Reimagining Mount Zion Initiative

Congregational Information Meeting

Sunday, April 30, immediately following Worship

Please participate in the Reimagining Mount Zion initiative to discuss: 

• Results of the Visioning Survey

• Draft Vision Statement and Core Values

As Mount Zion discerns its options for the future, an important part of the process is to affirm our congregation’s vision statement and core values. Church Council has drafted a vision statement and core values, based on member responses in the Visioning Survey. Thank you to all who participated in the survey!

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                          Friday Fun Nite

                                    Remember, tonight is Pastor Philip’s “Friday Fun Night”. 

                                    Although the deadline for signing up was yesterday, just

                                    give the office a call if you would like to attend. 

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Music Notes

The Guitar Choir will be with us Sunday morning.

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See the Video

Watch this high-quality video of our Black History Month Service and Celebration on our YouTube Channel.

Our own Bishop and local politicians from all levels of Government were here with us to celebrate; and we had a blast. Join us in enjoying inspiring worship, great food, exciting speakers and terrific music. …..

They came to Mount Zion Lutheran Church because they feel comfortable with us, knowing we work on the cutting edge of inclusiveness, Christian Love and Justice.

This video is high quality and captures the essence of the event. Watch and enjoy. Your Worship and Music Committee retained Dave Delouchery from Hawkeye Films to produce it and we encourage you all to share it with your loved ones and extended communities.           Bill Gastmeier

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We had a surprise guest! Gobble gobble

Ross and Jane Schlegel were the greeters on Sunday and were surprised by this ‘guest’.

Apparently,  we are a welcoming, caring community….even for fowls.

Welcoming yes, but in this case, we notice that the picture was taken through the glass of  the closed door. 

 

Council Update

Welcome Ross….Council voted to accept Ross Schlegel as a new member of the 2023/24 council. Ross is a long-time member and has been a valued member of the property committee for many years.

He joins Stephanie von Schilling, David Murison, Richard Brubacher, Kirk and Kayleigh Swanson, Mary Thompson, Betty Behm, Bill and Karen Gastmeier, Pastor Philip and Sherry Anne Kennedy, currently on leave.

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Mask Policy Change Based on a recommendation from the health council, Mount Zion’s mask policy was  updated to read, “that the wearing of a mask at services and on other occasions within the church be made OPTIONAL starting today until further notice”

 

A reminder from Mount Zion Kitchen 

Remember, if you are done with the Thursday meal

reusable containers, soup jars and cloth delivery bags,

please return them to the church office at your

convenience. 

They’ll be sanitized and packed away until September.

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Mount Zion Women's Retreat          

It is hard to put into words the JOY and PEACE we felt at being able to gather at Hidden Acres Camp and Retreat Centre for our 34th Annual Women's Retreat, after a 3-year absence due to Covid.  There were 25 of us, 12 from Mount Zion and 13 from other churches and the community.  We had five new Retreaters and two Returnees from Camp Edgewood days.  

Pastor Claudine Carlson did a wonderful job of taking on the role of Leader when Pastor Annette Smith had to withdraw just weeks before.  Thank you, Claudine for providing us with a thought-provoking weekend. 

Our theme, Tree of Life, lent itself to much discussion about our lives, along with a greater understanding of the importance of trees in our world.  We were each given a Tree of Life medallion, on a ribbon, which we presented to a fellow Retreater with the following Blessing:  You are a beloved daughter of Christ the living Tree.  May your roots grow deep, your trunk grow strong, your branches reach out in embracing love, your leaves provide comforting shade, and your fruit be a source of life for the world God loves.

Joan Schweitzer felt inspired to write this poem:

"TREE OF LIFE'

NORTH, WEST, EAST, SOUTH, DIRECTIONS EVERYWHERE,

ALL OF US, WE HAVE ALL ARRIVED FROM SOMEWHERE,

ANCIENT, PIONEERS, FIRST PEOPLES OF THIS WIDE WONDERFUL LAND,

FOUND HEALING IN THE TREES, SAP, BARK, LEAVES WHERE THEY STAND,

MOTHER EARTH HOLDING THE ROOTS FOR STURDY FOUNDATIONS,

HEALING, SHELTER, FOOD, SHADE AND WARMTH FOF THE NATIONS,

AS THE TREE LIMBS RAISING THEIR BRANCES TOWARD THE SKY,

OUR FACES, ARMS AND FINGERS REACH TO THE HEAVENS, WE TRY,

HOW TO SHARE, TEACH, LEARN OF THE WISDOM, 

THAT GOD CREATED FOR HIS SPECIAL KINGDOM,

TREES REPRESENT PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE, SYMBOLS OF ALL LIVING THINGS AND STRENGTH, THE TREE OF LFE,

KEEPING OUR HEADS HELD HIGH, GO FORWARD IN CALM AND GROWTH, GOD PREVAILS THROUGH OUR STRIFE.

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A BIG THANK YOU goes out to Anne Woolner and Sandy Dotzert for organizing our delicious meals, and to Helen Weber for leading us in a "tree" craft which involved twilling. 

If you would like to learn more about our week-end, speak to the following women from Mount Zion:  Arlene Knight, Peggy Nickles, Judi Harris, Diane Frombach, Marg Tuppling, Jane Stewart, Marilyn Grant, Anne Woolner, Joan and Jacquelyn Schweitzer, Pastor Claudine Carlson, and Carol Ziegler.  

The dates we have booked for 2024 are April 19th - 21st, so mark your calendars now.

Carol Ziegler

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Refugee Fund Concert

The Lange Auditorium came alive with the music of the Waterloo Concert Band in a concert in support of Mount Zion’s Refugee Fund on a recent Saturday afternoon. Almost 60 members of the band entertained with pieces from Renaissance dances to Star Wars.  The gathering also received a presentation from Jennifer Ardon, the Refugee Resettlement Manager and Muna Al-Nidawi both from Canadian Lutheran World Relief.

The concert, planned by Mount Zion’s Justice through Service Committee, was in support of an initiative of a coalition of churches formed to raise funds to sponsor two large refugee families with Lutheran ties from Africa.

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Mount Zion Cafe

The Mount Zion Café continues to offer coffee and goodies on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. Please join us. Coffee is on at 10 a.m. Taxi rides are available to the café, whose cost is covered by Mount Zion.  If you require a ride, please call the church office and speak to Margaret by 9:45 AM LATEST on the morning of a cafe or the day before if you know.  Margaret will order you a taxi, and the cafe volunteers will see you get a taxi home.

Dates:   May 10 and 24    June 14

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Mindfulness Meditation Practice Continues

Everyone is welcome to attend our Mindful Meditation group every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Meet upstairs. Wear a mask, and be fragrance-free. Open to all—no charge and no previous experience necessary.  Just come.  

Tues. Apr 25, 1.30 pm,      Tues. May  9, 1.30 pm,      Tues. May 23, 1.30 pm, ​

Summer Break - June to September

Call Henriette Stumper  519.885.3434 for more details.

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In Our Prayers

Grant healing and wholeness to all who seek them, Helga, Lars and Dirk and their families grieve the loss of Martin Juergensen, the Nanson family upon the passing of Shirley Nanson, Helen, Joy, Sandra, Jim, Julian, George, Betty, Rosalie, James, Thelma, Helen, Gladys and Don & Jean and their daughter Tai;

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Upcoming Lessons

Sunday April 30 

Fourth Sunday of Easter 

Acts 2:42-47

Psalm 23 (1)

1 Peter 2:19-25

John 10:1-10 

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Sunday  May 7

Fifth Sunday of Easter 

Acts 7:55-60

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 (5)

1 Peter 2:2-10

John 14:1-14 

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