September. Zionite Pastor s Message Dear Church,

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1 September Zionite 2018 Pastor s Message Dear Church, I hope you had an enjoyable summer, full of Sabbath rest and joyful vacations! And if your summer had sorrow and pain, I hope you have found healing (or the beginning of the healing process). But now September is almost here. Reality is setting back in. Families will begin to navigate crazy schedules with school and sports, all as the days begin to shorten. But there is one activity that never grows old, and is open to all of us, of all ages, from all different walks of life: Church. I can't tell you how much Pastor-Joy it brings me when I watch people walk into church on Sunday mornings and greet each other with hugs and genuine excitement. And I love when I see older members and teenagers greet each other with excitement and catch up like old friends. I also love the smiles on our members' faces when children do something noisy or funny. I've heard stories from other churches about how older and younger generations clash in church or how people can be really judgmental of parents of noisy kids, and when I hear those stories I feel badly for those churches, because what I see at Zion is a genuine Christian love that members of all ages and all generations have for one another. So please kick off the new "year" with us on Rally Day, September 9th, as we join together as One Church. Come and experience the unique joy and love that this church shares, and be a part of this blessed experience. Will you also consider helping us out on Sunday, September 2nd after church as we canvas the neighborhood? It's nothing scary, just a bunch of us spreading out to hang flyers on people's doors or outside their mailboxes. We know that there is a beautiful peace that we get to experience on Sunday mornings that is different from any other experience out there in the world, and we'd be selfish to keep this experience to ourselves that's why we need to invite others to join us for worship and fellowship. May God bless you, Church, and may we see you soon! In Christ's love, Pastor Elizabeth

2 Rally Day, September 9th Proverbs 22:17 A merry heart does good like medicine Join us for Rally Day on Sunday, September 9 at 10:30 am! We will worship together and enjoy lunch with our church family! Don't miss this spectacular day!!! Flu Shots! October 7th 10am-11am Also be sure to join us for our 2018 all-church photo after the service! Also KIDS, bring your backpacks to church for a backpack blessing! When you arrive at church, you can place your backpack at the front of the Sanctuary. We will bless your backpacks (and you) and give you each a blessing keychain to keep on your backpack all year long. Reading Buddies Holmes Elementary School, located at 365 Dupont Ave in Tonawanda, has a reading buddies program and is looking for volunteers! Volunteers read to Kindergarteners from 8:45-9:15 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings during the free breakfast period. There are three blocks throughout the year, fall, winter, and spring, and you can sign up for one block or all three! If you are available on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, and enjoy reading to children, please contact Pastor Duffy and let her know. The first block begins the week of October 2 and goes to the beginning of December. The Bell Choir and Choir Rehearsals will be starting on Wednesday, September 5 th Rehearsals are on Wednesdays Bell Choir 6:30pm to 7:30pm, Choir 7:30pm-8:30pm. All are welcome to join! The Bell Choir is still looking for one more ringer and at least one more substitute! Please consider helping and joining the Bell Choir!

3 Church Events September 2: Last 9:30 service and Canvasing the Neighborhood after church! September 8: Men's Fellowship at Family Tree Restaurant, 8am. September 9: RALLY DAY! Once service at 10:30 followed by a picnic! Also September 9: Backpack Blessing! Bring your backpacks to church and place them in the front of the Sanctuary when you arrive. September 10: Chancel Renovations Discussion with Trustees, 7pm September 15: Women's Fellowship, 11am, Meet at Church September 16: Resume 2 Services at 9am & 10:30am September 22: Save a Life event 10am to 12pm September 24: Beginning of New Testament Bible Study, Mondays 7pm September 29: Community Dinner 4:30pm - 6:00pm October 4: The Rose Ensemble Concert at Canisius College, 7:30pm. Free Concert located at the Montante Center. The music is called: The Land of Three Faiths: Voices of Ancient Mediterranean Jews, Christians, and Muslims October 6: Zion UCC's Meat Raffle at the Knights of the Columbus, 6-10pm October 7: Flu Clinic at Zion UCC 10-11am Also October 7: KenTon Crop Walk October 19: Tim Hawkins Comedy Night at the Chapel, 7:30pm Canvassing the Neighborhood! WE NEED YOUR HELP! Sunday, September 2, after worship, we're spreading out around the neighborhood(s) to place these flyers on people's doors. No need to ring a bell or evangelize in any way, just place a flyer on each door as you go for a nice after-church-stroll! The back of the flyers have an invitation to Rally Day and to all of our Sunday Services. Please come and help!!! New Testament Bible Study Join us for the 6 week, Monday night, New Testament Bible Study, beginning September 24 at 7pm. Purchase your book Introducing the New Testament, 2 nd Edition on Amazon. Here is a quote about this study: "If you've ever wondered about life in the first century, what letter writing really looked like back then or what happened to the disciples after the events recorded in the Bible, you can find out here."

4 Join Zion UCC s Crop Walk Team! Help Zion UCC raise money for local food pantries and national hunger efforts! You can either join our team, or donate money on behalf of the walkers. If you have any questions, please speak to Joan Mohalski. Crop Walk Date: Sunday, October 7 Time: Gathering at 1pm, Walk at 1:30 Location: Kenmore United Methodist Church, 32 Landers Rd. Buffalo, NY Zion UCC s Meat Raffle! Join us for our Zion United Church of Christ's Meat Raffle! Saturday, Oct. 6th; 6pm 10pm (Doors Open 6pm; First Spin 7pm) Knights of Columbus, 755 Erie Avenue, N. Tonawanda, NY Tickets: $6 Pre-sale; $40 Table of 8; $7 Day of Event -Includes Beer, Pop, Water! -Door Prizes: Chest Freezer and Wheelbarrow Full of Booze! -50/50 Raffle! -Concessions Available or Bring your own food! (No Outside Drinks) All proceeds benefit the mission of Zion United Church of Christ, Tonawanda. Tim Hawkins Comedy Night Join your church family at a comedy event at the Chapel! Comedian Tim Hawkins will be at the Chapel on Oct 19 at 7:30. Tickets are $25.00 or $23 if 10 or more people go. See Gaye Mehltretter to reserve tickets. He's a family fun comedian and we can all enjoy a laugh together!

5 Zion Consistory Meeting Minutes Call to Order: Tim Schlegel called the meeting to order at 7:02 P.M. Members Present: Pastor Elizabeth, Tim Schlegel, Jeff Quinton, Char Burchfield, Joan Mohalski, Rob Voss, Glen Gordon, Cyle Polutro, Ron Janezewski. Excused: Sarah Handley-Cousins. Absent: Bill Roberts. Call to Order: Pastor Elizabeth lead us in the devotion and Lord s prayer. Meeting Minutes: amended minutes of last meeting were accepted. Treasurer s Report: Ron explained the spreadsheet that was handed out. Tim mentioned piano tuning expenses. The church cleanup was mentioned. A thank you message should be sent to volunteers who who performed cleanup or a mention made. A Lenten folder fund for the youth group was discussed. A motion was made to accept the report. Char moved and Jeff seconded. Report was accepted. Trustees Report: Report was distributed. Two items not mentioned in report. A sawzall may be needed for fence work. A lock for the shed is needed. Committee Reports: Christian Education: Char reported on Moving Up Day. Joan Sue, and Debbie did a great job. Missions: Mark Dugay reported that eight men participated in the prison ministry visit. This will be published in the Zionite. This is the 62 nd weekend that they have done this. More place mats are needed. Church Life: The May Community Dinner cost $ Memorials: No report. Outreach: No report. Strategy Planning: Cyle reported on work being done. Char talked about a girl scout troop working on the community garden. Outdoor movie night was discussed. You need to bring your own lawn chair. Free tickets will be given out at the Strawberry Festival. Food trucks will be present. Old Business: Church Safety: The Trustees are leading the building changes. They are to meet on further issues. New Business: Glen reported on the Racial Equity Roundtable presentation. Cemetery: A tree was removed by the Town of Cheektowaga. Approximately $ was paid for grass cutting and tree trimming. Endowment and Remodeling: These were discussed. See last meeting minutes about sanctuary remodeling. Cyle showed a rendering of the sanctuary on his computer that was done by him. The next Consistory meeting is scheduled for August 9, A motion was made to adjourn. Meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm. Strategic Plan Assembled By Strategic Planning Committee, Fiscal Year 2018 Introduction The Strategic Plan was produced by the Committee consisting of Jeff Quinton, Cyle Pollutro, Ron Janiszewski, John Pauling, Joyce Dolce, Gaye Mehltretter and Charlene Burchfield. The committee s agenda was to formulate a strategic plan built on the needs and visions of the congregation. The aim was to construct a viable three year plan that would serve as a road map to a future of sustainability for Zion UCC. Overview The group sought input from the congregation, Consistory and Board of Trustees as to their expectations for the Church in the next three years. All of the data was analyzed and the group formulated the document best served the needs of Zion UCC at this point in time. The desire of the committee was to design a fluid document that could be edited at any future time depending on changing needs as they pertain to the mission and vision. We attempted to set target dates as opposed to deadlines as some of the strategies are of a longer range in nature but needed to be put in motion so they could be acted upon. We also assigned governing body responsibility so that lines of communication were clear. Summary of Results Four fundraisers were identified that whose surpluses will be targeted to help build the general fund. These are a) Basket Raffle, Lenten Fish Fry, Meat Raffle and Christmas Wreath Sale. The goal was one fundraiser per quarter. The projected revenue from these events is conservatively being estimated at $10,300 and is intended to help reduce future budget deficits.

6 Eight building / property related items were identified that are of varying scopes, but are intended to improve and strengthen our church as we move into the future. Six items are identified as internal improvements and are proposed as ways of creating more fellowship opportunities within the Zion family. The outreach items items are designed to improve our presence in the community while also improving church life. Many of the items that were identified in this plan could be under multiple categories such as the fish fry, but we tried to identify the principal intent of each item. Zion UCC Board of Trustees Meeting Report May 17, 2018 I) Call to order 6:05 II) Roll call James Cousins, Ron Janisewski, Matt Laufer, John Pauling, Bob Faulks, Rob Voss, Cyle Pollutro, and Consistory President Tim Schlegel present. III) Prayer IV) Approval of minutes from April Rob Voss moved Matt Laufer seconded the passing of the minutes from April as presented. This unanimously passed. V) Treasurer Report- 1) See treasurers report in Consistory minutes. VI) Open Items 1) Church Rentals Policy Agreement - Additions of: Hold harmless clause, safe Church policy, guns/smoking/drugs/alcohol, noise ordinance not done Tabled 2) Clean up day update 6/9 published, it was decided that pizza and pop would be provided through The Board of Trustees. 3) Cemetery Signage This will be researched and return with options of what can be done for additional signage or adjustments to what is already there. I. Building and Grounds 4) Kitchen storage swap/door quotes A quote for doors for the storage room from Thunder Hill Carpentry. The amount was $3300. Two more quotes will be obtained prior to the next meeting. 5) Floor buffing contract update The draft contract was reviewed, it looked great, however there needed one addition of a full description of which floors which will be added. The service description will be updated and sent to the purveyor. 6) Security Report David Albanese provided full report. This was referred to house and grounds to determine what can be done quickly as to changes to the building based on recommendations. 7) Chancel remodel/architect Between meetings there was a visit from K2 Architecture. They were able to provide a walk through and a quote to us for services of redesign and leading general contracting services for the amount of $4400. After rigorous discussion as to if this is the right thing to do due to cost, it was decided that we needed to have a clear vision of what changes are wanted. Everyone was assigned to bring back recommendations in writing to add to a rendering. II. Endowment 8) Review of performance There was small movement with a gain of $9423 in portfolio change. 9) Davis Fund Movement We will reach out to Jean Prawel, our Financial advisor, for recommendations. VII) Open to new items 1) Plymouth crossroads Upon request for $631 from Pastor based on dire straits. The Board provided the requested amount and requested info on what further amount they may need. 2) Fence repair It was approved to spend $900 last fall with waiting for the weather to break. If there are further requests for funding to approach trustees. The repairs will be made as soon as possible. VIII) Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.