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Zion Evangelical Church United Church of Christ 415 N.W. 5th Street Evansville, IN 47708-1325

Phone: 812.425.7029 Office Email: zionucc@zionucc.net Website: zionucc.net Facebook: Zion Center for Spiritual Development and Healing

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Greetings from Pastor Elisabeth

The story of the first Thanksgiving reveals a resilient faithful group of Pilgrims who, despite trials and tribulations, gave thanks to God. They had traveled to the new world on a 65-day journey. More than 100 men, women and children crossed the stormy Atlantic in a space the size of a city bus. Once landed, their first New England winter was cold and cruel. Their number dwindled rapidly and by spring, nearly half of their community had died. Yet the Pilgrims persevered. In the autumn of 1621, after God had granted them a bountiful harvest, they celebrated and shared a huge feast of bounty!

From across the centuries, we learn about the power of gratitude to bring together a community. From one end of the Bible to the other, we are encouraged to be thankful. Thankfulness is a natural outflowing of a heart that is attuned to God. The psalmist declares, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving” (Psalm 147:7.) The apostle Paul wrote “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances . . .” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18.)

As we gather together as families, as communities, as friends and loved ones, let us remember the importance of giving thanks to God. Let us remember the legacy of the ones who came before us and helped shape our Zion community. Freely giving their time and talent-- persevering through good times and bad--our fore-fathers and foremothers stood steadfast with prayer and thanksgiving. With thanksgiving in our hearts, we prayerfully lift up God’s glorious presence within and among us.

Wishing you God’s Peace, Pastor Elisabeth

If you have a birthday in November and it is

not listed, or is the wrong date, please call

the church office so we can get it fixed.

November 12 Amy Robb

November 14 Joann Wolff

November 15 Karleen Quinlin

November 17 Jessica Pauli

November 23 Dottie Pauli

November 2 Connie Sue Wilkerson Denise Kissel

November 3 Vernon Arnold Kelly Leek

November 4 Jeffrey Kniese

November 5 Ralph Woehler Mark Sirnic

November 6 Sheldon Hauge

Pastor Elisabeth’s Office Hours

Wednesdays 3-5 p.m.

Thursdays 10 a.m.-Noon

She can be reached at elbaer@gmail.com

and/or 812 453-3381 (cell #).

Remember those on our Prayer List~

Prayers and sympathy to Cindy

Corbett and Family on the passing

of Bill Corbett.

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Hanging of the Greens

will take place following

worship on Sunday,

November 24. All are

invited to stay and

decorate for the upcom-

ing Advent Season.

Friendship Sunday

Every last Sunday of the month!

What? For those who would like to gather at

a local restaurant following Sunday worship.

Why? For fellowship and a chance for good

food and lively conversation.

How? Vernon is our “Point Person” and he

will make reservations for 12 (a tentative

estimate) at a local restaurant...to be

Announced...Guests are always welcome!

Our October destination was Los Bravos on

the Northside off First Avenue.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

In November, canned goods will be collected on

the following Sundays: November 3, 10 and 17.

All goods will be delivered to the Tri-State Food

Bank on November 18. Please note: If you would prefer to make a cash donation, please

give to Sally (Chairperson of the Board of Christian Education and Outreach) or to Amy

Robb (Council member) and canned goods will be purchased and added to our collection.

Thank you!

United Caring Shelter

Thursday,

November 14

Every second Thursday

of the month, an

opportunity for giving is

offered. A group of Zion community members

gather at United Caring Shelter, our home-

less shelter across the street. 3-5 p.m. Meal

preparation help 4:45-5:30 p.m.

Totenfest- November 3 A special litany and remembrance of all who have died since Totenfest 2018 will take place during our November 3rd worship service. Totenfest is a German and Dutch Protestant religious holiday commemorating the dead. During our 10:30 a.m. worship, a special litany and remembrance will take place with bell ringing and candle lighting. Zion Church members who have died are Bev Wedgewood, Charles Daum and Bill Corbett. Zion Center Community members are Richard Ogilvy and Sara Rappee.

Coffee Hour before Worship in January

Keep on the look-out for a coffee hour beginning in January!

People are welcome to come early and enjoy a cup of warm coffee,

a Sunday morning treat, and great fellowship. Presently, it is slotted for the

second Sunday of every month.

NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS

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Congratulations to Kevin

and Jennifer Brakie, newly

married at Zion UCC on

October 12. Many blessings

to Kevin and Jennifer!

Jennifer is the daughter

of Amy Robb.

Highlight of October

Autumn Fest and Appreciation Luncheon –

Our annual Autumn Fest luncheon took place following worship on

October 13. It was catered by Grandy’s and homemade desserts were

provided. Entertainment was offered by Joann Wolff and tables were

decorated with Pumpkin Centerpieces designed and created by Susie

Niethammer. Susie used slices of a Bradford Pear trunk (cut and dried)

painted and added a stem and an adorable bow. They were used for

door prizes. Take a look!

Join the Choir or Handbell Choir!

Would you like to sing or play bells in one of our two Choirs at Zion? Or both?

Rehearsals are... Choir Practice, Tuesday at 5 pm Hand Bell Choir Practice, Tuesday at 6 pm (Resumes in November) Interested? Call or email the church office, and we’ll pass along the information. Everyone is welcome! Do you know someone who loves to sing and play music? Send them our way!

Ever thought about “going green”? Even know what that entails?

Or, more important, do you know how “going green” relates to your Christian faith?

My name is Susan Sirnic, and I am admittedly passionate about caring for God’s creation. I am on the Leadership Team of Tri-state Creation Care here in Evansville. I have spoken on creation care at our local Evansville Tri-state Association Annual Meeting and the Indiana-Kentucky Conference Annual Gathering. And, I have chaired the Green Team at Bethlehem UCC.

Creation care within a faith community begins with a few curious individuals who are willing to learn about environmental issues and then commit to sharing what they have learned. Creation care means exploring what can be done within the community and at home to make God’s world a better place. Creation care ultimately leads to living in a manner that considers the needs of others, both now and in future generations.

So, if “going green” piques your interest, I invite you to join me. Want to talk? Want to form a Green Team for the Zion community? You can reach me at 812 626-9034. I’d be happy to hear your thoughts!

Many Blessings, Susan

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Our Gratitude to:

Terry Yunker, Council President and Amy Robb, Council member, attended a UCC sponsored church growth workshop at St. Peter’s Highland in September Thank you Terry and Amy!

All those who brought bread from around the world for our World Communion Sunday.

The Board of Christian Education and Outreach has been busy! Thank you for planning the Autumn Fest in October!

Susie Niethammer for creating Pumpkin centerpieces for our Autumn Fest luncheon.

Vernon Arnold, our Master Storyteller, who offered a tale about giving thanks during worship on October 13.

All who help assemble our monthly newsletter for its mailing.

Qigong and Christianity: Part 3 Gratitude

By Neal Biggers, Minister of Music Let all things now living a song of thanks-giving to God our Creator triumphantly raise.... The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, the deeps of the ocean proclaim God divine. -Hymn #717 in the Chalice Hymnal Let everything that breathes praise God! -From Psalm 150 The final verse in the Book of Psalms encourages everything that has breath to praise God. Breathing things include all people and animals, and even plants as we learned in science classes. Hymn number 717 in our Chalice Hymnal takes that image even further, suggesting that not only people, animals and plants, but also mountains, rivers and oceans can join in this song of praise and thanks-giving. This is affirmed in Psalm 96 which says “Sing to the Lord, all the earth” and goes on to say this includes everything in the fields and the trees of the forest. What a fun image: singing flowers, rocks and mountains!

Sister Rosel Feder is a Roman Catholic sister who teaches Qigong. We occasional-ly use a YouTube video she made in our Qigong class here at the Zion Center. She uses the term “cosmic gratitude” in some of her Qigong exercises. I believe she is talking about this sense that all of creation resonates with gratitude. In those exercises we connect certain movements of the body with thoughts and feelings of gratitude. The movements strengthen and reinforce the thoughts and feelings, and vice versa. Richard Ogilvy use to end each of his Qigong classes by saying, “I invite you to think thoughts of gratitude and thanks...” and then he would go on to reference those who have taught healing practices down through the ages. This would include feel-ing gratitude toward Jesus who practiced and taught healing and gratitude in his daily life and ministry. May gratitude fill us and surround us, wherever we go, whatever we do!

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OUR NEWEST ZION CENTER PROVIDER

My name is Kate Hartman, and I am a C-IAYT, which means I am an internation-ally certified Yoga Therapist. This is over 1,000 hours of training - the equivalent of a master's degree! I am also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and I'm trained in Reiki and energy work. I focus on helping those with psychoso-matic pain, recovering from abuse or childhood trauma, minor car accidents, and family patterns of addiction. I help people reconnect to their bodies, heal old patterns of destructive self-talk, and address physical symptoms naturally. I also welcome individuals seeking greater wellness, even if there is no specific issue to resolve! I offer a gentle listening presence, embodied inquiry, tools from yoga including mindfulness and breath work, somatic trauma work, and bio-energetic touch skills to directly balance your nervous system and heal the body-mind disconnect that’s responsible for many troubling symptoms. My website is www.rootedbliss.com and I offer online appointment booking and free consultations to those interested in working with me. Kate Hartman

Prepare …to stay calm and Holiday on!

Now midway into the season of autumn the stores and the ads have begun their push towards the gift giving holiday season. This message is received by everyone and is met with a host of feelings. In order to stay at ease with yourself and others through this time of year, keep the focus of keeping your own body healthy so life’s incoming stressors will have little chance in sinking your ship. Here are a few tips.

Say “yes” to what feels good to you and is not going to interfere with your enjoyment.

Pause to close your eyes and breath. Breath in gratitude breath out gratitude. Yes, it’s the same both ways, what I wish to have is what I wish for others. Substitute any word that resonates well for you, ie joy, caring, stillness, etc.

Stay hydrated, keep the veggies plain and simple at times, minimize overindulgence by chewing slow, then of course, enjoy the conversa-tions and laughter.

Brisk walks giving the lungs plenty of opportunity to deliver oxygen to the body.

Allow yourself plenty of time to sleep. Avoid too much food or activity be-fore bed.

Set time frames for tasks. Allowing something to rob one thing of its needed time over and over eventual-ly ends up in chaos. If it doesn’t get done, smile.

Traditions elevate. This means shifts happen, yet the direction of shift is only determined by those present. Give the best “present” … you!

Yes, this season of giving welcomes a healthy and happy you!

See you in December! Kay

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OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Meditative Walking and Music Wednesdays - 12pm—1pm

Music by Neal Biggers

Linda’s Little Bookstore: Tues.—Fri. 11:30am—2pm

Used books on religion, spirituality, health, fiction, etc. at reduced prices

Kay Hummel DNM, HHP, CR Provider of adjunct health and wellness services.

By appointment—Contact: 812-483-7195

ZION CENTER

MINDSCAPES ART GALLERY

Tuesday — Friday 11:30am—2pm

Watch for new art at Mindscapes. The artists have been hard at work over the summer with new projects to display!!!

Common Ground Community Kitchen

Tuesday thru Friday

Hours for lunch are: 11:30am to 2pm

Lunches are going fast. To make sure you aren’t disappointed, call or text

812-204-1182 by 11am to get your order reserved.

To Go Orders— Call 812-204-1182 Or visit the website at:

Commongroundkitchen.com

Kombuchee in the Kitchen

Tuesday & Thursday Noon to 2pm

Mychele will be at the Kombucha Counter with her healthy brew made from organic and locally grown foraged ingredients at a

fizzy-sweet pay-what-you-can-price!

Organic Produce Club & Frontier Co-Op:

Organized by Missie Carrigan and Blythe Anne

Tuesdays 10am to 2pm Wednesday & Thursdays

11:30am to 2pm

YOGA OPPORTUNITIES

Chair Yoga Tuesdays at 5pm

led by Va Cun

Introduction to Qigong Tuesdays at 6pm

Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga Wednesdays at 4:30pm led by Tami Tenbarge

Yin Yoga Wednesdays at 6pm led by Bob Tenbarge

Kundalini Yoga Thursdays at 6pm

Bambi, Michael, Mychele or Lynn

Yoga Saturdays at 8:30am

Led by Bob & Tami Tenbarge

Yoga for everyBODY Saturdays - 11:30am

led by Va Cun

Veggie Potluck November 1st Please join us for our monthly Veg-gie Potluck. We meet at 5:30pm, and eat at 5:45pm. Enjoy fellowship and great food! Bring a dish to share. Tableware and water is provid-ed. If interested, call Missie (812) 305-1424.

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

10:30am Worship

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11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

5:30pm—6:45pm Veggie Pot Luck

8:30am Yoga

11:30am Yoga for everyBODY

10:30am Worship/

Communion/

Totenfest

FEDERAL HOLIDAY 3:30pm Council Mtg.

10am-2pm Veggie Club

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

Noon—2pm Kombuchee in the Kitchen

5pm Chair Yoga

5pm Choir Reh.

6pm Qigong

6pm Hand Bell

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

11:30am-2pm Veggie Club

Noon-1pm— Walking Meditation & Music

4:30pm Vinyasa Yoga

6pm Yin Yoga

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

Noon—2pm Kombuchee in the Kitchen

11:30am-2pm Veggie Co-Op

3pm-5:30pm UCS Meal Ministry

6pm Kundalini Yoga

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

8:30 am Yoga

11:30am Yoga for everyBODY

10am-2pm Veggie Club

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

Noon—2pm Kombuchee in the Kitchen

5pm Chair Yoga

5pm Choir

6pm Qigong

6pm Hand Bell

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

11:30am-2pm Veggie Club

Noon-1pm—Walking Meditation & Music

4:30pm Vinyasa

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

Noon—2pm Kombuchee in the Kitchen

11:30am-2pm Veggie Club

2pm Protestant Home—Music (Tentative)

6pm Kundalini Yoga

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

8:30 am Yoga

11:30am Yoga for everyBODY

10:30am Worship

10am-2pm Veggie Club

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

Noon—2pm Kombuchee 5pm Chair Yoga 5pm Choir 6pm Qigong 6pm Hand Bell NEWSLETTER DUE DATE

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

11:30am-2pm Veggie Club

Noon-1pm— Walking Meditation & Music

4:30pm Vinyasa Yoga

6pm Yin Yoga

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

Noon—2pm Kombuchee in the Kitchen

11:30am-2pm Veggie Club

6pm Kundalini Yoga

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

8:30 am Yoga

11:30am Yoga for everyBODY

10:30 am Worship

Friendship Sunday

Guest Musi-cians—Jenny & Ally

10am-2pm Veggie Club

11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

Noon—2pm Kombuchee in the Kitchen

5pm Chair Yoga

5pm Choir

6pm Qigong

6pm Hand Bell

11:30-2pm C.G. Kitchen

11:30am-2pm Veggie Club

Noon-1pm Walk-ing Meditation & Music

4:30pm Vinyasa Yoga

6pm Yin Yoga

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11:30am-2pm C.G. Kitchen

8:30 am Yoga

11:30am Yoga for everyBODY

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