The Zion Lutheran Church congregation in Brodheadsville honored their pastor, the Rev. E. Anne Melot, for 20 years of her outreach and caring for them.

The statistics include: visits (home, hospital, nursing home) 2,291; Baptisms, 99; First Holy Communion, 68; Confirmation, 90, Weddings 53; and Funerals, 187.

Those numbers were ratified during a game involving several guests, similar to the “Price is Right,” as “interpreted” by Paula Bond, current church treasurer;

Zion’s current council president, Patty Pierce, recalled the Call Committee including Mike Riedinger, Kathy Kane, Peter Kern, Emil Suarez, Gayle Tobin, and Sue Weiss “presenting Pastor Melot to the congregation and ... she and her dog Chauncy were warmly received.”

Testimonies were heard from many of the fellowship, including Margaret Seligman, who was the church secretary then, served as chairwoman of the anniversary committee and is now vice president of the church council.

Ruth Rinaldi, longtime church member and a member of the event preparation committee shared “Blessed to be a Blessing.”

Dan Montgomery, originally from Wisconsin, helped with serving the celebratory dinner, and told all that the “Holy Spirit guided me to Zion.”

He said he knew Zion was his church after he saw the rainbow sign on the church and after hearing Pastor Melot preach. He now serves on Zion’s church council.