Our Second New Year

     Advent, the church’s New Year, started in November. Earlier in the Fall we had the Jewish Yom Kippur and the start of another New Year for the Jewish people. Our Western calendar for the New Year starts January 1. The Eastern calendar puts it a couple weeks later. The Chinese New Year begins January 29 and the Islamic New Year begins January 31. There are other New Years that begin in February. Different cultures and different dates, but there is one thing they have in common whether they recognize Jehovah God or not! Our God is gracious and we can begin anew.

     Does this mean that God starts us over? Yes and no. In Isaiah 48:6 God reminds us of the past, what we have heard and what we have seen, but in terms of the future and new things, they begin now. Could it be that God asks to look at our past, to take stock, and try to decipher what was hidden in the middle of the events of this past year? The big thing for Zion in 2005 has obviously been our Centennial, but right now in January 2006, it is a different time, a time to recognize that our church is beginning its second hundred years! What vision might God be giving our congregation?

     The good news is that God gives us new energy for new things. When we come to Christ, when we are in His body the church, when His Holy Spirit is in us, look at what happens according to 2 Corinthians 5:17. What was, is remembered, but it is gone. It is a new time and a new beginning. 2005 was a hard time for many in the South because of our hurricane season. Looking back, God was faithful and even used little Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill, Alabama, to convey over $20,000 to people impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Those dollars came from people and churches within the AFLC for our Hurricane Relief Project. Katrina has passed away, and yet your church has plans to pass on another $4000 or so received for the consequences of Katrina. Success? Yes, but even as we look to this event, God would have us look ahead and not behind. He wants us to see new things.

     The final Book of the Bible, Revelation, gives us the word of the Lord from His throne in heaven. Things will be new at the end of time when Jesus shall reign for all eternity. But our Creator God is not waiting. In 2006 do we not need to be looking for the newness that God’s handiwork displays in our times? God makes things new because He and His Word is true to His creation and faithful to those who are called to be in His church.

     As you pray at the beginning of 2006, would you remember Zion in your prayers, that we all would have God’s vision for us in Silverhill, that your Council and pastor and fellow members might grasp what our Lord Jesus desires for us in these coming days, and that we all would be faithful to the vision He gives our church?

     The meeting was called to order by President, Pete Midgarden. Members present were Pastor Dave, Ernie Burnett, Pete Midgarden, Linda Gibbs, Darlene Tasso, Charlie Canning. Absent were Milt Luoma and Vera Avera. Pastor Dave opened the meeting with a brief devotion on Isaiah.

     MINUTES. The minutes of the November 7 council meeting were presented by Linda Gibbs, council secretary. The minutes were accepted as submitted.

     TREASURER'S REPORT. Darlene presented the treasurer's report for November. The report was accepted as submitted.

     REPORTS.

     Maintenance: Pete reported that he oiled the organ and that it appears to be working okay. He continues to work on the speakers and amplification system.

     Museum/Library Report: Ernie reported that he is continuing his work on the centennial book. He stated that the museum needs a glass display case to display more artifacts.

     Thrivent Report: Ernie reported that $600 was raised in a silent auction and that money will be matched and designated for Zion's disaster relief fund.

     Pastor's Report 051205

     Website Report. The use of our website was consistent with previous months, perhaps down a little bit from previous month’s usage. We will do a comprehensive report for the annual meeting next month.

Action Requested: Does the Council have specific questions concerning the website or what numbers we should be looking for in a comprehensive report.

     Evangelism Grant for 2005. We have taken no action on planning for use of funds. We will begin soon.

Action Requested: None

     Last Call for Centennial Events. Zion’s official birthday is December 19. We have nothing planned since we concluded our Centennial Year with Pastor Lee on Reformation Sunday. We have less than 100 medallions still in the drawer, half dozen recipe books, and perhaps ten histories left—all related to the Centennial.

Action Requested: None

     Gulf Coast Revival Festival. We have received no information as to whether Zion will be part of the referral network the Festival will refer new believers to. We initiated Operation Andrew, which is a church-based outreach mechanism, two weeks ago on Sunday. We essentially asked folks to begin praying for those around them that need to know Jesus.

Action Requested: None.

     Men's 710. The Baldwin County archivist was Zion’s guest for the November meeting. Attendance was good. Our next event is scheduled a week from tomorrow morning with Heart to Heart’s Melanie Wilks returning to update us on the ministry’s plan to bring ultrasound services to its service center.

Action Requested: None.

     Meals on Wheels. Still no action on a meals plan for Silverhill, but the issue may present again after the Katrina relief issues settle.

Action Requested: None.

     Passion Play. St. Margaret’s expressed some interest in the Passion Play idea. Pastor Dave Singleton at Foley United Methodist sponsored an ice cream social in Foley, by invitation, but St. Margaret’s was the only church to respond.

Action Requested: None.

     Hurricane Katrina Relief. Darlene will update us tonight on our dollar status. I believe the funds taken in make our Relief program pretty healthy since several churches have sent their Thanksgiving offerings to us. You will also note that we are receiving matching funds through the good graces of Ernest Burnett with Thrivent’s Christmas party auction. I did talk to Pastor Dittman re the needs at Christ Lutheran Church in Pascagoula. There are six families there that need help, two rather badly. Charlie Canning advises that Pastor John in St. Elmo has been keeping up with needs there. No specific new needs have emerged.

Action Requested: Consider more allocation of funds, since I think we have met our mid-term funding plan goals.

     Hurricane Katrina Relief Update at Emmaus Lutheran Church, Bloomington, MN. Emmaus Lutheran Church appreicated our update re Zion’s Hurricane Relief Program. They had little appreciation for the needs in Alabama and Mississippi because of the failure of the electronic news media to present a picture of non-New Orleans devastation.

Action Requested: None.

     Pastors’ Conference. Pastor’s Conference is coming up in January. I am planning on leaving January 15 and returning January 20 or 21, depending on connections and flight availability.

Action Requested: None.

     Missions Conference. We tentatively have Pastor Enderlein lined up for our Missions Conference for the last weekend in March, the 25th and 26th. We will focus on India and maybe Mexico.

Action Requested: Shall we confirm the date?

     AFLC Annual Conference. Annual Conference will be in June in the state of Washington.

Action Requested: Do we have Council members who would like to go?

     2006 Budget. We are a month away from our last Council meeting of the year. What committee work needs to be completed before year end?

Action Requested: Assignment of specific tasks.

     Christmas and Midweek Advent Services. We concluded our annual Hanging of the Greens on Sunday and will continue with our Advent Mid-Week light suppers with Vespers. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is set for 6 PM. We will have a Festival Christmas Service at 10 AM with Communion. Henrie has requested use of the altar railing linen for Christmas Day--the white is very appropriate for Christmas.

Action Requested: Are these hours ok.

     Snow-Bird Ministry. We will start on Thursday at 9:30. I don’t know whether we will have any takers, but we need to start somewhere. We will work at getting regular announcements out, but it has been difficult getting coverage in the papers for this ministry. We have named it, “Bible Study Feeding Station for Snow Birds.”

Action Requested: None.

     Old Business.

     Hurricane Relief: It was reported that our current balance is $9,324 and of that amount, $8,400 is designated for our commitment to current recipients. Additional funds of $924.00 have been collected. An additional amount of $1,200 will be forthcoming from Thrivent, totaling $3,669.00 in uncommitted funds. Six additional families affected by Hurricane Katrina have been identified by Pastor Dittman in Mississippi. A motion was made and seconded that we distribute a one time payment of $1000 to two of the families in greatest need, and a one time payment of $400 to four other families. Motion carried.

     Parking Lot: We are awaiting a revised estimate. A special council meeting will be called when it is received.

     Audit Committee: We are in need of a third person to serve on the committee. Pete will research the bylaws to determine if we are required to have three people.

     Budget Committee: Darlene will chair the committee along with Ernie and Mack Gibbs. They will set a date to meet in early January.

     New Business.

     AFLC Boards: Nominations to serve on five AFLC Boards are open. Pete will make an announcement to the congregation if anyone would like to submit their name for consideration.

     Council Nominations: Pete, Vera and Milt were nominated to continue to serve on the council for another three year term.

     Mission Conference: The council agreed to set the date for our mission conference for the end of March, 2006.

     Evangelism Grant: Pastor and Linda will begin work on the grant early next year.

     Annual Congregational Meeting: The meeting is set for January 22, 2006.

     With no further business, the meeting was adjourned with The Lord's Prayer.

     Respectfully submitted by,
     Linda Gibbs,
     Council Secretary