Zion E-News (6-23-2022)

Preparing to write this final E-news introduction, I reflected on all the E-news I have written over  the years. This whole weekly newsletter started back in 2014 as a way to keep our Consistory informed of what was happening over the summer. Many people enjoy camping, cottages, and vacations over the summer and I wanted to make sure our Consistory still were aware of any important events at church. Rich Ribbens, who was the Vice-President of Consistory at the time, started forwarding the weekly e-mail to his friends and then word got out and people asked to be added to the list. By August the list had grown and we switched to using mail chimp to send the E-news.

I am feeling particularly nostalgic lately and have read through many of those E-newses (what is the plural of E-news?), a little over 350 weekly updates in total. It feels a bit like reading a journal as sometimes there are reflections on current events, an article I appreciated, an important church update, or a reflection on frogs, and always an annual top ten list of books.

As I look back on these last 17 years, I am struck by one simple thought: this has been a joyous journey with you all. I have loved being your pastor. I have enjoyed each Consistory with whom I have been privileged to work. Our staff are not only co-workers, but dear friends. Coming up with a new sermon each week always stressed me out, but I am a little proud to say I never preached the same sermon twice (you might be surprised how many pastors have done so and no one noticed). Though, as a few have discovered, I did steal some sermon series ideas on occasion when my creativity ran out.

I will save my stories for Sunday, but for now, i just want to say, thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on someone who had only preached 12 sermons total before coming to Zion. Thank you for loving my family so well all these years. Thank you for trying so many new things together and having grace when some didn’t go so well. Thank you for laughing with me when sermon illustrations didn’t turn out as I expected. Thank you for being beloved co-workers in Christ.

Thank you for the last 17 years we have journeyed together.

– 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.

This week, we celebrate the last 17 years of our life and ministry together with the Brower family. As we thank God for the ways we have shared our lives together, we also look with anticipation to the work to which God has called Pastor Greg and the new work God will be doing among us as we receive a new Transition Pastor in Pastor Steve and look forward to receiving whomever God has prepared to be our next pastor.

This Sunday we celebrate with Kyle and Shanda VandePol the baptism of their son Pierce Calvin and with Austen and Olivia DeHaan the baptism of their daughter Ruby Sue. As they celebrate the life of their children, 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 Pierce Calvin and Ruby Sue into the covenant community at Zion.

We will also be celebrating the conclusion of 17 years of ministry at Zion for the Brower family. There will be a reception following church for those who desire to wish the Browers well as God calls Greg to lead our Classis.

Grow in Community
Some of you may be wondering who will be in charge of Zion Kids now that Rachel Brower will no longer be in that role. Thankfully, many of our leaders have been quick to step up and fill the gap. Following are those who have stepped up and what they will be doing to help us in this time of transition.
Nursery Coordinator – Becky Harkes
Summer Kids Coordinator – Katie Wagner with recruiting help from Jacki Dieter
Child CheckIn Coordinator – Kelly Osterink
Summer Events – Heidi Ondersma
Pre-school Coordinator – Tami Hewitt
K-3rd Coordinator – Heidi Ondersma
Pre-teen Coordinator – Jerrod Holzgen
Christmas Program Director – Emily Morehouse
Administrative/Tech Coordinator – Matt Eling and various staff

Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to help Zion Kids continue to disciple and care for the youngest members of our church.

Next week is the 4th of July Holiday weekend! Zion Kids will not be meeting next week Sunday. This means people ages 3 years old will be staying through the entire service. We will be holding nursery as we do every week.

Serve the World
Camp Zion starts Monday!! Currently, we have 45 kids registered for camp. Two-thirds are returning campers and one-third are new campers from West and Grandview elementary. The theme verse for the year is Luke 10:27 which says: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” IN addition, the campers will be studying the 10 commandments over the 6 weeks of camp. If you are interested in helping out with Camp Zion, there are sign-ups below fro donations and volunteering.
Camp Zion Snack Donations
Camp Zion Amazon Wish List
Camp Zion Volunteer Sign Ups

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
Our consistory met on Tuesday this week to sign some formal documents ending Pastor Greg’s call to Zion and to officially hire Becky Harkes as our new nursery coordinator. This is not a new position as Zion has had a paid nursery coordinator since at least 2004, with the exception of these past two years of Covid when Rachel Brower also led the nursery. We are so thankful for Becky’s sense of call to this role and look forward to the ways she will help us welcome and love the smallest members of Zion.

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: $30,783.51
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $34,375.67
Giving Last Week: $4,642.50