Zion Life – April 2009
Inter-Church 2009 Lenten Series,
Thursdays at 7pm
Begin the Journey
April 2 - Cobleskill Assembly of God at St. Vincent de Paul-Pastor Pam Mikel Hayes, Discover the Rhythms of the Daily Office and Sabbath
Please bring a non-perishable food item for our local Food Pantries!
Holy Week Services
Maundy Thursday at Zion 7pm
Good Friday at St. Matthew’s 3pm and Zion 7pm
Easter Sunday Services
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church 6:30am & 11am
St. Matthew’s Chapel 9 am
Easter Lilies
We will only be ordering 20 for Zion and 15 for St. Matthew’s. Order your Easter lilies now, they’re only $8! At Zion contact, Margaret Angle and for St. Matthew’s contact Jackie Costello (for either phone number contact the church office).
Pastoral Reflections
VISION
“Vision for ministry is a clear mental picture of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances.” (George Barna, The Power of Vision)
What does God’s preferable future look like? God shared his vision of…
- a great nation and many descendants for Abraham and Sarah who were old & barren
- freedom from slavery in Egypt and the promise of a land flowing with milk & honey (Exodus 3)
- the Good News being shared through Paul with those other than Jewish-Christians
- ministry to the poor & neglected by a seemingly average nun named Mother Theresa
What does God’s preferable future look like for Zion with St. Matthew’s? What do you think it may be? Here are some of my initial thoughts and reflections:
- Caring & Open Relationships: where people will feel free to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas with one another directly; respecting and caring for one another as fellow children of God, both those within this family of faith as well as in the world; being mutually accountable
- Commitment in our relationship with God: God will be the focus for all that we do – how we might give glory to God in all we do. We will engage in ongoing prayer and Bible study & devotions as ways in which to grow in our relationship with God and one another. “For with God, nothing is impossible”
- Willingness to try new things: for the sake of sharing God’s love & grace with the world in new ways; taking risks for the sake of the Gospel; getting out of the comfortable places in order that we might
“not be conformed to this world, but be transformed” (Romans 12:2).
Spend time in prayer and reflection; think of other Biblical examples of God sharing his vision and giving them the strength and guidance to fulfill that vision. What are the gifts that God has given us? How are we called to use those gifts to fulfill God’s vision?
Remember: “where this is no vision, the people will perish” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV)
HIGHLIGHTS CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 12, 2009
Present: Don Alkinburg, Dan Bates, Tom Collins, Gordon Emerson, John Jarvis, Jeanne Mau, Andre Nadeau, Christine Thaxter, Frieda Thorington, Sandy Thorington, Ron Trask, Judith Warner, Karen Wilson with Pr. Jennifer Boyd. Excused: Nancy De Sando & David Hayner.
Meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. and Devotions were by Pres. Don Alkinburg.
Study Period: Tom Colllins exp;ained to us about a program called Asset Mapping, where members gifts and talents are gifts from God that are given to us to do his works. It’s how we use those gifts to help the church along with our money gifts. He had us form three teams of three and we all listed some items we had at home that we could use to inspire people from the community to do good things. We would use these items to: Maybe we would gain new members for the church or just make friends. Or help our community to be helpful to one another. We could aslo have an auction, by selling our gifts and talents to raise some funds for the church or community.
Correspondence: Report of the Synod was a copy of the Upstate Update to all council members. Foothills Conference, reported that spring conference will be held in April. Received reports from Lutheran Homes in Clinton NY and Fenimore Assets, a proxy vote for the election of Trustee’s at the Bank of Richmondville, and a invitation to the Golf Tournament for the Lutheran Homes on June 29th.
Guests: Michael Boyd was present to request to have his photography business in the parsonage. There were some issues raised that need to be looked into and it was tabled until the April 2 meeting. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask a council member or Pr. Boyd. Karl Schwarzenegger was present to give a report on the video equipment, it was decided to table this until other ideas are investigated instead of spending monies at this time.
Minutes: Minutes of February 12th meeting were approved.
Pastor’s Report: See her report elsewhere in newsletter.
Current Mission Projects: Church insurance, Jeanne Mau will contact Fake Ins. to see if they have finished the updated policy. Homeless Shelter, There is a group of 30 people from the community that are meeting to discuss how and if we can open a shelter here in Schoharie County. They will meet on 3/15 to discuss further, if want more information, contact Carol McGuire or Pr. Boyd. Cleaning Stewards, Don has met with the 3 families and will be doing a test run on April 25th and are hoping others will offer to help. Easter Breakfast: Council members signed up for items to bring and work at it. It will follow the 6:30 service, so come and celebrate the Risen Lord and have a nice breakfast with your friends at Zion.
Finance: Reviewed the report, motion made and seconded to accept report.
Social Ministry: Food pantry had 13 people come in and will feed 31 family members. Health Cabinet: Crop walk will be May 3rd. Events: Will serve refreshments at mid-week Lenten service. Chris Ed: VBS will be held July 20 – 24. Worship: Meets the first Thursday of the month. Property: The heating is still at $49.30 a day, last year $105. Andre will take lawn mowers to be put in working order. Andre will talk to Testa about the spring clean up of property. He gratefully thanked Don Alkinburg for all he has done and does for Zion. If any member has a problem with how they are getting newsletter, please call office. Meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m. Closed with the Lords Prayer.
Respectfully Submitted
Karen Wilson
Secretary, Church Council
“MUSIC NOTES”
Handbell practice will resume on Monday, April 13 at 7 pm in the Conference/Music room. New ringers are always welcome. We will need a couple new ringers to finish out the spring/summer season. Give Bev a call at 234-7578.
The Zion Adult Choir is amazing! We have, at the most, eight singers and they ’sing with joy’ every Sunday when they do an anthem. Their efforts are appreciated – so we’ve been told. You will also enjoy the melodious organ music every Sunday. Stop in and hear all the beautiful music some Sunday at the 11 am service.
If you have items to sell, there is a rumor we might have a ‘tag sale’ in our Assembly Hall in April or May. This ‘tag sale’ means you set-up your own sale items, mark them yourself, and after the sale, clean up your own items. The ‘fund raiser’ profits would go to Zion to help our financial situation. If there is any interest in this, please contact me at hbbuddle@verizon.net.
Welcome to the Lord’s Table
We welcome the following young people to the Lord’s table as they have completed their First Communion classes:
Matthew Borggreen Brittany Dymes
Lara Graulich Gary Peck
Prayer Stations
Getting Ready for Easter
On Saturday, April 12th (beginning at 10am), the Deacons are hosting an opportunity for prayer and reflection
Stations will be set up in the sanctuary, conference room and office area. You will be invited to come any time during that day to spend time in prayer-each station will have a theme, small activity to do and to reflect upon.
As we move from the reflection time of Lent & Holy Week towards the glory of Easter morning, we enter into prayer on the ways in which Christ offers us new life.
Come, all are invited!
Take Back the Night
April 22, 2009 at 6:30pm
Veteran’s Memorial Park, Cobleskill
Come and speak out against Domestic Violence
Let’s bring hope and safety back into the night!
Come to hear speakers, receive information
And stand up for hope!
Reclaiming the Church
On the Road to Transformation
What does Transformation look like?
Turning back to God
Reforming our lives
Announcing Christ’s love to the world
New life possibilities
Salvation
Faith filled perspectives
Obedience to God and not to the world
Renewal of what it means to be the Church
Many gathered together
Attending to others with grace
Transfer our focus to God
Initiating hope
Observing others from Christ’s point of view
Needing God’s Word daily
How would you define Transformation?
Marks of Discipleship
Called to follow Jesus, we will strive to…
Pray Daily
Worship weekly
Read the Bible regularly
Serve at and beyond our congregation
Be in a relationship to encourage spiritual growth in others
Give of my time, talents and resources
Cell Phones for Soldiers Recycling Program
Do you have an old cell phone that you don’t know what to do with?
You can donate them to an organization that gives them to our soldiers to use to phone family and friends.
Go to: www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com to get a pre-paid shipping label, information and more.
Books to Share
What is the last book that you read that really made you stop and think?
Maybe it was an inspirational novel about someone’s life. Or a Christian book that gave you new insights into God. Or it might have been one that gave you new skills to learn and to try.
Would you like to share that book with others? Would you like to have an opportunity to talk about that book with others?
Write a review here. Gather a book discussion group-online or in person. Recommend it to others.
Vacation Bible School 2009
It is not too late to plan. Vacation Bible school will be July 20-24, 2009. This year we are going “Down Under.” No, not there…We are going to Australia!
Are you an artist? We need a sign for Vacation Bible School. Kangaroos, koalas, and boomerangs abound. Please consider this ministry. Any questions, see Lanny Barsale.
Zion’s W.E.L.C.A. Circle News
Thank you to everyone who brought items for the children’s Easter baskets to our March meeting. We assembled 15 baskets for families who came to the Food Pantry on March 28.
Our Bible study of Esther will continue at our April meeting. We will finalize plans for the Mother-Daughter Dinner, to be held on May 2, 2009. bring ideas and information to share. We will meet on April 11, 2009 at 10am in the assembly hall at Zion.
The Spring Assembly for the Foothills Women of the ELCA will be held May 2, 2009 at St. Marks/St. Johns Lutheran Chruch in Canajoharie. Pastor Elaine Berg will lead the worship service which will be followed by a program on missions. A registration/lunch fee of $5 will be payable at the door. Please contact Sandy Deems by April 24, 2009 if you plan to attend.
Check our W.E.L.C.A. bulletinboard for the latest information on events in May. Remember to reach out to others through our quilting, infant caps, and prayer shawl projects.
Foothills Women of the ELCA Spring Assembly
May 2, 2009 from 9am-1pm
St. Johns/St. Marks Lutheran Church
Church Street, Canajoharie, NY
Registration/Lunch is $5.00
Worship will be led by Pastor Elaine Berg
Program is about Missions
Reservations to Sandy Deems by April 24, 2009
Transformation Team
In one day going to school, then work, then another school, the dentist office, dance, grocery shopping, a baseball game, and finally home, I feel as though I’ve run a marathon. The pleasure of awakening first to see the sunrise is replaced with simply being alert enough to turn on the coffeepot without injury, since laundry has become a midnight event. Upon conversing with other congregation and community members, I was shocked to find that I was not alone. Even more surprising, our society seems to view this socially imposed form of Attention Deficit Disorder as perfectly acceptable, unless of course we are referring to our youth. In which case we command “You must learn to prioritize, child” or “Focus on the task at hand” and the ever popular “Get organized”. The irony is all too real when we view the applied effect of such statements on our schools, churches and community. My time is limited, so I can only do what demands my attention the most not what is best done at this time. Realizing the effects of a hasty life style on our children (mainly that they just screamed louder for attention) Jeremy and I looked to the bible for guidance. What we stumbled upon was a need for rest. Our kids were much more willing to help our around the home after we spent a day talking, walking, camping, or playing with them. Just a little bit of rest time made the world of difference in our stressed out lives. The awareness burst into an epiphany while in Berlin, Germany visiting my grandmother. In the city of Berlin, you could not go shopping on Sunday; Nope, not at all. I couldn’t believe it, how could I get my groceries in little East Troy, WI at any time of day I chose, while the city of Berlin closed it’s doors? They just did and people planned around it. Wow. Our mission became etched into our hearts; Sundays, for us are to be holy. A time of rest, reflection, pray, uniting and preparation for the coming week. No choirs, shopping, or crazy running around for items that we really don’t need. In the beginning, I admit, this wonderful idea in theory takes a long while in practice. (Sometimes we are just not well organized, and consequently I have learned to keep dry milk on hand.) Surprisingly though, the Sunday’s that we’ve managed to truly rest, it made all the difference in our attitude towards each other, our jobs and lives. In order for plants to sprout, and children to grow, rest is required.
At our last transformation team meeting on March 17th, our team came to the same conclusion while trying to schedule our next team meeting. (Mainly because we couldn’t find a free day) That’s when it hit us right in the face; I swear, there were probably beams of light in the room at that moment. If our congregation desires is to acquire new roots in our community and to grow in faithfulness to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Then we need strengthen our bonds to each other in order to be a healthy, effective, and focused congregation. We need to REST. Reflect, Evaluate, Synthesize and Transact towards our vision of Zion and St. Matthew in the future. Step one Reflect: we are asking our members to regroup into a healthily congregation which can have open dialogs without misunderstandings due to the over-stressed, critical chaos that is our current world. On Sunday April 26th, the congregation of Zion and St. Matthew are asked to participate in an official Sabbath day. No running around, cleaning, electronics, or stores. Cast your burdens away to rest. After services we hope that you will unite with your families, pray, and reflect about your future in the next 5 years. Dream big. Determine what your family looks like when it’s at its best. What got you there? How, if at all, is it different from now? What direction do you want to go? Make an action plan to get there. Maybe it is 1 hour to talk to your kids before bed. Maybe a short phone call or meeting with a friend once a week. Maybe it is just you taking a moment to be silent and prepare yourself once a week. Schedule it in. Now what do you want our church to look like in 5 years? More mission trips? A whole church mission trip? Community breakfast every Sunday? More classes for adults, youth, and seniors? Write it down. What steps do you see us making to get there? Create an action plan. We are here together in this place, at this time for one purpose and we can only understand it by bring everyone’s gifts, talents, and dreams together. To help you with this Sabbath Day exercise, resource pages will be made available for you to use as well as a guide and an assessment sheet that will be collected during the following week’s service.
May you always walk in God’s grace,
Respectfully submitted,
Yvonne Steingraeber on behalf of the transformation team
St. Matthew’s matters
On Square Root Day 2009, which was the third day of the third month of the ninth year of the century, the Ministry Board of St. Matthew’s Chapel met for its monthly 7:00 PM meeting. Eight of eleven members attended.
The meeting began with prayer led by Pastor Jen.
Our pastor then had several topics to discuss:
* her online Bible study
* a Good Friday service at the Chapel
* Palm Sunday with First Communion for Lara Graulich and the baptism of the baby of the former Lindsay Cook
* meetings of the committee investigating the possibility of having a homeless shelter in our county
* the March 15 town meeting to discuss worship services after Pr. Gary retires
Bill Wright announced that he and his wife Marcy will be out of town for the May 2 chicken barbecue, with halves grilled by Claude Ray and his crew. Bill also told the Ministry Board about shoulder surgery at Cobleskill Regional Hospital on March 17.
John Jarvis had questions about a coffee hour for adults on Resurrection Sunday while the children are on their Easter egg hunt. John agreed to organize the egg hunt and to order and deliver the traditional Resurrection Sunday cake from Price Chopper.
John also asked about reaction to his suggestion for a monthly youth Sunday. Jackie Costello, who does the Chapel’s serving schedules, said that the idea is already underway. John’s final comment was that his wife Pam wants to be in the Chapel’s Easter choir.
Jackie added that she is ordering Easter lilies for the Chapel and that she is collecting store coupons for Goodnight Pull-ups to be used by the family of a local boy with serious health problems.
The second-to-last—and most important—topic of the evening was the cabin fever party, scheduled for the following Saturday.
* The Costellos had arranged for four Sicilian pizzas from the Fireside in Sharon Springs. The 6:00 meal will begin with a total of 96 slices. We can order more pizza if needed.
* John Jarvis agreed to donate soda and ice for drinks.
* All members of the congregation will provide dessert.
* There would be board games upstairs for the children and downstairs for the adults. MB members agreed to lend the games for the evening.
The final topic was the May 2, 2009 barbecue, which may be a fundraiser for the family that Jackie Costello mentioned earlier in the meeting. John Jarvis agreed to contact Claude Ray about the price of each half and the last possible date to change our order, which will start at 300 halves.
The meeting ended at 7:57 with the Lord’s Prayer, led by our pastor.
In service to Christ and His church,
John Jarvis,
MB secretary
St. Matthew’s holds its first annual “cabin fever party”
Thirty-seven adults and children shared pizza, fellowship and fun at St. Matthew’s Chapel’s first-ever cabin fever party at 6:00 PM on Saturday, March 7, 2009. There was no charge for the event which was open to the Sharon Springs community.
In the weeks before the event, members of the congregation passed out written invitations to residents of the Sharon Springs area. About a dozen people not members of our church family came to the party. Congregation Council member Gordon Emerson, who worships at Zion, also attended.
Gordon, who had rotator cup surgery in Cooperstown in mid-February, had many opportunities to show off his shoulder brace, which Tom Collins referred to as Gordon’s “own table” for the dinner part of the evening.
Gordon went on to win a board game called Apples to Apples, brought in by Suzanne and Tom Collins.
Ninety-six squares of Sicilian pizza came from the Fireside in Sharon Springs. Half of the pizza had cheese as the only topping. The other pizzas had pepperoni, broccoli or ham and pineapple on the pies.
Pizzas were paid for from the profits of our fall pumpkin auction. Members of the congregation provided desserts and donated soda for the March 7 outreach project.
Other beverages included orange juice, tea, apple juice and coffee.
After dinner the five youngsters in attendance went up to Marcy Wright’s classroom for games like Twister, Jenga and Kerplunk. The boys also created a walk-through haunted house with cobwebs and flying spiders. Later on three of the boys drifted downstairs to play board games with the adults.
The idea for the cabin fever party open to the public came from Tom Collins, who is also the originator of our Fall 2008 free community picnic, which was also deemed a huge success by the folks at the Chapel. Even more nonmembers attended that event despite far from ideal weather.
After worship on the morning of March 8, John Jarvis told Tom Collins, “That cabin fever party last night was the best event that I ever attended in my decade at this church.”
Gordon Emerson later told John that he had a “delightful time…with great folks and good pizza.”
Many others who were there would probably agree.
John Jarvis,
Ministry Board secretary
Help at Home
In the fifteen months that I have been the chaplain at Cobleskill Regional Hospital, I have found some very useful “fringe benefits” not mentioned in my contract.
Of course, access to medical information from nurses and doctors is the most important benefit. Secondly, I have already taken two medical education classes with the doctors and nurses. (To me as a cat owner, the session on cat scratch fever was especially interesting and informative. For example, now I know that my cat can spread cat scratch fever with his claws or tongue, but he can’t get it himself.)
The medical staff itself is another benefit of working in a hospital, for I have learned that many of our certified nursing assistants also do home care when not at work at CRH. Thus, if I am ever in an auto accident that leaves me bedridden at home, I know at least four people from the hospital who can be paid to take care of me at home on days when my wife is working at the high school.
Two of these women work for a family business called “All About You Home Care.” Anyone needing more information can contact Amy or Kara. I have their business cards.
I hope that I never need Amy, Kara, Jen, Val or any other home-care provider, but I feel comfortable just knowing that people whom I already know—not strangers—would be willing to come into my home to help me with healing and day-to-day living while my wife is at work.
Thanks to to God for home care providers like Val, Jen, Amy and Kara!
In His name and image,
John Jarvis,
Health Ministries
Family News
Would you like to share good news with the congregation? You are invited to let us know about those important events or happenings in your life so that we may share in your joy and offer our…
THANKS BE TO GOD!
Prayer Partners
We give great thanks for all those who participate in the phone tree for prayers. If you would like to participate in this group, please contact Janice Ashford (234-0910)
If you are interested in the email version of this group, please contact Pastor Jen and let her know (revjedyer1@yahoo.com).
Pastoral Care
In Pastor Jen’s absence, please contact Pastor Gary Edmister (294-6656), the church office, one of the deacons and/or the church Council. We all want to make sure that you have the spiritual care that you need in the midst of personal crises and emergencies.
Please also make sure that Pastor Jen knows of this pastoral care need by the time of her return.
SAMARITAN FUND
Did you know that we have a special fund that assists people in need? We often have people who are going through difficult times and need a little help-whether it is gas money so that they can get to a job or assistance with rent and the like.
If you would like to make a donation to this fund to help people in our community-please just mark on your gift that this is your intention.
Weekly Worship Service attendance 2009
Date 8:30am 9am 11am
February 22 54 13 21
March 1 58 23 23
March 8 40 17 25
March 15 56 22 26
NOTE: Birthdays and phone numbers will not be posted on the website due to the chance of identity theft.
Your website is still a work in progress so try to be patient.
If you need information on how to use the site, you may call the office at 518-234-3381 between the hours of 9am and 1pm, Monday through Friday.
Request for Non-Typical Parsonage Use
Dear Fellow Church Members,
Last Thursday evening I approached Church Council with a request that I am now sharing with you, the larger congregation, for your own awareness, consideration and feedback. As you prayerfully read and consider all that follows, please take time to consider the several items towards the end of my request which helps with the broader context in which I make this plea.
As many of you who know (especially those who know me more personally), I have been working towards becoming a photographer in these past several years. In fact, I am now at the place where it would help fulfill better stewardship of my time to begin a new small business. Since I had already begun years ago (before meeting Pastor Jen) to collect much of the needed equipment, educate myself on the ins and outs of becoming a good photographer, and growing in ability, I am now where it would benefit me to move to the next level as part of my vocational calling at this time. Yet I am not the only one who would benefit from my professional photography. Zion has already done so in several ways, and I anticipate this to be all the more so in the future through possible increased giving if I were to profit from such a business, and by having me meet more of Zion’s own photography needs.
My request is simple. Since the safest and least risky way for me to enter into such a new business is to begin home-based (meaning, use part of one room downstairs for a portrait studio and the smallest room upstairs for my office), I am asking to utilize the, ‘for pastor and family use’ parsonage for beginning my business in combination with our home/personal use already in existence. In addition to inside use, I am requesting that I be permitted to temporarily install a Village-approved small (3 Square feet maximum by Village and Historic District Code) sign on the front lawn, and possibly one hanging from between two of the front porch posts.
What would all of that look like? Basically, it would look very much except an occasional person coming to the parsonage for an appointment for a portrait sitting or to possibly talk about proposed work to be done or pick up pictures and such. The other small change to the appearance, of course, would be the small, yet attractive sign in front of the parsonage, which we now call ‘home.’
I realize several things that any given reader of this request might be thinking. The traffic, the noise, the risk and liability and so on and so forth. Please know that, while I have already gotten many Council member’s initial support of the idea, we all will be working together to determine whether or not this could actually work satisfactorily for all affected. Meaning, none of us wants for this to become yet one more divisive struggle in Zion’s decision-making history. Above all, we seek to remain one in Spirit as we give this fair consideration. In the clauses that follow, I will speak to the possible problems and questions that any one of you might have, but please let me explain more about how I see this business operating.
First of all, I envision starting very small and naturally. Meaning, I do not want to jump in and quickly find myself way over my head such that it begins to take a toll on my body or on personal relationships. If approved by the parties that be (Council and the Congregation, the Village and Historic District, and local Codes enforcement, etc.), I plan to begin slowly. I envision my use at our home (the parsonage) to be temporary, something I do until my clientele necessitates a move to a separate place of operation. If things go well, I anticipate this taking eighteen months to two years. This means that this is not a permanent forever kind of decision we are making together. To stay protected tax-wise, I will need to show an actual profit over the next several years (admittedly, not so easy in today’s economy).
Another question has arisen as to how it might affect the Church’s tax exempt status. In all of the contacts that have been made to date, this does not appear to be an issue. We are seeking to confirm this.
Perhaps the most important thing to bear in mind that is specific to the kind of business that I plan, is that my clients will be coming to visit me BY APPOINTMENT OR I will be going to THEIR LOCATION (my studio is portable, not at all a permanent installation type thing). This means nowhere close to ever having a steady stream of cars and individuals/families coming and going – though the opportunity for Christian witness for me would dramatically and readily become available with each new given customer! So, to ease concerns about traffic and parking issues, keep in mind that we are talking about one or two cars now and then (typically during average work hours of 9-5, Monday through Friday, possibly an occasional Saturday), with clients being asked to park towards the rear of the church parking lot or in the pastor’s driveway behind either of our own cars. I hope in your heads that you realize how very little disturbance this would cause – nothing much different going on than, say, visitors who might otherwise come and go to visit our Pastor at the parsonage home.
What about the issue of increased liability? Well, from my own perspective, I would have to say that increased risk is far greater for the several children and teens who, at times, run through the church property passing between the church and parsonage. People will walk from their car to our home and back. Inside they will be seated and we will be talking and taking requested photographs. That’s about it! The rest of my activity will be done upstairs on my computer processing photographs and making framed and matted pictures (something I have already been doing with my fine art photos).
As for insurance, that is one of those issues that I and Council are in the process of investigating. I am looking into my own insurance policy and will secure one if at all possible and feasible. Others are looking into the existing church covered policy. We meet again to discuss these issues and your feedback at April’s meeting. Yes, to answer your question, there would be some minor risk for the church insurance-wise, but I ask that you prayerfully consider the may benefits to all concerned as well. For me, this would be my business and part of my outreach and witness.
Where are we at this point and what has already begun? Well, on my end, other than my most recent set-up of studio type lights in the living room which, as previously mentioned, are very portable, nothing has changed and not a lot is anticipated for the near future. This request has come about naturally as others have learned of my fine art photography by attending by Open House in Treadwell at last year’s Stagecoach Run, as others have seen my work on display at Artworks here in Town, or as they’ve either had need and inquired if I did my work professionally and for pay or as they’ve seen my taking pictures at church, around town or elsewhere. I believe that God has brought me to this point, and so I share this with you all. Other than securing a ‘DBA’ (Michael Boyd Doing Business As, “Michael Boyd Images), I have only gathered information from the Village and gone to Council to state my need for the safest way to enter into business slowly and safely. As you have read this and now have other questions, please feel free to contact me (234-1153 or by e-mail – mtboyd581105@yahoo.com), Pastor Jen (at home or by e-mail), President Don Alkinburg or any other Council member. My preference would be that you seek information in that order so as to get the most complete and up-to-date information possible.
I want to express my gratitude to you all for the opportunity that lies before me, and for us together. Some members of Zion have this past year expressed deep concern for the Church’s present financial situation, the answer to which lies in increasing our faith and commitment level as well as considering new possibilities for increased assets. What I am asking Zion’s members for is not money, but the opportunity that I might personally contribute money (I anticipate no increase in utility bills to Zion from the parsonage other than, perhaps, a few extra toilet flushes each week – BUT if that does occur, I will certainly pay any increase in electric or water/sewer bill). I pray that you help me become a fuller steward of my life and my gifts by permitting me this parsonage-home use in a way that is best for all.
Sincerely In Christ,
–Michael Boyd.
P.S. While I accept the reality that most small businesses fail within a few years of starting, I am, even as I type, enrolling in a course offered to enable me to assemble a business plan and learn more fully what is required for beginning such a venture. I am also speaking to those around town who have successfully entered such a venture themselves.