Pastor Mary's last Sunday at Zion is October 30
Pastor Mary's last worship service at Zion will be this Sunday (Reformation Sunday). Bishop Bill Tesch will be at worship to honor her on her retirement and will share the message.
Please plan to attend a Sunday farewell brunch organized by the Women of Zion after worship to celebrate Pastor Mary and her service to Zion Lutheran Church.
Later that day, she will commence the drive to Winter Haven, FL, where she will be living in a 55+ resident-owned gated community. Her address after November 1 will be: 9705 Lake Bess Road, Unit 350, Winter Haven, FL 33884. During the summer months her home base will be at her sister's home in Rochester, MN. She is planning on keeping her present cell phone number, 218-689-2641 and e-mail address, mgilthvedt@gmail.com.
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A message from Pastor Mary
Dear Zion community of faith,
My heart is full of love and gratefulness for you and our partnership in the Gospel. Now we are nearing our last days together in this partnership.
As we say our goodbyes to one another, I find that it is not a grievous goodbye as though I will never see you again. Because of our hope in the resurrection, we will see one another again. What a joyous day that will be!
When my father left his first pastorate, the congregation sang to our family, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again.” I was only six years old, but I remember the love and hope we all had for one another as they blessed us with that hymn of hope.
And so, I leave these same words with you, knowing we will meet each other again. Until then, I pray that God be with you as with a shepherd’s care, with holy wings securely hiding you, unfailing arms around you, and daily manna providing for you.
Till we meet again at Jesus’ feet,
Pastor Mary Gilthvedt
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God Be with You Till We Meet Again
God be with you till we meet again;
by good counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd's care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
Refrain:
Till we meet, (till we meet,)
till we meet, (till we meet again,)
till we meet at Jesus' feet; (till we meet,)
till we meet, (till we meet,)
till we meet, (till we meet again.)
God be with you till we meet again.
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God be with you till we meet again;
holy wings securely hide you,
daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.
(Refrain)
God be with you till we meet again;
when life's perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you;
God be with you till we meet again.
(Refrain)
Text: Jeremiah E. Rankin, 1828-1904, alt.
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Join us for worship
Sunday, October 30, will be Reformation Sunday. On this day we are reminded the church is rooted in the reforms of the past. Yet, the church continues to be reformed as we grow into the future, living out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. Bishop Bill Tesch will be sharing the message and Pastor Mary will lead worship. We will celebrate the feast of the baptized, Holy Communion. Following worship, a farewell brunch will be served in honor of Pastor Mary's retirement.
Sunday morning worship begins at 9:00 am. For those who are unable to worship with us in person, join us during our Sunday radio worship broadcast at 9:00 am on 92.5 FM Warroad.
Wednesday evening worship begins at 5:30 pm and includes a variety of music led by the worship band, an easy order of worship, and a message.
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The October 30 radio broadcast is sponsored in loving memory of Charles Cran by Karen Cran. If you would like to sponsor a broadcast, please call or email the church office. The cost is $85.
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Partners in Prayer
Please pray for those on Zion's prayer list: Ralland Harrison, Susan Kofstad, Jon Paul Kragness (son of David & Jan Kragness), Grant Olson, Pastor Mary as she retires, the selection of a Call Committee that will be formed after Pastor Mary's departure, Bishop Tesch's meeting with the council on Sunday regarding next steps, and pastoral care and worship leadership between the time of Zion's called pastors.
Click here to continue reading our extended prayer list. If you have a name of someone you would like to add to the prayer list, please ask permission from that person first. Then, you may contact Zion’s church office (386-1733 or zlcw@mncable.net) to have the person added to the list.
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Contemplative Prayer
Pastor Mary Gilthvedt
I have been teaching the congregation some prayer practices during worship on Sundays. If you would like to learn more about contemplative prayer, I recommend the book Creating a Life with God: The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices by Daniel Wolpert. He teaches you how to pray ten different prayer practices that have been used for centuries in the church. One of the prayer practices he teaches is Centering Prayer. A helpful children's book on Centering Prayer is Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children by Frank X. Jelenek.
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Fractured Hearts
Luke 18:9-14
Reprinted from sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
At first glance, the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable in Luke 18 seems to be doing everything right. He attends worship faithfully, he offers thankful prayers to God, he tithes 10 percent of his income, and he even fasts regularly. That’s an impressive list! However, it’s not the state of his spiritual habits that Jesus reproaches, but the state of his heart. The Pharisee is diligent and observant, but he is putting trust in himself and his own piety rather than in God.
Martin Luther interpreted the first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), to mean that we should put our whole confidence in God alone, trusting in God above all else. Our hearts should cling to God, Luther said. When our hearts start clinging to other things, as the Pharisee’s did to his religious routine, we turn those things into idols.
In one version of the communal confession we use in worship, we admit to God: “We have not loved you with our whole heart” (ELW, p. 95). Despite our best intentions, our hearts can become fractured, clinging to all kinds of things before they cling to God. Sometimes all that’s left for God is a tiny portion of our hearts. The words of the confession reorient us by reminding us of our dependence on God and our need for God’s grace. We echo the prayer of the tax collector in Jesus’ parable: “God, be merciful to us sinners!”
No matter how fractured our hearts become, though, God’s response to our prayers will always be the same. God overflows with mercy and compassion toward us. At the end of our confession, we receive the assurance of forgiveness in Christ. That good news is for everyone—Pharisees and tax collectors alike. We are all God’s beloved children, freed and forgiven by the radical grace of God.
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Didn't get a copy of this year's annual report?
Annual report booklets are available by clicking the button below. Hard copies are available in the Gathering Space.
You may view additional information about the budget for the coming year in this document: What is Zion's Budget?
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Prayer Threads work day
Save the date: Sunday, November 13
Calling everyone who can knit, crochet, sew, or tie a knot!
Zion’s supply of completed Prayer Threads is low; so on Sunday, November 13, from 11:00 to 2:00, you are invited to join with fellow congregation members to work on shawls, lap blankets, and pocket prayer quilts. A supply of yarn for knitting and crocheting has been gathered and patterns will be made available; or you can use your own pattern. Fleece for tied lap robes or blankets is ready to be put together and fleece and flannel lap robes are ready to sew.
Information about Prayer Shawl Ministry is available at the following link:
http://www.shawlministry.com/
Pocket Prayer Quilts/Squares are a new addition to Zion’s Prayer Threads ministry. These can be knitted, crocheted, or sewn from fabric. Patterns for these will be available on November 13. Fabrics for a patchwork, backing, and lining (optional) and thread for sewing will need to be brought with you.
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- Knitting needles
- Crochet hooks
- Scissors
- Sewing machine, thread, tape measure, pins, hand sewing needles
- Large eye needle and embroidery thread (for the pocket prayer quilts)
A free will offering soup and bread lunch will be available.
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This week at Zion
- Sunday, October 30: Reformation Sunday: 8:00 am- Choir Rehearsal; 9:00 am- Worship; 10:00 am- Brunch in honor of Pastor Mary's retirement
- Monday, October 31: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm- Quilting for Lutheran World Relief
- Wednesday, November 2: 12:00 pm- Items for weekly publications due; 4:30 pm- Wednesday School; 4:30 pm- Pre-Confirmation; 5:30 pm- Worship; 6:15 pm- 8th Grade Confirmation
- Thursday, November 3: 5:15 pm- Rebecca Circle meeting
See the monthly church calendar at a glance here.
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Stewardship
Worship Attendance:
No worship service on Wednesday, 10/19
60 at 9:00 am on Sunday, 10/23
Offerings for week ending 10/23:
General Fund: $5,082.30
Building Fund: $820.00
Building Loan funds to raise as of 9/30: $12,000.00
As a response to hearing the Good News of the Gospel through Scripture and proclamation, a worshipping congregation collects an offering. Offerings provide funds for outreach and mission. We encourage you to support Zion’s mission by giving in any of the following ways:
- Online at https://zlcw.org/webpay/
- Automatic giving (Use the link above to set it up yourself or if you need help with getting set up, call the church office.)
- Through the Vanco Mobile app. Search "Vanco Mobile" or “Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement” in the App Store or Google Play. Once you download and open the app for the first time, search for "Zion Lutheran Church of Warroad" or "Warroad" (make sure you don't add an extra space after Warroad, or it may not find us). If you have logged into WebPay from zlcw.org or if you’ve used the retired GivePlus app, use the same username and password for Vanco Mobile.
- Drop off your offering at worship or in the drop box outside the main entrance
- Mail your donation to Zion Lutheran Church, PO Box 61, Warroad, MN 56763
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You can still help victims of Hurricane Ian
and disaster survivors around the world
Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response make it possible for the ELCA to act quickly after disasters, whenever and wherever they strike. Such gifts make short- and long-term responses to these crises, including Hurricane Ian, possible. To give to Lutheran Disaster Response to accompany disaster survivors on the long road to recovery, visit this website or designate your gift to Zion as "Disaster Relief."
We pray that God's presence will be felt in the midst of suffering and bring comfort to those who are hurting.
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Register soon for Pathways WONDERFULLY MADE
A Spiritual Renewal and Crafting Retreat at Camp Emmaus
November 18-20
Quilters, crafters, scrapbookers: You won't want to miss WONDERFULLY MADE: a DIY crafting retreat where you will experience Pathways' hospitality at its finest. Immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquility of Camp Emmaus in Menahga, MN. Delicious meals, group Bible study, an art project, and special music are all included. Spacious individual tables are available to work on your own unique craft projects and connect with others in Christian fellowship. You won't want to miss this special retreat! Enlarge the image below to see the retreat schedule.
Cost: $165 for Friday through Sunday. If you want to get an early start by arriving on Thursday as early as noon (meals on your own for Thursday), the cost is an additional $20.
This event is open to 18+. Call the Pathways office to sign up today. Space is limited.
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Let's gather one more time for quilting
Fall quilting continues at the church on Mondays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, but you can come and go as you need. You do not need to bring any supplies. You can tie, pin, or do some sewing. Contact Marlene Lewis at 218-386-2018 or Judy Landin at 218-242-0589 with questions or if you want to arrange to get fabric or blocks to work on at home.
If you have sheets, bedspreads, blankets, mattress pads, or fabric to donate, you can drop them off anytime at the church.
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Stress and Crisis: Get help now.
Click on the QR code below.
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Worship services are each Sunday at 9:00 am and Wednesday at 5:30 pm. Pastor Mary is available via phone (218-689-2641) and email (mgilthvedt@gmail.com). The church office is open from 10:00 to 4:00, Monday through Thursday. You may email Vicki or Deb at zlcw@mncable.net and call the church phone number at 218-386-1733.
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Zion's Church Council
Liz Hardwick, President (Personnel): 218-230-4423
Deb Lalim, Vice-President (Community Concerns): 218-689-5626
Kelly Thiele, Secretary (Cong. Care): 218-242-2631
Rick Arntzen (Stewardship): 218-242-1535
Shawn Brunelle (Christian Ed): 218-386-3644
Buck Bue (MEF): 218-386-1168
Dan DeMolee (Property): 218-386-1879
Jim Hallan (W&M): 218-386-1285
Amanda Ma (Memorials): 786-651-8800
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