Zion E-News (3-24-2022)

Zion E-News (3-24-2022)
God must be trying to get my attention regarding social media, because I have two different videos or podcasts pop up directly addressing the negative side effects of social media (depression, increased polarization, anxiety, lost productivity, and so on). The first showed up when I was editing the video of our service on YouTube. It was a video made by a comedienne who struck my funny bone during the early days of the pandemic. The video was all about how we use social media to numb the pain of sadness and to fill the void of loneliness and all it does is increase both those feelings. And then the video ended with an ad for counseling. I thought that was a great partnership!

The second was a podcast I frequently listen to hosted by Heather Thompson Day who is a communications professor and talks with people about using social media to have an impact for Jesus. (Sort of.) But this week, her guest was a social scientist who studies social media and who because of her study is no longer on social media. Yes, she really thinks it is that bad for most of us.

But what struck me in that interview was a comment the guest made about mono-tasking. Simply doing one thing at a time rather than two or three of four things at once. She used the example of driving. Just driving. Not listening to the radio or a podcast. Not calling people. But simply paying attention to the act of driving. Her counsel was that mono-tasking helps our brain slow down and focus better and as a side effect can also help us get more done.

I have been feeling particularly busy the past couple of weeks as evenings have been full with church and kids activities and several of my days have been eaten up by extra church meetings, including this Saturday. When I feel busy, my mind rushes from one thing to the next and I find it difficult to focus, not only on the task at hand, but also the people with me.

For the past couple of days, I have been working hard to mono-task. As a simple example, I did not check e-mail while brushing my teeth or scroll on twitter while eating breakfast or call anyone while driving across town for a meeting on Tuesday. When I came home for the day Tuesday a little after eight, normally I would have chose to watch TV or surf the internet news sites, but instead, I chose to sit and chat with the kids for an hour and be present with them.I chose to be fully present to each activity and I could feel my anxiety and sense of hurry slow down. The same has been true in my devotions as I have worked hard to be present with God. As I have been thinking about mono-tasking, I keep coming back to Psalm 46:10 which says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

In a world of both frenetic hurry and the artificial hurry of social media distraction, it is good for me to be still and present to God, to those around me, and the work God has placed before me at that moment.

– 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. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.

During Lent we will be looking at the life and ministry of Jesus to see both how he was tested and found true and how we have been given a faith that can both endure and help carry us through every test of life. This Sunday, we consider The Parable of the Lost Son, often referred to as The Parable of the Prodigal Son. As we look at this story, we contemplate which characters we relate to most, and what we can learn about who God is and who we are from these characters and their story.

This Sunday, after church, we will be distributing “You’ve Been Egged” bags to our children. Every family who participates in kids ministry is welcome to take one for themselves, and we also encourage everyone to take one or more to “Egg” another person or family, by dropping it off at their home. There are a couple of reasons we’re doing this. First, we want to give our kids (and all of us!) an opportunity to do something to bless our friends & neighbors. And second, we know that around Easter, some people are looking for a place to worship. We simply want to extend a personal invitation to them to join us at Zion. If you decide to “Egg” someone’s house, be sure to write your name on the gift bag if you leave it by their front porch, or personally deliver it to them. A huge thank you to the high school youth group who put together each of the “You’ve Been Egged” bags.

Grow in Community
Denice Kooiker, Dianne’s daughter-in-law,  continues to improve this week and was able to have two drainage tubes removed, is hoping to have another one removed today, and is praying to return home sometime this weekend.

Thank you to all those who attended the Alaska Mission Trip Fundraiser at Culver’s on Monday this week. Through your generous support, we raised $1,402 from the tip jars plus however much we earned in the percentage of sales. Thank you for your support of our youth.

Our youth are looking for Shareholders for our 2022 Alaska Mission Trip.Becoming a shareholder means that you will donate $40 or more to help offset the costs of the trip. As a shareholder, you will be matched up with one student and commit to praying for them before the trip, during the trip, and after the trip. There are all sorts of benefits for shareholders like: a meal with your student after the trip, an update from the student during the trip, a copy of their pre-trip devotionals, the knowledge you played a role in a student’s spiritual growth and so much more.

Serve the World
Chris and Christie Winkler, missionaries whom we support with Wycliffe Bible Translators will be hosting a virtual meeting tomorrow at 12 pm. This session will be on Zoom but you do not need a Zoom account in order to participate. At the specified time, please use this link to visit with us. (If you don’t do video conferencing, that’s fine–for either session you can call 312-626-6799  and use meeting ID 960 093 2513 to access by any regular or mobile phone.)

So they have a rough idea of our turnout, they would like people to RSVP via Facebook Events at the link below (you do not need a Facebook account): Friday, March 25, at 12 p.m. ET

If you forget to RSVP, you are still welcome to attend. If you want to learn more about the important ministry of Wycliffe in translating the Bible all around the world, please plan on attending tomorrow at noon via zoom.

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 in January and is right on schedule! There are lights in the bathrooms, counters, and mirrors. We are hoping the work will be completed as early as next week and no later than Easter Sunday! You can check out the progress in some pictures below. The first shows the new women’s restroom and the second shows the men’s restroom.

   

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.

Members of Zion Reformed Church received a nomination form in the mailbox last week Sunday. This form is used to nominate people to be considered to serve an upcoming 3-year term as an Elder or Deacon at Zion. The following people have said they are willing to be nominated for these roles: Tom Boeve, Deb Coke, Ashley Gross, Tracy Lobbes, Tim Mekkes, Adam Morehouse, Emily Morehouse, Ashley VanderWall, and Eric Zondervan. Furthermore, after using a single slate of nominees last spring, the Consistory decided to do so again this year following one of the two methods for choosing Consistory members described in our denomination’s Book of Church Order. As prescribed in the Book of Church Order, the congregation will nominate people for the offices of Elder and Deacon. Using these nominations as a significant guide, the Consistory will choose the 2 Elders and 2 Deacons to stand on this single slate. The slate of Elders and Deacons will then be approved by the congregation at our annual congregational meeting on Sunday, May 1 following our worship service.

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:  $470,831.34
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $419,651.68
Giving Last Week: $23,752.30
Ukraine Refugee Support: $7,104.00