Zion E-News (7-14-22)

Zion E-News (7-14-2022)
Last week I wrote about being brave, and having hopes for Zion to a brave space. After Sunday, I can see that our youth are leading the way in being brave. One of our youth went from 3 years ago being too scared to pray out loud in a microphone while seated in the third row of the sanctuary, to doing a full, well articulated sharing of what she did on a worksite and how it impacted her faith. All 6 of the youth that preached were very thoughtful in their writing of their sermons and communicated very well. It was a joy to coach them through how to write a short sermon and hear some of their thought processes as they worked on preparing their sermon for the 3 weeks leading up to the worship service. One of our youth that preached, practiced their sermon for more than 2 hours the night before, and most of the youth practiced their sermons 5 times before Sunday. Almost all of them were nervous about public speaking (like 75% of the population is), but their desire to have God speak through them out-weighed their fear. That is being brave.

The best part about the youth preaching was hearing so many adults encourage our youth by sharing specifics of how God spoke through their sermons into their lives. One adult shared about how God can do a “new” thing in our lives even when we have lost someone especially meaningful. Others have shared about their new awareness in encouraging others. Some adults resonated with a need to renew their times with God and to be still. I also resonated with the youth who shared how difficult it is to go from the “high” and closeness felt with God on a mission trip to returning to regular life at home. 

My takeaway from this past Sunday is a reminder that we are all a part of the body of Christ. Each part is needed. You are needed. God can use high school students to make Scripture come alive and inspire others in their faith and God can use you too. Does your desire to have God speak through you out-weigh your fear of working with Zion kids or helping with Child-Check-in or inviting a neighbor over for some evening snacks or public speaking or serving at Camp Zion or being part of a search team or sharing about a recent sermon with a co-worker? Again, I offer this request: Let’s pray together for a brave Zion Church over this next year of transition! We are the body of Christ!

-Jeremy

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.

WE NEED more volunteers to help at the Child Check-In on Sunday mornings. Training will be provided. If you’d be willing to help on a Sunday this summer, please contact Kelly Osterink at 616-446-6704. Thanks!
We will not be having a sermon series for the summer. Instead we look forward to stand alone messages from a variety of voices:

July 17: Pastor Rick Vanderwall 

July 24: Pastor Jeremy Zoet

July 31: Andrew Moore (Zion Member who is an ordained pastor in the RCA)

August 7: Eddy Aleman (General Secretary of the RCA)

August 14: Randy Weener (RCA Director of Church Multiplication)

August 21: Transition Pastor: Steve Petroelje

August 28: Transition Pastor: Steve Petroelje

Grow in Community
A PARK PLAYDATE at Zion’s playground is being planned for Tuesday, August 2 from 10 to 11:30am. There will also be a bounce house and popsicles! This is a great opportunity to invite a friend!

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.

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, Pastor Jeremy 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 Katie Wagner at 616-994-2880 or Jacki Deiter at 616-437-4791.  Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry  
Nursery

Serve the World
THREADS: We will be having an end of the season sale at Threads on Saturday, August 13 from 9am-1pm.  All summer clothing items and accessories will be $1 each (Cash or checks only).  All the profit from this sale will be used to purchase new needed items for the ministry.  

CAMP ZION: Camp Zion has been meeting all week. Sammy’s Party on Wheels came Wednesday and gave us a big discount on a foam/suds party because he heard our church is hosting this camp to help people in our community. He filled the lawn with suds a few feet deep, played some loud music, and ran some fun games and gave out prizes. You should have heard all the joyous screams from the kids. 

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, you can sign up to volunteer using the link below.
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 look forward to our Transition Pastor, Steve Petroelje, starting at Zion on Monday, August 15.

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: $61,567.02
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $52,647.97
Giving Last Week: $6,180.50