May 13, 2008

Securing Each Child’s Future
“For I know the plans I have for you, ‘declares the Lord,’ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Chapel Theme for the Week: “The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost” John 7:37-39 Acts 2:1-21
The Law Message: Without the Holy Spirit we would not have the saving faith.
The Gospel Message: God’s Spirit brings us to faith and keeps us in faith.
***Jesus Christ: the Way, the Truth, the Life***

PRAYER LIST FAMILIES
In your devotional activities this week, please include the following families in your prayers: Steve and Debbie Ussery; Randy and Tammy Uttecht; Andy and Tami White; Ty and Sally Zellmer; Brian and Stacy Ziems; and Dan and Jessica Zohner

WORSHIP ACTIVITIES—Family Devotional Preparation for Worship:
May 18 Trinity Sunday OT: Gen. 1:1 to 2:4 Epistle: Acts 2:14; 22-36 Gospel: Matt. 28:16-20
Saturday Worship at 6:00 p.m. Sunday Worship at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Sunday School/Bible Class at 9:00 a.m.

No Chapel on Wednesday, May 14
Students may bring their chapel offering to the Closing Chapel Service on Thursday, May 15th.
Last Day of Classes 2007-2008
The last day of classes at Zion Lutheran School is Wednesday, May 14th.

Thank You, Parents
The staff of Zion Lutheran Church and School would like to express our thanks to our parents for providing your staff the opportunity to assist you in the education of your children. You have been a blessing to us and we hope that your staff has been a blessing to you and your family. We pray that the Lord will keep you in His loving care throughout the summer months. As Interim Principal I hope you are looking forward to the leadership that Mr. David Bliss will bring to our church and school. He has indicated that they will be moving around June 7th. We ask the Lord’s continued blessings on the teaching staff He will provide for the fall. Parents and families have a blessed summer serving the Lord. TO GOD BE THE GLORY AND PRAISE!

Thank You, Mrs. Christensen
For the past 24 years, Mrs. Christensen has served the Lord and her church, Zion Lutheran Church and School, as the school secretary. She has served her Lord and the church faithfully throughout that time. We thank and praise the Lord for the service she has provided. During 15 of those 24 years she served in team ministry with your present Interim Principal prior to my retirement in 1998, she was truly a blessing to have on staff while I served as a teaching principal. She was a tremendous aid in completing many administrative tasks while I was teaching. We wish her the Lord’s continued blessings as she moves into retirement and doing those family related things she has planned. We must rejoice by saying; PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY!

Thank You, Mrs. Fahr
It is amazing how the Lord works. Late last July or early August while contacting another potential candidate for our vacant 2nd/3rd grade position, your name was provided as a potential candidate also. The Lord did choose you to fill our position. You were truly a God-send and have been a real blessing to Zion Lutheran School and especially the children in grades 2 and 3. It is our prayer that the congregation will see the need to accept you as a full time servant at Zion for the next school term. We know that the Lord’s will be carried out. Hopefully on May 29th we can say that the congregation has approved you as a new full time staff person at Zion. At this time we just thank the Lord for blessing Zion with your teaching talents. You have been a blessing! THANKS BE TO GOD!

One More Thank You—This One to Mrs. and Mrs. Toelle
Vic and Veronica Toelle will end their janitorial duties at Zion on May 31st. For some 20 plus years, they too have served their Lord and Zion as “janitorial engineers”. We are grateful to the Lord for the services they have rendered to Zion Lutheran Church and School. We wish them the Lord’s blessings as they relax in their easy chairs each afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 instead of cleaning school and church. PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

Baptismal Birthdays and Closing Chapel—Thursday, May 15th; 7:00p.m.
Zion will officially close out the 2007-2008 school year with a closing Baptismal chapel followed by the distribution of report cards and awards. Fellowship time will follow these activities. We will observe the Baptismal Birthdays of the following students: June students: Jakob Meier; 1st, Aaron Lohrberg; 2nd, Madison Suckstorf; 3rd, Shelby Bretschneider; 4th, Kody Dunn and Noah Krueger; 5th, Ali Johnson; 7th, adults; Mrs. Ahlers and Mrs. Bolling
July students: Samuel Kolterman; 1st, Raymond Fleer; 6th, Branigan Stonacek; 7th, Marisa Jenkins; 8th, adult; Mrs. Bernhardt.

Hot Lunch
Grades 3-8 will have hot lunch available to them on Wednesday, May 14th the last day of school for students.
Sack Lunch
Grades K-2 will bring a sack lunch on Wednesday, May 14th. They will have an afternoon of fun and games in the park, the ball field, etc. Activities will begin at 12:00 with their sack lunch.
Zion Field Day/Last Day Activities
Grades K-2 will have their Field Day on Wednesday, May 14 beginning at noon. Most of their activity will be in Gilman Park. PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE. ORGINALLY WE HAD SCHEDULED IT FOR THE MORNING. Grades 3-6 will have a track and field event conducted by the 7th and 8th grade. This Zion Track and Field Day will be at the Pierce High Track. The 3-8 events will begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. The plan is to be back at Zion by 11:30 for hot lunch for grades 3-8. Since we have 3-8 in the morning and K-2 in the afternoon, parents with children in both age groups would be able to attend both sections. PLEASE VOLUNTEER TO DRIVE STUDENTS TO THE TRACK AT 9:00 A.M.
K-2 will place their books and materials on the shelves for their “summer rest” during the morning hours along with checking last minute lessons, etc.
Grades 3-8 will correct any remaining lessons they have and shelve books for their “summer rest” in the afternoon. On Wednesday, May 14th, classes dismiss at 3:20 with buses running at that time. Thursday, May 15th is a teacher work day to prepare to the closing school chapel at 7:00 p.m.

Hot Lunch and Milk Money Due
Please clear your child’s (ren’s) hot lunch and milk account. Notice will be sent home Wednesday or Thursday, May 7 or 8. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated. Both accounts; lunch and milk, are non-profit, therefore we need to have all accounts paid.

Library Books
Student library books are due Friday, May 9, 2008. Please check your home for library books from Zion. Thanks for assisting us in returning Zion’s library books. We have five or six books that have not been returned. PLEASE CHECK YOUR HOMES.

Lost and Found Box
It is in the school corridor across from the bathrooms. Check it out. It may contain your child’s clothing. After 5/18/08 clothes will be delivered to Orphan Grain Train.

Book Fee Past Due
Book fee statements will be sent home via USPS this week. First semester were due August 1, 2007 and second semester were due on December 1, 2007. We thank you for a very concerted effort to pay those accounts for this school year and previous. Thank you also to those who have contacted the office and have made arrangements.

Enrollment Blanks
Enrollment blanks were sent home near the end of the third quarter. You will find an enrollment bland attached to this letter. If you sent your enrollment back in February, you can just ignore the blank. Please return them on Thursday or Friday, May 8 or 9. Thanks for your assistance and cooperation.

Band Note
Fifth graders and fifth grade parents, Mr. Sindt is beginning band lessons with 5th graders this summer. Information was sent home last week. That note is also attached to each fifth graders letter today.

VBS—Monday, June 2nd to Friday, June 6th VBS Closing Ceremonies, Saturday, June 7th at 6:00 p.m. Worship Service
Enroll your children now. VBS is open to children who will be four (4) years of age on or before December 31, 2008 through those children who were in grade 6 during the school year 2007-2008. Contact Laura Ahlers or Anne Weber if you have questions regarding enrollment for VBS. Assistants are also needed for VBS. Those who were 2007-2008 Jr. Hi students or Sr. Hi students, you may want to consider assisting with the VBS. Your contact persons are Mrs. Ahlers and Mrs. Weber.

Sunday School—May 18
Sunday, May 18th will be the last Sunday School Session for this year. Sunday School classes will resume in September. Keep the Lord in your summer activities.

Daily Family Devotions
Since school is out and there is no Sunday School, conduct Family Devotions on a daily basis. On the Internet they are available at www.JCPlayZone courtesy of Lutheran Hour Ministries; and at www.faithmoments.com. Web casting is from Tilden, NE by Rev. Christiansen an LCMS pastor. Concordia Publishing House has excellent devotional books; Little Visits with God; ages 7-10, Little Visits with Jesus; ages 4-7, Family Faith Walks; ages 7-10 etc. Some CPH devotionals that speak to teens are: Chosen! Won!; 150 Psalms for Teens; Called to Be; Imagine That!; Life in the Real World; Running the Race of Faith; etc. These books range in price from $9.00 to $13.00. They may be available at the Abbey in Norfolk.

School Office Closed on Friday, May 16th
The school staff will take a break on Friday, May 16th. They will be on task to complete end of school year activities on Monday, May 19th through Friday, May 23rd. On Thursday, May 22nd, Mr. Bliss will meet with the teachers to plan tentative schedules for the 2008-2009 school year.

IT IS TIME TO CLOSE THIS LETTER AND WISH EACH OF OUR FAMILIES, TEACHERS, TEACHER’S AIDES, SECRETARIES, AND JANITORS A BLESSED SUMMER. MAY THE BLESSINGS OF OUR LORD BE WITH EACH OF US AS WE LOOK FORWARD NEXT FALL TO A NEW ERA IN ZION’S HISTORY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. DAVID BLISS. GLORIFY THE LORD DAILY!