This Week’s E-News
ZION E-NEWS (5-11-23)
As Mother’s Day approaches, we take time to reflect on the incredible gift of mothers and motherhood. The most significant mother in the Bible is of course Mary, the mother of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I’ve often thought it would be nice if the Bible gave us more detail about the childhood of Jesus and the motherhood of Mary. What we do know of Mary though, is her devotion to God and her willingness to submit to God’s will. In Luke 1:38, Mary speaks to the angel Gabriel, saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” As I reflect on my own mother’s life and legacy, I would imagine most people who know her well, especially her kids and grandkids, would say this too is the prayer of Carla’s life: “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” My mom is not a perfect mom. No mother is. Her kids and grandkids might sometimes be annoyed by some of her imperfections and tease her once in a while about said imperfections, but we know at the center of her being is a desire to be devoted to God and a hope for others to do the same. My hope and prayer is that this devotion to God may also be the core desire of all the moms at Zion. For out of a life devoted to God come the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When that fruit of the Spirit comes out, that’s the good stuff of moms that we admire and feel safe with.
Yet we also know this is not everyone’s experience of their mom or Mother’s Day. For some, Mother’s Day is a day of pain because of a mother who let us down. For others, Mother’s Day is a day mixed with grief because of the painful death of a child or of a mother. Because of this, Mother’s Day can feel like a dark cloud is surrounding us and we don’t want to feel the things we are feeling. But we don’t have to run away from these feelings. God gave us emotions to process life and your emotions are valid and can be leaned into. It’s okay to hurt, to long for, to be disappointed, or to feel depleted. Why else would Scripture tell us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18)?
Whatever Mother’s Day is for you, remember that it’s often not the same for someone else. So on this Mother’s Day, may we find ourselves rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn (Romans 12:15), that we may be encouragement and love to one another as the body of Christ and a light to the world.
-Jeremy Zoet
CONNECT TO GOD
AS WE 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
CONGRATULATIONS TO our 2023 Graduates: SAMANTHA ERIKS is graduating from Jenison High School. She plans to attend Hope College to major in Spanish & Undecided, most likely with a Writing minor. IAN LOBBES is graduating from Jenison High School. He plans to attend GRCC this fall but is undecided on a major.
IF YOU were unable to have your photo taken for our online directory and would like to have one posted you can email a photo (jpeg format) to Connie at cstegeman@zionreformed.org and she will upload it to your profile.
PRAYER REQUEST: Continue to pray for our Search Team, Matt Eling, Jill Austin, Ken Cook, Kathy MacGraw, Andrew Moore, Patti Steere, Kyle VanderWall, and Pastor Steve. Pray for those in our congregation who have ongoing health issues.
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.
AT THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Michelle Holzgen and Nancy Steenbergen were elected to the office of Elder and Andy Boeskool and Austen DeHaan were elected to the office of Deacon. These new officers will be ordained and installed on Sunday, June 4. The 23/24 Budget was approved at $600,233.46.
SAVE THE DATE! The Ordination and Installation Service for Jeremy Zoet will be held at Zion on Sunday, June 25 beginning at 9:30AM.
ON SUNDAY, JUNE 4 we will honor pastor Rick for his 23 years of service at Zion and celebrate his retirement with a cake reception following worship. We encourage you to write Rick a card or note of thanks and place it in the basket at the back of the sanctuary and we will present them to him on June 4.
SERVE THE WORLD
HAND2HAND will be packing food bags this morning following worship. If you would like to help pack (it’s easy and it’s fun) head downstairs after worship and they will show you how!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The nursery is looking for a few more volunteers to serve in the nursery on Sunday mornings. Volunteers serve about one time every five weeks. If you are interested in helping, please contact Becky Harkes at (616) 889-3396, rebeccaharkes@gmail.com, or in person after church.
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 jerrod.holzgen@gmail.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: $502,797.33
Fiscal Year 2022/23 Contributions: $513,708.55
Giving Last Week: $9,945.45
