Newsletter: March 2007 Archives

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March 28, 2007

FROM THE COUCH

From the Couch

WINGS OF LOVE
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18

Have you ever heard or read something that just hit you like a ton of bricks? It happens to me all the time. This morning, as I was flipping through My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers, I read this – “If human love does not carry a man beyond himself, it is not love (page 36).” It’s very true that we cannot love someone else with the love of Christ unless we have the attitude of Christ – one of looking to another’s needs and interests over our own (Philippians 2:4-8). Love is by nature selfless and sacrificial. It is also active. Love doesn’t stop with words, but it must be exercised in acts of service and compassion.
I believe that it’s important to recognize and celebrate the things that God is doing in our body to make us more like Christ, and there’s one ministry in particular that I think we all need to recognize and support. The women of the church have begun a ministry called W.I.N.G.S (Women in Nurturing, Giving, and Serving). W.I.N.G.S. is organized like this – the women form groups of three, and each group is assigned two people to actively love. The women in each group also focus on serving and nurturing one another. As they are able, each group is encouraged to look for opportunities to expand their outreach by adding others to the list of people they serve and visit. This is a wonderful example of how God is at work in our body, teaching us to apply the truth of God’s Word in our lives. As these women look beyond themselves in love, they become the hands and feet and face of Christ. Isn’t that exciting?! If you would like to join them, please call the church office and Jennifer will get you in contact with the right persons to get connected.
We all have opportunities to look beyond ourselves and love others with the love of Christ. In fact, it is our responsibility. When Jesus describes the final judgment, He uses loving, compassionate service as evidence to recognize those who will inherit His Kingdom. “The King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:34-36). When those ask Him how they did these things for Him, He will simply say – “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (25:40). What’s your ministry of love? Is it volunteering at the nursing home, or visiting someone who is lonely or sick? Is it investing in the life of a child or teenager? Is it cooking meals for shut-ins or inviting people into your home for a meal whom you don’t know well? Maybe it’s simply writing a card of encouragement that can be a treasured reminder to someone that you care. The possibilities are almost endless. We have ordered 300 Easter outreach packets with an invitation to visit Zion that we will deliver door-to-door around town on Wed. April 4th at 6:30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s love by welcoming a stranger into our fellowship. If you’re interested, please come join us. I pray that this week God will reveal new ways for each of us to look beyond our immediate surroundings and extend the love of Christ to someone new. May you be blessed and may He be glorified!
Pastor Steve

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 02:51 PM | Comments (0)

THE BUZZ AT ZION

NAVAJO MISSION TRIP UPDATE
FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN GOING WITH US: We will be having a MANDATORY meeting Tuesday, April 3rd at 6:00 pm at the Couch’s. Now that we have the Bible School planned, we need to begin assigning roles and making trip plans. Come hungry because we’ll have dinner provided as well!

ANNUAL PANCAKE SUPPER & RENT-A-KID FUNDRAISER
April 15th @ 5:00 pm, the Consistory will once again be serving up flapjacks for our annual youth fundraiser! Youth work teams are being assembled and will be on the auction block ready for your bidding! Come hungry and generous to support our fine youth!

CARPET DONATIONS
Soon there will be new carpet in the Fellowship Hall, along the hallways and up the stairs. The price for the new carpet is roughly $20,000. If you would like to contribute to this project, please make checks out to: Zion Building Fund and specify carpet on the memo line. Over $8,700.00 has been donated to date. Thank you to all who have contributed to this need!

COOKIES FOR COLLEGE KIDS
Women’s Ministry is again sending out Cookie Care Packages. If you would like your son or daughter in college or in the military to receive a care package, please contact Jennifer in the church office with their mailing information. Packages will be put together and mailed on Monday, April 9th. Ladies: please remember this date to make cookies or bars. As always, we need LOTS of popped popcorn for packaging. More details to follow, but if you have any questions please feel free to contact Sally Reuer 347-4971.

BAKE SALE THANKS
I would like to thank all the efforts made by the Women's ministry, to make the bake sale for the Bouchard's a success. Because of your generous donations $1075 was raised. This check along with the check from the Good News Club, made out to Alan Bouchard, will add to the materials needed for Pastor Peter's house and the orphanage's budget needs. I will deliver both checks to Alan who said he could have them cashed there. Upon my return I will update you on the effect you have all made on the lives in Rift Valley, Kenya.
In God's Grace, Frank

SPIRITUAL COUNSEL MEMEBERS
Due to the Maundy Thursday service, there will not be a Spiritual Counsel meeting for the month of April. See you at next months meeting, scheduled for May 3rd at 7:00pm

LENTEN BREAKFAST
Women’s Ministry will again host this year’s Lenten Breakfast held on Tuesday, April 3rd at 6:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Casseroles and fruit plates will be provided for the breakfast. See you there!

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
This year’s Easter Sunrise Service will begin at 6:15 am at the Banjo Ranch. The youth will again be conducting the service through music and the message.

2nd ANNUAL FLEE PARTY
Friday, May 4th– 2:00-7:00pm
Saturday, May 5th - 8:00-?
All proceeds will go to the Family Life Center
For more information contact:
Sandi 347-4159 or Karen 347-8522

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER
April 4, 2007 @ 5:30pm
No Dinner this week. Will Resume April 11th.
Have a blessed Easter!

LIBRARY NEWS
Please continue to browse the book/video sale in the Fellowship Hall. The library is currently being updated and tuned up. Our sale item are multiples or books reflecting subjects covered in newer editions, now on our shelves. Also, if you see items you have donated, feel free to reclaim them.

ZION CHURCH LIBRARY BOOK REVIEW
10 Christian Values Every Kid Should Know
By Donna Habenicht
Kids today are bombarded by a confusing mix of sham values in school and in the media. What can a parent do? This book provides more than 1,000 strategies to teach respect, responsibility, self-control, honesty, compassion, thankfulness, perseverance, humility, loyalty, and faith in God.
Check it out today in YOUR church library!

MORE BITES AND BYTES
Well, we have come to the end of our second term for this school year and it was indeed a busy one.  Brian had a great experience with his leadership role in the Model United Nations in February, and is looking forward to gaining more experience next year.  Both the girls soccer and the boys basketball won the league championship, and by all accounts the junior senior banquet was a big success.
    The academics this term were more intense, trying to get everything in and the kids prepared for next term's big exams amidst the distractions of sports, the junior/senior banquet, MUN etc. And then we end this second term with our annual interim trips, which are cultural/educational/adventure trips for the juniors and seniors.
This year Sara and I were asked to lead the Senior Scuba trip. Neither of us were scuba divers before the trip so we were able to take the course along with the students. All 11 of the seniors, and Sara and I became certified SSI divers. Whenever you take a group of teenagers, put them through this type of an intense course at the end of an intense term, and then put them 18 meters underwater, there is always the risk of panic or mistakes. God took good care of us, though and we had no issues at all.   The kids were great, and it was a great time. Brian went the other direction across the Rift Valley into the Mau Forest with the Dorobo people (an indigenous people group) and hiked, hunted and learned the ways and the culture of the Dorobo.
    One of the biggest dangers on trips like this in Kenya is driving the roads. The 550 km (300mi) trip to the coast took us about 12 hours going down and about 13 coming back. But we thank God for the many, many kilometers of safe travel He has granted us here at RVA over the years, and specifically for the last couple of weeks when over 150 staff and students traveled all around Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and all returned safely. The only reported injuries were a dislocated elbow on the biking trip, and several cases of dehydration.
    We now look forward to some time to catch up on school projects, attend and host the International Christian Educators Conference, and enjoy a visit from a Worland friend. Our friend is interested in getting involved in various ministries around Kijabe, and seeing what it is we really do. We always enjoy sharing our lives here in Kenya with people who have been part of our ministry from afar.
Easter Blessings,
Alan for all

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 02:47 PM | Comments (0)

March 21, 2007

FROM THE COUCH

From the Couch
Sacramental Living

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

I love confirmation class. It’s my one opportunity each week to talk about theology for a whole hour with a captive audience! A few weeks back, we had a great discussion about sacraments. In case you might be wondering, a sacrament is an outward sign or seal of an inward work of the Holy Spirit. The sacraments of baptism and communion are visible signs that point to invisible things that the Holy Spirit is working in us. For example, the water of baptism signifies the washing away of sin, as well as the renewing and regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. Similarly, the bread and wine of communion signify the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. As we eat the bread and drink the cup together, we visibly demonstrate our personal union with Christ, as well as the unity that we share in Christ. The water, bread and wine are meaningful to us because we can see and smell and taste and touch them. They help us tangibly grasp what God is at work doing on the inside.
I was thinking the other day (which is usually dangerous), and I decided that all of life is kind of like a sacrament. Sure, I know that Jesus only gave us two sacraments. That’s why I’m careful to say that life is kind of like a sacrament. Here’s where I’m going with this – God designed the whole of life to be an exercise in devotion to Him. Each word, action, and decision is an opportunity to give outward testimony that the Holy Spirit is at work on the inside. That’s how life is like a sacrament. The outward things that show what God is doing on the inside are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23). Paul tells us that even the small things in life, like eating and drinking, are to be done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Every part of life is designed to be lived as an act of worship. And every area of life (family, church, work, school, finances, friends, recreation) should give outward evidence that the Holy Spirit is finishing the work that He has started in us. That’s sacramental living. It’s a high calling, and we can’t begin to reach it in our own strength. But we should be encouraged, because the Spirit who dwells in each of us is much greater than the flesh that we contend with each day.
My prayer for each of you this week is that you will find unbelievable joy and purpose this week as you live each moment of life in devotion to the One who bought you at such a great price. May the Lord bless and keep you!
Pastor Couch

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 02:31 PM | Comments (0)

THE BUZZ AT ZION

NAVAJO MISSION TRIP UPDATE

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN GOING WITH US: We will be having a MANDATORY meeting Tuesday, April 3rd at 6:00 pm at the Couch’s. Now that we have the Bible School planned, we need to begin assigning roles and making trip plans. Come hungry because we’ll have dinner provided as well!

ANNUAL PANCAKE SUPPER & RENT-A-KID FUNDRAISER

April 15th @ 5:00 pm, the Consistory will once again be serving up flapjacks for our annual youth fundraiser! Youth work teams are being assembled and will be on the auction block ready for your bidding! Come hungry and generous to support our fine youth!

CARPET DONATIONS

Soon there will be new carpet in the Fellowship Hall, along the hallways and up the stairs. The price for the new carpet is roughly $20,000. If you would like to contribute to this project, please make checks out to: Zion Building Fund and specify carpet on the memo line. Over $8,700.00 has been donated to date. Thank you to all who have contributed to this need!

COOKIES FOR COLLEGE KIDS

Women’s Ministry is again sending out Cookie Care Packages. If you would like your son or daughter in college or in the military to receive a care package, please contact Jennifer in the church office with their mailing information. Packages will be put together and mailed on Monday, April 9th. Ladies: please remember this date to make cookies or bars. As always, we need LOTS of popped popcorn for packaging. More details to follow, but if you have any questions please feel free to contact Sally Reuer 347-4971.

THANK YOU, ZION

Thank you all for an unforgettable weekend filled with great fellowship, meaningful worship and gracious Wyoming hospitality. We enjoyed every minute of our time with all of you and are eager to return for the long run. We are deeply honored by your invitation of us to return and feel privileged to work with you again for the kingdom and inviting you now to an open house on Sunday, June 3rd from 2-4pm in the house we hope will be ours shortly at 1416 Circle Road. As we pray for you, please pray for all to go well on this end with the packing, the move, the purchase of the house there and the sale of our house here. God willing, we will see you in Worland around May 1st.
With our love and blessings, Pastor Ralph and Carolyn Partelow

PARTELOW ACCEPTED THE CALL

Sunday, March 11th Dr. Ralph Partelow was here to candidate for the position of Senior Pastor. Out of 214 congregational votes, 208 voted yes and 6 voted no. This resulted a 97.2% vote in favor of calling Dr. Partelow as Senior Pastor of Zion. He and Carolyn graciously accepted the call and plan to be here on May 1, 2007. While in the area Ralph and Carolyn looked to buy a home and are planning to purchase the house on the corner west of the church, at 1416 Circle Road. Any further updates will be posted in the newsletter.

BOOKS FOR SALE

The Church Library will be having a sale on Sunday, March 25th following the service . Thank you for your past donations, but we are out of space. If you donated any of the books in this sale, please feel free to take them home. If not they will be sold as follows:
Hard backs & videos - $.25 & Paperbacks– $.10 Again, thank you to all who have donate!

BOUCHARD BITS & BITES

Well, once again we have gone several weeks without writing. These weeks saw us immersed in the annual RVA Junior/Senior Banquet. As sponsors of the junior class we are to organize 80+ juniors into various committees to put on an elaborate dinner theater in honor of the seniors. The theme for the evening revolved around the Jules Verne novel "Around the World in 80 Days." This meant building 6 different sets to represent London, Paris, Egypt, Siam, San Francisco, and a ride in a hot air balloon. The play was a hilarious take off on the story of Phineus Fogg and his sidekick Passpartout, in which Brian did a fabulous job entertaining the crowd in the role of Mr. Fogg. The kid has inherited his mother's acting abilities. The evening also included food from 5 different countries, and singers and musicians to entertain between acts in the play. There were 28 servers from the sophomore class dressed according to the country in which they served. All in all the event was a tremendous amount of work, and it was a great time to get to know the parents of the students as they joined the class during our midterm weekend to help put this all together. Sara was sewing like a crazy woman and Alan was trying to juggle all of the details and keep track of all the pieces. The evening was a great success and we are glad we only do this about every 6 years. Now we begin the next major event for our class, which is a fund raiser that involves selling all sorts of food at sports events several times each term. The money from these concessions goes to sending the class on the senior trip. Today we spent the day "shadowing" the seniors and learning the ropes, so we can take over at the next event. So we continue to try to keep up with our day jobs in the classroom and library as well as the various activities needed with 350 high school kids. They say it keeps us young, but right now I'm not feeling very young.
We will wrap up the school term in about 3 weeks with the annual junior/senior culture and adventure trip. This year Sara and I have been asked to lead the scuba diving course. We are looking forward to this as it should be a nice way to end a very busy term. I hope this past winter has been good to you and that as spring and Easter approaches you experience God's goodness and blessings fresh and new.
Alan and Sara

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 02:24 PM | Comments (0)

March 14, 2007

Words From Dan

America’s Misplaced Component

"It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (NAS Matthew 4:4)

We’ve lost it! At least that is my deduction as I look at the rapid decomposition of morality in American society. The “we” is the general American public, 80% of whom claim the title Christian. The “it” encompasses every aspect of our society:

*Marriage
*Science
*Government
*Medical
*Education
*Justice
*Work
*Integrity
*Religion
*Business
*Entertainment
*Media

Does that about cover it? The point being, that this one vital component either improves or degrades every facet of our culture, with all of its parts and interactions. If it can have that sort of impact on a nation/society, we probably need to get a handle on it, and fast.
What is this critical it? I believe that it’s a moral center – a common generally held standard of right and wrong. That being said, we can immediately see why things are becoming the way they are and the difficulty of coming to a unified stance in a multi-cultural/religious society as each vies for dominance (assuming that most cultures are built, to one degree or another, on some sort of religious or moral foundation). It is difficult enough being fractured using these large frames of reference, but our nation is further splintered as individuals begin to pick and choose their personal values from a smorgasbord of religious, philosophical, psychological, and political ideologies. In this way we loose the common ground that makes a society properly work.
It should be no secret that in order to be united in something there must be a common standard of some sort. This standard may include such things as currency, language, measurement, management, vision, goals, and procedures (to name a few) which are essential ingredients to a properly functioning organization or society. The economists would go crazy if each business or government entity in the U.S.A. were using a different currency. Our legal system would be, and many believe already is, a shambles if it used different interpretations of laws and penalties to either penalize or uphold the same activity. Differing political ideologies (Communism, Democracy, Imperialism, etc.) cannot subsist within a single governing body. But this is the actual effect of those holding to the philosophy of multi-culturalism – trying to maintain an equal value of different standards. This could be used as a good definition of insanity, or a recipe for anarchy.
But the question remains, Who’s standard should rule? All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. (NLT Isaiah 53:6) From which god have we strayed? Is it the god of Hinduism? The god of Islam? The god of Buddhism? The godlessness of atheism? The god of humanism? None of these – it is God the Creator who speaks through Isaiah, the God of the Bible that we have ceased to follow. He is the God who is Supreme over all, Almighty, eternal, and all knowing. This God not only gave man life as a biological organism, but also fashioned him as a spiritual and moral being. This God, through His Word, is the One whom our founding fathers recognized as the proper Giver of the moral standard for all of mankind and our especially for our fledging nation, and it brought with it unity, prosperity and abundance.
Like Israel of old, our nation today has largely forsaken God’s standard and way of life for hodgepodge mixture of morals more to our individual liking. For a long list of reasons, the Word of God and its teachings are quickly fading from our priority list. We have fallen prey to the philosophy that we can pick and choose the path we want to take – a little here, a little there; some from the Bible, some from philosophy, some from modern ideologies, and some from ancient religions. The result is a fractured nation and a divided Christianity (about 2,500 denominations today) separated over the very thing (God’s Word) that should unite and enable us to live in peace and bring life and prosperity.
The decadence in America will only halt its downward spiral as we begin to live according to each and all the words that proceed from the mouth of God and once again expose the blessings of a life united under God’s standard. My evaluation is that the primary misplaced component in America’s culture today is a common acceptance of the moral standard of the Word of God – the moral center needed in all of the areas listed at the beginning of this article.
Pastor Garnett

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 04:26 PM | Comments (0)

THE BUZZ AT ZION

5th ANNUAL NAVAJO MISSION TRIPOur annual Navajo Mission Trip is set for June 15-23rd. Steve & Khela are busy assigning roles and getting the trip plans made. If you are interested in going on the trip, or helping out in ANY way, please let them know A.S.A.P.!

SPRING FLING
Women’s Ministry is hosting our first ever Spring Fling. It is scheduled for March 17th at 6:00pm at Zion Church. Shoe’s Bar-B-Q will be catering the event with BBQ Chicken. Please make checks payable to the Women’s Ministry. This will be an evening full of fun and loads of laughter! The nursery will be available for infants through kindergarten age and a special event for children 1st through 5th grade. Parents please prepare a sack lunch for your children and come join the fun!

CARPET DONATIONS
Soon there will be new carpet in the Fellowship Hall, along the hallways and up the stairs. The price for the new carpet is roughly $20,000. If you would like to contribute to this project, please make checks out to: Zion Building Fund and specify carpet on the memo line. Over $6,300.00 has been donated to date. Thank you to all who have contributed to this need!

WOMEN’S MINISTRY MEETING
This month’s Women’s Ministry meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 21st at 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. Some of the topics to be discussed are: Lenten Breakfast, Cookies for College Kids, WINGS Program and Bags for Victims of Violence. We look forward to seeing you there!

NO AWANA SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS WEEK!
Attention parents, There will not be Sunday School this week on March 18th for Cubbies, Sparks, & T&T (Ages 3-5th grade) Regular Sunday School will resume on March 25th. Thank You! The Awana’s Teachers

PARTELOW ACCEPTED THE CALL
Sunday, March 11th Dr. Ralph Partelow was here to candidate for the position of Senior Pastor. Out of 214 congregational votes, 208 voted yes and 6 voted no. This resulted a 97.2% vote in favor of calling Dr. Partelow as Senior Pastor of Zion. He and Carolyn graciously accepted the call and plan to be here on May 1, 2007. While in the area Ralph and Carolyn looked to buy a home and are planning to purchase the house on the corner west of the church, at 1416 Circle Road. Any further updates will be posted in the newsletter.

CHOIR TO SING FOR EASTER SERVICE
Calling all choir members! Nancy Heiser has volunteered to direct the choir in a song for the Easter morning service on April 8th. Practices began Wednesday, February 28th and will continue Wednesday’s immediately following the Lenten Service. Please plan to attend practices as you can. The number has been performed in the past, so it should be familiar to many of you.

BOOKS FOR SALE
The Church Library will be having a sale on Sunday, March 25th following the service . Thank you for your past donations, but we are out of space. If you donated any of the books in this sale, please feel free to take them home. If not they will be sold as follows:
Hard backs & videos - $.25
Paperbacks– $.10
Again, thank you to all who have donate!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER
March 21, 2007 @ 5:30pm
There will be NO dinner this week due to Spring Break. See you NEXT week, March 28th, for Peggy’s Stuffed Chicken. Yum!

Some Friends are like gold...
Some birthdays are too!
Please join us for an
80th Birthday Party and Card shower
Honoring:

Vada Lungren

Saturday, March 24, 2007 1:00-3:00pm
Zion Lutheran Church

No gifts please
Cards with memorable moments to share
would be appreciated
If unable to attend—send cards to:
Vada Lungren
410 West Lane, Worland

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 04:21 PM | Comments (0)

March 07, 2007

FROM THE COUCH

From the Couch
Preparing For The Weekend
As we all gear up for a big weekend at Zion with the coming of Ralph and Carolyn Partelow, I think that it’s important for us to prepare ourselves spiritually for the decision that we will face on Sunday. The calling of a pastor is a very important time in the life of a church body. It can be a time of excitement and anticipation about what God will do through the ministry of the new pastor. It is also a time when each member of the body needs to be armed with the full armor of God, as the enemy often concentrates many attacks on the unity and focus of the church. I believe that where God is working, the enemy is often lurking, waiting for God’s people to present themselves unprepared for an attack. I have seen God working recently in mighty ways at Zion, especially through faithful prayer. I have seen God honor prayers for healing. I have seen Him loosen spiritual strongholds. I have seen Him make perfect His strength in our weaknesses. I have seen His protection and blessing in the lives of many people. God is working mightily as we pray. The enemy is also working hard to see that we do anything but pray. So it’s important that each of us approach this weekend with diligence and preparation through much fervent prayer.
Each Sunday we pray together by reciting the Lord’s Prayer. We pray “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). I believe this should be our model as we pray for the weekend. We should pray that God’s Kingdom come – that He should have rule in the hearts and minds of all people, especially us. We should pray that God’s will (not ours’) be done, here at Zion as well as in all of heaven and earth. We should pray that God would prepare our hearts and minds to be open and sensitive to His leading. We should also pray that God would deliver us from any temptation to act against His will, and that He would protect us from the concentrated spiritual attacks that come from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).
I pray that you will enter this weekend covered with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and prepared to be used as God’s instruments. I pray that you will be greatly blessed as you enjoy spending time with the Partelow’s, and I pray that through each of us God’s will be done and His glory be exalted!
Pastor Steve

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)

THE BUZZ AT ZION

5th ANNUAL NAVAJO MISSION TRIP
Another year has flown by and it’s time to start thinking about the Navajo Mission Trip. The dates will be from June 15th -23rd. We are STILL in need adult volunteers! If you are interested or would like more information please contact Khela or Steve.

SPRING FLING
Women’s Ministry is hosting our first ever Spring Fling. It is scheduled for March 17th at 6:00pm at Zion Church. Shoe’s Bar-B-Q will be catering the event with BBQ Chicken. Ticket’s are $10.00 per person. Please RSVP to Jennifer at the church and to receive your ticket. Please make checks payable to Women’s Ministry. This will be an evening full of fun and laughter! The nursery will be available, so come and join us!

TIME CHANGE THIS SUNDAY!
DON’T FORGET...this Sunday, March 11th is day light savings, so be sure to set your clocks AHEAD one hour. If you don’t you’ll miss all the fun this Sunday!

HUNTER-THANK YOU
You have been so kind and loving to Ed and myself the last three weeks. The meals have be wonderful, the cards lovely, the prayers uplifting, the phone calls and visits a true blessing. It is truly a blessing to know there are so many people that care and are willing to take the time to express that. We appreciate and love every one of you. Thank you also to Pastors Couch and Garnett for the many visits in the hospital and after I returned home. May God bless you all for being such a blessing to us.
Ed and Marilou Hunter

CARPET DONATIONS
Soon there will be new carpet in the Fellowship Hall, along the hallways and up the stairs. The price for the new carpet is roughly $20,000. If you would like to contribute to this project, please make checks out to: Zion Building Fund and specify carpet on the memo line. Over $5,800.00 has been donated to date. Thank you to all who have contributed to this need!

WOMEN OF FAITH–UPDATE
Women of Faith’s, Amazing Freedom tour, is in Billings this year! The tickets have been ordered and will be here 2 – 3 weeks prior to the conference. We will be sitting in section 42, Rows N & P and seats 9-14 in both rows. I have one extra ticket if anyone would like to grab it. Ladies, please pay for your ticket ASAP and make checks payable to Jennifer Herrmann. The price of the of tickets are $45.00. Also, it’s a good idea to make hotel reservations now. They fill up quickly.

CARRY-IN DINNER FOR THE PARTELOW’S
There will be a carry-in dinner on Saturday, March 10th at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall for all who wish to get to know Ralph and Carolyn. Please bring two dishes of your liking.

Dear Friends and Family of Zion,
Margaret and onI are entering a new milestone in our lives. We have purchased a home in Canton, Texas. God has graciously sold our Worland home and I know the new owner will be blessed by it.
Ministry has been somewhat limited in recent weeks. I have had no base from which to operate. Our new home will allow me a study and my writing will begin anew. I have taught at Arrowhead Bible College and have done a strategic management plan for Beartooth Mountain Christian Ranch. Both were challenging and invigorating. I was sad that the weather at the time prohibited me from coming to visit you. Prayerfully we will see you soon.
We are excited that Mattie is so close. It is very comforting to have her near. And we are so excited that Sara Garnett will be coming down here as well. Ministry in this area abounds. It is a great environment to grow and be nurtured in the Lord.
Margaret and I are excited about the possibility of Ralph Partelow returning as your Senior Pastor. We know how loved he was and what a great healer he is. Ralph is truly a great man of God and Zion is twice blessed by him. We pray for his success and Carolyn’s strength to build the church with her prayers.
Let me give you our new mailing address and contact information:
Bud and Margaret Surles
229 Chester
Canton, Texas 75103
e-mail: bsurlesm@aol.com
Phone: 903-567-6896
We love you all and miss you terribly, but God is doing good things for us here. We know that He has paved the way for us. So grow in Him and support your new pastor and leaders of the church.
God bless you all,
Bud and Margaret Surles

BAKE SALE FOR FRANK LEY
Women’s Ministry is hosting a bake sale Sunday, March 25th following Morning Worship for Frank Ley’s mission trip to Africa. All proceeds from the bake sale will be applied to expenses Frank will need for his trip.
There will be butterballs & homemade noodles at the sale!
Any and all baked goods are welcome!

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER
March7, 2007 @ 5:30pm
Spaghetti Pie, French Bread,
Tossed Salad and Dessert
*$3.00 per person or $12.00 per family
Come join in the fellowship and fun!

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 05:02 PM | Comments (0)

March 02, 2007

FROM THE COUCH

From the Couch

Testing The Spirits

If you have been keeping up with the news, then I’m sure that you’ve heard about the reports of the tomb that supposedly holds the bones of Jesus, his wife, and his children. Or maybe you’ve heard about the DVD that is being pushed on TV shows like Oprah, Larry King, and Ellen called “The Secret”. Surely you remember the hype about “The Davinci Code”, a fictitious story about a man who uncovers the “truth” that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and was most certainly not the Savior of the world. What do each of these messages have in common? They suppose that the biblical message of Jesus is a hoax, and that certain ancient heretical documents that were rejected by the Church from the earliest times are truth. I’m talking about a group of documents called the “gnostic gospels” that portray Jesus as an ordinary guy and new age philosopher.
I’m not surprised by the popularity of this kind of attack on the nature and person of Jesus. What does surprise me sometimes is how coordinated these attacks seem to be. But I shouldn’t be surprised, because this is nothing new. The Apostles warned the early church against these teachings, and their warnings still resonate today. The book of 1 John was written to a group of Christians who had been abused by false teachers who claimed that Jesus was somehow less than God who came in the flesh to atone for the sins of mankind. Here is how John responded to them. He said, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world” (1John 4:1-3). What John is saying is that there is a spirit behind every teacher. If the teacher acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ who came in the flesh, then his message is from the Spirit of God. If the teacher does not acknowledge this, his message is from the spirit of the antichrist. Which spirit is controlling the teachings of “The Secret” or “The Davinci Code”? Which spirit is controlling media reports bent on “exposing” Jesus as a fraud? Which Spirit controlled the writers of the Bible as they revealed the message of salvation through the cross of Jesus Christ? Apply John’s test, and the answers are clear.
My prayer for each of us this week is that God would give us wisdom in discerning the spirits behind the messages that we are hearing from the world around us. And remember – “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them (the spirits of deception), because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Pastor Steve

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)

THE BUZZ AT ZION

WOMEN OF FAITH- MAY 18 & 19-BILLINGS
Women of Faith’s Amazing Freedom tour is in Billings this year! Tickets are: Standard-$45 (group early bird rate) and Premium- $65 (group early bird rate). In order to qualify as a group, we need 10 or more tickets. In order to qualify for the early bird rate, tickets must be purchased by March 5th.Tickets go fast, so please let Jennifer know ASAP if you would like to reserve a ticket.

5th ANNUAL NAVAJO MISSION TRIP
Another year has flown by and it’s time to start thinking about the Navajo Mission Trip. The dates will be from June 15th -23rd. We are in need adult volunteers! If you are interested or would like more information please contact Khela or Steve.

CHOIR TO SING FOR EASTER SERVICE
Calling all choir members! Nancy Heiser has volunteered to direct the choir in a song for the Easter morning service on April 8th. Practices will began Wednesday, February 28th and will continue Wednesday’s immediately following the Lenten Service. Please plan to attend practices as you can. The number has been performed in the past, so it should be familiar to many of you. See you there!

THE ROCK HAS MOVED
Due to the increasing number of youth attending The Rock outside of Zion, Zion youth will no longer be receiving “Rock Updates” in the newsletter. All youth members will receive a MONTHLY newsletter containing a Bible Reading Plan, a schedule of events and lots of more. Keep your eyes on the mailbox for this months’ debut of The Rock Monthly. Parents don’t worry, any updates needed will still be in the newsletter.

LETTER FROM MATTIE
Hey Ya'll, I can't believe that I’ve been here for over 6 months. Time flies when you are working. I'm so excited for this spring. We have 13 more weeks of calling for Acquire the Fire Events. The event that I'm calling for is Kansas City, Mo, and that will be in 9 weeks. There will be 143,100 attendees to an Acquire the Fire event this spring alone. Classes are going well, we just finished a missions class and have started a world view class. This past weekend was the Men's and Women's Conference. Wow, it was good! Lisa Beaver was our guest speaker and we talked about walking in the TRUTH. Not a theme that the Honor Academy placed on the weekend, but the Lord laid that on the hearts of each of the speakers. God works in awesome ways. I wanted to tell you that I received my Honor Ring and am now a part of the fellowship. I'm still an Assistant Core Advisor, and there are times when it seems like I can't do anything right, but then I have to remember that I'm exactly where God wants me. I have Mid-Year Defense this Friday. This is a program in which I have to explain to the panel why I should be allowed to stay for the rest of the year. (To make sure that we are talking full advantage of this year.) It’s also the time for me to decide whether I will be staying another year. I have been praying about it, and would appreciate your prayers. I would love to hear from you. If you want to email me, my email address is mattie.brill@teenmania.org . I miss you all and pray that you are all well. Congratulations to Sarah on being accepted to the Honor Academy. Thanks for your prayers and
support. God Bless, Mattie

In a recent book, Keep on Keeping On, written by author, Leslie B. Flynn, credit is given to the Partelow’s for the ability to keep on keeping on. Flynn writes:

The Story of Dr. Ralph and Carolyn Partelow
On their first wedding anniversary, Carolyn Partelow was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Despite this setback, the Partelow’s accepted a church in Pennsylvania where they had a rewarding and fruitful ministry. They were also told that Carolyn could never bear children. Yet six years later Jonathan was born, their “miracle child.”
During their pastoral ministry they felt God’s call for Ralph to further his education and consider the mission field. At a friend’s suggestion they applied to the African Inland Misssion (AIM) and were accepted, but they needed to raise thousands of dollars for equipment within a year. Where would the money come from?
Music and musical instruments had intrigued Ralph since he was twelve years old. This interest sparked his hobby of making miniature pianos, for which he is now well known. John H. Steinway of Steinway & Sons piano company encouraged him. Articles about his creations appeared in the New York Times and leading miniature magazines. Constant orders for the pianos began arriving, enabling them to leave for Africa debt free. In Africa, Ralph taught at Scott Theological College. Carolyn served as a prayer warrior, and exercised her gift of hospitality. They traveled back and forth from Africa six time to treat Carolyn’s medical problems and enable Ralph to earn his Doctor of Ministry degree from Denver Seminary. While stateside, Ralph pastored several churches, but the call to Africa never abated.
Their last six months in Africa were especially difficult. As Ralph described it, life-threatening muggings, armed robberies, illnesses, and a head-on collision (caused buy a reckless driver in a no-passing zone) all took their toll.
Before they left Africa in 2003, the president of Kenya came in full regalia accompanied by his entourage to pay a visit to the Partelow’s. In a public announcement, he said he had come to see the lad who had prayed for him daily for twenty-four years. Now living in Pearl River, New York, Ralph is Missionary Relations Administrator at AIM, which involves the overall care of AIM missionaries from the United States, who serve all over Africa. He lovingly cares for Carolyn, who needs help with eating and dressing. She goes from bed to wheelchair without complaint. Her mind is sharp. She inspires everyone she meets and spends hours praying for the AIM mission needs. For relaxation between jobs, caring for Carolyn, and doing all the cooking and cleaning, Ralph continues to make miniature pianos, but only on special order.
Ralph and Carolyn Partelow have spent their lives together demonstrating the ability to keep on keeping on. Throughout their hardships they have struggled with questions of why God would allow so many misfortunes to come upon them. But, in their own words, they have been able to accept their trials as opportunities to experience God’s grace and power.

Author Leslie B. Flynn has written numerous books and articles for Christian publications. Keep on Keeping on, is Flynn’s 41st book. He is currently Pastor Emeritus of Grace Baptist Church in Nanuet, New York where he resides with his wife Bernice.

CARRY-IN DINNER FOR THE PARTELOW’S
There will be a carry-in dinner on Saturday, March 10th at 5:30pm for all who wish to get to know Ralph and Carolyn. Please bring two dishes of your liking.

PARTELOW TO CANDIDATE MARCH 11
Due to a conflict in scheduling for March 18th, Ralph has consented to switch the day he will come to candidate. Please note the change in dates. Ralph and Carolyn will drive in on Friday, March 9th and leave on Tuesday, March 13th. Ralph will preach on Sunday, March 11th. Please set aside this date as Ralph comes to candidate for the position of senior pastor.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER
March7, 2007 @ 5:30pm
Swedish Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes,
Green Beans, Rolls and Dessert
*$3.00 per person or $12.00 per family
Come join in the fellowship and fun!

Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at 11:15 AM | Comments (0)