The girls are in 7th to 12th grade, have experience babysitting, and will be supervised by 3 adults with training and background checks.

The fee is a free will donation.

For more information contact troop leader Sheri Nichols at 763-286-7756.

• February 1: Tacos
• February 8: Sub Sandwiches
• February 15: Pasta
• February 22: Soup, Chili, & Hot Dogs
• February 29: Baked Potatoes

Meals will be served each week until the end of the school year excluding school breaks.

God makes us all individually. He gives us all different talents and abilities. God gave me some wonderful gifts. From an early age I knew God wanted me to be a teacher. He instilled in me a love for motivating and teaching children. Also from an early age God put in my heart a passion for music. For years my brothers were subject to some fairly painful-to-listen-to, impromptu concerts. Car rides were certainly a form of torture for them and they begged my parents to make me stop singing. I never did. It was all in God’s plan and I am so blessed to now be using both gifts and loves every Sunday.

I am the 1st through 3rd grade opening worship and music leader. I spend my Sunday mornings jumping, dancing, singing and teaching my students to open their hearts to God and to use their voices to praise him in song. Sometimes quite loudly. I have been told that at times the congregation has heard us as we praise and sing. That brings me great joy because I know if the congregation down the hall can hear us, then I am certain all in heaven can as well. I just imagine all those who have gone before us, looking down on these children and smiling, just as I do. We also have our quiet moments when we pray to God. The children fold their hands, bow their heads and pray with me the Lord‘s Prayer. I can‘t tell you how amazing it is to see these children deep in prayer.

I look forward to continuing to offer my time and my talents as the opening worship and music leader. What I have discovered over the years is that, although I am the teacher and I use my gifts each Sunday in the hopes I can make a difference in these children’s lives, the children also give me a gift and make a difference in my life. With every hug I receive, with every excited happy child’s face that comes and sits on my floor, with every voice and word of praise that comes out of their mouths, with every prayer they pray, I know that I am helping put God in their hearts. I am so truly blessed.

Lisa Ebnet

Comments on the quality of coffee and tea have ranged from, “This is really good coffee,” to “the tea doesn’t leave a ring in my cup!”

Sales will continue on the second Sunday of each month. Individual pre-orders are encouraged because it allows ordering what people want and avoids excessive inventory.  For more information on available products, go to the Lutheran World Relief website at www.lwrcoffee.com. Advance orders can be placed at the coffee table or by email to office@zionbuffalo.org  to place your order, ask questions, etc. Zion’s total monthly order needs to be $135 for us to qualify for free shipping. Combining individual orders with the general Sunday morning order has worked well.

The LWR Coffee Project enables coffee farmers in Africa, Central and South America to earn a fair price for their crops, empowering them in turn to invest in their communities, in education, health care and sustainable agriculture, thus building a better future for their families. Each pound of coffee purchased through the LWR Coffee Project generates $.20 for the Lutheran World Relief Small Farmer Project to support small-scale coffee farmers, provide technical assistance, and improve access to credit, marketing and training.

So why are we doing this?

1. Zion members get a quality product at a fair price,
2. Support for Zion’s Global Mission Committee, and
3. Small scale farmers, their local cooperatives and communities benefit

… so it really is coffee with a cause!

Zion’s Harvest of Hands, with help from others in the Buffalo community, are planning a Truckload of Life World Hunger meal packing event at Zion on April 15. The goal of this event is to pack at least 100,000 meals in partnership with Outreach International.

A fundraiser sale will be held on Sunday, February 12, at Zion, to help cover the cost of packaging the meals. Donors can purchase a gift of meals (20 meals for $5, 100 meals for $25 or any other amount you choose) in honor of or in memory of a loved one. You will receive a handmade card to present to the recipient of the gift. Your gift will help feed the hungry. It’s the perfect gift “for the person who has everything!”

Baked goods, Valentine cards and other small Valentine gifts will also be available for those who prefer a more traditional gift.

More information about the Truckload of Life project will also be available at the bake sale on February 12, or online anytime at ZionBuffalo.org/Pack.

Zion has so far received $10,806 through 2011 Thrivent Choice Dollars. Much of this supported Pipe Organ Repair.

You can still allocate 2011 Thrivent Choice Dollars through March 31,2012! Just visit Thrivent.com/thriventchoice or call at 800.847.4836.

For more information on Thrivent Financial and its products and also any questions you may have membership eligibility for Choice Dollars, please contact Mark Worner at 763.682.6011.

Noah and the ark…Jacob’s ladder of angels…Joseph’s coat of many colors…Moses and the burning bush…Joshua and the Battle of Jericho…Samson and Delilah.

All of these are stories many of us have been familiar with since we were children, and they’re the same stories we tell our own children. It can be all too easy to see these people as merely characters. In fact, that’s what we often call them – “Bible characters.” But they are so much more than that!

They are real people, with all the joys and sorrows, successes and failures, satisfaction and disappointment that make up life. They’re people who had to learn to follow God through all kinds of circumstances, and even stumbled on occasion – just like we do. Yet God recorded their lives for a purpose: so we can learn from them what God is like and what it means to follow Him.

Through studying the examples of these Biblical figures, participants will discover the principles God is giving us.

This study begins on February 15 and continues on Wednesday mornings at 9:30am through May 2 at Zion. Please contact Donna Magnan at 972.6403 or the church office if you are interested in participating in this study so that enough study guides are prepared.

Over 150 women at Zion are already using Zion’s table to pray and share and build connections with each other throughout the week. Small groups of particular interest to women include a Women’s Ministry Group, Food for Friends, Prayer Chain, Harvest of Hands, and an online Gratitude Journal.

Sign up today at ZionBuffalo.TableProject.org!

Mission Jamaica provides a way for us to love and serve our neighbor as Jesus taught us through His love and service to others. The trip combines a service project with time for reflection and spiritual rest. It allows participants to experience an international mission field that is close to home yet far enough away to immerse into another culture for a week.

Zion will be represented this year by Anna Backman, Andrew Burgdorf, Howard Burgdorf, Kathleen Dehmer, Rick Dehmer, Denny Gleason, Jud Goerss, Barb Hinz, Laurel Lundeen, Alica Luoma, Angela Peterson, Missy Peterson, Terry Peterson, Pastor Ted Vanderpan, and Dan West. They will be doing mission work in Jamaica from February 11 to 18.

Please keep the trip participants and their work in your prayers. Updates will be posted at ZionBuffalo.org/MJ during the trip.

The congregation is invited to help with the work that will be done, including a free medical clinic and a home building project.  Supplies can be brought to Zion and left in the suitcases displayed in the lobby/narthex by 10:30am on February 5. These items will be carried in suitcases by each of the team members. [list of items]

Financial contributions are welcome and will be used to purchase prescription medications and building supplies in Jamaica, and to cover airline fees for the extra suitcases. Expenses for the trip have been covered by the participants. Use a pew envelope marked “Mission Jamaica” and place it in the offering plate, or contribute online at Zionbuffalo.org/MJ.

The Android App is free, and available now from the Android Market.

Here’s what you can do with the Android App:

• Pray for one another and post prayer requests right from your phone. Just click that “Pray Now” button!
• Learn names by browsing through the picture directory. You can also search names, interests and skills and then check out contact information to get in touch.
• Stay connected with your small group by posting prayer requests and praying for others.

This is an introductory version of the App (version 0.8) and additional features will be developed in future releases.

Get started today at ZionBuffalo.TableProject.org

Bible Camp is a place where fun and faith collide. Campers encounter God’s word, make friends and create memories to last a lifetime.

There are different sections of camp for four age groups:

• Seeds Weekend is open to all current 2nd and 3rd graders. Camp will be from Friday, July 6, to Sunday, July 8. Knowing that this may be some kids’ first camp experience or even their first time away from home, our counselors will spend every moment with these campers. They will provide a safe and caring environment filled with music, Bible study, campfires, crafts, water activities and tons of games. The cost is $95 for the weekend.
• Youth Camp has two sections open to current 4th-6th graders and current 7th-8th graders. Youth Camp will be from Sunday, July 8, to Friday, July 13. The week is packed with a variety of activities that are meant to impact kids for eternity. Each day includes Bible study, chapel, cabin activities, free time, field games, campfire. The cost is $280 for the week.
• TIM Team is a leadership development opportunity for current 9th-12th graders. TIM Teamers commit to one year of service as leaders in their home congregations, working primarily with younger youth. TIM Teamers will have lodging at Ox Lake, as well as experiencing the Low / High Ropes Challenge Course. During the week, much of each day is spent at Wapo, participating as leaders amongst the younger youth from their congregation. TIM Team will be from Friday, July 6, to Friday July 13. The cost for TIM Team is $280.

Pick up a camp brochure at the Information Desk. Registrations and a $100 deposit (or full payment for Seeds) must be in by February 19 to secure your student’s spot at camp.

Camp Sunday

On Sunday, February 12, a representative from Camp Wapo will be at Zion to help celebrate Camp Sunday. This will be an opportunity to hear them speak about the great experiences that are offered at Camp Wapo and Ox Lake, to ask questions, register for camp, and maybe even win a fabulous prize!

Meet at Zion at 3:30pm, travel by bus and  snow tube until returning to Zion around 8pm.

Each student needs

• Bag lunch for dinner
• $20 covers bus and tubing
• Completed and signed Waiver required by Elm Creek
• Hats, gloves, snow pants, etc. If students are not properly dressed they will not be able to go.

The group will leave Zion at 3:30pm and return to Zion by 8pm. Bring money for dinner on the way to Augsburg and for offering.

Register by Wednesday, February 22. As always, friends are welcome to come with!

Food for Friends is a ministry that delivers both warm and frozen meals to those who are going through challenging times in their lives. If you know of someone who could benefit from this ministry, please contact Julie (see below) or deliver a meal or two from the FFF freezer.

If you are interested in occasionally serving with this ministry by making a meal or helping on freezer cooking days, please join the Food For Friends group on the Table or contact Julie (FFF@ZionBuffalo.org or 682.2889).