ZION E-NEWS (5-9-24)

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. 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 view at your convenience.

AT THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING  Mark Gazan and Andrew Moore were elected to the office of Elder and Jacquie Knott and Josh Sanders were elected to the office of Deacon. These new officers will be ordained and installed on Sunday, June 2.  The 24/25 Budget was approved at $598,941.19.

MISSION TRIP SHAREHOLDER information has been placed in your church mailbox. As a Shareholder, you will be matched up with one student and commit to praying for them before, during, and after the trip. Shareholders are given copies of the pre-trip devotionals written by the students, are contacted by their student before the trip, receive a postcard from their student during the trip detailing what they have been doing, and are invited to a Celebration Lunch after the youth-led mission trip service on July 14. If you would like to partner with our youth and support their summer mission trip to Washington DC by becoming a MISSION TRIP SHAREHOLDER place your completed registration card and payment in the jar on the table in the narthex or turn it in to the church office by May 12, 2024. Extra registration cards are on the information table in the narthex.

THREADS UPDATE:  We were very busy at the Threads’ shopping day on Tuesday.  The number of families that we served during the past 2 months has DOUBLED in comparison to April and May of last year!  Unfortunately, the needs in our community are huge, but it is such a blessing that Threads / Zion can provide help for some of these needs.  All of the families that shop at Threads truly appreciate the assistance and love that they receive.

Here are the numbers from Tuesday, May 7:
61 families shopped
191 people received clothing
939 pieces of clothing were given away
105 accessories (shoes, purses, jewelry, etc) were given away
51 families used the PCP Store
13 haircuts were given between 4:00-7:00
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this ministry and for all of the provisions You supply it with.  All Glory and Honor to YOU!

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 needs volunteers to make coffee, serve as an usher, greeter, or 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! To sign up to provide cookies please contact Debbie Coke at (269) 680-5490.

SAY IT DAY #6 is this Sunday, May 12. Kids who can say this verse to their teacher will be able to choose a prize from the treasure box.
Preschool – 2nd Grade: “Yours, Lord is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11b CSB
3rd-5th Grade: “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.”   1 Chronicles 29:11 CSB

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 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.

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.

Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget:  $565,604.55
Fiscal Year 2023/24 Contributions:  $541,721.78
Giving Last Week: $19,763.73