Newsletter
THE GOOD NEWS FROM ZION UNITED
February 2020
"The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world."
A Note From Our Pastor
I walked into the drug store the other day and almost felt overwhelmed by the all the displays with reds, and pinks, and all the Valentine’s Day colors. There were Valentine cards, Valentine candies, Valentine gifts, and Valentine flowers. There were so many Valentine cards, there was not room on the regular shelf for all the choices and there were extra endcap displays in two different places. The commercialization of Valentine’s Day was at its best on that day. I confess to being a bit of a romantic in my heart, but sometimes I think we take a good idea, such as a time to celebrate romantic love, and then we denigrate that idea by suggesting that the only way to celebrate love is to buy something. Now, I will celebrate with my love on Valentine’s Day, but I will do so out of my feelings for her and not because there was something special I needed to buy. I have learned a great deal about love in my many years of marriage, but none of the most important lessons could be found in a store. The two most important lessons I have learned about love come from the bible. For the first, Paul has written some of the most beautiful words about love in his letter to the Corinthians, but he also writes about love with a deep understanding of both the commitment to loving someone else and the joy.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
The second important lesson I have learned about love is that it does not come from Cupid’s arrows, but love comes from what God has done for us.
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
THIS and THAT
HISTORICAL NOTE
Last summer I began an effort to consolidate our historical artifacts in one location. After getting permission from the trustees, I placed a file cabinet in the Sunday school classroom and started gathering items that were previously in various locations. I have started cataloging the items and plan to eventually place a sign out form for anyone wishing to check out any of our historical treasures.
To date, I have noticed several items that are missing, and I would appreciate your help in locating them. They are:
A copy of the letter thanking Queen Noor of Jordan, for her donation to the building of our classrooms and fellowship center.
The letter accompanying Queen Noor’s donation.
An American flag, flown at America’s first safe base during operation Iraqi Freedom.
Several 100+ year old Methodist conference reports.
All those items were in the quilters closet in 2018 when Mr. Sullivan and were working to update Zions history. Please keep an eye open for any of the above so I can place them in the file cabinet with our other items. Also, since I started the catalog process, I noticed some other items of historical interest were placed in the file cabinet. Thank you to whomever was responsible for those additional artifacts.
Dennis Gallahan
FINANCE CORNER
YTD Expenses: $10,191.06
Tithes/Offering: $7,132.60
Weekly Average: $1,783
Weekly Needed: $2,100
Any questions please contact: Betty Carter-Gelfuso, Finance Chair
HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT S.E.C.A.?
Spotsylvania Emergency Concerns Association (SECA) is a help center for Spotsylvania County residents located at 8812 Courthouse Road (American Legion Road), Spotsylvania, VA 22551. It has been in operation for 32 years and is staffed entirely by volunteers. The office is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is available for residents who need assistance with food, clothing, basic housing needs (such as rent, gas, electric, etc.).
For example: In the month of July 2019, SECA distributed 17,644 lbs. of food to 162 families, helped 21 families with electric bills, four families with gas bills, ten families with water bills, two people with prescriptions, seven families facing eviction, and 37 people with clothing.
The Thrift Shop is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to the general public for shopping or dropping off donations. The money generated by the Thrift Shop goes to support the needs of Spotsylvania County resident as determined by the office staff.
For those who are familiar with SECA and have used our services, we appreciate your support! If you are not familiar with us, we ask that you come by our facility and check us out.
SECA is in need of volunteers!! We are looking for volunteers who can commit to a schedule of service and work as a team to provide emergency aid to Spotsylvania County residents. There are a variety of ways you can help. Examples: Stocking shelves, operating cash register, process donations consisting of clothing, household items, etc., picking up food, and general office assistance.
Being a volunteer at SECA is rewarding and a great way to bless others as we have been blessed.
SECA
Reminder about Admin. Council Notes: Minutes are provided in the newsletter (and on the website) once they have been approved and there was no meeting in January.
Zion United Methodist Church
Minutes of Admin. Council meeting
Held on December 3rd, 2019
In Attendance:
Arlene Crislip (Chair); Betty Gelfuso; Bill Crislip; Pastor Barry Blakley; Lisa Hockman; Sue Chamberlin; Linda Struebing; Karen Robison; Walter Rawls; Vivien Richardson
Arlene welcomed all to the meeting.
Minutes of November’s meeting: There were no amendments or corrections voiced. Walter motioned to accept minutes as presented; Lisa seconded; all agreed.
Worship
Arlene reported for Peggy Bell and Connie Stepahin, who were not able to attend, that the Christmas Story Comes Alive costumes have been prepared. People who are participating in the Story should arrive 30 minutes before 6pm. Still need three actors. Is being advertised in “Faith & Community Notes”.
The sanctuary Christmas Tree will be installed on Sat. Dec. 7th. Some Crismons will be on the tree already – the remainder being placed on the tree by congregants during the first hymn on Sunday 8th.
Outreach
Glenda and Diane are expected to meet in January.
Nurture/Education
Sue reported there were 26 Sunday School attendances in November. $75 dollars was collected during Sun. School classes.
Mission/UMW
Lisa reported UMW decided not to hold a bake sale during Spotsylvania’s Christmas Parade this year.
Lay Leader
Richard Reichert was unable to attend meeting: out of town.
Trustees
Linda didn’t have anything to report.
SPR
Betty reported she informed Angelia Yonts of her annual increase.
Hunger Ministries
Bill said 65 boxes, which included turkeys, were distributed in November.
Publicity
Karen said flyers for “Christmas Story Comes Alive” will be distributed to Spotsylvania businesses this week by Linda Struebing, Arlene Crislip and herself.
Treasury Report
Bill distributed November’s check register. He mentioned the parsonage rent makes a great difference to our annual income. He would like the Trustees to inform him when there are any expenses involving the parsonage.
Finance Report
Bill reported we are paying full apportionments. Utilities were higher than expected because part of the bill included 2018 costs.
Bill passed round the 2020 budget along with the current 2019 budget. Proposed 2020 budget is approximately $99,000. The FAYM budget of $170 could be incorporated into another budget line as we are not having Living Nativity this year.
Linda asked if we could donate $300 to VFW again - would it come out of Outreach or Food Pantry budget. After discussion, and deciding $200 could be donated to VFW, it was suggested the FAYM $170 plus adding another $30, would be donated to VFW in 2020.
Motion: Betty made a motion we take FAYM’s $170 budget, plus $30 from Food Pantry budget, to donate to VFW. Walter seconded, all agreed. Motion was passed.
Bill mentioned we are expecting three IRA checks to be received at Zion: two have already been received. At the request from the donor, the $2,000 donation was divided equally between regular offering and the church mortgage. Bill will send a $2200 check to offset the loan instead of the usual $1200.
Pastor Barry passed round copies of the “Itemized Categories – Year to date” list compiled by Angelia Yonts.
There was general discussion on the proposed 2020 budget. The Finance Committee will discuss the budget in full in January 2020 and present their findings to the February Admin. Council meeting.
Bill commended Barry for using his Pastor Accounts Reimbursement to cover Conference expenses instead of taking them from Zion’s general fund.
Motion: Betty motioned to have the next Admin. Council in February. Bill seconded, all agreed. Motion carried.
Old Business
1. Arlene reported the kitchen coordinators are Jeanne Hagerman, Donna Lloyd and herself (Arlene Crislip).
2. We still don’t have a nursery coordinator.
3. Ministry Activities and Missions List for 2020. Vivien will make an announcement during the service Sunday, reminding people to sign up.
4. District meeting report. Tabled until February.
New Business
1. There will be a meeting at Snow Library on Dec. 16th at 7pm to discuss a new mixed-use development between Marshall Park and Massaponax Church Road. As it will be near Zion UMC, it would be helpful if someone from church could attend and report results.
2. Lisa asked if Admin Council could meet at 5pm instead of 6pm. The only conflict could be if Finance Committee meets before Admin Council.
Motion: Lisa made a motion to move the time of Admin. Council from 6pm to 5pm. Betty seconded it, all agreed.
Meeting was adjourned
Next meeting: February 4th, 2020 at 5pm.