The Baldwin County Commissioners formally recognized the Centennial Celebration of Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill with a Proclamation and formal presentation by Commissioner Wayne Gruenloh during County Commission business on October 18, 2005.

     The resolution, presented as a leather bound proclamation, was received by Chairman Peter Midgarden of the Zion Lutheran Congregation's Governing Council. Chairman Midgarden in turn presented the Commissioners with a “Zion Lutheran Church History, 1905-2005,” and Centennial Medallions cast by the congregation for its centennial year. Each medallion was imprinted with an image of the historic church and with a brief Bible verse and blessing. A letter of presentation was enclosed within the history.

Baldwin County Commission Presentation
Click to enlarge each photo.

Wayne A. Gruenloh speaks to the Commissioners before presenting the document to Church Council President Peter Midgarden.

Wayne A. Gruenloh receives the Church History and Centennial Medallions from Church Council President Peter Midgarden.

Baldwin County Commissioner Wayne A. Gruenloh (right), Church Council President Peter Midgarden (center), and Congregational Pastor David Johnson (left).

     The Proclamation reads:

Baldwin County Commission
Baldwin County, Alabama

PROCLAMATION

         PROCLAIMING OCTOBER 29, 2005, & OCTOBER 30, 2005, AS “ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH DAYS” IN BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA, TO RECOGNIZE THEIR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

         WHEREAS, organized in 1905, built in 1916 and originally established as Swedish Lutheran Zion Church, the church was originally conceived by Swedish immigrants who migrated from the Midwest, mainly from the Chicago area, who were lured to the Silverhill area by rich farmland; and

         WHEREAS, organized with only sixteen members in 1905, in its early days the congregation met, for worship services, at an old schoolhouse, which was located directly across the street from where the church is presently situated, with an area Pastor traveling to Silverhill to conduct meetings every other month; and

         WHEREAS, after a period, the former Pastor discontinued his journeys to the community and the congregation's ministerial direction slowed until new mission Pastors were sent to the church to accomplish Alabama Sunday School work and, in 1913, the church received Pastor Swanlund who revived the work of the church; and

         WHEREAS, a year later, in 1914, the congregation began fundraising efforts to construct their present sanctuary celebrating its completion in 1916 with no debt associated to its establishment; and

         WHEREAS, the church's sanctuary remains completely preserved in a state unchanged from 1916, with the luster of original heart pine, an original chandelier accentuating a classic panorama which includes the original and raised Pastor's pulpit, directly emulating the European standards which prevailed during the architectural period of its construction, an altar [rail], shaped as a circular feature to complement the Swedish understanding of communion by evoking the spirit of one-half the Saints among the congregation in church and one-half the Saints in Heaven, and a church bell, added in 1928, and housed in the sanctuary's bell tower which, today, still rings a variety of melodious tunes calling the community to worship; and

         WHEREAS, while the Church has undergone various aesthetic changes and improvements since its establishment in 1916, its distinguishing feature remains that it is the only house-of-worship, in Baldwin County, conceived by Swedish immigrants and, today, preserved as one of the most important Swedish landmarks in the community of Silverhill; and

         WHEREAS, on October 29 & October 30, 2005, the church and Silverhill community will gather to celebrate a Centennial Celebration to mark the congregation's first one hundred years as a leading religious institution in Baldwin County, Alabama; now therefore

         BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE BALDWIN COUNTY COMMISSION, IN REGULAR SESSION ASSEMBLED, That we hereby set aside Saturday, October 29, 2005, and Sunday, October 30, 2005, as “Zion Lutheran Church Days,” in Baldwin County, Alabama, to join in their Centennial Celebration on said dates and, furthermore, to pay respect for the church congregation's distinguished church history.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have caused our hands, and the Seal of the County of Baldwin, Alabama, to be affixed, at the County Seat, in Bay Minette, Alabama, on this the 18th day of October in the year two thousand and five. [Seal]

Commissioner David E. Bishop, Chairman

Commissioner Albert Lipscomb, Vice Chairman

Commissioner Frank Burt, Jr.

Commissioner Wayne A. Gruenloh

Baldwin County Commission Proclamation
Click to enlarge each photo.

Leather bound Proclamation front cover.

Proclamation first page.

Proclamation second page.

The Zion Lutheran Church letter reads:

Historic
Zion Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 266
15875 Fourth Avenue
Silverhill, AL 36576
18 October 2005

The Honorable County Commissioners
Baldwin County Alabama
Courthouse Square
Bay Minette, AL 36507

Most Honorable Commissioners:

It is my privilege on behalf of Zion Church to present you with a hundred year-book history of Evangelical Swedish Lutheran Zion Church which first met in Silverhill over a hundred years ago and which organized as a formal church body under the Lutheran auspices of the Augustana Synod on December 18, 1905, subsequently registered officially in the Office of Probate on June 2, 1906. Additionally, Zion is also presenting you with a PDF version suitable for archiving should you so desire. The official title of this history is, Zion Lutheran Church History, 1905-2005. Our congregation issued a commemorative medallion in honor of the Lord’s faithfulness to this congregation for this past hundred years. Please receive one of these medallions as a special memento of our visit to you this day.

As citizens of Baldwin County we appreciate the interest of the County Commissioners in preserving the history of our churches and communities. You are a blessing to us and we take seriously our responsibility to be in prayer for each of you. It is Romans 13 which admonishes us to “let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ... For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” (vv. 1-3). It is the Apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy who exhorts us “first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all ...” (2:1-6).

May you continue in your civic responsibilities in integrity and honor.

In the Name of Jesus and as His ambassador, I am,

Peter Midgarden, Council Chairman
Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill