This weekend, our nation will commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Already there have been numerous news stories, opinion pieces, and TV specials. I vividly remember first hearing of the plane crashing to the World trade Center while sitting in a New Testament class in seminary. I also remember how every professor cancelled classes the rest of the day except this professor who asked us when we would study the Bible if not that day. It was a fair point.

As I reflect on the last 20 years, I am thankful for those who responded to the attack by joining the military to do what they could to protect their country. After 20 years, so many of them carry wounds, both mental and physical, from the war on terror. I grieve with those who lost those they loved not only on 9/11, but also in Afghanistan and Iraq over these 20 years. I cannot help but think of people from our church who have served. Many now struggle in ways we may never see physically, mentally, and spiritually. This week in particular I have been praying for them by name.

Knowing of all those sacrifices, I found it painful to watch the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban reassert their control. I grieve for the women and children of that country who tasted a little freedom and have now had it taken away. And, i think of all those from that country who risked their lives and some who gave their lives fighting alongside our soldiers to defend their country from terrorist attacks.

When I look back on the events of 9/11, I remember most the fear and anxiety of 9/11 and the unity and resolve of 9/12. The last 20 years have reminded many of us that power can only achieve so much. In the 1990s, the United States was the unquestioned super power of the world. That no longer seems so obvious and even desirable.

Mostly, as I look back on 9/11, I am reminded that our world looks for strength and power, for those who can force their way and their will, but that is not the true way of peace or of God’s kingdom. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5 that in his kingdom it is not those with power and economic might who are blessed, but the poor, the grieving, the peacemakers. Jesus puts it this way:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

May we live, as best we can, by the values of this kingdom in a world prone to violence, terror, and war.

– Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in indoors and in person at 9:30 am.  The indoor service will be live-streamed at 9:30 and replayed again at 11. 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. 

Has this past year been hard? Have you struggled emotionally or spiritually? Wondered where God was? Got out of some important spiritual habits like: worship, prayer, and scripture reading? Then join us for the once a month series to reboot your faith. This week we talk about rebooting with God by gathering in worship.

Grow in Community
Please keep Rog and Teresa Beute in your prayers as Rog suffered a stroke last week. He is beginning a long road of recovery and rehab.Barb Peterson’s heart ablation went well on Wednesday and she already back home recovering. Brian Davis’ mother’s brain surgery also went well on Tuesday. Prayers for wisdom are appreciated as they consider next steps.

We will be kicking off our education year this Sunday with a party after church. Lunch will be catered by Brann’s. There will be a bounce house and other games for kids. Threads will hold an open house for everyone to see their space and learn more about this new ministry at Zion. Because the food will be catered, we are asking people to sign up ahead of time if they plan to attend. (Obviously, we would never turn anyone away from a meal! But signing up will help us plan for the day.) You can sign up here.

Nursery training for adult & teen volunteers will be at after worship on Sunday, Sept. 19. This training will include a “Keeping Kids Safe” portion, which is required for all adults 18 yrs. old and above, prior to serving with children. 

On September 19 and 26, we will be holding informational meetings at 6 pm about the Reformed Church in America’s upcoming General Synod meeting, our annual national assembly. The first week we will talk about how we decide things in our denomination and the second week we will focus on the specific issues before Synod this year. You can learn more about General Synod here.

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
9/6     Monday         Hebrews 2
9/7     Tuesday        Hebrews 3
9/8      Wednesday  Hebrews 4
9/9      Thursday      Hebrews 5
9/10    Friday           Hebrews 6

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

Serve the World
Thank you for all of your donations to Threads thus far! The first shopping day for Threads families will be on Tuesday, September 14. At this time we are in need of:
new and gently used clothing / shoes for girls and boys sizes infant through teen.
New underwear for boys (all sizes)
New underwear for men (all sizes)
Monetary donations are always welcome to purchase these needs.

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:  $156,943.78
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $99,651.81
Giving Last Week: $10,187.00

9-5-21 Announcements

Several years ago now, I received an e-mail ominously titled: How They See Us. A member of our church wrote to summarize a recent conversation they had with a new attender. The e-mail highlighted a variety of areas of our church ministry upon which we could improve. Reading the e-mail, I had to first take a few deep breaths to ensure I could hear the feedback without getting immediately defensive. (Do you ever have to do that? I do.) As I reflected on the e-mail, much of what was shared was either something I had not thought of, a misperception because of poor communication, or a frustration I already shared. Taking the time to reflect on the feedback allowed me to respond helpfully and improved the impact of our ministries.

I share that stories because earlier this week, I had an alternately fascinating and troubling conversation with someone who lives deeply in the teen culture of our community. They were sharing the perceptions of church going teens of their own churches. It was not pretty. Several of the teens this person knows are already planning on leaving church and not coming back when they are out of the house. They do not seem to dislike Jesus, but have been turned off by the church and thus dislike for many has grown in the last year and a half.

They identified three stumbling blocks for teens in claiming their parents faith as their own.

Biblical Illiteracy: Both the teens and their parents have limited Bible knowledge, limited ability to use scripture to interpret scripture when they come across hard passages, and rarely read their Bibles. Basically, their worldview is shaped by something other than scripture.

Christian Nationalism: They experience church as an odd mixture of Christianity, patriotism and ethnic pride. They do not see the people in church caring for those who are not like them or living out of a vision of God’s global church.

Anger: They see the social media feeds of church members and listen to sermons that seem more angry than grace filled, quicker to make a verbal dig than find common ground, faster to disparage than offer grace.

I don’t have any specific solutions to these challenges. I do not believe these concerns all fully apply to our church or to everyone in our church. But, I found them convicting. I offer them up as food for your thought.

– Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in indoors and 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 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. Beginning Labor Day Weekend, however, we will once again by live-streaming our worship services each week at 9:30 and rebroadcasting again at 11.

We live in an increasingly isolated world. People spend their days commuting to work, staring at screens, and can go days and weeks without talking with those nearest us. And yet, many of us have isolated ourselves from  unbelieving neighbors. We have worried about sin and failed to see them as Jesus does, What might God do if we embraced the lost art of neighboring and loved those nearest us as followers of Jesus?

Grow in Community
We will be kicking off our education year on September 12 with a bit of a party after church. Lunch will be catered by Brann’s. There will be a bounce house and other games for kids. Threads will hold an open house for everyone to see their space and learn more about this new ministry at Zion. Because the food will be catered, we are asking people to sign up ahead o fit if they plan to attend. (Obviously, we would never turn anyone away from a meal! But signing up will help us plan for the day.) You can sign up here.

Kids Ministry training for adult & teen volunteers will be at the following times:
Preschool & K-3rd class after worship TODAY, Aug. 29th.  Meet in the sanctuary.
Preteen (4th & 5th grades) at 4:00pm TODAY, Aug. 29th. Meet in Room 207.
Nursery training after worship on Sunday, Sept. 19.
All training will include a “Keeping Kids Safe” portion, which is required for all adults 18 yrs. old and above, prior to serving with children.

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
8/30    Monday        1 Timothy 6
8/31    Tuesday       2 Timothy 1
9/1      Wednesday  2 Timothy 2
9/2      Thursday      2 Timothy 3
9/3       Friday          2 Timothy 4

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

Serve the World
Threads Announcement: Thank you for all of your donations thus far! The first shopping day for Threads families will be on Tuesday, September 14. At this time we are in need of:
new and gently used clothing / shoes for girls and boys sizes infant through teen.
New underwear for boys (all sizes)
New underwear for men (all sizes)
Monetary donations are always welcome to purchase these needs.

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:  $134,523.24
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $81,694.55
Giving Last Week: $3,526.00
Bathroom Building Fund (total given): $127,539.00

Normally, I begin the E-News with some sort of personal reflection or thought from my week. But this week, I want to give you an update eon our latest Consistory meeting.

Your Consistory met Tuesday night for our regular August meeting and made some decisions of which I want you to be aware.

First, late last month, Zion received an anonymous donation of $125,000 to go toward remodeling the two bathrooms near the church office. This is obviously a huge gift and completely unexpected. As a staff, Consistory, and congregation we want to extend our thanks to this donor.

Second, in conversations between our architect, Pastor Rick, and the donor, we determined we could gut and remodel the bathrooms without knocking down any walls and still be able to use our master building plan we had previously developed. Therefore, Consistory approved a plan last night to remodel the bathrooms without changing their existing footprint and using the remaining funds to update the women’s bathroom in the basement to become a family bathroom, which will be very helpful for Threads and any other events in our basement.

Third, we also approved funds to re-carpet and paint the education wing hallways, lobby, and youth room as well as updating the furniture in our youth room, cry room, and the lobby. These funds will come from our cash reserves and any remaining funds from those given to the building fund after the updates mentions in options one and two.

While this is not the extensive remodel we had discussed as a congregation throughout 2019, we believe these changes focused on 40 year old bathrooms and 15 year old carpet will provide the “biggest bang” for our dollars and represent faithful care of the property God has entrusted to us.

Fourth, we will be holding an open house on September 12 for our new Threads ministry. Everyone from church is invited on this day following worship to tour and check out this new ministry to love our neighbors. As this is also the first week of our regular education ministry year, we are also planning some food and other actives following worship. It is a day you will not want to miss.

Fifth, on Sundays September 19 and 26, at 6 pm, I will be holding informational sessions for those interested in learning more about General Synod (our national governing body meeting). General Synod this year may be making some significant decisions related to tensions in our denomination around issues like LGBTQ+, the role of women in the church, and baptism. The first week, we will talk about how decisions get made in our denomination. The second week, we will discuss the recommendations being brought to General Synod. You are welcome to attend just one event or both. I know for many the temptation might be to only come the second week, but, personally, I think the first week is more helpful in understanding how to move forward as a church no matter what may happen at General Synod.

If you see a Consistory member, make a point to thank them for their thoughtfulness and leadership of our church. They work really hard and we are blessed to have each of them serving.

– Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in person at 9:30 am and online at 9:30 and 11 am. If you are joining us outside, you will want to bring chairs. 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.

We live in an increasingly isolated world. People spend their days commuting to work, staring at screens, and can go days and weeks without talking with those nearest us. And yet, many of us have isolated ourselves from unbelieving neighbors. This is true not only locally. This Sunday Chris and Christie Winkler from Wycliffe Bible translators join us to talk about how neighbor love is instrumental in the work of mission across the globe.

We will also celebrate with Andrew and Ellen Moore the baptism of their son Elliot.  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  these children into the covenant community at Zion.

Grow in Community
Congratulations to Danny and Ashley Copron on the birth of their daughter Aria Louise. Aria was born on Monday, August 9 at 11:57PM weighing 7lbs 3oz. Both mom and baby are doing well. She will be welcomed home by her big brother Odin. We give thanks and praise to God for this precious gift.

Our regular Kids Ministry begins on Sunday morning, Sept. 12! I’m excited about the caliber of our teachers and helpers. We do, however, still need one more teacher, and one more helper for our 4th & 5th grade Preteen group. They are a great, small group of kids. Who else do we want investing in them? Kids Ministry training for adult & teen volunteers will be at the following times:
Preschool & K-3rd class after worship on Sunday, Aug. 29;
Preteen (4th & 5th grades) at 4:00pm on Sunday, Aug. 29
Nursery training after worship on Sunday, Sept. 19.

All training will include a “Keeping Kids Safe” portion, which is required for all adults 18 yrs. old and above, prior to serving with children. Please let Rachel Brower know if you are unable to be there.

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
8/9    Monday         1 Thessalonians 4
8/10    Tuesday      1 Thessalonians 5
8/11    Wednesday  2 Thessalonians 1
8/12    Thursday      2 Thessalonians 2
8/13    Friday           2 Thessalonians 3

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

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
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:  $112,102.70
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $70,640.55
Giving Last Week: $6,634.07
Bathroom Building Fund (total given): $127,499.00

I have been reading through the New Testament with several of our kids, though do to vacations and my general laziness on summer nights, we have fallen a little behind. Several days ago now, we were reading Ephesians 2. Following is a section that has stuck with me.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 

There are two key themes in this passage that get all tangled up together. First, we were separated from God, but now in Christ we have been reconciled to God. This is huge and the reason for our eternal hope in Christ! Secondly, we were separated Jews and Gentiles because of the law, but now we have become fellow citizens, joined together into one temple with Christ as the cornerstone or foundation of it all.

It is hard as 21st century believers to understand the radical and shocking nature of this idea Jews and Gentiles despised each other. Both saw the other as a heathen, as unfaithful to the gods or the true God. Both saw the other as a threat to the nation (either Rome or a free Israel). And yet, now, because of Christ and their allegiance to him, they have become a new single people. But, living that way as a new united people was hard.

That is why Paul talks about how they need to overcome these outside division like race, gender, economic status and so on in his letters to the churches in Galatia, Corinth, Rome, and obviously in Ephesus as well. In part, though, he has to write this encouragement because these churches were filled with people from different ethnic backgrounds, ages, status as free and slave and so on. They were incredibly diverse communities.

Living in the suburbs of the United States where we live in very economically homogenous neighborhoods and often ethnical homogeneous communities, we do not experience the same kind of wide ranging diversity in many of our daily lives. And then you add to it the consumerist nature of American Christianity where we choose our local congregation rather than simply going to the nearest church. It is very easy to go to a church where everyone is of the same income as you, the same race and ethnicity, similar age, similar kids ages, similar politics, and so on. Honestly, life feels easier when we become the proverbial birds of a feather flocking together, but we also miss out on the beauty and witness of the gospel’s ability to overcome those things in our world that divide us.

One of the things I appreciate about Zion is that even given the limits of ethnic diversity in the suburbs, we are not all alike. Just this week, I spent Sunday afternoon celebrating Marv Huyser’s 90th birthday and Wednesday morning seeing Rhett Kleinjans who is only 2 months old. Some of us work hard in an executive suite and others work hard behind a cash register. Some are married and other single. Some are politically liberal and other conservative. Some are more theologically liberal and others more  conservative.

Which means, when we all get together, if you are intentional to build relationships across some of those dividing lines, you will likely be offended sometimes. And that is awesome! In fact, I would argue that if you are never troubled or offended by someone in your church, you are not in a church so much as a social club. Church community takes work. Work to understand people who are different from you. Work to figure out how to apply God’s word today, even when God’s word can offend. Work to learn how to love people you may never choose as friends, but to whom you have been joined by the Holy Spirit, being made into the holy temple, the very dwelling place of God.

– Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in person at 9:30 am and online at 9:30 and 11 am. Because of the expected heat and humidity and risk of rain, we will be meeting indoors at 9:30. However, the online service will be pre-recorded and abbreviated as we will not be live-streaming 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.

We live in an increasingly isolated world. People spend their days commuting to work, staring at screens, and can go days and weeks without talking with those nearest us. The power and genius of The Great Commandment is that it’s so simple and yet extremely powerful when acted on. The smartest thing that we can do collectively to impact our community is to actually live out Jesus’ command to love our neighbors. What might God do if we embraced the lost art of neighboring and loved those nearest us as followers of Jesus?

The sermon will reference a neighborhood map. If you are not with us in person on Sunday you can find the map here.

Grow in Community
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!

However, we need more volunteers for our summer kids ministry during church! We know that Zion church loves kids, and wants to support young families. If you’d be willing to help on a Sunday this summer, please contact Rachel Brower at 616-669-3412. Thanks!

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:
8/9    Monday         Colossians 3
8/10    Tuesday      Colossians 4
8/11    Wednesday  1 Thessalonians 1
8/12    Thursday      1 Thessalonians 2
8/13    Friday           1 Thessalonians 3

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

Serve the World
Threads had a great night sorting clothes on Monday. A huge thank you to all the people who came out to go through all the donations. Threads is continuing to accept donations of new and gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories for infants through adults. Also, donations of new socks and new underwear (for kids and adults) would be greatly appreciated.  Please place donations either in the Threads sheds located on Zion’s front steps or in the Threads wooden box in the narthex.  Thank you!

This Sunday, we will be celebrating another great summer at Camp Zion. We will be sharing a video of some of the highlights of the summer, but if you would like to get a little behind the scenes look at Camp Zion, you can check out the video below of interviews with some of our key staff and volunteers.
Camp Zion Recap: https://youtu.be/B34hAeW6j9E

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:  $100,892.43
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $64,006.48
Giving Last Week: $5,788.00
Bathroom Building Fund (total given): $2,474.00