11-23-22 E-News
Zion E-News (11-23-2022)
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, perhaps you are feeling really thankful. You may be celebrating good health, a loving family, or a solid job. Maybe you are a student celebrating a break from school, a skier happy that snow has fallen early this year or a sports fan trying to fathom how the Lion’s are on a three-game win streak!
On the contrary, the celebration of Thanksgiving may be difficult for you this year. Perhaps you’ve lost a loved one, feel discouraged, struggle through an ongoing health concern or family situation, face financial difficulties or wrestle with loneliness.
The holidays can spur a variety of emotions. Life is often a mixture of joy and sorrow. As we gather for worship tonight and in the weeks of Advent, we can find hope in Christ whether our hearts are happy or heavy. The hope we have in Christ sustains us, especially in the tough times of life. After all the pain he experienced, Job said these words that are recorded in Job 19:25-27:
I know that my redeemer lives, and 
that in the end he will stand on the
earth. And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him with my own
eyes – I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
We look forward to heaven where there won’t be any more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4)! Until then, let’s give thanks for what is good, let’s pray for and support those who are hurting, and let’s humbly trust God to provide our daily bread as we aim to live with gratitude and dependence on Him.
~ Pastor Steve
Connect to God
AS GATHER in person for Worship each Sunday at 9:30am the service can also be viewed on our website 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 10:30AM on Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.
JOIN US for a service of Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 23 at 6:30PM.
CHRISTMAS EVE Candlelight Service: Join us at 6:30PM on Christmas Eve for a Candlelight Service to celebrate the birth of our Savior. (Note: We will not have a service on Sunday morning, December 25.)
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL: Words Of Hope has made available a Advent Devotional for the month of December. The Waiting With Joy Advent Calendar comes as two versions: an adult devotional and a young families devotional! Along with the daily devotional, there are craft ideas, daily activities, countdown cards, and a calendar. All materials are available to download and print at https://www.woh.org/adventcalendar/ Children in Sunday School will come home with a hard copy of the young families booklet today. There are hard copies of the adult devotions available on the tables in the back of the narthex for those without internet access.
Grow in Community
Exploring Membership Seminar: Are you interested in learning more about membership at Zion Reformed Church? We are gauging interest and hope to offer a seminar after worship in January for those who would like to learn about Zion Reformed, profession of faith, transfer of membership to Zion, or reaffirmation of faith. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Connie in the church office at cstegeman@zionreformed.org so we can follow up with the date and details.
PRAYER REQUESTS: Dennis Thompson is recovering from knee replacement surgery. Larry Westra’s back surgery went well and he plans to go home when he is discharged. Sandy VerWys has noticed improvement since her chemo pill was changed. She will undergo tests in mid December that will give them more information. Gary Osterink remains at Health Bridges for rehab. Continue to pray for those in our congregation who are dealing with ongoing health problems.
ZION WOMEN: If you’re interested in getting to know other women at church or simply reconnecting after 2 years of limited activities, join us for a fun night of games and food on December 14 at 6PM! Nancy Steenbergen will be bringing back a classic by leading us in Bunco (an easy group dice rolling game). Don’t know how to play? No problem we will teach you! To RSVP, sign up on the sheet outside the office or text Haley Stone at (616) 916-6698 by December 10th. Please bring an appetizer to share! Can’t wait!
DURING THIS Christmas season we want to bless and encourage those from Zion who are not able to join us in person for worship. We encourage you to write Christmas Cards to the individuals listed below and place them in the basket labeled Christmas Cards located in the back of the sanctuary. Cards must be received by December 11 so that we can get them delivered.
Harv & Harriet Berens
Betty DeVries
Cornie VanderZouwen
Gary Osterink
Kay Sikkema
Bob Retsema
Margaret Goodman
Erma VanHaitsma
Margy Ribbens
Willis Kuiper
Roger Beute
CHRISTMAS CAROLING: December 11 at 3:30 pm (until around 5:30 or 6:00 pm) we are going Christmas Caroling. All ages are invited. In fact, one of the purposes of this activity is to connect multi-generationally. We will be caroling at the homes of some Zion members who are physically unable attend in person worship and then returning to Zion for Hot Chocolate and cookies.
DO YOU like to bake? We are looking for volunteers to make (or purchase) cookies to serve at coffee time after worship. If you would be willing to provide cookies occasionally please call or text Dianne Kooiker at 616-538-3179.
ZION KIDS: All kids birth through 5th grade must be signed in at the Zion Kids Check-In Kiosk located in the lobby before the service. All Zion Kids must be picked up by a parent (please bring the corresponding tag to pick up your child) following worship. The nursery will be staffed for kids birth – 3 yrs. Preschoolers meet in room 206. K-2nd graders meet in room 205. 3rd – 5th graders meet in room 207.
ZION KIDS: Christmas program practice will be held on 12/4. Kids will meet in room 205 for 30 minutes following the worship service. A dress rehearsal will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10. 9:00am-10:30am and the program will be on Sunday, December 11 at 9:30am.
CHRISTMAS CARD DELIVERY SERVICE: The Middle School Youth are offering a holiday card delivery service! Beginning on Sunday, November 27 through Christmas Eve, you can place your cards in the big post office box in the narthex and the youth will sort them and place them in the appropriate church mailbox. In exchange for this service, we ask that you make a donation to the Jr. High Youth to help support their summer mission trip. There is a jar on top of the post office box that you can place your donation in. Thank You!
ZION YOUTH: No Regular weekly meetings this Sunday due to Thanksgiving.
Serve the World
The Deacons have designated the Thanksgiving Offering as follows:
- ALSO, FOR THANKSGIVING, we will gathering physical items to gift to our to Hand 2 Hand & Personal Care Pantry recipients.
- For Hand 2 Hand we are collecting sugar cookie mix and frosting for kids to make cookies over Christmas break.
- For Personal Care Pantry we are collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Our hope is to provide these toothbrushes and toothpaste to those who might not have the income to regularly visit the dentist and receive new toothbrushes every six months.
We will be inviting people forward to bring these items during the offertory at the Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service. If you are unable to make it to the Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service, we invite you to bring these items the Sunday before and place them in the baskets at the sanctuary entrance.
DONATIONS of the following items (full size – not travel size) are needed for the Personal Care Pantry and can be placed in the box in the narthex marked “pantry donations”. Laundry Soap, Bar Soap, Dish Soap, Disposable Razors, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste, Paper Grocery Bags,, Deodorant, Tampons, Maxi Pads , Paper towels (1 or 2 pack) and Toilet paper (1-4 pack).
HAND2HAND could use donations of the following food: Snack Pack / Jello pudding cups, bags of cracker or snack cracker packs,rice krispie treats (prepackaged), granola bars, slim jim beef snack sticks, fruit snacks, and microwave popcorn.
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 2022/23 Budget: $256,529.25
Fiscal Year 2022/23 Contributions: $225,465.06
Giving Last Week: $19,518.95
11-3-22 E-News
Zion E-News (11-3-2022)
I want to remind you of two upcoming dates and then ask you to do something for each of them. The first is this Sunday, November 6. It has been designated as the International Day of Prayer for persecuted Christians. We don’t realize how many Christians are persecuted and oppressed around the world. This past winter, I had the opportunity to provide biblical teaching through a translator at a conference on the other side of the globe. About 25 Christians from highly persecuted countries were able to attend to learn, worship and encourage one another. Some worshiped with other Christians for the first time. At least one of these believers has spent time in prison since that conference. We can’t comprehend how blessed we are to have the freedom to worship publicly.
What can you do? The best thing you can do is regularly pray for Christians who are persecuted for their faith. Pray that these brothers and sisters in Christ will stay strong as they live out their faith and share it with others despite the dangers. You can learn more, read stories and find helpful resources and prayer guides at websites like these: www.persecution.com and www.opendoorsusa.org
A second upcoming event is Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 8). Each of us who are at least 18 years old have the right as a citizen of the United States to vote. This isn’t just a right, it’s a privilege and a responsibility. Voting is one way that a Christian can impact the culture and can have a voice in local, state and national legislation. 
What can you do? Vote! Take time to research the candidates and the proposals. Let God’s Word guide your decisions. Then complete an absentee ballot or head to the polls on Tuesday to let your voice be heard. Pray as well for candidates and outcomes. Perhaps you can give someone a ride, volunteer at a voting precinct or encourage others to vote.
Praying for persecuted Christians and exercising our right to vote are two things that we can do in the coming week. They are two ways that we can make a difference. I’ll be praying for persecuted Christians. My absentee ballot has already been dropped off at the Byron Center Township building. How about you?
~ Pastor Steve
Connect to God
AS GATHER in person for Worship each Sunday at 9:30am the service can also be viewed on our website 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 10:30AM on Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.
Grow in Community
PRAYER REQUESTS: Sandy VerWys has been on a second chemo pill for 3 weeks now with no new side effects. She is still short of breath but recovers more quickly and her coughing is improved. She has been seeing the oncologist weekly and he is overall pleased with her progress. Praise God! She has a long way to go but improvement nonetheless. She thanks her Zion family for the cards and prayers. Ryleigh MacGraw was released from the hospital Monday afternoon on an oral antibiotic. We praise God for answered prayers! Continue to pray for those in our congregation who are dealing with ongoing health problems.
DO YOU like to bake? We are looking for volunteers to make (or purchase) cookies to serve at coffee time after worship. If you would be willing to provide cookies occasionally please call or text Dianne Kooiker at 616-538-3179.
ZION KIDS: All kids birth through 5th grade must be signed in at the Zion Kids Check-In Kiosk located in the lobby before the service. All Zion Kids must be picked up by a parent (please bring the corresponding tag to pick up your child) following worship. The nursery will be staffed for kids birth – 3 yrs. Preschoolers meet in room 206. K-2nd graders meet in room 205. 3rd – 5th graders meet in room 207.
ZION KIDS: Christmas program practices will be held on 11/6, 11/13, 11/20 & 12/4. Kids will meet in room 205 for 30 minutes following the worship service. A dress rehearsal will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10. 9:00am-10:30am and the program will be on Sunday, December 11 at 9:30am.
ZION YOUTH: Regular weekly meetings this Sunday.
High School Youth Group (9th-12th grade) meets every Sunday (unless otherwise noted) from 4 – 5:30 pm.
Middle School Youth Group (6th-8th grade) meets every Sunday (unless otherwise noted) from 5:45 – 7:15 pm.
YOUTH FUNDRAISERS: Our youth are selling Key Card Books ($30) and God’s Creation Calendars ($10) to help fund their summer mission trip. If you haven’t been contacted and would like to purchase either of these items please contact any one of our youth or call the church office at 616-534-7533.
Daylight Saving Time ends November 6 at 2:00PM.
Don’t forget to set your clocks back Saturday night!
Serve the World
DONATIONS of the following items (full size – not travel size) are needed for the Personal Care Pantry and can be placed in the box in the narthex marked “pantry donations”. Laundry Soap, Bar Soap, Dish Soap, Disposable Razors, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste, Paper Grocery Bags,, Deodorant, Tampons, Maxi Pads , Paper towels (1 or 2 pack) and Toilet paper (1-4 pack).
HAND2HAND could use donations of the following food: Snack Pack / Jello pudding cups, bags of cracker or snack cracker packs,rice krispie treats (prepackaged), granola bars, slim jim beef snack sticks, fruit snacks, and microwave popcorn.
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 2022/23 Budget: $225,745.74
Fiscal Year 2022/23 Contributions: $187,283.16
Giving Last Week: $5,932.35
