On The Horizon for Lent
February 7, 2010
I’m At A Loss For Words…………….
September 10, 2009
After booth breakdown last night, I spent some time trying to think of a title for my last email of the fritter season….just a few words to sum up the last few weeks and I really struggled. It didn’t help that I kept falling asleep at the computer. Again, we were very successful this year and overcame many obstacles along the way. The most exciting thing to me was the presence of so many new people who brought a bundle of energy with them. That energy mixed with the experience and dedication of our most seasoned members proved to be a winning combination which was a pleasant surprise for me as I went into the season worried that we would not be able to generate any excitement within our congregation for this year’s festival. Forty years is a long, long time and to consistently be able to grow and improve something over that long of a period takes energy, excitement, hard-work and dedication, and some would say lots of luck, but let us say lots of faith. And to keep that energy up takes a constant influx of new blood and new ideas delicately balanced with the tried and true ones. It takes seasoned members to be not only willing but able to pass along their knowledge and to invite and encourage participation among everyone. It means that people take ownership of their responsibilities without becoming territorial about them. I believe everyone who participates in our apple fritter process realizes that it is not about them, that they are only caretakers of the process and that they enjoy the experience and success it brings each year. I am always amazed by the people who have done this for so long but each and every year and are still so energized by it. I could mention everyone’s name and talk about what they mean to me, to this church and what they mean to this process, but it would take me days to write.
Last year in my final email I had told you that Larry Czaronata was talking about retiring from the booth and how sad that would be. Fortunately for us he was there each and every day working, smiling and telling stories of the old days. While we were working together yesterday I asked him if Dottie approved of this year’s fritters and he smiled and said yes she thinks they’re delicious. That’s the seal of approval we look for every year. I know I’ve said it before, but we can never thank her enough for this gift to our congregation. Although the processes have changed and been automated, the recipe has remained the same. Those fritters have not only been a Godsend to this church in how we have been able to grow and expand, but it has enabled us to form an incredible bond with our community that should be cherished. Quite a legacy for the Czaranotas.
The week didn’t go without a glitch here and there. At times we struggled to fill spots on the schedule, but for the most part we enjoyed great participation. We did have a few problems this week/weekend with the spitters. Fortunately Milo was on call and came down to check them out and make sure they were running properly. Never a dull moment.
Well, the most happening place this weekend certainly in Southington, if not in all of Connecticut was down at our fritter booth. People lined the streets to get one last taste before the festival shut down. We got word on Saturday morning that the festival was going to close at 5 on Sunday. Pat and Lois Garafolo and I were signed up to work on Sunday. Pat said let’s open early since we’re losing a few hours so that was the plan. On Sunday morning Pat came up to me during the 8:00 service and said that he and Lois would leave right after communion and head down to begin opening up. I stayed until the end of the service and announced we would be opening up early and anyone who was signed up to work the booth should come down as soon as possible. Fortunately Nancy Crampton and her son Seth were in church. The entire Crampton clan, minus Sarah who is on vacation, were signed up to work the first shift. 3 fryers and 2 baggers. I hit the jackpot. Nancy said, “I guess I’ll have to get home and rally the troops” She left, called home and told everyone the plan. I headed down to the booth and Pat and Lois were already working hard getting the booth ready. I put grease in the fryolators, Pat and I setup chains for the line (while 30 or more people were waiting patiently), he started mixing a batch and I took down the tent sides. It was getting close to 10:00 by then. By the time I got back in the booth to start frying the mix was ready and Lois had laid out gloves and an apron so that I could start frying right away. The line must have doubled by then. I started frying in 2 fryolators, Pat was mixing and Lois was alternating between cashiering and bagging. Very shortly thereafter the Crampton crew arrived. Now we were four fryers strong, a mixer, 2 baggers and a cashier. Still a thin crew, but we were going strong. Four fryers were too much to handle for 2 baggers so we sent Rich into the henhouse. He didn’t last too long. They sent him back to frying in very short order. I know it’s rough down there, so I am not quite sure what happened, but we were happy to have him back. By 11:00 we had a full crew and were selling fritters at a frenetic pace. The weather was goregeous, the lines were long and the fritters were hot. What a perfect combination. And we had a blast!!! That’s one thing about working in the booth, you work very hard, but you have so much fun. I don’t get a chance to work there as much as I would like, so when I do I really enjoy it. I’d tell you about some of the funnier things that happened, but I promised I would not. I guess what happens in the fritter booth, stays in the fritter booth. The only glitch we had all day is when we thought we might run short on grease. We called Russ Christensen and asked him to bring down three cubes when he came for his shift. Trying to get him and his vehcle passed security proved to be an event all its own. Apparently alerting the police and asking them to let through the road block a genteman driving a silver van without a parking pass who will announce that he has three cubes of grease for the fritter booth was not a simple as it sounds. They must have been worried that eveyone would use that excuse because they told Lois no they would not let him through unless she walked over to the officer at the corner by the Y with a full description. I went out and after talking with 3 officers they agreed to let him through when he arrived. By the way, those three cubes of grease ended up back on the truck at the end of the night. (Shhhhh…….don’t tell Russ).
Before I knew it, it was time to go. The next shift moved in and my time at the booth was done for the season. I rushed home to pick up Sarah to bring her back to school so that I could get back for breakdown. We still weren’t sure how many people would show, but show they did. The booth shutdown at 5:30, and from what they tell me, everyone went right to work. I was still on my way back from Storrs so I headed straight to the church to start filling the green container with empty barrels and organizing it to fit all of the equipment from the booth. Pastor had just started power washing the pots and pans for the last time of the season. We’ll miss seeing him in those bright yellow rain pants until next year. I was fortunate to have both Lois and Kim there to help. At first I thought they just came along for the ride, because I was doing all of the moving. I discovered they were busy taking an inventory of supplies so that they would be ready for next year. By the time we got back to the church, Mike Webster and Frank McDougal arrived in the truck with the first load from the booth. Two additional loads and a few hours later, the container was full of equipment, the garage was full of flooring and the all that remained downtown was our tent top which should have been taken down today and the refridgerated trailer which was picked up this morning. So with the last pot washed, the last piece of equipment packed away it was finally time to celebrate a job well done. The beer was cold and so were we, but we stood around for a bit talking about the events of the last two weeks and looking forward to next year.
And so ends another chapter in the 40 year history book of Apple Fritters. As we continue on this jouney and continue to write this book, let’s enjoy each and every moment. Although apple fritters don’t define our congregation, they are certainly woven into its fabric. Again, the apple fritter is an amazing gift from God, through Dottie, that has touched each and every life here at Zion and helped to bring a stronger congregation through hardwork, fellowship and teamwork. Let’s take time to give thanks and to celebrate another great year!!!
Again at Krista Leach’s request, I am including a link to the sign-ups, so that you can easily check the schedule.
http://s175331839.onlinehome.us/public_html/ahf_user_logon.aspx
Oh wait, you don’t need that link anymore. Well, I’ll just keep it here for next year!
Thanks again to everyone who participated this week. We could not have done it without you. Remember only 10 1/2 months until barrel washing. See you there!!!!
John
PS. Based on the length of this email, I was apparently only at a loss for words with the title.
July & August, 2009 On the Horizon
July 5, 2009
Click “Read More” and then on the newsletter link to view the PDF version of this month’s newsletter.
December 2008 Newsletter
December 1, 2008
Click on the link below to download the Horizon
Zion Lutheran Church’s
On the HORIZON
Volume 24, Issue 9
December, 2008
Children’s Christmas Pageant
This year, Zion’s Sunday School students will perform in a Christmas Pageant
titled “The Animals Gather Around Jesus in the Manger”. The pageant will be on
December 14 at 10:15 a.m. Children should arrive at church at 9:30 a.m. in their cos-
tumes. There is a snow date of December 21 in the event of a major snowstorm. The
dress rehearsal will be held on Saturday, December 13 from 9:15-11:30 and will be
followed by the annual pizza party. Any questions, please speak with Barbara Debner.
Decorating the Church
We hope you’ll join us to decorate the Gathering Place on Saturday, December 6 at 9
a.m. We’ll be decorating the Sanctuary on Sunday, December 21 at 11:30 (following
10:15 worship). The more the merrier — we hope to see you there!
Mark Your Calendars for These Important Dates
December 6 Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Price Chopper 9a—5p (1/2 hour shifts)
December 13 Final Rehearsal for Children’s Christmas Pageant 9a-12n
Christmas Caroling 1p
December 14 Children’s Christmas Pageant (kids arrive at 9:30a in costume)
No Sunday School until January 11, 2009
December 15 Men’s Club Christmas Dinner 6p @ Steve’s Restaurant
December 21 Sanctuary Decorating 11:30a
Bells & Blessings Musical Program 7p
Snow date for Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 24 Christmas Eve Family Worship 4p & 6p
Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 11p
December 25 Christmas Day Worship 10:15a
There will be no worship service on Saturday, December 27. There will not be an 8 a.m. service on 12/28.
Christmas Caroling—December 13
We’ll be joining our voices to share the Christmas spirit on Saturday, December 13, 2008
at 1 p.m. We’ll meet here at Zion — there’s a sign-up sheet located in the Gathering Place.
Men’s Club Christmas Party
The Men’s Club Christmas party will be held on December 15 at 6 p.m. at Steve’s Restaurant in Plants-
ville (next to Kennedy Middle School). The cost is $28 per person.
Page 2 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH’S
ON THE HORIZON
To the Saints at Zion Lutheran Church,
The frantic hurry has begun; Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. Sometimes
when our lives become so hectic, frenzied, difficult and messy we feel God has abandoned us to
the forces of fate, evil or despair. It is during these messy times that God’s presence hovers near to
us. For Christians, “stable” moments aren’t those few days when calm briefly descends upon our
world. Our true “stable times” are when we look around and see that however unpredictable, un-
manageable and unimaginable our mess, the message is there even more. At Christmas, the mess
is the message.
Jesus was born in a stable — a small, cramped, congested, messy place. A new born baby was out
-of-place, out-of-sync, amid the dusty animals, the mucky straw, and the spilled grain. But the
mess is the message of Christmas. There is no stable, no place in our world or in our lives that is
too poor, too remote, too outcast, too “other,” too messy, that God cannot be found and formed in us.
I invite you to join in worshiping God at Zion Lutheran this Christmas. Bring a friend, a neighbor or a family member
who may need to hear the message God sent and continues to send in Jesus. The special worship services at Zion Lu-
theran Church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day include:
Please note there will be no 4 p.m. service on Saturday, December 27 and no 8 a.m. service on December 28.
In preparation for these celebrations, we will be decorating the Gathering Place on December 6 at 9 a.m. and the wor-
ship area of the church for Christmas on Sunday, December 21 following the 10:15 service. I hope you’ll plan to join
us! On December 14 we will present our Children’s Program at the 10:15 a.m. service. Our Bells and Blessings Musi-
cal Program will be held on December 21 at 7 p.m..
As Christmas approaches, we will all find ourselves at wit’s end, running out of time, out of patience, out of money,
out of ideas. Don’t be fooled into thinking that God cannot draw close to your life, to your heart, just because your
schedule seems “too busy” for Christmas. If your life is hovering near overload, you could be on the very cusp of experi-
encing genuine “stable time” in your life. Open up to it, exalt in it, and be willing to let God love and care for you. I pray
you may experience a very Blessed Christmas.
In the Joy of Christ,
The Rev. James Debner
Wednesday, December 24 4:00 p.m. Family Worship Service
Wednesday, December 24 6:00 p.m. Family Worship Service
Wednesday, December 24 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship Service
Thursday, December 25 10:15 a.m. Christmas Day Service
Pastor’s Corner
The Shack
Now’s the time to begin reading the book everyone’s talking about — The Shack by William P.
Young. We’ll be getting together on Thursday evening, January 8 at 7 p.m. for a book discussion. I
hope you’ll join us. Pastor Debner
The Knight’s Templar Presents Certificate to Pastor January 18 @ 10:15a
The Rev. James A. Debner of Zion Lutheran Church in Southington, CT has been selected to join next February’s
two week pilgrimage of Christian ministers to the Holy Land under the auspices of the Grand Encampment of Knights
Templar of the USA and Connecticut sponsorship of Washington Commandery No. 1 in East Hartford.
Rev. Debner, a native of Iowa, graduated from Wartburg College with a BA and received a Master of Divinity from
Luther Northwestern University. He began his ministry in 1988, serving parishes in West Union, West Virginia and
(Continued on page 3)
Babysitter Position Available
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 9 Page 3
This year’s program explores Martin Luther, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s
Prayer.
Dec. 6 Salvation Army Bell Ringing @ Price Chopper Dec. 14 Eighth Commandment—False Witness
Dec. 7 Seventh Commandment—Stealing Dec. 21 & 28 Off
Dec. 13 Christmas Caroling—Time TBD
We are looking for someone who would be interested in babysitting our two boys 4 and 6 once in a while.
So if any one in the church would be interested in some babysitting jobs please contact us.
Robert & Deb Stanczykiewicz (860) 747-5914
Confirmation
CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS FOR 2008
___ 6” $5.55 ___ 7” $9.65 ___8” $14.20 ___10” $19.50 Color: ______________
(white, red, or pink)
In loving memory of _____________________________________________________________
or
To the glory of the newborn King______(check mark please)
Given by __________________________________________________ Amount:__________
MEMORIALS FOR 2008
In loving memory of _____________________________________________________________
or
To the glory of the newborn King______(check mark please)
Given by __________________________________________________ Amount:__________
All orders must be in by Sunday, December 7, 2008
Leadership Insights from Biblical Women Bible Study
Join Vicar Olsen for a four part series highlighting leadership insights from Biblical
Women. The Bible study will be held on the following Thursday nights at 7pm: January 22nd,
29th, and February 5th and 12th. Bring your Bibles!
Rindge, New Hampshire before becoming minister of Zion Lutheran Church in 1995. Assisting him in all his parish
duties are his wife Barbara, son Joshua and daughter Abigail. Rev. Debner is excited about how such a trip will deepen
his ministry: ”To smell the earth of Israel and to be covered in the dust of the roads Jesus walked, will make the scrip-
tures come alive as nothing else could do.” Modern day Knights Templar is a Christian organization of the Masonic fra-
ternity, and the Holy Land Pilgrimage is one of their many community oriented projects, reminiscent of ancient Tem-
plars who, during the Crusades, protected pilgrims in their travels to the Holy Land. Rev. Debner’s sponsoring organiza-
tion, Washington Commandery, adds further tradition, being organized in 1796 and remains today as is the oldest com-
mandery of Knights Templar in the western hemisphere in continuous existence.
(Continued from page 2)
Join us for an informational meeting on Sunday, January 11 at 9 a.m. where we will discuss some press-
ing maintenance needs, including the organ, heating system, office phone system, parking lot, men’s
bathroom, hot water heaters, and fluorescent lights. We’ll be discussing these issues in preparation for
our Congregational Meeting on January 25, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. We’re asking every- one
to attend so that all are well-informed on what’s happening within the church.
Worship Servants for December
Date Communion Assistants Lectors Ushers Acolytes
12/7 Carra Rockwood (8)
Nancy Benoit (10:15)
David Kall (8)
Bonnie Zownir (10:15)
Betty Lou Schweiger & Sue Skrzypiec
Steven Kroll & John Miller (10:15)
Caroline Barry & Megan Graham (10:15)
12/14 Lois Davis (8)
Children’s Program (10:15)
Bill Gibbs (8)
Children’s Program (10:15)
Carra Rockwood & Frieda Fries (8)
Mike Kurtz & John Sirotnak (10:15)
Ashley & Nicole Christensen (10:15)
12/21 Lisa Gentile (8)
Bonnie Zownir (10:15)
Lois Davis (8)
Susan (or John) Miller (10:15)
Mary & Helmut Jobs (8)
Kyle Gundersen & Doug Graham
Austin Gentile (8)
Aidan Jones & MacKenzie Martin (10:15)
12/24 John & Faith Kjellson (4)
Vicar Olsen (6)
John Miller & John Kjellson 11
Carra Rockwood (4)
Ana Dauphin (6)
Beth Long (11)
Jim Suess & Dean Mauro (4)
Lisa & William Miller (6)
Aidan Jones & Matthew Kall (4)
Altar Guild in December: Lee Sirotnak
12/28
10:15 only
Karin Thompson (10:15) Debbie Mauro (10:15) William Holbrook & Steve Kroll
(10:15)
12/25 (10:15)
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 9
Important Meeting Dates: January 11 & January 25, 2009
Prison Ministry Gift-Giving
Again this year Rev. Carol Salka from the Webster Correctional Institute in Cheshire is appealing for a
generous response in the giving of care package items for the inmates at Webster. At Christmas time, this small gesture
touches and encourages their hearts. Please join us in our effort in giving common and ordinary items that become an
uncommon and extraordinary expression of God’s love that touches many lives! The following items are allowed and a
basket will be in the Gathering Place. All items are needed by December 9.
Soap (bath-size) Toothbrush (adult)
Toothpaste (6 oz) Deodorant (no glass or women’s deodorant)
Hard candies (individually wrapped) Instant hot chocolate (individually wrapped)
Operation Christmas Child Update
Our 58 Operation Christmas Child boxes were delivered on November
22nd to Liberty Baptist Church in Bristol, our regional drop-off site.
There they will be placed into larger boxes to be shipped to North Carolina, and then around the world
to needy children – some of whom have never received a gift of any kind. Thanks be to God that we are
so blessed and able to support this mission.
VOLUME 24, ISSUE 9 Page 5
Zion Lutheran’s Confirmation Class for 2006
Click on our
New “Calendar” Link
To see the most up-to-date
Info & events
On the Horizon is a monthly publication of Zion
Evangelical Lutheran Church, 531 Woodruff Street,
Southington, CT 06489. Phone: 860-628-5759. Fax: 860-
620-0742. Web: www.zionlutheranct.org. Email address:
pastor@zionlutheranct.org or office@zionlutheranct.org.
We welcome your comments, suggestions, and contribu-
tions. Deadline for the newsletter is the third Thursday
of the month. Please call the church office to remove your
name from the mailing list.
Zion is affiliated with the New England Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, one of over
11,000 congregations in the ELCA.
We worship every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday
at 8:00 & 10:15 a.m. Holy Communion is celebrated
weekly at all services. Sunday School and Adult Study
Hour: 9 a.m., except during the summer. Summer Sunday
worship at 9 a.m.
Staff
The Rev. James Debner Pastor
The Rev. Will Baumgartner Asst. Pastor
Christopher Messner Music Director
Barbara Debner Nursery School Director
Diane Lamb Parish Administrator
George Morales Custodian
Council Officers
John Miller President
Rich Suter Vice President
Michelle Gladue Secretary
John Kjellson Treasurer
Mark Reider Asst. Treasurer
Board of Directors
Steve Long Financial Affairs
Carol Wright Membership/Witness
Faith Kjellson Worship/Music
Shawn Darling Christian Fellowship
Peter Kurtz Church Facilities
Dawne Cappellino Christian Welfare
Beth Long Christian Education
December 7 Rev. Rod Rinell Advent 2
December 14 Pastor Debner Advent 3 Youth Program 10:15
December 21 Vicar Laura Olsen Advent 4
December 24 Family services 4-6 pm Candle light 11pm
December 25 Christmas Day 10:15
December 28 Only 10:15 , no 8 am or Sat. worship.
December Worship Opportunities
Advent Series
The Purpose of Christmas
“If you find that Christmas has become nothing
more than a source of emotional and financial
stress…If somewhere along the line you lost “the reason for
the season”…You need to attend our Thursday Advent series!
We’ll meet on December 4, 11 and 18 at 7 p.m. to discuss
what Rick Warren calls “A Time for Celebration, A Time for Sal-
vation, and A Time for Reconciliation”. I hope you’ll join us for
this video based series.
July / August 2008 Newsletter
July 17, 2008
Annual Congregational Meeting and Picnic (July 20), Communicating with the Congregation – New & Improved, Summer Schedule & Office Hours, Vacation Bible School, Youth Work Camp in Machias Maine, New England Synod Assembly Notes, First Communion for 4th Graders Scheduled, Rally Day is Coming, Thrivent Builds – Habitat for Humanity Projects, Hammonasset 2008 Info