Ways to Learn in February


New Sunday Morning Bible Study!   In the new church year, we will have Gospel reading mostly from Mark. This new study will focus on ten texts which pick up important themes, and helps us grow in our call to discipleship. The study will begin on January 8th and run until mid-March.  We'll meet between services for 30-45 minutes. grab a friend and a cup of coffee and bring your Bible. Sign up on the Info Kiosk in the upper Narthex.
Sunday Morning Bible Study: Mark - As we begin a new church year our Gospel readings will rest primarily within Mark’s Gospel. This study will focus on ten texts which pick up important themes and helps up grow in our call to discipleship. We will begin on January 8th and run through mid-March. We will meet on Sunday mornings between services for 30-45 minutes. Grab a friend, a cup of coffee and bring your Bible and gather in the Pastor’s Study. Sign up on the Info Kiosk in the upper Narthex.
Jan. 29: Mark 4:26-29 - Beyond our Efforts - Session 4 suggests that the hidden reign of God brought by Jesus does not reach its fulfillment through our anxious efforts.
Feb. 5: Mark 4:35-41 - Facing Our Limits - Session 5 emphasizes that we can trust Jesus in life threatening situations.
Feb. 12: Mark 7:24-30 - Lessons from an Outsider - This session (#6) provides us a lesson in faith from an outsider.
Feb. 19: Mark 8:34-38 - The Paradox of Life - Session 7 describes Jesus’ invitation into the paradox of finding life by letting go of it.
Feb. 26: Mark 10:2-9 - No Private Matter - Session 8 suggests that marriage is not a private matter, but one that involves the marital partners both with others and with God.
Mar. 4: Mark 10:17-22 - The Risk of Riches - Session 9 warns that riches can be dangerous to our spiritual health.
Mar. 11: Mark 10:35-45 - The Secret is Servanthood - This final session proclaims that servanthood is not to be avoided, but accepted as the Christian way of life.

Come to Tuesday morning weekly Bible Study at 10:30 a.m. in the Pastor's Office when we will use a study called "Daily Discipleship" to learn more about the Gospel for the next Sunday. Pick up study material in Narthex, find "Daily Discipleship"  on the ELCA web site, or ask Pastor Blenkush. You can use the material on your own or with your family as well.

Camp Onomia
Middle School Winter Retreat: February 24-26 - We have a fantastic weekend. planned guaranteed to bring you out of your winter blaaaas. Make some new friends, build a snow sculpture, play some new games, laugh at counselor skits, sing some songs you remember from last summer, and talk to God in some special ways. All you have to do is pack your sleeping bag and favorite pillow, invite a friend, and you are on your way! Check it out on our web site.

Winter Family Camp at Camp Onomia - For the last few years, several Trinity families have gotten together at Camp Onomia for a winter weekend of play in the snow and worship with friends.  They would like to invite Zion families to join them—the more, the merrier!  This is a wonderful opportunity to support our local camp and spend some quality time together as a family as well.  Families arrive Friday evening, get settled into your rooms in the retreat center (bring sleeping bags—camp supplies beds but you will need some bedding as well as towels), and play some games.  Saturday meals are provided by the camp cafeteria.  Families usually spend some time Saturday morning doing a family devotion, and then they spend the rest of the day playing outside (or curled up by the fire with a book if you prefer).  Sunday morning the families will have an informal worship service and then pack up to go home.  Even if you can’t make it for the entire weekend, camp staff will adjust the cost for the time you can be there.  Any questions, call Chris and Amy Nord, 983-2539, or amynord@frontiernet.net. Please let them know if you plan to attend so they can give Camp staff an idea of how many will be there.
Friday, February 10-Sunday, February 12
Adults, 2 nights, 4 meals, $78
Kids age 4-17, 2 nights, 4 meals, $60




The Word of God - Pass It On Initiative - What better place to find the Word of God than in the House of God! If you look in the pew rack in front of you, you may notice a Bible. The Bibles currently in the pew rack are a gift given by Pastor Stephen Blenkush in memory of his father Rev. Dallas Blenkush. It is also part of a new initiative to both encourage worshipers to make use of the Bible during worship but also to provide Bibles to those who are in need of God's Word. So, if you are in need of a Bible, take it home. If you know someone in need of a Bible, pass it along. If you would like to participate in this ongoing initiative, contact either Pastor Blenkush or the church office.   

Read the Bible daily - one of the marks of discipleship is reading scripture every day. Make it easy - get a Daily Scripture reading in your email from Zion Online. Sign up and chose to receive a Scripture passage, a Psalm, or a Psalm you can sing to a familiar hymn melody every day in your email.

Pick up a current copy of - a new quarterly devotional magazine for families. It's called Spark Family and each issue comes alive with colorful images and engaging activities for the whole family!Keep it on the kitchen table for conversation starter at mealtime or keep it in the car as you run errands thru the day. Spark Family is based on seasons and themes from the Bible and it's filled with quick and easy ways to fit faith into everyday life. Because it is not dated, you can follow the chapters in order or skip around. Get your copy - it's waiting in the bay window in the Narthex.

The Lutheran magazine and the daily devotional Portals of Prayer are available in the bay window of the Narthex.

Librarian’s Corner by Carole Kiel

Brides of the West series 1872 by Lori Copeland tells the stories of young women who leave their homes in the east to travel west to marry men they have never met. The books begin with a newspaper ad asking for women with a religious upbringing, high morals and a strong sense of adventure who are willing to marry decent, God-fearing men.
In the first book, Faith, Hope, and June answer the ad. Faith ends up going to Texas to marry a wealthy rancher. In following books June goes to Seattle to marry a pastor and Hope goes to Kentucky to marry a storekeeper. The series continues with stories about Patience and her friends at an orphanage who also answer the ad. Life isn't always easy for the women and their lives take some unexpected turns.
 You can find these books on the library cart in the entryway or in the church library.


Grow in Faith with Via de Cristo -  Via de Cristo – Cursillo - Via de Cristo is Spanish phrase meaning “Way of Christ.” Via de Cristo is highly structured three-day weekend retreat designed to strength and renew the faith of Christian people and bring them to a new awareness of living in God’s grace. It is combined effort of lay people and clergy toward the renewal of the church.  If you would like to learn more about via de Cristo, please contact Pastor Blenkush.  Anyone who would like to learn more about this faith renewing and strengthening group is invited to come.   Click here for more information about an upcoming weekend. Also visit Lutheran Via de Cristo.

Lutheran Marriage Encounter -  Marriage Rocks!

Whether your marriage is rocky or rock solid, you will be glad you attended a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend.  Engaging presentations by both lay and clergy leaders give you tools and information while exercises and conversations with your spouse in the privacy of your hotel room deepen your understanding, communication and compassion.   For more information, visit www.godlovesmarriage.org. or contact Dick & Judy Dehnel at 952-432-3105, or Pete & Phyllis McMahon at 763-561-1575.