Zion United

Methodist Church May 2010

Pa s t o r ’ s C o l u m n
It’s hard to believe that almost a year has
passed since we moved to Grand Forks to be-
come part of the Zion family, but in about 5 or
6 weeks, it will indeed have been a
year. Time has flown, and summer is again on
the horizon.
As I wind up my first year as your pastor, I give
thanks to God and to you, the Zion congrega-
tion, for a year of good ministry to-
gether. We’ve begun a new chapter of minis-
try, and it’s exciting to see God opening new
doors of ministry for us to go through. Our to-
tal worship attendance has started rising, and
we’ve had visitors in worship who have become
of the Zion family. New, young leaders have
stepped forward to help us follow Jesus into a
new day of faith and ministry, and last Sunday,
we welcomed three new members into the
c o n g r e g a - tion. We do have some sig-
nificant challenges to address as a congrega-
tion, but the Good News is helping us meet
them with faith, resourcefulness, and Spirit-
filled fervor.
It’s almost summer, and now we ask, “where
do we go from here?” On the liturgical calen-
dar of the church, summer is a time when we
tend to the seeds we have planted in the win-
ter and spring, to grow in faith and ministry as
God leads us. After team and committee
meetings next week, there will be more details
on our summer plans for worship and spiritual
growth to share with you.
Until then, may your days be filled with the
awareness of God; “may we all reach the King-
dom that is without end; may we deserve it,
may we dwell there for ages unending.
Amen.” (taken from the Rule of the Celi De,
an ancient Celtic Christian community).
Pastor Russ

From Pam, the Wee Ones, and myself, many,

many thanks for the blessings you have pro-
vided us. We have been well-welcomed at
Zion, and this means so much to us it’s hard to
know where to begin giving thanks – so for all
of it, may God bless you as richly as you have
blessed us. As I write this article, Pam is
home, recovering from her recent surgery. In
the last week, the parsonage refrigerator has
never been empty, and your cards and calls
have warmed our hearts. Thank you, very
much.
The Sounds of Zion Page 2

From the Parish Nurse…...

It is important they we all understand how to dispose of medications that we

(or our family members) may have in our homes.

Do Not Flush Your Medicines Down The Toilet For Pour Into The Sink.
Why?
• Significant amounts of by-products from disposed human medica-
tions appear in 80 percent of American streams.
• These by-products of prescription and over-the-counter drugs pro-
duced deformed fish and damage to other wildlife.
• Sewage systems cannot remove these substances from the water
that ends up I lakes, rivers and the oven.
• And, in our drinking water: drugs ranging from antibiotics and anti-
cholesterols to hormones and pains meds exist.

Be proactive and dispose of unused medication in household trash.

When discarding unused or expired medications ensure you protect children and pets from poten-
tially negative effects.
• Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, piqued capsule, etc.),
crush it or add water to dissolve it.
• Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and
makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.
• Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.
• Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from all medica-
tion containers before recycling them or throwing them in the trash.

A medication repository is also available at the Grand Forks Police Department. You can bring your
expired unused medications, vitamins, or supplements to this repository for proper disposal. The
Grand Forks Police Dept is located at 122 South 5th Street.

Please be responsible with the disposal of your medications, vitamins and supplements.

Bette
The Sounds of Zion
Page 3

Canals Save Lives in Congo Village (from www.umc.org news)

People thought Bishop Nkulu Ntanda Ntambo was crazy

when he directed villagers to dig out canals in this central
African village. Four years ago, the United Methodist bishop
saw that his hometown of Kamina was constantly flooding,
and homes were washing away. When the floods settled,
stagnant water remained, creating breeding conditions for
mosquitoes. Mosquitoes mean malaria, a disease that kills a
child in Africa every 30 seconds, according to world health
officials. “It was like a mortuary, children were dying every
day,” Ntambo recalls. When the area was under Belgian
rule, the government dug interwoven canals to move the wa-
ter away from the village. However, 60 years of neglect had left the canal structures buried under
several feet of sand and vegetation. Most villagers didn’t even know they existed. “So, we decided
as a church the only solution was to dig the canals, which would help drain water and take water all
around the city,” Ntambo explains.

Crazy action
Borrowing money from Dr. Guy Kasanka, a United Methodist missionary, Ntambo bought shovels
and encouraged residents to start digging. “They thought I was crazy; no one believed me,” the
bishop says. When the first rains of a 10-month rainy season began to fall, the unusual sight of wa-
ter flowing away from their homes changed hearts and minds. Now, with the help of the bishop and
the North Katanga Annual Conference, villagers maintain more than eight miles of hand-dug canals.
They are quick to tell you that melodious movement of water through the sandy ditches is a result of
the bishop’s encouragement. Coupled with his organized distribution of mosquito nets, they attest to
fewer malaria deaths.

Bishop returns
Today, Ntambo picks his way between puddles on the muddy streets of Kamina. Residents flow
from mud-brick homes to greet the bishop, who is resplendent in a finely tailored silk shirt. Even as
the entourage grows, well-wishers appear small next to his massive ebony frame. But to these vil-
lagers, he is a giant not so much in size as in heart. “Because of the bishop, our houses are not de-
stroyed,” explains a man simply identified as Kikalu, “and we had a lot of mosquitoes. But now we do
not have a lot of stagnant water and mosquitoes anymore.” Kamina has no paved roads, only occa-
sional electricity and limited clean water. When Ntambo is asked how many people live here, he
gestures toward the crowd, smiles and proclaims, "All these people and many more.” It’s estimated
to be about 70,000, and many are United Methodists. “Now, we have mosquito nets and the canal,
so no problem of malaria,” says a young mother named Ndamana. Her tidy, thatch-roofed house sits
like a sentinel against the rains, a ribbon of water moving quickly through the front edge of her yard.
The canal solution was so successful in Kamina that Ntambo took the idea to rural residents in the
Maseke village, 250 miles away. With shovel in hand, he helped clear massive tree trunks and dec-
ades of vegetation from giant colonial-era canals. He hopes the Congolese government will replicate
the idea in other communities. But for now, the bishop understands that this is just one empowering
action that his neighbors can take to fight malaria.
 Page 4

5/01 Karin Cook 5/20 Elaine Troyer

5/01 Emily Pelling 5/20 Jerry Peeler
5/02 George Cox 5/21 Jack Stevens
Mark & Kim Weber
5/02 Pamela Whaley 5/23 Rachel Loehr
May 5th
5/02 Maggie Douthit 5/24 Barbara Krueger
5/02 Taylor Holm 5/24 Casey Griffin
Paul & Carol Drechsel
5/05 Betty Winter 5/26 Jamie O’Halloran
May 12th
5/06 Preston Lundbohm 5/27 Denise Hartze
5/07 Kristi Whiteside 5/27 Matt Hartze Steve & Susan Griffin
5/08 Glenda Rubash 5/27 Lucas Anderson May 16th
5/09 Beau Burkholder 5/28 Rob Clausen
5/10 Kiersten Jensen 5/28 Erik Alston Don & Sandy Nagle

5/11 Caela Slaathaug 5/29 Julie O’Halloran May 16th

5/11 Isabella Whiteside 5/29 Diana O’Shaugh-

nessy Chris & Tara Taylor
5/12 Sarah Perry
5/30 Sandy Nagle May 17th
5/13 Amanda Brown
5/30 Ute Adams
5/14 Laura Medd
Doug Peters & Angela Cheney
5/14 Eden Parkinson 5/30 Evan Guy
May 30th
5/16 Stephen Cook
5/17 Bonnie Taylor
“And over all these virtues put
5/18 Doreen Rubin
on love, which binds them all to-
5/18 June Foltz
gether in perfect unity. “
5/19 Casey Carter
Colossians 3:14 NIV

The Sounds of Zion
Saturday, May 1, 2010
10 a.m.-2 p.m.—The Big Event. UND volunteers & Zion trustees 8:45 a.m.—Contemporary “footstool” Worship Service
team up to complete various tasks at the church.
5:00 p.m.—Wedding of Lora Medd & Tony Conner
Sunday, May 2, 2010—Holy Communion. Confirmation
8:45 a.m.— Contemporary “footstool” Worship Service
10:00 a.m.—Continental Fellowship & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.—Traditional Worship Service. Potluck honoring
confirmands. Dessert provided.
Monday, May 3, 2010
7:30 p.m.—Evening Small Group.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
6:30 a.m.—Morning Small Group
6:00 p.m.—New Vision Circle
7:00 p.m.—Trustee Meeting
Wednesday, May 5, 2010—set-up for Silent Auction
10:30 a.m.—Zion Office Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m.— “footstool” Practice
7:00 p.m.—Youth Group
7:45 p.m.—Choir Practice
Sunday, May 9, 2010-Jewel of a Woman Presentation
8:45 a.m. – Contemporary “footstool” Worship Service
10:00 a.m.—Continental Fellowship & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.—Traditional Worship Service
Monday, May 10, 2010—Committee Meeting Night
5:30 p.m.—United Methodist Men
6:30 p.m.—Finance Committee Meeting
7:00 p.m.—Mission Team Meeting
7:30 p.m.—Other Committee/Team Meetings
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
6:30 a.m.—Morning Small Group
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
10:30 a.m.—Zion Office Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m.— “footstool” Practice
7:00 p.m.—Youth Group
7:45 p.m.—Choir Practice
Page 5
Sunday, May 16, 2010—Silent Auction, Graduates Honored
10:00 a.m.—Continental Fellowship & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.—Traditional Worship Service.
Monday, May 17, 2010
7:30 p.m.—Evening Small Group.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
6:30 a.m.—Morning Small Group.
7:30 p.m.—Renaissance Circle. Out for dinner.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
9:15 a.m.—Miriam Circle. Hostess: Arlene Krueger.
10:30 a.m.—Zion Office Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m.— “footstool” Practice
7:00 p.m.— Youth Group
7:45 p.m.—Choir Practice
Sunday, May 23, 2010—Day of Pentecost, Recognition Sunday.
8:45 a.m.—Contemporary “footstool” Worship Service
10:00 a.m.—Continental Fellowship & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.—Traditional Worship Service
Monday, May 24 2010
7:30 p.m.—Evening Small Group
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
6:30 a.m.—Morning Small Group
5:30 p.m.—Love Feast. Calvary Lutheran serving.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
9-11:30 a.m.—Sunflake graduation. Fellowship Hall.
10:30 a.m.—Zion Office Staff Meeting
6:00 p.m.— “footstool” Practice
7:00 p.m.—Youth Group
7:45 p.m.—Choir Practice
Thursday, May 27, 2010
9-11:30 a.m.—Sunflake graduation. Fellowship Hall.
Sunday, May 30, 2010—Peace with Justice Sunday (offering)
Summer Schedule Begins
10:00 a.m.—Traditional Worship Service
Monday, May 31, 2010—Office Closed for Memorial Day
The Sounds of Zion Page 6

Serving Group Chairs: Arlene Krueger, Cathy Perry,

Jone Barnick, Louise Rethemeier
Members:
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sunrise Service —48 Gene/LaVonne Brown Mel/Amy Bugbee
Sunday School—53 Nathan/Susan Carter Steve/Stephanie Christian
Traditional Service—140
Stephen/Karin Cook Red/Melly Drake

Sunday, April 11, 2010 David/Terrie Dusek Kenn/Nora Foltz

“footstool” Service—49 Roger/Carol Helland Mike/Carrie Jackson
Sunday School—54 Jean Jacobson Michael/Christine Klaers
Traditional Service—60 Scott/Jill Kuster Elayne LaFave
Steve/Sherry Lindquist Kent/Karen Lovelace
Sunday, April 18, 2010
“footstool” Service—50 Brandon/Melissa Lunak Matt/Heather Martin
Sunday School—62 Jeff/Laurie Millard Don Miller/Deb Glennen
Traditional Service—72 Gary/Jackie Mitchell Don/Sandy Nagle
Earl/Norma Olson Laura Olson
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Mike/Diana O’Shaughnessy Robb/Nancy Pasley
“footstool” Service—51
Sunday School—61 Doug Peters/Angela Cheney David/Marlys Pung
Traditional Service—55 Gary/Margaret Ramberg Wayne/Dorothy Rowe
John/Cindy Shabb Everett/Grace Sondreal
Brian/Heidi Stevens Fred/Virginia Stewart
Chris/Tara Taylor Lori Troyer
JoAnn White Steve/Kristi Whiteside
“Each one should use whatever
gift he has received to serve
others, faithfully administering
God’s grace in its various forms.”
1 Peter 4:10 NIV
 Page 7

Peace with Justice Sunday (from www.umcgiving.org)

Thanks to your generous gifts to the Peace With Justice
Sunday offering, First UMC Boerne’s Lifeline Ministry is able
to better serve the needs of the families in their community.
Their program, Lifeline Ministry, has matched 8 families to
members in their congregation.

As the body of Christ, the mission of Lifeline Ministry is to call

each member of the congregation into ministry by identifying
their God-given gifts in order to use these gifts to serve families
in need. They have built and are sustaining, personal relationships with each Lifeline family.
Through these relationships developed they have identified the needs of each individual family and
through their Congregational Resource Team they have provided the specific needs to each family
such as prayer, tutoring, legal counseling, car/home repair, financial counseling, babysitting, trans-
portation, sitting with the family in worship, etc. “As a part of the Christ-centered relationship with
our adopted families, we will seek to help them find their God-given gifts and talents to give back to
the church and the community, thus growing them into disciples.”

When FUMC Boerne applied for the Peace with Justice Grant last year, Lifeline Ministries was ac-
tively matching FUMC Family Friends to people in need in our community as well as managing the
data obtained from canvassing the congregation for their gifts and talents. “We were excited and a
little overwhelmed at the prospect of coordinating gifts and talents of more than 100 of our mem-
bers and the needs of our adopted Lifeline families.” While trying to coordinate gifts of the congre-
gation with the needs of our Lifeline families, they discovered the limitations of their technological
resources.

With the Peace With Justice Sunday grant monies the con-
gregation was able to purchase a laptop and is creating a data-
base to monitor the Ministry and the families to which they are
building relationships. With this laptop they are able to track the
activities of their matched families as well as to track the congre-
gational resources available to them, such as transportation, tu-
toring and financial counseling. The remaining monies received
from the grant will be used for additional needs to manage the
database.

At their first Family Friend support luncheon they shared experiences and encouraged the volunteers
to be a friend to a family in need. “We are very excited as we had 12 to attend. We hope these
times to share will keep our volunteers strong through their experiences.” They have 4 more Family
Friends trained and ready to be matched. 3 of these are waiting for an elderly person.

Wanda Holcombe, Peace with Justice Coordinator

Southwest TX Annual Conference
The Sounds of Zion Page 8

In the Spotlight…. Zion’s Staff/Parish Relations Committee

According to the United Methodist Church’s Guidelines, the Staff/Parish Relations Committee “is the adminis-
trative unit in a local church where staff and congregational interests come together to focus on the mission of
the church.” It is truly a staff-parish relations committee because the committee relates to all staff, both
bishop-appointed staff and employed staff. It operates under God’s leadership to bring the staff and congre-
gational interests together, which includes dealing with both the joys and disappointments inherent in any hu-
man family and church.
The Staff/Parish Relations Committee works with individuals and groups, including the lead pastor, all or-
dained leaders-both elders and deacons-appointed by the bishop, the lay staff (full time and part time), the
congregation (individually and corporately), candidates for licensed and ordained ministry, the community out-
side the walls of our building, the district superintendent, and the United Methodist conference staff and gen-
eral church staff.

The Staff/Parish Relations Committee has specific tasks which include:

• Educating and reminding staff and the congregation to focus on working together toward the mission of
the church by promoting unity and encouraging, strengthening, nurturing, supporting, and respecting the
pastor(s), staff and their families.
• Leading conversation between congregation and staff/pastor about ministry direction, including recom-
mendations about staff positions to carry out the work of the church.
• Developing and recommending written policy/procedures on employment of non-appointed staff, including
provision for insurance, pension, and severance pay.
• Assessing job performance of the staff/pastor at least annually
• Conferring and consulting with the district superintendent
• Supporting lifelong learning and spiritual renewal for all staff
• Identifying and supporting individuals from the congregation whom God seems to be calling for ordained
ministry.

In order to carry out their work, the Staff/Parish Relations Committee members must possess a few useful
skills, such as the ability to teach & communicate, hospitality and celebration skills, and peacemaking and
mediation skills. We are thankful to our Staff/Parish Relations Committee for the job they do for us and the
Kingdom.
The chair of the Staff/Parish Relations Committee is Roger Parkinson, other members include Mark Weber,
Scott Kuster, Richard Krueger, Susan Griffin, and Kirsten Cutshall, with ex officio members Ellen Myrick, Don
Miller and Cathy Perry. Please be in prayer for these leaders in our church.

Please contact the church office with the name of the graduate, their school or college,
degree eared (if applicable) and their graduation date so that we may recognize them
on Sunday, May 16th.
The Sounds of Zion Page 9

Volunteers are needed to assist with blood pressure checks at the May, June
and July Love Feasts. It is not necessary to be a nurse; however, we do need in-
dividuals who know who to take blood pressure. If you can help, please contact
the Zion Church Office. Summer Dates for the Love Feast are May 25th, June
29th , July 27th. Help is needed on these dates from 4:30 p.m.—7 p.m.

Dakotas Youth Annual Conference

Dak YAC (Dakotas Youth Annual Conference) is a business meeting with opportunities for education
and fellowship. We will elect the CCYM, make decisions about the youth ministry of the Dakotas
Conference, select youth worker award recipients, and enjoy fellowship and learning opportunities.
Each church in the Dakotas may send 2 voting delegates and at least 1 alternate.

Join us for Dak YAC this year June 6-8 at Wesley Acres Camp, north of Valley City, ND. Cost per at-
tendee is $100. This event is for youth in 9-13th grade. Register online at www.dakcamps.org and
find printable registration packet with additional information at www.dakyouth.com.
Questions call: 1-605-996-6552 or email: info@dakyouth.com

Solar Oven Partners has asked for

help and received generous gifts in
our initial response to the Haiti
Quake Emergency. Thank you!
Your ongoing generosity provides op-
portunity and hope, through a project
that has been fruitful for over 10
years and is needed now more than
ever!
The Sounds of Zion Page 10

We are happy to partner with Wesley UMC to offer Sidewalk Sonday School again this
summer at Richard’s West Park. All children 5-12 years old are invited!

Important: the dates have been changed to

Monday, May 31st—Friday, June 4th.

Games will begin at 4:45 p.m. and dinner will be at 5:15 p.m. After dinner, the music,
lesson and crafts will be conducted by staff from the Dakotas Conference. The eve-
ning will be over at 7:30. What we need from Zion are “Shepherds” to help the chil-
dren & take part in their lesson. We also need donations of food (a sign up sheet will
be available soon), as well as housing and meals for the persons from the Dakotas
Conference. Please contact the church office if you have questions or if you would like
to help with this community mission project.

Thanks to Dorothy Ollman and family, Zion is now offering scholarships on a first
come, first served basis that will pay a portion of the registration costs (contact the
church office for more information). Visit www.dakonline.org for complete camp de-
tails and to register.
 Zion United
Methodist Church

To Sharon Lutheran Church for the delicious dinner

1001 24th Avenue South they served on April 27th. There were 146 guests and
Grand Forks, ND 58201

Phone: 701-772-1893
36 blood pressure checks.
Fax: 701-772-8391
E-mail: zionumc@midconetwork.com
Web address: www.zion-umc.org

May 25—Calvary Lutheran Church

O u r H e Organization
arts, our Minds and
our Doors are always Open. June 29—Federated Church
July 27—Zion United Methodist Church
August 31—Our Savior Lutheran Church
September 28—Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center
October 26—Mendenhall Presbyterian Church
November 30—University Lutheran Church

Thank you to those who serve Sunday Worship Schedule

Pastor: Russell Whaley Contemporary “footstool”
Ministers: The Congregation Worship Service
Church Secretary: Buffie Yarbrough 8:45 a.m.
Parish Nurse: Bette Olson
Continental Fellowship &
Church Custodian: Earl Olson
Sunday School
Choir Director: Ken Sherwood
10:00 a.m.
Organist: Laurie Guy
Lay Member to Annual Conference: Ellen Myrick Traditional Worship Service

Lay Leader: Don Miller 11:00 a.m.

“You do not make yourself holy by keeping yourself pure and clean from the world, but by plunging into the ministry
on behalf of the world’s hurting ones.”
– John Wesley