Good News From Zion

A Message from Pastor Summer -- May 2019

2019-05-03T10:10:00.001-07:00

An Easter song:

Peter came in anguish on that Easter morning

Remembering that bitter night and the way he had run.

He could hear the accusations, hear himself denying,

He could hear the rooster crowing with the coming of the sun.

But on that Easter morning, a new day had begun.

His anguish would be taken with the rising of God’s Son.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Mary came in sorrow on that Easter morning

Remembering that brutal hill and the way he had cried.

She couldn’t hide her tears, or the empty feeling

Or the haunting question of why he had to die.

But on that Easter morning, a new day had begun.

Her sorrow would be taken with the rising of God’s Son.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Andrew came in anger on that Easter morning

Remembering the cruel way they had him crucified.

He couldn’t see their reasons or understand their fears

And he vowed that he’d never forgive their lies.

But on that Easter morning, a new day had begun.

His anger would be taken with the rising of God’s Son.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Thomas came with questions on that Easter morning

Remembering the dreams they shared as they walked through Galilee.

Was he the Messiah, the one for whom they waited,

The one who would truly set them free?

But on that Easter morning, a new day had begun.

His questions would be taken with the rising of God’s Son.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

May the joy of Easter, the promise of a new day, fill us with hope!

April Council Highlights

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The Church Council met on April 11, 2019. Below are the highlights of that meeting.

· Courtney Rzeplinski reported that the Christian Education Committee is still in search of a Sunday School Coordinator. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Courtney at courtney@zionoldwick.com.

· The Council voted to direct $1,000 of Endowment Mission Outreach funds to Lutheran World Relief in response to Cyclone Idai’s devastation in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

· The Communications Committee is in need of volunteers. The committee will hold an open meeting on May 5 at 9:45 a.m. at the CEB. Anyone interested in Evangelism or Communications is invited to attend. (Please see the article below for more information.)

· The Property Committee is working on plans for renovations at the parsonage.

· Thank you to:

* Rebecca Melick for her leadership and facilitation of Feed My Starving Children.

* Frank Stanski, who went above and beyond in his volunteering for Feed My Starving Children.

* Patricia Craig and Cindy Rupprecht for their work on Plan to Protect.

The next meeting of the Church Council will be on Wednesday, May 15. Meetings are open for all to attend.

Communications Committee Open Meeting -- May 5

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One of the major decisions made at the Council retreat this year was folding Evangelism into the Communications Committee. The reason for the move is that the idea of evangelism tends to frighten people and communicating the good news feels more inviting. In addition, with the advent of social media, we have so many new ways to share the story of God’s grace and extend an invitation. On May 5, between services at the CEB, the newly constituted Communications Committee will be hold an open meeting. Everyone is invited, but we are particularly interested in those who have served on the Evangelism Committee or Communications Task Force in the past. We’re looking for ideas, hoping to grow the committee, and begin mapping out a direction for us as a congregation. We will also be rolling out our website, Zion 2.0. We hope to see you on the 5^th!

June 16 worship at the CEB

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Due to the restoration work happening at the church next month, the June 16 worship service will take place at the CEB. Remember, we will be on our summer schedule with one service at 9:30 a.m.

Social Ministry Update

2019-05-03T10:08:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in Feed My Starving Children this year. Over the two days Zion hosted the event we packed 468 boxes; that is 101,088 Manna Pack meals.

Founded in 1987, Feed My Starving Children is a Christian non-profit that provides nutritionally complete meals for starving, malnourished and hungry people. The food prevents starvation and curbs malnourishment in children and families worldwide. FMSC food has reached more than 70 countries. To learn more go to www.fmsc.org.

Youth & Family Ministries

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Dear Members and Friends,

This year of Sunday School is wrapping up. Our last day is May 19^th. We have had a very wonderful year with some great volunteers! Thank you to all of those who made Sunday School a great success.

Over the summer, we will start to see some changes in the youth programming. First, our Plan to Protect child safety policy will be rolling out. Our trainers, Cindy Rupprecht, Patricia Craig, and I will be leading several trainings over the summer, so that everyone will have a chance to become knowledgeable about the ways to keep our students, volunteers, staff, and church protected. Invitations to join a session will be out in June.

The youth ministry study team has also wrapped up their book study and is ready to explore models of youth ministry. It’s important to know that we have the flexibility to try new models and experiment as we go, until we find the perfect fit for Zion. There are a lot of ways to minister to students, and I am confident that Zion will find its ideal model in the coming years.

This summer will also have a week of Vacation Bible School. This event is highly sought after by the community (we have already gotten phone calls and emails). If you have young students, age 3 – completion of 4^th grade, and would like to register them, please call the church office. Also, if you are available to help with this event, please reach out to myself or Melanie Hodges. This year, the theme is ROAR! Life is wild- God is good!

Finally, in July, our middle and high schoolers will travel to Rehoboth Beach, to do mission work and enjoy a time of fellowship. The week is a wonderful opportunity for the youth and adults to strengthen their relationships with each other.

I look forward to all of the events, planning and preparations that happen during the summer. It is a time for us to set our sails into new winds, and chart a course for new horizons!

Peace,

Courtney Rzeplinski

Last Day of Sunday School -- May 19

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The last day of Sunday School is May 19th! We will be celebrating with games, food, and a chance to vote on what we want to donate our offering money towards - Bees, Chicks, or a water filtration system. Don't miss all the fun and action!

ELCA Piggy Banks

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ELCA Piggy Banks are being collected at the Christian Education Building on April 28th thru May 12th. Please bring your filled piggy bank to Sunday school or worship so the money you donated can be added to our Sunday school offering. On May 19th, the Sunday School children we will vote on how to disperse the funds - Bees, Chicks, or a water filtration system!

THANK YOU!

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Thank you to all our teachers, volunteers, parents, and students for their hard work and dedication during the 2018-2019 school year. If you have an interest in helping with Zion’s youth ministry programs, please see Courtney Rzeplinski, Director of Youth and Family Ministries, or email her at courtney@zionoldwick.com.

1. Tom Gravel #

2. Sue Schermerhorn #

3. Cindy Rupprecht +

4. Jeff Livingston +

5. Sandy Matsen*

6. Melanie Hodges**

7. John Melick

8. Courtney Ronaldo*

9. Linda Smith*

10. Brooke Schumann**

11. Richard Schumann*

12. Lou DiCriscio*

13. Rebecca Melick*

14. Brian Hodges*

15. Jennifer Hodges*

16. Kristen Hodges*

17. Tami Mendenhall*

18. Donna Hunter*

19. Bonnie Stanski*

20. Meghan Stanski*

21. Mike Jennison*

22. Tiffany Shin*

23. Steve Shin

24. Ellen Stevenson

25. Linda Dierking

26. Paul Batkowski

27. Kristen Batkowski

28. Carol Anne Bredeson*

29. Laura Bredeson*

30. Susannah Allen*

31. Rod Briscoe*

32. Linda Held*

33. Patricia Craig*

34. Betty Lanka*

35. Richard Pepe*

36. Cheryl Rodrick*

37. Laura Spann

38. Jim Dierking

* denotes Sunday School volunteer

** denotes Sunday School Superintendent

+ denotes Confirmation volunteer

# denotes Youth of Zion volunteer

Meet Our Members

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Joe & Linda Lovas

Linda and Joe Lovas joined Zion Lutheran Church in 1971 when their oldest son was almost a year old. They had just purchased a new home in Clinton Town and moved from their North Plainfield apartment. In 1969, they were married by Pastor Roy Milner at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Dunellen, NJ. They are both lifelong NJ residents. Linda was born in Jersey City and Joe’s family is from Clifton.

They have two sons, Jeffrey and Gregory who attended Sunday School and were confirmed at Zion. Both boys were active in the Youth Group and both attended national events with Pastor Summer. They also were faithful attendees of Pastor Summer’s Rehoboth Beach retreats. In 2000, Pastor Summer married Jeffrey and his wife Jodie and in 2001 he married Gregory and his wife Amy. Both affairs were lovely and made very special because Pastor Summer was there to officiate. They have four fabulous teenage grandchildren, Julia, Jack, Jessica and Megan. Three were baptized by Pastor Summer. They all attended and volunteered at Vacation Bible School for many years

Linda and Joe are both retired. Joe retired in 2000 from the automobile business and headed to the local golf courses for some fun. When Linda retired in 2011 from The Chubb Corporation, she had just finished 25 years of service. She worked as Senior Executive Assistant to the Chairman and CEO for 23 of those years. It was an exciting and challenging position which she thoroughly enjoyed but it was time for a new chapter.

After retirement, Linda and Joe began to travel extensively. They started with Sweden, Norway and Denmark. It was something they had talked about for years. Then they got the bug and continued on to Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, Italy, France, Budapest, Amsterdam, the Greek Islands and more. It’s one of their favorite things to do together. Exploring all the new and exciting places they visit and meeting lots of interesting people is the best part.

Over the years, Linda and Joe have been active in many areas at Zion. Linda has served on Council many times and has been Vice President twice. She has also been Secretary to the Council, a Sunday School teacher, worked with Vacation Bible School, Family Promise and Faith Kitchen in Dover. They both enjoy all the social activities of the church and consider many members to be like family.

When Linda and Joe hear people say “Come Home to Zion” they often think, we never left!!!! How wonderful is that?

Larry & Arlene Martin

Hi, we are Arlene and Larry Martin. Arlene is a true “Jersey girl” and a lifetime Lutheran. Larry was born in West Virginia and came to NJ via Baltimore. We met while working for a German pharmaceutical company in Bridgewater and were able to exchange homes and jobs with a German colleague. Larry was a medicinal chemist and Arlene was Production and Inventory Control Manager. We are both retired now and enjoy traveling with friends and family. We have two children—Liz who lives in Yorktown, Virginia with her husband and nine-year-old son and Larry who lives in Tewksbury with his wife and two children. Those of you who go to the 11 AM service know our three-year-old granddaughter, Emma, who loves “her” pastor, “her” choir, and “her” church.

We joined Zion the same Sunday that Mark and Bonnie Summer joined. Both our children were confirmed by Pastor Summer and enjoyed many weeks in Rehoboth with the youth group. Arlene has been on council, taught Vacation Bible School and substituted in the Sunday School. She was also there for the first guests from Interfaith Hospitality Network (now Family Promise) and was amazed that one of the children went to school with her daughter. It was quite a shock to realize we do have homeless in Hunterdon County. The second set of guests helped Arlene assemble gingerbread houses for Advent Parish Night and she will be eternally grateful to them. Twenty gingerbread houses was a challenge but they pitched in and we had a great time.

In the past 30+ years, Zion has been there for us through strokes, cancer and those wonderful teenage years. It was a blessing to have a minister who had a son my kids age. There were some sermons that I swore Mark must have been a fly on the wall in our house it was so relevant to our lives. I had a neighbor who once remarked on how caring our church was when she saw people delivering food when I came home from the hospital. She had gone through a triple bypass and not one person from her church even called to see how she was doing.

We have many fond memories of Zion and the people that make up the congregation and feel blessed to have known all of you.

Lunch Bunch - May 9

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Lunch Bunch will gather on May 9 at Fox Hollow County Club, 59 Fox Chase Run, Branchburg, NJ. The phone number is 526-0010. Join the fun. We’ll be looking for you!

Discipleship -- May 23

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Discipleship will meet on May 23. It begins with a potluck supper at 6:30 and discussion at 7:30. All are invited. We would love to see you there!

Holy Week at Zion

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Maundy Thursday – April 18

Seder and Communion Worship at 6:30 p.m. (CEB)

Good Friday – April 19

Prayer Service at 12 p.m. (Church)

Tenebrae Service at 7:30 p.m. (Church)

Holy Saturday – April 20

Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. (CEB)

Easter Vigil at 7:30 p.m. (Church)

Easter Sunday – April 21

Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. (at Round Valley Youth Center)

Worship at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (Church)

A Message from Pastor Summer -- April 2019

2019-03-29T09:39:00.002-07:00

March Council Highlights

2019-03-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

The Church Council met on March 21, 2019. Below are the highlights of that meeting.

· Scoutmaster Douglas Economy (Boy Scout Troop 199) and Tewksbury Land Trust President Larry Ross came to the Council meeting to speak about the effort for local residents and organizations to use the Land Trust properties. The Scout Troop would like to have campouts at a few of the locations, and the Land Trust is in full support. As the sponsor of the Scout Troop, Zion has been asked to provide a Hold Harmless agreement. The Council voted to sign the agreement with the stipulation that it is approved by our insurance company.

· The Council discussed their experience of the Adult Forum presentation given by Pastor Scott Schantzenbach, Assistant to the Bishop of the NJ Synod. The Forum gave the congregation an opportunity to hear how the upcoming transition will go from the time Pastor Summer retires to the calling of a new permanent pastor, and everything in between.

· Sandy Matsen has volunteered to be the coordinator for Second Sunday Single Service, beginning in September.

· A tour of the parsonage has been scheduled for May 26 at 10:00 a.m.

· The Council voted to direct $1,000 of Endowment Mission Outreach funds to Parents of Autistic Children.

· Cemetery restoration is needed at the church. Pastor Summer will make a call to follow up on this.

· Thank you to:

* George Melick & John Bryan for removing the hazardous waste from the parsonage garage.

* John Minerowicz for recycling the latex paint found in the parsonage garage.

* The February Faith Kitchen volunteers for transporting the Coffee Drive coffee from Zion to Dover.

* Shellie Evers for taking the minutes at the February Council meeting.

The next meeting of the Church Council will be on Thursday, April 11. Meetings are open for all to attend.

Youth and Family Ministries update

2019-03-29T09:36:00.004-07:00

Dear Members and Friends,

As I look forward to my 2-year Zion anniversary in August, I am reminded of all the new things I have learned while being here at Zion. The church is full of traditions. Each season we see all that Zion continues to do year after year. I am talking about the Children’s Christmas Eve Service, God’s Work Our Hands, Alternative Giving, Seersucker Sunday, the Easter Egg Hunt, and so on. Zion is home to many members who remember when these traditions began. For those of you in the congregation who were here when we started those ideas, thank you for sharing in the stories of how our traditions came to be.

Zion is also home to a vibrant leadership group who are continually exploring new ideas. Feed My Starving Children is still a ‘recent’ mission that the church supports. Edna’s Haven and Faith Kitchen are also still in their early years of Zion’s participation. We continue to grow and reach new heights. Our Endowment funds touch new mission opportunities and programs year after year. We are the front-runners in forward giving.

Traditions may not get started overnight, but new ideas certainly do. Zion’s ministries are proof that one new idea can have an impact on who we are as a church for years to come. I ask of you in the coming months, as we get ready for Pastor Summer’s retirement, that you continue to dream. Let the spirit stir you from placidness, and let your imagination of a bright and meaningful future take hold.

Peace,

Courtney Rzeplinski

Director of Youth and Family Ministries

Social Ministry update

2019-03-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Coffee Drive

Thank you to everyone who contributed coffee to Faith Kitchen. Zion was able to donate 180 pounds of coffee to the soup kitchen. Thank you to the McAleers and Davises who transported all those cans to Dover.

Good News Home for Women

On March 7th Zion hosted 11 women from the Good News Home to our soup/salad supper and Vespers service. We had a wonderful time meeting and socializing with our guests during dinner, and afterwards Pastor led everyone in a lovely vesper service.

Family Promise

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to host our visitors from Family Promise. It takes many people to make our guests feel welcomed and comfortable during their two week stay. Thank you to Zion's new members who volunteered to help. If you were unable to participate during this past hosting period there will be another chance to volunteer when Zion hosts again at the end of August.

Easter Egg Hunt -- April 20

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Please join us for Zion’s annual Easter Egg Hunt

Maundy Thursday -- April 18

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Maundy Thursday, April 18, 2019

6:30 p.m. at the Christian Education Building

Join your Zion family around the table and share in a Passover meal similar to the meal Christ ate with His disciples before going out into the Garden of Gethsemane.

As at that supper, we too will share the Lord’s Supper.

“While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. ‘Take and eat it’ he said; ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God and gave it to them. ‘Drink it all of you,’ he said; ‘this is my blood, which seals God’s covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’ ”

(Matthew 26:26-27)

Look for the sign-up list in the narthex or in your email.

Meet Our Members

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Lysod J. Kunkel

Lysod and her late husband Ray come from generations of Lutherans in central Pennsylvania and, before that, in Germany. So, it was obvious that Lysod and Ray would be brought up in the same small Lutheran church (St. Paul’s Lutheran) in Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania and attend Sunday School, church, and Luther League together. Lysod’s great-uncle was a church organist and musician and, since she was the only pianist in the family, she inherited his baby grand piano, which she still plays today. After Ray returned from his naval service in the Pacific during World War II, they were also married in their hometown church.

Lysod loves the Lutheran church. When they moved to Bridgewater, New Jersey to find work and raise their family, the closest Lutheran church was in Plainfield, so they became instrumental in forming Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Somerville and were charter members there. Their three children, Louise, Leah, and Ray were brought up at Good Shepherd and Lysod served on Council in many capacities, sang in the choir, was Sunday School Superintendent, led Vacation Bible School for many years, was president of the Lutheran Church Women, and participated in the variety shows and plays that the church produced. In 1999, Lysod and Ray decided that they wanted to worship with Louise’s and Leah’s families who had migrated out to Hunterdon County and joined Zion many years before. So, Lysod and Ray joined the Zion family and became involved in worship, choir, ushering, greeting, and all the various Parish Life events that Zion held. They got to see many of their grandchildren’s first communions, confirmations, weddings and baptisms here at Zion.

Lysod loves to travel. Every summer, the family would set off on three to four week camping trips to see the country and, when the camping trips ended, the family had just missed three states: Alaska, Hawaii, and Oklahoma. After retirement, Lysod and Ray then began to travel all around the world, meeting people who became instant friends. Their favorite place, though, was and still remains, Maine, and Lysod and Ray bought a piece of property on Flying Pond (that came with a boat) and began a building project that became their summer home (“camp” in Maine parlance). After Ray’s retirement from American Cyanamid and Lysod’s retirement from school bus driving for Branchburg Township, they spent six months in Maine and the winter months in Bridgewater. Lysod still continues that tradition today and hosts her entire family for the Fourth of July Boat Parade and Lobster Bake and throughout the entire summer. Wednesdays, however, are reserved for golf, and cocktails and dinner with her golf group. Lysod and Ray took up golf later in life, but loved being out on courses wherever they traveled, and Lysod’s love of the game continues.

Most of all, Lysod loves family. Her three children and their spouses, Louise and Staats, Leah and David, and Ray and Ginny could and can always depend on the love and support of their mother. She never misses a graduation, play, concert, athletic event, or any other significant accomplishment of her seven grandchildren, Colin, Kaitlin, Devin, Reed, Owen, Dale and Heidi and now that is extended to their partners Kim, Joe, Angie, Kristi, and Allison. Now, she also enjoys seeing the family extend another generation with her six great-grandchildren, Chloe, Nate, Luna, Zoey, Harper, and Libby. As some of the kids’ tee shirts say, “Life is Good!”

Upcoming Parish Life events

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April 20 - Pancake Breakfast after the 10 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt. Open to all who attend.

May 18 – Inside/Outside Scavenger Hunt followed by Pizza/Sub dinner at the CEB. All are welcome!

June 1 – Sing-along around the fire pit.

July 12 – Somerset Patriots Game with Fireworks. Stay tuned for more details.

Soup Supper & Vespers -- April 4

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Lenten Vespers will be on April 4 at the CEB. Soup Supper will be at 6:00 with Vespers to follow at 7:00. Guests from the Good News Home will be joining us. This worship experience has been deeply meaningful to many people. Make it a part of your Lenten journey!

Women of Zion Bollywood Class -- April 11

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Join us for the RESCHEDULED Bollywood Dance Fitness Class! Thursday, April 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the CEB.

By popular demand, Shalini is returning to lead another Bollywood Dance Fitness Class as noted above. All you need to do is sign up in the Narthex by April 7, and then be there promptly at 7:00 p.m. on April 11, wearing loose, comfortable clothes and sneakers. The fee is $5.00/person, payable that evening. Water will be provided. Please contact Anita Zarate with any questions.

Lunch Bunch -- May 16

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Last month, we were unable to get together and Lunch Bunch was postponed. In April, we will be celebrating Holy Week and Easter. So our next Lunch Bunch will be on May 16 at Fox Hollow County Club, 59 Fox Chase Run, Branchburg, NJ. The phone number is 526-0010. Join the fun. We’ll be looking for you!

Discipleship -- May 30

2019-03-29T09:22:00.002-07:00

With Holy Week and Easter in April, the next Discipleship gathering will be on May 30. It begins with a potluck supper at 6:30 and discussion at 7:30. All are invited. We would love to see you there!