ZION E-NEWS (2-2-23)

An opportunity to bless inmates
When is the last time you read a passage of scripture from the Bible and wondered with conviction, “Am I doing anything to fulfill that?”   Some time ago, I read the following verse from Hebrew 13:3: “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”  I knew I could do more.
If that verse isn’t enough to challenge you to do something about those in prison, read what Jesus said about caring for those “in prison” in Matthew 25:31-46!  Biblical characters like Joseph, Jeremiah, Paul, Silas and others spent time in prison.  I began to look for a way that I could bless someone behind bars.  I came across a local ministry called Cards for Prisoners (a program through 70×7 Life Recovery).  They offer people the opportunity to be a pen pal with an inmate.  You can read about it at the following link and even sign up if you’d like:  http://www.70x7liferecovery.org/programs/cards-for-prisoners/
The link includes a video, information about safety, guidelines and a way to sign up. Your pen pal would be the same gender you are.  The website includes this convicting statement:
Many prisoners have no real contact with anyone on the outside. Families may have abandoned them, and friends fall away over time. Months, even years, can go by without any communication. Imagine how meaningful a letter of encouragement and hope could be to these lonely individuals. Join the hundreds of pen pals who show Christ’s love with caring letters that inspire.
Since 2018, I have been partnered with six different inmates whom I have written for various lengths of time (some have stopped writing due to being released).  I know I could pray for them and write them even more frequently.  Cards for Prisoners will even provide cards and send email reminders, especially for their birthday.  I’m humbled by how some of these inmates have opened up about their faith, struggles, regrets, interests or challenges in prison.
It’s a way I can show God’s love to people I may never meet and whose life experiences look very different than mine.  It’s one way to put Matthew 25 and Hebrews 13:3 into practice.   Cards for Prisoners currently has over 350 men and women on their waiting list, waiting for someone to sign up and become their pen pal.   Might God move you to help lower the number on that waiting list?

~ 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.

GROW IN COMMUNITY
SHARING FAITH NATURALLY: We will be holding a discipleship opportunity for five weeks during the season of Lent.  The study is called “Organic Outreach: Sharing Good News Naturally”.  This study will utilize video teaching by Kevin Harney (who was a former Pastor at Zion).  We will meet from 11:00-11:45 a.m. in the youth room starting on Feb. 26.  It’s open to adults as well as high school and middle school students.  Each session has a stand-alone insight for sharing your faith naturally.  So if you cannot attend all them, we hope you will attend as many as possible.  Each week, there will be a 25-30 minute video followed by discussion questions at each table. Don’t worry, you won’t be forced to share, though we hope you will as you feel led!  We are offering children’s programming during these class sessions for 3 years old’s through 5th grade.  We hope to also offer nursery, but are in need of more adult volunteers in order for that to happen (please contact Becky Harkes at (616) 889-3396 if you are willing to volunteer for nursery supervision). No sign up is needed for the class, just grab your refreshments and coffee after worship and come to the youth room by 11 a.m.  Pastors Steve, Jeremy and Rick will take turns facilitating these opportunities for all of us to grow in faith and more naturally share good news with others.

Hand 2 Hand will be packing meals in the basement after worship. We could use your help and would love to see some new people helping as well.

OUR ASH WEDNESDAY Communion Service will be held on Wednesday, February 23 at 6PM.

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

SOUPER BOWL CHILI COOK-OFF
Staff and consistory are excited to announce we are bringing back Zion’s Chili Cook-Off. The cook-off will be held in the basement on Sunday, February 12 following the morning service. In addition to food, we will also have guessing games for all ages, and trivia hosted by our very own, JZ (Jeremy Zoet)!

Here is how you can participate:

• SIGN UP TO COMPETE – Put your chili recipe to the test and sign up to compete! Competition rules can be found on the bulletin board by the sign up sheet.

• SIGN UP TO EAT – Sample the entries and vote for your favorite! Attendees not competing in the cook-off  are asked to sign up to bring a 9X13 (or equivalent) salad or dessert .

Judging will be based on “People’s Choice”. Each attendee will be given a voting token to place in the numbered jar of their favorite chili. Once all votes have been cast, votes will be counted and the winner announced. The prize? Bragging rights and your name etched on a plaque.

If you don’t have an award-winning chili recipe, no problem! You can bring a salad or dessert. PBJ will be available for kids. Sign-up sheets are located outside the nursery. Please sign-up and indicate how many people and what you plan to bring by February 5th.

Registration at both Camp Geneva (http://campgeneva.org) & Cran Hill Ranch (http://cranhillranch.com) is now open. These camps offer such amazing faith based summer experiences for kids that we offer a 50% off scholarship to members of Zion age 7-17 that would like to attend. There are both day camp and overnight camp opportunities available.  Contact Connie or Rachel for scholarship codes.

ZION KIDS will have their first “Say it Day” on Feb 19. Together in class our kids are studying and memorizing the following Bible verse:
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14.
Parents, we hope that you will help kids practice saying this verse at home as well.
Any student who is able to say this verse from memory to their teacher in class on Feb 19 will be able to choose a prize from our big treasure box.

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
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).

HAND2HAND could use donations of the following food:  Snack Pack / Jello pudding cups, bags of cracker or snack cracker packs,rice krispie treats (prepackaged), granola bars, slim jim beef snack sticks, fruit snacks, and microwave popcorn. 

IF YOU need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Jerrod Holzgen, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is Jholzgen@yahoo.com and his phone number is 616-520-1771.

NOMINATION PACKETS containing resources to help you as you pray and nominate individuals to serve as Deacon or Elder have been placed in the mailbox of eligible members. In the packet you will find:

1.  Nomination info for Deacons and Elders which includes:

a.  A summary of our election process for Consistory membership

b.  A list of responsibilities for each office

c.  Biblical and practical qualifications to keep in mind as you nominate

2.  A list of those members eligible for nomination.

3. Nomination ballots for the respective offices of Deacon & Elder.

Nomination ballots can be placed in the box on the table in the back of the sanctuary and are due by February 12. If you would like the packet emailed to you please contact Connie at cstegeman@zionreformed.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.

Fiscal Year 2022/23 Budget:  $359,140.95
Fiscal Year 2022/23 Contributions: $373,992.06
Giving Last Week: $11,395.45