Zion Lutheran Church ~ Oldwick, NJ

Mission 300 Campaign

Jump to January 2012 update below.

Our theme for M300 is “Reclaiming Yesterday, Embracing Today, Stepping into Tomorrow.”  

Reclaiming Yesterday

“Reclaiming Yesterday” involves our wonderfully rich history.   We often take for granted the historical buildings we have in our church and our parsonage.  The church, whose walls were laid in 1750, has served us well.   However, it needs some work.  On the top of the list is painting both inside and out.  Many of the structural issues, such as the new roof, sidewalks and fence, have already been addressed through major pre-campaign work and funding.  We are grateful for those early gifts.  Other items on our work list include air conditioning, a new sound system, new cushions, and addressing our altar, pulpit and baptismal font.  

Our parsonage, built in 1812, has served our pastors well and should also have our ‘pride of ownership’.  Repairs are needed.  Some of those items, like fixing the roof and installing new siding, have been on the ‘to do’ list for many years.

The Christian Education Building, or CEB, that was originally built as a ‘temporary structure’ in 1965, did receive a full face-lift and expansion in 1997.  Can you believe that was almost 15 years ago?  And, like any other structure, after 15 years, there is work that needs to be done.  Along with addressing the parking lot and gutters, we are looking to replace our old folding chairs and putting in a sound system for the Family Service, Vespers, and Sunday School events. 

While our buildings need some help, our church is also the holder of truly valuable historical documents.  We have our original charter from King George III, along with land surveys, deeds, and letters—some written with quill pens on sheepskin—all just sitting around.  We need to properly take care of these documents: preserve them, archive them, copy them, and display them.  A dedicated group of parishioners have been faithfully working with experts in the field to do just that.

For all these caretaking needs to ‘reclaim our yesterday’, the cost is estimated to be $300,000.  

Embracing Today

What does “Embracing Today” mean?  Within our walls, we provide many opportunities for Sunday and mid-week worship, Christian Education and Bible Study.  We have the most wonderful choirs and bell ringers.  We train and provide Stephen Ministers to be caregivers.  We host Women of Zion and Youth of Zion where members meet for ministry as well as fun.  We provide a host of fellowship activities including Advent Parish Night, Zion Idol, soup suppers, pool parties, and dinner groups.

Zion is a busy church and one whose ministry does not end at our walls.  As a founding member of the Interfaith Hospitality Network and Hunterdon County Medication Access Partnership, Zion has reached out to those in need of housing and medication.  We have partnered with Faith Kitchen in Dover and the Matheny School.  Through our own Containers for Christ program, we have sent tractor trailers filled with goods to Hurricane Katrina victims, struggling villages in Africa, and the homeless in Dover.  We have an active Prayer Shawl Ministry that touches many people in need of comfort during times of loss, surgery, or illness.  We provide 100 Senior Baskets to our elders in need and provide Alternative Giving at Christmas.  Our young people have been involved in work camps from New Orleans, to Dover, to our own back yard.  And of course, Zion is also a supporter of all the ministries and mission being done by our Synod and the church at large.

These are just a sampling of the ministries of Zion.  We could do more, but each ministry we do has a price.  Working hard to stay within our budget, we do as much as we can now.  Currently, our budget includes the debt we hold for the expansion and renovation of the CEB.  Our church has worked tirelessly to reduce that debt as much as possible and we have done a great job.  The small remaining debt, which is only $260,000, is a monthly payment to the bank of $2,451.24.

Through “Embracing Today” we would like to pay off that debt so that we would have the funding in our budget to use for more ministries rather than a mortgage.  Just think what we could do in our Lord’s name with an extra $2,451.24 each month!

Stepping into Tomorrow

The third part of our M300 Campaign is “Stepping into Tomorrow.”  Never one to sit on our past accomplishments, as we are called to new opportunities, Zion is ready to step up to future challenges.  While we already partner with Trinity Lutheran in Dover assisting with funding for Faith Kitchen, we realize that a hot meal is only part of what is needed for over 120 men and women who come there daily.  Many are homeless and living on the streets.  They need a place where they can go during the day, especially in times of inclement weather.  They need a place where they can receive mail, counseling, and medical services.  They need a place where they can get help with job placement.  They need a place where people will listen to them and care.  And we, as called by Christ to care for the least of us, need to do this for them.  The place will be called Edna’s Haven for an individual who worked tirelessly for Faith Kitchen.  We are calling this effort Mission: Dover in our campaign.  The estimated cost to launch this new ministry is $140,000.  Most of the cost will be seed money for personnel until additional financial streams are established through other supporting congregations and grants. 

So, as you see, we have big plans for “Reclaiming Yesterday, Embracing Today, and Stepping into Tomorrow.”  This is our goal, and with your help through our M300 campaign, we will reach our total of $700,000.  With your help, we will fulfill the vision that God has given to us and be ready to continue on in the mission He has in store for us.

January 2012 Update

Commitment Sunday for Mission 300—the recognition we are planning for Zion’s 300^th birthday in 2014—was held in May 2011.  As of January 2012, the total amount pledged has reached over $509,000 from 101 member families and 7 gifts from the community.  As of December 31 (only 7 months into the three year pledge period), over 100 people have already contributed to M300 totaling over $181,000.  This represents 36% of the total 3 year pledge.  

The contributions to M300 are currently being placed into an interest-bearing account with the ELCA Mission Fund.  With a minimum $100 balance, we have unlimited check-writing ability. Our council has decided that the first $200,000 undesignated M300 contributions will be used 75% for restoration projects and 25% for Edna’s Haven.  Of the receipts to date, $4,750 was designated specifically for Edna’s Haven and $27,125 was designated specifically for restoration/capital projects.  Honoring the designated gifts and using the allocation for the rest, we have the following amounts available from the receipts to date:

Edna’s Haven- Over $42,000

A prerequisite is the establishment of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Edna’s Haven will be associated with the Mental Health Association of Morris County.  Our resources will be used to pay the staff of Edna’s Haven.  This began in January 2012 and is estimated to be $2500/month.

Restoration/Capital Projects- Over $139,000

Work at the church is now being planned.  In the spring, exterior stucco work and painting will be done.  A new sound system is currently in the process with setting specifications, getting bids and awarding a contract.  It is hoped that a contract can be finalized in February so that work can start soon.  There is also work being planned for the parsonage, but the work requires the approval from the historic society before it can begin.  And, of course, you can already see some of the work that has been done including new fencing, sign and roof at the church and painting in the CEB.

Thanks to Bob Durham and Greg Barabas who chaired the capital campaign and to Mike Jennison who has volunteered to manage the funds as they come in and are dispersed. 

Besides funding issues, other ideas for the M300 celebration are also being finalized.  We have a date set for Wagner College choir to come to Zion for a concert, we are on the ELCA and NJ Bishops’ calendars, and we are working on “Celebration Sundays” which will, for example, recognize those who were baptized or confirmed at Zion and those who served as ministers at Zion. A congregational dinner and a Zion trip to Germany will be planned in the coming year.

Thanks to all who have pledged financial support to M300.  If you have not pledged yet, but would like to, or have other ideas for our celebration, please see Judy Formalarie, Pastor Summer or Pastor Selover.