Zion E-News (2-3-2022)

The last few years have been interesting at Zion. Four summers ago, we were scrambling to put together a new Children and Worship room (which brought us to five kids rooms running during church for kids birth through 3rd grade) and within a few weeks volunteers were asking if we could add another new room. We were adding rows of chairs in the sanctuary to make sure we would not feel “full” to a visitor. We had a lot of new kids and adults who were coming to church. By that winter, we were starting to think about a potential building remodel. I think many of us felt the energy and excitement in our church.

Like many, if not most, churches, Covid and all the accompanying changes, tensions, and turmoil of the past two years have affected our community. We have seen dear friends choose to worship elsewhere. Others have simply drifted away from any active church involvement. When you love your community, these changes can be painful. I told Rachel recently that my I can feel my heart physical hurt when I think of the loss of those who are no longer worshipping with us.

I know I am not the only one carrying these feelings because just this week I was a part of or overheard two conversations with people wrestling with just these sorts of thoughts. If you share these feelings, it is OK to grieve. It is sad. It can feel hard. So, take the time to grieve these losses. I have been intentional to do so for the last year or more.

I also want to share another perspective on our community. We continue to see anywhere from 50-60 people joining us for worship online. These members actively tithe, pray for, and serve in ministries at our church. Some of these online attendees come physically to Zion about once a month when they serve in children’s ministries, in the band, or on a welcome team. Others due to ongoing health concerns are choosing to minimize their risk of exposure to Covid and the flu this winter. But they are a vital part of our community that is not easily noticed on a Sunday morning.

We also have seen some new families, teens, and adults join our community over the past year. Some gather most weeks in person, but others are choosing to worship online so you may not have noticed them become a part of our church family.

On Tuesday this week, I met with Beth Morey and Mary Veldink, Parent Liaisons from Jenison Public Schools, to talk about Kids Hope, Threads, and their work to help families find accessible housing in our community. In conversations over the past year, both have spoken of how amazed they are at the generosity and heart for our neighbors shown by the people of Zion. To quote one of them, “This is the coolest church.” You really are.

Our goal at Zion has never been to be the biggest church in town (I remember directing tour busses to Mars Hill back when it was the biggest church in town), but to reach our neighbors with the gospel. We continue to do just that through relationships built at Threads, Kids Hope, and Camp Zion, through support given through Hand2Hand and the Personal Care Pantry, and through each of you as you love your neighbors, live humbly and show mercy in your homes and workplaces.

In the midst of these changes, I also want to remind each of us, God is still in control. God was in control when we were struggling to keep up with the growth in our church. God was in control the first Sunday everything shutdown due to Covid. God is in control today, tomorrow, and every tomorrow to come. This season at Zion is a part of God’s plan, too. It is part of how God is shaping and forming me and you and all of us that make up the community of Zion to believe, think, and act more like Jesus.

As I reflect on the last several years, I have no idea what may happen next. But, I know God will carry us through as God has carried and led Zion for the last 67 years. May all we do be for God’s glory and point people to the beauty of God’s kingdom.

– Greg

Connect to God
This week we will gather for worship at 9:30 am. This weeks service will be at zionreformed.online.church and streaming on our YouTube channel. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday. This week, we made some upgrades to our live stream technology. Beginning this week, we will not be replaying the service at 11 am. The service will continue to be available on Facebook and YouTube to watch at your convenience.

Have the past couple years 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 the conclusion of this once a month series to reboot your faith. This week we talk about rebooting generosity in our lives by reflecting on the generosity of God.

We will also celebrate with Danny and Ashley Copron the baptism of their daughter Aria.  As they celebrate his life, we give thanks to God for the gift of new life he has made available to all who believe. We thank God as well for the covenant he has established all the way back with Abraham to include children in his family. We honor this faithful God as we welcome  these children into the covenant community at Zion.

Grow in Community
Gwen Wallace’s knee surgery was postponed until sometime next week.

Beginning February 22, we will be hosting a book discussion on Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison. The book focuses our attention on how we can build bridges across racial divides to model the restoring and unifying work of Christ among all people. You can sign up for the discussion through the Connection card on Sunday.

Serve the World
I just have to share a really cool small thing from this week. The owners of Striders in Grandville have heard about Threads and toured Threads and just this week donated two huge boxes of mens and women’s athletic shoes. They are very excited to partner with us in caring for our community.

Threads will be having a semi-annual sale, which will be open to the public, on Saturday, March 12 from 9am – 1pm. Each and every item in the boutique will be priced at $1. The money raised from this sale is used to self-fund our ministry and purchase needed items. All are invited to come in and shop!

Currently, Threads is in need of new underwear and new socks for all ages/sizes, and also in need of plastic white shirt hangers and pants hangers. Any donations of these items is greatly appreciated.

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
The remodel of our bathrooms began earlier this month. Fixtures are being removed. Walls knocked down. It is a little noisy at times in the offices! As a reminder, during the remodel, the only restrooms available on the main floor of church can be accessed through the doors at the front of the sanctuary. They are single stall uni-sex restrooms.

The Reformed Church in America announced the people appointed to serve on the denominational restructuring team last night. If you are interested in learning more, you can check out the article here.

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:  $392,359.45
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $338,172.25
Giving Last Week: $6,809.50