Introduction - Pastor David Johnson. Our historic Swedish Lutheran Zion Church was built over the years 1914-1916. A parsonage and adjacent garage were built within five years. In 1965 the church added the “Annex” to the church - it now serves as our Zion Lutheran Church Museum. The parsonage was sold and relocated to Rosinton in 1981. The old garage was renovated for cooking in connection with Silverhill’s Heritage Day and modified for Sunday School use.
In 2001 initial decisions for constructing an auxiliary building on site of former parsonage garage were made. The working Building Committee was comprised of Ernie Burnett, Charlie Canning, Mack Gibbs, Roger Matthews, Peter Midgarden, Larry Poland, and Ralph Utter. The old parsonage garage was moved from its site in early 2003. Zion broke ground for construction of its auxiliary building in March and dedicated its new building with AFLC President Robert Lee officiating in November.
Zion had approximately $60,000 in hand and obtained a loan for the balance from Thrivent for Lutherans (the former Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood companies) for this new $120,000 edifice. Now, six years later this building is fully paid for and is used throughout the week for church and community activities.
Prayer of Thanksgiving - Ernest Burnett, 2009 Church Council Member. We thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your lovingkindness to this Your congregation for 104 years. We thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ, and for the ministry of His body the Church in this community called Silverhill. We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and His min-istry in this place. May You receive honor and glory through the activities and use of our Fellowship Hall which we acknowledge as Your gift to us, Zion Lutheran Church. Amen.
Remarks - Peter Midgarden, 2003 Chairman of the Zion Church Council, when Fellowship Hall construction was initiated by the church.
Remarks - Charles Canning, 2009 Chairman of the Zion Church Council, when the Fellowship Hall funding note for the project was paid in full.
Responsive Reading (after Psalm 48) - Milton Luoma, 2009 Church Council Member.
Leader: Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.
Congregation: Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
L: We have remembered, O God, Your lovingkindness, in the midst of Your temple.
C: According to Your name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth.
L: Your right hand is full of righteousness. Let Zion rejoice. Let the daughters of God’s people be glad. Why? Because of Your judgments!
C: Walk about Zion, and go all around her. Consider her palaces; that you may tell it to your children and your children’s children.
All: For God is Lord, Our God forever and ever. May He be our guide and our path.
Remarks - Darrell Butler, Local Financial Associate with Thrivent for Lutherans.
Remarks - James Willoughby, Thrivent Chapter Representative for Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Scripture (Lamentations 3:21-26) - Shirley Stephens, 2009 Church Council Member.
It has taken us six years to get to this point. Our economy is no longer robust. It has been a time of care and frugality. Yet God has provided what we have needed to retire the debt related to our Fellowship Hall. Hear God’s Word of His faithfulness, Lamentations 3:21-26:
This I recall to my mind. Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Final Remarks and Burning of Mortgage Papers - by Darlene Tasso, Church Treasurer in 2003 and in 2009.
Benediction - Pastor David Johnson. Receive the Lord’s Blessing as we say good-bye to our indebtedness and look forward in God’s faithfulness:
May the Lord bless you in your comings and goings to and from this and all places that honors Him. May He remind you of His faithfulness to Zion Lutheran Church and its ministries. May He fill you with the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His lovingkindness to you and all believers. May our Heavenly Father, may the Lord Jesus His Son, and may the Holy Spirit bless you in your spiritual walk. In the Name of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Spirit.
And God’s people said? “Amen.”
