Dear Friends of Zion,

As the old saying goes … good things come to those who wait. Our progress on the Sanctuary is slow and steady. We are moving along and within the next several weeks we should be worshipping in our Sanctuary again.

The Chancel area is almost complete. The wood flooring is done and the walls have been painted, the new railing has been installed. We just have a few more items to complete and the Chancel area will be done.

Lighting within the Sanctuary is being replaced. It is amazing that people are not afraid to climb a ladder that high.

Painting is close to being done within the Sanctuary and choir loft. The carpet should be installed at the end of the week or the week of Sept 26th.

Then the pews will be installed along with the new baptismal font, lectern and communion cushion.

Still a lot to do, but it is all starting to come together. If you have not walked through the Sanctuary take a look around, but do be careful as this is a work site and it could be dangerous. The Committee would like to thank everyone who has donated toward this project and those that have donated their time to reduce the cost of the project. There is a poster in the Parish Hall showing how much more we need to raise to pay for all the beautiful changes.

We do have two fund raisers scheduled to help offset the costs. Pampered Chef event was held Friday, Sept 16th, but you have until the end of Sept to submit orders.

Please reach out to friends and family and see if they want to add an item to the Pamper Chef collection or buy something new. See Sandy Boisvert for any details. The second fund raiser is "The First Zion Cooking Challenge". We are looking for cooks to compete on Sat, Oct 22nd in 3 different categories: Appetizer, Main Course/Casserole, or Dessert. Look for flyers throughout the church or speak to a committee member.

Dear Friends of Zion,

Each year the second Sunday in May is dedicated to remembering our mothers, whether living or departed. It is good to honor them. Mothers have a great responsibility and personal sacrifice. Being a mother is not easy. Having a mother is a great blessing.

I find it comforting that God came into this world as a child with a mother. Luke tells us that the boy Jesus "went down with them (Mary and Joseph) to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And His mother treasured all these things up in her heart" (Luke 2:51). Jesus knows what it is like to have a real mother. He even remembers her from the cross, as He entrusted her care to the disciple John.

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Lent…

Lent is a time to walk with Jesus as He journeys toward the cross to die for our sins. It’s a time to get to know Him better, to see Him through the words of Holy Scripture. It’s a time to reflect upon our own lives and our relationship with God.

Jesus once said, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mark 8:34). Lent is an opportunity to focus on Jesus Christ, rather than ourselves.

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Dear Friends in Christ,

This has been a tough winter. We've had a lot of snow and the temperature has been consistently cold. We haven't even had a January thaw. Winters like this make a person want to move south.

Some people - me included - would like the temperature to be 72 degrees year round, mostly sunny, but some rain during the night to water the lawn and gardens. But that's not the way it is, at least in New England. We can't expect the weather to be to our personal liking all of the time.

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Dear Friends in Christ,

It's a new year. With a new year comes a sense of hope and anticipation. The old year is gone now and lies in the history books as well as our memories. The new year is here with its opportunities waiting to happen.

When you think about it, the only thing new about 2011 is how we write the date. We still wake up with the same old problems and burdens of the past. Changing the date doesn't change our lives all that dramatically. The bills and debts are still there. The unemployed still wake up looking for work. For those under the care of doctors still wake up with medical needs.

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Dear Friends in Christ,

There was a story about two young men cutting through a farmer's field.  They didn't realize that there was an angry bull in that field.  The bull spotted the men and began charging after them.  As the men were running for their lives, one of them said, "You go to church.  Say a prayer."  The other replied, "I don't know any prayers."  The first said, "Say whatever.  You must have learned some prayer over the years." And so the second answered, " Ok.  This is the only prayer I know.  "Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly grateful. Amen."

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"The Burning Issue"
Pastor Robert C. Hass
September 12, 2010

Recently a pastor in Florida had planned to burn a copy of the Koran, a book that is sacred to Moslems.   It was obvious that by his declaration, the pastor in Florida became the subject of the media and the news.   It also became a matter that was worthy of greater understanding in light of the Bible that we Lutheran Christians profess to be our standard of doctrine and practice.

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Dear Friends of Zion,

Some people know the value of a good education.  They choose to live in a community whose educational system has a great reputation.  Some colleges are known for their excellence in education.  Some individuals apply themselves to learn and grow because they know the importance of education.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
  Proverbs 1:7

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