July 2020 - News & Views
From The Pastor…
July 2020
The bell has rung! When in high school and college, while sitting in class, we were always waiting for the bell to ring to signify that the class time had ended and that it was time to move on to the next class. Well, for me at Redeemer, the bell has rung! Below is an excerpt from the letter that I submitted to our Redeemer Church Council and was read by President David Albright on July 17, 2020.
Dear Church Council and Members of Redeemer Church,
After being your Pastor for eleven years, I officially announce my resignation as Pastor of our beloved Redeemer Church, Zuehl, Texas. This letter and my announcement to Council at our June meeting will make my resignation official, however, per my contract, I will need to give Redeemer Church three (3) months’ notice before I officially complete my ministry here.
This has not been an easy decision to make. Several years ago, when I turned sixty-five years old, I contemplated retirement; however, I postponed that decision.
My ministry at Redeemer has been great and rewarding for myself, along with Sharon. These eleven years have been fruitful and very rewarding. Truly, I will miss being Pastor to many great, wonderful, and loving parishioners.
My most determining factor in choosing this time to retire is that the Coronavirus has caused financial issues, and the market has become very volatile. My United Church Pension has become very unstable, and the financial advisors are not predicting a bright future. Therefore, I need to begin drawing my pension.
On my paperwork from the Pension Boards, I checked off, and Council President David C. Albright signed a document that I could continue at Redeemer for my required three months or longer so that I would make sure that Redeemer would not be left “shepherd less” due to the Coronavirus.
Indeed, the decision to resign as Pastor of Redeemer Church is not an easy one. Our hearts are still in Redeemer Church. However, the time has come for me to move on to a different type of life style. And, the Coronavirus has been the trump card in making this decision, along with my recent heart bypass surgery.
According to the Pension Boards, UCC, in whatever pastoral ethical way that Redeemer sees fit, I can assist and help out with ministry at Redeemer. Council President David C. Albright is aware of the signed document (that I referred to earlier).
Per my contract, my final date will be September 17, 2020. However, according to the Pension Boards, UCC, since I am retiring, I can assist in ministry in whatever ethical way that Redeemer sees fit, until a new pastor is chosen. Council President David C. Albright signed a document that stated that I could continue in ministry after September 17, 2020. However, after my three months of completion work (September 17), I have now decided that I will only be willing to work on a part-time basis, and an interim minister will need to be chosen by Redeemer.
In my forty-three years of ministry, I never looked forward to writing this letter. However, the time has come.
Signed with a heavy heart,
Grace and peace,
Rev. Leroy (Lee) M. Zillmann
Rev. Leroy (Lee) M. Zillmann
Confirmation Date Set…
July 26, 2020
We have a Confirmation 2020 Class of seven great students: Ava Harborth, Hailey Hulett, Kase Kelso, Brooke Reininger, Karli Schneider, McKean Saulter, and Weston Woerndel. This class has been another stellar class. They have studied hard, completed assignments, and have had good attendance. In spite of the chaos of the Coronavirus, this group deserves to be confirmed. It will not be your usual Confirmation Service as we will have to practice all the precautions. It will be a much shorter version of the usual Confirmation Service.
Your Pastor Officiated …
Your Pastor was honored to officiate at the baptism of little Elizabeth Valeria Burkhart on Sunday, June 14, 2020. The service was held in our quaint Memorial Grove, during the regular worship service. Elizabeth is the daughter of Dr. Ryan and Yvette Burkhart. They wanted to have her baptized before they moved to the Chicago, Illinois area. Little Elizabeth was such a happy baby during her baptism service, and she was so beautifully dressed for this joyous occasion.
Blessings to all,
Pastor Lee M. Zillmann
IN OUR PRAYERS
Gisela Drayton, Alex Schaefer, Jimmy Wilson, Pastor Eric Titus, Wanda Haecker, Elsie Barnett, Colleen Jenke, Vivian Wilson, Tommy & Judy Brown
IN SYMPATHY
Family of Verlaine Bright
Family of Everett Burkhart (Dr. Ryan Burkhart’s Dad)
DOMINOES & LUNCH
There will be NO Dominoes or Lunch until further notice. Hope everyone continues to stay healthy and safe!
Happy Wedding Anniversary
Gerald & Betty Kriewald - 54 years
Please continue helping us to give special recognition and to honor these wonderful mile markers. If you know of someone going to be married 25, 40, 50 or more years, please let the Church Office know for that month’s
SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR JULY
July 5 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
- Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
- Psalm 45:10-17
- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
July 12 – Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
- Genesis 25:19-34
- Psalm 119:105-112
- Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
July 19 – Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
- Genesis 28:10-19a
- Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
July 26 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
- Genesis 29:15-28
- Psalm 128
- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Give to Redeemer United Church
You make the Difference!
A message from Council President: David Albright
Giving to the church is essential to the vitality and future of the church. Your faithful, weekly giving enables the continued fulfillment of the ongoing mission of Jesus for our church in the community.
As we navigate the uncertainty and impacts of the current health crisis surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19), it is important that we continue to reach out to friends, family and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Equally important is your continued giving, to ensure the vitality and financial stability of our congregation.
Redeemer now has several ways to give. Please utilize what is most convenient for you.
· Mailyour offering weekly to our secure P.O. Box – (New!)
Redeemer United Church
P.O. Box 743
Marion, TX 78124
·Online! Use the church’s new Online Portal – (New!)
o Tithe.ly Website: https://tithe.ly/give?c=1343017
o Download the "Tithe.ly" App on your smartphone and select our church to give
· Access the “GIVING” Page on the church’s Website (New!)
· In Person! Drop off your offering to the church
o Call first to arrange delivery to Marsha
“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16 NIV
Redeemer Church Council Meeting Minutes – Condensed
Via WebEX
May 17, 2020
President David Albright called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm. Debbie Luensmann shared a devotional reading. The April 2020 council meeting minutes were read and approved as written. The financial reports were reviewed, discussed, and approved.
Board of Christian Education (BCE) and Property & Maintenance reports were given.
Pastor’s Report
Virtual services are going better than expected. Burkhart Family Baptism of Elizabeth will be conducted at the church with just Pastor and Dr Ryan and Yvette. BCE Car Parade happens when VBS would have occurred. VBS may be held later this summer. Confirmation II students are working on their faith papers with Confirmation Service date to be determined. The annual fire inspection is week of May 25th.
ACTION ITEMS REVIEWED
Parking Lot in progress - sign is now lit, trench has been covered with concrete, bollards are in place, waiting repair to asphalt.
Flooring for classrooms, restrooms - Champion Floors measured spaces for total of 1,318 sq ft. Cost of tile with trim, $6,400., plus labor = $10,500.
Internet service provider – currently GVEC, researching other services, Viasat and Ziplink
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Audits – BCE financial records now complete. All signed Reconciliation of Financial Records forms go to President Albright.
Church Sign/Safety/LED Light Poles Installation Update – see Action Items Reviewed
Cleaning Services Contract– A side-by-side comparison of three cleaning services was reviewed and discussed. Vanguard Cleaning Systems will be contacted for further clarification of services and start up agreement.
Parsonage Rent Review-Review Comps- discussed current monthly rental cost compared to similar rental properties in the area and the fair monthly cost.
NEW BUSINESS - None
Calendars (May/June/July)
Upcoming events were noted. Maybe modified in-person worship service on June 7th. Next Council Meeting, Wednesday, June 17, 2020.
Meeting adjourned at 9:24 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra Luensmann
Redeemer UCC Council Secretary
Addendum to Redeemer Church Council Meeting Minutes
via WebEx
May 20, 2020
On May 22nd, the Council received, via email, clarification and additional services information provided by Vanguard Cleaning Services.
On May 26th, President Albright called for an electronic vote by the council on the revised services agreement from Vanguard.
On May 27th, voting concluded with a unanimous vote to start an agreement between Redeemer and Vanguard Cleaning Systems on June 6th.
BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Vacation Bible School is temporarily postponed until further notice.
Heart of Texas Association News
As many of you know, our Association sets aside money in our scholarship fund each year to award as scholarships to our seminary students. Also, we are able to award some of the Greg Felder Memorial Scholarship money in this effort. The current awards are going to Betty McDaniel at Chicago Theological Seminary; Rene Slataper at Lexington Theological Seminary who is transferring to Chicago Theological Seminary beginning this fall; and Brooke Dooley at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth on the TCU campus All are earning their Master of Divinity degree and are Members in Discernment in the Heart of Texas Association. Both Betty and Rene are in the online programs at their schools, programs that allow them to work in their home cities and area churches while pursuing seminary degrees. The students apply for these scholarships through our Association scholarship committee. Our Association website, http://hotaucc.org/, has a page to congratulate them that also tells how to inquire about scholarship applications.
Our South Central Conference Annual Meeting was held online for the first time on Saturday morning, June 13th. While it was a loss not to gather face to face in a more extended time together in friendship and worship, the meeting was done in an excellent way that reflected the hard work of Board President Nikki Stahl and several others who helped put it together. There was uplifting music and outstanding worship in the recorded video offered by Houston Association churches; video reports including an opportunity to hear from our new Consulting Conference Minister Campbell Lovett; screen sharing that helped us with minutes, financial reports, understanding bylaw changes that were voted on and adopted, and the slate of nominations; a lovely tribute to Rev. Dr. Alice Graham, the outstanding Executive Director of Back Bay Mission who is retiring at the end of the year; a tribute of gratitude to Jim Blume, our long-time SCC attorney who has given us so much over the years and has now retired: a well-crafted agenda that helped us move along in a timely way that also allowed for discussion; and a time for video break-out rooms that allowed small groups of us to gather and talk. As many of us are finding out, there are new opportunities to be creative and connect that many of us will very likely use in the future as we go back to worship in person. Many thanks to our Conference leadership for this meeting.
At the meeting, we elected new representatives for our Association, and we continue to have others serving on our behalf. We elected Bainie Wild from St. John’s UCC, Burton, to the South Central Conference Board of Directors and Rev. Jenny Russell from Touchstone Community Church, Boerne, to the Nominating Committee. Carl Brown from Trinity Church of Austin continues to serve on the SCC Board of Directors; Rev. Nikki Stahl from United Christian, Austin, continues as President of the SCC Board; Rev. Peter Bauer from Faith UCC, New Braunfels, and Andrew Roblyer from Friends Congregational UCC, College Station continue as General Synod delegates; Josh Mata from United Christian, Phillip Gullen from Friends Congregational, and Jerry Carpenter, retired pastor of Weimar UCC, continue as General Synod alternate delegates; and Cindy Miller from St. John’s UCC, Burton continues on the Nominating Committee. As the chair of the SCC Nominating Committee, I also thank Rev. Trent Williams and Rev. Peter Bauer for their SCC Board service as they finish their terms as representative and secretary.
Blessings in Christ,
Liz Nash, Association Minister
July Birthdays
01-Darryl Schneider
02-Cleven Engelhardt
03-Ron Fritz, Brad Reiley, Karson Kelso
04-Arlene Kunde, Breelyn Fennell-Leach, Reese
Thayne
05-Linda Sinclair, Leroy Reininger
06-Doris Muenchow
07-Lisa Friesenhahn, Aaron Lampman, Neil Klein
08-Marsha Schulze, Yvonne Scheibe
09-Janice Gangawer, Carson Manning
10-Diane Little
11-Eric Franklin
12-Kyle Leach, Barbara Schneider
14-Carolyn Cohu
15-Dorothy Zunker, Kass Pape
16-Lana Luddeke, Kayleigh Dilworth, Joshua
Schneider
17-Russell Reinhard
18-Rayshelle Scheibe, Mel Barnett
19-Marjorie Luensmann
21-Hailey Leach, Kaystin Clark
22-Lora Pape, William Reagan Glass
23-Ronald Torbet
24-Kathy Winkelmann
26-Ryleigh Hulett, Kylie Reininger, Kelsie Reininger
28-Jimmy Wilson
29-Jimmy Damerau
31-Roland Luensmann, Patricia Sheffield,
David Muenchow
July Wedding Anniversaries
02-Russell & Becky Reinhard
07-Randall & Emily Reinhard
11-Chad & Jennifer Swanson
16-Gary & Shelly Grunewald
19-Terry & Karen Canham
21-David & Diana Myers
26-Doug & Kade Clark
30-Gerald & Betty Kriewald
31-Donald & Patti Dilworth