Zion E-News (8-29-2019)

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On Wednesday evening, after grabbing a quick supper, I drove to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs to walk around and pray. I had forgotten how busy it gets and so praying became a little more difficult with all the distractions. But, I did stop for a while to watch a couple of rock climbers. It was  coed team of climbers. She was leading the way and placing the ropes for him to follow up. She was clearly the more experienced of the two.

That’s the way much of life works, the more experienced lead and prepare the way for the less experienced to follow.When we are born, it is parents modeling how to resolve conflict, manage emotions, and schedule our days. When we begin our careers, it is mentors who show us the rope. And, when we begin to follow Jesus, we all need a model to follow.

Two thousand years ago, the 12 disciples could simply follow Jesus, but ever since then, we have learned to follow through the example of those who have gone before us. In 1 Corinthians 4:16, Paul urges the Corinthians to imitate him. In chapter 11, he clarifies that they should follow him as he follows Christ. This is who discipleship works. One new believer following someone a little further ahead as each tries to follow the example of Christ.

On Monday, I reconnected with Phil Schuiling. He was the Sr. Pastor at the first church i served. I first learned how to pastor by following his example and that of Wayne Brouwer and Wayne Leys, other mentors of mine. Each taught me a little something different about how to follow Jesus while leading in the church. Before that, it was my parents and grandparents. Who was it for you? Who first showed you how to follow Jesus?

As I watched the climbers, she kept pausing in her work to tell the man following what she was doing, to look back and offer him both encouragement and advice. She was teaching him how to climb so next time he could lead the way.

And maybe, just as importantly as who you have followed, who are you leading? Who is following your example? Hopefully, if you have children, you could say your children. But are there others? Where are you investing in the next generation of believers? In those who are just learning to follow?

This is the command of God for every believers, to go and make disciples, teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded us. How are you living in to this calling today?

Connect to God

An angry prophet. A fearsome and hated enemy. An overwhelming storm. And a surprising message of a merciful God to his people. The story of Jonah is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Many people, even those who are not religious, are familiar with Jonah: a rebellious prophet who defies God and is swallowed by a whale. But there’s much more to Jonah’s story than most of us realize. In the final week of our study of Jonah, Jonah throws a temper tantrum at the mercy of God and God seeks to gently reveal against his amazing compassion and grace to this most stubborn of prophets.

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.

Grow in Community
Kay Sikkema is recovering from a fall late last week and is hoping to return home in the next couple of days.

This Sunday, the nursery will move from its former location to Room 207. This will be its new location throughout the year.

Our Sunday School ministry will begin on Sunday, September 8. Following is some important information for the year: 

  • Our kid’s programming will go until 10:50. If church gets out before that, feel free to grab a cup of coffee & chat until pick-up time.
  • Kids ages birth-4th grade need to be checked in.(5th graders are “grandfathered” in this year, and don’t need a name tag)  Kids 3rd grade and younger must be checked out, but 4th & 5th graders are free to leave on their own.
  • We’re encouraging kids birth-age 3 to be dropped off before church starts in their classrooms.
  • Kids in Kindergarten-5th will start out as a large group in Room 205, and then split into age-based small groups.
Here are the room assignments for this year:
  • Nursery – Room 207 (where the 3 yr. olds were last year)
  • 3 yr. olds – where the toddler nursery was last year
  • 4 yr. & young 5’s – Room 206
  • Kindergarten – Room 203
  • 1st grade – Room 204
  • 2nd/3rd grade – the old infant nursery/the old library
  • 4th & 5th grade – Chapel

Following Labor Day, all adults who are serving in a new role, will be invited to go through some leadership training. We have a great team of coaches to assist in this training. The training will be a combination on-line video and text resources through RightNow Media and face-to-face conversations with a coach and other members of Zion. So, if you are serving in a new role this year, you can expect someone to contact you shortly after the holiday weekend.

If you haven’t yet signed up for RightNow Media, a great free resource of Christian videos for kids and adults alike, you can do so here.

Youth and Worship Pastor Jeremy Zoet will be on sabbatical from August 5 to October 1. During this time he will not respond to calls, texts, or emails. In his absence please direct all communication to the following people:

Worship: Sarah McAnally at (810) 434-6841 or feelinsnappy@gmail.com.
Middle School Youth: Rachel Verbrugge at (616) 258-3291 or verbrugge.family@att.net.
High School Youth: Shanda VandePol at (616) 308-0700 or shandavandepol@yahoo.com.
If an emergency arises, contact Pastor Greg at (616) 340-7785.

Serve the World
Next week Sunday, the 8th, we will be welcoming Doug McClintic, formerly on staff with our Regional Synod and now the European Church Planting Coordinator for the RCA. In that role, Doug provides support, strategic coordination, and expertise to congregations, classes, regional synods, and other agencies in European church planting efforts. He partners North American congregations with the next generation of European churches to develop a strategy of local empowerment, collaboration, and evaluation.

Doug will also be leading a workshop on taking faith risks on September 12. The announcement and a link to sign-up are below.

Administrative Details
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.

Fiscal Year to date budget: $144,193.66
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $115,114.05

Consistory Communiqué
Each month, the consistory of Zion will provide a “snapshot” of their discussions, decisions, and points of information to keep the congregation better informed. You are encouraged to contact an elder for additional clarification or discussion.

August Consistory Meeting

  • The Reformed denomination continues to wrestle with questions on sexuality, among other issues. Multiple options to resolve this debate were proposed during Synod 2019 and will be voted on during Synod 2020. As Synod 2020 approaches, consistory is looking at providing more insight and possible teaching on these topics.
  • Following an audit on Camp Zion, Consistory is considering changes that include an increased focus on targeting more academically and socially at-risk kids through West and Central Elementary Schools.
  • One of Zion’s goals for the next 90 days is to begin the process of reviewing and redesigning the youth group ministry.
  • Andrew Moore from Community Reformed in Zeeland has begun the process of planting a church in Grandville. Andrew will be sharing more on this church plant with Consistory in September.