Pastors note What makes visitors come to our church, any church for that matter?

And what makes some members leave a church? Theres a lot of anecdotal advice in books and blogs and in conversations with other ministers and members. So I decided to look around for the latest research on the subject to satisfy my own curiosity and to educate. I know every pew is full of answers as to why people dont attend church these days, but it is always helpful to hear from those who have asked. The thing I like about actual research is that it often challenges our cherished misconceptions. When it also confirms our suspicions, research can also help us get past the deck chair re-arranging that often passes for outreach ministry in the church. In 2006, Lifeway Research, the research division of the Southern Baptist Convention endeavored to answer some of these questions. Top 6 Reasons Why People Leave a Church (research from Lifeway Research, SBC) 1. Move of residence 2. Change in life circumstance (illness, schedule, work, divorce) 3. Problems in church Loss of confidence in leadership Loss of morale, lack of participation Hypocritical, judgmental members Change in style of church Change in size

We are arriving
We are leaving because we dont like the way things are done!

because we dont like the way things are done elsewhere!

On the flip side: Saddleback Church interviewed 8,000 new members about reasons they joined a church. Here are those results from the least important to the greater: 10. 9. 8. 7. 6.. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Special Events and Activities Location Near Our Home Missions Different Styles of Worship Small Groups and Discipleship Classes Pastoral Care Childrens and Youth Ministry Service Opportunities Worship Preaching and Teaching

We have been and will continue to emphasize the first four as as the great commission commands, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Mt. 28:19-20) God bless your ministry,

Mike

Zion Lutheran Church Tel: 830-257-8411 Cell: (123) 456 7891

624 Barnett St. office@zionkerrville.org

Kerrville, TX. 78028 www.zionkerrville.org

Women of the Word

By now, the style show and luncheon is over. We hope you all enjoyed the delicious food provided by Saladas and the fashions from JCPenney that were modeled by our members. Thank you to all who worked on this event; the models, the suppliers of dessert, the decorations, etc. Five of our members attended the WOW Retreat in Seguin at Faith Lutheran Church. They were Carolyn Freeman, Shirley Smith, Barbara Rauhut, Rheba Schwarz and Dorothy Tobler. The focus was on the Lord's Prayer and the speakers were excellent. The day ended with a communion service. Our attendees reported having great fellowship and also that the retreat was spiritually fulfilling. Next year the retreat will be in Hondo. Circle Meetings continue the first week in May. Naomi meets Tuesday, 9:30 on May 7 Sarah meets Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00. They have finished their study for this year and will have a planning meeting to choose the study materials for next year beginning in September. Ruth-Rebecca meets Thursday, May 2 at 9:30. Mary Louise is the discussion leader. Dorcas-Elizabeth will meet May 2 at 2:00. Barbara Vanderhoof is the hostess and the Bible Study Leader. Mary-Martha (Brown Bag) will meet at 12:05 on Friday, May 3 in the Conference Room. Esther will meet Tuesday, May 2 with Ute Rohleder as hostess

Thank You
This is a special note to the kind people of Zion. You were so helpful in making the loss of Jean, my wife, our mother and grandmother bearable. Special thanks to Pastors Mike and Don for their many visits and counsels as well as making the memorial service so meaningful. Thanks also to the women for preparing and hosting the reception. -- Martin Noyd & Family
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I thank all of my Zion Church friends for all of your prayers, cards, phone calls, and the beautiful flowers from my Esther Circle. Your prayers and concerns have really helped me during and after my surgery. --In Gods Love, Esther Baker
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I would like to thank everyone who helped with the Lenten Meals and Easter Breakfast. Everyone was very willing and eager to help. I learned a lot and felt we were successful in each event. Thanks again for your time and we hope to have more events in near future. --Gaynell Klaerner, Fellowship Chairman
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THANK YOU, ALTAR GUILD MEMBERS and family members, for all your extra work throughout our Lenten/Easter season. Thank you, Steve Griffin for willing to climb the 12 foot ladder each time the drape needed changing and for setting up and moving tables for us. Thank you, Karen Saunders for your help with decorating and the new glitzy butterflies. Thanks to everyone else who put in extra hours to make our Lenten/Easter services very meaningful. --Thanks again, Linda Mann

Cross Trails Date to Remember Summer Camp Registration

Sarah Circle would like to extend an open invitation to any lady interested in attending our May 7th meeting. We will enjoy fellowship with our sisters in Christ, food, and plan for next fall's Bible study. We meet at 7 p.m. in the conference room.

Call 830.257.6340 for more info

Worship & Music

By Judy Johnson Since Ive learned that my son and daughter-inlaw are naming their baby after grandmothers on both sides, Ive been thinking about the concept of heritage. Heritage is something handed down from ones ancestors: traits, talents, names, culture, tradition, property, birthright. They all are results of a blood line. We remember the Old Testament patriarchs and the importance they placed upon birthright and blessing. And then there were traits like deception that began with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, continuing to Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Laban, Jacobs sons.you know the stories. Even though we are sinners, we inherit blessings from our Heavenly Father. And even though we are not genetically related, we were grafted into the Vine and possess the same birthright and benefits. Our blood line was established through Jesus blood. He proclaims us as His own sons and daughters, and we are inheritors of His kingdom. We take His name as Christians, we participate in the tradition of worship and the sacraments, we pray for the Holy Spirits help in imitating Jesus traits, and we receive His unconditional love, forgiveness, and the glorious birthright of eternal life with Him. We cry Abba, Father, and rejoice that we are kids of the kingdom! (Whos your daddy now?!) Because I live, you also will live. John 14: 19b May Calendar May 12 Mothers Day; Bell Choirs last anthem May 15 (Wed.) Sacred Arts party May 19 Pentecost/Graduate Recognition; Chancel Choirs last anthem May 26 Holy Trinity/Memorial Day weekend Thanks to Jack and Barb Pollei for their generous donation for the organ tuning. Thanks to all the members of the Bell Choir and Chancel Choir for their talents and faithfulness. Thanks to the Sacred Arts parents and girls for another great year; Im getting lots of granddaughter

Thank You Quilters You have worked hard making so many quilts for needy people. Then you made one more for Pastor Don! Thank you very much for your generous hearts, hands, and minds. I get to share in using the lovely blue cozy quilt too, which is a good thing. We cherish it and say again, Thank you, thank you. God Bless Pastor Don & Barbara

Vacation Bible School

Zion Lutheran will be sponsoring a vacation Bible School for the 3, 4, and 5 year old classes at Zions childrens Center on June 10-14 from 9:30-11:00 a.m. We will need many loving hearts and hands to help guide these little ones from one activity to another. If you are able to help us in any way for one or all of these days, please contact June Oehler at 895-3947 as soon as possible.

Zion Lutheran Childrens Center

Dear Congregation of Zion Lutheran Church, In April, Zion Lutheran Childrens Center celebrated National Week of the Young Child with a week of fun activities for children. Monday the children made art using their favorite supplies and about their favorite subjects. We made an art gallery with large boxes to showcase the childrens creations. Tuesday the children made sensory bottles water bottles half filled with oil and water, or liquid soap and glitter, or colored rice anything goes! These bottles help the children understand cause and effect relationships. Each child got to take home the sensory bottle they made. Wednesday we had a dress up day and Thursday we enjoyed snow cones as a special treat. On Friday, we welcomed parents and family to join us for our annual Week of the Young Child picnic on the playground. On March 28, ZLCC hosted the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the playground. The children all brought Easter baskets and enjoyed hunting for eggs that parent volunteers hid on the playground. Far left: Murphy, 15 months Center: Ember, 4 years Vacation Bible School: We are working with Mrs. June Oehler to offer Vacation Bible School to our older, preschool aged children this summer. We have lots of exciting ideas planned for this time from Groups Kingdom Rock: Where Kids Stand Strong for God vacation bible school program. The children will hear a Bible story, sing songs, watch a video, and do a craft project each day. The children are very excited to come go to Vacation Bible School in June! Thank you to all the volunteers currently signed up to help with this project. Summer Time Visitors: We are in need of volunteers who will come in for about an hour one day this summer to share a short activity with the children. A volunteer could prepare (or we can help you to prepare) a short, 10-15 minute activity that the children can participate in. Depending on the activity, children ages 18 months 5 years could participate in small groups. Last year, we had a fruit and vegetable tasting we scented and dyed our own soap bars we had puppet shows a baby goat visited the Center, and more. Activities can be very simple, and designed to be fun and educational for the children. Please contact me if you are interested: Stephanie Cash ZLCCdirector@yahoo.com or (830) 896 5880. Thank you for your continued support of Zion Lutheran Childrens Center. Sincerely, Stephanie Cash, Director, and the Board of Directors Larry Cattran, Gus Schill, Wally Freeman, Beverly Fischer, Dena Theis, Sue Nelms

SERVING IN MAY
Date & Time
May May May May May May May May 5 9:00 a.m.

Communion Servers
J. & Arita Rasso, Wally Freeman Holly Shirley, Betty Flood

Lay Readers
Tracy Flowers Ward Jones Linda Mann Sherri Jones

5 11:00 a.m. 12 9:00 a.m.

12 11:00 a.m. 19 9:00 a.m. Linda Mann, Susan McMahon, Pastor Don Rauhut Ward & Sherri Jones, Brandon Baldwin

Rheba Schwarz Mary Louise Leach Barbara Dierker Kelly McKeon

19 11:00 a.m. 26 9:00 a.m.

26 11:00 a.m.

May 5
Billy & Mary Heimann May 12 Walter & Karen Saunders May 19 Allen & Diane Stern May 26 Edward & Verdie Wellborn If you would like to provide altar flowers on February 17 or 24 or on any Sunday in 2013, please, sign theowerchartin the narthex or call the office.

Altar Flowers

Altar Guild Linda Mann & Donna Shirley Bell Choir Jim Abbatiello Chancel Choir Judy Johnson Communion Assistants Ward Jones Praise Team Misty Erlund Decorations Karen Kordzik

Multimedia Misty Erlund Prayer Stations Rheba Schwarz TV/Radio Broadcast Gerd Rohleder Ushers Beverly Fisher Pam Raborn Lay Readers Evelyn Wilke

Ushers 9:00 a.m. Rheba & Ted Schwarz, Gary Reichenau, Billy Heimann

Member Updates Address Change Jody Jacoby 110 Homer Drive Kerrville, TX 78028

Childrens Center Robert Jacks by M/M Ronald Kalmbach, M/M Milton Bernhard Media Robert Jacks by M/M Walden Freeman, M/M John Thompson, M/M Edward Wellborn Jean Noyd by M/M Christopher Dewar, M/M Josiahh Daniel III, M/M Bill Dendy, M/M A. C. Wessels, Carolyn Junge, M/M Walden Freeman Building Fund Robert Jacks by M/M Bruce Motheral, M/M Curtis Guentert,Karen Muske Altar Flowers Mary E. Wilson by M/M Norris Bjork Cross Trails Jean Noyd by Dorothy Maurer In honor of Barbara Dierker by Dorothy Maurer

s l a i r o m e M

Klein, Adeline Krutsinger, Norman Perez, Carlos Ahrens, Kenton Clark, Darlene Joines, Bob Van Winkle, Oda Patrick, Donald Smith, Shirley Fischer, Mitch Flood, Betty Albrecht, Emily Thompson, Kenneth McLerran, Debra Taylor, A.J. Michel, Bailey Bangs, Julie

s y a d h t r i B y a M
5/1 5/2 5/4 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/6 5/6 5/7 5/8 5/9 5/9 5/10 5/11 5/12 5/14 Johnson, Neal Peese, Peggy Ashcraft, Brooke Kordzik, Kagney Spears, Marian Taylor, Julie Raso, Arita Bernhard, Mark Faust, Taylor Linehan, Kay Rendon, Phylisia Dennis, Susan 5/17 Taylor, Allison Lowrey, Laura Cox, Meta 5/19 5/21 5/21 5/22 5/23 5/25

5/14 5/15 5/17

5/17

5/21

5/23 5/24 5/24

Web page: www.zionkerrville.org Email: Office: office@zionkerrville.org Pastor: pastor-michael@zionkerrville.org Youth: youth@zionkerrville.org Church Council: council@zionkerrville.org Media Center: mediacenter@zionkerrville.org Judy Johnson: judymusic@zionkerrville.org Misty Erlund: mistymusic@zionkerrville.org Childrens Center: children@zionkerrville.org Please notify the church office if your email address changes.

Staff Pastor-Michael Williams Assisting Pastors - Barbara Dierker, Rev. Donald Rauhut Office Secretary - Judy Sharp Financial Secretary - Mindy Williams Organist/Choir Director - Judy Johnson Contemporary Service Director - Misty Erlund Choir Accompanist - Jimmy Abbatiello Bell Choir Director - Jim Abbatiello Childrens Ctr. Director - Stephanie Cash Nursery Attendant - Katherin McCoy Superintendent - Steve Griffin Church Council Officers President Kent Bressler Vice President Bruce Motheral Secretary Nikki Kordzik Treasurer Sara McKeon Representatives: Benevolence Martha Kies Childrens Center Larry Cattran Evangelism Tim Sasman Fellowship Gay Klaerner Parish Ed June Oehler Property - John Dennis Stewardship - Mary Vestuto Worship & Music - Ward Jones Youth Ministry - Jess Erlund

p i h s r e d a e L

Zion Lutheran Church 624 Barnett St. Kerrville, TX. 78028 830-257-8411 Fax: 830-896-3266 Office: office@zionkerrville.org

May 2013
Sun Mon Tue Wed 1 10:00 ZLCC Chapel 5:30 Sacred Arts 6:00 pm Bell Choir 6:30 pm Youth JAM 7:00 Chancel Choir 8:00 C A Mtg. Thur Frid Sat 4 2 3 9am LWR Sewing Noon Brown Bag 9:30 Ruth-Rebecca 2:00pm Esther Circle 2:00 Dorcas-Elizabe 6:30pm Band Practice 8:00 N A Mtg.

5 8:30 am Prayer Cell Communion CAM Donation Sun

6 10:00am Prayer Cell 6:55pm Men's BSF

7 9:00 Staff Mtg. 9:30 Naomi Circle Mus/Wor Plg. 10:00 Prayer Cell 12:15 & 5:15 pm Weight Watchers 8:00 NA Mtg.

9 9am Wmn's Brk 5:30 9am LWR Sewing Sacred Arts 6:00 pm 6:30pm Band Practice Bell Choir 6:30pm 8:00 pm N A Mtg. Youth JAM 8:00 pm CA Mtg.

10

11

12 13 Mother's Day 10:00 Prayer Cell 10:30 8:30 am Prayer Cell Communion at Plaza Chapel 2:00 WOW Brd Mg 6:55pm Men's BSF

14 9:00 Staff Mtg. 10:00 Mus/Wor Plg. 10:00 Prayer Cell 12:15 & 5:15 pm Weight Watchers 6:30pm Origins 7:00pm Council 8:00 NA Mtg.

15 Newsletter Deadline 10:00 ZLCC Chapel 10:00 Quilt Guild 5:30 Sacred Arts Party 6:00 pm Bell Choir 6:30 Youth JAM 8:00 pm CA Mtg.

16 9am LWR Sewing 6:30pm Band Practice 8:00 pm N A Mtg.

17

18

19 Pentecost 8:30 am Prayer Cell 11:00 Graduation Service Communion

20 8:30am & 1:00pm Quilt Guild

21 22 8:30am Quilt Guild 9:00 6:30 pm Youth JAM Staff Mtg. 8:00CAMtg. 10:00 Mus/Wor Plg. 10:00 Prayer Cell 12:15 & 5:15 pm Weight Watchers 1:30pm Knitters 2:30 Shawl Ministry 6:30pm Origins 8:00 NA Mtg.

23 9am LWR Sewing 6:30pm Band Practice 8:00 pm N A Mtg.

24

25

26 Trinity 8:30 am Prayer Cell

29 27 28 6:30 Youth JAM Memorial Day Office 9:00 Staff Mtg. Closed 10:00 Mus/Wor Plg. 8pm CA Mtg. 10:00 Prayer Cell 12:15 & 5:15 pm Weight Watchers 6:30pm Origins 8:00 NA Mtg.

30 9am LWR Sewing 6:30pm Band Practice 8:00 pm N A Mtg.

31