Preparing to write this final E-news introduction, I reflected on all the E-news I have written over  the years. This whole weekly newsletter started back in 2014 as a way to keep our Consistory informed of what was happening over the summer. Many people enjoy camping, cottages, and vacations over the summer and I wanted to make sure our Consistory still were aware of any important events at church. Rich Ribbens, who was the Vice-President of Consistory at the time, started forwarding the weekly e-mail to his friends and then word got out and people asked to be added to the list. By August the list had grown and we switched to using mail chimp to send the E-news.

I am feeling particularly nostalgic lately and have read through many of those E-newses (what is the plural of E-news?), a little over 350 weekly updates in total. It feels a bit like reading a journal as sometimes there are reflections on current events, an article I appreciated, an important church update, or a reflection on frogs, and always an annual top ten list of books.

As I look back on these last 17 years, I am struck by one simple thought: this has been a joyous journey with you all. I have loved being your pastor. I have enjoyed each Consistory with whom I have been privileged to work. Our staff are not only co-workers, but dear friends. Coming up with a new sermon each week always stressed me out, but I am a little proud to say I never preached the same sermon twice (you might be surprised how many pastors have done so and no one noticed). Though, as a few have discovered, I did steal some sermon series ideas on occasion when my creativity ran out.

I will save my stories for Sunday, but for now, i just want to say, thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on someone who had only preached 12 sermons total before coming to Zion. Thank you for loving my family so well all these years. Thank you for trying so many new things together and having grace when some didn’t go so well. Thank you for laughing with me when sermon illustrations didn’t turn out as I expected. Thank you for being beloved co-workers in Christ.

Thank you for the last 17 years we have journeyed together.

– Greg

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.

This week, we celebrate the last 17 years of our life and ministry together with the Brower family. As we thank God for the ways we have shared our lives together, we also look with anticipation to the work to which God has called Pastor Greg and the new work God will be doing among us as we receive a new Transition Pastor in Pastor Steve and look forward to receiving whomever God has prepared to be our next pastor.

This Sunday we celebrate with Kyle and Shanda VandePol the baptism of their son Pierce Calvin and with Austen and Olivia DeHaan the baptism of their daughter Ruby Sue. As they celebrate the life of their children, we give thanks to God for the gift of new life he has made available to all who believe. We thank God as well for the covenant he has established all the way back with Abraham to include children in his family. We honor this faithful God as we welcome Pierce Calvin and Ruby Sue into the covenant community at Zion.

We will also be celebrating the conclusion of 17 years of ministry at Zion for the Brower family. There will be a reception following church for those who desire to wish the Browers well as God calls Greg to lead our Classis.

Grow in Community
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.

Next week is the 4th of July Holiday weekend! Zion Kids will not be meeting next week Sunday. This means people ages 3 years old will be staying through the entire service. We will be holding nursery as we do every week.

Serve the World
Camp Zion starts Monday!! Currently, we have 45 kids registered for camp. 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 fro 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
Our consistory met on Tuesday this week to sign some formal documents ending Pastor Greg’s call to Zion and to officially hire Becky Harkes as our new nursery coordinator. This is not a new position as Zion has had a paid nursery coordinator since at least 2004, with the exception of these past two years of Covid when Rachel Brower also led the nursery. We are so thankful for Becky’s sense of call to this role and look forward to the ways she will help us welcome and love the smallest members of Zion.

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: $30,783.51
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $34,375.67
Giving Last Week: $4,642.50

On Friday morning, I was walking from the Scholte Dorm on Central College’s campus to the gym where we met for our General Synod plenary sessions. On the way, in the rain, I walked around a pond. As I walked by the pond, I saw what looked like crickets jumping out of my way. As I looked closer, I realized they were tiny little frogs. Tadpoles had just gotten big enough to jump out of the pond and begin exploring the big wide world. Literally, hundreds of tiny little frogs were on the sidewalk all week long as we walked back and forth to meals or plenary sessions.

I spent time watching people walk through the frogs. Some people never seemed to notice and just strode through the teeming frogs and squashed a fair number of them. Others noticed the frogs and then moved on walking as if the frogs were not there. One person tiptoed around the frogs all week afraid they would kill a frog. One afternoon, two little kids stopped all excited to watch and study the frogs. They carefully picked them up and moved them to the safety of the grass. They asked their parents all about where the frogs came from and how they grew to be frogs. They were captivated by these little animals, longing to learn more and keep them safe.

I have been thinking a lot about those frogs and how people responded. How we respond to the frogs may correspond to home sometimes we respond to people. Some people go through life intent on their goal and unaware of how their behavior impacts others. Other people notice their impact on the people around them, but don’t really care as long as they get where they are going. Others live in constant anxiety that they might offend or harm another and so they go through life tiptoeing around trying to avoid any conflict. Some are like the kids just fascinated by people and wanting to know more about them. Most of us are all of these people and more depending on the situation.

In life, I most want to be and most often am the child fascinated by the frogs and other people, delighting in the beauty God has placed in each of us. Rarely am I the “tiptoer,” though I did try to avoid all those baby frogs. Sometimes, I imagine I am unaware of the ways I have stepped on others and harmed them. And sadly, on occasion, I have seen others and worried more about accomplishing my goals than caring for them. For those last two, I am truly sorry.

How might you be more aware this week of your impact on others? How might we intentionally find delight in one another?
– Greg

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 have been spending the past few weeks thinking about how God’s mission for the world has a church. As we think about the role of the church in God’s mission, his deep longing to see people from every tribe, people, and language returning to God in worship, we have looked at three key teachings from Jesus that inform our role in this mission. First, we focused on the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Two weeks ago we looked to the Great Commandment in Matthew 22. And this week, we will focus on the Great Mission of Jesus in Luke 4.

This Sunday we celebrate with Ryan and Rachel Kleinjans the baptism of their son Rhett Michael.  As they celebrate his life, we give thanks to God for the gift of new life he has made available to all who believe. We thank God as well for the covenant he has established all the way back with Abraham to include children in his family. We honor this faithful God as we welcome Rhett Michael into the covenant community at Zion.

Grow in Community
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.

Starting last week, 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, Rachel 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 Rachel at 616-669-3412.  Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry  
Nursery

Serve the World
Camp Zion is starting in just over a week! Currently, we have 45 kids registered for camp. 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 fro 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 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: $20,522.34
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $29,733.17
Giving Last Week: $7,897.50

The Consistory of Zion Reformed Church met with the Rev. Dr. Steve Petroelje on Tuesday evening this week to determine if Steve is the right person to serve as a Transition pastor for our church during this season of change. The Transition ministers role is different from what used to be called an interim minister. Interim ministers typically focused on “holding down the fort” or sampling maintaining a church’s ministry and presence while the church looked for a new pastor. A Transition minister comes into this season of the church’s life with a slightly different goal. They come seeking to help the church “move the ball down the field” so to speak as the church celebrates fruit of the past, addresses any challenge for obstacles of the present, and seeks to further the work fo the kingdom in the church. In other words, the Transition minister helps a church not just go through a pastoral transition, but to grow through the pastoral transition.

Steve would come to Zion with a wealth of experience and wisdom. He has been a pastor for over 20 years. Led two churches for about a decade each and has now served 4 churches as their Transition pastor. He was trained and mentored for this role by Art Wiers, who is now retired but among fellow pastors is almost legendary for his skills in this role. Steve is highly recommended by the 4 churches he has already served in this role, by our Classis, and the Regional Synod. On a personal note, I have known Steve for 14 years and know him to be someone of great character, careful discernment, calm influence, and a deep love for the church of God.

After meeting with Steve, the Consistory voted unanimously to offer him a 1-year contract to serve as Zion’s Transition minister beginning on August 15. He is currently serving in a Transition role at another church which will conclude at the end of July. As I am writing this update early Wednesday morning, I have not yet heard if he has accepted the contract, but fully anticipate our Consistory will be able to announce his acceptance soon.

On a personal note, I so appreciate the many texts, e-mails, phone calls, and invites to simply get together from so many of you. You make it a joy to be your pastor. I will be at Synod beginning tomorrow,  but am already looking forward to being with you all again on June 19.

– Greg

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.

This Sunday, we welcome Chris VanderZee from Intervasity to our pulpit. Chris and I have gotten to know each other over the past few years as we have been working on a partnership between Intervarsity and several churches in our Classis to raise up future leaders for the church at both Grand Valley and Davenport. Chris brings a deep passion for evangelism, discipleship, and young adults. His message will be on Mark 5:1-20.

We will also be commissioning our Youth Mission trip team and installing and ordaining our new Elders and Deacons.

Grow in Community
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.

Starting last week, 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, Rachel 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 Rachel at 616-669-3412.  Thanks for considering supporting our kids & young families!
Summer Kids Ministry  
Nursery

Serve the World
We had another great day for shopping at Threads. Due to the great weather, we had a bit off a lull in the afternoon, but were quite busy in the early evening and late morning. It is so exciting to see people not only receive clothing they need, but even more to find community and a place where they feel known and loved. Thank you to all who spent Monday night sorting clothes and Tuesday welcoming and caring for our shoppers.

Camp Zion is starting in just a few weeks! Currently, we have 45 kids registered for camp. 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 fro 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 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: $10,261.17
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $10,261.17
Giving Last Week: $21,835.67

6-5-22 Bulletin