December 13-19, 2009

DECEMBER 13-19, 2009 WEEKLY UPDATES Miracles Are Happening at Zion A very special “THANK YOU” to our wonderful volunteers who have made it a priority to help this body of believers with the list of tasks below. Hanging of the Greens Trustees’ ongoing church maintenance Nursery maintenance Volunteers running the sound system

Cookie Walk volunteers Lefse volunteers Zion is on the web Parking lot donations

Prayer Chain If you have a request for the prayer chain, please e-mail your prayer request to Connie Sherwood at [email protected] or [email protected], or contact the church office.

Parish Nurse For health questions/concerns, our Parish Nurse, Bette Olson can be reached on her cell phone (218-791-5151) and most Wednesday mornings at the Church Office. **Bette will be out of the office December 18, 2009 - January 1, 2010.

Giving Statements – Check Your Church Mailbox So that we may bring you up-to-date in your giving here at Zion, January –November giving statements are now available. Please check your mailbox at church. Giving statements for those who do not have mailboxes at church will be placed in a box clearly marked “GIVING STATEMENTS” in the Narthex. **Year-end giving statements will be printed and made available in January 2010. REMINDER: Shoebox Christmas Angels for Sidewalk Sonday School The Christmas celebration with the children will be on Sunday, December 13th from 2-4 p.m. Please bring your gifts no later than the morning of Sunday, December 13th. Thank you! A Special “Thank You” We greatly appreciate Payless Shoe Source on 32nd Avenue in Grand Forks for donating all of the shoeboxes for the Christmas Angels for Sidewalk Sonday School. Thank you, Payless! Check out our website

You can listen to sermons, check for urgent announcements, and access our monthly newsletter and weekly announcements at www.zion-umc.org.

On-going Needs at New American Services New American Services is resettling larger-than-average numbers of new clients to Grand Forks. As a result, they are running low on many household items and furniture that is needed for setting up apartments. They are most in need of blankets, comforters, vacuums, and most kitchen and bathroom items - really anything a person would need to start from nothing in a new apartment. They are also trying to find a small storage shed that can be moved to a site. Money donations are always welcome as well (please make checks payable to Global Friends Coalition - receipts available). Call New American Services at 772-8552 if you have questions or if you have an item (or items) you would like to donate. Thank you! 1

Sunday, December 13, 2009 – Shoebox Christmas Angels for Sidewalk Sonday School due 8:45 a.m. – “footstool” Worship Service 9:45-10:00 a.m. – 3rd-8th Grader Sunday School to practice Christmas songs in the Choir Room 10:00 a.m. – Continental Fellowship & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. – Traditional Worship Service Monday, December 14, 2009 5:30 p.m. – United Methodist Men meeting 6:30 p.m. – Finance Committee meeting 7:30 p.m. – Administrative Council meeting Tuesday, December 15, 2009 3:30-5:00 p.m. – Refugee Advisory Board Meeting. 6:00 p.m. – Renaissance Circle. Narthex. Wednesday, December 16, 2009 9:15 a.m. – Miriam Circle Potluck 10:30 a.m.-Noon – Zion Church Office Staff Meeting 6:00 p.m. – “footstool” Practice 7:00 p.m. – Youth Group 8:00 p.m. – Choir Practice Thursday, December 17, 2009 8:30-9:30 a.m. – Sunflake Preschool. Fellowship Hall.

(Always check the Church Bulletin Board for further details, upcoming events & other community news.)

Next Sunday, December 20, 2009 10:00 a.m. – Continental Fellowship & Sunday School 11:00 a.m. – Children’s Christmas Program Thursday, December 24, 2009 5:30 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service Friday, December 25, 2009 – Zion Office Closed 3rd Sunday of Advent. The liturgical color is blue or violet, which expresses the penitential nature of the season as well as the royalty of Christ. • Zephaniah 3:14-20 • Isaiah 12:2-6 • Philippians 4:4-7 • Luke 3:7-18

Text: Zephaniah 3:14-20 Sermon Focus: Real joy, biblical joy, comes from knowing without fail or falter that “The Lord your God is with you” and that “he is mighty to save;” from knowing that God himself delights in you and that “he will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV). Zion United Methodist Church 1001 24th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND 58201 Office Phone: 701-772-1893 Office Fax: 701-772-8391 Office Email: [email protected] Pastor Russ’ Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.zion-umc.org

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