Eze 40:47 - “And he measured the court, one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, foursquare. The altar was in front of the temple.”

Lu 15:4 - “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”

     February--Second Full Month of Our Centennial Year. So, Zion was formed on December 18, 2005, and Pastor Hartelius was in Silverhill in January. February was probably "skipped" that first year in Zion's history because the pastor was officially getting down to Silverhill one Sunday every other month and we think he had been at church in January. Do you see why, as we remember back 100 years, we look at February being an "empty month."

     February--Thinking about 100s. How do you fill up what is empty? It is very hard to fill up something when the task is big and it is only you. 100 is big and we have 100 years as a congregation. When Jacob came out of Syria back to Canaan after serving Laban for 20 years, he bought a piece of property near modern Nablus. It cost him 100 pieces of silver. It was a big number. And then there is Ezekiel. Ezekiel looked to a time when God's people would be called back from exile and need a Temple. God gave Ezekiel a vision. In that dream, there was much measuring and many things were counted. The courtyard in front of the altar measured 100 cubits by 100 cubits. It was a big courtyard. It would have to be big, for though the people of Israel was small at the time of the dream, the vision recognized that worship for a big people needed big space. Jesus thought both big and little. Jesus gives a parable about the one lost sheep coming from a flock of 100, a large number that virtually overwhelms that one lost sheep. Jesus reveals that God is concerned about the one in that big number. God has given Zion Lutheran Church 100 years, a big number. Yet God is concerned about little things as well, especially the spiritual well-being of His people.

     February--How Can Zion Think Big? Here we are in our 100th year. God has been gracious indeed! As Lutheran Christians, this church is a gift to us, the treasure of believers of a 100 years. As I was thinking about how to honor God in our Centennial, the thought occurred to me that maybe we should look at 100s. What would happen if we took some needs at the church and needs in our broader community and sought to honor God by gifts of 1/100th? Or alternatively, what would happen if we thought big in terms of "little" things. We are a "little" church and we cannot think "big," but we can be "big" by thinking "little."

     February--Possibilities in the 100s. Here are some "100s" for us to think about. The Church Council has been looking at paving our parking area. One estimate is around $8000, a big number. What would happen if we looked at special gifts of $80 for that project? 100 such gifts would get that parking lot done! Or what about a lectern for our Fellowship Hall to be used when we have a lot of people in that place? One estimate places an amplified lectern at perhaps $400. What would happen if we looked at special gifts of $4. 100 such gifts would get that lectern in short order. Or what about 100 Pampers diapers for the Heart to Heart Ministry of the Robertsdale Family Resource Center? If a diaper is about $ .25, 100 diapers would cost about $25. Again, little gifts of "two bits" times 100, and you get that big gift quickly. But one gift of $25 designated for diapers would bless that ministry with 100 diapers!

     February--Thinking Big. God never thought just little. Yes, He created little DNA and the molecular components from which it is comprised. But He also created an expanding universe that is so large that we cannot fathom the expanse. As Lutheran believers at our 100 year old church, let's agree to think big by thinking little. AND, if God leads a number of us to do a 1/100th special gift this year, or maybe several, let's praise the Lord for the opportunity. Just make sure what gift you designate, because we will revisit the 100s in other newsletters in 2005.

     February--A Time of Lenten Midweek Worship. Our midweek Lenten services will begin with Ash Wednesday, February 9. We will think "small," like a light soup and sandwich supper. Such fellowship opportunities build us up. We will follow these light Lenten suppers with worship of our Lord Jesus Christ at regular midweek Lenten services. Perhaps you will join us in following the Savior through the sorrows of Lent on Wednesday nights.

     A group from Zion will be going to the Mobile Exploreum Museum at 2:30 Sunday Feb. 20th to view the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit.

     For more information contact Ernie Burnett.

     Sincerely Yours,
     Debbie Owen