The Consistory of Zion Reformed Church met with the Rev. Dr. Steve Petroelje on Tuesday evening this week to determine if Steve is the right person to serve as a Transition pastor for our church during this season of change. The Transition ministers role is different from what used to be called an interim minister. Interim ministers typically focused on “holding down the fort” or sampling maintaining a church’s ministry and presence while the church looked for a new pastor. A Transition minister comes into this season of the church’s life with a slightly different goal. They come seeking to help the church “move the ball down the field” so to speak as the church celebrates fruit of the past, addresses any challenge for obstacles of the present, and seeks to further the work fo the kingdom in the church. In other words, the Transition minister helps a church not just go through a pastoral transition, but to grow through the pastoral transition.

Steve would come to Zion with a wealth of experience and wisdom. He has been a pastor for over 20 years. Led two churches for about a decade each and has now served 4 churches as their Transition pastor. He was trained and mentored for this role by Art Wiers, who is now retired but among fellow pastors is almost legendary for his skills in this role. Steve is highly recommended by the 4 churches he has already served in this role, by our Classis, and the Regional Synod. On a personal note, I have known Steve for 14 years and know him to be someone of great character, careful discernment, calm influence, and a deep love for the church of God.

After meeting with Steve, the Consistory voted unanimously to offer him a 1-year contract to serve as Zion’s Transition minister beginning on August 15. He is currently serving in a Transition role at another church which will conclude at the end of July. As I am writing this update early Wednesday morning, I have not yet heard if he has accepted the contract, but fully anticipate our Consistory will be able to announce his acceptance soon.

On a personal note, I so appreciate the many texts, e-mails, phone calls, and invites to simply get together from so many of you. You make it a joy to be your pastor. I will be at Synod beginning tomorrow,  but am already looking forward to being with you all again on June 19.

– 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 Sunday, we welcome Chris VanderZee from Intervasity to our pulpit. Chris and I have gotten to know each other over the past few years as we have been working on a partnership between Intervarsity and several churches in our Classis to raise up future leaders for the church at both Grand Valley and Davenport. Chris brings a deep passion for evangelism, discipleship, and young adults. His message will be on Mark 5:1-20.

We will also be commissioning our Youth Mission trip team and installing and ordaining our new Elders and Deacons.

Grow in Community
Summer is a great time to try out new ways to serve in at Zion. if you are interested in serving on one of our welcome teams, now is the time to try it out a few times over the summer! if you are already on a team or want to try it out, you can sign up to serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station here.

Starting last week, we have switched to our summer mode in Zion Kids! We’ll be running a nursery, and a simplified program for kids 3 yrs.-going into 3rd grade (all together). We read Bible stories to kids in small groups, pray, do crafts & play with them.  It’s really fun, and a great way to get to know the kids!  To make this happen, we need your help! Would you be willing to serve In kids ministry two times over the summer months?  We’re looking for young grandparents, teenagers, parents, and people who enjoy being around kids.  We’ll make sure to pair summer volunteers alongside our regular kids ministry people.   All adults over 18 years old must go through Keeping Kids Safe training and a background check prior to serving with kids.  If needed, Rachel will contact you to set up a time to go over our policies. These really are fun Summer Sundays with extra time to get to know the kids a bit more! You can sign up through the links below, or via a sign up sheet outside of Room 205, or by texting Rachel at 616-669-3412.  Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry  
Nursery

Serve the World
We had another great day for shopping at Threads. Due to the great weather, we had a bit off a lull in the afternoon, but were quite busy in the early evening and late morning. It is so exciting to see people not only receive clothing they need, but even more to find community and a place where they feel known and loved. Thank you to all who spent Monday night sorting clothes and Tuesday welcoming and caring for our shoppers.

Camp Zion is starting in just a few weeks! 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
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: $10,261.17
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $10,261.17
Giving Last Week: $21,835.67

For a couple of years now, I have been following “Sassy Seminary Student” on social media. She is a young woman currently enrolled in a southern seminary. She is theologically reformed and very socially conservative (she wears a head covering).

She and many other people have been processing the latest report to come out of the Southern Baptist Convention about significant abuse and coverup by pastors and denominational leaders. The stories being told are both heart breaking and deeply troubling.

I am cognizant that some people in our church have likely experienced abuse and traumatic events like those outlined in the SBC report. You may have questions like: where is God in this pain? How could God allow this happen? Is God even a good God?

As I think about these experiences, I have my own thoughts, but sometimes it is better to hear from someone who has walked in your shoes and wrestled with the same types of questions you may have. Leah (The Sassy Seminary Student) wrote a reflection this week on her own sexual assault and how her belief in the providence of God helps her endure in her recovery. If you are able, I would encourage you to read her reflection at the link below, but as a caution, it may be triggering for some.
In the Wake of Sexual Assault

– 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 Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost! Next week as we enter what is commonly called Ordinary Time, we will be spending the next couple of weeks thinking about how God’s mission for the world has a church. As we think about the role of the church in God’s mission, his deep longing to see people from every tribe, people, and language returning to God in worship, we will be looking at three key teachings from Jesus that inform our role in this mission. Last week, we focused on the Great Commission in Matthew 28, In two weeks, we will focus on the Great Mission of Jesus in Luke 4. And this week, we will be thinking about the Great Commandment to love God and others given in Matthew 22.

We will also be commissioning our Youth Mission trip team and installing and ordaining our new Elders and Deacons.

Grow in Community
Summer is a great time to try out new ways to serve in at Zion. if you are interested in serving on one of our welcome teams, now is the time to try it out a few times over the summer! if you are already on a team or want to try it out, you can sign up to serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station here.

Starting on Sunday morning, June 5, we’ll switch to our summer mode in Zion Kids! We’ll be running a nursery, and a simplified program for kids 3 yrs.-going into 3rd grade (all together). We read Bible stories to kids in small groups, pray, do crafts & play with them.  It’s really fun, and a great way to get to know the kids!  To make this happen, we need your help! Would you be willing to serve In kids ministry two times over the summer months?  We’re looking for young grandparents, teenagers, parents, and people who enjoy being around kids.  We’ll make sure to pair summer volunteers alongside our regular kids ministry people.   All adults over 18 years old must go through Keeping Kids Safe training and a background check prior to serving with kids.  If needed, Rachel will contact you to set up a time to go over our policies. These really are fun Summer Sundays with extra time to get to know the kids a bit more! You can sign up through the links below, or via a sign up sheet outside of Room 205, or by texting Rachel at 616-669-3412.  Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry  
Nursery

Our nursery is filling up again! Praise God for the gift of these children. And, we need your help. Would you be willing to support young families so parents can attend the worship service, and provide great care for our young children? The time commitment is once every 4 weeks during the school year, and a couple of times over the summer. If you’re interested, please contact Rachel Brower at 616-669-3412.

Serve the World
Camp Zion is starting in just a few weeks! 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
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: $582,934.04
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $527,882.66
Giving Last Week: $3,425.50