On Sunday, April 19, 2026, we had a time of celebration for longtime members Dave and Toni Christen. Ross Hansen presented Dave with a plaque honoring his legacy in the Dartball league, where many know him as “Dave Ruth.” A wonderful keepsake box was also gifted to them to hold cards that were brought by our members.

Several people shared memories from the past 20 years, reflecting on the impact Dave and Toni have had on our church family. Dave served as our head usher, always greeting others with a warm smile, while Toni participated in the kitchen ministry, cooking for our confirmation families for many years. She’s known as an incredible cook—“not fancy, but cheap!” as she says with a smile.

We are thankful for their years of service, dedication, and the countless ways they’ve blessed our congregation. You will be missed!

Dave and Toni say thank you for all that showed up, sent a card, or stopped to say kind words! They will miss each and everyone one of you.

Dartball 2025-2026 season came to an end here at Zion on April 6, 2026. We had 36 men and youth in attendance! It was an exciting night. Dave Christen (his last game before moving out of state) was presented with a dart which was inscribed "Dave Ruth." He went on to hit a home run with "his dart" and the cheers raised the ceiling roofing 2 inches! Also hitting home runs were Ken Frank (2), Pastor Andrew, and Shaun Carlson. Top hitters for average were Matt Maneval (0.770), Pastor Bruce (0.667), Jeff Sorinson (0.642), and Ken Frank (0.636). Fergus Falls and Moorhead ended the season tied for first place with 14-10 record, Zion was 12-12, and Mixed Team (mostly Zion players) was 8-16. 

He is risen!

What a beautiful morning celebrating Easter together at Zion! It was a blessing to gather and rejoice in the resurrection of our Savior.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” – Luke 24:5-6

Thank you to everyone who joined us today! Christ is risen… He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Critter Dinner: A Night in Nashville was held on January 24, 2026 and our fellowship hall was filled with country flair, friendly competition, and some incredible "critter" cuisine.

The critter dish contest had some amazing entries. First place went to Braydee Briard for her Wild Rice Elk dish. Second place was claimed by Jane and Ken Frank with their Venison dish, and third place went to Amanda Kumpula for her Blessing from the Back 40 dish.

The costumes were Nashville-worthy! Ken Frank took first place, followed by Anna Mussell in second, and Judie Cherry in third.

Marty Kumpula hosted a country trivia segment. After some tough questions (he said they were easy), Jeff Masteller took the trivia champion title.

Thank you to everyone who cooked, dressed up, competed, and joined the fun. You all made it a true Nashville hit!

Zion hosted the January monthly gathering, which included a devotion, excellent food, joyful Christian fellowship, and an exciting night of Dartball. Zion’s team came out strong, scoring 17 runs and defeating the first-place team in the opening game, though they dropped the next two games.

The “mixed team”—made up mostly of Zion men—had only won two games all season, but enjoyed a breakout night by winning all three games. The Glawe brothers shined in the home run derby, with Dave hitting four and Mark hitting two. Jeff Reznecheck added two home runs, and Shaun Carlson hit one.

Next month, Dartball travels to Fergus Falls on February 2. Plan to join us for another great evening of fellowship and fun!

On December 2, 2025, our Fellowship Hall glowed with the light of candles as 130 women from our congregation and community gathered for Advent by Candlelight—an evening set aside to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.

Walking Through Isaiah’s Promises

Throughout the evening, readers shared prophecies from the book of Isaiah—words that point directly to Jesus and His saving work. 

Each reading invited us to reflect on God’s character—His forgiveness, His comfort, His strength, and His everlasting love.

Lighting the Four Advent Candles

The night moved through each theme of the Advent season:

HOPE

As we lit the first candle, the room joined in singing “Light One Candle for Hope.” Isaiah’s reassurance echoed over us: even in our sin and struggles, God promises a Savior who brings true hope.

PEACE

With the lighting of the Peace candle, Amy Missling sang “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” We were reminded that peace begins not in perfection, but in forgiveness—made possible only through Jesus, whose blood washes our scarlet sins white as snow.

JOY

Lighting the Joy candle the room joined in “Joy to the World.” We reflected on the deep, abiding joy that remains even through illness, loss, conflict, and uncertainty—a joy rooted in Christ, the Light who dispels darkness.

LOVE

Readers shared Isaiah’s reminders of God’s love: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you… I have called you by name; you are mine.” With the Love candle lit, we celebrated the truth that Advent is the beginning of the greatest love story ever told.

The Christ Candle: Shining His Light to the World

At last, the Christ Candle—the center of the Advent wreath—was lit. Its flame represented the heart of our celebration:
Jesus has come.
Jesus still comes to us today.
And Jesus will come again.

Guests lit their candles from the Christ Candle, filling the room with reminder of how Christ’s light spreads from one heart to another. With candles raised, we sang “Silent Night,” letting the words settle into the moment.

A Call to “Tell the Story”

The final message encouraged us to reflect on how we can be lights for Jesus this season—through kindness, invitations, prayers, and conversations that “Tell the Story” of His love. Guests were gifted a small reminder to help them share that story with others.

The evening closed with sweets, fellowship, and a prayer led by Anna Mussell, sending each woman home filled with hope, peace, joy, and love. A huge thank you to the Lutheran Women in Mission for planning and hosting this event!

On Sunday, December 15, 2025, fourteen men from Zion made the trip to Moorhead for an evening filled with fun, fellowship, devotion, great food, and of course—Dartball! In total, 30 men gathered together.

Our Zion team had a strong showing, winning 2 out of their 3 games and holding steady in 2nd place for the season. Our mixed team—made up mostly of Zion players—fought hard but came up short, dropping all three games. Even so, everyone agreed it was a great night together.

A few standout highlights from the evening include Ken Frank with a .615 average; Robin Johnson and Pastor Bruce both followed close behind at .538. We also celebrated several home runs, knocked out by Dylan Carlson, Mark Glawe, and Mark Haarstick.

Thank you to everyone who participate and helped make the night so enjoyable. Our next matchup will be January 5th right here at Zion—we hope to see you there for another great night of Dartball and fellowship!

It has been an incredible season of creativity and compassion for our Zion Quilters! With a rough count of 193 quilts completed so far, this group is busy sewing warmth, comfort, and hope into every stitch. These quilts bless countless lives—locally and around the world—and each one is a reminder of God’s love shared through the work of many hands.

The Quilters would love to invite anyone and everyone to stop by the Fellowship Hall on any Monday at 9:00 AM to see their “assembly line” in action. From cutting and piecing to stitching, it’s a team effort—and a joyful one! At 10:00 AM, they pause for a well-earned coffee break and fellowship.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn—or if you already enjoy sewing, cutting, ironing, or simply contributing in any way—the Zion Quilters would be happy to welcome you. All the quilt pieces are prepped and ready; most of the work involves simple, straight-line sewing. No experience is required—just a willing heart.



Come see us, enjoy some fellowship, and maybe even join the team that’s stitching joy and blessing into every quilt!