If you have been in the church office lately, you may have noticed a ‘Welcome’ needlepoint picture hanging on the wall. This is the handiwork of Eileen Sharpe and was donated by her daughter Linda Marasco. Eileen was a long time parishioner at Zion who made good use of the talent that God gave to her.

Zion Lutheran December 2017 NEWSLETTER

TEMPLATE We acknowledge that we are in Robinson-Huron Treaty territory and that the land on which we are gathered is the traditional territory of the Anishinabek and Metis people.

LUKE 2:13-20 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Pastor Brad’s Notes My mother’s favourite Christmas carol is “Go Tell it on the Mountain”. I’m sure we will be singing it a couple of times in December. I wonder how many times we go and tell it? Christmas is about proclamation, shouting from the rooftops or the mountain that something amazing has happened. The angels proclaimed it to the shepherds, the Wiseman told Herod, and the shepherds spread it in the villages. “Jesus is born!” “God has come near, to be with us!” This is great news, news that scatters the darkness, news that brings hope to all the world. You are invited to share that news every day … but even more so at this season. Consider inviting a friend, family member or neighbour to one of Zion’s worship services. Consider bringing them to St. Vincent Place, the Christmas Cheer Depot or another place of service this season. Invitation cards have been made available. Prayerfully consider who you might give your invitation to. And know that you are also in my prayers as you boldly share God’s love to the world this season and always. Peace, Pastor Brad+

Website: www.zionlutheran-ssm.org Email: zionlutheran@bellnet.ca

The focus of this newsletter is to update and inform Zion's members of what’s happening in your

church community.

ChristmasPageantPracticesTheChristmasPageantwillbehappeningonSunday,December24thatthe10amService.Inordertobeprepareditishelpfultoattendthepracticeswhichwillbeoccurringonthefollowingdatesandtimes(allonaSundaytomakethemconvenientforfamilies):November26th-duringtheactualSundaySchooltimeperiodDecember10th-rehearseafterchurch

(whileparentshavethecoffeehour) December17th-rehearseafterchurch (whileparentshavethecoffeehour)

Mid Week Advent Worship Field Trips Join pastor Brad as he travels to various communities on the

Wednesdays in Advent for worship.

November 29 and December 6 we travel to Faith Lutheran in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan for Holden Evening Prayer at 6pm. December 13 we join an ecumenical gathering at St. Jerome’s for a reflective Taizé worship at 7pm. Final service is at Zion on December 20 a healing service at 7pm.

Christmas Worship at Zion

Advent 4 – December 24 at 10am pageant and Holy Communion Christmas Eve – December 24 at 5pm German worship with Holy Communion December 24 at 8pm - English Candlelight with Holy Communion Christmas Day – December 25 at 9am Finnish with Holy Communion Christmas 1 – December 31 at 10am Lessons and Carols (no Communion or Sunday School) January 5 – 2pm at Kotitalo Finnish worship with Pastori Mira Salmelainen from Sudbury.

MannaBasketFoodandOtherChristmasTreatswillbetakenovertoPauline’sPlaceSunday,December17th.ThisisearlierthanusualduetotheChristmasdates.Let’sputsmilesontheirfaces.Contactperson-PatMathewsorElviRiutta

Christmas Tree Decorating

Zion’s Christmas tree will be up and ready for decorating after the worship service on

Sunday, December 10. Please plan to stay after worship to help decorate

the Christmas tree. If you stay, please consider bringing some extra

goodies to share after the tree has been trimmed.

Website: www.zionlutheran-ssm.org Email: zionlutheran@bellnet.ca

Zion Christmas Cheer Depot December 2017

Once again we are asking for volunteers to assist with the Christmas Cheer depot here at Zion on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. Assistance is required mainly in receiving boxes as they arrive here and then distributing these boxes once the recipients arrive for pickup. Generally the time span for this is approximately from 10 am to 2 pm at the very latest. As in the past, we will gather for a potluck breakfast to begin at 10 am. Please sign the sheet that is posted in the cloak room along with filling in your potluck contribution if you are interested in assisting.. If you have any further questions, please call Lisa Figures at 971-1717.

Christmas Carol Sing One of the gifts of Zion is our cultural diversity. We come from many traditions: German, Finnish, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, English, French and so many more. To highlight some of that cultural diversity you are invited to join us at our annual carol sing. Our song sheets are in Finnish, English and German and you are bound to sing a carol or two that you love. Come out at 6:30 on December 17 at Zion to sing some carols. This evening will also feature some special music by the Kettles family. A free-will offering will be taken up to purchase gift cards for the residents at Pauline’s Place this Christmas. This is a great event to come to and to invite your friends, family and neighbours to.

Homecoming 2018 + 60 Years @ Upton Did you know that in 2018 it will be 60 years since Zion moved from John Street to Upton Road. I think that is a reason to celebrate and party! If you think so too and have some energy to make some plans for 2018 please speak with Pastor Brad.

Website: www.zionlutheran-ssm.org Email: zionlutheran@bellnet.ca

The Fundraising Committee Ken Frier (who has volunteered years to this committee and has done an excellent job) has recently stepped down from this role. Suzanne Walls is now the Chairperson. Suzie shared that a Soup, Sandwich and Dessert will be held on Sunday, December 3rd following church. There is a ‘sign-up‘sheet in the Narthex for those willing to donate soup, sandwiches or desserts to support the Fundraising Committee. Please check it out. This Committee also plans to include a New To You Table at the LCW Bake Sale on Saturday, December 9th in the Hall. This will be used items but are in really good shape that can be re-gifted to someone else perhaps for Christmas. Sometimes we have been given a gift ourselves that we have not used that can be donated to this table. It may be a treasure for someone else. Keep watch …. More events are planned for the New Year! Contact Person - Suzanne Walls.

CLWR -Brighten the faces of children in refugee camps by donating a soccer ball and/or pump in December. CLWR would like to provide 10 soccer balls and 1 pump in any shipment going to a refugee camp so games and fun can be organized for the children there. We have the privilege to be part of this. In total CLWR is hoping for 500. At Walmart a soccer ball costs $6. Canadian Tire and other sports stores would carry these items. Deflated works best. If you bring it to the church, someone there will deflate it for you. Thanks for considering this.

The LCW Christmas Meeting

will be a lunch meeting on Monday, December 18th in a restaurant at noon. You can find out who the past years Prayer Sister was and a new one is chosen for the next year. Come and be part of this event. All women are welcomed. Contact people for arranging the meeting are Helen Micucci and Bonnie Henry. If you would like to join this meeting, connect with them about the restaurant chosen.

THE GOOD NEWS

THE GOSPEL

THE GOOD NEWS FLASH This will be presented by the Zion Family Players during worship December 24th at 10:00 a.m. Our role as the congregation will be to add our voices to the singing of familiar carols as the story unfolds. Certainly, we will see some liberties taken with props so dialogue

flows and is heard. Costumes may not be that traditional as in the past, but all worshipping will reach the stable in Bethlehem at the foot of the manger adoring the New Born King. A read through took place on November 26. Rehearsals will be Sunday, December 10 and 17 after 10 a.m. worship. Thank you to the adults that have volunteered to be part of the Zion Family Players troupe and the parents that are enthusiastically supporting younger cast members as well as Music Director, Karen Kettles. Elaine Brown

Nowell, Nowell

Some of our Zion Choir members also sing in the Algoma Festival Choir. They practice at Zion weekly and will be presenting this concert on Saturday, December 2nd at the Bushplane Centre. Good music for the Christmas Season.

The Sewing Room @ Zion

We will be having a break over the Christmas Holidays! Our last day to sew will be on Friday, December 8th. Startup will be on January 12th… the 2nd Friday in the New Year. We are excited to announce that we have been given another grant ($1,500) from the Eastern Synod Mission Fund. This was applied for in order to purchase some basic regular type sewing machines to keep in the Sewing Room so that people don’t have to haul their own from home. Of course, people are always welcome to bring their own machines if they prefer. Earlier this summer we had received a grant ($1,500) from the Women of Faith Fund which allowed us to purchase our ‘serger sewing machine’. We received training on how to use it from Life’s A Stitch were we purchased it. We feel blessed and thank God for these grants to help us in our Mission Outreach. Anyone is welcome to join us on Friday mornings from 9:30 to noon to work on various projects. It is not Lutheran specific….we welcome sewers from all backgrounds. Contact: Pat Mathews 705-945-8741

Baking Workbee taking place on

Thursday, December 7.

This will focus on making butter tarts and shortbreads in bulk.

Christmas Bake

Sale

Saturday, December 9th 9am – 1pm

St. Mary’s-Zion Fellowship Hall. Apple pies, pulla (Finnish Coffee

Bread)and Christmas baking will be

available. Donations of your baking

specialty to include in this sale would be appreciated. Please come and bring a

friend.

The ‘Mitten Tree’ is up in the Narthex. Any handmade or store bought mitts (hats/neck warmers) can be added to this tree. These aredonated toChristmas Cheer earlier in December.

Website: www.zionlutheran-ssm.org Email: zionlutheran@bellnet.ca

NewsfromtheWiderChurch(NewsfromGeneralSynod-Anglican)NationalHousingDay2017:AstatementfromthePrimateandELCICNationalBishopNovember22marksNationalHousingDayinCanada,anopportunityforCanadianstoreflectontheneedforsafe,adequate,andaffordablehousing,andtolearnaboutthesocial,economic,andhealthimpactsofhomelessnessinourcommunities.NationalHousingDayisalsoanoccasionformembersoftheEvangelicalLutheranChurchinCanadaandtheAnglicanChurchofCanadatoreflectonourcalling,asChristians,tocareforourneighboursandtoofferprayersforaffordablehousingforall.Morethan235,000Canadiansexperienceperiodsofhomelessnesseveryyear,withasmany35,000peoplefindingthemselveshomelessonanygivennight.Thousandsofothersliveinprecarioushousing,strugglingmonthaftermonthtopayrentorremaininginunsafeorinadequatehousingbecauseofalackofappropriateoptions.……Itcontinues…WeencourageyoutoliftupNationalHousingDayinyourcommunities,toadvocateforimprovedaccesstohousingforthoseinneed,andtoprayfortheactionnecessarytoaddressthisneed.Towardthisend,wecommendtoyouthefollowingprayer:Creator,Yougiveuslandandneighboursandallourrelationstoprovideforallourneeds.Wegiveyouthanks.Yougiveuslandandneighboursandallourrelationsthatwemightdemonstrateyourlovethroughkindness,careandservice.Inspireourheartsandmindsthatwemaydiscernwhereandhowwecanmakeadifference.Yougiveuslandandneighboursandallourrelationsthatwemightliveinjusticeandpeace.Weaskforcourageandwisdomtotransformunjuststructuresofsocietyandtoworkforreconciliation.Inspireouractions,thatwemaypromoteequitableandinnovativeapproachestothechallengesthatweshare.Werememberbeforeyouthehomeless,theunderhousedandrefugees.Weprayforsafe,affordableandadequatehousingforall.Yougiveuslandandneighboursandallourrelationstoteachustorelyonyou.Blessuswithfaithandhope.InJesus’namewepray,amen.SignedbyFredHiltz,Primate,AnglicanChurchofCanadaand

SusanC.Johnson,NationalBishop,EvangelicalLutheranChurchinCanada

Vincent Place Zion is responsible for the Hot Meal at Vincent Place on Wednesday, December 6th from 2:30 to 6:30. The usual meatloaf meal will be made and help is always appreciated. The Christmas Meal which includes turkey and small gifts will be taking place on the following Wednesday, December 13th. There will be 2 settings at Vincent Place feeding 250 people. There will be 125 tickets available for people at each setting. O’Sullivan Funeral Home has donated 12 turkeys (which will be cooked at Vincent Place by others). The KofC group will be working in the kitchen for that busy meal. Zion is responsible for providing the desserts for the meals. There is a ‘sign-up’ sheet for providing desserts (whether home made or purchased) on the bulletin board near the coffee area at Zion. LOTS OF DESSERTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED BY MELANIE. These items can be dropped off at Vincent Place on December 13th from noon onward. Easy to pick-up with your hands type desserts are appreciated such as squares and Xmas cookies. Setting 4:30 to 5:30 is our setting. Help may be needed with managing the dessert table and helping with clean-up between the settings. Music will be provided between 5 to 6:30 by Bethel Bible Chapel and Emmaus Anglican Church. Singers are welcome to join in the singing with these groups during the meals. Contact Person is Melanie Wheelan (705- 736- 2828) Thanks for your help with this Outreach Mission.