2021 Zion United Church of Christ
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2021
From the Pastor’s Desk
“When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.”
Matthew 2:10
It is amazing to think that so many people spent time this Christmas looking for the
“Star of Bethlehem”, just as the Magi did so many years ago. And now as then the
star is not the point, it is the guide. The “Star of Bethlehem” is not even a star it is
two planets that will align to look like a star. The guide is active again, and it has
sparked the imagination of millions of people about the reason
for the star in Jesus time.
We know the reason, Jesus birth, and we remember the story of the coming of the
Magi, we call it Epiphany. Epiphany is celebrated twelve days after Christmas,
when we recall the gifts given to Jesus, or Mary and Joseph, by the Magi. We think
about all the gifts we were given or the ones we gave and remember with joy the
feeling of Christmas. This year as we begin a new year, let us remember that this
Christmas we have seen the “Star of Bethlehem” guide us again back to Jesus.
We can then look forward to 2021 with Hope, Peace,
Joy, and Love, because we have Christ.
2021 holds hope for us in the fact that there is a light in the darkness surrounding
the Coronavirus, with two working vaccines and more on the way. There is peace
as people come to terms with changes in our nation, that may seem normal after all
the challenges of 2020. There is joy in churches getting back to in-person worship,
and groups being able to gather again. There is love in how no matter what the sit-
uation is that we are living through Christ is always there for us. In the people we
confide in and the earthly angels that come through our lives. Let us approach this
year with Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Blessings,
Rev. Stephen Stark
Installation of Church Officers
Date to be determined by council at January 4th
meeting, with information to follow.
All those elected at the October
annual meeting will be
installed. Organizational officers will be
installed and the Altar Guild will also be blessed
for their work.
Please make note of the Church
Council officers for 2021:
President– Rodney Washburn
Presidents, Chairpersons, Secretaries, and
Vice-President– Charissa Thorpe
Treasurers of standing committees and Recording Secretary– Julie Cronk
fellowship groups are asked to turn in their Financial Secretary– Julie Edwards
annual reports by January 11th. If reports are
turned in on time, the church office plans to have
Treasurer– Vickie Walthes
the annual reports ready to distribute via e-mail Board of Trustees– Steve Huelsmann
by the end of January. Members of the Members at Large: Shirlee Heathlery
congregation who have had address, phone
number or e-mail changes during the past year
Nancy Hummert
are asked to contact the church office before Tom Hund
January 11th.
The financial secretary will be putting 2020 financial
statements in the mailboxes by the end of the month. Mark Your Calendar!
Please contact Julie Edwards if you have any questions The next Savers run will be
regarding your financial giving February 6. We will meet at 9 a.m. in the dining hall.
record. For a non-cash contribution tax letter, please Please contact Leanne for more information.
contact the Mary in the office. 2021 dates are May 1st, August 7th, October 30th.
WE PRAY WITH & FOR….
Larry and Cathy Wolfe Jim Heatherly Jenn Spangler
Logan Vallee Zoe Vallee Jim Pfeifer June Mitchell
Sharol Guerin Liz Jeffries
Clara Ballard and Dorothy
Bridgeforth – Trenton Village
All those in the military, at home and in hostile
situations overseas
Those dealing with health issues or experiencing
difficulties related to Covid-19
Thank you to all those who
donated to the Zion UCC Giving
Tree Christmas Tree givea-
way. We were able to help 74
children from 29 different
families this year.
Donations were received from;
Zion United Church of Christ,
St. George Catholic Church, The
American Legion Post 321, New
Baden Jaycees, St. Joseph
Hospital in Breese, The Lions
Club and many others made all
of this possible. Thank you for
your generosity.
Thank you to the following families for their donation of poinsettias:
Charissa Thorpe in memory of grandparents, Fred and Clara Groennert
The Thorpe-Klinsky family in memory of Betty Renth
The Billhartz and Malina families in memory of Emil and Delora Malina,
James and Peggy Malina, and Lillian Davis
The Zion family in honor of our pastor and family, Rev. Stark, Molly, Seth,
Jonah, and Jerry
The Zion family in honor of our organists, Roberta Swaim and Joni
Kloeckner
The Zion family in honor of our office manager, Mary Bijarro
Steve, Leanne, and Brooke McDonald in memory of Tom and Rosemary
McDonald
Brooke McDonald in honor of grandma Pat Groennert
Thank you to the following for Christmas Building Fund Donations:
The Thorpe-Klinsky family in memory of parents and grandparents,
Dr. Charles and Frances Thorpe
Rodney and Michelle Washburn in memory of parents, Robert and Evelyn
Washburn and Patricia Edfors
The Thorpe-Klinsky family in memory of uncle, Fred Groennert
The Thorpe-Klinsky family in memory of Rev. Gretchen Sterrett
Laverne Laux in memory of husband Donald Laux
Claire Thorpe-Klinsky and Cody Reynolds in memory of Frances and
Charles Thorpe, Fred Groennert, and Sue Reynolds
Leanne, Steve, and Brooke McDonald in memory of Frederick Groennert
and Charles and Frances Thorpe
Scott and Meg Billhartz family in memory of Emil and Delora Malina,
James and Peggy Malina, and Lillian Davis
Leanne, Steve, and Brooke McDonald in honor of Patricia Groennert
Rodney and Michelle Washburn in honor of Michelle's father Charlie and
the Edfors family and daughters Rachel, Megan and her fiance Skylar
Thank you to.....
**Rev. Stark for all his time, effort, and hard work in preparing for the Advent and Christmas
Season. It has to be difficult trying to prepare these services and merge our traditions with yours.
We appreciate everything you did!
**Rev. Stark for not only preparing the Advent and Christmas Eve services, but also having to
do it all virtually. It takes many more hours to accomplish a virtual service than an in-person one
and we are very grateful to you!
**Rev. Stark and Rodney Washburn for their tech abilities and bringing us worship services
online each week we are not able to worship in-person.
**Alexandra Billhartz, Roberta Swaim, and Joni Kloeckner for the beautiful music chosen and
played during all our services.
**Special musicians Alexandra Billhartz, Emily Billhartz, Rodney Washburn, Megan
Washburn, Paul Sterrett, Beverly Adams, Gary Adams, Caroline Brown, Maddie Brown, Ann
Gilcrease, Ray Gunawardena, Brandon Hoeflein, Nancy Hummert, James Sterrett, Mary Sterrett,
and Rachel Washburn for providing special worship music.
**Everyone that helped with Advent service readings and candle lighting and the Christmas
Eve service, Tom Hund, Joe Hummert, Grace & Wes Schooley, Molly Stark, the Bassler family,
Gardner family, Herndon family, Stark family, Thorpe-Klinsky family, Washburn family, and
Groennert family
**Joe and Nancy Hummert for storing our Christmas decorations and transporting them to and
from church, and Charissa Thorpe, Leanne McDonald, Molly Stark, and Pastor Stephen for
decorating the sanctuary.
**Pat Albers, Grace Schooley, Molly Stark, Pastor Stephen, Leanne McDonald, Linda
Bowman, Mary Bijarro, Wilma Kuhn, and Tom Wolfslau for organizing and orchestrating the
Christmas gifts for kids give away.
The next master schedule for
2021will be sent via
Email by January 8th.
Master Schedule January 2021
Date Emphasis Color Time Liturgist Organist Acolyte
Sunday Second Sunday White 8AM Linda Joni Brody
January 3rd After Christmas 10:30AM Tom Roberta Cassie
Sunday The Baptism of White 8AM Leanne Joni Mallory
January 10th Christ 10:30AM Joe Roberta Maddie
Sunday Second Sunday Green 8AM Julie Roberta Open
January 17th After Epiphany 10:30AM Grace Roberta Seth
Sunday Third Sunday Green 8AM Charissa Roberta Brody
January 24th After Epiphany 10:30AM Michelle Roberta Bailey
Sunday Fourth Sunday Green 8AM Linda Roberta Mallory
January 31st After Epiphany 10:30AM Ben Roberta Calvin
BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
1—Josh 17—Melissa
DeMage Bowman The BCE hopes everyone is having a joyous Christmas season. We look
forward to 2021 and the day that we can once again gather for Sunday
2—Bash Eccles 19—Barbara School. Instead of our traditional Valentine gift boxes, we will be sending
5—Kristie Rice some type of gift card to our college students who are living away from
Lehde 22—Angie home. Please contact the church office with the name and address of your
student. If you have a military member in your family who is stationed
6—Calvin Korte Herndon away from home, please also contact the office and let us know if they
12—Ronald 29—Liz Jeffries would prefer a gift card or a box of treats. Stay safe and stay healthy!
Renth Charissa Thorpe
Tedi Zotz
Julie Cronk In the event that inclement weather causes
16—Gavin the cancellation of church
Hodges services on Sundays, the cancellation will be
listed on local channels 2, 4 & 5. A mass
e-mail will be sent to all who have provided an e-mail address, & those
without e-mail addresses will be called at the phone number listed
in the Directory. Please make sure that your e-mail & phone number
Sid & Carol Hougland are up to date if you wish to receive these notifications.
If you have any questions, or would like to make sure the information we
on January 3rd!
have for you & your family in the directory is correct, please contact the
Church office. Thank you!
Treasurer's Report for the month of November 2020
General Ac- Memorial Ac-
count count Building Fund
Balance,
11/1/2020 $51,275.43 $23,850.15 $153,428.84
Income 9,040.74 4.18 1,234.55
Expenses (11,416.19) 0.00 0.00
CDs at various
banks 0.00 0.00 0.00
Subtotal 48,899.98 23,854.33 154,663.39
Capital Cam-
paign Acct. 89,369.89
Emergency
Fund 27,718.51
Balance,
11/30/2020 $48,899.98 $23,854.33 $271,751.79
Shelley Hund, Treasurer
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