Zion How To

This section is to inform both new and long-time member how to do or accomplish or access certain things within our church family.

KNOW WHAT ZION IS ALL ABOUT

“As a family of believers in Christ and members of His Kingdom, our congregation exists to worship, praise and honor the Triune God, share His pure Gospel message, encourage one another to grow stronger in faith through daily use of the Word, and urge each other to demonstrate such faith in daily living.

We will reach out to our community through worship, teaching and fellowship opportunities.

By the power of the Holy Spirit through the Means of Grace, we will grow in our knowledge of God the Father and His certain promise of salvation and strengthen our personal relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ and with each other. To God alone be glory. Amen.”

As priests of God every member of the congregation has the privilege of bringing special prayers to Him. Often members of the congregation desire to follow the encouragement of 1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone,” by having the whole congregation join in petitions or prayers of thanksgiving. Please contact the church office at 582-3680 to have your prayer in the weekly worship service in regard to anniversary, illness, surgery, birth, special need, etc. If you are requesting a prayer on the Sunday morning or the evening of the service, it would be very helpful to have the name and need in writing to be handed to pastor.

Jesus pointed to the lilies of the field as evidence of God’s care and concern. We often place flowers at the Lord's altar or on the organ as a way of recognizing, honoring and thanking Him for the beautiful gifts He has given us in our lives. Others may wish to purchase the worship folder covers for the same reason. To commemorate a special day or event in your life, contact Mrs. Mary Radtke (582-3351) to have your name placed the flower chart, or you can write it on yourself – the Flower and Bulletin charts are on the east wall of the fellowship hall. Mrs. Radtke or a member of the Altar Guild will contact you before your chosen date with the details. Flowers from wedding or funeral services often are given to beautify the corporate worship service on the following Sunday. You may work that out with pastor as you plan the service. The current cost for placing flowers on the altar or organ is $15.00. The cost for bulletins is $5.00.

While every Christian has a right to administer the Sacrament of Holy Baptism in an emergency, this sacrament is normally performed as part of the public service by our called pastor before the congregation. Such public baptisms remind us of our responsibility for the spiritual care of one another. If the pastor is not already aware of God’s gift of a child in your life, please contact the church office 582-3680. According to Christian custom, you may choose to have sponsors (those who witness the baptism and take a spiritual interest in your child) for the baptism. The pastor will be happy to explain the blessing of the sacrament and the details of its administration. Private baptism after the service or at a special time during the week may also be arranged.

General news for the congregation appears monthly in the church newsletter, “ Zion ’s Christian Connection.” This newsletter is mailed to all members of the congregation. Correct names, and especially addresses and address changes, are important to keep this communication going. Call in any changes of name, address or phone, to the church office 582-3680. News for “ Zion ’s Christian Connection” must be in the church office by the 20th of the month in order to be published.

Each month a complete schedule of meetings and events is prepared and published along with “ Zion ’s Christian Connection.” If a special event or meeting is to be included for the next month, the information must be given to the church secretary by the 20th of the preceding month for publication.

Entering the hospital can be a time of emotional stress and a time of testing of one's faith that can bring us closer to our Lord and Savior. Please inform pastor before you go into the hospital so that he may plan to visit and share God's Word with you there. Always identify yourself as a member of ZION LUTHERAN, PESHTIGO, on the hospital admission forms, or “ WELS ” if you are hospitalized outside of our area. It will facilitate having the hospital reach a pastor for you if they have a volunteer available to do so. It’s always better if you or a family member (especially if you’re in an out-of-town hospital) lets us know. If your release comes sooner than expected, please share that joyous news by calling the church office at 582-3680.

Marriage is the human relationship that the Lord established with special blessings for his people. God's Word presents us with blessings intended for marriage and it also shows how marriages may be truly happy. In order to examine these guidelines and to prepare for the responsibilities toward your spouse in marriage, as well as to plan and prepare a Christ-centered marriage service, a number of counseling meetings are held by pastor with prospective brides and grooms. Contact should be made with pastor well in advance of the anticipated wedding date to book the church and organist, and so that these meetings can be completed prior to the wedding date. Contact pastor through the church office (582-3680) to arrange for your wedding.

From time to time the need exists to receive personal or family counseling from God’s Word because of a troublesome situation that arises in one's marriage or family life. Often people feel a reluctance to discuss a personal problem with a pastor. They have many different fears and feelings that seem to hold them back.

The pastor's role is to comfort, and to provide a sense of direction on the basis of God's Word. It is best to try to put fears aside and approach pastor with a problem before it becomes serious. With the application of God's Word and a willingness to trust God’s will, no problem is too difficult to resolve. If counseling is needed, an appointment may be made by calling pastor 582-3680. Counseling sessions are kept in strict confidence.

Wisconsin Lutheran Child And Family Service provides professional counseling services by WELS paid staff personnel. They are trained and prepared to help with a wide range of personal and family problems. You can call the WELS Care-Line at 1-800-422-7341. Our pastor may refer you to WLCFS or other agencies if your need is one that is not best answered through the pastoral office of the congregation.

This is your congregation and every family needs to have a copy. If you do not have a copy of our current constitution and bylaws, please contact the church office, 582-3680.

Zion Lutheran Sunday School offers instruction in God’s Word to children from 3 years old to 8th grade. The classes meet in our educational building at 10:15 a.m. Sunday mornings. The new school year starts in September, right after Labor Day, and ends right before Memorial Day. Information and registration materials are available in the church office and through church bulletins at the end of the summer. Sunday School is a good opportunity to bring an unchurched neighborhood friend to meet Jesus. All children of the congregation are urged to use the Sunday School as a supplement to the instruction being given in the home.

Instruction in God's Word to prepare for confirmation and communicant membership is provided for 7th and 8th graders. ( Zion members who are students at St. John or Trinity Lutheran School will receive instruction during their normal daily classroom schedule.) Our classes here at Zion for students in the public school system are normally held on Wednesday afternoons beginning at 3:30 PM. Membership in the confirmation class should be arranged by the parents through contact with pastor, 582-3680.

8th Grade confirmation takes place on the last Sunday in April. The traditional examination service is held on the prior Friday. The Rite of Confirmation takes place in the normal Sunday morning (9:00 AM) service. Arrangements are made to provide each member of the class with a gown, flower, prayer book and opportunity to receive a confirmation class picture, if so desired. Complete information is provided in a letter sent several months before Confirmation Sunday.

ENROLL IN THE ADULT INSTRUCTION COURSE

A course on Christian doctrine is offered for people who do not have a Lutheran background and wish to examine the teachings of the Lutheran Church .

The AIC will prepare a person for membership in Zion Lutheran Church , if so desired. Present members of Zion are urged to regularly review the teachings of their church by taking the AIC course periodically. This Bible study course does not obligate one to become a member. It is presented to provide sincere inquirers with the truths of the Bible and to help current members review their faith and the Bible’s teachings. Upon completion, confirmation may follow for non-members, if agreement is present. We have several formats for receiving Adult Instruction. Please speak with Pastor to work out a course that works best for you

Each Wednesday throughout the year at 10:00 a.m. the adult members of the congregation gather to study God’s Word with its accompanying blessing for our lives. Special Sunday and Midweek evening classes are also periodically offered. Every member is invited to make use of these opportunities for growth in knowledge and faith. As we look to the future, regularly scheduled teen classes and short-term, topic oriented classed for adults may also be offered.

Vacation Bible School is held annually in the summer, usually in July. VBS offers classes for children from 3 years old to 8th grade as well as for teens and adults. Recent practice has been to have one week of VBS in evening sessions (Sunday to Thursday) or a special ALL DAY VBS on a Saturday. Both young and old members of the congregation help in this effort, which has been a significant outreach tool in our community. You are invited to be a part of our VBS by attending, teaching or serving in some area. Send the children, and bring the neighbors’. Look for registration forms at the end of June in your church newsletter and in your bulletins.

A bulletin and worship folder is prepared for each public worship service at Zion . This folder provides necessary service instructions and is a complete weekly update of activities at Zion . It is an important communication tool in the church. If there is an announcement of a church activity you would like to place in the weekly bulletin, please inform the church office (582-3680) by Wednesday noon.

Extra copies of the Bulletins from the previous 4 weeks are available in a rack just outside the doors of the sanctuary, on the wall.

When a student leaves home for college or someone enters military service, you are asked to contact the church office immediately, 582-3680, so that the congregation may keep in contact through mailings. Our Synod provides spiritual materials: Forward in Christ magazine, Meditations, etc. to those away from home. Campus collegian groups for our WELS students exist on many university campuses. It is important that contact be made at the beginning of “away from home" experiences. Please share this information as soon as possible after the student is enrolled.

FIND THE CHURCH WEB PAGE

Zion maintains its own web page (http://zionpeshtigo.cybrzn.com). On it you can find general directions and information, the current newsletter and monthly calendar, recent bulletins, pictures, and other useful items.

If the pastor has not been at the bedside at the time of death of a member, he should be notified as soon as possible. You are asked to consult with him before making full funeral arrangements. Choosing hymns, soloists, and other arrangements should be done in consultation with the pastor. Funerals are a time of mixed emotions; sorrow at the sense of our loss and joy as God crowns another of His saints and gives the blessing of everlasting life. Our pastor is available to assist spiritually in whatever way he can.

Traditions of Zion connected with funerals include: a prayer in church for the family on the Sunday after a member has died, a family prayer before the funeral service, an informal fellowship meal following the committal. Most funeral homes in the area are aware of our practices and will discuss them with you when making arrangements. The pastor is also able to discuss these options with you.

The principals governing the burial practice of Zion Lutheran Church are summed up in the following two statements: We grant Christian burial to members of our WELS/ELS congregations unless there is a compelling Scriptural reason not to do so. (Example: Under discipline for being impenitent.) We will not grant Christian burial to those who are not members of our congregation unless there is a compelling Scriptural reason to do so. (Example: The person was under our spiritual care and confessed faith in Christ.)

The church fellowship hall is available to members of the congregation to rent in connection with special occasions in the life of a family. A meal or light refreshments might be appropriate for a wedding, or anniversary celebration or family gathering at the time of a funeral. Our facility is also nicely sized for Bridal or Baby Showers. Please contact the church office to make arrangements for the fellowship hall and obtain a copy of the contract (there is a $40 charge for cleaning). Call 582-3680.

This monthly magazine is published by our Synod to keep our homes aware of what we are doing as a church-at- large. It provides news, study helps, inspirational articles, and practical counsel. Our congregation takes advantage of a “bulk” subscription, which begins in January of each year. Copies of the magazine are placed on a table by the coat racks when they become available. Cost is $1.00 per issue. Place your contribution in the place provided.

This booklet of daily devotions is published quarterly by our Synod. This booklet, too, is received via “bulk” subscription. The cost is $2.00 per quarterly issue, and may be purchased when it is delivered to the church (no reservation necessary). Meditations may be picked up from the table by the coat racks in the back of church.

Every five years or so Zion has a pictorial directory made to help us know one another and enjoy the fellowship that can only come through acquaintance and friendship. Check with the church office to see if a copy of the most current directory is still available: 582-3680. Pictorial directories are never up-to-date, but they are a big help in getting acquainted in a congregation our size.

When we become Christians, we become, by God's grace, the royal priests and servants of God himself. Membership in this congregation is not for the purpose of "having our name on the book" but to find a place "to live for Him who died for us and rose again."

As active Christians we will worship regularly and participate actively, hearing the Word and communing often to strengthen our faith and be built up. This "building of faith" comes from regularly hearing the Word of God. We will seek to live and speak in ways that honor Christ our Lord. We will witness, as given opportunity, to God's love for everyone in this world. We will use his Word in devotions and pray for our church, its members, officers, pastor and our various Sunday School and VBS teachers. We will support Christ's work with our gifts and offerings, with our presence at meetings, and with our hands in various different services. Jesus didn’t say, "Let the others do it” at the cross. Today's Christians don't say that either as they help one another with the crosses of this sinful world. If you are sitting next to a visitor to our service who is unfamiliar with our forms of worship, please assist them.

When the Lord’s plans for our lives change and He puts us in new environments, transfer of membership to a new group of caring Christians should accompany our move. Like a coal removed from the fire, our faith life can grow cold if we are separated from the activity and encouragement to be found in the life of a Christian congregation. To arrange for a transfer, please ask the pastor to facilitate that for you by contacting him at the church office 582-3680. If you have already had contact with the pastor and WELS congregation to which you will be transferring, be sure to mention that.

Fellowship is a very special relationship of closeness that Christians enjoy with their Lord and with one another. At Zion , our fellowship is experienced in joint worship, communion, prayer and many different social activities. Perfect fellowship exists between the Lord and us because He forgives the imperfections. Fellowship within the congregation is based on the faith we express and live among one another. Fellowship does not exist where we know that people believe and teach or live differently than God teaches us in the Word.

Full altar and pulpit fellowship exists between the WELS and only one other church body at this time, the ELS, Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Having identified yourself as a member of a WELS congregation you will be welcomed into the fellowship of any WELS or ELS congregation and will be able to worship and commune with them. Between the WELS and ELS congregations scattered across our country, there is a warm welcome waiting for you in community after community wherever you are traveling. An annual Synod-wide directory is published. Stop in the church office to take a look at one.

The Student Aid Fund, funded by part of our Endowment Fund, serves two purposes. It provides members of the congregation with the opportunity to encourage and directly help young people of the congregation receive a secondary Christian education. It offers financial support to students who seek to pursue the preaching or teaching ministry or who are planning on seeking Christian education at one of our WELS Area Lutheran High Schools, one of our Synod’s Preparatory High Schools , our Pastor/Teacher Training College or our Seminary. Application can be made for assistance through the church office: 582-3680. Gifts to the Student Aid Fund can be made at any time.

OBTAIN ASSISTANCE AT AN AREA WELS LUTHERAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Zion Lutheran Church fully supports primary Christian Education (K-8). While we don’t have a Lutheran Elementary School ourselves, the congregation is committed to paying one-half of the tuition costs of member children who attend St. John’s or Trinity Lutheran Schools . Please speak with pastor about the details.

ENROLL YOUR CHILDREN IN ZION LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL

Since the fall of 2000, Zion has operated a Preschool in our educational building. Classes are available for 3 and 4/5 years olds. The three-year-old classes are Tuesdays and Thursdays. The 4/5-year-old classes are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Both a morning and an afternoon session may be available. Besides teaching all of the needed skills to give our children a head start in their kindergarten preparations, we also teach Jesus, using our Synod’s Christ Light religion curriculum. As far as we’re concerned, both of these things are tools we all need for life. Please contact the preschool/daycare office (582-2800) for more information.

Also since the fall of 2000, Zion has also operated a daily, state-licensed Child Care Facility. Zion Daycare accepts children aged 6 weeks to school age, all taught by state-certified teachers. Our facility can accept a maximum of 41 children. We also operate both a before school and an after school program. All of our programs are open to both the members of Zion and to the community. Rates, requirements and opening can be obtained by stopping in during our hours of operation (6:30 AM to 5:30 PM) or by calling the Preschool/Daycare office at 582-2800. Both the Preschool and the Daycare are overseen by a committee of Zion members. Marquita Limberg serves as the Administrator of the facility.

Transportation to services can be made available to anyone who is without a car for some reason or doesn’t feel safe driving. It is never an imposition to let friends in Christ's church know you would like to join them for worship but have no way to get there. Please call the church office, 582-3680, for a ride so that we can enjoy the encouragement that comes from your presence with us. We are always looking for more folks to provide rides to church. If you can do that for a fellow member, please call the office.

Special friendship and fellowship activities for boys and girls in grade school are available through the Pioneer programs of our congregation. Lutheran Pioneers (boys) and Girl Pioneers provide a wide variety of activities for children in grades K-8. Both organizations are currently not active, but we do have plans to get them up and running again. If you would like to be a part of the team of leaders for these organizations, please contact pastor.

The youth group exists for jr. high and high school age students of Zion . This group provides opportunities for fun, fellowship, and Christian service. Every 8th grader and confirmed youth is invited to the activities of the youth group. Watch for the announcement of fellowship and service activities in the bulletins and newsletters. We are always on the look out for good adults to help and good activities to do. Contact pastor for more information (582-3680).

The parking spaces directly north of the church (on Thompson Street ) should be reserved for licensed handicapped vehicles and the vehicles of those who have trouble walking. When the spots east of church are filled (along Ellis Ave. ), please use the alley on the west side of church or the south lot by the educational building. Parking is also permitted along the park across the street. If you arrive early enough, and don't mind a few extra steps, why not leave a closer space for the latecomer? (Please do not park in such a way as to block off the alley or somebody else’s driveway. We do want to be good neighbors.)

The Lord tells us that His church in this world is like a body with each of us being a part, providing the whole body with special services and meeting special needs. Periodically the congregation has the opportunity to fill out a “Time and Talent” survey. You are invited to share your time, talent or gifts, by contacting the church office 582-3680, or a pastor, or any of the officers listed on the opening pages of the annual report. Volunteers are always in high demand, and their work is greatly appreciated.

Becoming "shut-in” by age, illness or other situations is often a burdensome cross to bear. The pastor and Elders seek to make regular visits with the Word of God and private Communion to such members. In a congregation of our size and with number of home-bound members that we have, it is possible for needs like these to be missed. Please call the church office: 582-3680, if you are aware of someone who is home-bound or experiencing a special need, and pastor will go to visit them.

The ushers assist us at each public worship service of the congregation. They greet and seat worshippers, distribute service folders, light the service candles, receive the offerings, and in general seek to make our worship experience an orderly and meaningful one. Ask the usher for any kind of assistance and they will do what they can to help. More ushers (male, female, or families) are always being sought, so volunteer for this work of service by speaking to pastor, or one of the Elders listed in the annual report.

A room is available just inside the west (alley) entrance of the church complex for parents with children to use when they are having a problem during the service. The room is equipped with a darkened window and an audio speaker so that you can still follow along in the service. The volume adjustment is there on the wall under the speaker. Changing tables are also located in both the men’s and women’s restrooms.

Restrooms for men and women are located in the little hallway by the west (alley) entrance of the church complex, also in the school building by the far east entrance. Drinking fountains are located by each.

We have available for use pocket-sized receivers and earphones for those who difficulty hearing in a setting such as a worship service. The sound is transmitted via a direct wireless feed from our sound system and the quality is really quite good. Please speak with an usher to make use of one of these receivers and receive a brief overview of its operation.

The little child who falls and cries is comforted by the reassuring sound of a parent's voice. But an even greater comfort and assurance is to be found for the child when the parent reaches out and touches the child, perhaps taking the child into his or her arms. The Lord's Supper, “Holy Communion,” or “Sacrament of the Altar” is God's way of reaching out to mature Christians and literally touching them to assure them of His love and forgiveness. In this sacrament, we receive, with the bread and wine, the body and blood of Jesus, given and shed for us, to comfort and assure us that our sins are indeed forgiven and that we are truly His own. Communion is one of God's ways of touching us to build our faith.

Holy Communion is our privilege on the first and third Sunday of each month (and in the following Monday evening service). This sacrament is also shared by the congregation in special festival services as announced by the church calendar and service bulletins. While confession and absolution are always part of our worship service, preparation by the individual for communion is appropriate before the service. Questions for Personal Preparation for Holy Communion (page 156 in the Hymnal), or a private review of our need for forgiveness in the sacrament helps to prepare us for the Lord's Supper.

The Lord’s Supper is a priceless medicine for the soul. We do everything we can to encourage its proper use. However, we do recognize from Holy Scripture (I Corinthians 11:23-27) that this medicine is a prescription item. Used at the wrong time or place for the wrong reason by the wrong person, the Lord's Supper can cause immeasurable harm. For that reason we, like the corner druggist, do not dispense it ‘over the counter’.

To register for the Lord's Supper, confirmed members will please fill out one of the communion registration cards in the lobby at the guest book table near the main entrance or on the table by statue in the back of church. Your care in doing this is helpful to those responsible for the spiritual well-being of our congregation. Guests from other WELS or ELS congregations should fill in the card so that their home pastor can be notified. Out of loving concern and the recognition that the Lord’s Supper can be taken to the detriment of a soul, our congregation does not practice open communion. Visitors from non-WELS churches should speak with the pastor if they desire to commune with us.

We are all sinful human beings and need communion often. But we also believe that due to the “prescription" nature of communion, proper preparation of the soul is of the utmost importance, as the Scriptures declare.

Church offering envelopes are available for every communicant member of the congregation. New envelopes are issued for the beginning of each calendar year and may be picked up during December. They are made available to new members as they join the church. Children’s envelopes are available for those aged 3 years to 7th grade and are issued through the Sunday School. Children’s envelopes go to support Sunday School mission projects.

It is our privilege to be God’s hands and mouths in this world as we carry out His work through our works of service, but also by setting aside a regular percentage of our income as offerings to the Lord (2 Cor. 9:6). A statement of contributions is prepared for each member on a quarterly basis. (If you would like a report of your child’s offerings, please speak with pastor.) If you have not picked up your envelopes or were unable to find them, please contact the church office.

Each regular Sunday communicant envelope has three funds, which may be designated (in dollar amounts) as you so choose. If no specific destination is indicated, the entire gift goes to the Current Fund. Below is a description of the three major funds of Zion :

Current Fund – Supports our local ministry. It pays for the salaries and benefits package of all our church workers; electric, gas, water and phone bills of our church and school; maintenance, janitorial, repairs and insurance for our church, school building and congregational owned buildings; and all the other various items that provide for the operation of our Sunday School, church and church services. (Note: The preschool and daycare are self-funding and pay entirely for their own operation.)

Missions -- submitted to our Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod on a monthly basis for outreach both in Home and World Missions, Worker Training and other work which we, as a Synod, have agreed, under God’s grace, to do.

Debt Retirement -- goes to pay off the remaining debt held by our congregation. Our current building debt stands at about $94,500,000.

MEMORIALS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS

From time to time, Zion also has special memorial projects. These projects are well communicated to the congregation in the bulletin and newsletter. If you have a memorial or thankoffering for the church and would like to give it toward a special project, please contact pastor for a current copy of our memorial project list. This is a list of smaller, yet needed, items for the church, Sunday School, Preschool and Child Development Center .

GIVE A GIFT TO THE ENDOWMENT/TRUST FUND

The purpose of the Endowment/Trust Fund is to aid in the funding of various ministries of Zion Lutheran Church through the encouragement and management of bequests, donations and other gifts. It provides a way for our congregation to receive and administer gifts of real estate, stock, bond, mutual funds, retirement plans, life insurance policies, and other types of real and personal property in such as way as to create a source of future income to assist the continued ministry of Zion. If you have any questions or would like further information regarding the Endowment/Trust Fund, please contact the church office at 582-3680, or a member of the Planned Giving Committee (listed in the annual report)

Fund A: Building Trust Fund: Income, Growth and Principal to be used for future expansion and/or construction.

Fund B: Education Assistance Endowment Fund: Income from this fund to be used for education assistance of Zion members at an area WELS Lutheran Elementary School, an area WELS Lutheran High School, or WELS Synodical Preparatory School.

Fund C: Worker Training Assistance Endowment Fund: Income from this fund is to be used for college/seminary education assistance of Zion members at a WELS worker training college/seminary.

Fund D: Building and Property Maintenance Endowment Fund: Income from this fund to be used for maintenance on all property and equipment owned by Zion Lutheran Church.

Fund E: Zion Lutheran Christian Education Endowment Fund: Income from this fund to be used for operation of the church’s Christian educational agencies for children (i.e. Sunday School, Pre-school, Day Care, Pioneers, etc.).

Fund F: Building and Improvement Trust Fund: Income, Growth and Principal from this fund is to be used for building improvements.

Fund G: Synod Mission Endowment Fund: Income from this fund goes toward Zion Lutheran Church ’s Synod Mission offerings.

Fund H: Undesignated/All Purpose Trust Fund: Income, Growth and Principal from this fund is to be used as an all purpose fund to meet unforeseen needs of Zion Lutheran Church , its agencies and its members.

As stated in the enabling resolution, all Endowment Funds are meant to be permanent endowments --only the capital growth and interest will ever be used for congregational projects and designated interests. The principal will not be touched. Trust Funds are meant to be temporary funds that keep money that is raised for a specific project until that project has been paid for. As such, income, growth and principal will be used up and not kept indefinitely.