abahazi if you have an interest in this position. 

 

Please join the Delaware Community Chorus on Sunday, May 5 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The DCC will perform a spring concernt, Camelot, Psalms and Haydn.  The concert will be performed at 3:00 and again at 5:00.  

The chorus will sing a medley from Camelot, the Broadway musical; unique arrangements of Psalms poetry; and Haydn's masterpiece, Te Deum.  Tickets 

 

  Kay Lundy                             Jeff Burkam

  Lowell Allen                           Donna Jarrell

      Tom Bordner                          Gary Zicht 

      Tim Flahive                            The Family of Eldon Wigton

      Irma D'Epifanio                       Pat Pressler