WEEKLY & MONTHLY HAPPENINGS 2026

LUTHERAN CHURCH WOMEN: Consider joining the LCW for a time of fellowship, devotions, and sharing in the accessible narthex. Meetings are the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 1:30. Contact Gloria Lang at 705 254-1247 for more information and especially about December meeting as they are going out for lunch.

THE SEWING ROOM@ ZION: Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon the basement room welcomes community participants. The menu page "what we do" highlight the sewing and its endeavours. Contact co-ordinator, Pat Mathews 705 945 8741 to receive latest news of projects and possible weather cancellations during winter months.

CHOIR REHEARSALS: The Choir practices Thursday at 7p.m. to lead music at 10 a.m. worship. More voices welcome! A call to the office or Pastor Brad will connect you to our Ministry of Music Director, Karen Kettles for details. Karen welcomes those that would like to make a shorter commitment for anthems that will enhance worship on special Sundays.

PRAYER: Prayer support is available from prayer chains, and from the congregation during worship services. Requests for prayers may be made by calling the office at 705 253-8703 or Pastor Brad at 705 987 5041.

Our Manna Basket in the narthex accepts donations of food and household supplies to be delivered about every 6 weeks to Pauline's Place Shelter.

Harvest Algoma Support: After Worship Fellowship celebrates birthdays of month on the second last Sunday of each month after 11 a.m. worship. Please consider staying to get to know us. As a way of thank you for refreshments, a donation is appreciated for Harvest Algoma. Place gift in the colourful mission projects’ box in front of the kitchenette window in the narthex.

Algoma Angels: Zion contributes to the hot meal program at St. Vincent Place. The Angels is a ministry of the Anglican churches in the deanery of Algoma. Additional Angels from Zion contribution to the meal is the dessert: cookies, squares, cupcakes. We normally need around 150 to 200 individually wrapped dessert items. Please speak to Pastor Brad if you would like to contribute when it is our turn again.

Lent is the 40 days period excluding Sundays in the church calendar leading to Holy Week and Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday which in 2026 is on February 18. On Ash Wednesday, worshippers may be marked on the forehead with a cross of ashes to symbolize our mortality, humility, and the need for spiritual reflection. The days that follow in Lent are a period of reflection, repentance, and renewal. It may be easier to think of it as a time of giving up by one's focus turning to replacing bad habits with good ones, such as quitting gossip, reducing screen time, or breaking the habit of complaining, of adding by committing to a daily devotional, volunteering, or acts of service and of reflecting by using this time for self-reflection.

At Zion, you will see the altar dressed in purple and you will hear that the hymn of praise is omitted from liturgy. Also, events have been planned to support you in your Lenten journey. Details of Lenten Lunches, Book Club, and giving opportunities such as our “Friends of Creation” partnership with CLWR, The Manna Basket, Harvest Algoma.

DATES TO NOTE ON YOUR CALENDAR for EVENTS IN MARCH

Plus regular weekly & monthly happenings

ZION PIE AUCTION - SUNDAY MARCH 22 after 11 a.m. worship: Plan to attend AND participate in Zion pie auction. Your pies and your enthusiasm are needed. A sign up sheet for pies is posted in the narthex (gathering space). Whose pie will bring in the largest bid? NOTE -moved from 15th due to anticipated weather conditions.

HARVEST AGLOMA SUPPORT: The colourful house/box near kitchenette window is there for donations during coffee time following worship and birthday Sundays -A good way to lighten your load of toonies and loonies and show appreciations for refreshments. All monies collected go to Harvest Algoma here in Sault Ste. Marie. Check out Harvest Algoma website to learn how FOOD is collected and distributed to agencies in city to ease food insecurity. https://harvestalgoma.ca

THE MANNA BASKET: Please consider donating food and household items (cleaning , paper products) during Lent and beyond for Pauline’s Place(Lotus House). Delivery is planned around Easter. (early April), - earlier if the basket is overflowing.

WEDNESDAY LENTEN LUNCHES - MARCH 25: Join in for an hour of fellowship and Lenten reflection with Lutherans and Anglicans gathering downstairs at Emmaus Anglican 643 Wellington St E. with accessible entrance off back parking lot. Soup and sandwich lunch is from 12 to 12:30 p.m. with the reflections from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m.

FRIENDS IN CREATION until APRIL 22: As partners in 'friends in creation ' with Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Zion has set a goal of restoring 40 acres of land around Lake Chad. Each acre is $50. It is suggested this could be reached if individuals contribute $5 each week from Mission Sunday until Earth Day in April. Making this giving of $50.00 a part of your Lenten practice would have such an impact on the communities around Lake Chad. Follow link to learn of this project. https://www.clwr.org/foc-splash

LENTEN BOOK CLUB @ZION -Independent Reading for April 19 MEETING: Read “Valley of the Birdtail” - a Canadian best seller. during Lent. Contact Pat Mathews for details and questions to reflect on as you read this heart-rending true story. The Book Club will then meet 2 weeks after Easter on Sunday, April 19th in the afternoon closer to 1 pm at Zion. A light lunch will be provided while we share our thoughts about the story.

Pat Mathews: 705- 759-8741 or email patjohn2009@gmail.com

WEDNESDAYS - Finnish Coffee Bread and Cinnamon Buns: Sold from office * 9 -12: Pulla and cinnamon buns are available for $12. * ALSO SUNDAY AFTER WORSHIP.

WORSHIP IN CARE & RETIREMENT HOMES

March 18 + Finnish Rest Home Bilingual at 2 p.m.

March 19 + Mapleview at 10:30 a.m.

March 20 + Collegiate Heights at 10:30 a.m.

March 24 + Finnish Rest Home Anglican at 2 p.m.

March 25 + Davey Home at 10 a.m.