Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Zion United
Methodist Church March 2010
Pa s t o r ’ s C o l u m n
As I considered all of the possibili- from one’s union with Jesus
ties for this month’s pastoral let- Christ (see Philippians 3:8; 4:12-
ter, so many things came to mind: 13).
the worries of the winter we are
I’ve learnt a lesson this week that
living through – the effects of flu
seems to come back around regu-
on our church, which has changed
larly when I’m not keeping my
the way we greet one another in
spiritual focus where it should be:
worship; how so many are strug-
joy in the Lord can be found any-
gling with their health during
where. This doesn’t mean that we After looking and finding God's
these months; how an up-and-
shouldn’t acknowledge the things joy all around me, I’ve adopted
down economy is rattling our fi-
in life that make us struggle. It Paul’s outlook for the foreseeable
nancial stability, thus affecting eve-
does mean that we shouldn’t con- future: “I will continue to re-
rything else in life. Well, almost
centrate on them so much we for- joice.” (Ph 1:19, NIV). What are
everything in life.
get to look for the joy that gives you doing to keep your joy alive
Do you notice that all of that hope and leads to new life and in the midst of the signs of our
“thinking” running through my spiritual renewal. times?
mind was dwelling on negative
Joyous things are happening at Blessings,
things? Me, too. After catching
Zion. I see those who love their
myself with my hand well into the Pastor Russ
church serving as trustees who
“pity” jar, I was reminded of some-
conscientiously care for the build-
thing I read as a kid in the Pogo
ing; those who love their church
comic strip: “We have met the en-
serving as teachers so our children
emy, and he is us.”
will learn of faith in Christ; those
When I read the Bible, the letters who love their church and give
of the Apostle Paul often amaze God praises through word and
me in that Paul could write with song. We who love our church are
such conviction, courage, and joy feeding the hungry, caring for our
even when his lot in life was defi- distant brothers and sisters
nitely not pleasant. In Philippians, through mission work, and caring
for example, he teaches a strong for their own souls through wor-
lesson on maintaining joy in the ship, study, and action.
midst of suffering – joy that comes
The Sounds of Zion Page 2
"The response of the church has been remarkable and generous," said Bishop Joel Martinez, interim
general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries. This ongoing support will allow UMCOR
"to be there in Haiti for the long haul," Bishop Martinez underscored. Please continue to be in prayer
with the people of Haiti and know that your support is critical.
• Nearly $13 million has been received for UMCOR Haiti Relief
• A number of conference treasurers have indicated that they are processing church offerings that
will be forwarded to UMCOR in the next few weeks.
With the renewed possibilities of spring flooding in both North and South Dakota the Disaster Re-
sponse Committee is requesting local church help with putting together and gathering Cleaning
Buckets.
A Cleaning Bucket contains:
• 5-gallon bucket with resealable lid
• Bleach (two 1-quart or one 82 oz. bottle. Do not include bleach if
you are shipping the bucket through the US Postal Service, UPS or
FedEx)
• 5 scouring pads
• 7 Sponges
• 1 scrub brush
• 18 cleaning towels (reusable wipes)
• Liquid laundry detergent (two 25 oz. or one 50 oz. bottle)
• 1 household cleaner, 12-16 oz. bottle
• Disinfectant dish soap, 16-28 oz. bottle
• 50 clothes pins
• Clothes line (two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.)
• 5 dust masks
• 2 pair latex gloves
• 1 pair work gloves
• 24-bag roll of heavy-duty trash bags, 33-45 gallon (remove roll from box before placing in bucket)
• 1 Insect repellant spray, 6-14 oz. can (If aerosol, cans must have protective caps.)
• 1 Air freshener, 8 or 9 oz. can (If aerosol, cans must have protective caps.)
Thank you for helping us to prepare to meet the needs of our friends and neighbors!
For any additional questions contact Rev. Paul Baker, North Dakota Disaster Response Coordinator
at (701) 642-6202 or Rev. Kathy Chesney, South Dakota Disaster Response Coordinator
Have you thought about leading a VIM team somewhere in the USA or overseas?
Have you thought about forming a team in your church, but don't quite know what is involved? Now is your chance to
come and learn. The Dakotas Conference will be having a team leader training session on Saturday March 27 from
10am-3pm, location to be determined after we know who will be attending. Cost will be $30, which includes a light lunch
and the team leader training manual. Nationally VIM is working toward requiring all teams to have trained leaders, and
that is currently required to lead a team to Haiti, so join us now and beat the rush!
Please contact Gloria Borgman, Dakotas Conference VIM coordinator, for more information.
Phone 605-642-5321
ron.borgman@yahoo.com
The Sounds of Zion
Page 4
Holy Spirit Moves Sioux Falls Asbury Member to Help Aid Haiti
(From Feb. 22, 2010 Mondays @ Dakotas)
"After listening to Bruce Blumer give the message on his experience in Haiti a few weeks ago at As-
bury I felt a tug to do something. A couple of days later I was reading more about the plight of the
people in Haiti in the Argus Leader newspaper and their need for tents. An immediate sense of
power to do something came over me. I have never consciously felt the power of the Holy Spirit be-
fore, but that is the only way to describe the feeling that came over me at that moment.
"I have worked in the newspaper business for over 20 years and have developed sense of what you
can do through it so I took the idea of helping the struggling people of Haiti to the Publisher of the
Argus Leader and asked him if we could run a two week campaign to raise 100 new or used
tents. He agreed and I set out to convince others at the newspaper to help me. It was an easy sell
as my co-workers are a compassionate bunch. They helped me coordinate a news and marketing
plan which we kicked off last Sunday. We found two retailers in town with multiple locations (Nyberg
Ace and Lewis) to participate with us as they offered their locations as drop points for the donated
tents. I contacted a friend of mine in the trucking business (K&J Trucking) and the firm he works for
volunteered to truck the donated tents to Louisville KY. Louisville is the home of G.O. Ministries, a
relief organization that has been flying relief supplies to Haiti for over 20 years and recently has
stepped up their efforts making 13 flights each day to the beleaguered nation.
"Since then I have contacted approximately two dozen other newspapers around the country to try
and enlist their help - passing on the message so to speak. It is starting to gain traction as St. Cloud
MN, Great Falls MT have already committed.
"I am excited about the project - I have to say Kip (Roozen, Senior pastor at Asbury) has been en-
couraging me as has my wife and without their support I most likely would not have answered this
call. "
When the first tremors of the earthquake in Haiti rocked that island nation, UMCOR (United Method-
ist Committee on Relief) staff were already in country, strategizing how United Methodists could help
improve the lives of the people there. Their work is a direct result of the One Great Hour of Sharing
Offering, which supports the operating expenses of those who bring healing and help in our name. It
makes it possible, when we respond to an emergency like Haiti, to know that 100% of our gift goes
directly to where the suffering is happening.
Please prayerfully consider what you will give and be ready on March 14th to participate in this mo-
ment of church-wide giving.
Page 5
Questions? There is a brochure in the narthex. Or, go to www.dakcamps.org! I'd also be willing to
help!
For the past 8 years, "Open hearts, Open minds, Open doors" has been
the theme of the denomination supported with a series of national ca-
ble TV advertising, supplemented by regional and local church partici-
pation. The overall aim of the effort was to invite people, to enter into
connection with the Christian community as they seek meaning and purpose in their
lives. The new campaign, Rethink Church, seeks to capitalize on the previous campaign, tar-
geting 18-34 year olds and inviting churches to think of the motto as a verb, not just an ad-
jective as in: "Together we can...Open hearts, Open minds and Open doors.
Rev. Larry Hollon is the agency's top staff executive. More information is available from the
agency's www.rethinkchurch.org Web site or by calling toll free (877) 281-6535.
Zion United
Methodist Church
1001 24th Avenue South To United Lutheran Church for the delicious dinner
Grand Forks, ND 58201 they served on February 23rd. There were 140 guests
and 34 blood pressure checks.
Phone: 701-772-1893
Fax: 701-772-8391
E-mail: zionumc@midconetwork.com
Web address: www.zion-umc.org
March 30—Evangelical Free Church
O u r H e Organization
arts, our Minds and
our Doors are always Open. April 27—Sharon Lutheran Church
May 25—Calvary Lutheran Church
June 29—Federated Church
July 27—Zion United Methodist Church
August 31—Our Savior Lutheran Church
September 28—Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center
October 26—Mendenhall Presbyterian Church
November 30—University Lutheran Church
“You do not make yourself holy by keeping yourself pure and clean from the world, but by plunging into the ministry
on behalf of the world’s hurting ones.”
– John Wesley