Sometimes, we can all fall into the trap of thinking church is all about the building or the worship service or the kids or youth programming. And, those are all wonderful activities, but the church is not an activity or a building, it is people. You and me.

While we put a lot of time and energy into worship services and youth and children’s programming (and we should because these things deeply matter), they are not the mission of the church. They are tools to help prepare us for the mission of the church, but they are not the goal. They are a means to an end.

The mission of every church and every believer is to love our neighbor. To value their needs, their fears and anxieties, their hopes and dreams in the same way we value those things in our lives. A couple months ago now, I read in a commentary that when Jesus summarizes the law as being loving God and loving others, he does so in the Greek in a way that implies the way you love God is by loving others. In other words, the way we worship God best is in serving others. When we feed hungry people and house homeless people and mentor kids struggling in school and provide clothes for those who need them, we are loving God. This fits so well with the worldview of the prophets who tell us repeatedly in the Old Testament that God was upset with his people for two reasons: worshiping false gods and not caring for the poor and powerless among them. God has always linked our love for him with our love for others.

I mention this because on Tuesday night, one of our Consistory members shared how they had heard about our Kids Hope ministry and care for teachers at Bursley this year from a co-worker. I regularly have people tell me about ways they have been impacted by Hand2Hand, Camp Zion, and the Personal Care Pantry and I am sure we will soon add stories from Threads. Zion has an out sized impact on our community because of the huge hearts you all have for God and the people who bear his image.

In my office, I have our 7 year vision written on a white board and it reads: Zion will overflow with new and developing leaders to flood Grandville, Wyoming, Jenison, and Hudsonville with gospel conversations leading to life transformation and new faith communities.

Just this week, I saw us live into this vision as people swarmed the stage to affirm and encourage the youth who led us in worship Sunday night and as Rachel Verbrugge and Jeremy Zoet poured into our Camp Zion staff and as Jill Austin steps up to lead Threads after praying for God to show her what was next for her. God is working among us. Let’s keep our eyes open to see and our feet ready to chase after and join God in his great work.

Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in person at 9:30 am and online at 9:30 and 11 am. The online service will be pre-recorded and abbreviated as we will not be live-streaming our outdoor services over the summer. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

In Peter’s second letter, he is once again writing to the churches of Asia-Minor, but this time he does so as a final farewell. He knows his life is drawing to a close and so he urges them to both keep growing in the faith and to be on their guard for false teachers, to stay true to Jesus and reject the lies of cheap grace. This Sunday as we continue our study of this letter, Peter confronts the false teachers who say Jesus is not coming back to judge the world and set things right and we consider what it means to live in the hope of the day when God’s will is done on earth as it already is in heaven.

Communion, also called The Lord’s Super or the Eucharist, is the family meal of Christians.  We invite all committed followers of Jesus Christ to partake of this sacrament: those who are baptized members of a congregation that proclaims the gospel, who are at peace with God and with their neighbor, and who seek strength to live more faithfully for Christ.  If you are not a Christian, or if you are not prepared to share in this meal, we encourage you to spend this time in prayer.  We hope that this time is helpful to you as you consider your relationship with Jesus Christ and with His people, the church.

Grow in Community
We will be hosting a Park Playdate on June 16 from 6:30 to 8 pm. Come on out to connect with others in person!  We’ll have water balloons & bubbles for the kids, and ice cream treats for everyone. All ages welcome. Feel free to invite friends to join us!

After church this Sunday, we hope you will stay to enjoy some cookies and maybe even a little kickball for all ages. Last week, we almost lost the ball on the roof of a neighboring building (some dads have strong legs) and had fun playing with kids from ages 5 to 50 or so. We would love to have you join us for some cookies and drinks and some great conversation with friends from church.

Weather permitting, our kids ministry will be outside all summer long. This is for kids ages 3 through going into 3rd grade. We’ll be meeting by the picnic tables to read Bible stories, pray together, do other outdoor crafts/games, and play on our church playground!

The nursery is open again this summer. Nursery is for children ages 0-3. The nursery check-in will be inside at the nursery. Young children are also welcome in the main worship service. Thank you to all those serving in the nursery!

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
Monday: 1 Corinthians 8
Tuesday:1 Corinthians 9
Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 10
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 11
Friday: 1 Corinthians 12

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Serve the World
Camp Zion starts next week! Earlier this week, Rachel Verbrugge and all the staff were busy preparing for the first day, learning some dances, organizing activities, and praying for the kids. This year, Camp Zion will be held in the mornings Monday through Thursday. We have a great group of kids planning on attending and look forward to another great summer.

As we prepare for another great season of Camp Zion, we have built a little wish list for the summer. If you would like to help purchase some supplies and resources for the summer, you can do so from the list at this link.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/M4D5CKCROXH5?ref_=wl_share

Camp Zion still has some volunteer slots available for the summer, If you would like to help out in the summer and invest in the kids in our neighborhood, you can sign up at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050949a9a82aa2fd0-camp

We also continue to make preparations to open Threads, a clothing ministry, this fall. Jill Austin and Rick VanderWall were going over details and plans to prepare the basement to host this ministry earlier in the week. If you would like to be involved in any of this preparation work please contact either of them.

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 616-791-7718.

Administration
The Consistory approved remodeling our bathrooms at our April meeting. If you have been in our bathrooms recently you may have noticed they not only look dated, but also have a particularly uncomfortable scent and are in need of some significant repairs. The approved plan will intentionally fit with the larger building remodel plan we approved prior to Covid rather than simply updating the bathrooms. By doing so, we leave open the possibility of moving ahead with the building remodel after Covid and as the financial impacts of this past year become more clear. This small project, however, will cost about $125,000. We will not move forward with this remodeling step until at least half of those funds are raised. If you would like to give to the bathroom remodel, you can do so by donating to our building fund. We do ask that anything given to the building fund be in addition to your regular support of Zion ministries through the general fund so we  can still effectively fund our ongoing ministries.

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:  $11,210.27
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $6,553.00
Giving Last Week: $6,553.00
Bathroom Building Fund (total given): $2,405.00

Thank you to everyone who gave money to support the Nepalese Speaking Community Church building project a check for $3,440 was sent earlier this week to them.

While serving in Colorado, I worked with Rev. Phil Schuiling who quickly became a dear friend and trusted mentor. Growing up in West Michigan, like many people, Phil’s family spent the summer at the cottage on the lake. From June to August, they rarely if ever made it back to their home church on a Sunday morning. He remembers vividly one year coming back in September and hearing someone tease his father about not being in church for the last 3 months. Phil doesn’t remember the specific comment, but does remember the flicker of pain on his father’s face. Phil’s clear lesson from the experience was that when people come back to church after an absence, whether from summers on the lake or a pandemic, all they need to hear is: “We missed you. It’s so good to see you again. How are you doing?”

This Sunday, I expect we will see several people who have not been back at Zion in person in over a year. They may have been attending online. They may have simply been overwhelmed by life and not even had the energy to watch online. They may have struggled with wearing masks and chose to worship somewhere else for  while. Wherever they have been and for whatever reason they were not here, the only thing they need to hear from us is: “We missed you. I’m so glad to see you again. How are you doing?”

It’s been a rough year for many people, we all can use a little grace and compassion in our lives. So, whether this Sunday is your first time back in person  or you have been coming in person for year now, I want you to know: I’m glad you are here.

On a similar note, a friend posted the following comment about engaging people on a Sunday morning. I offer it to you as a good guideline for all of us as we gather each week to prioritize those who may be new or disconnected at Zion.

1. An alone person in our gathering is an emergency.
2. Friends can wait.
3. Introduce a newcomer to someone else.

I am looking forward to worshiping with you on Sunday as we gather outdoors on what should be a beautiful warm summer Sunday. (Unless you will be at the cottage or camping and then, I hope you have a great weekend and look forward to seeing you when you are able to join us again in person.)

Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in person at 9:30 am and online at 9:30 and 11 am. The online service will be pre-recorded and abbreviated as we will not be live-streaming our outdoor services over the summer. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

In Peter’s second letter, he is once again writing to the churches of Asia-Minor, but this time he does so as a final farewell. He knows his life is drawing to a close and so he urges them to both keep growing in the faith and to be on their guard for false teachers, to stay true to Jesus and reject the lies of cheap grace. This Sunday as we begin our study of this letter, we assess our spiritual growth over the past year as Peter urges us to chase holiness with faithful fervor.

We will also be installing and ordaining new Elders and Deacons during worship on Sunday morning. Haley Stone and Ken Johnson will be ordained and installed as Elders and Tom MacGraw will be installed as a Deacon. Troy Austin will be installed at a later date as he is not able to be in worship this Sunday.

Join us this Sunday for a Youth Led Worship event at 6:30 pm. Because it is expected to be close to 90 degrees on Sunday, we will be meeting inside in the air conditioning. Youth will be leading us in worship and in some small group discussions about our experiences over the past year.

Grow in Community
After church this Sunday, we hope you will stay to enjoy some cookies and maybe even a little kickball for all ages. Beverages and food will be in the grassy area by door ‘D’ and the shade tree, while kickball will be out on the grass near the playground. This will not be a serious game, but a chance for people of all ages to simply enjoy being together.

“Summer Sundays” in Zion Kids:  Starting this Sunday, weather permitting, our kids ministry will be moving outside! This is for kids ages 3 through going into 3rd grade. We’ll be meeting by the picnic tables to read Bible stories, pray together, do other outdoor crafts/games, and play on our church playground!

The nursery will be open again next Sunday, June 6th! This is for children ages 0-3. The nursery check-in will be inside at the nursery. Young children are also welcome in the main worship service. Thank you to all those serving in the nursery!

Keeping Kids Safe training will be held on June 6th, after church, outside by door “D”.  This is for adults who will be volunteering in any children’s ministry this summer, who did not already go through training last fall. Take a lawn chair!

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
Monday: 1 Corinthians 3
Tuesday:1 Corinthians 4
Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 5
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 6
Friday: 1 Corinthians 7

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Serve the World
In the early 1900s, the European church was thriving and leading culture. Today many of the iconic church buildings have been turned into coffee shops, theatres, and skateboard parks. There is a lack of interest in the Christian faith. RCA Global Mission is partnering with various churches and Christian organizations that are determined to re-reach Europe through planting new churches. The Global Missions arm of the RCA is currently in a month of prayer focused on global missions. Recently they shared a video about our church planting efforts in Europe, led by Doug McClintic, whom Zion supports. Daniel Puski, featured in the video, is one of the church planters partnering with Doug and the RCA. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8-RjIw2z1s

As we prepare for another great season of Camp Zion, we have built a little wish list for the summer. If you would like to help purchase some supplies and resources for the summer, you can do so from the list at this link.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/M4D5CKCROXH5?ref_=wl_share

Camp Zion still has some volunteer slots available for the summer, If you would like to help out in the summer and invest in the kids in our neighborhood, you can sign up at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050949a9a82aa2fd0-camp

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 616-299-4804.

Administration
The Consistory approved remodeling our bathrooms at our April meeting. If you have been in our bathrooms recently you may have noticed they not only look dated, but also have a particularly uncomfortable scent and are in need of some significant repairs. The approved plan will intentionally fit with the larger building remodel plan we approved prior to Covid rather than simply updating the bathrooms. By doing so, we leave open the possibility of moving ahead with the building remodel after Covid and as the financial impacts of this past year become more clear. This small project, however, will cost about $125,000. We will not move forward with this remodeling step until at least half of those funds are raised. If you would like to give to the bathroom remodel, you can do so by donating to our building fund. We do ask that anything given to the building fund be in addition to your regular support of Zion ministries through the general fund so we  can still effectively fund our ongoing ministries.

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 2020/21 Budget:  $546,326,56
Fiscal Year 2020/21 Contributions: $521,469.30
Giving Last Week: $7,205.00
Bathroom Building Fund (total given): $2,380.00
Nepalese Speaking Community Church (total given): $3,400.00

As we approach the Memorial Day Weekend, I find my mind filled with many competing thoughts. First, I am thankful for people like my great-Uncle Marv who died while flying his 40-something mission (you could quit after surviving 25) over Europe in WWII and my Grandpa Brower who served in England during WWII and my dad who served in the Army during the Vietnam war, but would always be clear he served stateside because he would not want his service confused with those who served in Vietnam and all the risks and danger they were in. I think of people from our church who have served and still bear the physical and mental scars. And, I remember the many who served at New Hope Community Church in Colorado (we were near several military bases). I will never forget leading up to the second war in Iraq praying with John Gallo, a former base commander in the Air Force, who said, “No one prays more for peace than those who have to go to war.”

Just two weeks ago, I was at a conference led by a network of churches with a heart to reach every US military base in the world. A friend knew the Senior Pastor and so we were allowed to attend an in-house conference for their church planters, micro-site leaders, staff and volunteers. At their biggest campus, their security team is entirely made up of active Delta Force members. They were a little intimidating. They live and breathe a military ethos and a passion for Christ. I am grateful for the many Christians who faithfully serve our country in the military while also following the kingdom of God.

Thinking of all those people, I feel that pride welling up in my heart for our country. There is no other place I would want to be than here. And so I am thankful for those who have defended our country and risked their lives in the name of freedom.

And, I am also concerned. I am concerned by things like the Patriot Bible and another almost published Bible that put documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution alongside books like Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is a dangerous thing for our faith to mix together our love for God and country.

It tends to work out well for the country, but not so well for us as believers because our country can so easily become an idol. It was this desire to connect our faith to our country that led the US to add the words “under God” to the pledge of allegiance in 1954. Much more sinisterly, it was this same confusion that allowed so many German Christians to commit atrocities for the Nazis who merged these two loves together into a dangerous Christian Nationalism that led to the holocaust.

And, I think about those early Christians. The Roman Empire was known for being very tolerant of lots of religious. On one condition, you had to also worship Caesar. You can worship anything or anyone as long as you also worshipped Rome. The Jews reached a compromise to offer sacrifices on behalf of Caesar, but gentile Christians were still expected to offer the sacrifice to Caesar. Their refusal to offer this symbolic sacrifice, not completely unlike saying the pledge of allegiance, led to the death and imprisonment of many believers.

As we enter the summer season of national holidays and parades and fireworks (I hope we can have them both) and lots of flags flying and hearts of patriotism, may we not only celebrate the gift of our country and be grateful to those who protect it, but also remember our hope and security is not found in a single country, in western culture, or in any military might. For we are a people from every country, tribe, and language, a people called together by our risen Savior who rules over every nation and has claimed people from every culture as his very own and called them our brothers and sisters. It is in him  we have found true abundant life and hope.

Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in personal 9:30 am and online at 9:30 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

The Christians to whom Peter wrote in 1 Peter feel alone, scared, and as if they no longer belong in their own country. Maybe you have felt similarly at times. Peter reminds them and us that our hope is not found in fitting into the culture around us, but in Jesus who is creating us to be a new kind of chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. As this letter concludes, Peter urges the believers to both lead and follow with humility and love for one another.

Mark your calendars and save the date to join us for a Youth Led Worship event on Sunday night, June 6 at 6:30 pm. Bring your lawn chair as we will be meeting outside. Youth will be leading us in worship and in some small group discussions about our experiences over the past year.

Grow in Community
On a personal note, thank you for all the cards, calls, text messages, and e-mails. I am doing well. My minor surgery went smoothly and I was home only 5 hours after arriving at the hospital. I am looking forward to worshipping with you all on Sunday and am thankful for Brandon Dieter, Jeremy Zoet, and Andrew Moore for filling in for me on Sunday.

Tricia Walcott, a regular attender of Zion, passed away on Tuesday, May 25 due to Covid complications. We extend our sympathy to her family (Jim Oudbier was Tricia’s uncle) and pray that they will experience peace and comfort during this difficult time. 

This Sunday we will have kids programming for kids ages 3 through entering 2nd grade. Older children are encouraged to worship with their families.

As we look ahead to the summer season and worshiping outside, we are planning to have coffee and some snacks available after worship. If you would be willing to help make coffee and set out snacks on a Sunday, you can sign-up to join one of first impressions teams here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054aaeae23a6fd0-summer1

Nursery Update:  As more and more people are being vaccinated, and the number of Covid cases in our community are starting to decline, we feel it is the right time to try to reopen our nursery at Zion. To be able to do this, we need people willing to serve in the nursery!  We are planning on having a 5 week rotation, with 2 volunteers each week. Currently, we have 5 people willing to serve. We are looking for 5 more people that would be comfortable in the nursery, with a love for children, and a heart to bless young parents, many of whom had not had as much support as they normally would this past year. If we can find these 5 people, we’ll open the nursery!  And parents, please know that young children are also still welcome in the main worship service, as always! We’re simply thrilled you’re here, and don’t mind the wiggles and noises of young kids.

“Summer Sundays” in Zion Kids:  Starting on June 6, weather permitting, our kids ministry will be moving outside! This is for kids ages 3 through going into 3rd grade. We’ll be meeting by the picnic tables to read Bible stories, pray together, do other outdoor crafts/games, and play on our church playground! To make this work, we need your help!!  Please consider volunteering for a week or two this summer. There is no prep for our summer ministry, and training will be provided on the Sunday morning you serve. Here’s the link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4fa8a72ba6f94-summer

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
Monday: Romans 14
Tuesday: Romans 15
Wednesday:Romans 16
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 1
Friday: 1 Corinthians 2

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Serve the World
On Sunday, we received an update on the Nepalese Speaking Community Church and their need for additional space in their facility to care for the many children they are meeting. We already partner with their pastor, Yakuv Gurung, in planting churches in Nepal through Jibit Aisha.

A huge thank you to all the people who helped move clothes and other items for Threads from Solomon’s Porch to Zion on Tuesday evening. Truly, many hands make light work. Especially when they are hands that work real hard.

As we prepare for another great season of Camp Zion, we have built a little wish list for the summer. If you would like to help purchase some supplies and resources for the summer, you can do so from the list at this link.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/M4D5CKCROXH5?ref_=wl_share

Camp Zion still has some volunteer slots available for the summer, If you would like to help out in the summer and invest in the kids in our neighborhood, you can sign up at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050949a9a82aa2fd0-camp

If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.

Administration
The Consistory approved remodeling our bathrooms at our April meeting. If you have been in our bathrooms recently you may have noticed they not only look dated, but also have a particularly uncomfortable scent and are in need of some significant repairs. The approved plan will intentionally fit with the larger building remodel plan we approved prior to Covid rather than simply updating the bathrooms. By doing so, we leave open the possibility of moving ahead with the building remodel after Covid and as the financial impacts of this past year become more clear. This small project, however, will cost about $125,000. We will not move forward with this remodeling step until at least half of those funds are raised. If you would like to give to the bathroom remodel, you can do so by donating to our building fund. We do ask that anything given to the building fund be in addition to your regular support of Zion ministries through the general fund so we  can still effectively fund our ongoing ministries.

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 to Date Budget:  $535,820.28
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $514,264.30
Giving Last Week: $19,344.00
Bathroom Building Fund (total given): $2,310.00
Nepalese Speaking Community Church: $3,000.00

Earlier this week, I listened to a HolyPost Podcast in which the second half was an interview with Bob Roberts, Jr. about how important it is for Christians to have non-Christians friends. Rather than shelter ourselves in the Christian tribal subculture, we should instead intentionally be Christian in secular environments and among other religious beliefs by being a friend.

And then, I was talking with someone from Zion who shared a recent story. They were out for drinks with a couple of co-workers. One raised Southern Baptist who has turned away from Christianity and the other Hindu. As they sat and talked over some wine, the conversation eventually turned to God and how you can know if God is real and what they thought God was like. The two non-christians shared their frustrations with the church and Christians in general. And then looked to this Zion member.

What would you say? How do you explain your faith to people who have been wounded by Christians? How do you help someone get a different perspective from the one they get from the shouting celebrity Christians and the politically lobbying ones? 

Their questions hung in the air. Needing an answer.

This member responded not by defending the public celebrity Christians, but by taking about our church. Not the Sunday morning stuff or the youth group stuff. Instead, they talked about all the kids we feed through Hand2Hand, the families we support through the Personal Care Pantry, the kids mentored through Kids Hope, our new ministry Threads, and Camp Zion. And then they talked about how in all these areas and in our kids ministries and worship ministries, we see senior citizens and teens, married and unmarried, well off and those struggling to pay the bills, work together and share life with one another. Because God loves the world and we want to join God in making our world more like his Kingdom.

One of the people, hopped on their phone to check out our website (someone does look at it besides me apparently) and then said, ‘If I ever went to a church, I could go to yours.”

In a world where many people have been deeply wounded by church and Christians, more than any theological argument, people need to see God’s love at work among us.They need to see Christians united by Christ across all the divides of our culture. Simply caring for and loving each other. They need to see us care about them and our community with no strings attached.

While not perfect, we work hard to live that way together at Zion.

Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in personal 9:30 am and online at 9:30 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

Peter seems to suggest that suffering is good. What?! Well, he at least says that there’s a certain kind of suffering that all believers will share: the type of suffering Christ endured. Jesus lived his life bringing the vulnerable, the rejects, and society’s least loved members to the center and lifted them up. He loved so scandalously that when He was put on trial, there was nothing to charge Him with.

Peter says that if we walk with Christ’s name, loving the vulnerable, rejected, loveless among us, we’ll experience suffering simply for bearing his name, and THAT suffering shows us and others that the Spirit of God dwells within us.

Mark your calendars and save the date to join us for a Youth Led Worship event on Sunday night, June 6 at 6:30 pm. Bring your lawn chair as we will be meeting outside. Youth will be leading us in worship and in some small group discussions about our experiences over the past year.

Grow in Community
Teresa Beute remains hospitalized due to low sodium. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors as they treat her and for comfort and peace for her and Rog.

Don Osterink began hormone therapy to treat his prostate cancer and is doing well. Please continue to pray for him.

As we look ahead to the summer season and worshiping outside, we are planning to have coffee and some snacks available after worship. If you would be willing to help make coffee and set out snacks on a Sunday, you can sign-up to join one of first impressions teams here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054aaeae23a6fd0-summer1

Nursery Update:  As more and more people are being vaccinated, and the number of Covid cases in our community are starting to decline, we feel it is the right time to try to reopen our nursery at Zion. To be able to do this, we need people willing to serve in the nursery!  We are planning on having a 5 week rotation, with 2 volunteers each week. Currently, we have 5 people willing to serve. We are looking for 5 more people that would be comfortable in the nursery, with a love for children, and a heart to bless young parents, many of whom had not had as much support as they normally would this past year. If we can find these 5 people, we’ll open the nursery!  And parents, please know that young children are also still welcome in the main worship service, as always! We’re simply thrilled you’re here, and don’t mind the wiggles and noises of young kids.

“Summer Sundays” in Zion Kids:  Starting on June 6, weather permitting, our kids ministry will be moving outside! This is for kids ages 3 through going into 3rd grade. We’ll be meeting by the picnic tables to read Bible stories, pray together, do other outdoor crafts/games, and play on our church playground! To make this work, we need your help!!  Please consider volunteering for a week or two this summer. There is no prep for our summer ministry, and training will be provided on the Sunday morning you serve. All adults must go through Keeping Kids safe training and a background check to be eligible to serve in kids ministries. If you didn’t go through this fall, that’s fine. There will be a Keeping Kids Safe training on on May 16 for those who did not go through this in the fall. We’ll meet outside, weather permitting, by door “D.”  Please take your own lawn chair.  Here’s the link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4fa8a72ba6f94-summer

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
Monday: Romans 9
Tuesday: Romans 10
Wednesday:Romans 11
Thursday:Romans 12
Friday: Romans 13

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Serve the World
On Sunday, we will receive an update on the Nepalese Speaking Community Church and their need for additional space in their facility to care for the many children they are meeting. We already partner with their pastor Yakuv Gurung in planting churches in Nepal through Jibit Aisha. Brandon Ondersma will be talking about this need in church on Sunday and how you can support this ministry to refugees in our community.

Earlier this week, the RCA sent out a weekly e-mail of resources for and news stories about churches in our denomination. There were stories about the Scudders, this amazing family of missionaries who had someone from the family serving in missions for the RCA for 200 years, another about flourishing through change an innovation, and a story about the impact of planting new churches. You can check that final article out here. Faithward.org is a great resource of thoughtful articles on everything from the discipleship to leading churches.

As we prepare for another great season of Camp Zion, we have built a little wish list for the summer. If you would like to help purchase some supplies and resources for the summer, you can do so from the list at this link. 
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/M4D5CKCROXH5?ref_=wl_share

Camp Zion still has some volunteer slots available for the summer, If you would like to help out in the summer and invest in the kids in our neighborhood, you can sign up at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050949a9a82aa2fd0-camp

If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.

Administration
The Consistory approved remodeling our bathrooms at our April meeting. If you have been in our bathrooms recently you may have noticed they not only look dated, but also have a particularly uncomfortable scent and are in need of some significant repairs. The approved plan will intentionally fit with the larger building remodel plan we approved prior to Covid rather than simply updating the bathrooms. By doing so, we leave open the possibility of moving ahead with the building remodel after Covid and as the financial impacts of this past year become more clear. This small project, however, will cost about $125,000. We will not move forward with this remodeling step until at least half of those funds are raised. If you would like to give to the bathroom remodel, you can do so by donating to our building fund. We do ask that anything given to the building fund be in addition to your regular support of Zion ministries through the general fund so we can still effectively fund our ongoing ministries.

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 to Date Budget:  $525,314.00
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $494,920.30
Giving Last Week: $5,643.57
Bathroom Building Fund (total given): $2,310.00

It has been a week if concerts and recitals in the Brower household. We have enjoyed so much music provided by our kids this week. For me, one of the best parts of being a parent is getting to go to these events and simply sit in wonder at the skill and abilities of out your kids. (I never learned to play any instrument well and can only carry a tune if I am singing next to someone who can lead me along.)

At a choir concern last night, the directors talked about how hard the students had worked over the last 15 months, adapting to wearing masks and social distancing, and singing via Zoom, and so much more. I find myself moved when I think about all the changes students have experienced, from the adaptations required to be in school to the losses of sports seasons and fall concerts, proms and normal graduations. It has been an unusual year.

I am so impressed by the work our schools have done to make everything work. Teachers made classes and resources digital. Taught kids both how to use and on video conferencing. Dealt with masks and some kids not wanting to wear them and social distancing in classrooms and playgrounds. Our schools and their staffs have been flexible, agile, and done a great job making the best of a challenging situation.

I was talking with a good friend yesterday, who also happens to be a pastor. We both feel like in so many ways, this has been the hardest year in church life in our 20 years of leading churches. Staff have had to creatively figure out what activities can still occur while following health department guidelines and how to find those guidelines, what things we just need to set aside for a year, and find new ways to connect and encourage the spiritual lives of our church members. Every few months, it feels like we need to re-figure things out again. Currently, it is summer programming. But by late July it will be figuring out the fall and assessing how far back to a more normal we can go. Whether it is adapting to changing comfort levels of volunteers and families or coping with people in quarantine, doing even the basics of church life has taken more energy than ever before. And, our staff has done a great job staying positive and focused on our mission.

If you have the opportunity, please take eat time to thank Rachel Brower, Jeremy Zoet, Rachel Verbrugge, Rick VanderWall, and Connie Stegeman for all their work this past year. They have worked harder than ever to care for all of us. I am so proud to work with them.

(On a side note, there will not be an E-News next week as I am taking a study leave. As this is not a vacation, I am still available for pastoral care phone calls if needed, but will not be in the office all week.)

Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in personal 9:30 am and online at 9:30 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

The Christians to whom Peter wrote in 1 Peter feel alone, scared, and as if they no longer belong in their own country. Maybe you have felt similarly at times. Peter reminds them and us that our hope is not found in fitting into the culture around us, but in Jesus who is creating us to be a new kind of chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. This week, as Peter urges us to love those in the church and to face the challenges of a pagan culture with the confidence that Christ is indeed Lord over everyone and everything.

This Sunday we also celebrate with Matt and Katie Eling the baptism of Esther Eling. In baptism, we claim the promise that God already claims Esther as his very own and we commit as a community too join this family in helping her to come to know the God who loves her.

Mark your calendars and save the date to join us for a Youth Led Worship event on Sunday night, June 6 at 6:30 pm. Bring your lawn chair as we will be meeting outside. Youth will be leading us in worship and in some small group discussions about our experiences over the past year.

Grow in Community
Barb Overweg experienced some issues with her vision earlier this week. Thankfully, she did not have a stroke, but is dealing with double vision. She has seen an ophthalmologist and they have a plan moving forward that should help ease her discomfort.

Please continue to keep Corrine VanHorn in your prayers as she remains at Spectrum Hospital with heart issues.

Congratulations to Jeremy Zoet on his graduation from Western Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Study. We are so proud of all the work you have done in your studies and appreciate the blessing you are  to Zion in leading us in worship and discipling our youth.

As we look ahead to the summer season and worshipping outside, we are planning to have coffee and some snacks available after worship. If you would be willing to help make coffee and set out snacks on a Sunday, you can sign-up to join one of first impressions teams here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409054aaeae23a6fd0-summer1

Nursery Update:  As more and more people are being vaccinated, and the number of Covid cases in our community are starting to decline, we feel it is the right time to try to reopen our nursery at Zion. To be able to do this, we need people willing to serve in the nursery!  We are planning on having a 5 week rotation, with 2 volunteers each week. Currently, we have 5 people willing to serve. We are looking for 5 more people that would be comfortable in the nursery, with a love for children, and a heart to bless young parents, many of whom had not had as much support as they normally would this past year. If we can find these 5 people, we’ll open the nursery!  And parents, please know that young children are also still welcome in the main worship service, as always! We’re simply thrilled you’re here, and don’t mind the wiggles and noises of young kids.

“Summer Sundays” in Zion Kids:  Starting on June 6, weather permitting, our kids ministry will be moving outside! This is for kids ages 3 through going into 3rd grade. We’ll be meeting by the picnic tables to read Bible stories, pray together, do other outdoor crafts/games, and play on our church playground! To make this work, we need your help!!  Please consider volunteering for a week or two this summer. There is no prep for our summer ministry, and training will be provided on the Sunday morning you serve. All adults must go through Keeping Kids safe training and a background check to be eligible to serve in kids ministries. If you didn’t go through this fall, that’s fine. There will be a Keeping Kids Safe training on on May 16 for those who did not go through this in the fall. We’ll meet outside, weather permitting, by door “D.”  Please take your own lawn chair.  Here’s the link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a4fa8a72ba6f94-summer

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
Monday: Acts 27
Tuesday: Acts 28
Wednesday:Romans 1
Thursday:Romans 2
Friday: Romans 3

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Serve the World
As we prepare for another great season of Camp Zion, we have built a little wish list for the summer. If you would like to help purchase some supplies and resources for the summer, you can do so from the list at this link.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/M4D5CKCROXH5?ref_=wl_share

Camp Zion still has some volunteer slots available for the summer, If you would like to help out in the summer and invest in the kids in our neighborhood, you can sign up at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050949a9a82aa2fd0-camp

If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.

Administration
The Consistory approved remodeling our bathrooms at our April meeting. If you have been in our bathrooms recently you may have noticed they not only look dated, but also have a particularly uncomfortable scent and are in need of some significant repairs. The approved plan will intentionally fit with the larger building remodel plan we approved prior to Covid rather than simply updating the bathrooms. By doing so, we leave open the possibility of moving ahead with the building remodel after Covid and as the financial impacts of this past year become more clear. This small project, however, will cost about $125,000. We will not move forward with this remodeling step until at least half of those funds are raised. If you would like to give to the bathroom remodel, you can do so by donating to our building fund. We do ask that anything given to the building fund be in addition to your regular support of Zion ministries through the general fund so we can still effectively fund our ongoing ministries.

At our congregational meeting on Sunday, we confirmed the nomination of our new Elders and Deacons. Ken Johnson and Haley Stone were appointed as Elders and Troy Austin and Tom MacGraw as Deacons. We will hold an installation service in early June.

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 to Date Budget:  $504,301.44
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $480,954.07
Giving Last Week: $10,770.00
Bathroom Building Fund: $1,140.00