Annual Congregational Meeting

January 25, 2009 at 12:30pm

following the 11am service at Zion.

Pastoral Reflections

By the time this arrives in your mailbox, you will have begun to put away the Christmas decorations, displays in the stores will have sprouted hearts overnight and life will have  returned to “normal”.Peace and Blessings, Pastor Jen

There is often a bit of a let down following Christmas (and then New Year’s) celebrations.  We then have to face the dark and cold days of winter, without the Christmas lights,  that seem to stretch relentlessly before us.  It seems as if but a moment’s reprieve amidst the difficulties and struggles that we face.

Into this, I share with you a poem (and my reflection on it) by Ann Weems (from Kneeling in Bethlehem).

It is not over,

     this birthing

There are always newer skies

     into which

          God can throw stars.

When we begin to think

   that we can predict the Advent of God,

   that we can box the Christ

      in a stable in Bethlehem

    that’s just the time

          that God will be born

     in a place we can’t imagine and won’t believe.

Those who wait for God

    watch with their hearts and not their eyes,

      listening

         always listening

            for angel words.

 

For me, this poem as well as this post– Christmas season is all about HOPE.  It is all about FAITH.  It is all about TRUST.  We celebrate Christ being born in Bethlehem not as a history lesson, but as a statement of faith.  In our celebrations, we are giving our thanks and praise to the One who is born into our lives now.

Christ enters our world, our lives and our church, calling us to live lives of trust, faith and hope.

There is much to be uncertain about—but all the impossibilities of life are overcome by all the possibilities of God!  We are called to live in trust and faith that this is most certainly true!   If it is still hard to get to this aspect of faith, be in continual prayer that “with God all things are possible”, asking for God’s guidance and power to strengthen our faith and hope in this promise, in this certainty of faith.

These are more that just mere words—this is the promise that we are called to live fully into as a people of God.  We either chose to live in faith or to live in fear.  What is your choice?

 

Come One, Come All to the Community Breakfast at Zion, Sunday, January 4, 2009, from 9:30am to 11am in Zion’s assembly hall.

Acts 2:46-47 reads, that day after day the early Christian regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread.  They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous heart, constantly praising God and being in favor and good will with all the people; and the Lord kept adding daily to their numbers those who were being saved.

The idea of the Community Breakfast is to bring back the fellowship that the early Christians once enjoyed.  With our daily lives so busy, it is difficult to spend time together and share our faith with each other.  We hope that you can take a little bit of time out of your busy schedule the first Sunday of each month to enjoy a breakfast, fellowship together, and share God’s love.

This month we will be enjoying a Sunday Brunch Casserole with muffins, juice, coffee, and tea.

 Call To Discipleship

New Members Class Starting

Are you interested in knowing more about life within this community of faith?

Do you want to be a part of this Body of Christ?

Join us on January 11, 2009 at 1pm, in Zion’s assembly hall.  For more information contact, Pastor Jen.

Reclaiming the Church

On the Road to Transformation

• Reflect on this Bible verse: “For God nothing is impossible” Luke 1:37
• What things seem impossible in your own life, the world, our church?
• How does this verse challenge those impossiblilities
• How does this verse offer us hope?

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.

 Council Highlights

Members Present: Don Alkinburg, Tom Collins, David DeSando, Nancy DeSando, Gordon Emerson, David Hayner, John Jarvis, Mark Mau, Andre Nadeau, Frieda Thorington, Sandra Thorington, Karen Wilson with Pr. Jennifer Boyd.

John Jarvis led us in devotions by reading the parable of the Sheep and Goats.  Pastor Boyd led the Study Period from Mark Chpt. 10:23–27.

Report of correspondence of gifts and requests.  Received a gift of $100 and thank you from the Community Choir who held a Christmas Concert at Zion on the 14.

A request from Van Der Kamp for a donation to assist them with the camps programs. Sent to Endowment Committee. Request from Helping Hands for a donation to assist them in the summer concert series held in the county. Sent to Endowment Committee. A request from Capitol Region Theological Center, but is needed by December 31, 2008.  Received a letter from member Marcy Wright expressing her concerns for the situation at our church.  Thank you for Christmas gifts to Clinton Homes. Thank you from Kerr family and a donation.

Secretary’s Minutes were accepted as written.

Unfinished business: President DeSando checked the web site of Re-cellular on the collecting old cell phones and turning them in for phone minute cards for the troops overseas.  The applications for rebates on furnaces has not been completed, as we have not received a bill as of yet. The Stone Fort in Schoharie is very interested in holding our old secretaries books, to preserve them for us. They will make copies of books to be in office for our use. And people looking for genealogy information may go to a web site to get needed information from the old books. Have not been able to get to Fake Insurance to ask for a re-evaluation of our property for insurance coverage.

The person installing the lining in the church chimney hopes to do it the week of December 23 weather permitting.

Don A. will chair the Nominating Committee, will be asking people to serve on committee and ask members to serve on council.  It was decided to ask Karl S. and Jack Mc. To look into purchase of at least one camera for taping service’s for television, Zion’s new web site is up and running fully.

New Business: David asked members to think about being nominated to hold an office next year.  President asked that if we hear of anyone being seriously ill or in need of prayers of support, to please give their names, so we can let the membership know. It was suggested that council make sure that Thank You notes are sent out for gifts to church.  It was decided not to host the LYRA choir from Russia this year, because of the situation with the economy. Tom C. asked if there was a way the church could acquirer a debit or credit card. There will be a Congregational Disaster Preparedness training at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Utica on January 10, 2009, if interested please call Karen Wilson. Committee’s annual reports need to be in by December 31, 2008.

 

Finance Report was reviewed and accepted as written. A motion was made and carried to dissolve the line item for Trash & Treasure and divide the monies between the Samaritan Fund and Food Pantry. We reviewed the proposed budget presented by the Finance Committee, members were asked to look over and find ways to cut expenses, bring back to January 8, 2009 meeting.

 

Ministry Team Reports: Property, had to purchase a building permit to have new furnace installed in parsonage. Received a lien from rental company for lift that was used to re-shingle roof, as the Bradford Service’s did not pay the bill. Was given to Attn. Michael West. Both furnaces and new thermostats are working fine. We learned that we have to register the parsonage as a rental property to the Village of Cobleskill; we will have to meet all codes of the village. We already have new digital thermostats to install at St. Matthew’s. Evangelism, Really need members to serve on this committee.  Social Ministry, served 11 people that will feed 25.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:02 p.m. until January 8, 2009.  Closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Submitted by Karen Wilson, Council Secretary

 St. Matthew’s MattersTransformation Team Stories

The Ministry Board of St. Matthew’s Chapel met for less than 30 minutes on Tuesday, December 2.  Pastor Jen started by discussing the December 3 One Wonderful Wednesday, an after-school program  held on the first Wednesday of the month at the Methodist church for elementary students from Sharon Springs Central School.

Pastor Jen  also reported on other topics, including:

·          our new website.

·          lowering the number of copies of Zion Life mailed out each month.

·          the Advent tea at Zion on December 6, 2008.

·          decorating the Chapel’s Christmas tree on Saturday.

·          the start of “Route 66″ at Zion on the next evening*

·          holiday food baskets recently delivered.

 

Bill Wright commented on how good the recent paint job on the church is.

 

John Jarvis reported that preparation for the Chapel’s Sunday school program is coming along well.

 

Barb Cousineau reminded the group that there will be a covered-dish supper before the annual Sunday school Christmas program. She also added that she would be interested in buying our unused so-far room dividers for use by the Town of Sharon.

Jean Bakkom and Bill Wright agreed to host the coffee hour on the second Sunday of December.  Jean also mentioned the phone tree updates being done by Cheryl at Zion and the need for new member classes at the Chapel.

The meeting ended at 7:28pm with the Lord’s Prayer.

On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, there was much to be thankful for at St. Matthew’s Chapel.

In service to Christ and his Church, John Jarvis, Ministry board secretary

 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!

  Route 66 study

“Abraham & his family”

We all have our own family histories and stories.  Many like to explore their family trees, seeking their roots.

Join us as we explore the path of faith family—from the time of Abraham through Joseph and his amazing coat.

 Zion’s W.E.L.C.A. Circle News 

 

Our regular meeting will be Saturday, January 10, from 10 am to noon in Zion’s assembly hall.  We will begin a brief study of the book of Daniel.  You will need your Bibles and the December 2008 and January 2009 issues of Lutheran Woman Today.

We will also plan our projects for 2009.  Bring your calendars and suggestions.  Every woman in the Lutheran church is part of Women of the ELCA.  We would like to see more ladies in our congregation become more actively involved.  Invite a friend!  Be bold to tell others of the work of women in the church and community.  Share your faith!

Submitted by, Sandra Deems, Zion’s W.E.L.C.A Team Leader

 Zion Life on the Web!

Www.zion-cobleskill.org

 

Have you checked out all of our new and improved website yet?  While we are still making some adjustments (and hope to add photos soon, if we haven’t already) – it is up and ready to be explored.

 

We thank all of you who have let us know that you are willing to receive each month’s updated news on the web (email notices will be sent out as it is updated).

 

This is an effort to save trees as well as to save us money $$$.   Limiting the number of paper copies that are made (primarily for those who do not have internet/email access) will save us in postage, paper, toner, wear and tear on the copier and more (basic estimates are around $800 for Zion Life alone).

If you have not returned the survey (in the newsletter) or if you have changed your mind about your preference, please let us know as soon as possible (you can also email Cheryl—our office manager—and let her know as well: zcoby@verizon.net).

We are thinking about other ways to cut back on the amount of paper, toner, etc. that we use—if you have any ideas, please let us know.

 

 

I would like to share with you how I try to put God at the center of my life.

As soon as I wake up I start the day by reading/saying the Apostles Creed and the Lord’s Prayer.  Then I recite a little prayer, like: I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me through the night from all harm and danger and I ask that you would also protect me today from sin and every danger, so that my life and actions may please you.  Into your hands I commend myself; my body, my soul, and all that is mine.  Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me.  Amen.

 

After a shower and preparing of breakfast, I say a blessing; Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bountiful goodness through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

As I go about my daily activity I try to say a pray to God for guidance as I do it, this is hard for me to do all the time, because I think I know it all but don’t.

 

Lunch time, I say the blessing, Come Lord Jesus, be our guest and to us these gifts be bless.  Amen.  During the rest of the day I give thanks to God for answered prayer, on jobs I’m working on that I don’t understand what to do.  I try to work in a half hour to read the Bible each day as this helps me to understand how God wants us to live our lives with him at the center.

Evenings I say/read the Apostles Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer.  Then I recite a little prayer, like; I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously protect me tonight.  For into your hands I commend myself; my body, my soul, and all that is mine, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me.  Amen.  Then I go to bed.

The Transformation Team would like you to pray to God for guidance in putting God first in our life and in the church.

His will be done.

Respectfully submitted, Donald Alkinburg