April 2019

The Pastor’s Ponderings

Pastor David’s cell phone—765-330-4170 and email address—fleeneda@gmail.com

Zion’s 2019 Council Members

Elder & President ........................................ Jody Stanley

Elder & Vice-President ................................... Larry Hile

Secretary ................................................ Sandy Langdon

Deacons .....................................................Mike Clamme

Tim Stanley

Drew Walker

Trustees ........................................................ Neil Stroble

Max Langdon

Scott Clamme

Treasurer ................................................... Libby Stroble

Financial Secretaries ...................................... Julie Prout

Debbie Walker

A few years ago, there were posts circulating on my

social media accounts that said:

"You might be a Lutheran if every potluck

features twenty kinds of hotdish."

AND

"You might be a Lutheran if every potluck

features twenty kinds of Jell-O with twenty kinds of

fruits and vegetables in them."

AND

"You might be a Lutheran if the spiciest thing at your

potluck was a bottle of ketchup."

AND

"You might be a Lutheran if your relatives are really

named Ole and Lena."

Notice that these don't even apply to us at Zion!

They apply to a specific kind of Lutheran - Lutherans of

Scandinavian descent who live in the upper Midwest. In

Hartford City, we call it a "carry-in", not a "potluck". I

have never seen Jell-O salad at one of our dinners

(Someone may have made it, but I didn't notice.). I have,

however, eaten spicy Italian beef with pepperoncini pep-

pers here. And few people here have relatives named Ole

and Lena. We're not a Scandinavian-descent congrega-

tion. Most of us are of German descent.

The Lutheran tent is larger than we think. There

are Latino(-a, -x) Lutherans. There are Palestinian Lu-

therans. There are Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian,

and Filipino Lutherans. There are African Lutherans, es-

pecially in Namibia, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. And there

are many other members of the Lutheran family that I

can't name in the space of this article. Go to this link to

see a map of Lutheran churches in the Lutheran World

Federation. This map does not list every Lutheran body.

Our brothers and sisters in the Missouri and Wisconsin

Synods, for instance, are not part of the LWF:

www.lutheranworld.org/content/member-churches.

(By the way, the largest church in the LWF is the Ethio-

pian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, with over eight

million members.)

In response to these posts, several of my colleagues

posted responses like these:

“You might be a Lutheran if you had tostadas for

snack time at VBS.”

AND

“You might be a Lutheran if your community meals

had twenty kinds of wat.”

AND

“You might be a Lutheran if your relatives are named

Mitri and Niveen.”

The things we think of as “Lutheran” are cultural

traits, not theological ones. They are not endemic to the

gospel. The gospel encompasses every culture, every

people, every time, and every place. Our way of “doing

church” is not the only way to do church “the Lutheran

way”. There are as many Lutheran ways as there are con-

gregations.

The essence that we all proclaim as Lutheran Chris-

tians is this: Jesus the Messiah, God enfleshed, descend-

ed into this world to live, die, and rise for the life of the

world, without any contribution on our part at all. Any-

thing we claim as “Lutheran” should be rooted in this,

not in any cultural practice. Scripture reminds us of this.

As Peter’s heart was converted in Acts 10 to see God’s

acceptance of the Gentiles, may God continually convert

our hearts to see God’s acceptance of others.

Love to you all,

Pastor David

April 2019

February Council Minutes

Congregation Council met on February

14, 2019. Council president Jody Stanley

opened the February 14 meeting.

Present: Pastor David Fleener, Jody

Stanley, Sandy Langdon, Libby Stroble,

Tim Stanley, Drew Walker, Neil Stroble,

Max Langdon, Scott Clamme, Julie Prout, Debbie Walker

Absent: Larry Hile, Mike Clamme

Devotions: Drew Walker gave devotions.

Secretary’s Report: The secretary's report from Janu-

ary 10 was approved with a motion from Max Langdon

and a second from Drew Walker.

There being no correspondence or new items to add

to the agenda, Pastor David presented his report.

Pastor’s Report: Pastoral Care in January

Pastor's totals for January: 5 shut-in visits, 3 sick/

hospital visits, 1 visitation, 1 funeral, 10 home/hospital

communions

Deacons’ Fund use in January: 1/9: Check 1062 –

$100 – to Indiana Michigan Power; 1/14: Check 1063 –

$80 – to Indiana Michigan Power

Christian Education: The Confirmation Class has

studied the Gospel of Mark. We have also done an over-

view of Luke’s Gospel. Last Sunday (the 10th), we

watched a performance of the Gospel of Mark. We will

continue with a general New Testament overview before

we dive into Paul’s letters. The students have also intro-

duced me to a new tool, called Kahoot!, which is helpful

for crafting quizzes. We are also practicing various pray-

er styles, including lectio divina (“Divine Reading”).

The Judges study started off well with high attend-

ance (about 15 or so) but has dropped off dramatically

since then, due to weather, other commitments, or my

own continuing education time disrupting the course

schedule. We are continuing to meet on Tuesday eve-

nings at 6 p.m.

Other Events in January:

7, 14, 21, 28 – Joe and Jesus at Common Grounds

10 – Lunch at the Pickle with Blackford County pastors

10, 17 – Mentoring at Southside

15, 22 – Judges Study

16 – Attended a confirmand’s game

17 – Attended a confirmand’s swim meet

20 – Crown Pointe worship service

Upcoming Events: Remember that March 6th is Ash

Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Worship with Impo-

sition of Ashes and Holy Communion will be at 7 p.m.

in the main worship space.

We will continue with Wednesday night services

during Lent at 7 p.m. through April 10th.

Worship on Maundy Thursday (April 18th) and Good

Friday (April 19th) will be at 7 p.m. I am sure there will

be an ecumenical Good Friday service as well, but I do

not know the place nor the time (as of this writing). East-

er is April 21st.

Miscellaneous: Several years ago, the council voted

to have the congregation join the Chamber of Com-

merce. That vote was never put into effect because of

resistance in the congregation. I have decided, then, to

join the Chamber as an individual, simply to make more

connections within Hartford City for the benefit of our

mutual ministry.

Committee Reports: There were no reports from the

Parish Education Committee, or the Land Use Commit-

tee. The Worship/Music/Memorial and Mission and

Ministry committees will meet soon.

Council Reports: There were no reports from the dea-

cons, the elders, the trustees or the financial secretaries.

Treasurer’s Report: The treasurer reported a balance

of $9,957.00 in the general checking and $554.29 in the

deacon's fund.

Julie Prout moved to accept all council reports and

Neil Stroble seconded the motion. The motion passed.

New Business: Neil Stroble moved to give 1/2 of the

Lenten and Easter offering to Grace Village and 1/2 to

Helping Hands. Scott Clamme seconded the mo-

tion. After some discussion, the motion passed.

Pastor David has asked for 2 weeks paid paternity

leave and 2 weeks vacation, for a total of 4 weeks in a

row. After discussion, this was tabled until a later time.

It was decided at this time to not pursue the possibil-

ity of an on line church directory from Life Touch.

Pastor David would like to have a recital in our

church in May as a fund raiser for the Community

Choir. To be able to use music outside public domain,

the church must purchase an annual Church Music Li-

cense for $229.00. Neil Stroble moved to pay the

(continued on following page)

$299.00. Drew Walker seconded the motion and it was

approved.

The meeting was closed by all praying the Lord's

Prayer.

The next meeting will be March 14 and Sandy Lang-

don will have devotions.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy Langdon, Recording Secretary

April 2019

February Council Minutes continued

Lent 5 - April 7th

1st Reading - Isaiah 43:16-21

Psalm 126

2nd Reading - Philippians 3:4b-14

Gospel - John 12:1-8

Palm Sunday - April 14th

1st Reading - Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 31:9-16

2nd Reading - Philippians 2:5-11

Gospel - Luke 22:14—23:56

Passion is a congregational reading.

Maundy Thursday - April 18th

1st Reading - Exodus 12:1-14

Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19

2nd Reading - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Gospel - John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday - April 19th

1st Reading - Isaiah 52:13—53:12

Psalm 22

2nd Reading - Hebrews 10:16-25

Gospel - John 18:1—19:42

Easter Day - April 21st

1st Reading - Acts 10:34-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

2nd Reading - 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

or Acts 10:34-43

Gospel - Luke 24:1-12 or John 20:1-18

Easter 2 - April 28th

1st Reading - Acts 5:27-32

Psalm 150

2nd Reading - Revelation 1:4-8

Gospel - John 20:19-31

April Lectionary Readings

April Birthdays

Nyla Hile 4-1

Adrienne McClure 4-2

Harriett Walker 4-9

Carol Kachur 4-10

Cathy Willmann 4-10

Betty Bell 4-16

Tiann Coy 4-17

Fred Walker 4-20

Dean Young 4-20

Tyler Atkinson 4-21

Michelle Walker 4-24

Megan Stroble 4-25

Mark Prout 4-27

Judy Willmann 4-27

Holy Week and Easter Schedule

Maundy Thursday, April 18th, we

will have worship with Holy Commun-

ion at 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday, April 19th, we will

have worship at Zion at 3:00 p.m. and

there will be a Community Worship

Service at 6:30 p.m. at Grace United

Methodist Church. Everyone is wel-

come to attend.

Lent and Easter offering will be equally divided

between Grace Village at Ball State and Helping Hands

Pregnancy Resource Center.

Zion’s Easter worship

will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Easter Flowers

If you would like to purchase an East-

er Lily to be placed in the sanctuary on

Easter morning please talk to Isola Banter.

The orders are due by April 14th and the

cost is $8.00.

The five co-presiders are all affiliated with Notre Dame. Local clergy, and invited guests, including Bishop

Gafkjen, will vest and process. A reception will follow the service.

The Zion Herald April 2019

“Happy are those whose strength is in God, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.” (Psalm 84:5)

Sunday School at 9:15 a.m. with Worship at 10:30 a.m.

Zion Lutheran Church

308 S. Monroe Street

Hartford City, IN 47348

David Fleener, Pastor

Church Office: 765-348-3157

zionluth.hc@gmail.com

fleeneda@gmail.com

www.zionhc.org

Serving the Lord in Gladness

April 2019 Lay Ministry Servers

Greeters

Ushers

Acolytes

Assisting Ministers

April 7 Dorothy Hale—Claretta Dutro

April 14 Bill and Joretta Hiday—Drew and Michelle Walker

April 21 Tim Stanley—Louie and Joyce Willmann

April 28 Edi Tarter—Roger and Judy Willmann

April 7 Mike Clamme, Tim Stanley, Drew Walker and

April 14

April 18

April 19

April 21

April 28

April 7 Deacons

April 14 Keaton Walker (crucifer)

Kaylin Clamme and

Ryne Clamme

April 18 Sydney Stroble and

Bryce Stroble

April 19 Deacons

April 21 Kaylin Clamme and

Ryne Clamme

April 28 Keaton Walker

April 7 Mark Prout

April 14 Chris Coy

April 18 Jody Stanley

April 19 no assisting minister

April 21 Sarah Fleener

April 28 Michelle Walker

Lectors

April 7 Linda Walker

April 14 Michelle Walker

April 21 Jody Stanley

April 28 Michelle Walker Beginning this month, we are asking everyone who helps recruit greet-ers, ushers, lectors, acolytes, and assisting ministers to send their infor-mation to the church office by the 15th of each month. Thank you!

April 21, 2019 - Worship at 10:30 a.m.