Monthly News & Updates

Dear Friends,

"Greeting to the Saints in service to Christ at Zion Lutheran Church. I have some exciting news. Our Interim Pastor is Pastor Kathleen Miko (Mike-O). Her first Sunday with us will be June 4. I want to thank the SC Lutheran Synod office and Pastor Kathleen for this amazingly quick appointment. Some churches have to wait many months, but God has placed Pastor Kathleen in the right place at the right time. I know you all will join me in welcoming her. The following is a bit about her.

Pastor Kathleen came to South Carolina in 2003 to attend Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary from Arizona. She received her M.Div in 2007 and was ordained that same year.

Pastor Kathleen has served in the SC Synod for over three years at the Heritage at Lowman. She came to SC from the Virginia Synod, serving a two-point parish in the Shenandoah Valley, and at Brandon Oaks, a Lutheran Retirement Community in Roanoke. 

She currently lives in Chapin SC with her dog AnnE, and cat Nora. She enjoys walking and hiking and hopes to get back to golfing one or two days a week.

Pastor Kathleen is excited about her new call to Interim Ministry, and this opportunity to shepherd and walk with the saints at Zion in their time of pastoral transition. She is trusting Christ's presence throughout the journey and looking forward to worshipping with the congregation on Sunday, June 4th."

Peace be with you,

Lee Caulder

Graduation Sunday + Sunday, June 11 We celebrate all Zion’s graduates – high school, college, and beyond – and pray for them as they begin a new chapter in their lives. If you have a Graduate you’d like to be recognized please contact the church office or Jamie Hampton.

It’s time for fun and faith at

Zion’s Vacation Bible School

Ready, Set, Move! July 23-26!

Mark your calendars now.

Click below to register

or volunteer to help.

GraceWorks 2023 + July 17th-20th

Have fun + Help Others

This will be the 10^th year of GraceWorks and we are excited to serve our neighbors and enjoy some fun along the way. Zion plays a key part in the leadership of this event so we want to have a good showing of attendees. Please let me know if your youth will be attending this year so we can register. Cost is $50 for the week. (Cost should never be a barrier to attend events at Zion. Please let Walt or Troy know if you need help cover the costs for this or any event.)

The ELCA Youth Gathering is back in 2024!

This is a BIG event that our youth will remember for a lifetime. Click here to watch the reflections of our Youth from last Gathering in 2018.

Feel free to ask any questions you have in the coming months. We will need to get commitments by September, this will allow us to register early and get extra perks including closer hotels, choice of service experience, and more. Having our group early will also give us time to prepare and fundraise for this big trip.

The Choir is on summer break! We don’t meet regularly during the summer, but please consider joining the choir when we resume in the fall. If anyone is interested in providing special music, vocal or instrumental, during the offering this summer (or any time!), please contact Julie.

Handbells will resume in the fall. Even if you’ve never played before, join this fun group when we resume in the fall!

If you have any questions, or if you’d like to share your musical talents in some way, please contact Julie at julie@zionlexsc.com. 

What is Music?

"What is Music? How do you define it? Music is a calm moonlit night, the rustle of leaves in Summer. Music is the far off peal of bells at dusk! Music comes straight from the heart and talks only to the heart: it is Love! Music is the Sister of Poetry and her Mother is sorrow!" – Sergei Rachmaninoff

"Music is moonlight in the gloomy night of life." – Jean Paul

"Music is the soundtrack of your life." – Dick Clark

"Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven." – Walter Savage Landor

"Music is the shorthand of emotion." – Leo Tolstoy

We need your help to make Worship

happen at Zion. We are looking to fill

in a few serving roles this month. See below

and click the button to volunteer now!

Congregation Council Meeting Highlights

Zion’s Congregation Council met on Monday, May 8^th. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting:

+ Shared stories of God's impact in the community and at Zion

+ Heard reports from officers and Ministry Team liaisons

+ Approved Zion's New logo. Check it out at the top of this newsletter!

+ Approved Zion’s stewardship ministry to participate in the Stewardship for All Seasons program

+ Discussed Synod Assembly delegates

+ Approved the appointment of Pastor Kathleen Miko as Zion's Interim Pastor

+ Discussed next steps in the call process

+ Shared joys and concerns and prayer together

2023 Congregation Council members are: Lee Caulder (chair), DeAnna Granda (vice chair), Kathryn Barton (secretary), Janice Sult (treasurer), Ernest Beck, Rebekah Cromer, Chris Ellisor, Linda Hendrix, Ross Hunter, Rayna Kleckley, Roscoe Nesmith, and Geri Nilsestuen.

Giving Info as of May 31, 2023

Offering generously given year to date: $150,325

Gifts to Zion and Partner Feeding Ministries this Year

Mission Lexington: $190 - 184.5 pounds of food

Snack Packs Ministry: $872

Matthew 25 Lunch Ministry: $1245

Recent Memorials Given to the Building Fund 

In memory of Nancy Rebecca "Becky" Saville by Brenda & Jerry Gable, Margaret Sox, Zion Hilltoppers, The Family of Mrs. Margie Roof , Peggy & Donald Hampton

Recent Memorials Given to the General Fund

In memory of Janet Phillips by Geri Nilsestuen

In memory of my mom, Janet Phillips by Henry Phillips & Family



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: $892,974

Total received so far from these commitments: $621,071

Current Needs: Sue Anderson, Jeff Beck (cancer), John Drafts, Tim Driggers (Lex Extended), Madelyn Ellisor, Barry Granda, Gege Kimball, Beckett Owens

Homebound: Betty Baker (Carolina Gardens), Les Caton (Brian Center), Gene Hendrix (Westminster), Melba Ivey (Carolina Gardens), Wyman Kleckley, Jane Langston (Oakleaf), John Shotts, Margaret Sox, Darlene Weight (Tennessee)

Military: Matt Mayer, Chris Rauch, Tristin Secoy

Friends of the Congregation: Felicia Ajibade, Ed ‘Chuck’ Baker, Lynn Balch, Jackie Brock, Connie Browne, Merle Browne, Glenda & Everett Crafts, Jeri Dickson, Pastor Derald Edwards, Gerri Felts, Greg Hash, CJ Keathley, Shelly Koenig, Jack Landers, Dominick Pierallini, Rev. & Mrs. Lindsay Poteat, Cheryl Rawl, Libba Rhoad, Donna Riggins, Adrienne Rutledge, Greg Sommer, Peggy Sox, Ronnie Tunstill, Edith Wessinger, Ron White, Lee Wolford

The family and friends of Janet Phillips who died on Tuesday, May 2.

Bonnie Phillips and family upon the death of her mother Pam Holladay on May 31.

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.

June Birthdays

4^th - Joel Kleckley; 5^th - Amber Grant, Charles Richardson; 6^th - Kaylee Keisler, Margie Wingard, Abby Beard; 8^th - Steve Sult; 12^th - Amanda Farwick; 14^th - Shelton Rhoden; 16^th - Steve Hendrix; 17^th - Bob McCombs, Corbin Jacobs; 18^th - Michael Williamson; 20^th - Stefanie Wingard, Merritt Wingard; 21^st - Ronald Lindler; 25^th - Brantley Williamson; 27^th - James Harman, John Sommer, Adalynn Melonas; 28^th - Jane Langston; 29^th - Phoebe Higgins

June Anniversaries

2^nd - Russell & Sherie Grant; 6^th - Al & Carla Fallaw; 12^th - Steve & Janice Sult; 17^th John & Norene Drafts; 22^nd Hal & Carolette Turner; 24^th – Chris & Jenny Ellisor; 26^th - Thomas & Ginger Sox, Jamie & Walt Hampton