email salem@salemluth.net

website www.salemluth.net

During our December adult education, we explored the principle of charity. We discovered that, at least in the western world, the concept of freely giving to those in need without regard for personal gain is a unique contribution of Judeo-Christian teaching. It is one way that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has profoundly changed our world for the better.

Christmas seemed the perfect time to talk about charity because it is the season where giving and sharing abound. But the Bible teaches us that, for the Christian, charity is not a once-a-year event, but a way of life.

The members of Salem have been generous in upholding the principle of charitable giving as a way of life. The vote to tithe the amount we received from the Eleanor Nelson estate is just one more example. I believe we as a congregation have been greatly blessed by this attitude and this response.

The Social Ministries committee has been charged with the responsibility for making a recommendation as to how to use this tithe. As we also discovered in our class, there are more than a million registered charities in the United States; there is no end to the possibilities for giving. Some are more worthwhile than others, some are more efficient than others.

The adult education class spent some time wrestling with the issue of where and how this tithe should be spent. While there was some variance of opinion, there were also areas of consensus.

The decision will probably be made in the next few weeks. I urge everyone at Salem to pray for the Social Ministries committee as it deliberates over this joyful concern, and to feel free to share with me or any member of that committee your thoughts about how to go about obeying the great command to love our neighbor.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe, meaningful, peaceful, healthful, and joyful New Year!

Salem Church Council Minutes

December 11, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Chuck Taylor, with the following members in attendance; Bert Henry, Jodi Hitz, Mike Linch, Dennis Nardy and Sherri Nissen. Other council members present were: Flossie Roberts, John Schlaht and LouAnn Snodgrass. Pastor Nate and Margaret Kneedler also attended.

Devotions were led by Flossie Roberts.

M/S/C by Flossie Roberts and John Schlaht to approve the November minutes.

M/S/C by Bert Henry and LouAnn Snodgrass to approve the special November meeting minutes with the addition that council member LouAnn Snodgrass was in attendance.

Correspondence: Thank you from Mark Kinkade for the microphones.

a) Pastor is happy to announce that eight new members will be joining in January with

more possible.

b) Advent season is going well, with many things planned.

Treasurer’s Report was given by Mike Linch.

a) $ 285 from Thanksgiving offering was given to the Ministerial Alliance.

b) Finance matters are on track as planned.

C) $42.49—balance from Maxine Whan’s memorial was used fro offering envelopes.

d) Ray Hanson, Virginia Jackson and Don Swanson memorials are in a CD

M/S/C by John Schlaht and Dennis Nardy to approve the treasurer’s report.

a) Roof Update: approximately $ 17,000.00 in contributions and insurance to date.

Work is progressing and should be completed by this publication.

b) By-Laws: Changes were made at the "06" meeting and approved. They will be

sent to synod for approval.

c) Four council members will be going off, names need to be submitted.

a) Budge review will continue.

b) Annual Meeting is Sunday, February 8, 2009 with a potluck following.

M/S/C by Flossie Roberts and Sherri Nissen to approve Annual meeting date.

c) New forms were presented for counters to use.

d) $ 100.00 from the hall rental donation to be used for advertising of the Live Nativity

Scene. M/S/C by Sherri Nissen and Jodi Hitz.

e) M/S/C by Bert Henry and Dennis Nardy for $ 150.00 from the Worship and Music

budge to pay for the Christmas wreaths.

Committee reports were presented:

Christian Education: The Sunday School Christmas program is December 14^th,

the Live Nativity Scene and soup supper is December 17^th. M/S/C Bert Henry and Flossie Roberts for funds going to camp scholarships.

Evangelism: New members will be joining in January.

Church Property: Roof repair is almost completed. Some touch up painting will need to be done in the spring and possible tree removal in the spring.

Worship and Music: Finalized Christmas Eve service and January services. Molly VanderLinden is interested in starting a children’s choir. Caroling and a soup supper is planned on Sunday, December 21^st.

Stewardship: Have eliminated the time and talent sheets, as this is taken care of with the worship teams.

Finance: will continue budget process for next year.

Social Ministry: All the Christmas tags were taken and gifts in for the families. They will help with the potluck after the annual meeting.

M/S/C by Bert Henry and John Schlaht to adjourn the meeting.

The next council meeting will be on January 15, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Opening devotions will be led by Gary Kessler. The meeting adjourned and closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted:

Sherri Nissen, Council Secretary

Adult Education in January

We will let the holidays pass before meeting again as a group. On January 11, we will begin a 3-week series entitled, "Speaking the Truth in Love." Have you ever received an internet message of a religious nature that either made your blood boil or melted your heart? Have you ever stopped to wonder if these messages are true?

We will explore the rash of modern religious lore that spreads like wildfire today because of mass communication advances, to see if we can get a grip on what is real and what is not, why Christians feel compelled to embellish the Gospel and even bear false witness, and how, with so much information being cranked out in our world, we discern truth from fiction.

Greeters: Lois & Dillard Paxton

Ushers: Helen & Don Mosman,

Flossie Roberts, James Kennedy

Reader: Jane McKinney Acolyte: Ryan Vasquez

Communion Assistants: Mark Kinkade and James Kennedy

Kitchen: Helen & Don Mosman

Nursery: Flossie Roberts

Greeters: Lois & Dillard Paxton

Ushers: Brenda & Isaac Sedlmayr

Flossie Roberts, Judy Pringle

Reader: Acolyte: Kaleb Cook

Kitchen:

Nursery: Flossie Roberts

Greeters: Lois & Dillard Paxton

Ushers: James Kennedy, Flossie Roberts,

Brenda & Isaac Sedlmayer

Reader: Jane McKinney Acolyte: Ryan Vasquez

Communion Assistants: Mark Kinkade & Ryan Vasquez

Kitchen: Flossie Roberts

Nursery: Flossie Roberts

Greeters: Lois & Dillard Paxton

Ushers: Brenda & Isaac Sedlmayer, Judy Pringle

Reader: Mark Kinkade Acolyte: Kaleb Cook

Kitchen: Mark & Judy Kinkade

Nursery:

In 2008 the Union County Chapter (consists of Salem Lutheran and Trinity Lutheran) of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans received $ 6,755.00 for distribution. It was disbursed as follows:

Afton After School Program $ 555.00 5-9-08

American Cancer Relay for Life 800.00 8-10-08

Tim Herr Benefit 800.00 9-6-08

Friends of Library-used book sale 800.00 9-20-08

Megan Skellenger Benefit 800.00 9-27-08

Crop Walk 500.00 10-05-08

Nick Miller Benefit 500.00 10-18-08

Greg Haley Benefit 600.00 11-01-08

Christmas Basket Fund 900.00 12-01-08

Rural Iowa Life Crisis Center 500.00 12-07-08

A fundraiser was held for each of these activities and Thrivent Financial supplemented the funds as listed above. An additional $ 1,000.00 was given to each chapter for a community work project. Union county purchased and planted nine trees at Three Mile Lake and purchased and assembled two commercial grade picnic tables for McKinley Park. A thank you to all Thrivent members who helped with these activities.

Each church was also given $ 1,300.00 for church use. We donated $ 800.00 to use on the repair of the gable/window and maintenance. Another $ 500.00 was given to the flat roof replacement.

Miriam Circle will meet on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the home of Bev Butler. Claudia Peppers will be hostess and Becky Nardy will lead the Bible study. Carolyn Biere will be the presider.

Rebekah Circle will meet on Thursday, January 8, 2009 in the Fellowship Hall. Barbara Bjorn will be the hostess and Pat Grumley will lead the Bible Study.

Our circle meetings are open to all women and hope you will join us.

The following donations were made by Salem Women of ELCA in 2008.

Union County Development Center $ 100.00

Tanziania Girl’s School 50.00

Project Comfort—LWR 200.00

WISWO (Fund for Helima) 148.00

Mid-Sioux Opportunity 25.00

WELCA (Convention Offering) 200.00

Lutheran Services (Iowa Flood Relief) 500.00

Prison Mission 50.00

Story Book Project 100.00

Lutheran Lakeside Camp 50.00

Green Valley Hospice 25.00

Matura Food Pantry 200.00

Habitat for Humanity 50.00

WELCA Scholarship Fund 100.00

Lutheran Services of Iowa 100.00

Appalachia Project 50.00

Meals on Wheels 100.00

Rural Crisis Center 200.00

Beloit Lutheran Children’s Home 100.00

Thank you to everyone who helped makes it possible for the accomplishments by women of Salem in 2008. I feel we had a good year and it takes each of us to do this.

Bev Butler