Weekly News from Zion and our Ministries Under the Cross: Evergreen Academy & Nina's Place

April 17, 2024

Important Updates from Zion's Council

With the celebration of Easter comes the season of spring and the new life that comes from patiently waiting for growth. We are experiencing steady growth in Evergreen Academy (our preschool) and in our collaborative efforts in the community, beginning with Nina’s Place. As many of you know, our council has been working diligently as the elected representatives of the congregation to prepare the school property, currently occupied by Somerset Academy, for sale. We have two important updates to share:

First, we have received several substantial offers since listing the property for sale early last month. Our council is looking for the “highest and best” offer that will not only secure Zion’s financial future in perpetuity, but also ensure that our future neighbors are an asset to the larger community. We want to bring the voting members of the congregation into this conversation and have called for a town hall meeting on Sunday, April 28th immediately following worship. While we will not formally vote on any specific offer, our discussion together will put all the viable offers on the table, prioritize them, and allow our listing agent to respond accordingly with the next best steps.

Second, if you have been anywhere near our property since the beginning of the year, you have noticed above ground electrical wiring around the church. Our underground wiring, likely in place for 30+ years, stopped working. This only became apparent when we installed the new audiovisual system in the church, and we are grateful that this major electrical issue was revealed before any other damage ensued. Because we are a commercial property, we must assume responsibility for replacing the wiring, at a cost of over $60,000. The timing of this is exceptionally bad. The council has authorized borrowing against our cash reserves in the short-term, until proceeds from the property sale are at our disposal to repay those designated gifts.

What does this mean for you and me? We are doing our best to manage the expenses of the church. At the same time, we are humbly asking you to consider regular and/or additional giving. Many of us give only when we attend worship; and, the truth is, the lights, air conditioning, and other expenses are still due, whether we are here in person. If you’d like to set up automatic giving from your bank account or credit card, we can help set that up with you. We are also reactivating the New Life Capital Improvements Fund and welcome any contributions to help offset this unexpected capital expense.

We are the Church together, and we are calling on you – the Church – to come together with gratitude for what God is doing at Zion as we journey through this challenging chapter in Zion’s ministry.

In Christ,

Dr. Robin Larson, on behalf of the Congregation Council

Spring Concert

We have been the host site for the New Directions Chamber Wind Ensemble since January 2024. Their spring concert is coming up on Sunday, April 28th at 4:00 p.m., and we are all invited and encouraged to attend. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for students. 50% of the ticket sales from the concert at Zion will come back to us as a contribution to our mission and ministries. For more information or to receive flyers for distribution, please call Cantor Kurt Schmidt.

First Friday in May

Friday, May 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Kosta's Greek Eatery & Pizzeria

1940 NE 49th Street

Pompano Beach, FL 33064

Don't make dinner plans and come as you are! We enjoy delicious food and one another's fellowship. We each pay our own way, but everyone is invited to the table — friends, family members, and neighbors!

2024 Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly Service Project

Every year, the congregations of our synod participate in a service project benefitting the local community of the host site. This year, we will be collecting boxes of mac and cheese, toothbrushes, and toothpaste for the Orlando Union Rescue Mission.

Gail & Kurt Schmidt will be bringing items to the Synod Assembly on Zion’s behalf. All items must be brought in by Sunday, May 26th. We are the Church together!

Let's Get Shayne to LSM

One of our beloved, Shayne Clancy, has been accepted to participate in Lutheran Summer Music, the national Lutheran high school music camp, held from June 30 to July 28 at Valparaiso University in Indiana. We are asking, together with Shayne, for contributions toward a matching grant of $500 from Zion’s scholarship fund and $500 from LSM. To contribute, mark an envelope on Sunday morning “Shayne” and leave it in the offering plate, or give to the Peth Scholarship Fund on Zion’s online giving form. All contributions must be received by May 1st.

Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

The image of the good shepherd shows us how the risen Christ brings us to life. It is the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, one of mutual knowledge and love, that gives the shepherd authority. The shepherd’s willingness to lay down his life for the sheep shows his love. First John illustrates what it means to lay down our lives for one another by the example of sharing our wealth with any sibling in need. 



Sunday's bulletin can be found on the homepage of our website.

Prayers of the People on Sunday Mornings

All names submitted online (click here) by Saturday at noon will be added to Sunday's prayers of the people. In order to keep our prayer list current, all names must be resubmitted each week if you desire continued prayers.

Cantor Kurt R. Schmidt

954-421-3146, option 2 (Church)

954-913-2125 (Cell)

kschmidt@zion-lutheran.org

Zion is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) community, and extends God's radical welcome to all people, because we're all created in God's image.