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Zion United Church of Christ Weekly Newsletter
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 | Pastor Ewing
Zion Pastor 1922 - 1929 |
From the Pastor's Desk
We read frequently about the American Way of Life. William Herberg, writing in the 1950's, characterized it this way. "The American Way of life is individualistic, dynamic, pragmatic. It affirms the supreme value and dignity of the individual; it stresses incessant activity on his part, for he is never to rest but is always to be striving to get ahead". (In Protestant, Catholic, Jew: an Essay in American Religious Sociology)
Superman, in the comic book of the same name, fights for "truth, justice and the American way."
We are proud to be Americans and rightfully so. We have much to offer the world.
But perhaps the American Way of Life can be enhanced and enriched by answering a call to another way of life; the Easter Way of Life. The Easter story is not only an experience, an event, the holiest moment of our tradition. It is also a way of life. The resurrection of Jesus created the hope in Christians that death is never the end of the journey; resurrection and new and eternal life in Christ Jesus is our destination. By embracing Easter as a way of life, we have the opportunity to experience Easter moments in the midst of our everyday lives. An Easter Way of Life feeds us and strengthens us for the trials of life.
We know all too well that life comes with challenges. Life is not always a "day at the beach or a walk in the park". Trials and challenges, death and grief, pain and suffering are always close at hand; the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a dream, the loss of a relationship. But resurrection and new life are always waiting to be noticed and embraced within the days of our lives.
Out of the despairing moments and incidents and trials of life come new dreams, new loves; healing, comfort and reassurance. Making Easter a way of life means that we are unwilling to settle for death in any of its forms. In an Easter Way of Life we know these deaths died on the Cross. New life is offered to us in an Easter Way of Life. Making Easter a way of life means that we turn our eyes toward a new life of resurrection each and every day, searching for the signs of rebirth, believing in the great truth of God's love, and living into the glory of God's grace and mercy.
When we accept an Easter Way of Life, "there will be joy in the morning on that day".
In Christ
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 Piano Recital at Zion
On Friday April 19 we will welcome the keyboard students of Alice Hagelgans, their friends and families into our sanctuary at Zion for their annual recital. This musical extravaganza begins at 7:00.
Our own Joey Horsley, who has just begun his experience at the keyboard, will be one of the performers. Miles and Seamus O'Flaherty will be featured in selections by Bach and Chopin. These young men are returning to perform as former students.
We are so excited about this opportunity for our church to host this community event. All are welcome to attend and refreshments will be served following the performance.
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 Coming Soon! Recycle Your Bulletins!
Soon we will welcome this recycling bin into our sanctuary to receive bulletins after worship each Sunday. Please keep an eye out for this helpful new partner of ours as we do everything we can to "Green Up".
Thank you Jeff Reed for your helpful suggestion on Sunday. The bin has been ordered and should arrive soon! |
 Family Promise Week Begins April 14
As soon as you are able, please let Mike Newcomb know of your availability to help with Family Promise Week here at Zion. We will welcome families to Zion the afternoon of April 14. We are still in need of those who will prepare meals for our guests, and do "sleepovers". We also look forward, of course, to Zion families coming to church during the evenings of this week for no other reason that to be with our families, to share time and space with them, and let them know we  enjoy having them with us at Zion. Sharing with them Zion Extravagant Hospitality!
Please let Mike know what you are able to do by seeing him after church on Sunday or by contacting him at this email address or phone number: msn51@frontier.com or 740.363.2917.
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 Feed the WOW Wagon!!
We had another very successful collection month in March; 128 pounds of food and other items donated on behalf of Zion to People In Need (PIN). We say "keep doing what you're doing" and we will handily exceed our goal of 1,000 pounds in 2013. Currently, we have collected 258 pounds!
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! She was looking pretty empty last week on our first collection Sunday of the month. Let's make her smile and fill her up!
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.
A machine has value only as it produces more than it consumes - so check your value to the community. Martin H. Fischer
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4th Annual Family Promise Italian Dinner
Let's have another great turnout for the annual Family Promise Italian Dinner. The Italian Dinner will once again be held at St. Mary's Church. This year's dinner will be on April 18 from 5 until 8 pm. We have always been well represented at the dinner (great food!!). Let's continue that great tradition! How appropriate this year's fundraiser/dinner will be held during Family Promise Week at Zion!
All proceeds of the dinner benefit Family Promise of Delaware County, providing shelter and supportive services to homeless families. Dinners are $10 for adults and $5
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2012 Zion Entourage at Family Promise Dinner
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for students. There is a Silent Auction and a 50/50 Raffle. Please see Mike Newcomb for tickets.
What a joy it is to be blessed with this wonderful program in our Delaware Community! Family Promise has, for many years, provided emergency assistance to families in need of housing. With and through faith partnerships, Family Promise has been able to assist families in meaningful ways during periods of challenge and difficulty.
As you may know, a permanent Family Promise home located on the corner of North Washington and West Winter Street is currently undergoing extensive renovation. It will soon be open to welcome Family Promise families to a new home. More details will soon be forthcoming. (Please see Bricks for Dick story below).
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Spring Cleanup!!
Well, its almost time for us to open the garage, grab the tools which signify that spring is here, and begin our yard work. We need to do that work at Zion as well as at our homes. We will have our first "outside"  spring cleanup effort at Zion on Saturday April 27. If the weather is inclement on that date we will postpone our activities until the following Saturday, May 4. We will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude when our backs and blisters tell us it is time to cease our efforts.
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!
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 Bricks for Dick
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.
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Delaware Community Chorus
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
cost $7.50 each and are available from chorus
members (John and Antoinette Miller at Zion!) or online at delawarechorus.org. Always a wonderful concert!!
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** Happy Birthday**
April 15- Debbie Ufferman
April 15- Harold Nichols
April 17- Lylah Stout
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Immediate Prayer Concerns
Pat Pressler Jeff Burkam
Lowell Allen Donna Jarrell
Lucas Sandy Nichols
Charlotte Randolph The Families of Newtown
Tom Bordner Gary Zicht
Tim Flahive The Family of Eldon Wigton
Irma D'Epifanio Jill Glass and Family Marylou Smith Lisa Parks
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This Week at Zion
Our scripture readings this week will be Psalm 30, Acts 9:1-9 and from the Gospel of John, John 21:1-19. This week's message is titled "The Way (of Life)". We can't wait to see you on Sunday!
This is Host Week at Zion for Family Promise. Please help if you are able! Mobile Food Market. Eagles Parking Lot on Monday (April 15). 11:30 - 1:00. Family Promise Italian Dinner. See article above for details. Voices of Zion Rehearsal at 6:00 Wednesday. Thank you for serving Zion this Sunday 
Liturgist
Jan Anible
Ushers/Greeters
RoseAnn Haynes & Diane Miller
Acolyte
C.J. Aahazi
Nursery Care
Melissa Peterson & Sarah Newcomb
Fellowship:
Bill & Shirley Keesee
Monday, Wednesday. & Thursday 10-2
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