It was the tail end of January when Pastor Dave Johnson of Silverhill's Zion Lutheran Church advised the church Council that he would be retiring in the spring after Easter. The Council was surprised. Well, "fair is fair," and not to be outdone, the Council coordinated a little surprise of its own. It scheduled a retirement potluck dinner for April 10, but they never told the pastor. You can almost picture them slyly sneaking into the Fellowship Hall and setting up tables with real tablecloths! And it wasn't done after dark.

Surprise Potluck Sunday Dinner, April 10, 2011
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"How sweet it is!" Cindi and Pastor Dave Johnson eyed a celebration cake commemorating the couple's service at Silverhill's Zion Lutheran Church.

Worshipers on the west side of the sanctuary.

Worshipers on the east side of the sanctuary.

Folks gathered in the Fellowship Hall and were ready for action when the table was set for serving.

     One parishioner asked poor ol' Pastor Dave, "When did you first get an idea that something was up?" Some pastors are a mite slow when it comes to connecting the dots, you know. Could it have been when he got to church and saw the set-up for a lunch with all those tablecloths adorning tables that usually are bare? Could it have been when old friends started filling up the parking lot? Or, was it when those car trunk lids started popping and food began its journey to the Fellowship Hall kitchen? Was it when members of the Council "sprung it on him" during announcement time on Sunday morning? You will have to be the judge.

     "That Church Council can be pretty creative," Pastor Dave noted. His last official Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church will be Easter Sunday, April 27. He and wife Cindi plan to continue to spend time in the area.

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The serving line begins.

Visitors and friends joined the congregation in food fellowship.

The serving table presented a variety of culinary delights.

Pastor Dave, plate in hand, headed for a table to begin the meal.

     The Johnson family and lots of friends enjoyed a Sunday morning and a lunch that "did 'em proud." The families of Zion have a long history that is rich in the culinary arts, each of those arts applied in earnest for this celebration potluck. "People went home full and happy, ready for that Sunday nap," Pastor Dave noted.

     In the mean time, with retirement festivities over, the Zion Church Council has begun its Call Committee activities in earnest, chaired by Pete Midgarden. The church is affiliated with the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC) headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, and is working with President Eldon Nelson on an appropriate call list. The "President" position in the AFLC is approximately equivalent to "Presiding Bishop" in synodical Lutheran churches.

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Plates did not remain full for very long.

Members of Pastor's extended family made it to the event.

The Fellowship Hall was full.

People talked, but they ate well too.

     Silverhill’s Zion Lutheran Church is located a block off State Highway 104 at 15875 4th Avenue at 7th Street, just across from Silverhill School. It worships each Sunday morning at 10 AM using the historic "Common Service" with roots reaching back to World War I when the Lutheran Churches of the time sought limited agreement on liturgy. That service has continued to be in use in a variety of forms into the 21st Century. "Friends and visitors are always welcome to join us for worship," a parishioner noted. Further information can be obtained about historic Zion Lutheran Church (aka "Swedish Lutheran Zion Church") by calling the church at 251-945-5209 or consulting the church’s website.

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There was a variety of drinks from tea to coffee.

Each table had a different conversation topic.

Some were not interested in conversation, especially when it came to dessert.

There was always time for a bit of levity and fun.

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People were willing to pose for pictures.

It is hard to keep eating with all those flash bulbs going off.

Visitors and friends were welcome at a wonderful meal.