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Zion now offers free wireless high-speed internet access for your laptop in many parts of the building including Fellowship Hall, the narthex, and the coffee café . . . so bring in your laptop, grab a comfy chair or a spot in the café area and your beverage of choice from the coffee/hot chocolate or pop machine.

• The network name is zdlink.
• The key phrase is available from Angela in the office and is changed periodically.

Thanks to Dennis Montplaisir for volunteering to do the set up!

To the Zion community:

Thank you so much for your outpouring of love, prayers and support during this difficult time following the death of our daughter Helena.  We have truly been lifted by your kind words and deep prayers for us.  We have seen the mark of Christ in all your deeds of love.  We want to especially thank you for letting us have Helena’s funeral and luncheon at Zion. It was especially fitting because she was baptized at Zion a little over a year ago. We also want to thank Pastor Becky for presiding at Helena’s funeral and all the ways she ministered to our family in preparation for the funeral.

All Our Love,

Aaron and Mary Suomala Folkerds

This year’s Lutheran Night game will be Minnesota Twins vs Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, August 19.

A free bus will again be provided by the Wright County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. You must register in advance to ride the bus, which will probably leave from Zion; specific details will be provided in August.

Tickets range from $6 to $21 and can be ordered here or at the information desk.

Book club has changed days from the second Tuesday of each month to the second Monday.  We meet at 7pm in the Zion Library / Chapel.

Our summer schedule is as follows:

• June 9:  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• July 14:  Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
• Aug 11: Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger (the first of his mystery series)

The book club selection for July is Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz . Book Club will meet on July 14 at 7pm.

Odd Thomas is just that. He works as a fry cook in the fictional California town of Pico Mundo. Should he ever leave that position, he sees a future in selling tires or shoes. What he lacks in ambition, he makes up for with a special gift. He communes with and sees the dead, some of whom enlist his help in avenging their deaths from foul play. His gift is a secret from everyone except his beautiful girlfriend and the Chief of Police, who never questions Odd’s tips, advice, or presence at a murder scene.

School Library Journal

Read more of this review on Amazon.com, and a very unique introduction by the animated main character on the author’s web site. School Library Journal recommends this book for high school and adults.

The August book will be Iron Lake by William Kent Krueger (the first of his mystery series) on August 11.

by Pastor Kelly Chatman of our partner congregation, Redeemer Lutheran Church

Last month our congregation had a special evening that included a meal, Holden Vespers worship and a presentation by Kairos consultant, Kurt Meyer.  During Kurt’s presentation he asked of the solid and inter-generational gathering of  participants what they value most about Redeemer.  Kurt could hardly get through the question before a nine year old child raised his hand with a question.  He wanted to know “what does Kairos mean?”   Kurt politely explained that kairos is a way of understanding time.  It’s still a little over my head but I continue to marvel at how at Redeemer we bridge the gaps of our age, cultural and economic differences. In the New Testament kairos means “the appointed time in the purpose of God,” the time when God acts (e.g. Mark 1.15, the kairos is fulfilled).

As I reflect on the gathering that night I have come to the realization that Redeemer is a congregation living in kairos time.  Each time we gather for fellowship, after-school neighborhood outreach, hosting Narcotics Anonymous meetings or deepening our relationship with mission partners, we live in anticipation that God is doing something new at Redeemer.  God’s reality is transforming our congregation and our lives take on new dimensions.

Our Lenten gathering with Kairos was such an event.  When Kurt Meyer addressed the urgent need to replace our roof at Redeemer he asked how much we thought the congregation could raise during the next three years.  He presented three options and it was inspiring to hear the response from within Redeemer.  The consensus was that we have within our congregation the capacity to raise ninety thousand dollars over the next three years.  The ninety thousand dollars that Redeemer might raise could then be matched with support from dedicated mission partners.  In particular, Zion in Buffalo is waiting for Redeemer to take the lead in addressing our significant building needs.    Mission partners like Zion celebrate that out of every ten people who enter the doors at Redeemer, eight are likely to be non-members.  This means that eight out of every ten people who come through our doors are participants in our church’s mission to “be a beacon of hope.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Eight Out of every ten people who come through the doors at Redeemer experience God’s love and witness how Redeemer is a place where God cares about people.

This communication that God cares about people was evident during our evening presentation with Kairos.  Why is Redeemer important to you?  Because Redeemer is a congregation where we believe God cares.  New people are coming to Redeemer because we make a public statement that God cares.  God cares about young adults, children, seniors, immigrants and people in need of affordable housing.

This is the appointed time in the purpose of God, the time when God acts.

Dear Friends in Christ,

We want to thank our Zion Church familly for all of the love and support that you have given us in these past difficult months.  As most of you know on November 28, 2007 our grandson Owen was stillborn due to a cord accident.  Owen’s parents are our daughter and son-in-law Anne and Grant Christianson.  Then on April 6 our 19 month old granddaughter Helena died after surgery to repair her heart.  Helena’s parents are our son and daughter-in-law Aaron and Mary Suomala Folkerds.  In the deep grief that our family has experienced, you our Zion family has reached out to us with great compassion.  Thank you for the many cards, kind notes, visits, prayers, food and memorial gifts.  A special thank you to Zion’s pastors and to all who helped with Helena’s funeral and the fellowship lunch that followed.  We have been surrounded and uplifted by your outreach.

As a family we have found strength in your caring ways and in the promise of the resurrection.  These have been healing days for us all.  Anne and Grant have found the Compassionate Friends support group, for those who have lost children, to be very helpful.  The scriptures and many helpful printed resources have also brought us comfort.  After Helena’s funeral Aaron and Mary were able to take three weeks off from their parish duties to be alone and to spend time with family.  Their first Sunday back at the Prairie Land Lutheran Parish in La Salle and Hanska, MN was May 4.  The grieving continues but we know who walks with us in our grief.  We firmly believe in our loving God who cares for Owen, Helena and for each of us.  We live each day in God’s loving promise and in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection.  Thank you again for walking with us in this time and may the blessings of Christ our Lord be with you all.

In Christ’s Love,
Pastor John and Judy Folkerds

Matt Fautsch, a member of Troop 312 in Montrose and a member of Zion, is working on his Eagle Scout project.

His Eagle Scout project is to build a care packet for a US Marines unit that is stationed in Iraq. Lance Corporal Danny Allen a former member of Troop 312 and a graduate of Buffalo High School, was stationed in Iraq. Although Danny recently left Iraq, he helped initiate this project to help his former unit.

He is seeking wet wipes donations from business and individuals in the Buffalo and Montrose Area. He would like to include the donations in the VFW Memorial Day Ceremony in Montrose, MN on May 26^th.

Please consider donating wet wipes or funds to purchase wet wipes. The wet wipes can be any brand except they can’t be alcohol based. At this time they only know of one type, Wet Ones that contain alcohol. The wet wipes that are in the soft flexible plastic packages will be the easiest to ship to Iraq. No donation is too small. All donations are appreciated. Wet wipes can be dropped off at the office and a member of Troop 312 will pick them up. Checks should be made payable to Troop 312 and can be sent to:

Zion was upended 15-5 by St. Francis on Friday May 9th. St. Francis started out scoring runs in each inning, but Zion couldn’t get the bats rolling until the 5th inning and it was too little too late.

Next up for Zion is Buffalo Covenant Team 1 at 8:00 PM on Friday May 16, at Bentfield Mills Field #2.

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This Sunday, May 11, is Pentecost Sunday:

• You are invited to wear red to church as part of Zion’s celebration.
• If you can read in a language other than English and would be willing to read part of the Scripture Lesson in that language on Sunday, please contact Sherilyn Burgdorf at 763-682-1245 or sburgdorf (at) zionbuffalo (dot) org.

This is also the last day of Sunday School for this school year. Sunday School students will be singing at the 8:30 and 10:30 services. The middle school Rock N U worship band will be playing at the Family Express service.

Ben Pecarina is now stationed at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV and working at Creech AFB, also in Las Vegas, NV.

PFC Cody Bauman is at Fort Benning, GA in Airborne/Ranger Training.

A cold, steady rain and a wintry wind washed out the first night of games in the Churches For Christ Softball League on Friday May 2nd. Zion’s opener v. St Peter and Paul was canceled.

Come on out to Bentfield Mills Field 2 this Friday, May 9th at 7PM to cheer us on v. St. Francis. And keep an eye out here for weekly game recaps!

Pam Miller’s National Guard unit returned last week.  There is an article about her unit’s homecoming in the Litchfield Independent Review.

Jake Swanson is home for two weeks doing hometown recruiting and will return to Fort Bragg, NC following his assignment here.

Charles Mandery is still deployed to Camp Liberty, and is scheduled to return from Iraq in mid July.

Trent Baumann made Sergeant in the Army National Guards in February. He is scheduled to be home for 2 weeks’ leave this month before returning to Iraq.

“Old Minnesota: Song of the North Star” is a touring stage show about Minnesota history, with songs, storytelling, and large-screen vintage images of the state. It was produced by composer/historian Warren Nelson, founder of Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua.

Several communities are hosting performances of the show in honor of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial.

Let’s go! It will be a great way to hear about Minnesota history.

Travel to Elk River High School on Tuesday evening, May 13th. The show begins at 7:30 pm. Car pools will be planned, so let Idella know if you can be a driver.

Tickets for seniors are $15. Sign up in the office or at the information desk on Sunday.