Zion E-News (7-16-2020)

Our family came back last weekend from a wonderful two week vacation in Colorado. We spent our mornings watching deer from our campsite, our days hiking to various lakes, waterfalls, and mountain tops, our evenings talking around the camp fire, and our nights with all 6 of us stuffed a little like sardines in our trailer. It was a great two weeks.
This was our 2nd trip with our kids to Rocky Mountain National Park and perhaps more times than we can count for Rachel and I as we spent many days and weekends in the park when we lived in Colorado. It was different this time, though, because of Covid-19. The visitor centers were all closed. There were no ranger talks. There were very long lines to get into the park at times due to the timed entry system used to reduce the number of visitors to the park. Signs reminded us to wear masks in the bathrooms and pit-toilets. (BTW – I always wanted to wear a mask in a pit-toilet, but it really doesn’t solve the smell issue.) The campground was not full as some reservations were cancelled by the National Park to reduce crowding in the campground. It was great, but different.

As we look ahead to gathering in worship this Sunday, I imagine it will bring with it a similar feeling. It will be great to see many of you and it will be different. We normally run some sort of kids ministry every week of the year, but we will not do so for at least the remainder of the summer so kids will be with us in church. We will have activities bags for kids to keep them occupied during church and will have some tables set up in the sanctuary for families to use if they would like. We will wear masks in doors and as I read the latest guidance from our Governor we should also encourage people to wear masks outside, especially if you might be within 6 feet of someone else. Some of us will not be gathering yet because of health concerns or pre-existing conditions and for those people we will still offer an online worship option at 11 am.

I ran across a prayer recently for times like these. It reads: If comparison is the thief of joy, then Lord, help me to not compare my life today to my life 6 months ago. Help me find the joy in THIS life, and in THIS day and to know that it is from you, and it is enough. Amen.

Amidst all the change and uncertainty, may we each find joy in this day and in this life God has given us. Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Connect to God
This Sunday we will once gather for worship in person and online. We will gather by the playground for an outdoor service at 9 am and indoors in the sanctuary at 11 am. If there is a likelihood of rain or if the grass will be wet from rain over night, we will move our 9 am service to the sanctuary.We will try to announce any change in venue by Saturday night on our facebook page.

If you are not able to join us in person or would simply prefer to not gather in a large crowd yet, you can still join us for online worship. We will be live streaming our 11 am service at zionreformed.online.church and Zion’s Facebook Page. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

As we gather physically together on Sunday, we will also begin a new sermon series entitled 20 Minute Theology. In this series, we will look at some important questions such as who are you, what went wrong, how do we get out of this mess, who is God, what is the church, what happens when we die, and what does God want from us. Join us for this series as we go back to the basics of the faith and find both direction, understanding, and comfort even in tense times such as these.

Grow in Community
Matt and Katie Eling request prayer for their sister in law Kim. After a good report last week that scans showed no new tumor growth and some improvement, Kim is in the hospital under palliative care after a lung collapsed during surgery yesterday to insert a new drain. Please keep Kim and her family in your prayers.

While we have not been able to meet together face-to-face, our Elders, Deacons and Pastor Rick have been doing a great job touching base with members over the age of 60 every couple of weeks. As our time apart has grown, our Consistory has recognized the need to expand our care to those under 60 as well. To that end, we are forming Covid-19 Connect Groups until we are able to meet together regularly as a congregation Each person under 60 who is not already in a small group or discipleship triad is being randomly assigned to one of these groups. The leaders will be calling to check-in on members every couple of weeks and, now that they are allowed, planning an opportunity each month to meet physically together. If you would like more information, please contact me at gbrowerzionreformed.org.

We also still have numerous Discipleship Triads meeting. If you would like to learn more about how you can connect with other people at Zion to encourage one another to follow Jesus well, send me an e-mail and I can help get you connected.

Serve the World
We continue accepting donations of personal care items and food on Wednesdays from 1-3 pm at church. We are partnering with Sunrise Ministries in Jenison for a weekly distribution. We also continue our monthly partnership with UCOM through our Personal Care Pantry. For the next few weeks, all Personal Care Items will be shared with Lifeline Community Church for their next distribution in Wyoming this Saturday. Thank you for your support of these important ministries at this time.

If you and others that you know would be willing to serve, Sunrise Ministries (in coordination with Love Inc and local churches) is in need of volunteers this Wednesday and for the next couple of weeks! They are also in need of people to go shop for food. They have gift cards and a list that they would give you before you go out. If you are interested please contact Penny at penny@sunrisemin.org

If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Chip Harkes our chair of deacons and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is chip@harkeslandscape.com and his phone number is 616-299-4804.

Administration
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. We are especially grateful this week for all those who have adjusted their means of giving to give online, through the mail, and via text. Zion’s members continue to strongly support the ministries of Zion during this time of uncertainty.

Fiscal Year to Date Budget: $63,037.68
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $55,543.32
Giving Last Week: $8897.00
Cash on Hand: $160,719.56