Zion E-News 4-11-24

ZION E-NEWS (4-11-24)

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.

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of our Zion March Madness bracket challenge!  First place went to Kim Zoet and second place to Pastor Jeremy!  Jacob Sundberg and Tom Boeve tied for third place. Winners will receive their prizes soon.  Thanks for playing!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are working on cosmetic and safety updates on our kitchen.  We are excited that some work has already begun and we should be able to complete all the updates in about 2 weeks.  We need your help.  We are looking for about 8 – 10 pictures of people using the kitchen.  Old and new, it doesn’t matter but we are trying to put together a small picture wall showing the deep history of how our church kitchen has been used.  You can bring these into the office, put them in Troy Austin’s mailbox, or give them to Troy and tell me the story behind the pictures.  We will keep everyone updated on the progress and hope to have an open house sometime after church where all can see the kitchen and the various ministries run from the basement.

THE DEACONS have designated our next benevolence offering, which will be received on Sunday, April 14th, to assist Emma DeVries in her initial fundraising efforts for her call to mission work in Senegal.  You can also give directly online at ethnos360.org/missionaries/emma-devries.

THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held in the sanctuary after worship on Sunday, May 5.  The meeting is open to anyone who attends Zion, but only active confessing members can vote. Childcare is not provided. There will be a brief time for refreshments and picking up children from Zion Kids between the service and the meeting. This year’s double slate of nominated and consenting individuals are:
 Elders                                                                                        Deacons
Matt Eling                                                                                Jacquie Knott
Rachel Eriks                                                                           Adam Morehouse
Mark Gazan                                                                              Josh Sanders
Andrew Moore                                                                            Justin Steere
From the four Elders and four Deacons, two of each will be chosen by the drawing of names at the meeting. A copy of the proposed budget is available in the back of the sanctuary.

SPRING BOOK CLUB Would you like to grow in life-giving ways as you age? In Aging Faithfully, spiritual director Alice Fryling explores how to navigate the journey of retirement, lifestyle changes, and 0new limitations – and invites us to see God at work in new ways in the midst of it all. Join Pastor Marcia for one of two Book Club sessions to discuss the book together. RSVP for whichever day/time works best for you – Monday, April 29th at 6:30 PM or Wednesday, May 1st at 10:00 AM at Zion. This is just a one-time gathering. Please read the book before you come.  (It’s fairly short!) This is open to anyone interested in the topic, regardless of your age! Books can be purchased on your own at a local bookstore or via Amazon here:Aging Faithfully  You can RSVP by calling the church office, emailing Pastor Marcia  at mpratt@zionreformed.org, or signing up on the bulletin board outside the office.

WOMEN’S BUNCO NIGHT: If you’re interested in getting to know other women at church or simply reconnecting, join us for a fun night of games and food on Wednesday, April 24 at 6PM! Nancy Steenbergen will lead 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 April 21. Please bring an appetizer to share!

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, or financial needs, please contact Tom MacGraw, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is thomas.m.macgraw@gmail.com and his phone number is (616) 315-7938.

WE CONTINUE to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and resources.

Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget:  $519,432.75
Fiscal Year 2023/24 Contributions:  $499,702.86
Giving Last Week: $11,553.73