Zion E-News (12-10-2020)
If you are reading through the New Testament with us this year, you read Matthew 9 this morning. This chapter ends with a call from Jesus to pray for workers for the harvest is plentiful in Matthew 9:36. And then I came across this article from Christianity Today that considers how the church ought to respond when the culture turns away from church and regular church attendance. And then, last week, in a book our staff is reading together, the author pointed out that in a recent survey, more Christians have prayed to win the lottery than are regularly playing for people far from God to come to know God.
Our culture is shifting away from church, Jesus says to pray for workers for the harvest, and more of Christians pray to win the lottery than to see people come to know Jesus. Something needs to change in us. We need hearts for the harvest, the attitude of a missionary, and a genuine love for our neighbors who don’t yet know personally the love of our God.
Will you join me this week in praying each day at 9:36 am and/or pm each day that God would raise up workers for the harvest?
– Greg
Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather online at 9 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.
We have a great service planned for this Sunday. Our kids in 3rd through 5th grade will be leading us in a retelling of the Christmas story. Our younger kids and their parents will be reading Luke 2. And, Harlow Boeskool will be singing with our praise team. While our annual Christmas program does not look quite like it normally does, it will be a great opportunity to both encourage your children and come in wonder again to the manager of our king.
Most of us are familiar with the events of the first Christmas, The manger, The shepherd watching sheep. The angels singing. The wise men. The little baby wrapped in cloths lying in the manner. But what if this birth is not just any birth, but the one event on which all of history turns and that can transform our lives. Join us this advent season as we meet Jesus who comes to us as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This week, we meet Jesus who comes to us as the Everlasting Father.
Grow in Community
You can still join us in reading through the New Testament over the next year. We are encouraging everyone to use the Through the Word app on Apple or Android devices. This app not only has the scripture readings, but also a 9-10 minute teaching on the passage of the day. This could be a great way for our Discipleship Triads to study together or for a small group or family to do devotions together. If you are unsure how to install the app, we have made a short instructional video to show you how to do so on an iPhone. You can find that video here.
The reading schedule for this week is below:
Monday: Matthew 11
Tuesday: Matthew 12
Wednesday: Matthew 13
Thursday: Matthew 14
Friday: Matthew 15
You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.
Beginning in January, Sheila Johnson will be leading a book discussion on the book The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby. If you are interested in thinking together about racial divisions in our culture and the role of the church, this would be a great place to be a part of that conversation. If you are interested in this book discussion, please contact Sheila at sheilaj2494@yahoo.com.
Serve the World
If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.
Administration
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: $283,669.56
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $252,508.35
Giving Last Week: $16,831
