Monthly News & Updates

Join us in Welcoming our New Members!

Sunday, May 12th in worship we will welcome our newest members to Zion. Come to pray for them and worship together!

Confirmation Sunday, May 19th

Join us as we celebrate Pentecost and our confirmands in worship at 10:00am.

Reception to follow in Narthex.

Don't forget to wear RED!

Friends –

I’m usually up around 5 o'clock every morning and after I get the cobwebs out of my eyes (and out of my brain) fix a little breakfast and sit down to review the news of the day – I make my daily to do list, so I at least have some semblance of a plan for the day’s pending activities - both business and personal.

Usually about 9:30 AM - after phone calls, coming to terms with things that I forgot and being aware of the needs of others that are far, far more important than what I thought they were (pardon the sarcasm) I take my to do list and throw it out the window of my truck…

So, it's with those usual feeble efforts that I write out my to do list for my actions as a member of Zion Lutheran Church: Here goes… I'm going to try to:

• Attend events more often - I ran some numbers and that we usually average about 30 or so participants every Wednesday evening meal. With a congregation on paper of about 300 members that's a 10% participation.
• Do my best to be at church every Sunday -our attendance last Sunday was 88 that's about a quarter of our congregation membership.
• Look around and see what are the physical and programmatic needs of our church - how I can fit in, how I can help?
• Read and understand the letter that was recently written by our finance team as to our church’s financial needs - challenges and opportunities.
• Give as I can- my time, talent, and treasure.
• Reach out to the needs of others - those I know and for those I don't know.
• Pray more - pray for our congregation our pastor and our staff - pray for the work of our call committee. I'm going to pray for our greater community and our world.

They say the devil is in the details - I also think the devil is in all the insignificant distractions that veer our mind away from the tasks at hand and from what is truly important in our lives -and in our faith journey.

Here's to not throwing that to do list out of the window as we go about our daily efforts.

Be well,

Steve Hendrix

Zion Lutheran Church Council Chairman

Trailer Stamping program comes to Zion May on 18th

The Lexington County Sheriff's Department holds trailer stamping events throughout the year in different locations around the county. Trailers are among the most frequently stolen items across the county. The goal of this program is to help LCSD better identify trailers that are stolen and return them to their rightful owner.

How it works:

• Drive your trailer to the location the event is being held at.
• Fill out paperwork
• LCSD uses an engraving machine to stamp an identifying number on your trailer.
• You get the paperwork with your number. LCSD stores the number in their system. This number identifies you as the owner of the trailer if it is ever stolen and recovered.

For more information, reach out to Matt Young at

myoung.@lcsd.sc.gov or 803-785-0865

Bring your trailer to Zion Saturday, May 18 from 8am- 12pm

Mark your calendar for Vacation Bible School June 7-11

Registration and Volunteer Info coming soon!

Spring Youth Retreat: Spring Into Action

Worship God by serving others!

WHEN: May 10-12, 2024

WHERE: Camp Kinard

WHAT: Youth Service retreat with Lutheran Youth

from across the state. Including worship,

service experiences, and fun with new friends.

SIGNUP: SCSynod.com/youth or email Walt

GraceWorks 2024 + June 10th-13th

Have fun + Help Others

The 11th annual GraceWorks Youth Servant Camp is coming this summer to the midlands. All youth 6th to 12th grades welcome! Mark your calendars now; registration info coming soon. Have great ideas? Want to help lead? This is a youth led event. Contact Walt by clicking below to volunteer.

Attention Hilltoppers! This month we will meet at the Gibson Pond pavilion Tuesday, May 21st at 11:30 am. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided. Please bring picnic sides & desserts. All are welcome to come and enjoy a beautiful setting with good food and fellowship.

Our next meeting will be on May 20th at 6:00pm in the Family Life Center. All men of Zion are invited to attend and are encouraged to bring a guest as well.



I look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting.

Russell Kleckley

The Choir rehearses on Sunday mornings at 9:00am in the choir room. We can always use more voices, so please come join us! All are welcome!

Handbell ringers have been gathering as needed to prepare for festival Sundays for now. We always need more people to ring bells with us, so come join us!

*Call the church office at (803)356-2297 or email Julie at julie@zionlexsc.com for more info.

Share Your Gifts!

You are ALWAYS welcome to share your musical gifts with us! Extra singers or musicians are very much appreciated during festival Sundays, but you can share those talents with the congregation ANY Sunday. Contact Julie (info above) if you are interested.

A Little Fun… 

Messages from outdoor church signs:



• Remember that Jesus is never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down.
• I will always love you. Sincerely, Whitney, Dolly, and God.
• Pretend it’s Easter and come back this Sunday.
• You can’t keep a good man down. Happy Easter!
• Volunteers needed to help relocate our choir loft. We need an organ transplant!
• Men wanted to sin in our choirs Monday nights.
• Then Satan said, “put the alphabet in math”.
• This church is like a Snickers—sweet with a few nuts.
• Do you know what hell is? Come listen to our preacher!
• Mayo light shine for Jesus.
• God, grant me the serenity to accept the terms and conditions I did not read.

We need your help to make Worship

happen at Zion. We are looking to fill

in a few serving roles this month. Click the button to volunteer now!

Serving in Worship for May

Assisting Minister: Paula Carlson

Reader: 5th - Kathryn Barton, 12th - Roscoe Nesmith, 19th - Bridget Ridgell, 26th - OPEN

Crucifer: 5th - Chasen Williams, 12th - Eleanor Reeside, 19th - OPEN, 26th - OPEN

Technology Team: 5th - George Nesmith and Tyler Beard, 12th - OPEN, 19th - OPEN and Chris Bigham, 26th - OPEN and Tyler Beard

Ushers: Janice & Steve Sult

Chancel & Sacraments: Lee & Denise Caulder

Fellowship: 5th - OPEN, 12th - Reeside Family, 19th - Confirmation Reception, 26th - OPEN

Offering Counters: Mary Beth Bigham, Walt Hampton

On April 20, the Zion Church Council, Pastor Kathleen, church staff and various ministry leaders met for a morning planning session that was highlighted by a walking tour of the church campus and various elements of the church property. The tour was augmented by ministry leaders who explained several activities that Zion sponsors. The group also looked at ministry tasks and structure of its various teams.

Look for future information and additional opportunities that will come from this productive day of planning and preparation.

Below are the abbreviated minutes from our most recent meeting. If you would like a copy of the full minutes reach out to the church office or our Council Secretary Rebekah at RebekahLWingard@gmail.com

Rebekah Cromer

Council Secretary

Strategic Outlook: Our Big Picture Goals

Goal 1 – Welcoming and Connecting

Be a place of welcome where people can know God and connect to one another.

Goal 2 – Worshipping with Purpose

Offer meaningful worship that is creative, engaging, and God-centered.

Goal 3 – Nurturing Faith and Discipleship

Provide pathways for each age to grow in faith and be nurtured to live as disciples of Jesus.

Goal 4 – Sharing Gifts and Passions

Encourage all people to know their gifts and passions and to share them at church and in the community.  

CONGREGATION COUNCIL MINUTES

Monday, April 7th, 2024 7:00 PM

• Report of the Chair/Executive Committee:
• Phone calls with call committee members
• Meeting with Assistant to the Bishop, Pastor Rick Carter
• Discussed Safety committee with Dawn Keene
• Working on Kitchen Committee and Volunteer work group for the property
• Talking with Todd Caughman regarding cemetery regulations and committee
• Christian Education: 
• VBS is July 7th-11th; Volunteers are needed; Registration is coming soon
• WNL children's program is going good along with Sunday School
• Summer programs are being developed Steve addressed concerns about having an active nursery; Geri to reach out to liaison about this planning a team
• Outreach: Lee is meeting with Ron to establish Matthew 25 and what is to come
• Property: Steve and Russell are working to update the parking lights
• Stewardship: 8 additional commitment cards have been submitted; now up to $1,419.10/wk ($73,793.20/yr)
• Youth: 
• Friday morning bible study will end with the end of the school year
• Prayer friends went very well
• Business/Action Items:
• Call Committee: underway and working on the MSRP
• Scouts are having a yard sale on the April 27^th
• Ministry Fair Dates: Steve asked everyone to check with their liaisons for dates
• Review and Final Edits of the church constitution; Craig to square away the constitution edits
• Discussion about safety items within the church; including fire extinguisher, etc.
• Upcoming Dates:
• Council Retreat: Saturday, April 20^th
• SC Synod Assembly: June 8th, online; Steve and PK attending
• Trailer Stamping Event: May 18th
• Lutheran Men Oyster and Lowcountry Boil: April 16th
• Next Council Meeting Date: Monday, May 13th

Giving Info as of April 28, 2024

Budgeted 2024 Offering: $373,066.20

Offering received YTD: $113,139

Budgeted offering YTD: $114,789

2024 Excess (shortfall) offering YTD: $(1,650)

GIFTS FOR OUTREACH MINISTRIES GIVEN THIS YEAR

Mission Lexington: $2,456 + 424 pounds of food

Snack Packs Ministry: $2,087 + Matthew 25 Lunch Ministry: $560

GROW & RENEW CAMPAIGN

We celebrate the gifts and commitments received from members and friends of Zion for our Grow & Renew Campaign.

Total committed to the Grow & Renew Campaign: $898,923

Total received so far for this work: $746,042

Total remaining: $152,881

Memorials generously given last month:

To the Building Fund in memory of Jane Langston by Hal & Carolette Turner

To Mission Lexington in memory of Tyler Sims by Nandalyn Heaitley

To the general fund in honor of Dr Jeanne Fourrier by Ethel Riley

To the general fund in memory of M.L. & Cecile Corley by Ron & Janice Lindler

 To the General Fund in memory of James & Helen Cromer by Christopher Turner

To the General Fund in memory of Jane Langston

by Chuck & Tina Morse, Kent Grant, Paul & Mary Hook, Steve & Susan Shumpert

 To Snack Packs in Memory of Patterson McKinley by Aunt Jan & Uncle Burns.

Current Needs

Sydney Branham

Jerald Drafts

Norene Drafts

Tim Driggers

Barry Granda

Gege Kimball

Kay Waites

Homebound

Les Caton (Brian Center)

Wayne Corley (Lex Ext.)

John Drafts (Wellmore)

Gene Hendrix (Westminster)

Melba Ivey (Carolina Gardens)

Wyman Keisler

Wyman Kleckley

John Shotts

Margaret Sox

Darlene Weight (Tennessee)

Friends of the Congregation

Lynn Balch (health, wife of Craig Balch)

Debby Bearden (health, friend of Mary Alice Leaphart)

Kimberly Bollinger (health, sister of Barry Granda)

Rick Bollinger (health, brother in law of Barry Granda)

Beth Bolt (health, mother of Mary Beth Bigham)

Mitchell Bowman (health, cousin of Nikki Harmon)

Jackie Brock (mother-in-law of Chuck Dickson)

Celeste Carlson (health, sister of Paula Carlson)

Glenda & Everett Crafts (health, friend of Geri Nilsestuen)

Adam Demars (stroke, friend of Christy Jacobs)

Jeri Dickson (health, wife of Chuck Dickson)

Jack Elrod (alzheimers, father of Todd Elrod)

Sarah Harmon (cancer, friend of the Harmons)

Carly Huggins (friend of Stefanie Wingard)

CJ Keathley (health, brother of Denise Caulder)

Kathy Killian (cancer, friend of the Levers)

Shelly Koenig (cancer, daughter in law of Mary Nell Panyard)

Cooper & Murphy Krall (premie twins, relative of Geri Nilsestuen)

Phyllis Livingood (cancer, cousin of Al Fallaw)

Jim Moyer (health, brother in law of Mary Hampton)

Libba Rhoad (cancer, friend of Janice Sult)

Donna Riggins (cancer, sister in law of Rachael Rhoden)

Adrienne Rutledge (cancer, friend of Chuck Dickson)

Greg Sommer (health, friend of the congregation)

Peggy Sox (health, mother of Evelyn Varn)

Roger Spires (cancer, friend of the congregation)

Gary Swancey (health, nephew of Shirley Derriso)

Ronnie Tunstill (cancer, friend of Geri Nilsestuen)

Edith Wessinger (health, sister in law of Ethel Riley)

Ron White (cancer, friend of the Caulders)

Carroll Wise (health, father of Julie Branham)

  Please help us keep the list up to date by adding or removing names when the time is right. To make

or update a prayer request email or call the church office at ZionChurch@zionlexsc.com or 356-2297.

May Birthdays

1^st - Zack Grant, Steven Farwick; 2^nd - Steve Shumpert; 3^rd - Greg Sommer, Linda Hendrix; 4^th - Jan Corley; 5^th - Paula Carlson; 7^th - Donna Keisler; 9^th - Janice Stoudemire, Wanda Wingard; 10^th - Dianne Richardson; 12^th - David Elrod; 13^th - Layla Bateman; 14^th - Paul Hook, Bill Mitcham; 15^th - Ainsley Ellisor, Brenda Sommer; 16^th - Mr. Craig Balch; 17^th - Melba Ivey, Conner Rhoden, Carol Hunter; 18^th - Holly Beard, Lisa Bergenbaum; 19^th - Calvin Riley; 20^th - Cooper Grant; 21^st - Terry Fetner-Phillips, Gary Varn, Libby Branham; 22^nd - Jeannie Wingard, Mary Ann Bacon, Isla Mayer; 23^rd - Griffin Mayer; 25^th - Hugh Kyzer, Addison Ellisor, Chip Burn; 26^th - Emily Call; 27^th - Edward Corley, Molly McCombs, Mark Stoneberg; 28^th - Wendy Nesmith; 30^th - Maddie Richardson, Heath Branham; 31^st - Jane Kohn

May Anniversaries

1^st - Walter & Linda Hendrix; 2^nd - Gary & Evelyn Varn; 3^rd - Keith & Mary Ann Bacon; 5^th - Will & Anna Reeside; 6^th – Heath & Julie Branham; 7th - Greg & Brenda Sommer; 12^th - Jerald & Margaret Drafts; 13^th - Lee & Denise Caulder, Wes & Christy Jacobs; 14^th - Henry & Bonnie Phillips; 16^th - Steve & Althea Hendrix; 17^th - Burns & Jan Corley; 19^th - Charley & Karey Hendrix; 29^th – Kevin & Karen Keisler