ZION E-NEWS 12-12-24

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.

ADVENT SERMON SERIES:

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN NOTES: Our Capital Campaign is underway, with a goal of raising $300,000 by May for needed building repairs and updates. Would you consider a year-end gift to help us?  Checks or pledge cards can be placed in the box in the narthex, or gifts can be made online through Breeze. Thank you for helping us prepare our building for the next season of ministry.

THREADS UPDATE: December 3 was our latest shopping day at Threads.  It was a festive day with racks of Christmas clothes in the boutique, Christmas music playing, cookies and fudge and hot chocolate to taste, and a gift wrapping station.

We had 8 new families shop with us on that day!  Here are the totals for Dec 3:

• 64 Families Shopped at Threads
• 219 People Received Clothing
• 1,160 Clothing Items were given away
• 138 Accessories (shoes, purses, gloves, hats, etc) were given away
• 59 Families shopped in the PCP Store

A HUGE thank you to those of you who baked goodies and brought hot chocolate for the Threads families.  This was such a thoughtful idea, and the families thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated all the goodies!

We continue to covet your prayers for this ministry and for everyone involved in it.  We specifically ask for prayers for Trinity, a 19 year old who will be having surgery on December 9 to remove a 32 inch cyst from her abdominal area.  Pray that it will be successfully removed, that her reproductive organs won’t have to be removed, and that it is not cancerous.

Also, please continue to faithfully pray for the 3 moms who are battling cancer and undergoing chemo treatments, and for the husband of one of our volunteers who is also battling cancer and having chemo treatments.

Thank you for your prayers and for your continued support of this ministry!  All praise and glory to God!   ~Jill Austin

HIGH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY this Sunday.  Meet at the Erik’s house at 12:00 PM.  Lunch will be provided. Don’t forget your white elephant gift!

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY will be at church Sunday from 5:45-7:15 with pizza, drinks and christmas treats provided.  Bring a white elephant gift (something from home).  We have tons of fun games planned!

CHRISTMAS CARD DELIVERY SERVICE: The Middle School Youth are once again offering a holiday card delivery service! Now through December 22. 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 leave a donation in the jar on top of the box to support the students with retreat and/or mission trip costs. Thank You!

JOIN US on Sunday, December 22 at 4:30PM for a special Candlelight Service and Live Nativity’s. We would like to have sugar cookies with decorating supplies, along with hot chocolate to enjoy after the service. If you’d be willing to help make that happen, please connect with Angie.

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 Austen DeHaan, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is austin331@gmail.com and his phone number is (269) 762-9748

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.

2024/25 YTD Budget:  $322,505.25
2024/25 YTD Contributions:  $253,079.44
Giving Last Week: $7,197.73