Category Archives: Outreach

Our mission statement declares “Gathered by God’s grace, we are empowered to serve and sent to share Christ’s love”. We live this out in a variety of service and outreach opportunities–some of which happen every year, and have happened for a long time, and some of which are one-time responses to specific needs. Checking out the “Good News” publications is a great way to learn more about the work God is doing in and through our congregation.

Outreach

Packing Personal Care Kits for LWR

This Lent, we are encouraging households to pack one or more personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief. These are distributed to families in crisis throughout the world and, right now, the warehouse shelves that typically hold these kits are EMPTY.

Here’s how to pack a kit:

Packing a Personal Care Kit for Lutheran World Relief

 

Every kit needs:

  • ONE light-weight bath size towel (between 20” by 40” and 52” by 27”), dark color recommended.
  • Two or three bath-size bars of soap equaling 8 to 9 oz (any brand, in original wrapping)
  • ONE adult size toothbrush in its original packaging (multi-packs may be used by sealing an individual toothbrush in a business-size envelope; no plastic bags or wrap)
  • ONE sturdy comb, remove packaging.
  • ONE metal nail clipper (attached file option), remove packaging

To assemble: Fold the towel in half. Place the rest of the items in the towel, fold and roll so nothing falls out, and secure with yarn, ribbon, string or rubber bands.

Important guidelines:

  • Be sure it’s a light-or-medium-weight towel which are easier for recipients to hand wash and dry
  • Please only include NEW items
  • Please do NOT include items with any religious symbols, the US flag, patriotic or military symbols, including camouflage (if discovered, these can threaten Lutheran World Relief’s ability to serve in certain countries)
  • Please do NOT add, or leave out, any of the items listed, and please do NOT enclose the kit or any of its contents in plastic bags

Bring your completed kit to Zion’s anytime throughout Lent (and by Easter Sunday, April 4); we’ll pack it up with others and make sure it gets to the Lutheran World Relief distribution center in Maryland. THANK YOU for helping to care for our global neighbors at a time when distribution shelves are empty!

 Each kit assembled will be matched by a Thrivent Action Team grant.

Outreach

2020 Endowment Applications

It’s that time of year! Time to apply for monies from our Touching Tomorrow Endowment Fund. Applications are due by December 1 and can be submitted via email, snail mail, or by placing your application in Jim Gill’s “Endowment” mailbox, located outside the Church Office. More information on how to apply and how these monies can be used is in the application below.

CLICK HERE to download –> 2020 Endowment Fund info and request form

Children, Outreach, Youth

2020 Camp Scholarships

Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Jonestown

2020 Application for Church Camp Scholarship

 

Zion’s is committed to making sure everyone in our congregation is able to experience Lutheran church camp, regardless of the family’s ability to pay. We believe that summer camp is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to live in Christian community, to experience God’s presence in the great outdoors, and to be renewed in their faith. We believe that participation in outdoor camps helps to strengthen disciples for service and proclamation of the Gospel, and we are excited to offer camping opportunities through our partnership with the Lutheran Camping Corporation. Our congregation’s generous giving to our General Fund makes possible camping scholarships for all who are interested.

Please be aware of key scholarship details for 2020:

  • Scholarship forms must be completed and returned to the Church Office by June 1, 2020, together with a copy of your camp registration form. Incomplete or late applications may not be considered.
  • Zion’s will provide a scholarship for one camping experience per child per summer. This helps ensure that everyone has an opportunity to go at least one time.
  • The baseline scholarship award will be:
    • $220 for a week of camp
    • $110 for a week of mini camp
    • $80 for a week of Day Camp at Nawakwa or Kirchenwald
  • Greater awards will be considered when families demonstrate financial need. Please speak with Pastor Caitlin if you need more financial assistance.
  • Zion’s camp scholarships are different from Camperships available through the Lutheran Camping Corporation. You are eligible to apply for LCC Camperships in addition to the money awarded by Zion’s.

These are the steps for registering for camp:

  • Complete the camp registration form, as found online (https://www.lutherancamping.org/) or in the camp brochure.
    • In the ‘discounts’ section, be sure to mark “$20 – Camp Person attended meeting”. This will save you $20. If you need help calculating the other discounts, please speak with Pastor Caitlin. Note that another discount is available if you register and pay in full by April 4!
    • In the “my church is paying” section, write either $220, $110, or $80, as described above.
  • Make a copy of your registration form for Zion’s.
  • Mail your registration form, and deposit, directly to the Lutheran Camping Corporation.
  • Complete the form at the end of this document and turn it in, together with a copy of your registration form, to Pastor Caitlin. Once we have received this, we will send in our congregation’s portion of your payment. Don’t forget this step!

zion camp scholarship 2020

Outreach, Special Events

Logo Design Contest

Over the past several months, our Council has been discerning a new statement of purpose and guiding principles that express how God is calling us to be and serve today, and in the years to come. We shared these with the congregation at our May All Church event and in the June/July newsletter. We will spend several weeks in the fall more fully fleshing out these calls, but, for now, it’s time to design a new logo and we need your help!

Logo designs, to be used on our letterhead, website, t-shirts, brochures, and around the building, should be submitted by July 28 to pastorckurtz@gmail.com, or placed in Pastor Caitlin’s mailbox. A brief explanation of your design should be included with your design.

Logos should be clear, concise, and colorful (but not too colorful as to make screen printing difficult). They should express who we are, what our purpose is, and the guiding principles that lead our work.

Who we are: A church with over 275 years of history offering help and community to people in Jonestown

Why we exist (Purpose): Gathered by God’s grace, we are empowered to serve and sent to share Christ’s love.

Guiding Principles:

  1. We relate to our community. We are based in Jonestown because we feel the activities we partake in here are valuable.
  2. We are grounded in faith practices that strengthen us and help us grow as disciples. We are willing to diversify what we offer to the community.
  3. We invite others to participate in God’s work in our world, however they can.

Thank you and good luck!

Mission Trips, Outreach, Special Events, Youth

2019 Lebanon Lutheran Mission Trip

The 2019 Lebanon Lutheran Mission Trip will happen LOCALLY June 16 to 22, 2019 and hopes YOU will participate! You can choose to stay overnight at Camp Kirchenwald, commute each day of the week, or only help on a day or two. Work will happen at Camp Kirchenwald and the Wittle Farm, Lebanon/Lancaster Habitat in Lebanon, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Business Improvement District (BID) in Lebanon, and Union Canal and Coleman Memorial Parks.   Work will include home clean out, building and home repair/rebuild, roofing, painting, landscaping, garden work and much more.

There is a 50 dollar non- refundable commitment fee for adults 18 and over, and a 25 dollar nonrefundable commitment fee for youth 14 to 17.  This commitment fee is the only cost for work-day -only volunteers and includes breakfast at Camp and the meal at the closing program,   If you lodge at Schreiber Haus  the total cost for commitment fee, lodging, and all meals is $300. If you have any questions, please see Pastor Caitlin

More information:

MISSION TRIP 2019 (general information)

MT 2019 Commitment Form (deadline: March 14)