ZION E-NEWS (7-6-23)

Our traditional July 4th consists of a pool party hosted by Austin and Haley. This includes our Karen family which has grown from six people (the original six Thailand Refugee’s that Zion supported when they arrived in the United States in 2011) to 25!

We play yard games, swim, and enjoy lots of good food! The weather did not disappoint and the pool was a very popular place! That’s where things can get a little stressful, considering that five out of the 13 kids that were in the pool can actually swim and the majority of the other eight were under five years old.  And it’s complicated even more by the fact that their parents don’t seem to understand the concept of those children needing hands on supervision when they are in or around the pool.

Meet Jenny. Jenny is not quite four years old. She entered the back yard, headed straight for the pool and if not for some fast moving adults would have jumped right in. Jenny can’t swim yet she has no fear. Once we had a lifejacket on her, there was no stopping her! She wanted to do everything the big kids were doing. She must have jumped off the diving board at least 50 times.

As I watched Jenny, I was reminded of Proverbs 3:5. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

Jenny has no understanding of the fact that independently she is not able to keep her head out of the water, that she is not in control. She just knows that she  wants to swim.

Sometimes I approach situations in life the same way Jenny approached the pool. I dive in head first trusting my own knowledge and discernment (often because I wan’t to control the outcome) only to find myself over my head, drowning.

To trust in the Lord means more than believing in who he is and what he says; the word here for trust can also mean “to have confidence in”.

Lord, help me to bring everything in my life before you.  Teach me to lean on you with all my heart instead of relying on my own imperfect understanding. Help me to seek your will and trust in you perfect plan. Amen.

~Connie Stegeman

CONNECT TO GOD
AS WE GATHER in person for Worship each Sunday at 9:30am the service can also be viewed on our website at zionreformed.online.church and streaming on our YouTube channel. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 10:30AM on Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.

THIS SUNDAY MORNING we celebrate with  Matt and Katie Wagner the baptism of their son Benjamin Chet Wagner .  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 Benjamin into the covenant community at Zion.

ZION KIDS has switched over to our summer programming.Through Sept 3, we will hold one combined class each week for kids ages 3yrs old through 3rd grade.  We will sing songs, watch a Bible story video, pray together and have some playtime while service is happening in the sanctuary.  Children should check in at the child check in station each week as usual.

GROW IN COMMUNITY
PRAYER REQUEST: Barb Overweg will have an ablation done on her back on Monday, July 10. Jim Overweg has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will begin radiation treatments in August. Pray for our Middle School youth and leaders as they serve at Black Top Rec in Holland this week. Continue to pray for our Search Team, Matt Eling, Jill Austin, Ken Cook, Kathy MacGraw, Andrew Moore, Patti Steere, Kyle VanderWall, and Pastor Steve. Pray for those in our congregation who have ongoing health issues.

DO YOU like to bake? We are looking for volunteers to make (or purchase) cookies to serve at coffee time after worship. If you would be willing to provide cookies occasionally please call or text Dianne Kooiker at 616-538-3179.

FOR THOSE who signed up for Dunes Harbor camping, an information letter has been placed in your Zion mailbox. Also, a sign up for food has been placed on the bulletin board by the church office. Please take a minute to review it and sign up before the end of July. If you have questions, please contact Rick or Jonell VanderWall.

SERVE THE WORLD
WE STILL NEED to collect an additional 150 toothbrushes and 150  tubes of toothpaste by the end of August to meet our goal of providing toothbrushes and toothpaste to all of our Personal Care Pantry, Hand2Hand, and Threads participants in September. Donations can be placed in the Personal Care Pantry box in the narthex.  Thank you!

HAND2HAND is looking for volunteers to deliver food to Grandview Elementary School.  Delivery would be every Wednesday or Thursday between 3:30-4:00PM  beginning in the fall and continue weekly during the regular school year schedule. Food is packed in totes so volunteers would need to be able to lift the totes which can weigh up to 40lbs.  Contact Sheila Johnson or Shawn Sanders if you have more questions or would like to help.

CAMP ZION is still in need of snack donations. The sign-up sheet is on the Camp Zion bulletin board by the church office.

SUMMER is a great time to try out new ways to serve at Zion! It is also the time of year that people who are looking for a church home tend to visit and we want them to feel welcomed! We all know that first impressions are important! Our First Impressions Team is looking for volunteers to make coffee, serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station. All of these tasks are very easy, require minimal  time commitment and you can pick your own schedule! Click here to sign-up through Sign-Up-Genius or call Connie in the church office at 616-534-7533 ext. 3 and she can help you with scheduling!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  The nursery is looking for a few more volunteers to serve in the nursery on Sunday mornings. Volunteers serve about one time every five weeks. If you are interested in helping, please contact Becky Harkes at (616) 889-3396, rebeccaharkes@gmail.com, or in person after church.

DONATIONS of the following items (full size – not travel size) are needed for the Personal Care Pantry and can be placed in the box in the narthex marked “pantry donations”.  Laundry Soap,  Bar Soap,   Dish Soap,  Disposable Razors,  Shampoo,  Conditioner,  Toothpaste,  Paper grocery bags, Deodorant, Tampons, Maxi Pads, Paper towels (1 or 2 pack) and  Toilet paper (1-4 pack).

IF YOU need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Tom MacGraw, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is thomas.m.macgraw@gmail.com and his phone number is (616) 315-7938.

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 2023/24 Budget:  $57,714.75
Fiscal Year 2023/24 Contributions: $53,587.25
Giving Last Week: $11,829.45

ZION E-NEWS (6-29-23)

How can I know?

I’m writing this E-News on June 21 and today Joy and I are celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary. I think of the ups and downs, joy and challenges we’ve faced in 26 years. When people get married, they like to focus on the “happily ever after”. We don’t realize how much work and effort is required and the uncontrollable challenges that await. I thought I knew a lot about marriage when I took wedding vows. I probably still have a lot to learn! Today’s occasion and a Through the Word podcast I listened to on my way to work from 1 John has me thinking about the times when we ask “How can I know” (or how can I know for sure)?
Maybe you are asking that question.  Here are some examples:

For those about to get married:  How can I know this is going to work out?
For those on a search team:  How can I know this is the right candidate?
For those choosing a college major or discerning a vocational path:  How can I know I will enjoy and be good at this career?
For those purchasing a used car:  How can I know this isn’t a lemon?
For those nearing the end of life:  How can I know that God and heaven are real?
If you’ve asked the “How can I know” question, you’ve likely realized that most of the time the answer involves faith. Faith in the other person who signs the marriage license, faith that a pastor and congregation will grow to love and serve together, faith that the used car won’t need to visit the mechanic soon, faith that God’s Word is true and his promises are real. We want to know for sure, but we are called to live by faith (check out Romans 1:17 and Hebrews 11)
How must you and I exercise faith today? What situation must we lift up to God in prayer? How can you as a part of Zion Reformed Church see and trust in God’s faithfulness every step of the way? Faith isn’t easy, but the Holy Spirit helps us grow in our faith and live by faith. It’s ok to ask the question “How can I know?”  It’s also ok to take the next step (by faith) and trust that God knows what we don’t and He loves us more than we know.

Living by Faith
~ Pastor Steve

CONNECT TO GOD
AS WE GATHER in person for Worship each Sunday at 9:30am the service can also be viewed on our website at zionreformed.online.church and streaming on our YouTube channel. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 10:30AM on Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.

ZION KIDS has switched over to our summer programming.Through Sept 3, we will hold one combined class each week for kids ages 3yrs old through 3rd grade.  We will sing songs, watch a Bible story video, pray together and have some playtime while service is happening in the sanctuary.  Children should check in at the child check in station each week as usual.

GROW IN COMMUNITY
DO YOU like to bake? We are looking for volunteers to make (or purchase) cookies to serve at coffee time after worship. If you would be willing to provide cookies occasionally please call or text Dianne Kooiker at 616-538-3179.

SERVE THE WORLD
WE STILL NEED to collect an additional 150 toothbrushes and 150  tubes of toothpaste by the end of August to meet our goal of providing toothbrushes and toothpaste to all of our Personal Care Pantry, Hand2Hand, and Threads participants in September. Donations can be placed in the Personal Care Pantry box in the narthex.  Thank you!

HAND2HAND is looking for volunteers to deliver food to Grandview Elementary School.  Delivery would be every Wednesday or Thursday between 3:30-4:00PM  beginning in the fall and continue weekly during the regular school year schedule. Food is packed in totes so volunteers would need to be able to lift the totes which can weigh up to 40lbs.  Contact Sheila Johnson or Shawn Sanders if you have more questions or would like to help.

THANK YOU so much for all of the donations of cereal boxes, egg cartons and cardboard tubes. We are all set for this year. If you would still like to help this summer we are still in need of snack donations. The sign-up sheet is on the Camp Zion bulliten board by the church office.

SUMMER is a great time to try out new ways to serve at Zion! It is also the time of year that people who are looking for a church home tend to visit and we want them to feel welcomed! We all know that first impressions are important! Our First Impressions Team is looking for volunteers to make coffee, serve as an usher, greeter, or to help at the child check in station. All of these tasks are very easy, require minimal  time commitment and you can pick your own schedule! Click here to sign-up through Sign-Up-Genius or call Connie in the church office at 616-534-7533 ext. 3 and she can help you with scheduling!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  The nursery is looking for a few more volunteers to serve in the nursery on Sunday mornings. Volunteers serve about one time every five weeks. If you are interested in helping, please contact Becky Harkes at (616) 889-3396, rebeccaharkes@gmail.com, or in person after church.

DONATIONS of the following items (full size – not travel size) are needed for the Personal Care Pantry and can be placed in the box in the narthex marked “pantry donations”.  Laundry Soap,  Bar Soap,   Dish Soap,  Disposable Razors,  Shampoo,  Conditioner,  Toothpaste,  Paper grocery bags, Deodorant, Tampons, Maxi Pads, Paper towels (1 or 2 pack) and  Toilet paper (1-4 pack).

IF YOU need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Tom MacGraw, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is thomas.m.macgraw@gmail.com and his phone number is (616) 315-7938.
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 2023/24 Budget:  $11,542.95
Fiscal Year 2023/24 Contributions: $34,780.35
Giving Last Week: $7,724.45

NO SERMON OUTLINE THIS WEEK