Zion News 4/5/18

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Last week Monday, Jeremy and I had the privilege of eating lunch with Wes Granberg-Michaelson. While likely unknown to most people in our church, Wes is something of a legend in our denomination. In the early part of his career he was a chief aide to Senator Mark Hatfield during the Watergate scandal, spent the rest of his career working for the World Council of Churches of finally the General Secretary of the RCA for 17 years. In those roles, he was instrumental in beginning Christian Churches Together that brought Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Christians all to the same table for the first time in history. He also helped start the Global Christian Forum that includes Catholic, Pentecostal and Evangelical churches from around the world. He seems to know just about everyone in the Christian world and many in the political world as well. 

On Ash Wednesday this year, Wes was on a retreat with retired leaders of the CRC (Peter Borgdorff), the Episcopalian Church, several Methodist denominations, and evangelical leaders. Together they wrote a joint Confession of Faith in a Time of Crisis. I offer it to you to read and reflect on, not because I either agree or disagree with their statement, but because i think it wise to listen to our elders, especially those from across the Christian spectrum and with hundreds of years of leadership between them in the church. You can check out their statement here.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting with our Middle and High School students to talk about faith, the Bible, human sexuality and other questions on their minds. It was a truly great night to get to know our students and think with them about important issues in their life. As I thought about their questions, I was reminded of a Catechism recently written by Branson Parler for the Regional Synod of the Great Lakes on Marriage and Sexuality. It too is a great resource. So, if you are thinking through issues like marriage and sexuality and how the church should be engaging these issues in our culture, you should check this Catechism out. You can find it here.

If you would like a copy of the worship service, you can receive a complete copy by contacting Tom Verbrugge or you can find the weekly messages on our website.

Grow in Community
Teresa Beute’s  open heart surgery went well. Continue to pray for her as she begins the recovery process.

Barb Peterson is scheduled for a cardioversion on Tuesday to get her heart back in rhythm. Pray that the procedure is successful and that her heart will stay in rhythm.

Gert Brink went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 4. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Reformed Church. Visitation is scheduled for Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville)  and Saturday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at church prior to the service.

Serve the World
As CityFest kicks off a 6 month period of serving our community and training churches, there is a great opportunity for members of our church to learn more about evangelism and how to share our faith with others. On April 17, Mark Mittelberg, author of Becoming a Contagious Christian, will offer a free training at Fairhaven Church in Hudsonville at 7 pm. If you are interested in attending, you can sign-up through the Connection Card on Sunday.

The names of those willing to serve as Elders and Deacons were recently distributed to members of Zion. We encourage you tp pray for God’s guidance in choosing our leaders and then prayerful fill out a nomination ballot and turn it in through the pink box in the narthex. These nominations will be considered by the Consistory as we determine the final slate of Elders and Deacons of our congregation meeting in May. Nominations are due this Sunday.

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.

Year to date budget: $467,056.04
Year to date contributions: $469,112.08

Zion News 3/29/18

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Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.

Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”

Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”

Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”

“Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”

Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

John 13:1-17 (The Message)

Grow in Community
Tom Boeve had knee replacement surgery on Monday and is doing well as he begins his physical therapy routine.

Teresa Beute was hospitalized on Tuesday with heart troubles will be undergoing open heart surgery sometime early next week. Please pray for peace and patience as she awaits surgery.

Madonna Chapelle entered hospice care last week and is currently doing well and enjoying the break from the many side effects of chemotherapy. Continue to pray for her as the cancer progresses that she might continue to find her hope and comfort in our God.

Please pray for all those traveling over the next 10 days as many go south to enjoy some warm weather during this break from school.

Serve the World
Many people in our community attend church on Christmas and Easter and not a whole lot in between. Others have attended church in the past, but have not gone for a long time. Sometimes, for these people, all they need is an invitation from a friend. But, most would attend a church if someone would only ask. 

Who might you ask to join you at Zion during this Lenten/Easter season? Your ask could be as simple as saying, “Bob you’re such a great neighbor and I’m not sure if you have plans for this Sunday, but I have been attending this great church and I’d like to ask you come check it out with us soon. No big deal if you can’t but I was thinking of you.” Bob may say no, or he may take a first step closer to Jesus because you had the courage to ask.

As CityFest kicks off a 6 month period of serving our community and training churches, there is a great opportunity for members of our church to learn more about evangelism and how to share our faith with others. On April 17, Mark Mittelberg, author of Becoming a Contagious Christian, will offer a free training at Fairhaven Church in Hudsonville at 7 pm. If you are interested in attending, you can sign-up through the Connection Card on Sunday.

The names of those willing to serve as Elders and Deacons were recently distributed to members of Zion. We encourage you tp pray for God’s guidance in choosing our leaders and then prayerful fill out a nomination ballot and turn it in through the pink box in the narthex. These nominations will be considered by the Consistory as we determine the final slate of Elders and Deacons of our congregation meeting in May.

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.

Year to date budget: $456,441.13
Year to date contributions: $461,974.08