Prayer Focus: the Kick-Off Event

Pray that the Kick-Off event will be one of God’s catalysts that will ignite enthusiasm, participation, and commitment during the 40 Days of Community.

Pray that God would move in the hearts of the people attending the Kick-Off event and cause a groundswell of response to this challenge to participate in 40 Days of Community.

As we prepare for the upcoming 40 Days of Community we may want to take the advise in the words of Martin Luther “Tomorrow I plan to work, work from early until late. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

Prayer Team
40 Days of Community

Calendar of 40 Days Events

January 13
40 Days Kickoff Sunday

• Introduction to 40 Days of Community
• Down Home Chicken Dinner
• Monroe Crossing Bluegrass Concert

January 20
Mission Projects Information Sunday

January 24 (updated 1/4)
Orientation for Small Group Hosts

January 27
Mission Projects Information Forum for Small Group Hosts

February 3 thru March 16
Small groups, Lenten & Sunday services focused on 40 Days Themes

February 3-9 We’re Compelled to Love God’s Family
February 10-16 We’re Commissioned to Reach Out Together
February 17-23 We’re Chosen to Fellowship Together
February 24-March 1 We’re Connected to Grow Together
March 2-8 We’re Called to Serve Together
March 9-15 We’re Created to Worship Together

March 2
Ministry Fair

March 16-22
Celebration Palm Sunday/Holy Week

March 23
Easter Sunday

Please mark your calendar to make sure that you do not miss out on this spiritual journey!

“Zion Inside Out” Booth

That’s where you can sign up to a Host or to participate in a Small Group.
If you haven’t signed up yet, or have questions stop by the 40 Days “Zion Inside Out” Booth in the narthex. A volunteer should be there every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:30 and again at 11:30 to assist you.

It’s not too late to join a Small Group!

Small Groups are the most essential part of 40 Days of Community, and are still being established. This is a great way of getting to know more people within our church. It’s easy to join a small group! Whether your are single, married, divorced, male, female, with or without children, young or young at heart, there is a small group for you! Childcare will only be available for the Wednesday Night Groups which will meet after the Lenten Services. Other days and times are also available for Small Group participation.

Sign up now

Will you consider hosting a group?

Small Group Hosts are being recruited now. You can be a Small Group Host in your home or at church, whichever works best for you. A lot of hosts are needed! The more hosts volunteer, the more people can get involved in Small Groups. Watch the impact this can have on the success of this program as Zion reaches out to help others in our church and community.

Sign up now

Mission Project Update

Over the past few months, you have been receiving information about the 40 Days of Community program Zion will be participating in during the 2008 Lenten season. The theme for this program is “Zion Inside Out”. The goal is to turn our church inside out by growing together within and reaching out to help others in our community. The Mission Committee is developing two major areas of emphasis

1. Increasing our knowledge of our partner church- Redeemer Lutheran Church in north Minneapolis. This is a small congregation Zion has fiancially supported for a number of years. As a partner, Redeemer has much to offer us as well as what Zion can provide for them. During the 40 Days, you hear much about Redeemer through a number of different avenues- Pastor Kelly Chatman will preach one Sunday. There will also be a DVD shown regarding Redeemer. Also, on each Sunday and Wednesday, there will be written articles about the people of Redeemer.

2. A number of mission projects are being formed by the mission committee. These are all local projects that the small groups can participate in. The goal here is that once people have been exposed to these different opportunities to serve the community, they will want to continue helping after the 40 Days are over. These projects can also be done by individuals or families.

There will be a temple talk regarding the mission projects on Sunday January 20. There will be a mission project forum in the choir room on Sunday January 27 at 9:30 for all small group leaders.

Please sign up to participate at the Zion Inside Out booth in the Narthex

Youth Board Plans

Details of what the youth board are planning for 40 Days on the youth site