Vacation Bible School at Mt. Zion

August 9-12, 2009

 Join us for VBS Day Camp this summer!

— Ages 3 years through 4th Grade —

Vacation Bible School begins Sunday, August 9 at 2:00 pm.  We are very excited to have our VBS run by the Lutherdale Camp Staff this year.  Sunday's events include a family barbecue provided by VBS staff. The program for that day ends at 8:00 pm.

VBS continues Monday through Wednesday, August 10, 11 and 12, 9:00 am to 2:30 pm.  See schedule below.  ALL CHILDREN ARE ASKED TO BRING A BAG LUNCH EACH DAY.

The cost for all week is only $40.00.  Scholarships are available (please contact the church office).  Register in the Gathering Space this Sunday or download a registration form here.

 Schedule Monday through Wednesday

9:00 Welcome! Songs and Circle Games

9:30 Morning Worship

10:00 Jesus Time

10:30 Snack

11:00 Arts and Crafts and Outside Games

12:00 Lunch – all children are asked to bring a bag lunch

12:40 Quiet Time

1:00 All Camp Activity (Large group game)

2:00 Afternoon Worship

2:30 Departure

 This past week, Senior Pastor Gary Johnson announced his retirement. After 36 years of ordination and 14 years as Mt. Zion's Senior Pastor, he is entering retirement. His last Sunday will be the 19th of July.

To hear more about his retirement you are invited to listen to the sermon he preached on May 31. Pastor Johnson explains his "call into ministry and his call out of ministry — a call issued by God through the Holy Spirit."

Details about his departure will follow. In the mean time, we ask your prayers for his family and Mt. Zion in this time of joyous transition.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last week you received a letter from Pastor Johnson regarding his retirement plans. We rejoice with him and his family as his 36 year service to congregations in Michigan and here at Mt. Zion come to a close.  Early in Pastor Johnson's ministry here he spoke often of the Old Testament story in which —for a time — Mt. Zion (the original one in Israel) lay outside the walls of Jerusalem. We celebrate now how, during his leadership, we as a community of believers in Wauwatosa moved inside the walls of Jerusalem; into the full embrace of God's Grace, Love, and Promise. We have grown from 774 members in 1994 to 1,032 in 2009. Our ministries have increased ten-fold, our building has expanded, and our faith deepened. Thank you, Pastor Johnson, for your steadfast caring, fearless preaching, and compelling vision. Mt. Zion has found a place within the walls of Jerusalem; in the Hands of Christ Jesus.

As your Leadership Board, we want our congregation to know how the coming months will unfold.  We welcome your ideas and input during this transition in our life together. Pastor Johnson will preach his last sermon with us on July 19. We will be in touch about a celebration of his retirement in the later summer or early fall.

The method of finding a new pastor is called a "call" process. It will include several steps over the course of the coming year. First, we will be saying thank you and goodbye to Pastor Johnson. 

Second, we will be hiring an experienced Interim Pastor who will serve Mt. Zion until a permanent Senior Pastor is called. The ECLA Synod office will assist us in that process, with the Leadership Board selecting the strongest candidate for our needs. Pastor Mohn is committed and passionate about her ministry with Mt. Zion. We are blessed to have Pastor Mohn as our shepherd and minister during this transition.  

Third, we will be convening what is called a "Ministry Evaluation Team" or MET. The MET, with guidance from our ELCA Synod's office, will review our congregation's strengths and needs for the coming years. This will identify the kind of pastoral leadership best suited for Mt. Zion. The MET's work will commence in the Fall and we hope we will be completed by the end of the year. We need your help.  Please contact any of us if you feel called to help in the MET process.

Fourth, a Call Committee of parishioners will be convened to interview and recommend candidates for our Senior Pastor position. The Synod office assists congregations by helping with the MET, the Call process and by identifying potential candidates. Finally, the Call Committee makes a recommendation to the Leadership Board and to the whole congregation. This entire process typically takes about a year.

The months ahead of us will be a time of great change and excitement. We are blessed to stand on a strong foundation rooted in an unwavering trust in God's Promise and Love. Leadership transitions in the church have some similarities to the secular world.  However, there are important differences. Pastoral leadership is more than job. It is a call. It is an anointing of the Holy Spirit.  Pastor Johnson's decision to come to Mt. Zion 14 years ago was a response to the Holy Spirit.  As he noted in his sermon yesterday, his decision to retire was again the hand of the Holy Spirit anointing him and his life. 

We, too, are called to look to the work of the Holy Spirit in our life together. Pray deeply. Pray often. Be alert. It is the season of Pentecost. The Spirit of the Lord is out and about. Let us have eyes to see and hearts to respond!

In Christ Jesus,

Your Leadership Board

Pastor Kendra Mohn        Jim Zarek

     Wendi Hall                       Dan Magnuson

  Liz Casper                       Perrie Dralle

Joe Driscoll                      Pia Yancey

Thaurra Stallings

Notice of Semi-Annual Meeting

Sunday - June 28, 2009

9:30 AM in the Main Sanctuary

Hello. If you’re looking at this website, if you’re surfing the web, you may be surfing for answers. If you’re looking at Mt. Zion’s website in the midst of transition you may be wondering if Mt. Zion could be a place of steady ground, a place to call home.

Everyone seems to have an opinion about what church is. What’s yours? Are you looking for truth? Are you looking for comfort, solace, acceptance or safety?

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