Zion E-News (10-23-2019)
This weekend, a video emerged of a panel discussion at a Christian conference. In this discussion, the men were asked to say the first thing that came to mind when given a word. When given the name Beth Moore (a hugely influential Bible teacher whose ministry is focused almost exclusively on teaching women, but every man would benefit from listening to her), one man said, “Go home” in a derisive tone and then the whole room erupted in laughter.
I have listened to the audio 3 or 4 times now and each time, I feel both sick to my stomach and deeply sad. I feel sick because no believer should mock or ridicule or speak disparagingly of another believer who is seeking to honor and follow Jesus. It is beneath the call of Jesus on our lives and is a terrible witness to a world far from God.
I feel sad because I know some of the harm this attitude and these comments have done and will do to the women and girls in our church. I am sorry. You deserve better from the body Christ than to be sidelined, belittled, or mocked because of your gender.
I was walking through our lobby this morning and passed to look at our “wall of fame,” all the pictures of former pastors and people who have been ordained through Zion. We should be proud of our legacy of raising up and sending out leaders for God’s church. It is a key part of our culture. But I wondered today how that wall would feel to my daughter when all the people on the wall look like me, and not like her. I wondered how it looks to members of our church who are Hispanic or African American. There are all sorts of ways that we subtly and unintentionally communicate to some people that they are not a genuine part of the community.
The minor controversy this week also got me thinking about all the ways women have been a blessing in my life and ministry. Three of my first four bosses at Herman Miller were Brenda VanderMeulen, Ulli Bowen, and Deb Exo. They were all very different leaders, but each was a huge encouragement to me in my 20s to follow my gifts and passions where they led.
The best seminarian preacher I have ever heard was Andrea DeWard. She preached a sermon on a text in Romans that made the text sing in your heart. Now I have the privilege of serving with her on the leadership team of our plant Lifeline Community Church.
Edie Lenz is a leader in our denomination in helping churches navigate the anxiety of change in uncertain times. We studied and laughed our way through seminary together along with Gretchen Schoon-Tanis and Kathy Barnes-Dunn.
At Zion, I have been blessed to serve with some great interns, including Chelsea Reynhout and Kara Lepley who continue to do ministry in the church. And numerous Consistory members who I dare not mention for fear of leaving one out. But we have had numerous dynamic female leaders on our Consistory. I am especially grateful for Nancy Steenbergen who served as our first female Elder and did so with so much grace and love.
On our staff, Rachel Brower is a strategic missional thinker and a great partner (I could go on here, but it might get mushy as she is a great wife and friend). Rachel Verbrugge continues to equip teen staff and build relationships with the many non-churched families who send kids to Camp Zion and is like a sponge in thinking about leadership in the church. Roxie VanderHeide is more detailed and organized in the nursery than I could ever be. And, Connie Stegeman is not only a great administrator, she comes to work with a heart for the mission of our church and as one of the best sounding boards for our other staff.
To the many women in our church, thank you for all you do for our church and the kingdom of God.
Connect to God
These days it’s easy to see life the way we want to. We can filter our images, pick the news we want to hear, and listen only to the viewpoints that agree with us. When we do that, we start to distort our view of the world. The same thing can happen to our view of God. We reshape our perception of Him into what we want to believe, or what we want to think about others. Jesus came to bring us the truth about God and His plan for us, and it doesn’t always sound like what you may think. Today we consider where Jesus wants us to spend our time.
Following worship this Sunday, you are invited to stay, enjoy some light refreshments, and learn more about our potential building project. At this event, you will be able to:
- Learn about the proposed Building Project
- View the latest drawings from our Building Committee
- Participate in a small group discussion
- Ask questions and offer your opinions and advice
If you would like to attend and have not yet signed up, please sign-up through Connie Stegeman in the office.
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
We extend our sympathy to Steve, Shawn, Hayley, and Carly Landstra in the passing of their mother and grandmother Jan Erskine. Visitation is Wednesday afternoon from 4-7 pm at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf in Caledonia and the funeral will be at the same location on Thursday at 11 am.
This Friday, we will be holding a hayride and bonfire at Post Family farm from 6-8 pm for Zion attenders and their friends. We will enjoy a hayride, bonfire, hot chocolate, s’mores, a ninja course ($2 per person), and pumpkin rides for the little ones. The cost is $5 per adult and $3 per child. But, if you invite a friend who is not currently attending a church, then your family and theirs can attend for free. See you on the 25th from 6-8 at Post Family Farm.
Are you interested in joining Zion? If so, we will be holding a new members class for those interested in learning more about joining Zion on Sunday, Nov. 3 following worship. This is a great chance to learn more about Zion, its history, mission, and values, get to know some new people, and is also a requirement for joining the church.
Is the child check-in line too long? Are you feeling crowded by the check-in stations? Then check out our new child check-in station in Room 205. This station will not be staffed on Sundays, but if you are comfortable signing your child into our system without assistance, this is a great option to decrease congestion and the wait near door ‘D.’
On November 9, from 9-3 pm, we will be hosting a day of learning, listening and discussing the work of the Vision 2020 team for the Reformed Church in America. In response to ongoing tensions and dialogue around different understandings of how to properly respond to the changing cultural views of human sexuality, the Vision 2020 team was formed to imagine how our denomination can or should stay in relationship given the wide ranging views on these issues. The work of the Vision 2020 Team is to identify and explore possible scenarios, strategies, and consequences for these future options for the Reformed Church in America: (1) staying together; (2) radical reconstituting and reorganization; (3) grace-filled separation. This event is designed to help understand and process through the ramifications of the potential changes for the denomination and the local church. If you are interested in attending, you can sign-up here.
Serve the World
Sarah McAnally and Tracy Lobbes will be sharing about their experiences in Nepal during our Moment for Mission this Sunday. Tim Mekkes remains in Nepal through his work with Good News Nepal. Please keep Tim and Judy in your prayers during this season of travel.
Last week, Troy Austin shared about a new opportunity for Zion to bless our community. Earlier this fall, we were approached by Bursley Elementary asking if we would consider becoming a Kids Hope Partner with the school. As Kids Hope says, “Too many students stand just one close adult relationship away from thriving in school and in life.” Troy will be sharing a couple of different ways people at Zion can be involved in blessing the students of Bursley and giving us an update on his training as our new Kids Hope Director.
Administrative Details
Our next Leaders Meeting will be on November 17 from 5-7 pm. In addition to enjoying a meal together and meeting in ministry teams, Jon Sherrill from Fifth Reformed will be sharing with us ways to more effectively listen to God in our lives. Child care will be provided for kids from birth through 5th grade.
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: $232,928.22
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $189,424.37
