ZION E-NEWS (6-1-23)

Upcoming Celebrations

What are you looking forward to in the month of June?  June is a month when we often celebrate graduations, weddings, anniversaries, and Father’s Day.  Students (as well as teachers and administrators) are likely looking forward to the end of the school year.  Maybe you are looking forward to spending time outdoors, travelling, catching a sunset, or completing a project.

At Zion, we are looking forward to celebrating some special events, including:

June 4
– Celebrating the ordination and installation of Elders and Deacons
– Expressing appreciation for Pastor Rick’s years of serving at Zion

June 11
– Celebrating the Lord’s Supper
– Spending time in prayer after worship for our search team/search process
– Seeing our high school mission trip participants begin their trip

June 25
– Celebrating the ordination and installation service for Pastor Jeremy during
our morning worship service.

Will you be a part of these celebrations?  Remember, as Christians, every day can be a time of celebrating God’s love, grace and salvation!

Celebrating Together,
~ Pastor Steve

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.

ZION KIDS has switched over to our summer programming.Through Sept 3, we will hold one combined class each week for kids ages 3yrs old through 3rd grade.  We will sing songs, watch a Bible story video, pray together and have some playtime while service is happening in the sanctuary.  Children should check in at the child check in station each week as usual.

GROW IN COMMUNITY
WE WILL celebrate the sacrament of Communion next Sunday, June 11. Please take time this week to prepare your heart for this celebration by confessing known sin, seeking reconciliation with others, and thanking God for his grace.  A Love Offering for the Benevolent Fund will be received.

PLEASE JOIN US for a special Prayer Service on Sunday, June 11.  We will meet in the Youth Room after morning worship to spend time praying for the Lead Pastor Search Team and the search process.  A prayer guide will be distributed.

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.

CONGRATULATIONS TO Jeremy Zoet who passed his final Classis Exams on Tuesday, May 30! 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 is looking for volunteers to deliver food to Grandview Elementary School.  Delivery would be every Wednesday or Thursday between 3:30-4:00PM  beginning in the fall and continue weekly during the regular school year schedule. Food is packed in totes so volunteers would need to be able to lift the totes which can weigh up to 40lbs.  Contact Sheila Johnson or Shawn Sanders if you have more questions or would like to help.

CAMP ZION will begin on June 19 and we have some items we could use on our wish list.  Recyclable items include: paper towel tubes, egg cartons & empty cereal boxes.  We also have some items on our Amazon Wish List.  Any items you would care to donate can be placed in the Camp Zion donation box near the church mailboxes or shipped directly to church.

SUMMER is a great time to try out new ways to serve at Zion! It is also the time of year that people who are looking for a church home tend to visit and we want them to feel welcomed! We all know that first impressions are important! Our First Impressions Team is looking for volunteers to make coffee, serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station. All of these tasks are very easy, require minimal  time commitment and you can pick your own schedule! Click here to sign-up through Sign-Up-Genius or call Connie in the church office at 616-534-7533 ext. 3 and she can help you with scheduling!

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).

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:  $533,580.84
Fiscal Year 2022/23 Contributions: $532,887.90
Giving Last Week: $5,188.45