If you are reading through the New Testament with us this year, you read Matthew 9 this morning. This chapter ends with a call from Jesus to pray for workers for the harvest is plentiful in Matthew 9:36. And then I came across this article from Christianity Today that considers how the church ought to respond when the culture turns away from church and regular church attendance. And then, last week, in a book our staff is reading together, the author pointed out that in a recent survey, more Christians have prayed to win the lottery than are regularly playing for people far from God to come to know God.

Our culture is shifting away from church, Jesus says to pray for workers for the harvest, and more of Christians pray to win the lottery than to see people come to know Jesus. Something needs to change in us. We need hearts for the harvest, the attitude of a missionary, and a genuine love for our neighbors who don’t yet know personally the love of our God.

Will you join me this week in praying each day at 9:36 am and/or pm each day that God would raise up workers for the harvest?

– Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather online at 9 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

We have a great service planned for this Sunday. Our kids in 3rd through 5th grade will be leading us in a retelling of the Christmas story. Our younger kids and their parents will be reading Luke 2. And, Harlow Boeskool will be singing with our praise team. While our annual Christmas program does not look quite like it normally does, it will be a great opportunity to both encourage your children and come in wonder again to the manager of our king.

Most of us are familiar with the events of the first Christmas, The manger, The shepherd watching sheep. The angels singing. The wise men. The little baby wrapped in cloths lying in the manner. But what if this birth is not just any birth, but the one event on which all of history turns and that can transform our lives. Join us this advent season as we meet Jesus who comes to us as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This week, we meet Jesus who comes to us as the Everlasting Father.

Grow in Community
You can still join us in reading through the New Testament over the next year. We are encouraging everyone to use the Through the Word app on Apple or Android devices. This app not only has the scripture readings, but also a 9-10 minute teaching on the passage of the day. This could be a great way for our Discipleship Triads to study together or for a small group or family to do devotions together. If you are unsure how to install the app, we have made a short instructional video to show you how to do so on an iPhone. You can find that video here.

The reading schedule for this week is below:
Monday: Matthew 11
Tuesday: Matthew 12
Wednesday: Matthew 13
Thursday: Matthew 14
Friday: Matthew 15

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Beginning in January, Sheila Johnson will be leading a book discussion on the book The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby. If you are interested in thinking together about racial divisions in our culture and the role of the church, this would be a great place to be a part of that conversation. If you are interested in this book discussion, please contact Sheila at sheilaj2494@yahoo.com.

Serve the World
If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.

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 to Date Budget:  $283,669.56
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $252,508.35
Giving Last Week: $16,831

Earlier this week, my friend Jerry shared a story with me. He and his wife are both over with some pre-existing conditions and so have been isolating for much of the last 9 months. In that time, they have completed many, many puzzles.

Recently he completed 3 puzzles. The first, a 500 piece puzzle, was missing one piece, which really bothered him. But, when the completed next puzzle, he found one extra piece in the box that had been missing from the first puzzle. He could finish the puzzle and everything look great and felt right again. And then, as he completed the third puzzle, another 1000 piece one, he discovered that this puzzle too was missing a piece. He kept looking for the piece, but it could not be found anywhere. And, it bothered him. When he looked at this puzzle, all he could see was the empty place.

Reflecting on these rather mundane experiences, Jerry started wondering what God might be trying to show him. As a recovering perfectionist, he surmised it was another reminder that we see what we focus on. You can either see the one missing piece or the 999 that have all found their place, fit perfectly together, and together form this beautiful picture.

What we see depends on where we choose to focus. During this Covid and holiday season, we will experience them based on where we direct our attention. Will we see all the opportunities or all  that Covid limits? Will we see what God can do in this moment or only what we can’t?

– Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather online at 9 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

Most of us are familiar with the events of the first Christmas, The manger, The shepherd watching sheep. The angels singing. The wise men. The little baby wrapped in cloths lying in the manner. But what if this birth is not just any birth, but the one event on which all of history turns and that can transform our lives. Join us this advent season as we meet Jesus who comes to us as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This week, Pastor Jeremy leads us in a reflection on what it means for us that Jesus comes as the Mighty God.

Grow in Community
We extend our sympathy to Danny and Ashley Copron in the passing of their grandmother, Janice Lankerd, yesterday. May God give them comfort and fill with with the hope of the resurrection to come.

We will once again be offering an online worship experience for kids ages 3 through 5th grade following our morning worship. For a variety of reasons, this experience will only be offered at zionreformed.online.church and not on our Facebook page.

You can still join us in reading through the New Testament over the next year. We are encouraging everyone to use the Through the Word app on Apple or Android devices. This app not only has the scripture readings, but also a 9-10 minute teaching on the passage of the day. This could be a great way for our Discipleship Triads to study together or for a small group or family to do devotions together. If you are unsure how to install the app, we have made a short instructional video to show you how to do so on an iPhone. You can find that video here.

The reading schedule for this week is below:
Monday: Matthew 6
Tuesday: Matthew 7
Wednesday: Matthew 8
Thursday: Matthew 9
Friday: Matthew 10

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Beginning in January, Sheila Johnson will be leading a book discussion on the book The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby. If you are interested in thinking together about racial divisions in our culture and the role of the church, this would be a great place to be a part of that conversation. If you are interested in this book discussion, please contact Sheila at sheilaj2494@yahoo.com.

Serve the World
If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.

Administration
Earlier this week, many non-profit organizations celebrated Giving Tuesday as a way to encourage people to support their missions. After a weekend traditionally spent shopping, I think it is wonderful to also spend time thinking about where we can also freely give back what God has given to us.

In a culture of overconsumption, where we are often defined primarily as consumers rather than as image bearers of God, one day a year dedicated to giving, though, is probably not enough to counteract the values of our culture. Just like one day of eating healthy is unlikely to undo the harm caused by years of overeating. And one day of exercise is unlikely to undo years of laying on the couch. Rather, true change happens through new repeated patterns of behavior. As you think about your giving throughout the year, let me challenge you to consider beginning a practice of tithing (giving 10% of your income back to God). If that is too great a step, maybe you could increase your giving by 1% of your income this year. But for all of us, finding our identity and security in the stuff of this world will always be a temptation. Regular giving can help us fight that tendency and re-root our identity in and dependence on God.

There are many great organizations and untold needs to address, but I believe firmly the local church is the place that can have the greatest longterm impact on the life of a neighborhood and town. Together we feed hungry kids in the schools, support families struggling to make ends meet, mentor students, care for the elderly, help one another out in times of need, disciple kids, teens, and each other, reach people around the world with the gospel, and encourage each other through friendship and accountability. The local church at its best is truly a mission outpost of the kingdom of God, the place where the life of heaven breaks into this world.

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 to Date Budget:  $273,163.28
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $235,677.35
Giving Last Week: $14,511
Thanksgiving Offering (total): $4,850

I have two things I am excited about at Zion I want to share with you this week. Neither are huge events in the life of our church, but rather adapted traditions that are giving me joy.

First, one of the highlights of the year for me is our open mic time in our Thanksgiving service. I love hearing about all the ways you are thankful during the year. We have had people share huge life events like being cancer free and getting married and smaller thanks like for Skype phone calls and coffee traditions with friends. (On a side note, I know some of you enjoy watching me half stand up 3 or 4 times as I try to gauge when people are done coming forward to share their thanks.)

One of the things I am grateful for this year is the way so many people adapted to us worshipping online. When I look back to this spring, I found great comfort and joy in seeing many of you in a video. The first time back in April when we started having some of our band members send in videos of them singing worship songs to be included in our service. I was emotionally moved. Maybe you were, too. We need those connections with each other to both see and be seen.

Obviously, we will not be physically together during our Thanksgiving Eve service this year, but I think we can still “be together.” Would you and/or your family please consider making a short video (no more than 20 seconds) to share what you the things for which you give thanks this year? We will include every video we receive (as long as they are under 20 seconds) in the service on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 pm. Simply send you video to me either via text message to 616-340-7785 or via e-mail to gbrower@zionreformed.org. (One quick pointer, the videos look way better if you take them horizontally rather than vertically.)

In a year where life has not gone as many of us may have planned back in January, we still have so much for which to be thankful. Share your thanks and let us encourage one another during this Thanksgiving season.

Second, many of our Sunday school students have participated in a video retelling the story of Christmas. The last recordings were made this Sunday and the “i” dotting and “t” crossing is being made to the final video in the next couple of weeks. It is really entertaining and the kids did such a great job. I have seen it now 3 or 4 times and every time I come away proud of our talented kids and laughing at their humor. You will want to join us on the 13th as we include their Christmas program in our morning service. You will see the wonder of Christmas and delight in our kids.

– Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather online at 9 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

In Ephesians 2, Paul says that Jesus has broken down the dividing wall that separated people from God and Jews from Gentiles. Over the next three weeks, we will be thinking about what it means for us today that Jesus has broken down the dividing wall between the races. How do we live out this core gospel truth in a culture of racial tensions and a history of racial oppression? Join us as we consider the importance of lament, confession, and repentance in healing the racial divide in our churches and communities.

We will also be celebrating communion this Sunday. Communion, also called The Lord’s Super or the Eucharist, is the family meal of Christians. We invite all committed followers of Jesus Christ to partake of this sacrament: those who are baptized members of a congregation that proclaims the gospel, who are at peace with God and with their neighbor, and who seek strength to live more faithfully for Christ. If you are not a Christian, or if you are not prepared to share in this meal, we encourage you to spend this time in prayer. If you are planning to participate in communion, we urge you examine your life, confess any sin, forgive those who have sinned against you, and to resolve any division or estrangements you have experienced in the church so that we can come as one body in joy to our God’s table. And, as most of us will be celebrating at home, take time to set aside some grape juice and bread or whatever elements you may have at home to participate.

Our Thanksgiving worship service this year will be held on Wednesday, November 25 at 6:30 pm. Please note this time change from our traditional Thursday morning service. The service will be live streamed at 6:30 at zionreformed.online.church.

Grow in Community
Beginning in Advent, we will be reading through the New Testament as a church over the next year. We are encouraging everyone to use the Through the Word app on Apple or Android devices. This app not only has the scripture readings, but also a 9-10 minute teaching on the passage of the day. This could be a great way for our Discipleship Triads to study together or for a small group or family to do devotions together. If you are unsure how to install the app, we have made a short instructional video to show you how to do so on an iPhone. You can find that video here.

Beginning in January, Sheila Johnson will be leading a book discussion on the book The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby. If you are interested in thinking together about racial divisions in our culture and the role of the church, this would be a great place to be a part of that conversation. If you are interested in this book discussion, please contact Sheila at sheilaj2494@yahoo.com.

Serve the World
Our Thanksgiving offering this year will be used to support:
1. The Wyoming Family Network
2. The Pregnancy Resource Center
3. Jibit Aisha (church planting in Nepal)
Donations can be made through our offering boxes at church during the week (make sure they are clearly labeled for the Thanksgiving offering) or online at our website. At the website, you can choose to donate to the general fund or to our thanksgiving offering. Thank you in advance for your generous support of these ministries.

If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.

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 to Date Budget: $252,150.72
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $209,897.51
Giving Last Week: $8,817.10