Zion News 4/12/18

When I served New Hope Community Church in Colorado, we had a youth intern named Amanda who had grown up in the church and was a college student. Over the years, I have stayed in touch with her as she started seminary, joined the Presbyterian Church, became ordained, and served a church for several years in the Atlanta area. I have been so proud to see the great pastor she has become.

But, on Tuesday, she posted a letter to the congregation informing them that she had accepted a new call to a church in Denver. She would be doing similar work, but she would be home again near her family. The sadness of her leaving was evident in the letter. She clearly loved her present congregation But, you could also sense her joy in going home. Transitions are like that. Often filled with both joy and sorrow, excitement for the new and grief as we say goodbye to the old.

I have been spending a lot of time these week with people who are also getting ready to make a transition. Madonna Chappelle continues to receive care under Hospice and the decline in her health is very obvious. And then, this morning, I visited with Jack Heuvelhorst who also entered Hospice this week. In both cases, I have no doubt where they are headed after this life ends and neither do they. They have both expressed a confident trust and hope in Christ and the resurrection to come. And, over the 20+ years I have known Jack, I have seen all sorts of evidence of a life shaped by the generous gospel of love we find in Jesus.

This morning, I accidentally woke Jack up while praying with him. Since he was awake, I asked if we could read scripture and he nodded his assent. I read John 14:1-6 about how Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us in his father’s house. As I read, Jack gave me the thumbs up sign and started clapping. His joy at the hope we have in Christ was evident to me and his sister and brother who were also in the room.

I am reminded today that we do not grieve as those without hope. We do not face death as some giant mystery. We grieve as those who know death does not get the final word. And, we face death knowing it is not the end, but simply a transition to a reunion with our heavenly father. Or, as Paul put it even better in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

This Easter season, may we all live in the promise of Jesus resurrection and in the hope of the resurrection to come!

On Easter Sunday, God begins a re-creation of the world beginning with the resurrection of Jesus. While we are still waiting for this creation to be fully formed, we as Christians are called to live a Jesus shaped life so that our lives point people both to Jesus and this new world God is making. This week, we consider Jesus call to be a people defined and shaped by an ethic of love.

If you would like a copy of the worship service, you can receive a complete copy by contacting Tom Verbrugge or you can find the weekly messages on our website.

Teresa Beute returned home after her recent heart surgery,
Barb Peterson is also home after her recent cardioversion.

Mark Steenbergen will be undergoing a heart procedure on Friday morning. He has been experiencing tiredness and shortness of breath. They will be looking to fix a potentially leaky valve and determine if anything else may need attention. Prayers for peace and comfort and healing are appreciated,

Bob Baar began chemotherapy treatments on Tuesday for bladder cancer. He is currently doing well and experiencing few side effects.

Madonne Cappelle continues under hospice care and is regularly surrounded by family and friends. Short visits are still appreciated and she especially wants to thank our deacons (Sarah McAnally and Rachel Eriks) for their many visits and prayers.

On an unrelated note, Jim Peterson spent the last few days at church repainting room 205. Thanks to Jim for offering his gift of the speediest and best quality painting in town. 

Serve the World
As CityFest kicks off a 6 month period of serving our community and training churches, there is a great opportunity for members of our church to learn more about evangelism and how to share our faith with others. On April 17, Mark Mittelberg, author of Becoming a Contagious Christian, will offer a free training at Fairhaven Church in Hudsonville at 7 pm. If you are interested in attending, you can sign-up through the Connection Card on Sunday.

The Consistory of Zion met on Tuesday night to approve a budget recommendation for the fiscal year of 2018/19 and to nominate our slate of new Elders and Deacons. The budget will be available in the Narthex on Sunday morning for your review prior to our Congregational Meeting on May 6 following worship.

The following people were nominated for the office of Elder:
Kyle VanderWall, Josh Sanders, Brian Davis, and Mike Knott.

The following people were nominated for the office of Deacon: Jerrod Holzgen, Chip Harkes, Mark Radcliff, and Aaron Huizenga.

Our new Elders and Deacons will be chosen by lot at our  congregational meeting on May from these nominees. Pleas bee in prayer for each of our nominees.

We continue to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and for the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and treasures.

Year to date budget: $477,670.95
Year to date contributions: $475,213.08