Photo Collection 2009 Fellowship Hall Celebration December 6, 2009 Christmas Decorating November 28, 2009 Click each photo to enlarge. Betty and Wayne Pitcher (foreground) and Charlie Canning (tree top) prepared the sanctuary Christmas tree. Pete Midgarden, Charlie Canning, and Becky Vasko (l to r) aligned candles in the windows of the sanctuary and checked plug-ins for power. Pete Midgarden hung a lighted garland over the church entry way. Zion Museum Hosts Portland, Oregon, Family with Swedish Roots Wednesday, November 25, 2009      Katie, Lori, and Don Johnson (l to r) visited the Museum of historic Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill. The Portland, Oregon, family with Swedish roots surveyed community and church history of early Silverhill immigrants from Sweden. They stopped in Silverhill briefly before continuing travel to Mississippi for Thanksgiving time with Marine son Paul currently receiving training. Visitors from Sweden - November 10, 2009 Darlene Tasso, Treasurer of Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill, hosted relatives from Ingaro, Sweden, Kerstin and Lasse Ullvik, and Tasso's Aunt Lois Kollar. The Ullviks and the extended Tasso family have been spending time together in Gulf Shores and came to the Silverhill Church and church museum to view Swedish artifacts related to the history and development of Silverhill as a Swedish emigre enclave beginning in 1896. Click each photo to enlarge. Darlene Tasso (l to r), Kerstin and Lasse Ullvik, and Lois Kollar. They posed briefly by the elevated pulpit (l), a characteristic of European churches of a hundred years ago. Lasse and Kerstin Ullvik (l to r), Darlene Tasso, and Lois Kollar posed briefly by the church sign and in front of the plaque commemorating the construction of "Swedish Lutheran" Zion Church, the original incorporated name of the historic church. Pastor David Johnson of Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill (l) discussed Swedish artifacts in Zion's museum with Lasse (r) and Kerstin Ullvik (center l), and Lois Kollar (center r). Mini-Work Day at Zion September 3, 2009 2009 Volunteer of Excellence August 22, 2009 Long-Time Robertsdale Resident Violet Buonauro Returned to Zion Lutheran Church for a Visit Sunday, August 16, 2009      Violet Buonauro (r), long-time resident of Robertsdale, now resides with daughter Pattie (l) in Missouri. She returned to celebrate a birthday with her twin sister, Lillian Moseley of Elsanor. The pair joined the congregation of Zion Lutheran Church for worship on Sunday, August 16. Bob Pawson of The Gideons International July 26, 2009      Central Baldwin County Gideon Bob Pawson, here pictured with his display materials, brought a Gideon Report and discussed the Bible Distribution Program operated by Gideon businessmen and its Auxiliary. He spoke briefly at Sunday worship at Zion Lutheran Church in beautiful Silverhill this past Sunday. Donations from individuals and churches enable the Gideons to distribute free Bibles in 160 countries in hotels, medical offices, hospitals, and motels, as well as directly to school children, college students, and other adult groups here and abroad. Mr. Pawson may be reached at The Gideons International, Baldwin Central Camp, PO Box 604, Robertsdale, AL 36567. Vacation Bible School 2009 Summerdale's 18th National Day of Prayer - May 7, 2009 Approximately 130 folks joined in worship and prayer at the Summerdale Civic Center. The prayer event was followed by lunch. Click each photo to enlarge. Summerdale Mayor David Wilson opened "Summerdale's 18th National Day of Prayer" with a civic welcome. Summerdale Chief Dwain Riebeling led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. A brief time of worship in music was led by Mr. Ronnie Boyette. Mrs. Becky Vasko introduced the featured speaker for the event, Judge Charles C. Partin. Here, the assembly joined in community prayer during the event. Mr. Clyde Abrams (l) prays for business leaders and the business community at the National Day of Prayer event in Summerdale on Thursday, May 7. Rev. Sankie Reed (second row), Rev. Fritz Harms, Mrs. Sue Leavins, and Rev. David Johnson (l to r) joined in prayer in turn. Others, not pictured here---Rev. Bill Watts, Rev. Herbert Sawyer, and Mrs. Bonnie Schell also joined in the prayer events. Judge Charles C. Partin discussed the "Public Trial of Jesus from a Jurist's Perspective" at the "18th Annual National Day of Prayer in Summerdale, Alabama," on May 7, 2009. The event included a time of community worship and prayer, as well as Judge Partin's remarks. Walk for Life - May 2, 2009 There were at least six places to "Walk for Life," Fund-raiser for Robertsdale's "Women's Care Medical Center." Click each photo to enlarge. Pastor Dave (r) and Cindi Johnson joined some of Zion's members for a walk at the Fairhope Pier. Charlie Canning (r to l) joined Zion's Walk-coordinators, Henrie Burnett and Cindi Johnson, on the pier at Fairhope for the event. Cindi and Pastor Dave stopped between jaunts up and down the pier for a photo-op. Of course, that is the marina in Fairhope on beautiful Mobile Bay. Thrivent Work Project Saturday, April 25, 2009 Gibbs Family Honors Jeremy Before Afghanistan Deployment April 19, 2009      Jeremy Gibbs will be deployed shortly to Afghanistan. Mack and Linda welcomed him home for a departure event in their home on April 17 and the family gathered for morning worship on April 19, the Second Sunday of Easter. ~ Click photo to enlarge. Easter 2009 Sunday, April 12, 2009 Good Friday Friday, April 10, 2009 The Kvale family visit Zion - March 1, 2009 Click photo to enlarge.      The Kvale family, AFLC missionaries on loan to Wycliffe Bible Translators, visited Zion on March 1 and discussed the status of Bible translation in the world and the role of the local church. Lenaya Kvale, Steve, Neliana, Glenda, and Jason (l to r) sat in the front rows! Click here to read more about the Kvale Family. Norwegian Wedding Cake created by Pete Midgarden ~ February 25, 2009 Click photo to enlarge.      Peter Midgarden finishes the final touches to his "Norwegian Wedding Cake," served as a light dessert at Zion Lutheran Church's Wednesday Lenten "Soup and Sandwich Suppers" on February 25, 2009. (Hint: You eat this cake, bottom layer first, and then consume layer by layer until you reach the top!) During Lent members of Zion welcome friends and visitors to a light supper Wednesdays at 6 PM followed by Lenten Vespers at 7 PM. Questions may be directed to the Church Office by calling (251) 945-5209. Habitat for Humanity February 17, 19, 21, 2009 2009 Valentine's Event Saturday, February 14, 2009 Snowbirds Visit - February 8, 2009 Click photo to enlarge.      Michigan snowbirds Ron and Pat Rieves of DeWitte posed with Hoosier snowbird Harley Caddy on February 8, 2009 (l to r). That's Zion member Ralph Utter from Silverhill looking over Ron and Pat's shoulder in the center and in the real background, it is Zion member Charlie Canning from Magnolia Springs peaking over Ron's shoulder. The Rieves stayed a couple weeks at the Styx River camp grounds and are now on their way to Texas with a short stop in Louisiana. Harley is spending his winter with us near Elberta. Gideon Banquet - February 3, 2009 Click photo to enlarge.      A hundred or more Gideons, Pastors, Wives, and Guests enjoyed an evening at the Gideons' "Annual Pastors Appreciation Banquet" held in Foley, Alabama, at the Foley Civic Center on February 3, 2009. Pictured (l to r) are Wade and Lisa Clark and Loretta and Pastor Jack Parrish (Mifflin Baptist Church) (seated) and Gideon Terry Whiteside (Loxley Church of God) and Pastor Dave Johnson (Silverhill Zion Lutheran Church) who shared a dinner table. Gideons noted that churches in Baldwin share missionaries in 188 countries because of church support for the Gideon ministry. Zion Officers - February 1, 2009 Click photo to enlarge.      The 2009 Church Council of Zion Lutheran Church, Silverhill, Alabama, was installed on Sunday, February 1. Outgoing and existing officers joined in the service. Pictured at the time of installation (l to r) are Pastor David Johnson (Silverhill), Becky Vasko (Silverhill), Darlene Tasso (Magnolia Springs), Shirley Stephens (Silverhill), Charles Canning (Magnolia Springs), Vera Avera (Foley), Milt Luoma (Summerdale), and Ernest Burnett (Fairhope). (Not pictured was existing officer Mac Gibbs (Summerdale) who was involved at Camp Dixie's "Chicken Dinner Fellowship.") 2009 Annual Meeting Sunday, January 25, 2009