ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH

420 1st Street SE Gwinner, ND 701.678.2401 www.ziongwinner.org

Divine Service 10:00 am Every Sunday

February 2015 Newsletter

This month we have a brand new endeavor before us! Yes, we are going

to be hosting a conference at the church called, “The Charis Conference!”

(Note: Charis is the Greek word for ‘grace.’) Hopefully you have seen

some information for this. If not, please permit me to share a little.

We will be having Pastor Donavon Riley from Webster, MN to speak to

us on the subject of “Self-Service or Self-Sacrifice?” During each of the

sessions, Pr. Riley will be focusing on the Christian Life in the midst of the

influences of ‘Choice, Pornography, and Hyper-speed Technology.’ I

promise you that this conference theme and speaker will certainly

engage all ages. It will be especially important and relevant for our

youth as well. Furthermore, I am requesting that the confirmation

students make it to the conference and it would be wonderful to have

parents, grandparents, and parishioners of all backgrounds in

attendance. Finally, I hope to see several dozen people from area

churches in attendance as well. I have already heard that several youth

groups are coming from other churches. Within this newsletter, there

will be more information on this most excellent conference.

Besides the conference, please take note that we are beginning our Lent

Services in the month of February. On Wednesdays at 5:15 PM we will

have soup and sandwiches, served by our “Higher Things Youth.” What

does this mean? It means that you don’t have to cook food for your

family and that the youth will be able to serve you, while acquiring funds

for their conference this summer. So, come on out to eat some great

food and receive from the Lord during the brief Lent Services starting

at 6:15 pm and going to 7:00 PM.

May the Lord richly bless you and may He bless our endeavors for the

Charis Conference!

Pastor Matt Richard

Pastor’s Note

Youth News

Mission of the Month

Lenten Schedule

Newsletter Devotion

Service Lists

Calendar

Charis Conference

Wangler Benefit

Confessions Reading Group

In This Issue…

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We have an amazing group of youth (19) and

chaperones (5) committed to attending this

conference! We will be heading to Concordia

University, Seward, NE on July 27th.

Please keep them in your prayers

as they prepare for this journey.

This summer’s 2015 Higher Things Conferences will rejoice

in the gift of the Te Deum, a hymn of praise that gives us a

foretaste of what’s happening in worship in heaven and on earth.

Sunday, February 8 6-8pm

LYF Youth are all invited to come out for an evening of fun and games!

Diaper War, Sardines, and whatever else Pastor has up his sleeve for the evening!

And of course there will be pizza!!

Bring a friend and join in the fun!

A Huge Success!!

The youth will be serving us during our Lenten Soup and Sandwich meal.

Thank you for your generous support of these youth as they prepare to attend the Higher

Things Conference this summer.

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4 – Jesse Utecht

6 – Genise Arnst

8 – Sandy Asche Scott Illies

11 – Lola Decker Teresa Rodahl Aleaha Wangler

12 – Darlene Buchholz

13 – April Gaden

14 – Rich Beaver

15 – Pastor Matt

18 – Dawn Gaden

19 – Dennis Linderkamp

20 – Diane Johnson

23 – Cody Colemer Karen Enderson

27 – Blake Nelson

From the preface to Lutheran Worship

Our Lord speaks and we listen. His word bestows what it says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness and praise. Music is drawn into this thankfulness and praise, enlarging and elevating the adoration of our gracious giver God.

Saying back to Him what He has said to us, we repeat what is most true and sure. Most true and sure is His Name, which He put upon us with the water of our Baptism. We are His. This we acknowledge at the beginning the Divine Service. Where His Name is, there He is. Before Him we acknowledge that we are sinners, and we plead for forgiveness. His forgiveness is given us, and we, freed and forgiven, acclaim Him as our great and gracious God as we apply to ourselves the words He has used to make himself known to us.

The rhythm of our worship is from Him to us, and then from us back to Him. He gives His gifts, and together we receive and extol them. We build one another up as we speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Our Lord gives us His Body to eat and His Blood to drink. Finally His blessing moves us out into our callings, where His gifts have their fruition. How best to do this we may learn from His Word and from the way His Word has prompted His worship through the centuries. We are heirs of an astonishingly rich tradition.

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Secretary Office Hours

Monday-Friday 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Email: secretary@ziongwinner.org

Mission of the Month Charis Conference

Pastor’s Office & Study Hours

Monday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Tuesday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Wednesday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Thursday 9:30 am to 5:00 pm

Friday Pastor’s Day Off

We have a special opportunity in the month of February to not only fund a top-notch conference that will bless our very own youth and adults, but will also bless neighboring congregations and the community at large. Indeed, our Charis Conference is being advertised to churches, laymen, young, old, male, female, believers, and unbelievers within a 100 mile radius of Gwinner. In other words, this conference will not only serve to educate and equip those in the church, but will also serve as an evangelistic tool by inviting and informing the greater population of this very important subject. In regard to the finances, the funds raised for the Charis Conference will be used to pay the speaker fees, travel expenses, advertising costs, conference expenses, and so forth. Thank you for your support!

Lenten Services Schedule

5:15pm

Soup and Sandwich supper

6:15pm Vespers Service

February 18: God Commandments 1-2 February 25: Rest Commandment 3 March 4: Authority Commandment 4 March 11: Life Commandments 5 & 8 March 18: Marriage Commandment 6 March 25: Property Commandments 7, 9, 10

Lenten Sermon Series

God’s Ten Words – For You

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Ushers

February

1st Brian & Tana McKenna

8th Jason & Hollie Asche

15th Scott & Christine Bopp

22nd Cory & Lauri Timmerman

March

1st Eric & Brook Olson

8th Dennis & Cindy LInderkamp

CHIP Families (Christians Held in Prayer) February 1

Jay & Karen Enderson AJ, Philip, Jacie, Jada 714 Main St. S Gwinner, ND 58040

February 8

Joey & Cindy Enderson Brandon

PO Box 164 Gwinner, ND 58040

Acolytes

March

1st NaKayla Halmrast

4th Brady McKenna

8th Troy Dietz

11th Carissa Stroh

15th Bladen Wangler

18th Annah Greenmyer

22nd Christina Mathias

Cleaners List 1st to 7th

Brian & Tana McKenna

Greg & Janet Nelson

Wayne & Genise Arnst

Karen Euscher

Randy Rotenberger

8th to 14th

Kelly & Liz Neustel

David & LaVonne Nelson

Harold & Geneva Waswick

John & Patti Thompson

Note: If you are unable to usher or acolyte on your scheduled date, we ask that you please contact another member to switch with.

15th to 21st

Tim & JoAnne Rehborg

Gary & Kay Drevlow

Allen & Diane McDaniel

Eric & Brook Olson

22nd to 28th

Brady & Ashley Anderson

Lou & Corrine Haussler

Dennis & Cindy Linderkamp

Randal & Michelle Brockman

February 15

Merril Engquist & Marcia Asche PO Box 587 Gwinner, ND 58040

February 22 Corey & Patty Essig Slatin, Logan 432 4th St NW Gwinner, ND 58040

*Please remember to sign your name

on the chart on the bulletin board

by the kitchen noting which area of

the church you have cleaned*

February

1st Adam Neustel

8th Reed Nelson

15th Grace Mathias

18th Schuyler Utecht

22nd Taylor Grenier

25th KyAnna Halmrast

29th Matthew Asche

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February 2015 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 am Sunday School

10 am Divine Service

*Communion

10 am Staff Mtg

9 am Pastor’s Study

4 pm Confirmation

Pastor’s Day Off

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 9 am Sunday School

10 am Divine Service

11:15 am Higher Things Mtg

6-8 pm Diaper War

10 am Staff Mtg

9 am Pastor’s Study

2 pm LWML

4 pm Confirmation

7 pm Council Mtg

Pastor’s Day Off

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

9 am Sunday School

10 am Divine Service

10 am Staff Mtg

9 am Pastor’s Study

4 pm Confirmation

5:15 pm Lenten Meal 6:15 pm Ash Wednesday Vespers

Pastor’s Day Off Charis Conference

22 9 am Sunday School

*Rev. Donovan Riley 10 am Divine Service

*Communion

*Rev. Donovan Riley

23 10 am Staff Mtg

7:15 LWML

24

25 9 am Pastor’s Study

10:30 am 4 Season’s Chapel Service

4 pm Confirmation 5:15 pm Lenten Meal

6:15 pm Vespers

7:15 pm Elders Mtg

26

27 Pastor’s Day Off

28

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Zion Lutheran Church Presents the First-Annual

Charis Conference On Church, Culture, and Christianity

February 21st and 22nd

What if you could not

choose the kind of pasta sauce, or coffee, or pickles you purchase at a grocery store?

Why do we have no time

for other people, but we’re more connected to people by social media than any generation before us?

How does the idea of choice

influence how you think about relationships and marriage?

Now more than ever, our

values are defined by choice, happiness, and time. And they’re coming at us through technology at hyper-speed. Join us as Pastor Riley explains why the Lutheran teaching on Christian vocation is more vital for the Church than ever in a culture of choice, pornography and hyper- speed technology.

Conference Schedule

Saturday, February 21

9:30 am Registration

10:00 am Matins Service

10:45 am Session 1: Choice 11:30 am Q&A for Session 1 12:00 pm Lunch 1:15 pm Session 2: Pornography 2:00 pm Q&A for Session 2 2:30 pm Coffee break 3:00 pm Session 3: Technology 3:45 pm Q&A for Session 3 4:15 pm Q&A for all sessions

4:30 pm Early Evening Prayer 4:45 pm Dismissal

Sunday, February 22

9:00 am Pr. Riley on “Christian Vocation”

10:00 am Divine Service Guest Preacher: Pr. Riley

The Rev. Donavon Riley is pastor of Saint John Lutheran Church in Webster, MN. He is the

author of the blog “The First Premise” and "Gnesio Lutheran" and is a regular writer, radio guest, and speaker at Higher Things conferences and retreats. A graduate of Concordia Universities in St. Paul, Minnesota and Portland, Oregon, Pastor Riley received his seminary and post-graduate education at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He colloquized into the LC-MS from the ELCA in 2008. He is married to Annie, and is the father of four children: Owen, Alma, Hoshea, and Hallel.

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Wangler Family Benefit

Sunday, March 8 11am-1:30pm

Zion Lutheran Church The Mission and Outreach Board is holding a pancake and sausage benefit, along with a silent auction and bake sale for the Derek and Jennifer Wangler family. Jennifer was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2001. She has been on many medications to keep it in remission. In March 2014, despite her efforts to keep her Crohn’s under control, it flared up and has progressively become worse. Due to poor appetite, nausea, and her body’s inability to absorb nutrients she lost 32 pounds which left her body nutritionally starved. In November, she was hospitalized in Nebraska for a week while they ran several tests. She received 4 units of blood, IV iron, steroids, and antibiotics. Test results showed narrowing of the intestines and fistulas. The doctors are hoping medications will allow them to heal, without needing surgery which has been put off for now. Due to being so weak and tiring so easily, Jennifer had to stop working. She requires a lot of rest. Recovery time will be long-term and costly.

If you are unable to make it and would like to make a donation, an account in the name of “Wangler Family Benefit” has been set up for the family at Sargent County Bank, 22 Main St. N. Gwinner, ND 58040. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Anyone wishing to donate items for the silent auction may bring them to the church by Friday, March 6.

“Supplemental funding will be provided by the Ransom/Sargent Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans”

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CONFESSIONS READING GROUP

WHAT IS A CONFESSIONS READING GROUP?

A Confessions Reading Group is a set time of the month where

individuals join with their pastor to read the Book of Concord and

discuss it. The pastor does not prepare ahead of time. He is simply

there to clarify matters along the way as the group takes turns

reading parts of the Lutheran Confessions. Some sessions will find

the group reading a few pages of the confessions, while other

times there may be such lengthy and profound discussion and

Bible searching that only a paragraph or two are read.

WHY THE BOOK OF CONCORD?

The Lutheran Confessions are 10 special statements of faith that

we use as the basis of what we believe and why. These

statements of faith were laid forth by men who stood up to

spiritual tyranny, sometimes in the face of possible death, during

the first 1,600 years of the Christian Church. More specifically,

what are these 10 statements about? Since these statements are

drawn from the Bible, they summarize the Gospel of Jesus and

they also help protect the church/families from errors that attempt

to ensnare and destroy. Furthermore, the Book of Concord is not

just a book for theologians in ivory towers, but large portions of it

were written by laymen and for laymen. For example:

confirmation students study portions of the Book of Concord each

week, while other portions of the Book of Concord are intended to

be taught to fathers so that they might lead their families in the

faith.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS GROUP?

The purpose of this group is twofold.

First, it is always good to get together with fellow brothers. There

is something revitalizing about simply gathering together with a

group of guys apart from work, to simply ‘be’ and enjoy a

refreshing Lutheran beverage.

Secondly, we live in a day and age where a deeper study of what

we believe and why is needed. Therefore, what better way to be

grounded in the Lord’s Word than learn from the confessions of

men who came before us; men who fought spiritual tyranny, men

who robustly served their church and family, and men who were

compelled by the message of Christ-crucified to risk their lives for

the sake of truth!

YOU ARE INVITED TO:

The Gwinner Men’s Reading Group Featuring the Book of Concord

Coming Soon…. April 15th

More details to come.

To learn more, contact Pastor Matt Richard at

701-680-2658.

The Lutheran Confessions: Reader’s Edition... over 100,000 Sold

Come and enjoy some Lutheran Beverages

Zion Lutheran Church A Church of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

THE MISSION OF ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH IS TO

CONTINUE THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST BY

BEING ROOTED IN THE WORD,

BY GROWING IN FAITH,

AND BY BRANCHING OUT

WITH THE GOSPEL

Zion Lutheran Church

PO Box 118

Gwinner, ND 58040-0118