As I was a leaving the house one morning, one of our kids, with a little grin, said, “Dad, if the United States is a free country, why are there so many laws?” I quipped back, “If the US is a free country, why is everything so expensive?”

It was a silly conversation, but it got me thinking about freedom, especially our freedom in Christ. This freedom, too, is costly and comes with some rules. Laws and rules serve a vital function in society and in our personal lives. They set the boundaries for acceptable behavior and help us set reasonable expectations for the behavior of other people. God gives us basic rules in the 10 Commandments that set the boundaries for how Christians should live. Worship only God. Speak and live in such a way that we bring honor to God’s name. Don’t use our voices to slander or lie about others. Don’t take what doesn’t belong to us. And so on. But God also gives all sorts of other guidance that flesh out these laws or provide values to guide how we live within these boundaries.

For example, it is wrong to murder, but we are also called to love our enemies. Beyond simply not killing people. There is lots of room to figure out how to best love our enemies. We cannot steal, but we are also called to care for the poor. Beyond simply not taking what doesn’t belong to us, there is lots of room to figure out how to best care for and bless those with less than us. It is wrong to commit adultery, but we are also called to honor the image of God in other people. Beyond simply not objectifying people, what does it look like to treat those of the opposite gender with dignity because they reflect God as his image bearer.

It is fairy easy to live within the letter of the boundaries, but much hard to actively try to love our neighbors, welcome the foreigners among us, pray for those who persecute us, seek first God’s kingdom, and pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

Jesus has set us free, but it is a freedom from sin and a slavery to righteousness (Romans 6:18). And of course, this freedom from sin is costly. Just not to us. God made Christ who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God ( 2 Corinthians 5:21). I do not know how to fully explain how Jesus became sin, but I know what it costs. It costs the cross.

Our freedom in Christ is such an amazing costly gift, may we use this freedom to live for Christ and his glory.

– 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.

During the Easter season, we will be considering questions Christians often avoid that many young people as well as people wondering about Christianity frequently want to ask. Some of these topics may be uncomfortable for us as believers as young people often see through the masks and inconsistencies of our lives, but I hope in considering these questions we can humble acknowledge our own weaknesses and point each other to the glory and beauty four God. This week, we consider a less emotionally fraught question, but one that influences so much of how we live as believers: what do we mean when we say the Bible is the inspired word of God? To guide us in these refections, we will be considering 2 Timothy 3:10-17.

This Sunday we celebrate with Tom and Megan MacGraw the baptism of their daughter Ryleigh Mae.  As they celebrate her 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 Ryleigh Mae into the covenant community at Zion.

Grow in Community
Larry Westra has left the hospital and is continuing his recovery from back surgery at home.

Three weeks ago Don Osterink found out his prostate cancer more than likely has spread. He had a PET scan Tuesday, April 19 and will be meeting with doctors Monday, April 25th to determine the next course of action. Please pray for Don and Marcia and their family during this time of waiting and for positive results from the PET scan.

Congratulations to Kyle and Shanda VandePol on the birth of their son Pierce Calvin. Pierce was born today at 2:54 PM this afternoon.  He weighs 7 lbs 9 oz and is 21 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well. Please join the VandePol’s in a prayer of praise and thanks to God for this precious gift.

Our nursery is filling up again! Praise God for the gift of these children. And, we need your help. Would you be willing to support young families so parents can attend the worship service, and provide great care for our young children? The time commitment is once every 4 weeks during the school year, and a couple of times over the summer. If you’re interested, please contact Rachel Brower at 616-669-3412.

Thanks to everyone who helped our youth group reach the $15,000 goal for the Alaska Mission Trip! Because of your generosity, we will be hosting a Youth-Led Worship Night this Sunday, April 24 at 5:30 pm. Mark your calendars and come support our youth while enjoying an extended time of worshipping our faithful God together!

Our youth are looking for Shareholders for our 2022 Alaska Mission Trip. Becoming a shareholder means that you will donate $40 or more to help offset the costs of the trip. As a shareholder, you will be matched up with one student and commit to praying for them before the trip, during the trip, and after the trip. There are all sorts of benefits for shareholders like: a meal with your student after the trip, an update from the student during the trip, a copy of their pre-trip devotionals, the knowledge you played a role in a student’s spiritual growth and so much more.

Serve the World
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
Last Tuesday, the Consistory met for our regular monthly meeting, In addition to our regular business of reviewing progress toward the goals set for our staff, receiving updates on our church plant, and an update on the latest Classis meeting, we also approved a proposed budget for our next fiscal year and the slate of Elders and Deacons to be affirmed by our congregation at our congregational meeting following worship on May 1. Copies of the budget will be made available in the lobby for those who are interested in reviewing it prior to the congregational meeting.

As you may recall, after using a single slate of nominees last spring, the Consistory decided to do so again this year following one of the two methods for choosing Consistory members described in our denomination’s Book of Church Order. As prescribed in the Book of Church Order, the congregation will nominate people for the offices of Elder and Deacon. Using these nominations as a significant guide, the Consistory will choose the 2 Elders and 2 Deacons to stand on this single slate. The two Elders nominees this year are Tim Mekkes and Eric Zondervan. The two deacon nominees are Ashley Gross and Ashley VanderWall. These nominees will be affirmed at the Congregational meeting by vote of the congregation.

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:  $515,672.42
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $483,148.63
Giving Last Week: $7,008.13

4-17-22 Bulletin

4-10-22 Bulletin

Late last week, I had a casual conversation with a few people from church. We talked about lots of light hearted topics. It was truly delightful, though it did make me a bit late for supper. The hazards of really enjoying the people of Zion.

In the course of the conversation, one of them mentioned their friend’s church was leaving the Reformed Church in America, our denomination, because the RCA had changed its position on LGBTQ issues. I know this is the perception some churches have in our denomination, but I want to assure you this is not the case. In 1978, the RCA approved a position paper devoted to reflecting on both the morality of certain behaviors and the church’s response to LGBTQ people. The RCA has reaffirmed this paper numerous times in the last 45 years.

In the paper, the RCA said two important points. First, it upheld the traditional understanding of scripture that homosexual behavior is outside of God’s will for people, though being LGBTQ is not sinful in any way. And secondly, it stated the church had an obligation to love and welcome LGBTQ people as image bearers of God who are loved by God. As part of recognizing the inherent worth of LGBTQ people, we should also work to defend the rights and dignity of those who identify as LGBTQ.

Our Classis, the local body of churches we belong to in the RCA, recently made an assurance to those churches concerned about LGBTQ issues in the RCA that we continue to uphold the RCA position and therefore will not allow churches to host a gay wedding or ministers to officiate at a gay wedding. In addition, our Classis will not ordain someone as a Minister of Word and Sacrament who is in a gay relationship. These are the boundaries, but within those boundaries churches are allowed to include and welcome LGBTQ people however their Elders deem appropriate.

I know with the diversity of opinions on this topic in our congregation, some may be troubled the position of the RCA is not conservative enough, while others likely wish it was more inclusive and welcoming. When Jesus prays for our unity in John 17, I think it is for moments like this that we will do the work to stay in relationship and treat with dignity and respect those with whom we may disagree. May we continue to find our unity in our common love for Jesus and desire to follow him as we each grow in our knowledge and understanding of his love and his will for us and our world.

– 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.

During Lent we will be looking at the life and ministry of Jesus to see both how he was tested and found true and how we have been given a faith that can both endure and help carry us through every test of life. This Sunday, we consider The Parable of the Lost Son, often referred to as The Parable of the Prodigal Son. As we look at this story, we contemplate which characters we relate to most, and what we can learn about who God is and who we are from these characters and their story.

We still have some “You’ve Been Egged” bags at church. If you have a neighbor or friend with kids, this could be a great way to offer a little gift to them and make a gentle invite to church on Easter. Anyone is welcome to take a bag home with them to share so take some time today to prayerfully consider who in your life may be open to an invite or who simply likes candy.

On Sunday, April 10, we will be welcoming Josiah and Alyssa Walcott, missionaries whom we support through Youth for Christ. Currently, they are serving youth at a military base called RAF Alconbury in England.

Grow in Community
Kids Get to Wave Palm Branches in Church!  On April 10, all kids 3 years old through 5th grade are invited to wave Palm Branches in church during one of the opening worship songs! I always love including the kids in our main worship service, and they get to help usher us into Holy Week! If your child would like to be included, please check them in at church few minutes earlier than normal. Preschoolers will meet in their room before church starting at 9:15, and elementary kids will meet in Room 205.

Thanks to everyone who helped our youth group reach the $15,000 goal for the Alaska Mission Trip! Because of your generosity, we will be hosting a Youth-Led Worship Night, April 24 at 5:30 pm. Mark your calendars and come support our youth while enjoying an extended time of worshipping our faithful God together!

Our youth are looking for Shareholders for our 2022 Alaska Mission Trip. Becoming a shareholder means that you will donate $40 or more to help offset the costs of the trip. As a shareholder, you will be matched up with one student and commit to praying for them before the trip, during the trip, and after the trip. There are all sorts of benefits for shareholders like: a meal with your student after the trip, an update from the student during the trip, a copy of their pre-trip devotionals, the knowledge you played a role in a student’s spiritual growth and so much more. 

Serve the World
Several weeks ago now, Tom and Robbi Boeve received a letter from Emily in Kenya. Emily is a woman they met while serving on a short-term mission trip several years ago to support Jeremiah and Mary Kuria. She recently had some health issues and was writing to update them on her health. But, she also wanted all of you to know that even now, the work done and time spent together serving reminds her of the goodness of God’s people and gives her hope when life is challenging. As I have read over her letter several times, I am particularly thankful for the way Tom has continued to build and maintain a relationship from the trip. So often, we can make mission trips about the work we do, but we know the real gift is the relationships and care we show one another. Great job, Tom!

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
The remodel of our bathrooms began in January and is completed! There are no pictures to show because you need to come to check them out yourself. Thank you to Pastor Rick and the team from Johnson Construction for the great work they did for us.

Members of Zion Reformed Church received a nomination form in the mailbox last week Sunday. This form is used to nominate people to be considered to serve an upcoming 3-year term as an Elder or Deacon at Zion. The following people have said they are willing to be nominated for these roles: Tom Boeve, Deb Coke, Ashley Gross, Tracy Lobbes, Tim Mekkes, Adam Morehouse, Emily Morehouse, Ashley VanderWall, and Eric Zondervan. Furthermore, after using a single slate of nominees last spring, the Consistory decided to do so again this year following one of the two methods for choosing Consistory members described in our denomination’s Book of Church Order. As prescribed in the Book of Church Order, the congregation will nominate people for the offices of Elder and Deacon. Using these nominations as a significant guide, the Consistory will choose the 2 Elders and 2 Deacons to stand on this single slate. The slate of Elders and Deacons will then be approved by the congregation at our annual congregational meeting on Sunday, May 1 following our worship service.

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:  $482,041.61
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: 457,052.18
Giving Last Week: $37,400.50