December 2014

ZIONS LUTHERAN CHURCH

1801 East Second Street
Defiance, OH 43512
Rev. Timothy Reynolds, Pastor
419-782-8781
Fax: 419-782-6719

Church Office Email:

zion111@embarqmail.com
Visit our website at:

www.zionslutheranchurch.com

By Elizabeth Eaton (Presiding Bishop of ELCA)

THE BURPEE SEED CATALOGUE is the epitome of beauty, grace and proportion. Its pages display the
Platonic ideal of which my garden is a poor reflection. Leafing through the catalog I have been beguiled by
images of perfect vegetables and beautiful flowers.
I remember my first encounter, my first brush with the excitement and danger of the Burpees catalog, a
phone and a credit card. It was the page with the fields of lavender. I could turn our Columbus, Ohio house
into Provence! But the fact that our lot was small enough to mow the lawn with a weed whacker brought me
back from the abyss. I decided to order tulip bulbs instead.
Tulip bulbs must be planted in the fall. (They also must be planted right side up I discovered, but that is
another story.) We all know how autumn is in the parish: the start-up of Sunday School, choir rehearsals
and committee meetings. I didnt plant in September or October.
Finally, toward the end of November, I took my tulip bulbs, bone meal and trowel and set out to transform the backyard. Soil in Ohio is often clay. It was cold. It was raining. It was muddy. My husband would
look out the back window and shake his head. After a while even the dog left me. By the time I had finished
it was dark and the backyard was a soupy, lumpy, clay-ey mess. But all I could see were rows of brilliant red
tulips warmed in the spring sun.
Advent is an odd season. It isnt culturally accessible. It doesnt lend itself to retail. There are no madefor-TV movies telling heartwarming stories about the great and terrible day of the Lord. It is an unsettled
season that holds in tension the now and the not yet, longing and hope, judgment and redemption. This is
clear in the readings for the First Sunday in Advent.
In Isaiah, the people of Israel are languishing in Babylon. The nation had been defeated, the Temple destroyed, Jerusalem sacked and the people forced into exile. Israel had experienced the liberating power of
God in the Exodus. Israel was waiting to be set free from exile in Babylon by God with that same power. The
people are pleading with God, O that you would tear open the heavens and come down so that the mountains would quake at your presence (Isaiah 64:1). They were caught between the first Exodus and waiting
for the second exodus, this time out of Babylon.
In Mark, Jesus tells his disciples that the Son of Man will come in clouds with great power and glory.
Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to
the ends of heaven (Mark 13:27). But Jesus does not give a timeline. To his disciples, to the early church,
to us, Jesus is not talking so much about here as about near.
We have celebrated the first Christmas. We know that the babe in the manger grew to adulthood, inaugurated the new age of the reign of God and was crucified. We are on the other side of the first Easter, the
resurrection, the triumph over sin and death. We confess, Christ has died. Christ is risen. But we find ourselves in the muddy, lumpy mess of a fallen world.
Scripture tells us that God saw everything that God had made, and indeed, it was very good (Genesis
1:31). We have heard Jesus promise from the cross to the criminal: Truly I tell you, today you will be with
me in Paradise (Luke 23:43). And yet we live in a world still marred by sin. What a terrible tension: we
stand between two Edens, the one at the dawn of creation and the one at the close of the age.
Now we can see the beautiful logic of Advent. Where the culture (and my heart, too, if I am honest) celebrates and holds on to the manger and the star, the shepherds and wise men, to Mary and Joseph and the
Christ child, the church calls us to look for the return of the King. Advent deepens the tension between what
the world was created to be and what it now is, between what God has done and what God will do.
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Christmas Decorating
Volunteers are needed to help decorate the Church for Christmas on
Saturday, December 6th, at 10:00 a.m. We need some strong, younger
workers to help this year. All are welcome and encouraged to join the
festivities!

POINSETTIA ORDERS DUE

I would like to order a total of ________ poinsettias @ $12.00 each
(Indicate # for each variety below)
_______ RED

_______ WHITE

________ PINK

In memory of _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
In honor of _______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
(Your name) _________________________________________________Amount Paid ________________________

Last day to order is Monday, December 14th. All orders MUST be pre-paid.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES and EVENTS

Childrens Program
Sunday, December 21st at 9:45 a.m.
Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 24th
Candlelight Service, with Communion - 7:30 p.m.
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ANGEL TREE
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wake up on
Christmas Day and not have a present under the tree? A number
of residents at the Filling Homes of Mercy have no parents or family so they do not experience the joy of having a present to unwrap. We would like to remedy this problem with an Angel Tree
on December 6. This tree will have twelve angels listing the first name of a resident at
the Filling Home with their age, sizes and interests. Please take an angel home and
prepare a present for your angel. Bring the gifts back to the church by Sunday, December 21, so we can take them to place under the tree at the Filling Home.

RAVENS COIN VORTEX

COUPONS

December 13, 2014

10 am8 pm
Volunteers are needed to
raise money for the
RAVENS organization. Sign
up sheet in the Narthex.

The Outreach and Evangelism Ministry

Teams are asking church members to
save and donate their coupon fliers
from the Sunday paper for a new outreach project. There will be a donation box in the Narthex for the fliers.

WEATHER

Continued from page 1

To our muddy, soupy, lumpy mess when we

walked in darkness God sent Gods midnight
Son. Because of Emmanuel, God with us, we can
stand in our clay and see glory. Advent is the season when we can say, Christ has died. Christ is
risen. Christ will come again.
In the meantime, we plant tulips and wait for
spring.

DELAYS & CLOSINGS

For any cancellations due to bad weather
you may tune into: WTOL Channel 11
(website: www.wtol.com) or
check the church website at:
www.zionslutheranchurch.com.

For more Advent Devotions go to www.elca.org

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ANNUAL
CONGREGATIONAL
MEETING
Sunday, December 7
after the worship service.

Offering Envelopes
Attention Church Members:
2015 numbered giving envelopes are available in the Narthex.
Those who donate through Simply Giving or another automatic donation system will not receive a set of envelopes, but will
be assigned a number for recording purposes.
If you did not receive envelopes and would like a set, please
notify the church office, so that one can be assigned to you.
2014 Giving Statements will be available to pick up in Jan.

Our Innkeeper guests are continually thankful for the food and supplies given by
our members and others throughout the community. In order to continue to
serve their needs, we ask that you consider giving the following items: first and
foremost CANNED FRUIT & DRY CEREAL, but also important are chicken noodle soup, toothpaste, shaving gel, pudding, paper towels, toilet paper, detergent,
boxed skillet meals, box potatoes, spaghetti and dry pasta noodles, bottled water, canned meat tuna, sausage, chicken, Ramen noodles beef, chicken & shrimp, spaghetti
sauce, tomato sauce, bottled fruit juices, microwave popcorn, salad dressing and cooking
oil. On behalf of Diana Groll and myself, we thank you for your ongoing generosity.
Dick and Diana

October Church Council Highlights

October 23, 2014

Approved 2 requests for the use of the church facilities; Dec. 11 & Mar. 30.

Wednesday night activities for children have begun.

The Little Free Library is installed in the garden and ready to use.

Approved a monetary gift for Pastor Reynolds in honor of Pastor Appreciation Month.

Learned the Property Committee is obtaining estimates for roof repairs.

The YMCA Teen Leaders Club will be doing service work for Zions on
Nov. 8.

Discussed the budget deficit extensively.

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Our scrapbooking group would

like to thank you for allowing
us to use the Hofer Room to
meet. We appreciate your
kindness.
Marilyn Simon, Kate Frank, Andrea
Ortiz, Betty Lange, Crystal Gerschutz,
Roxanne Maxson, and Deb Vasin.
Thank you so much for having the storage
room cleaned where we have our materials.
It looks wonderful! [The YMCA Teen Leaders
are responsible for helping with the cleaning
and reorganizing of several storage areas]
TOPS 1811

ANNUAL
COMMITTEE
REPORTS
ARE DUE to the church secretary by JANUARY 12, 2015.
Email reports to zion111@
embarqmail.com

DEACON SUPPORT TEAM

All members should be aware of their deacon and hopefully have met him or her to discuss any concerns or questions you may have had. Your deacons have a sincere interest in serving your needs
and encourage you to bring your needs to the attention of Pastor, the deacon group or council whichever is appropriate. In turn, we trust you have an equally sincere interest in getting to know your deacon as a present and future friend and confidant. We also want to emphasize the importance of
speaking with Pastor whenever the need arises. He wants to know your concerns to help provide a
solution or answers to your questions. He remains the best resource within our congregation to share
wisdom and knowledge.
Deacons are not exempt from having a deacon of their own. At times we need someone willing to listen and we turn to our deacon. In our bi-monthly meetings, the nine deacons discuss a variety of topics concerning the spiritual welfare of the congregation. Most importantly we are available for you
when your needs might require someone to talk with other than Pastor Tim.
We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the members of Zions Lutheran Church and we encourage
you to reach out to your deacon whenever the need arises. Please call the church office for any assistance.
Dick Anderson

QUILTS OF COMPASSION
Bringing Help and Hope to the Hurting
meets on December 7th at noon in Luther Hall.

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HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

NEW CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

WE WILL BE CLOSED:

BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2015

MondayThursday

December 24December 26

9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.

December 31January 1

CLOSED on Fridays
Summer Hours (JuneAugust)

Please contact your Deacon if you have an

MondayThursday

emergency.

9:00 a.m.2:00 p.m.

Please remember to call the church

office when:

WEEKLY BULLETIN
ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. You will be or have already moved.

2. You have an addition to your family.

will be due on Wednesday mornings

beginning in 2015, by 9:00 a.m.,
unless otherwise noted.

3. You have an address update and/or correction,

or birthday correction.
4. New email address and/or phone number.

THANK YOU!
Area Members in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living

Waunita Badenhop
Kingsbury Place # 127
245 W. Rosewood Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Lowell & Norma Bailey
Kingsbury Place # 151
245 W. Rosewood Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Isabella Beindorf
The Laurels of Defiance
1701 S. Jefferson Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Jim Cochran
Brookview Healthcare Center
214 Harding Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512

Lois Finkenbiner
The Laurels of Defiance # 308
1701 S. Jefferson Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
Joyce Lichty
Vancrest of Holgate
600 Joe E. Brown
Holgate, OH 43527

IN
CHRISTIAN
SYMPATHY
We pray for Gods comfort for
the following family who recently lost a loved one:
The Reynolds family, on the
loss of Annies father, Robert
Crowder, on November 22,
2014.

Norma Mansfield

ADVENT OPEN HOUSE

Twin Rivers
395 Harding Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512
LoAnn Peters
Kingsbury Place # 136
245 W. Rosewood Ave.
Defiance, OH 43512

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Synod Office
621 Bright Road
Findlay, OH
Monday, December 1, 2014
4:00 - 6:00 pm
Continued on next page

WORSHIP
SCHEDULE
Saturday 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:45 am

DCTV 5
You may watch Zions Lutheran
Worship services on Wednesdays
@ 6:00 p.m. and Sundays at 8:00
a.m. on DCTV 5 Defiance, OH.

The Book Group

meets on

Monday,
Dec. 8 at
12:00 pm
for lunch
at Tim Hortons.

Lutherans of
Long Standing
DECEMBER 2, 2014
2:00 p.m.
In Luther Hall

Young at Heart
meets on WEDNESDAY,
Dec. 10, 2014
at 11:30 am, at Leftys Pizza

Mens Fellowship
meets every Tuesday
at 9:00 a.m. in the Library

Equal
Exchange
Coffee

Sisters in Christ

LLS

On sale throughout the year!!!!

Sisters in Christ will meet

after worship on December 21.
Cards will be placed in the
Narthex to be signed.

ORGANIC COFFEE & TEA PRICES

Breakfast Blend $ 8.00
Decaf Breakfast Blend $ 9.00
English Breakfast Tea $ 3.00

DEADLINES
Worship and
Music
Committee
Meets on
Dec 11.

See Neal Deniston

for more
information.

Scrapbook
Club
Meets Saturday, Dec. 6, from
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the
Hofer Room. Bring your own
drink and a snack to share.
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BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT
Every Thursday at 9:00 a.m.
(unless otherwise noted)
January NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE
December 15th

Continued on next page

December 2014
LESSONS
DEC 6 & 7 ADVENT 2
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2,8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8
DEC 13 & 14 ADVENT 3
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
DEC 20 & 21 ADVENT 4
2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Luke 89:1-4, 19-26
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
DEC 24 CHRISTMAS EVE
Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 96
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20
DEC 27 & 28 CHRISTMAS 1
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 148
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:22-40

Additions to the
Zions Prayer List:
Phone Prayers: Barb Vogel at 419-393-2544
Eprayers: zionseprayer@yahoogroups.com
Call the Church office at 419-782-8781.
If you are calling for someone other than yourself,
please be sure that you have permission.

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December 2014
SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WED

1
Pastors Day Off

2
9:00 a Mens
Fellowship
9:00 a Weight
Watchers
1:00 p Text Study
2:00 p LLS
5:00 p Lighten Up
7:00 p Bible Study

3
7:00 a Women @
Cabin Fever
5:00 p Outreach &
Evangelism Mtg
5:30 p Meal
5:45 p Kids Club
6:00 p Bells
7:00 p Choir

4
9:00 a Bulletin
Announcements
due
5:00 p TOPS

10

11

9:00 a Mens
Fellowship
9:00 a Weight
Watchers
1:00 p Text Study
5:00 p Lighten Up
7:00 p Bible Study

7:00 a Women @
Cabin Fever
11:30 a Young at
Heart at Leftys
5:00 p Food Pantry
Sign Up
5:30 p Meal
5:45 p Kids Club
6:00 p Bells
7:00 p Choir

9:00 a Bulletin
Announcements
due
12:00 p Worship
& Music Meeting
5:00 p TOPS

16

17

18

9:00 a Mens
Fellowship
9:00 a Weight
Watchers
1:00 p Text Study
5:00 p Lighten Up

7:00 a Women @
Cabin Fever
5:30 p Meal
5:45 p Kids Club
6:00 p Food Pantry
Pick Up
6:00 p Bells
7:00 p Choir

9:00 a Bulletin
Announcements
due

8:00 p Barbershoppers

7
9:00 a Sunday
School
9:45 a Worship
11:00 a Congregational
Meeting
12:00 p Quilts
of Compassion

14
9:00 a Sunday
School
9:45 a Worship
POINSETTIA
ORDERS DUE

8
Pastors Day Off
12:00 p Book
Group at Tim
Hortons

8:00 p Barbershoppers

15
Pastors Day Off
3:00 p.m. NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
8:00 p Barbershoppers

THURSDAY

FRIDAY
5

SATURDAY
6
7:30 a Weight
Watchers
8:00a Scrapbook
10:00 a Christmas
Decorating
11:00a New
Heights Sat class

5:00 p Worship

12

13
7:30 a Weight
Watchers
10-8 Ravens
Mall Collection
11:00a New
Heights Sat class

5:00 p Worship

19

20
7:30 a Weight
Watchers
1:00p New Heights
Potluck

5:00 p TOPS

5:00 p Worship

7:00 p COUNCIL

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

9:45 a Worship
CHILDRENS
PROGRAM
11:00 a Sisters
in Christ

9:00 a Bulletin
Announcements
due
Pastors Day Off

9:00 a Mens
Fellowship
9:00 a Weight
Watchers
1:00 p Text Study
5:00 p Lighten Up

OFFICE CLOSED

OFFICE CLOSED
for Christmas

OFFICE CLOSED

7:30 a Weight
Watchers

31

OFFICE CLOSED

OFFICE CLOSED
for NEW YEARS
DAY

OFFICE CLOSED
2015 Office Hours
Begin = Closed on
Fridays

8:00 p Barbershoppers

28

29

30

9:00 a Sunday
School
9:45 a Worship

9:00 a Bulletin
Announcements
due

9:00 a Mens
Fellowship
9:00 a Weight
Watchers
1:00 p Text Study
5:00 p Lighten Up

Pastors Day Off

8:00 p Barbershoppers

7:30 p Christmas
Eve Services

5:00 p Worship

NO MEALS

7:00 a Women @
Cabin Fever

3
7:30 a Weight
Watchers
5:00 p Worship

NO MEALS
NO CHOIRS

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Faith Active in Love

ALTAR FLOWERS
7 Regina Snyder
14 Karen Bowling
21 Robert Thomas
24 Karen Bostelman
28 John Jacob

December 2014
OFFERING COLLECTORS for Sunday 9:45 am
1st Sunday
Randy Groll & Mary Boals
2nd Sunday
Bill Brownson & Randy Groll
3rd Sunday
Mary Boals & Cindy Wendell
4th Sunday
Marsha Leaders & Chuck Bailey
5th Sunday
Randy Groll & Mary Boals

BULLETINS
7 Regina & Carl Snyder
14 AVAILABLE
21 Chris Palmer
24 Judy Mekus
28 AVAILABLE

USHERS for Sunday 9:45 am

1st Sunday
John Diehl
2nd Sunday
Shawn Faryniarz
3rd Sunday
Laurie & Dwaine Schey
4th Sunday
Tom & Mary Boals
5th Sunday
Youth

ALTAR DUTY
7 Cindy Wendell
14 Sue McKibben
21 Barb Jones
24 Kate Frank
28 Diana Groll

HOSTS for Saturday 5:00 pm

6 Barb & Gene Vogel
13 Sonia Bussing & Donna Ripke
20 Bob & Nancy Swingle
27 Donna Ripke & Bob Thomas

LECTOR & DEACON for Sunday 9:45 am

(* DEACONS)
7 * Patty VanDemark, Dick Anderson
14
Steve Graf
21 * Linda Hardy, Audrey Eis
24 * Dawn McKibben, Tom Boals
28
LECTOR NEEDED
FELLOWSHIP HOUR for Sunday 9:45 am
7 Kate Frank
14 Linda & Orville Hardy
21 Karen Bowling & Lenore Doctor
28 Marsha & Neal Deniston

LECTOR & DEACON for Saturday 5:00 pm

(* DEACONS)
6 * Cindy Wendell
13 AVAILABLE
20 * Doug Eis
28 AVAILABLE
OFFERING COUNTERS
John Jacob, Gene Vogel, & Larry Wagner. Subs:
Bob Thomas, Dwaine Schey, Sue McKibben
AUDIO-VISUAL
Doug Eis, Dale Worline, Stormy Gutman, Shaun
Holley.

ACOLYTES & CRUCIFERS for Sunday 9:45 am IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO FULFILL YOUR COMMITMENT,
PLEASE ARRANGE FOR A SUBSTITUTE AND INFORM THE
Acolytes
Crucifers
CHURCH OFFICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

7
14
21
24
28

Sophie Reynolds
Luke Reynolds
Sophie Reynolds
Choir
Luke Reynolds

Lexi Eis
Eric Engel
Lexi Eis
Choir
Eric Engel

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ZIONS MISSION STATEMENT

Driven by Gods spirit we will grow in faith and make Christs love known

Prayer List

DEACONS
Dick Anderson
Tom Boals
Audrey Eis
Doug Eis
Linda Hardy
Craig McKibben
Dawn McKibben
Patty VanDemark
Cindy Wendell

COUNCIL MEMBERS
2014
Tom Boals, President
Shawn Farnyiarz, Vice
President
Gwen Anderson, Treasurer
Laurie Schey, Secretary
Mary Boals
Karen Bowling
John Diehl
Lenore Doctor
Alexis Eis
Audrey Eis
Stormy Gutman
Carl Snyder
Mark Stephens

COUNCIL MEETS ON
the third Thursday of each
month (except July)
at 7:00 p.m.

Find us and Like us we need more

followers to spread the word! Are you
friends with a former member? invite
them too we love staying in contact!
Have a question about an upcoming
event? you may find your answer.
And, you can add your comments, too!
(If you have trouble searching type in
Zions Lutheran Defiance and that
should find it for you). If you would like
to post an event you may email it to
zionlutheranfbpage@gmail.com.

OFFICE HOURS

Church Council has

enacted a policy regarding the names
placed on the church
prayer list in the bulletin. If you would like
prayers on the list for
longer than 3 weeks,
please make another
request. Requests can
be sent to the church
office via phone 419782-8781 or by email
at:
zion111@embarqmail.
com

Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ZIONS EMAIL ADDRESSES

Office Secretary - zion111@embarqmail.com
Pastor - prtim@embarqmail.com
Treasurer - ziontreasurer@embarqmail.com
Website - www.zionslutheranchurch.com

BULLETINS
Suggested donation
for bulletins is
$20.00.
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