Zion E-News (10-25-2018)

On Monday, Eugene Peterson went home to be with his God. Eugene is known by many people as the author of The Message, a brilliant paraphrase of the Bible in contemporary language. For myself and many pastors, he is known as the pastor to pastors. Through his many books and teachings, he called us back to the basic tasks of prayer, scripture, and spiritual direction. He was an engaging and transparent writer. He was friends with people like Bono and known throughout the world. I never met him face-to-face, but I miss him nonetheless.

Currently, three of his books are back on my desk: Working the Angles, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, and The Pastor. I have read each of these books multiple times and every time they feed my soul. I especially appreciate his memoir of life as a pastor and his very funny stories of planting a church. If you can learn more about Eugene here.

Connect to God

After God rescues the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt, he brings them to Mt. Sinai where he gives them the law, which includes the 10 Commandments. These commandments are not guidelines for all humanity, but a call from God to live as a counter-cultural community. They produce a people who in our daily lives live as a sign, a signal, and a witness that God has not left the world to its own devices. Instead, God has come to rescue, save, and restore all that has been broken and marred by sin. This seventh week of our series, we consider the command to not commit adultery and the call to be a people of chastity and fidelity in a culture of immorality and commitments of convenience.

This Sunday we also welcome Mike and Sharilyn VanWyhe and David Jenkins as the newest members of our community.

If you would like a copy of the worship service, you can receive a complete copy by contacting Tom Verbrugge or you can find the weekly messages on our website.

Grow in Community

Please be in prayer for our High School students as they are on a retreat this weekend. Also pray for Pastor Jeremy as he will be delivering all of the teaching and for his family as they miss his presence two weekends in a row.

Also, don’t forget to join us on Monday night from 5-8 pm at Culver’s in Jenison to support our Middle School Youth Group. 10% of all proceeds go to our student ministries. Zion has supported our youth generously in the past and we thank you for your continued support.

Serve the World

City Chapel continues weekly worship and after an initial launch of over 160 people in attendance, they have seen the weekly attendance drop as expected. But, they also continue to see roughly 10 first time visitors every week. Continue to pray for Pastors Ron and Anna and this new church as they begin their first steps of life together. Specifically, you can pray for their new small group ministry called City Groups that will begin next month. They already are seeing both core team members and new attenders seek to become small group leaders. God is very good!

Administrative Details

Our next Leaders Meeting will be on November 4 from 5-7 pm. We look forward to a great evening of fellowship, worship, and some training. Each of our ministry teams will have some specific training and discussion centered on their work together and then as a whole we will think together about Living with Limits as followers of Jesus. We will talk about setting boundaries, sharing the load, and the gift of limits as we served a limitless God. Its going to be a great night. Come and join us! You can sign-up through the Connection Cards on Sunday or by sending an e-mail to Pastor Greg.

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:  $230,149.40

Fiscal Year to date contributions: $228,379.20