This is what the Lord says:
“For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not relent.
They sell the innocent for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.
They trample on the heads of the poor
as on the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name.
They lie down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge.
In the house of their god
they drink wine taken as fines.
– Amos 2:6-8

Over 20 years ago now while a graduate student at Indiana, I was reading the book of John and was struck how in awe the writer seemed to be that Jesus loved him. It got me thinking about how I related to God’s love. Like many people who grew up in church, I grew up singing “Jesus Loves Me” and being told I was loved by God. So, it struck me as odd that John seemed so awed. This drove me to the Old Testament and the prophets to try to understand John’s frame of mind. I spent the next six months studying the minor prophets.

And then, I came across the book of Amos and it leveled me. The book begins with God’s judgment on all the neighbors of Israel before God pronounces his judgment on them in Amos 2:6-8. God judges Israel because they oppress the poor and the oppressed, they abuse their servants (the reference to a father and son and the girl) and they flaunt their abuse of the poor even in their worship (drinking wine and sleeping on garments taken in pledge for a loan). God is not angry because of idolatry or personal moral sins, but because as a society those in power have oppressed the poor. The whole nation is judged because of their oppression of the poor.

In the sermon this passed Sunday, I highlighted briefly the breadth and the depth of the gospel that Jesus is king over the whole world. This does not negate the truth that we are saved by faith in Jesus, but focuses our attention on God’s plan to redeem all of creation through the coming of the kingdom of his Son. As followers of Jesus, we should be living to help reveal the character of this kingdom or to live in such a way that people glimpse the peace and justice of this kingdom in us.

To me, this means as Christians we are a political, but not a partisan, people. We care about and should be involved in issues in the political world, but we do not put our hope or confidence in a political leader or party. We are not partisan. We will never find a party that fully supports the Biblical vision of a flourishing humanity. But, we need to be deeply engaged in seeking to help our world and nation reflect more and more the justice and peace of God revealed in Jesus and the teaching of the prophets.

There are lots of issues where our Christian ethics will come into play including abortion, tax rates and deficits, immigration policies and acts of war. But because the Black Lives Matter movement is so visible right now, I want to urge you to think carefully about how God would respond to our nation based on how it has treated African Americans throughout its history. Slavery. Jim Crow. The KKK. Mass incarceration. Redlining.

As I try to listen to people from the Black Lives Matter movement, I do not hear them saying Black Lives Matter more than other lives, but that their lives matter, too. And, that they do not experience American culture or the criminal justice system as valuing their lives. This is not primarily a question of separating good cops from bad cops, but of a system that imprisons and oppress people of color. It does not matter if this system does so by intentional design or unfortunate accident. This is what many people of color experience. The question for us as Christians is what are we going to do about it?

As a simple starting point, for me and maybe you, I need to learn more to understand something outside of my personal experience. I need to listen to those who did not grow up in a white 2-parent home in Zeeland like I did. Following are a couple of resources I have found educational and/or moving:
The movie Just Mercy on Amazon.
The documentary 13th on Netflix and Youtube.
And this 17 minute video from Bob the Tomato (its really Phil Vischer who is the voice of Bob the Tomato).

As I am writing this, I am hearing all the “but what about this or that” in my head. So, yes, I also care deeply abut Blue lives and I both want them safe and respected and if one of them is injured or killed I am happy the perpetrator is moat often found, charged, and convicted of their crime. I also care deeply about abortion and long for it to no longer happen in our society. And obviously, all lives matter because from a Christian view every person bears the image of God and is worthy of being loved and protected simply for that reason alone. (Be careful how long you think about this because it will raise issues like war, the death penalty, global poverty, the 1,000,000 Uighur people in camps in China, immigration and refugees, the place and value of women in many cultures of our world, and so much more.) But this is already too long of an introduction to our E-News.

Seriously, watch the Phil Vischer video. It is worth 17 minutes if your time.

Connect to God
This Sunday we will once again gather for worship online. You can join the service at:
zionreformed.online.church
Zion’s Facebook Page
WCET (at noon on Friday and 4pm on Sunday)
Physical Copy of the Sermon mailed to you (please request from Connie Stegeman at cstegeman@zionreforned.org)

We continue our sermon series on Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. Written from prison, this letter is often referred to as Paul’s letter of joy. Looking back over the past 6 months, we have seen: the impeachment of the president, a global health crisis, an economic crisis, and the racial tensions rooted in oppression that began 400 years ago came to the surface in some significant ways. In addition to the national anxiety, personally we have all  limited travel, dealt with the anxiety of the unknown, worried about our finances, felt the isolation of physical distancing, and the relational stresses all of this has added to life. We come to this letter of joy carrying our own unique burdens, but in it we see the power of focusing on Jesus even in the midst of our struggles. This week, Pastor Rick focuses our attention in Chapter 2 and the example Christ has set for us.

You are invited to join us for a coffee hour after church via a zoom call. The link will be shared during the service in the chat box. Last week, we had about 8 families join us for a brief talk in response to the sermon and just to catch up. You can learn more about how to use Zoom at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isp3qPeQ0E

Grow in Community
We extend our congratulations to Joe and Jill Sietsema and Austin and Ashley on the birth of Jason Daniel born Monday morning. Both mother and baby are doing well.

Join us at 9 am for Zion Kids Worship/Sunday School. We will be live streaming directly from the same website where you already watch our worship service. You can find the Kids Worship time at https://zionreformed.online.church.

Join us June 24 for a short time of worship (think hymn sing or maybe hymn/worship song sing) and a short devotional from Pastor Greg. We will be meeting on the lawn near the play ground at church at 7 pm. Bring your own chair and beverage for a chance to safely visit in a physically distant way with friends from church and enjoy a time of worship together, If it is raining on the 24th, we will meet on the 25th at 7 pm. In an effort to follow the governor’s guidelines, this event is limited to 100 people, so if you are planning to attend, please contact Connie Stegeman (cstegeman@zionreformed.org or 616-534-7533) so we can plan appropriately.

While we have not been able to meet together face-to-face, our Elders, Deacons and Pastor Rick have been doing a great job touching base with members over the age of 60 every couple of weeks. As our time apart has grown, our Consistory has recognized the need to expand our care to those under 60 as well. To that end, we are forming Covid-19 Connect Groups until we are able to meet together regularly as a congregation Each person under 60 who is not already in a small group or discipleship triad is being randomly assigned to one of these groups. The leaders will be calling to check-in on members every couple of weeks and, now that they are allowed, planning an opportunity each month to meet physically together. If you would like more information, please contact me at gbrowerzionreformed.org.

We also still have numerous Discipleship Triads meeting. If you would like to learn more about how you can connect with other people at Zion to encourage one another to follow Jesus well, send me an e-mail and I can help get you connected.

Serve the World
We continue accepting donations of personal care items and food on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm at church. We are partnering with Sunrise Ministries in Jenison for a weekly distribution. We also continue our monthly partnership with UCOM through our Personal Care Pantry. For the next few weeks, all Personal Care Items will be shared with Lifeline Community Church for their next distribution in Wyoming this Saturday. Thank you for your support of these important ministries at this time.

If you and others that you know would be willing to serve, Sunrise Ministries (in coordination with Love Inc and local churches) is in need of volunteers this Wednesday and for the next couple of weeks! They are also in need of people to go shop for food. They have gift cards and a list that they would give you before you go out. If you are interested please contact Penny at penny@sunrisemin.org

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
As we move closer to regathering for corporate worship, our Consistory is asking for your feedback regarding when and how to reopen. To that end, they have sent a survey via e-mail to each household in our congregation. For those households for which we do not have an e-mail address, we have mailed a physical copy to your home. Please respond to this survey as soon as possible as the Consistory will be meeting on June 23 to determine how soon we will be opening. If your family has not received the survey yet, please e-mail Pastor Greg immediately, and he will send one to you right away. Thank you for your thoughtful attention to this survey.

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. We are especially grateful this week for all those who have adjusted their means of giving to give online, through the mail, and via text. Zion’s members continue to strongly support the ministries of Zion during this time of uncertainty.

Fiscal Year to Date Budget: $21,012.56
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $19,264.00
Giving Last Week: $9,819.00
Cash on Hand: $157,890.59

I had several thoughts to share this week with you, but thought it wiser to let a different choice be heard. Following is a letter from Earl James, Coordinator for African American/Black Council and Advocacy of the RCA. The letter is long and it is worth your reading and carefully reflecting upon it as it comes from a fellow believer, leader in our denomination, and reflects an experience mot which most of us do not regularly have access.

Dear Members of the RCA’s African American/Black Council, the Council’s Constituents, and all our Allies,

This pastoral and advocacy letter differs from other ones that I have written or helped write. The central concerns are not church focused or in condemning racism per se. The central concerns here:

Reflect from my perspectives on how the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery fit into an overall experience of being American

Highlight being an ally in this cause of racial equity and justice in our communities

Highlight being an ally in this cause of racial equity and justice in our communities Promote addressing “use-of-force” policies that govern police actions
Share some ways forward.

The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, are awful and evil in their own rights. For many of us, they are also part of a soul-damaging heritage of being of this country.

In George Floyd’s murder, former police officer Derek Chauvin’s knee was on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. It remained there for nearly three minutes after George was unresponsive.

Chauvin’s knee on the neck is merely the latest of an American heritage of noose around the neck. Regardless of knee or noose, the result is “I can’t breathe.” Both kill.

Take several moments. Sit or lie silently. Calm your body and mind. Then imagine for as long as you can a knee pressing hard on your throat. Can you imagine the pressure? Can you imagine struggling to breathe?

Keeping ourselves and our children breathing has been a bane of our existence. To stay watchful and prepare our children and grandchildren to be watchful:

• Requires an enormous strength of will and
• Expends a huge amount of physical, mental, emotional energy.

Our and their watchfulness, we fully hope, will help keep us alive. Our watchfulness is exhausting.

“Our” does not only mean “those of us now.” Our parents had to be watchful and taught us of the Boomer generation to be so. For many of our parents, there was a close relationship between fear and respect. And in their parents’ time, fear was a tool they used to keep their children safe. Yes, there was prayer. Yes, there were worship services and vigils. Yes, there were beliefs that Christ is the answer. Yes, there were efforts to promote racial reconciliation and harmony. Despite faith and action and hope and love, from nooses to knees, the anxiety continues.

Like many of us, I have for over 40 years frequently had “the talk” with my children and very young grandchildren. Yet, still, this. A day after Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd, two of my grandchildren woke up from frightening dreams. One dreamt that she and her friends were carted off into slavery. She and her closest friend were forced by White women to scrub floors. Another dreamt that his close buddy who is White warned him repeatedly to watch out for White police. We listened quietly to both of them tell about their dreams and how they felt about the murder. Afterward, we shook with rage and hurt that this evil even entered the lives of our little ones. This was not a history lesson. This wasn’t read from a book. This was real-time, in-the-moment, and life shaping for them.

What is the teachable moment here for them? I was so grateful their parents took them to our local protest rally. Yes, a small number of people ended up defacing and destroying property. Yes, the police dealt with them. But, a massive number of protesters were peaceful, active, and united. When faced with evil, my grandchildren took steps to confront it. They are sifting themselves and taking stands. Taking stands for themselves, for those they know and love, and for this community they are part of.

I must add, in my time, I have learned about and been part of events and movements led by people of the Builder and Boomer generations. This one in my community was led by people from Generations Y and Z (my grandchildren’s generation). It warms my soul to see them owning this challenge. It warms my head and heart to follow their leadership.

I want to share on economics. In the Civil Rights movement, pastor- and church-led groups conducted economic boycotts to overturn Jim Crow. What started with lunch counter sit-ins at businesses that refused to serve Blacks helped create much wider opportunities in American life for Blacks and other oppressed people. The Blackout Coalition, a national racial justice effort launched in response to George Floyd’s murder, has joined that economic strategy. On July 7, 2020, Black people and all other allies are asked, for that day, to not buy anything. As was the case historically, the Coalition hopes to raise awareness and promote justice through this economic protest. For more information and to join the Coalition, see its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/blackoutdaymovement/.

To close this section, a couple of beautiful references.

A few days ago, I read a powerful piece by a Black person, Stratton C. Lee III. He sifted through his sense of self and place. His words are elegant and eloquent. I wholeheartedly recommend you read it, reflect on it, and take his lead and sift yourself: www.facebook.com/2326842/posts/10117315456787614/. May your heart race like mine as you read Stratton’s post.

I recently read this elegant and eloquent testimony on being an ally: www.facebook.com/10010659/posts/10112579068233321/. Its author is a young White police officer, Justin Pletcher. In his post, he sifted his own heart and mind. He wrote about what he does with other White people. He shared about some things he did with people of color. Justin described how he measures the usefulness of him being an ally—he listens to those he serves. I wholeheartedly encourage you to read Justin’s post.

Use of Force Law Enforcement Policies 

Police departments must hire, promote, and champion people of good will. But in this matter of killing, whether an officer is loving or racially reconciled is secondary. The primary issue is the murders, such as in George Floyd’s case, must stop. In their time, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others spoke like that about lynching. Regardless of hearts and racial reconciliation, lynching had to stop.

We need to understand far better what “use-of-force” policies are and why police murders of unarmed people normally do not appear to violate established use-of-force police policies.

Typically, use-of-force is a law or policy that guides when police can use different amounts

of force to control situations. Use-of-force goals typically surround matters of arrest and protection of officers or others. In many jurisdictions, use-of-force is supposed to be a last resort tactic. Examples of elements of use-of-force policies can be found here: www.joincampaignzero.org/force.

We have a federal government and not a national one. Therefore, use-of-force laws and policies are determined at every governmental jurisdiction. A single or uniform law or policy is not possible. I strongly recommend that existing use-of-force policies in your area:

• Be examined
• Be measured against biblical and theological principles of love and justice
• Be challenged against actual incidents of police killings of unarmed people and Be changed in ways that radically reduce deaths by police of unarmed people.

Some Ways Forward and Some Next Steps 

• Continue embracing peaceful public demonstrations for racial equity and justice, and for elimination of police brutality. (I reached out to an organizer of the protest I was part of to learn more and serve.)
• Work to re-craft use-of-force policies in your location to ensure that deaths of unarmed persons by police are eliminated or carry swift and substantial penalties. (I am talking with some people where I live who might want to conduct this work.)
• Find and continually express great care to those among your families and friends, of any generation. In frequent and diverse ways, tell them they matter and are of great value. Tell them specific things about their character and actions that impress you and that you hold dear. Always let them know in various and diverse ways they are gifts from God to you and to life itself.
• Review, talk about, and incorporate into conversations, education, sermons, advocacy, and so on the two postings mentioned previously from Stratton C. Lee III and Justin Pletcher. Explore how they practically live out the Belhar Confession’s principles of justice, reconciliation, and unity: www.rca.org/belhar.
• Have inter-generational conversations and activities that can nurture inter- generational racial equity and justice understanding
• Host one or more virtual or in-person congregational, family, or town hall meetings on any part of this matter. (Others and I are planning two or three virtual engagements to occur in June and/or July.)
• Learn about and participate in The Blackout Coalition’s July 7, 2020, day of not spending money.
• Watch the movie “Just Mercy” and discuss it. It is an exceptional telling of a true story about the dangers of systemic racism in American life. During June 2020, it may be streamed at no cost. Here is how: www.businessinsider.com/how-to-watch- just-mercy-free-streaming-rental.

Yours in Christ, Earl James
Coordinator for African American/Black Council and Advocacy

Connect to God
This Sunday we will once again gather for worship online. You can join the service at:
zionreformed.online.church
Zion’s Facebook Page
WCET (at noon on Friday and 4pm on Sunday)
Physical Copy of the Sermon mailed to you (please request from Connie Stegeman at cstegeman@zionreforned.org)

We were going to start a new series on Philippians this week, but it has been postponed by one week. Instead, this Sunday we will be looking at Romans 14 to see how the counsel of scripture might help us to be a people of unity and reconciliation in a time of tribalism and division.

You are invited to join us for a coffee hour after church via a zoom call. The link will be shared during the service in the chat box. Last week, we had about 8 families join us for a brief talk in response to the sermon and just to catch up. You can learn more about how to use Zoom at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isp3qPeQ0E

Grow in Community
Join us at 9 am for Zion Kids Worship/Sunday School. We will be live streaming directly from the same website where you already watch our worship service. You can find the Kids Worship time at https://zionreformed.online.church.

Join us June 24 for a short time of worship (think hymn sing) and a short devotional from Pastor Greg. We will be meeting on the lawn near the play ground at church at 7 pm. Bring your own chair and beverage for a chance to safely visit in a physically distant way with friends from church and enjoy a time of worship together, If it is raining on the 24th, we will meet on the 25th at 7 pm. In an effort to follow the governor’s guidelines, this event is limited to 100 people, so if you are planning to attend, please contact Connie Stegeman (cstegeman@zionreformed.org or 616-534-7533) so we can plan appropriately.

While we have not been able to meet together face-to-face, our Elders, Deacons and Pastor Rick have been doing a great job touching base with members over the age of 60 every couple of weeks. As our time apart has grown, our Consistory has recognized the need to expand our care to those under 60 as well. To that end, we are forming Covid-19 Connect Groups until we are able to meet together regularly as a congregation Each person under 60 who is not already in a small group or discipleship triad is being randomly assigned to one of these groups. The leaders will be calling to check-in on members every couple of weeks and, now that they are allowed, planning an opportunity each month to meet physically together. If you would like more information, pleas contact me at gbrowerzionreformed.org.

We also still have numerous Discipleship Triads meeting. If you would like to learn more about how you can connect with other people at Zion to encourage one another to follow Jesus well, send me an e-mail and I can help get you connected.

Serve the World
We continue accepting donations of personal care items and food on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm at church. We are partnering with Sunrise Ministries in Jenison for a weekly distribution. We also continue our monthly partnership with UCOM through our Personal Care Pantry. For the next few weeks, all Personal Care Items will be shared with Lifeline Community Church for their next distribution in Wyoming. Thank you for your support of these important ministries at this time.

If you and others that you know would be willing to serve, Sunrise Ministries (in coordination with Love Inc and local churches) is in need of volunteers this Wednesday and for the next couple of weeks! They are also in need of people to go shop for food. They have gift cards and a list that they would give you before you go out. If you are interested please contact Penny at penny@sunrisemin.org

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. We are especially grateful this week for all those who have adjusted their means of giving to give online, through the mail, and via text. Zion’s members continue to strongly support the ministries of Zion during this time of uncertainty.

Year to Date Budget: $587,866.46
Year to Date Contribution: $554,994.82
Giving Last Week: $5,983.00
Cash on Hand: $147,008.82

A week or so ago, I was in an e-mail chain with a relatively large group of people. One person in the chain referred to a prominent politician in a demeaning way. I was not following the chain closely and before I could reply, someone else gently and graciously  corrected the person. And then, I heard people complaining about wearing a mask and others disparaging those who won’t wear a mask. And, others speaking unkindly about politicians from a different party. As a nation, we are an angry and anxious people. Often more consumed with being right or getting our way than with thinking through how to love our neighbor.

I see this desire to paint people as caricatures of themselves or to make straw man arguments in myself, too. When so much is out of our control, it can feel good to make everything a black or white issue, a good or bad issue, a simple binary choice: open things up or stay closed, live in fear or recklessly risk the health of others, save lives or destroy the economy, and so on.

This morning as I sat in my office, I was discouraged by the tone I sense in others and feel inside myself. It seems to me that as Christians the very least we can do to submit to those in authority over us is to assume the best of them. They are all doing the best in a difficult time to balance all the competing priorities of health and finances in our state and nation. And that as Christians, the lats we can do in loving our neighbors is to be kind to them and speak kindly of them even when we disagree with each other. But, there I sat discouraged.

And then, I received a letter in the mail from Angie Philipps. I do not know Angie. According to the envelope, she lives in Jenison. She may be young or old. I know nothing about this woman, except, she wrote a letter to encourage me and let me know she is praying for me. In the letter she notes that I am the 70th letter she has written to encourage a pastor in our community since the shut down began. (I suspect she is going through the phone book alphabetically from A to Z.)

I want to be more like Angie today. So, I want you to know I am praying for you. I am proud of you, the people of Zion. Yesterday, I delivered another two car loads of food to Sunrise Ministries in Jenison and I am proud to tell people I am your pastor. I love your generosity. I love the way you have been so quick to adapt and adjust to changes the past few months. I love the stories I hear of you bring people meals and going shopping for a friend and the long calls and neighborhood walks. We may be apart, but many of you are working to stay connected.

Thank you for being the people of God we are called to be even with all our failings and mistakes, stumbles and fitful starts. God bless you!

Connect to God
This Sunday we will once again gather for worship online. You can join the service at:
zionreformed.online.church 
Zion’s Facebook Page
WCET (at noon on Friday and 4pm on Sunday) 
Physical Copy of the Sermon mailed to you (please request from Connie Stegeman at cstegeman@zionreforned.org) 

I would like to thank all the people who participated in our service this week:  Sarah McAnally, Emily Morehouse, Luke Austin, Jim Peterson, Rick VanderWall, Rachel and Ethan Brower, Kendyll Bond, and Olivia Davis.

We continue our sermon series entitled Made for More this week. Many of us have been raised in a church culture that told us, however unintentionally, that our role was to come to worship, volunteer in something, give a little money and then let the professionals do the ministry. But what if we were made for more than holding down a seat or filling a volunteer slot. What if we truly are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do? What if we were made for mission, to both be a disciple and make disciples, as well as filling a unique role in God’s kingdom to show God’s love and care for this world. What if we were made for a life overflowing in the life of Jesus and guided in mission by his Spirit? This week we shift our attention to our unique purpose which flows from the unique ways God has shaped and formed us.

This Sunday, we will celebrate communion, also called The Lord’s Super or the Eucharist. This 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.

You are also invited to join us for a coffee hour after church via a zoom call. The link will be shared during the service in the chat box. Last week, we had about 8 families join us for a brief talk in response to the sermon and just to catch up. You can learn more about how to use Zoom at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isp3qPeQ0E

Grow in Community
Join us at 9 am for Zion Kids Worship/Sunday School! We will be live streaming directly from the same website where you already watch our worship service. You can find the Kids Worship time at https://zionreformed.online.church.

Connected to our sermon series, we are also engaging in a 30-Day devotional as a congregation. The devotionals will walk us through the book of Ephesians as we together consider  how we are Made for More. The devotionals can be downloaded here.

We also still have numerous Discipleship Triads meeting. If you would like to learn more about how you can connect with other people at Zion to encourage one another to follow Jesus well, send me an e-mail and I can help get you connected.

Serve the World
We received an update from Jibit Asha (church planting in Nepal) recently. They ask for prayers as many of their planters are working in areas that have been heavily hit by the Corona Virus. In addition, they report 248 people have heard the gospel for the first time, 15 churches are meeting, 24 people have made first time commitments to Christ, and one new fellowship has begun. We give thanks to God for his continuing work in this time of turmoil for many.

We continue accepting donations of personal care items and food on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm at church. We are partnering with Sunrise Ministries in Jenison for a weekly distribution. We also continue our monthly partnership with UCOM through our Personal Care Pantry. For the next few weeks, all Personal Care Items will be shared with Lifeline Community Church for their next distribution in Wyoming. Thank you for your support of these important ministries at this time.

If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Shanda VandePol our chair of deacons and she can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. Her e-mail is shandavandepol@yahoo.com and her phone number is 616-308-0700.

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. We are especially grateful this week for all those who have adjusted their means of giving to give online, through the mail, and via text. Zion’s members continue to strongly support the ministries of Zion during this time of uncertainty.

If you have been following our financial position closely, you will notice our cash on hand jumped significantly this week. This is due entirely to our church receiving a PPP loan from the government to assist in our making payroll. We anticipate this loan being completely forgiven as it will be used to pay our staff and pay for some utilities. We are particularly thankful for this loan at this time as we have had two bigger expenses come up in the last two weeks: a repair to our elevator and updating our video equipment so we can begin live-streaming from the sanctuary when we gather again for worship.

Year to Date Budget: $565,682.82
Year to Date Contribution: $537,788.82
Giving Last Week: $10,252.00
Cash on Hand: $150,314.70

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ~ Hebrews 10:24-25

On Wednesday during our morning prayer time, Hebrews 10:25 kept running through my mind. Do not give up the habit of meeting. During this time of physical distancing, we cannot be physical with one another, but let us not give up the habit of being socially close to each other.

There are people in our community grieving. Grieving the loss of a loved one. Grieving the loss of their Senior year. Grieving the plans they had for a new business. Grieving the loss of weekly game nights and coffee dates. Grieving the loss of mobility. Let us not let each other grieve alone.

There are also people struggling. Struggling with balancing the competing demands of jobs and raising kids and keeping up on school work. Struggling with being overworked as everything seems to take longer when done remotely., Struggling with not having enough work and worrying how to pay the bills. Struggling in relationships that were rocky to begin within but that have fractured even further under the stress of staying home.

There are also people finding an unexpected joy during this time. Activities and slowed and parents have connected with kids in new ways. Jobs that beat them done have been removed for a time. Children have been born and welcomed into the world.

I spent almost an hour talking with one of our missionaries earlier this week and I was reminded of the power of an encouraging phone call. I get to pray each day with people from our church on a Zoom call and am strengthened by our time together. I met with my Discipleship triad online and we shared our burdens and offered each other wisdom. And every week, I look forward to seeing who has checked in to worship online as we gather on Sundays. All these connections feed my soul and encourage me in my relationship with God, but also in my family and in my work.

We were made for relationship. None of us can go through life alone. Let us not give up the habit of meeting with one another. Gather as a small group online. Call a friend. Send a card. Saturate our friends with text messages. Even from a distance, let us go through life together and never give up the habit of meeting together.

Connect to God
This Sunday we will once again gather for worship online. You can join the service at zionreformed.online.church or from the top banner of our website at www.zionreformed.org. You will also be able to watch the live stream via our church’s Facebook page. The stream will begin at 9:15 with a few worship songs prior to the service starting just a couple minutes after 9:30. Beginning this week, our services will once again be shown a week later on WCET at noon on Fridays and at 4 pm on Sundays.

I would like to thank all the people who participated in our service this week: Rachel, Kim, and Josh Verbrugge, Sharilyn VanWyhe, Rick VanderWall, Troy Austin, our praise team, and all the kids with a Mother’s Day message for their mom.

We continue our sermon series entitled Made for More this week. Many of us have been raised in a church culture that told us, however unintentionally, that our role was to come to worship, volunteer in something, give a little money and then let the professionals do the ministry. But what if we were made for more than holding down a seat or filling a volunteer slot. What if we truly are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do? What if we were made for mission, to both be a disciple and make disciples, as well as filling a unique role in God’s kingdom to show God’s love and care for this world. What if we were made for a life overflowing in the life of Jesus and guided in mission by his Spirit? This week we shift our attention to our common mission field, not across the world, not at some future time, but right here and right now.

If you are not able to watch online, but still want to read the sermon, please contact Connie Stegeman and she can mail you a hard copy of Pastor Greg’s rough draft. (You may have to endure even more than the average number of typos.)

You are also invited to join us for a coffee hour after church via a zoom call. The link will be shared during the service in the chat box. Last week, we had about 8 families join us for a brief talk in response to the sermon and just to catch up. You can learn more about how to use Zoom at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isp3qPeQ0E

Grow in Community
Join us at 9 am this Sunday for Zion Kids Worship/Sunday School! We will be live streaming directly from the same website where you already watch our worship service. You can find the Kids Worship time at https://zionreformed.online.church.

We also hold Jim and Barb Overweg in our prayers as Jim had eye surgery this morning to replace a lens that had broken loose. Please pray for peace, a lack of discomfort or pain, and a speedy recovery.

The Elders will be meeting next week Tuesday at 7 pm. If you are interested in joining Zion,  having a child baptized, or making profession of faith, please contact Pastor Greg.

Connected to our sermon series, we are also engaging in a 30-Day devotional as a congregation. The devotionals will walk us through the book of Ephesians as we together consider  how we are Made for More. The devotionals can be downloaded here.

We also still have numerous Discipleship Triads meeting. If you would like to learn more about how you can connect with other people at Zion to encourage one another to follow Jesus well, send me an e-mail and I can help get you connected.

Serve the World
We continue accepting donations of personal care items and food on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm at church.

If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Shanda VandePol our chair of deacons and she can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. Her e-mail is shandavandepol@yahoo.com and her phone number is 616-308-0700.

Administration
At our annual Congregational meeting on Sunday, we elected the following people to the office of Elder: Patti Grooters and Arlyn Zoet and to the office of Deacon: Jerrod Holzgen and Brandon Ondersma.

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. We are especially grateful this week for all those who have adjusted their means of giving to give online, through the mail, and via text. Zion’s members continue to strongly support the ministries of Zion during this time of uncertainty.

Year to Date Budget: $543,499.18
Year to Date Contribution: $520,963.82
Giving Last Week: $7,055.22
Cash on Hand: $104,646.17