Zion E-News (2-13-2020)

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