Camp Zion Week 4
Hello Camp Zion Families,
Arctic week was so much fun. Polar bears, snow balls, a suds party, art projects, stem projects, snow cones and so much more. We just love spending time with your kids.
Our staff and volunteers have started to really pay attention to, and acknowledge, the moments during the day when kids are showing kindness toward others. We point it out in the moment, saying “thank you, that was so kind”, as often as we can. Sometimes we might choose to also send a little note home at the end of the day. It is fun to see your kids working really hard at getting caught being kind.
Here is what’s coming up next week.
Week 4 (July 18-21) Rainforest Week
Monday: Survivor Games
Tuesday: Creation Station
Wednesday: Fieldtrip – Maplewood Park Splash Pad. Wear swimsuits and bring towels.
Thursday: Movie Day – Rio 2 (rated G). Bring your blanket and a stuffed animal to snuggle.
Have a lovely weekend,
Rachel
Zion E-News (7-14-22)
Zion E-News (7-14-2022)
Last week I wrote about being brave, and having hopes for Zion to a brave space. After Sunday, I can see that our youth are leading the way in being brave. One of our youth went from 3 years ago being too scared to pray out loud in a microphone while seated in the third row of the sanctuary, to doing a full, well articulated sharing of what she did on a worksite and how it impacted her faith. All 6 of the youth that preached were very thoughtful in their writing of their sermons and communicated very well. It was a joy to coach them through how to write a short sermon and hear some of their thought processes as they worked on preparing their sermon for the 3 weeks leading up to the worship service. One of our youth that preached, practiced their sermon for more than 2 hours the night before, and most of the youth practiced their sermons 5 times before Sunday. Almost all of them were nervous about public speaking (like 75% of the population is), but their desire to have God speak through them out-weighed their fear. That is being brave.
The best part about the youth preaching was hearing so many adults encourage our youth by sharing specifics of how God spoke through their sermons into their lives. One adult shared about how God can do a “new” thing in our lives even when we have lost someone especially meaningful. Others have shared about their new awareness in encouraging others. Some adults resonated with a need to renew their times with God and to be still. I also resonated with the youth who shared how difficult it is to go from the “high” and closeness felt with God on a mission trip to returning to regular life at home.
My takeaway from this past Sunday is a reminder that we are all a part of the body of Christ. Each part is needed. You are needed. God can use high school students to make Scripture come alive and inspire others in their faith and God can use you too. Does your desire to have God speak through you out-weigh your fear of working with Zion kids or helping with Child-Check-in or inviting a neighbor over for some evening snacks or public speaking or serving at Camp Zion or being part of a search team or sharing about a recent sermon with a co-worker? Again, I offer this request: Let’s pray together for a brave Zion Church over this next year of transition! We are the body of Christ!
-Jeremy
Connect to God
This week we will gather for worship at 9:30 am. This weeks service will be 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 4pm next Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.
WE NEED more volunteers to help at the Child Check-In on Sunday mornings. Training will be provided. If you’d be willing to help on a Sunday this summer, please contact Kelly Osterink at 616-446-6704. Thanks!
We will not be having a sermon series for the summer. Instead we look forward to stand alone messages from a variety of voices:
July 17: Pastor Rick Vanderwall
July 24: Pastor Jeremy Zoet
July 31: Andrew Moore (Zion Member who is an ordained pastor in the RCA)
August 7: Eddy Aleman (General Secretary of the RCA)
August 14: Randy Weener (RCA Director of Church Multiplication)
August 21: Transition Pastor: Steve Petroelje
August 28: Transition Pastor: Steve Petroelje
Grow in Community
A PARK PLAYDATE at Zion’s playground is being planned for Tuesday, August 2 from 10 to 11:30am. There will also be a bounce house and popsicles! This is a great opportunity to invite a friend!
Summer is a great time to try out new ways to serve in at Zion. If you are interested in serving on one of our welcome teams, now is the time to try it out a few times over the summer! If you are already on a team or want to try it out, you can sign up to serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station here.
We have switched to our summer mode in Zion Kids! We’ll be running a nursery, and a simplified program for kids 3 yrs.-going into 3rd grade (all together). We read Bible stories to kids in small groups, pray, do crafts & play with them. It’s really fun, and a great way to get to know the kids! To make this happen, we need your help! Would you be willing to serve In kids ministry two times over the summer months? We’re looking for young grandparents, teenagers, parents, and people who enjoy being around kids. We’ll make sure to pair summer volunteers alongside our regular kids ministry people. All adults over 18 years old must go through Keeping Kids Safe training and a background check prior to serving with kids. If needed, Pastor Jeremy will contact you to set up a time to go over our policies. These really are fun Summer Sundays with extra time to get to know the kids a bit more! You can sign up through the links below, or via a sign up sheet outside of Room 205, or by texting Katie Wagner at 616-994-2880 or Jacki Deiter at 616-437-4791. Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry
Nursery
Serve the World
THREADS: We will be having an end of the season sale at Threads on Saturday, August 13 from 9am-1pm. All summer clothing items and accessories will be $1 each (Cash or checks only). All the profit from this sale will be used to purchase new needed items for the ministry.
CAMP ZION: Camp Zion has been meeting all week. Sammy’s Party on Wheels came Wednesday and gave us a big discount on a foam/suds party because he heard our church is hosting this camp to help people in our community. He filled the lawn with suds a few feet deep, played some loud music, and ran some fun games and gave out prizes. You should have heard all the joyous screams from the kids.
The theme verse for the year is Luke 10:27 which says: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” In addition, the campers will be studying the 10 commandments over the 6 weeks of camp. If you are interested in helping out with Camp Zion, you can sign up to volunteer using the link below.
Camp Zion Volunteer Sign Ups
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 look forward to our Transition Pastor, Steve Petroelje, starting at Zion on Monday, August 15.
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 2021/22 Budget: $61,567.02
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $52,647.97
Giving Last Week: $6,180.50
Zion E-News (7-7-2022)
Zion E-News (7-7-2022)
My older brother, Jeff, and his two kids arrived late last Friday from Pittsburgh. We’ve had a lot of Zoet family time over the past week, sharing many meals, talking together more than usual, and doing fun activities together. As we’ve been together for portions of days and full days over the last week, I’ve noticed something that I also saw on our Alaska Mission Trip. People are more likely to step out of their comfort zone to be brave when they are in a group of people and there is love and trust amongst that group of people.
In the last week I’ve seen my daughter, niece and nephews drive my parents’ go-cart and 4-wheeler who have otherwise been scared to, I’ve seen cousins talk more bravely and openly with each other and with aunts and uncles, I’ve seen parents surprised that their child went on a roller coaster because a cousin invited and encouraged them to go, and I’ve seen care and loving concern when someone was upset or hurt. And best of all, I’ve seen my older brothers kids, whose parents went through a divorce this past year, thrive in our family environment from the moment they arrived. His kids used to take time to warm up to the family and were much more hesitant to try new things in the past. But you can tell that they LOVE being with our family and are having one of the best weeks of their life. This is a big answer to prayer!
On our mission trip to Alaska I saw so many youth and adults try so many things for the first time on work sites and during free time. I don’t want to say too much before this Sunday’s youth group-led worship service, but I’ll just say rope swings, playing with little kids, climbing mountains, using chainsaws or lawn mowers or weed whackers, painting, sharing deep personal things about one’s life, flying on a plane for the first time, and eating moose meat are just a few of the brave new things encountered on our mission trip through a loving and trusting group environment.
Creating loving and trusting environments takes effort on everyone’s part. I wonder where we will be able to head as a church body at Zion if we continue to nurture loving and trusting group environments. Will we see Zion become a brave space? Will we be a place where pastors and Zion kids leaders and elders and deacons and First Impressions teams become brave to get out of their comfort zone? I think we will. Over the years we have become a place where it is encouraged to be brave. We can try new things. We can fail and be encouraged through our failures. We can succeed and encourage one another in our success. We can bravely invite new people into our lives and the life at Zion. Let’s pray together for a brave Zion over this next year of transition!
– Jeremy
Connect to God
This week we will gather for worship at 9:30 am. This weeks service will be 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 4pm next Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.
We will not be having a sermon series for the summer. Instead we look forward to stand alone messages from a variety of voices:
July 10: Alaska Mission Trip Service – Six of our youth: Ella Bond, Noah Brower, Hope Eriks, Samantha Eriks, Emily Verbrugge, and Josh Verbrugge will be preaching 5 minute sermons spaced throughout the worship service.
July 17: Pastor Rick Vanderwall
July 24: Pastor Jeremy Zoet
July 31: Andrew Moore (Zion Member who is an ordained pastor in the RCA)
August 7: Eddy Aleman (General Secretary of the RCA)
August 14: Randy Weener (RCA Director of Church Multiplication)
August 21: Transition Pastor: Steve Petroelje
August 28: Transition Pastor: Steve Petroelje
Grow in Community
SHAREHOLDERS: This Sunday, July 10 is the Shareholder’s appreciation lunch. It will be held in the sanctuary following the youth led worship service (approximately 11:15am). During dessert you will be matched up with your student so that you can hear all about their trip. The only thing you need to bring is your appetite.
A PARK PLAYDATE at Zion’s playground is being planned for Tuesday, August 2 from 10 to 11:30am. There will also be a bounce house and popsicles! This is a great opportunity to invite a friend!
Summer is a great time to try out new ways to serve in at Zion. If you are interested in serving on one of our welcome teams, now is the time to try it out a few times over the summer! If you are already on a team or want to try it out, you can sign up to serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station here.
We have switched to our summer mode in Zion Kids! We’ll be running a nursery, and a simplified program for kids 3 yrs.-going into 3rd grade (all together). We read Bible stories to kids in small groups, pray, do crafts & play with them. It’s really fun, and a great way to get to know the kids! To make this happen, we need your help! Would you be willing to serve In kids ministry two times over the summer months? We’re looking for young grandparents, teenagers, parents, and people who enjoy being around kids. We’ll make sure to pair summer volunteers alongside our regular kids ministry people. All adults over 18 years old must go through Keeping Kids Safe training and a background check prior to serving with kids. If needed, Pastor Jeremy will contact you to set up a time to go over our policies. These really are fun Summer Sundays with extra time to get to know the kids a bit more! You can sign up through the links below, or via a sign up sheet outside of Room 205, or by texting Katie Wagner at 616-994-2880 or Jacki Deiter at 616-437-4791. Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry
Nursery
Serve the World
Camp Zion met on Wednesday and Thursday this week, watching Bible skits, rotating through different desert themed activity groups, and playing giant versions of classic games. The theme verse for the year is Luke 10:27 which says: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” In addition, the campers will be studying the 10 commandments over the 6 weeks of camp. If you are interested in helping out with Camp Zion, there are sign-ups below for donations and volunteering.
Camp Zion Snack Donations
Camp Zion Amazon Wish List
Camp Zion Volunteer Sign Ups
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 look forward to our Transition Pastor, Steve Petroelje, starting at Zion on Monday, August 15.
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 2021/22 Budget: $51,305.85
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $46,467.47
Giving Last Week: $5,654.50
Camp Zion 2022 Week 2
Hello Camp Zion Families,
We had a great first week at Camp Zion. Games, art projects, journaling, water fun, & rollerskating – it finally feels like summer. We also spent a good chunk of time playing some ice breaker games so that our campers could get to know each others names and a little bit about each other right away.
Week two is a short week but will still be packed with lots of fun activities.
Week 2: July 4-7 Desert Week.
Mon: Closed for the holiday
Tues: Closed for the holiday.
Wed & Thurs: We will be doing some painting during craft time – wear something that can get grubby.
Have fun this weekend. See you all on Wednesday morning.
Rachel
Zion E-News (6-30-2022)
Zion E-News (6-30-2022)
My wife and I have recently enjoyed watching Love on the Spectrum on Netflix (There are two seasons from Australia and one from the U.S. on Netflix). It’s a reality television show that follows people with autism and other special needs as they navigate the difficult world of dating. Some of the dates are set up by the T.V. show, some dates are found through dating apps, some try a speed dating event, and some are already dating.
What I love most about the show is how sweet and endearing the relationships are as they form. But the reason I started watching it is the same reason I choose to watch 1/4 of the shows I watch. That reason is to understand another human’s perspective. As I watch Love on the Spectrum, I gain a better understanding of what it might be like to be a person on the autism spectrum. I better understand the mind of one of my Kid’s Hope students, some of our youth group students, and some of our Camp Zion kids. I’ve found myself more able to be compassionate and patient with those on the spectrum because of what I’ve learned. Grace shows up in me where I might have been frustrated or judgmental before.
In addition to watching a show about people with autism, I also try to watch shows with female lead characters, people of color as lead characters, and shows with the majority of actors being people of color. I do this to support these shows, hoping to help balance the scales of a white dominated industry and culture. But I also watch to understand the world and worldview of women, people of color, and people with special needs.
We follow a God of compassion and grace. And if we want to love others well who are different from us, it is important that we set aside our worldview and culture in order to understand another’s.
This week, my challenge to you is to try to do one thing to understand someone else’s world. Maybe that looks like watching a different kind of show, or watching something that isn’t originally in English (it may require turning on those subtitles), or reading a book with female or people of color lead characters, or attending a hispanic festival, or listening to a different genre of music, or trying to learn more about a co-worker or acquaintance. Whatever you choose, try approaching it with a posture of learning and grace over judgment and frustration. You might find that God is unlocking a passion for loving a new type of people in your life. What a great opportunity to expand God’s kingdom!
– Jeremy
Connect to God
This week we will gather for worship at 9:30 am. This weeks service will be 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 4pm next Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.
We will not be having a sermon series for the summer. Instead we look forward to stand alone messages from a variety of voices:
July 3: Pastor Rick Vanderwall
July 10: Alaska Mission Trip Service – Six of our youth: Ella Bond, Noah Brower, Hope Eriks, Samantha Eriks, Emily Verbrugge, and Josh Verbrugge will be preaching 5 minute sermons spaced throughout the worship service.
July 17: Pastor Rick Vanderwall
July 24: Pastor Jeremy Zoet
July 31: Andrew Moore (Zion Member who is an ordained pastor in the RCA)
August 7: Eddy Aleman (General Secretary of the RCA)
August 14: Randy Weener (RCA Director of Church Multiplication)
August 21: Likely our new Transition Pastor, Steve Petroelje
August 28: Likely our new Transition Pastor, Steve Petroelje
Grow in Community
SHAREHOLDERS: Next Sunday, July 10 is the Shareholder’s appreciation lunch. It will be held in the sanctuary following the youth led worship service (approximately 11:15am). During dessert you will be matched up with your student so that you can hear all about their trip. The only thing you need to bring is your appetite.
Summer is a great time to try out new ways to serve in at Zion. If you are interested in serving on one of our welcome teams, now is the time to try it out a few times over the summer! If you are already on a team or want to try it out, you can sign up to serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station here.
Some of you may be wondering who will be in charge of Zion Kids now that Rachel Brower will no longer be in that role. Thankfully, many of our leaders have been quick to step up and fill the gap. Following are those who have stepped up and what they will be doing to help us in this time of transition.
Nursery Coordinator – Becky Harkes
Summer Kids Coordinator – Katie Wagner with recruiting help from Jacki Dieter
Child CheckIn Coordinator – Kelly Osterink
Summer Events – Heidi Ondersma
Pre-school Coordinator – Tami Hewitt
K-3rd Coordinator – Heidi Ondersma
Pre-teen Coordinator – Jerrod Holzgen
Christmas Program Director – Emily Morehouse
Administrative/Tech Coordinator – Matt Eling and various staff
Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to help Zion Kids continue to disciple and care for the youngest members of our church.
This week is the 4th of July Holiday weekend! Zion Kids will NOT be meeting next week Sunday. This means people 3 years and older will be staying through the entire service. We will be holding nursery as we do every week.
We have switched to our summer mode in Zion Kids! Every week (besides July 3) we’ll be running a nursery, and a simplified program for kids 3 yrs.-going into 3rd grade (all together). We read Bible stories to kids in small groups, pray, do crafts & play with them. It’s really fun, and a great way to get to know the kids! To make this happen, we need your help! Would you be willing to serve In kids ministry two times over the summer months? We’re looking for young grandparents, teenagers, parents, and people who enjoy being around kids. We’ll make sure to pair summer volunteers alongside our regular kids ministry people. All adults over 18 years old must go through Keeping Kids Safe training and a background check prior to serving with kids. If needed, Pastor Jeremy will contact you to set up a time to go over our policies. These really are fun Summer Sundays with extra time to get to know the kids a bit more! You can sign up through the links below, or via a sign up sheet outside of Room 205, or by texting Katie Wagner at 616-994-2880 or Jacki Deiter at 616-437-4791. Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry
Nursery
Serve the World
Camp Zion started this week! Rachel Verbrugge and our Camp Zion staff and volunteers are doing a great job welcoming kids, learning names, playing games, doing crafts, learning about God and so much more. This ministry is helping so many families in our community and is providing healthy social interaction, some learning, food (snacks), and the love of God to some kids who really need it. Currently, we have 45 kids registered for camp and have had 35-45 kids each day. Two-thirds are returning campers and one-third are new campers from West and Grandview elementary. The theme verse for the year is Luke 10:27 which says: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” In addition, the campers will be studying the 10 commandments over the 6 weeks of camp. If you are interested in helping out with Camp Zion, there are sign-ups below for donations and volunteering.
Camp Zion Snack Donations
Camp Zion Amazon Wish List
Camp Zion Volunteer Sign Ups
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 look forward to our Transition Pastor, Steve Petroelje, starting at Zion on Monday, August 15.
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 2021/22 Budget: $41,044.68
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $40,862.30
Giving Last Week: $6,487.30
