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

ZION E-NEWS (6-15-23)

Summer has arrived and with it the anticipation of enjoying lazy summer days. Time will be spent sleeping in, going camping or to the cottage, catching fireflies, swimming, sitting around the campfire making s’mores and …. at Camp Zion.Camp Zion begins its 9th season this coming Monday, June 19th and will run for seven weeks this year.  We have 40 children registered. Two-thirds of which are returning campers & one-third are new to camp.When I asked the teen staff what they were most excited for they all had very different and wonderful answers. Some are looking forward to connecting with the kids, some are excited to become more equipped leaders, some have specific activities they are looking forward to trying and some are looking forward to strengthening friendships amongst each other. I personally am looking forward to watching our teen staff in action.  The growth we see in our staff from start to finish each summer is so exciting to watch. This program changes them in a positive way. They gain confidence, gain leadership skills and gain further insight into who God has created them to be.Camp Zion doesn’t come together each year without lots of people sharing their time and talents to make it successful.  So how can you help?

• Volunteer – come see what we do. If you just want to sit and watch what’s happening that is fine but trust me you will have way more fun if you play a few games of Uno or throw some water balloons around. Come make some connections with the camp kids & the teen-staff.
• Donate Snacks – We also need people to bring in snacks.  Kids (and staff) get hungry during the camp day and we would love to provide some goodies. Prepackaged items are best.  There is a sign up sheet on the Camp Zion bulletin board by the church office.
• Shop – Purchase something off of our Amazon Wish List. We have some random quirky supplies that we need to make all of our daily activities extra fun.
• Pray- 

For our teen staff – they are about to be stretched and challenged in ways they are not expecting.  But also pray for good health and abundant                        energy.

For our campers and their families. These kids come from all different backgrounds and experiences. For some Camp Zion is a safe haven. For                     some our camp provides the only exposure to God they will ever get.         

Camp looks a little different now than it did back at the start because we have learned a lot along the way. But ultimately the mission has remained the same. Build relationships with families from our community, share about God’s love & have a whole lot of fun while doing it.

~ Rachel Verbrugge

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
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.

NEXT SUNDAY as part of our morning worship service we will celebrate Jeremy’s  Ordination and Installation. Service for Jeremy Zoet will be held at Zion on Sunday, June 25 beginning at 9:30AM.

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.

DEAF TEEN QUEST is having a fundraiser on Tues 6/20 at the Jenison Culver’s from 5-8pm. The teens are trying to raise funds for their trip to Eagle Rock camp in Tenn in July where they’ll be meeting Deaf/HH teens from all over the U.S. We’ll be immersed in God’s glory in the beautiful backdrop of the mountains and growing spiritually with other like-minded adults and teens from other states.

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 will begin on June 19 and we have some items we could use on our wish list.  Recyclable items include: paper towel tubes, egg cartons & empty cereal boxes.  We also have some items on our Amazon Wish List.  Any items you would care to donate can be placed in the Camp Zion donation box near the church mailboxes or shipped directly to church.

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 616-724-3312.

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: $29,560.90
Giving Last Week: $18,377.45
Benevolent Fund Offering $629.00