Zion E-News (5-6-2021)
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
