Our neighbor has a big tree that always changes into vibrant shades of orange and red this time of year. I know nothing about trees or gardening, but I throughly enjoy the beauty of change in this tree. Every day, I sit in my favorite chair and look out the window and appreciate God’s paint palette.
However, I am not sure the tree is enjoying its changing colors as much as I am. It is getting colder with shorter and shorter days, so it is conserving energy, sucking all the nutrients out of the leaves, and preparing for winter. Winter is a harsh season for the tree, but it also provides an opportunity for the tree to do some housekeeping. Specifically, during the winter it strengthens the cell membranes that make up the tree. It gets stronger over the winter so it is ready to grow again in the spring.
I think change is always hard when it is happening to you, but it is often in the moments of change, what some call liminal moments, that we have the opportunity to strengthen parts of our character, our spiritual lives, and even our church that may go unnoticed when life is going along just as we desire.
It is in the unwanted change that we often turn more intentionally to God, learn to rely on our friends, face the limits of our mortal bodies, and learn to live more in step with the Spirit of God.
This Sunday we will be talking about prayer and how prayer can be a key habit to help us grow and become the people God has created us to be. During this fall season of change and the reality of change always occurring around us, how might you use this time to strengthen your walk so you are prepared for the growth God has in store for you just around the corner?
– Greg
Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather for worship at 9:30 am. The service will be live-streamed at 9:30 and replayed again at 11. You can find the services either on our Facebook page, at zionreformed.online.church, or streaming on our Youtube channel. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.
Has this past year been hard? Have you struggled emotionally or spiritually? Wondered where God was? Got out of some important spiritual habits like: worship, prayer, and scripture reading? Then join us for the once a month series to reboot your faith. This week we talk about rebooting our spiritual lives by being with God in prayer.
This Sunday, we welcome Steve Landstra, via video, as he shares in the sermon about how his prayer life has changed over the past year.
Grow in Community
Jim Overweg continues his recovery at home from Covid. He is mostly off of oxygen, except when needed, and is hoping to be able to return to worship in the next few weeks. He and Barb are very appreciative of the cards, calls, and prayers offered on their behalf.
Larry Westra was admitted to the hospital earlier this week due to an infection after a recent back surgery. He remains hospitalized and is in good spirits.
This has been another fun week at Zion. Jim Peterson has been busy painting our lobby with a helping hand from Pastor Rick and Mike Taylor. Threads held another shopping day on Tuesday and also distributed personal care items through our Personal Care Pantry. Steve Landstra stopped by to record a brief interview for our service on Sunday. Tami Hewitt was busy working in the pre-school Sunday school room. And of course, on Wednesday night the church was filled with praise as our band practices for Sunday.
But, the highlights of the week happened for me on Sunday morning both before and after church. Before church, Patti Grooters was meeting with three teenagers to study the Bible, encourage, and pray for each other. And then, after church, I walked into my office only to discover three men were meeting in there to talk about scripture together and encourage each other in their discipleship. God is doing the work of helping us grow roots that sink deep into the river of his Spirit. If you are interested in learning more about our Discipleship groups, please give me a call or shoot me ane-mail.
On Sunday morning, Nov. 14, kids in Kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to sing “Raise a Hallelujah” in front of church. If you child would like to join in, please have them at church a few minutes before 9:00am. We’ll meet in the sanctuary to practice before church.
We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
11/8 Monday Revelation 8
11/9 Tuesday Revelation 9
11/10 Wednesday Revelation 10
11/11 Thursday Revelation 11
11/12 Friday Revelation 12
You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.
Serve the World
Both Good News Nepal an Jibit Aisha report that flooding and mudslides last week Monday in their Nepal caused loss of rice crops and other damage. The government is promising residents money but Good News Nepal will assist if that does not happen. Please pray for the pastors and their people.
If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Jerrod Holzgen, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is Jholzgen@yahoo.com and his phone number is 616-520-1771.
Administration
We have been busy cleaning out some closets and storage rooms in the basement. As a result, we have uncovered plates, cups, coolers and more that we do not need at church. If you are interested in giving any of these items a new home, you can do so following worship on November 7. Any donation to support Zion will be appreciated, but not required.
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 2021/22 Budget: $246,625.94
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $178,551.59
Giving Last Week: $10,183.28
