ZION NEWS 1216 W. 8th Street—Davenport, IA

563-322-3533—office@ziondavenport.org

From the Pastor… We are called to ponder myst’ry and await the coming Christ, to embody God’s compassion for each fragile

human life. God is with us in our longing to bring healing to the earth, while we watch with joy and wonder

for the promised Savior’s birth. (ELW 258)

Advent Greetings! As I write this we are just starting the season of Advent. This is not a “Hallmark

greeting card” season. In fact the first couple readings for Sunday are end time readings. Not only do we look

forward to God becoming human flesh, as Jesus Christ, we look forward to our Messiah coming again to

gather us all together for eternity.

As the season progresses we are introduced to more and more players in Jesus’ life, John the Baptist,

Joseph and Mary. These folks announce and bring to bear the Savior of the world. The Savior: who lived

among common people instead of in palaces, who healed those on the margins of society, instead of casting

them away from their communities, who saved us from our sin, already, not “if” or “because of” anything we

have done.

This is the message we celebrate Christmas Day and every day. The promise of a Savior has been

kept. Jesus Christ was born for us, and for the salvation of the whole world. Yes, we ponder the mystery of

God choosing to do this. And we cannot yet fully understand how the power of God can be in, with and

through any human being. But we do not only ponder, we sing, we pray, we serve, and we love one another

to reveal that God is with us, now and forever. Immanuel!

May you and all your loved ones know the promise of God with us - always. Pastor Karen Ullestad

Worship with Holy Communion Sundays at 9:00am

Join us. ALL are welcome!

December 2019

Christmas Worship at Zion

Christmas Eve

Christmas music begins 5:00pm

Worship begins at 5:30pm

Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion

special music, Lessons & Carols

Christmas Day 10:00am

Worship with Holy Communion

Advent Mid-week Word and Worship

We begin in the lounge at 6:00 pm

with Bible study, then proceed to

the chapel for Holden Evening

Prayer at 6:30 pm.

All are invited to participate during

this Advent season.

December 4, 11, & 18

Zion News - December 2019 page 2

“Growing in Faith…

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

SUNDAY MORNING FOLLOWING WORSHIP

Faith Talks:

In December, we will be studying the Book of Isaiah. This will be a time to dig deeper

into this book of the Old Testament. Pastor Karen and Deacon Janine will facilitate our

study. Please grab something to drink and a snack and join us in Room 8 as we spend time

together in conversation and study.

Sunday School Schedule December 8 Christmas Program practice December 15 Christmas Program during worship “Presents (We Love Presents)”

December 22 Sunday School students will carry collected items forward during regular worship, PLUS… an Intergenerational Cocoa & Carols in Dengler lounge following worship December 29 NO Sunday School classes

Care and Share

Zion’s Sunday School collected 67 bottles of shampoo which went to Zion’s Food Pantry for distribution. The bottles were blessed during worship on November 3rd.

The Sunday School students are collecting bathroom tissue during November and December for the Food Pantry. January through February they will collect can openers which will also be distributed through Zion’s Food Pantry.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Zion staff: Rosie, Jonathan, Keith, Ken, Colleen,

Deacon Janine, and Pastor Karen

Zion News - December 2019 page 3

...to Reach Out in Love”

From the Deacon…

Thank you! Thank you to all who helped with the Turkey Trot Food Boxes. We were able to provide

boxes to 60 households. The families who received these boxes each expressed their thanks for the generosity

that was shown. What a blessing this congregation is to our friends in the neighborhood and community.

THANK YOU for your generosity and “reaching out in love.”

Food Pantry News: In October 109 households were served benefitting 388 individuals with about a

third being children. The pantry also served 31 new households. The food needs of our community continue to

be great. Thank you to all for sharing your many and varied gifts with the community through the food pantry.

The pantry hours are Monday and Thursday 3:30-5:00. Sign-up sheets for the food pantry are located on the

bulletin board across from the office.

Along with our ministry of food we assist our neighbors who may be experiencing a financial crisis. Zion is one

of a variety of community groups and organizations that people look to for help in time of a financial crisis. As

part of our reaching out we have become a resource to many in need of assistance with rent or utilities. In

November the office received 19 requests for assistance. We distributed $1279.00 in assistance. Requests for

assistance come in many forms; most requests are for help with rent or utilities and occasionally there will be a

request for a car repair or a gas voucher. The ongoing financial needs of our community continue to be great and

as followers of Christ we hear the voices of our sisters and brothers in need and respond in compassion and care.

The Annual Christmas Ham Hop begins

December 1st. We will be preparing 50 Christmas Food

Boxes to be shared with our friends and neighbors. This

is one of the many ways we help to make this holiday

season a little more festive for people struggling to make

ends meet.

The Ham Hop boxes are out and as in the past we are

asking individuals, families, ministry teams or any

combination of people to get involved by adopting a

Christmas Food Box…and you can always take more

than one box to fill. Here’s what you do: take a box with

its “shopping list”, write your name on the flip chart and

you are ready to shop. By purchasing the items on the

list you will have completed one Christmas food box.

(The approximate cost per box is $50.) So, while you

are out doing your grocery shopping maybe pick up a

few extras and you’ll have the box filled in no time.

This is a great project for families and friends to

complete together. Boxes need to be returned to church by Wednesday December 18th (when you return your box please check your name off the list). Boxes will be distributed Thursday December 19th from 10:00a—3:00p.

Community Dinner: On Wednesday November 13th Zion provided a spaghetti dinner at the Churches United meal site. We served approximately 68 people. We next serve Wednesday January 8, 2020. This is a great way to share a meal with our neighbors and get to know them better. Please join us as you are able.

—God’s Peace, Deacon Janine

Angel Tree During the month of December we will gather mittens/gloves, hats and scarves for the children of Jefferson Elementary School. We all know these are the items that get lost or misplaced all winter long and are much needed during the cold months ahead. We will gather these items and in January, after winter break, distribute them to the school. Please place donations either on the Christmas tree or in the box in the narthex. The teachers and staff of this neighborhood school appreciate these gifts of warmth as many times children arrive at school without hats and mittens and these gifts provide the staff with resources to help keep hands and ears warm on these cold days of winter.

Thank you for your generosity.

Brought to the waters of baptism~

Oliver James Werner

son of Mindy Morris & Jesse Werner,

grandson of Kathy & Gary Morris

We welcome Oliver into the body of Christ!

Zion Men’s Group

The Zion Men’s group will meet on Saturday, December 21st at 8:00am at the Hickory Gardens restaurant in Davenport. ALL men are welcome to join in this monthly morning of breakfast, fellow-ship, and brief Bible study led by Tom Handlen or one of the ‘regulars’ of the group. Join us - bring a friend! Feel free to call Tom if you have questions or are interested in coming for the first time.

The Morning Book Club The Morning Book club does not meet in December! On January 20, 2020 at 9:30am, we will meet to discuss the book, The Bear, by Claire Cameron. Inspired by a fatal 1991 bear attack in Ontario, Canada, Cameron’s novel of fear and survival recounts the fictional escape from a similar attack of five year old Anna and her two year old brother, Alex. (Facilitator: Anita Hagen)

O.W.L.’s

O.lder

W.iser

L.utherans

(60+ Fellowship)

O.W.L.’s will gather for lunch on

Sunday, December 1st at 12:00

noon at the Hickory Gardens

restaurant for a White Elephant Christmas Party!

Questions? Contact Kathy Longlett

Zion News - December 2019 page 4

Commended to God’s eternal care…

Mary Schnoor October 19, 1927—November 3, 2019

ZLCW Christmas Brunch

ALL Women are invited to the

ZLCW Christmas Brunch on

Saturday, December 7th at

9:30 a.m.

Please join us for good food

and Christmas entertainment!

Seniors, Small Groups, and Such

Zion News - December 2019 page 5

COUNTERS-TELLERS 1st Sun. Chuck Dau, Mark Meyer, Mike

Shields

2nd Sun. John & RoxeAnn Ford,

Bill & Penny Dressler

3rd Sun. Stu Goldsmith, Delores Smith,

Matt Engstrom

4th Sun. Mark & Beth Meyer, Sue Keller,

Gene Rome

5th Sun. Mark & Beth Meyer

USHERS—December

Ken Stoltenberg

Deb & Randy Hughes

ASSISTING MINISTERS 12/01 Janine Johnson

12/08 Doug Kalkwarf

12/15 Anna Winn

12/22 Beth Longlett

12/29 Dona Noble

READERS 12/01 Laurie Elliott

12/08 Joseph Obleton

12/15 Steve Klecker 12/22 Open 12/24 Laurie Harrison 12/29 Open

December Senior Birthdays 12/01 Don Hollmer

12/04 L.E. Hamby

12/10 John Meister

12/13 Sharon Dettmann

12/16 Mark Meyer

12/19 Delores Smith

12/20 Pat Davis

12/22 Arn Thode

12/27 Pete Bata

ACOLYTES 12/01 Grace & Carter Engstrom

12/08 Anna & Emily Winn

12/15 Katie & Megan Harrison

12/22 Torrin Heritage & Peyton Flynn

12/24 Hunter & Peyton Shields

12/29 Grace & Carter Engstrom

Thank You all for your

2020 Commitment Cards.

If you haven’t had a chance

to fill out a card, you may

call the church office.

Please have all Annual Reports to the

office by January 5th, 2020

so that we may get everything ready for

the Annual Congregational Meeting on

January 26th.

Zion Lutheran Church Staff Pastor Karen Ullestad pastor@ziondavenport.org

Deacon Janine Johnson, Outreach Ministries deacon@ziondavenport.org Keith Haan, PhD, Organist /Adult Choir Director

Jonathan Turner, Accompanist

Rosie Bates, Childrens’ Choir & Handbells Dir.

Colleen Peterson, Office Administrator office@ziondavenport.org

Ken Stoltenberg, Custodian