ZION E-NEWS (10-24-24)

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.

OUR MORNING OF SERVICE is finally here! We are so excited for our Morning of Service this coming Sunday, October 27th. We wanted to be sure you had all the details!  And just another reminder – if you are not part of the Serving with Dignity class on Sunday afternoons, you are still absolutely welcome to join us on Sunday morning.

Notes on Gathering

1. Plan to join us at 9:00 AM on Sunday (yes, a half hour earlier than normal) to grab your t-shirt and also some pastries and fruit.
2. At 9:30 AM, we will begin together in the sanctuary with a short time of singing and a devotion, and to receive instructions for the rest of the day.
3. There will be no nursery or kids programming this weekend; families are encouraged to serve together!

Notes on Serving
1. We will have serving options for all ages and abilities. Please see the list below.
2. We will provide all supplies needed for the options listed EXCEPT raking – if you want to join others for raking, please bring a rake!
3. Please take pictures or videos while you are out serving and send them to Jeremy!  His email is jzoet@zionreformed.org (preferable if you are sending from an Android phone) or you can text him at (616) 886-1620.  Also – horizontal pics and videos are better than vertical!

Notes on Wrap Up
1. You can serve as long as your group determines. You do NOT need to return to church after your group is done.
2. We will have a few short debriefing questions for you to discuss as a group together when you are done serving together.

We are eager to spend this morning together loving each other and our community!

FOR THE next couple of months, there will be road construction on 36th Street between Kenowa and Canal. While you can drive on 36th currently, the driveways into Zion are affected. Please plan to enter the parking lot from the north side, off Fair Meadow.

PRAYER REQUEST: Continue to pray for those in our congregation who deal with ongoing health issues.                                                                                                                                                                             

                                                  ZION FAMILY CAMP: It’s time to start planning for our Family Camp for 2025! We will be going back to Dunes Harbor in Silver Lake, MI   on September 19-21. We have tentatively reserved campsites and rustic cabins, so there is something for everyone. This will be the weekend   of  their fall fest, so there is Trick or Treating for kids, as well as the camp’s other planned activities. There is more information, and a sign up   outside the church office for those who are interested in joining. (You will be asked to finalize your reservation later this year with your   camping payment.) If you have questions, please talk to Rick or Jonell VanderWall  (616-635-1743). We hope you will join us for this fun   weekend!

DISCOVER ZION CLASS: Would you like to learn more about Zion? Pastor Marcia will be leading a Discover Zion class on Sunday morning, November 3rd after the worship service. Brunch will be served. This is a great place to hear about Zion’s mission and vision, meet the ministry staff, and find out ways to get connected further in our community. If you are interested in becoming a member at Zion, we will share what membership looks like here as well. To RSVP, please email Pastor Marcia at mpratt@zionreformed.org.

CHURCH-WIDE BIBLE MEMORY: Led by our children, who regularly memorize Scripture for “Say It” days, we will be working together on a church-wide Bible memory challenge this fall. Our text is Philippians 2:1-4 from the New International Version: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

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, or financial needs, please contact Austen DeHaan, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is austin331@gmail.com and his phone number is (269) 762-9748

WE CONTINUE to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and resources.

2024/25 YTD Budget:  $241,879.89
2024/25 YTD Contributions:  $190,998.33
Giving Last Week:  $10,062.73