From dust you are to dust you will return.

Our Ash Wednesday service is my favorite worship service of the year. It doesn’t change much from year to year. The scripture readings are almost always the exact same ones. The meditation always makes a similar point. We always end with the imposition of ashes and communion. But there is something about the service that speaks to my soul.

Last night was not one of my finest moments. It had been a long day. Some issues were laying heavy on my heart. And then some minor changes were made right before the service started and it just annoyed me. In my head I knew the changes shouldn’t bother me and that I actually agreed with them. But emotionally, I was annoyed. And grumpy.

In a couple of minutes, I had worked through my immature annoyance and was ready to worship God again. But as I stood at the communion table and then as I said those words over and over again, “From dust you are to dust you shall return,” I remembered why I love this service so much.

I need communion. Following God is hard. I mess up all the time. But communion reminds me God has already welcomed me into his family and to the dinner table. We pause and remember what Jesus has already done for us, how he strengthens us and enables us to follow, and that one day we will be transformed as he was at the resurrection.

But right now, we are still dust. I am frail. I am weak. I make all sorts of mistakes. I am not as important as I can sometimes think I am. I am dust. You are dust. We are not as strong as we think we are. God already knows this, but Ash Wednesday reminds us of this truth.

Reflecting on that experience with a couple of Consistory members last night, I am reminded we are often too hard on ourselves and on other people. We are only dust. We are here today and gone tomorrow. We are all pretty weak and frail. Let’s be gentle with each other. Gracious with each other’s weaknesses. No one needs to be perfect because Jesus was already perfect for us all.

For we are all dust.

Connect to God
There is perhaps no greater influence in Christian discipleship and moral thinking than the Sermon on the Mount. In three short chapters, Jesus lays out a vision for how to live the good life, the life God intended for us, in our personal, public, and spiritual lives. This week, we continue our study of this influential sermon as we consider the exclusive call of God to serve God and God alone.

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 are holding several identical meetings to challenge leaders in our church to participate in our Building Up. Reaching Out Campaign. Anyone who is interested in “going first” in committing to give to the campaign is  invited to attend one of our challenge meetings. Please RSVP for the date you plan to attend on the back of the Connection Card today.  Meetings dates and locations are:

Tuesday, March 10 6:30-8:00PM at the home of Dianne Kooiker
Wednesday, March 11 6:30-8:00PM at the home of Josh & Shawn Sanders
Thursday, March 12 6:30-8:00PM at the home of Ken and Sheila Johnson
Wednesday, March 18 6:30-8:00PM at the home of Steve & Kathy Northuis

All 2020 Mission Trip Shareholders are invited to join our youth for a meet and greet being held in the fellowship hall downstairs after worship on March 8.

If you are a confessing member of Zion and over the age of 18, please remember to turn in your Consistory willing to serve response form by March 1.

Serve the World
On Monday night, our Personal Care Pantry team welcomed about 80 families to receive basic care items such as soap, shampoo and such. This month, we had families connect with our church United Church Outreach Ministries in Wyoming, local neighborhood friends, and Jenison Public schools. Thank you to all who faithfully serve in the Personal Care Pantry.

Administrative Details
If you want to keep up with our capital campaign, you can check out all sorts of information on our website here.

The Leaders Meeting for Sunday, March 1 has been canceled.

If you receive the denominational magazine RCA Today, you may have seen an article about our church. I was interviewed last fall to talk a little about what God has been doing through all of you here at Zion. I never want to pass up on a chance to brag about the great people of Zion, so I was happy to share. Unfortunately, I cannot share a link to the article here as it is not available on-line. But, you should check it out in the magazine and join me in thanking God for the work he is doing among us.

Earlier this week, someone on social media asked people to share their worst/weirdest/most awkward experience they could recall as a visitor to a church. Following are some of the stories:
1. On a Sunday morning, we were told at the door they were having a special event and then they asked us to go to the Starbucks down the road for an hour until it was over and then come back.
2. Being introduced as a newcomer and then asked to stand up and tell the congregation about myself.
3. I had a family get to service and ask me to move and sit somewhere else because it was the spot they always sit in.
4. Being handed a KJV since mine was a “perVersion”
5. Visited a small church and was offered the chance to play the offertory.
6. Walked in and I was handed a clip on tie, I asked why and the person said, “you honor God by how well you dress.” I’m sure God was honored to see me wear a clip on tie with my v-neck shirt.
7. We were asked our names, David and Joan, but were then introduced to the tiny church as Brian and Judy.
8. Absolutely no one greeted us coming in or out.
9. My wife and I sat down at a table for Bible study and two other couples got up and moved to a different table without saying anything.
10. Within minutes of visiting a church for the first time I was brought up front to walk with the pastor. As the service began he invited me up front and introduced me as the guest pastor for the morning and then sat down. I was just visiting.

It takes a lot of courage to come to a church for the first time. And, there are lots of ways to welcome people poorly to church. I am grateful for all of you and the way so many of you are intentional each Sunday to welcome new people, to reach out to people you don’t yet know, and create a community in our space. Thank you.

Connect to God
There is perhaps no greater influence in Christian discipleship and moral thinking than the Sermon on the Mount. In three short chapters, Jesus lays out a vision for how to live the good life, the life God intended for us, in our personal, public, and spiritual lives. This week, we continue our study of this influential sermon as we consider the type of heart that motivates kingdom behavior.

On Wednesday February 26 at 6:30 pm, we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday. During the service, we will both observe communion and the imposition of ashes. The Elders encourage you in the week ahead to examine your life to see if there are any relationships in which you need to be reconciled, if there is any sin of which you need to repent, so that we can gather in unity at Jesus’ table on the 26th.

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
Anne Algra-Muizelaar went to be with her Lord and Savior early Tuesday morning. Her funeral service will be held  at 11am on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home in Grandville. Visitation will be held from 10-11AM prior to the service. Please pray for peace and comfort for her family during this difficult time.

Please keep Kim Eling (sister-in-law to Matt and Katie Eling) who received some difficult news early this week in her ongoing battle with cancer. The cancer has spread to her brain and she will begin full brain radiation treatment beginning tomorrow. The family asks for prayers for 1) effective treatment with minimal side effects, 2) fluid to stay off of Kim’s lungs, 3) for a vertebrae fracture to remain stable and 4) for the peace of Christ to fill their hearts and minds.

This week our Sunday school students welcomed  Larry Westra as their honored guest. Larry taught Sunday School for 33 years, and he’s passionate about children meeting Jesus.  He still prays for the kids in our church on Wednesday evenings with the prayer group. We were so blessed to have him talk with the kids!

If you are a confessing member of Zion and over the age of 18, please remember to turn in your Consistory willing to serve response form by March 1.

Serve the World
We received an update from Jibit Asha recently about their work in Nepal in the month of January. During the month, they saw 15 new villages reached by their church planters, 7 people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, 3 people baptized, a new church building begin to be built, and begin distributing warm blankets.

Administrative Details
If you want to keep up with our capital campaign, you can check out all sorts of information on our website here.

If you receive the denominational magazine RCA Today, you may have seen an article about our church. I was interviewed last fall to talk a little about what God has been doing through all of you here at Zion. I never want to pass up on a chance to brag about the great people of Zion, so I was happy to share. Unfortunately, I cannot share a link to the article here as it is not available on-line. But, you should check it out in the magazine and join me in thanking God for the work he is doing among us.

Our next Leaders Meeting will be Sunday, March 1 from 5-7 pm. We will enjoy a meal together, meeting in ministry teams, and Pastor Greg will share a little about potential changes in our denomination, the Reformed Church in America, as we await counsel from the Vision 2020 team established by our governing body two years ago. Child care will be provided for kids from birth through 5th grade. You can sign-up through the Connection Cards on Sunday. If you an adult interested in helping provide childcare, you can sign-up by the Welcome Center on Sunday.

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: $421,489.16
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $412,230.49

Every week, our Regional Synod releases a Whiteboard Wednesday video about life and/or ministry. They are short easily digestible 5-8 minute videos about practical topics in the life of the church. This week was just great and connected with the topic of our Youth Service a couple of weeks ago about Intergenerational Ministry in the church.

For the last several years, the Fuller Youth Institute has been doing really great research on how to reach and keep engaged the next generation of believers in the church. Some of you may be familiar with the books Stick Faith and Growing Young, both from the Institute and influential among our staff.

Today, one of their staff presented the Whiteboard Wednesday about the changing time line for young adults to enter adulthood. While the path was pretty linear for previous generations (high school, college, job, marriage, and then kids), for many kids now there are simply more options and the right next step is not as obvious for many.

The danger for those of us who had a more clear “next step on the journey” is that we can assume we know what it is like to not have a clear next step. We can lead with our experience and not take the time to listen to how younger generations are experiencing the world. The Fuller Youth Institute recommends leading not with “When I was your age,” but instead leading with more curiosity by saying instead, “Tell me more about…”

You really should check the video out at this link. It is worth your time.

Connect to God
There is perhaps no greater influence in Christian discipleship and moral thinking than the Sermon on the Mount. In three short chapters, Jesus lays out a vision for how to live the good life, the life Got intended for us, in our personal, public, and spiritual lives. This week, we dive into this great sermon by considering the Beatitudes and Jesus claim that this kingdom way of living is open to everyone.

Last Sunday, we formally kicked off our capital campaign: Building Up, Reaching Out. We shared time lines for various events of the campaign, introduced the leaders of the campaign, and shared some of our values shaping the campaign. You can watch some of it here.

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
Dave Maier underwent two eye surgeries earlier this week and is currently recovering at home. Dave and Marlene ask for continued prayers for healing and patience during this time of recovery.

729 Groups were organized late last week. If you signed up to be in a group, you should be contacted by the groups host in the next week or so.

Serve the World
Hand2Hand will be setting up to pack backpacks after church on Sunday. If you are able to help with the set-up simply join them in the Fellowship Hall (the basement under the sanctuary) following worship on Sunday.

Sometimes we can make evangelism scary and hard and then because we think it is scary and hard we don’t do it. I was reminded this week that often evangelism is simply being good news in the lives of people who are hurting. As the prophet Jeremiah might say to be a balm in Gilead (Jeremiah 8:21-22). This is the evangelistic strategy of our church plants in Nepal, of the mega-church Saddleback, and of our church through ministries like Hand2Hand, the Personal Care Pantry, and Camp Zion. You can read more about this simple insight here. Where might God be calling you to be his soothing and healing presence in someone’s time of pain today?

Administrative Details
Our next Leaders Meeting will be Sunday, March 1 from 5-7 pm. We will enjoy a meal together, meeting in ministry teams, and Pastor Greg will share a little about potential changes in our denomination, the Reformed Church in America, as we await counsel from the Vision 2020 team established by our governing body two years ago. Child care will be provided for kids from birth through 5th grade. You can sign-up through the Connection Cards on Sunday. If you an adult interested in helping provide childcare, you can sign-up by the Welcome Center on Sunday.

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: $410,397.34
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $401,630.60