September 2010

“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
                                                                   James 1:17

Our theme for our 2010 Stewardship emphasis has not changed! Most importantly, it invites us to give first to God. It calls us to exercise faith that God will take care of all our needs. Now is the time for us (you and me) to respond as Spiritual givers—ones who contribute material resources to the Lord’s work with generosity, regularity and cheerfulness. Spiritual givers consider giving to be a wonderful opportunity rather than a sacrificial burden. As you have been blessed, tell God how thankful you are by accepting your share as a Spiritual giver.

Remember Sunday, September 12! RALLY DAY and our Annual Congregation Picnic in the Parsonage backyard following the 9:15am and 10:30am worship services. Honored guests will be the new members who have joined our Christian family in the past 12 months. Hamburgers, hot dogs and the usual trimmings, along with drinks will be furnished by the church. Picnickers are encouraged to bring casseroles, side dishes and/or desserts. Oh! Yes, I am sure there will be a few surprise games. Mark your calendar! Don’t miss this golden opportunity to welcome our new members and enjoy a relaxing time with friends.

Harry W. McDowell

August 2010

                   “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
                                                                                      Luke 12:34

We are halfway through our summer season, our remaining vacation days are fewer in number, but, on the bright and positive side, Zion’s ministries and programs are ready to move forward in high gear. However, I do have a great concern as I review our financial records and note our refusal to commit ourselves to support our ministries and programs financially. Although some activities at Zion slow down or even take a vacation during the summer, all ministries and programs are ongoing. That means our financial offerings must also be ongoing. In grateful response to God’s love, let us all accept this challenge to share our resources in order to meet the financial needs of our ministries and programs.

If you have not kept current with you offerings during the summer months, you still have time to “catch up.” Remember! When we support our ministries and programs, we are making sure the story of Christ is being proclaimed and shared through our faith and love. His story! The greatest story ever!

Harry W. McDowell

P. S.  Many times it takes a quiet moment of thought and prayer to fully realize that all we have and all that we are, is a gift from God.

July 2010

The following article was written as part of my 1970 Annual Pastoral Report to our congregation.

These are changing and critical times. Tremendous economic, social and moral issues confront the whole world. The church can no longer play ostrich and consider itself immune to these confrontations. Our Synod, as well as the ELCA, calls upon the congregations – our congregation – both as a corporate body and as individual members, to witness to the civic community in behalf of just laws and policies affecting sex, marriage and family and in behalf of legislation that will improve the economic and social conditions which influence the life styles of people.

These are times that demand personal involvement of all Christians in the life and work of the church. As in every age, there is the unending struggle between God and Satan, good and evil, mercy and hatred, justice and injustice. In this cosmic struggle every church member – YOU, I – has a part in the battle for truth and righteousness. Only to the extent that members get involved will the church be effective in its ministry.

We must all remember! The church is the place in which God does His marvelous works, the theater of His justice, mercy, goodness and truth; where He is to be sought, where He is to be found and in which alone He is retained.

Harry W. McDowell

June 2010

“To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Congratulations to our talented 2010 confirmands:
Kevin Engstrom, Matthew Flanagan, Danielle Giarrizzo, Kyle Murphy and Jade Palmer. These young ladies and young men made public affirmation of their baptism at the 10:30am worship service on Sunday, May 23. We all rejoice with Kevin, Matthew, Danielle, Kyle and Jade as they made public confession of their faith and assumed a greater responsibility in the life of our Christian Family. We also commend them for a job well done in preparing and delivering the Word of God at all three (3) worship services the weekend of May 22 and May 23. We pray that they will continue to offer their time and talent to serve our Lord here at Zion.

As I finished eating my breakfast and reading the daily newspaper this morning, my thoughts turned to the past 11+ months – a time period in which my Christian Faith grew exponentially:

-Christian Faith gives me the needed strength to carry on!

-Christian Faith gives me the needed courage to face trouble!

-Christian Faith comforts me in my sorrow!

Faith is belief. Faith is trust. Faith is love. Faith is hope. Faith is much more than wishful thinking. Jesus teaches us that where our priorities are, there will be our hearts and we will follow our hearts. So be marked by faith. Do not be afraid. You can trust God.

Harry McDowell

April 2010

As this is written, we are within one week of Holy Week and I’ve been sitting here this morning reflecting for a few minutes on our Lenten Worship. It has been really powerful for me, really gripping. I mean both Sunday worship and Wednesday evenings!  The sermons, the music both have been so inspirational, again, so powerful for me. And of course the Holden Evening Prayer on Wednesday nights has been great. The music sticks with you and accompanies you long after the liturgy is over and the church doors are locked.

                                      I knelt today where Jesus knelt,
                                      Where all alone he prayed.
                                      The Garden of Gethsemane,
                                      My heart felt unafraid….
                                      I climbed the hill at Calvery….
                                      Where on the cross He died!

          These words to the old hymn, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked” come to mind as my thoughts turn to Holy Week. Holy Week, unlike any other week in the church year, focuses our attention and sight on Jerusalem and the cross. Each opportunity for worship in Holy Week is unique.

          Remember! Worship really is the heart of our community. It affords us the opportunity to praise God, to pray, to confess. But more importantly it gives us the chance to hear God and to be fed with God’s word.

          Come! Join us as we focus our attention and sight in Jerusalem and the cross.

                                                                   Harry McDowell

March 2010

“And being found in human form
 he humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
 even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

From the day of sackcloth and ashes (Ash Wednesday, February 17) to the day of triumphant victory in the resurrection (Easter, April 14), you and I are challenged to prepare ourselves for the rising to newness of life – the basic purpose of Lent. “We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we, too, might walk in newness of life.” (Rom.6:4)

Lent is the time for practice and training in virtues and self-denial that are to be permanent and habitual in the renewal life of Easter. The temporary interruption of some selfish habit for the limited period of Lent, with the intention of resuming the old habit at Easter is not “keeping Lent.” A daily material offering to be discontinued with the passing of Lent, does not prepare for the newness of life after Easter.

For this Lenten season of reflection, self-examination and preparation, we are offering many worship services. We ask each and every one of you to look over our Lenten schedule and make a special effort to attend as many services as possible.

Remember, Lent is a time more than any other in the church year, when we focus on Jesus’ journey down the road to Jerusalem and the cross.

Come! Join us “to walk where Jesus walked.”

                                                                                                Harry W. McDowell

February 2010

         Again welcome to the New Year 2010! As this new year looms before us, I assure you that 2010 holds many challenges and opportunities for ministries. Accept these challenges! Accept these opportunities! Again we—you and I—must live and lead this congregation with boldness and courage. We must be a lively congregation who believes in Gods future and “lets go” with faith; not a dead congregation who believes in the past and “holds on.” Now is the time for each of us to discover and to develop our God given talents to join our march in faith.

         We held our Annual Congregation Meeting on Sunday, January 17—a cloudy and subsequent rainy day with temperatures in the low forties. In spite of the weather we were pleased to welcome a final count of 55 voting members to our meeting.

         The Zion Youth Group hosted a luncheon providing the food, beverages and dessert as well as the “clean up crew.” Everyone fully enjoyed the opportunity to socialize and to partake of the delicious food.

         The business portion of the meeting was called to order at 12:25 pm. We had a full agenda with a total of thirty plus reports from the various ministry teams, task forces and organizations. Everyone was given the opportunity to ask questions or to comment on each report. The majority of questions/comments referred to the 2010 proposed budget with focus and concern on line item “1206 Additional Intern Income” in the 2010 Income Budget. The discussion centered around,  “should we continue with our Intern Ministry?” After a lengthy discussion a motion was made and seconded “to continue with our Intern Ministry.” The motion passed by written ballot 28 to 14. All questions were addressed very effectively by the congregation leaders.

         We welcomed to the Congregation Council the following four members: Linda Cenci, Debra Flanagan, Carolyn Konopi and Donna Murphy. We are pleased with their willingness to serve and look forward to another exciting year for Zion. The Congregation Council also bid farewell to a mainstay of the governing body for past three years: Herman Renkevens. We sincerely thank him for his time and talent and certainly pray he will continue to serve his Lord here at Zion.

         The Congregation also elected Patrick Sawler and Anita Waldron to join Pastor Whitlock as the three voting members to represent us at the Synod Assembly on May 6 through May 8, 2010.

         The Mutual Ministry Team has undergone a new look. We welcome new members: Cori Battenhausen, Douglas Born and Harold Engstrom. We are delighted with their acceptance and commitment to serve on this special team. The team also bids farewell to two members whose terms expired: Nancy Jean Wallace (2009 chairperson) and Susan Olender. We sincerely thank them for their time and talent and pray they will continue to serve their Lord here at Zion. The new 2010 chairperson is Robert Leifeste who along with Erica Barilla and Dorothy Marbach are serving their second year on the team.

         The Annual Meeting concluded at 2:05pm. Once again, I wish to thank YOU! It is your untiring efforts, your Christian understanding and your unselfish cooperation that binds us together as we labor to carry forth His work.

Harry W. McDowell

January 2010

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:6)     

The Twelve Days of Christmas! Perhaps the busiest season of the year. A season in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the season in which we open the greatest of all gifts which God has given us – His Son. A season in which we all should take time to sit down in the quiet of the moment to be alone with God and rediscover His word. We all need a time that can be set aside to replenish ourselves to meet the tasks that lie ahead. We need to allow God to be the center of our lives once again. Most of all, we need to take the time to focus on and to remember that manger scene with a newborn child named Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes.

      The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 17, 2010, immediately following the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service. The Zion Youth Group will host the luncheon providing the food and beverages as well as the “clean up crew.” A free will offering basket will be available for any one who wishes to make a donation. All monies will be used to offset the costs of the luncheon with any “extra” dollars going into the Youth Ministry Fund. The business session will begin at approximately 12:15 p.m. The agenda includes action on a proposed 2010 budget; the election of four (4) members to the Congregation Council; the election of two (2) lay voting members to the New Jersey Synod Assembly being held May 6 through May 8, 2010; and the reports from our many ministry teams, committees and organizations of our congregation. Copies of the Annual Report will be available in the Narthex from Saturday, January 2 through the day of the meeting. If for any reason you cannot pick up a copy prior to the meeting, please contact the parish office (732-388-1815). We will do our utmost to see that you receive a copy promptly.

      As the year 2010 looms before us, I foresee many more challenges and opportunities for us as a Christian family. In preparation, we have been planning our Annual Council and Leadership Retreat since the Fall of 2009. The Retreat will be held Saturday, February 6, 2010, starting at 9 a.m. in the Social Hall. Our leader and moderator will be the Rev. Dr. Timothy Wengert, Professor of History of Christianity at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Dr. Wengert also is a world renowned lecturer on the Bible and Lutheranism. I guarantee you that he will challenge us with ways to revitalize our ministries at Zion. Once again, this is a great opportunity for all of us to look forward to see where, by God’s grace and our faithfulness, we are headed in 2010. The Retreat is open to all members of the congregation. Come and join us!!!

      Have a blessed Christmas Season and a New Year filled with peace and happiness.

Harry W. McDowell

December 2009

Advent! Christmas! Epiphany!

These three closely related seasons begin the Church Year. “Every Advent,” Frederick Buecher writes, “I feel like a character in a bad detective novel. I know what’s going to happen, and yet I have to pretend to be stupid enough not to have figured it out. Good grief, everybody knows that Jesus is going to be born at the end of the story. After all, why else would the color of Advent be blue, other than we know the baby is a boy?”

Beware, Advent can be just that, if we are not careful. Although we read from the scriptures about God’s promises and sing “Oh, Come Emmanuel,” are we really looking forward to the appearance of God’s chosen redeemer? No! We are looking backward; the birth already happened. At times we seem to spend these weeks of Advent in a state of denial, pretending that we do not know about the nativity while we wait to celebrate Christmas.

Advent is not a time of waiting and hoping for Christmas. It is a time of waiting and hoping for God’s promises to come fully true. And the color of the season is blue not because “the baby is a boy,” but because blue is the color of hope. From Isaiah (35:1-10) the prophet speaks about even more than hope, even more than light in the darkness, even more than bloom in a blighted world. It is about healing! “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.” Say to fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear!” “Here is your God…..(God) will come an save you.”

Yes, the Advent promise is that strength will replace weakness. Firmness will overcome feebleness. Assurance will triumph over fear. Health will be victorious over disease. Calm will capture anxiety. Joy will heal depression. Respect will annihilate abuse. The first Sunday of Advent is near! Let us begin this Christian year in prayer and with hope, as we remember God’s promises and wait the coming of the Promised One.

Harry W. McDowell