THE GUIDING LIGHT January 2021 the GUIDING LIGHT January 2021
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THE GUIDING LIGHT January 2021 “Celebrating God as We Serve Others” Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church From: Pastor Leena 454 Miller Street Hello everyone! Wow another year Pembroke, ON 2021 and another shut down. Not a K8A 5Z4 problem, right? We have this isolation Phone: thing down pat after nine months now th 613-732-8792 into our 10 month. Church services in Fax: 613-732-1650 person have been put on hold for at E-mail: [email protected] least a month. We will continue to Website: www.zionlutheran.ca record the services weekly to be posted to the internet and to Cogeco TV. We Office Hours: have the Epiphany series of sermons Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from the ELCIC bishops which we will 9am – 12 noon share. Following the Christmas season, we come to the season of Epiphany in our worship calendars. Epiphany stands for the commemoration of the Baptism of Christ. We celebrate this season because we The Guiding Light January 2021 Page 2 recognize Christ as the Messiah and the Son of God. We are also in winter, a bleak time of year where longer dark nights are still the norm. Light came to us at Christmas, we stand at the side of the newborn babe, leaning in with admiration, in awe, we are wide awake and knowing that nothing will ever be the same. It is another shut down due to COVID-19, yet we are called to be the church even when not able to gather in the Church Building. We are encouraged and Jesus calls us to be good neighbours, and we all find a way to be church, via phone calls, emails and wearing our masks and staying 6 feet apart and avoiding large gatherings . We can do this! Stay well and we will continue to stay in touch by phone, email, the internet, TV broadcast services, Facebook and newsletters. You are are in my Prayers, Peace to you, Pastor Leena The Guiding Light January 2021 Page 3 Minutes ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH - Council Meeting Tuesday, November 5, 2020 Present:Chair Susan Dupuis, Vice Chair Ellen Vandersleen. Members: Pastor Stephen Scheidt, Rick Gerundin, Jill Kellough, Denise Schizkoske, Gerry Vandersleen (treasurer), Wilmer Verch, Patricia Wegner. Secretary: Karen Gauthier. Excused:Scott Lange, Diane Leeder, Diana Wegner. Guests: Carol Boldt, Emma Rabishaw, KoitRull, Blaine Sack, Gayle Seegmiller, Debbie Wegner. Opening: The meeting was opened at 7:00pmbySusan Dupuis.Opening devotions were given by Jill Kellough. Agenda: The agenda was reviewed. Additions:Pastor’s Report, social ministry report. Motion to approve agenda: Ellen Vandersleen. Seconded:Denise Schizkoske. Minutes: The previous council meeting minutes of October2020 were reviewed. Motion to approve minutes:Patty Wegner. Seconded:Rick Gerundin. Finance Report: Treasurer GerryVandersleenreviewed the balance sheet and income statement. From the income statement, Gerry highlighted that regular offerings are down, but total receipts are also down compared to last year. Benevolence payments are at the same point as this time last year. The church’s net income is in a better position than last year mainly due to government funds through the CERB and CEWS Covid assistance programs.The garage sale raised The Guiding Light January 2021 Page 4 over $4500.00 and will be split between the Robbie Dean Centre and our new video equipment. We are well situated for payment of the new video system. Pastor’s Report: Pastor Stephen Scheidt gave the Pastors Report as follows:“Our Confirmation and All Saints celebrations went well despite the Covid 19 restrictions and limitations. Thanks to our singers and cantor for sharing their gifts at these celebrations and for Diane and Koit for setting up and lighting the candles on the Baptismal shelf. The Lutheran Study Bibles arrived in time to given as gifts to the Confirmands. Having two celebrations on Reformation Sunday was a very good idea, as we would have exceeded our Covid space limitations without them. Wesley Weichenthal has passed away and his graveside service will be held on Friday with family and close friends only. There was a graveside service for Inez Kelly on Oct. 8, and interment for Grant Klawitter on October 9 and a Funeral for Hilda Klawitter on October 10. We keep Arnold Hoffman in our prayers as he is in ICU and is very ill. We look forward to having Rev. Michael Hackbusch with us as a Guest presider and homilist. He is a Lutheran chaplain stationed in Petawawa. A letter from him that gives a bit of background about his work will be distributed to all who come to worship on Sunday, November 8. He has not presided at a Lutheran liturgy for over a year now, so he is thankful for this opportunity.” Correspondence:No correspondence tonight. Committee Reports: Property- heating repairs on the boilers are complete. Window and roof repairs are underway. A new contractor has been sourced and roof snowstops will be installed by December 1. Social ministry- Dec. 9 will be meal prep for our shut-in members (with November 17-19 scheduled for preparation of turkey pot pies).The Boys and Girls Club are presently doing take-out for their members (no sit-down meals), so we have offered to prepare a meal, which they will package and distribute (this will happen sometime in the New Year). The Guiding Light January 2021 Page 5 New Business: Susan’s business (in council discussion). Pastor Reble will be here Dec 5 council workshop. Motion: In follow up to the discussion held at the October council meeting, a motion was passed by the majority of council regarding use of space by the ‘We Get To” group of Narcotics Anonymous. This motion was proposed and voted on through the email process outlined by our National office. The motion, dated October 14, reads: “Zion Church council approves renting space to “We Get To” group of Narcotics Anonymous. The cost will be covered in the form of a donation to the church”. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at7:45pm and closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Motion to adjourn: Ellen Vandersleen. Seconded: Wilmer Verch. The next Church Council Meeting is scheduled forDecember 8 at 7:00 pm. Devotions will be given by:Susan Dupuis. W & M - Meeting Minutes - Monday, November 30, 2020 Celebrating God As We Serve Others Present: Pastor Stephen, Gayle Seegmiller, Debbie Wegner, Blaine Sack, Koit Rull, Emma Rabishaw, Carol Boldt, Joan Lehman Regrets: Scott Lange Welcome and Opening Devotions: Gayle welcomed everyone to the meeting. Debbie opened the meeting with a prayer. Approval of Agenda: Approved Approval of Previous Month’s Minutes: Completed online The Guiding Light January 2021 Page 6 Committee Reports: Pastor Stephen’s report: ● Minor changes will be made to the service to keep it within an hour. This is to ensure the service is completely recorded for broadcast on Cogeco and the church website / facebook page. Blaine’s Report: ● At times, problems with the microphones have made it difficult to hear the Minister and Worship Assistant. This will be addressed before Sunday’s service. ● Leaving the church door unlocked and unattended has raised questions about how we ensure Covid 19 protocols are followed as well as other safety concerns. When the doors are not monitored someone could enter the building undetected. Gayle will bring the concern to Susan Dupius’ attention. ● A new supplement to the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Book called All Creation Sings has been released. It contains a comprehensive collection of hymns and anthems. The committee gave approval for the purchase of the Accompaniment Edition and Pew Edition (approximately $95.00). Christmas Services: ● Christmas Eve services will be held at 11:00 am, 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm. This will allow time for the necessary cleaning to be done between services. ● The 11:00 am service will be recorded. It will be uploaded to the church website and Facebook page so those who choose not to attend this year’s Christmas Eve worship because of the pandemic, can still enjoy the service at home. ● As per Public Health direction, attendance at church services cannot exceed 100 people. Anyone planning on attending worship on Christmas Eve is asked to call the Parish office @ 613-732-8792 between 9:00 am and noon, Monday to Thursday up until December 21st to pre- register. This will help ensure we do not exceed capacity. ● People will be notified about pre-registering through email, the The Guiding Light January 2021 Page 7 Guiding Light, the church website, the Facebook page and weekly announcements. ● Volunteers will assist Jean with the registering people for Christmas Eve services. ● Individual candles will not be used this year during the singing of Silent Night. Instead, a symbolic candle at the front of the church and vigil candles on the altar will be used. Miscellaneous ● A request to have an offering prayer added to the worship service was discussed. Pastor Stephen will include the offertory prayer into the prayer of the day. Date of Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 6, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m. Farewell To Pastor Stephen & Jan Due to the province-wide lockdown, our scheduled farewell to Pastor Stephen& Jan will not be happening on Sunday, December 27th. Please forward your best wishes to them both through mail or a phone call. We will plan a special farewell once we are able to gather together again. Susan Dupuis Annual Reports Service Broadcast On Cogeco Annual Reports are due into the Cogeco Community Channel is office by Wednesday, January 20, now broadcasting Zion's services 2021. Please keep checking our at 9:00 a.m. and 12 noon on website for future details about our Sunday mornings, a week later.