FAITH WEAVERS
Parents/guardians can find information on our church website under “Educational Ministries” and “Faith Weavers.” If you would like to answer the call to serve by helping with Faith Weavers this year, or next, please contact Kim Baumann, Suzie Wachter, or Mr. Jareske (402-329-4313) as soon as possible. To ensure the continued success of this ministry for the future, we are still looking for several volunteers to help in various areas.
Barring inclement weather, Faith Weavers will continue on Wednesday evenings from 5:15PM to 6:45PM. Please remember to check our website for program and weather related updates.
Please put donations in the kitchen with a note (from who, for who) and alert church staff about your donation. Frozen items should be placed in the freezer. Gift cards and monetary donations are also welcome. Your support is greatly appreciated!
For April and May
1. Rolls of 85/15 or 80/20 ground beef
2. Large packages of frozen chicken nuggets
3. Packages of hamburger buns 4. Large packages of frozen French fries
5. Regular cans of fruit cocktail
6. 28oz jars of pizza sauce
SUNDAY SCHOOL
We are still looking for several new individuals to answer the call to serve as a substitute teacher, so if you are interested in helping with Sunday School during this year, please let Mr. Jareske know, as soon as possible.
CAMP LUTHER RETREAT
If your child is set to attend this event, and you have been receiving emails from Vicar Johnson, please continue to check your email for further information as this trip draws closer. If you have not been receiving emails about this trip, and this is in error, please let Vicar know as soon as possible. Upcoming emails will include important information pertaining to this trip, such as a packing list and needed items, so please make sure that you are receiving these types of emails. We will also be looking for donations of food items for meals and items relating to the creation of hygiene kits. Again our Camp Luther retreat takes place on the weekend of April 26th-28th.
VBS
It is a little bit hard to believe, but it is once again time to start looking forward to Vacation Bible School for this upcoming summer! The theme for this year will be an underwater VBS called “Scuba” by Group Publishing. If students and families would like to participate, or assist, with this amazing summer event, please continue to look for more information, and a way to register, by the end of April. We will look forward to seeing you soon!
ZION TUITION ASSISTANCE FUND
If you would like to help provide students with a Christian education, please consider donating to the Zion tuition assistance fund. It is easy to donate! Make checks payable to Zion Lutheran School and just write in the memo tuition assistance. Have a special student in mind for assistance? Contact the school office at 329-4658 to set up a donation for them.
OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS OF NEBRASKA
The Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska are offered to students entering a nonpublic school for grades Kindergarten, 9th grade, or transferring from a public school from any grade level. Please visit nebraskaopportunity.org for more information about these scholarships.
NEBRASKA TAX OPPORTUNITY
This year brings a terrific opportunity for you to benefit students who attend private schools and receive a dollar-for-dollar income tax credit for up to 50% of your Nebraska income tax liability for 2024. For more information, please visit the school website www.zionlutheranpierce.com and click on the Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska link.
SCRIP
If you would like to purchase Scrip, order forms are available in the Narthex. Order forms and/or RaiseRight purchases need to be submitted before Tuesday of each week. Contact the school office at 329-4658 with any questions.
NEW PROJECT CONNECT BOOKLETS
Zion's LLL-MC is bringing you some new Project Connect booklets for your reading pleasure, faith strengthening, and/or your personal needs. The new April booklets will be found at the TOP LEVEL of the Project Connect display rack. The PC display rack is located in the narthex by the west entry door. The new booklets are: A GRIEF LIKE NO OTHER, A TREASURE REVEALED, THE TRUTH ABOUT ANGELS, and HOPE AND HEALING. Throughout the summer months, we will be receiving four new booklets each month.
FUSION YOUTH MEETING
Our next monthly Fusion Youth Group meeting for 7th through 12th grade youth is scheduled to take place Sunday, April 14th, from 5PM to 8PM in the Zion gym/fellowship hall. If you are considering joining us for the fun, consider bringing a friend along, as well! A meal will be served, and no money is needed for this portion of the meeting.
MISSION SUNDAY/POTLUCK
Gary Thies, Mission Development Counselor for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, will be coming to Zion on Sunday, April 21st. Gary will give an exciting and interesting presentation on what is happening in the mission field of your church around the world. Don't miss this chance to invite a friend. You too are a missionary. There will be a potluck meal following the 10AM service. All are welcome and encouraged to bring 1-2 dishes to share.
HANDS 4 CHRIST
Planning has already begun to once again provide this weekend long event for 8th through 12th grade students and adult volunteers aimed at service and community enrichment. If you are interested in helping, and have not yet signed up, please plan to speak to Mr. J in the near future to receive some registration materials and event related information.
COOKIES WANTED
To help welcome Missionary Gary Thies to Zion and promote general fellowship, we would like to serve cookies and cookie bars along with our regular coffee refreshments on Sunday, April 21st, following both services. If you would be able to help with this by baking a dozen, or two, of these treats, please contact Mr. Jareske to let him know within the next week. For those willing to help, cookies can be delivered to the church kitchen/Mr. J’s office in a labeled container anytime before April 21st. Thank you!
CHURCH WORKER SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE
Are you interested in full-time church work? Now is the time to apply for an LLL Scholarship Grant that is available from the Nebraska District of the Luther Laymen's League! Contact Virginia Von Severn at email virginia.vonseggern251@gmail.com or (www.ndlcms.org). Applications are due in mid-May of 2024. We are grateful for those students interested in full-time church work. Have you had an LLL Scholarship Grant previously? You MUST reapply to extend your grant each year.
COUNCIL/VOTER'S MEETINGS
The Church Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, April 15th, at 8PM in the Zion fellowship hall. The Voter's meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 18th, at 7:30PM in the Zion gym.
NEW DEBT DRIVE
As many of us are aware, for many years Zion has had one major Debt Drive at the end of the year using matching funds from our Endowment Fund to help retire our annual debt. Rather than let the debt grow month after month, we are working hard to keep our operating debt under $50,000. While it is true that we have already had one successful Matching Fund drive this year, a large portion of the debt we retired, specifically $39,000, was from 2023. As of last week, our operating debt for 2024 has reached $47,000. The good news is that an "Anonymous Donor" has challenged our congregation to match their contribution of $25,000 for debt retirement. Every dollar given to this debt reduction effort will be matched for a total of $50,000. It is our hope and prayer that smaller and more frequent debt drives over the course of the year will help our congregation avoid much larger Debt Drives at the end of the year.
Signed the Zion Board of Elders
Calling all high school students! We are looking for both male and female students in 9th through 12th grades to help during our two weekend church services by serving as an usher who assists the on duty Elder.
If you are interested in helping with this initiative, please click the button below to sign up to help with weekends over the next several months. For questions, please call using the church phone number.
Thank you for your assistance!
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