Zion E-News (3-18-2021)

During the month of January, the RCA is emphasizing the spiritual practice of generosity. Earlier this week I received an e-mail from Billy Norden that I appreciated as he shared his journey with generosity. It follows below almost in its entirety.

“Having me take the lead during generosity month is dripping with irony. I feel like I’m someone who is one of the least naturally inclined toward generosity. Generosity is the vegetable of my spiritual diet.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’ve always been inclined to be generous with my time and talent—but giving money, well, let’s just say that took work. When I was lamenting having to pay for airport parking on a family vacation because we couldn’t score a free ride to the airport, my wife turned to our seven-year-old and said, “Daddy has trouble parting with money.” Truer words have never been spoken. It was early in our marriage that she initiated our giving regularly to our church, and it was anything but natural for me.

“I do give of my money now (it’s really all God’s, but you know what I mean.) Giving away money comes naturally to some, but I have a hunch most people are like me. It takes practice, work, and discipline to be generous with money and eventually enjoy giving it away. I’ve never been naturally inclined to eat vegetables but know they are critical to my diet. As an adult, I’ve learned to be intentional about adding them to my diet, I’ve learned to cook them in a way where I really enjoy them, and I’m more satisfied and feel so much better when they’re a part of my life. Generosity with our finances is no different. It takes some discipline, but it helps us to be so much healthier.”

Earlier this week, I received a letter from a member of Zion telling a story of how Zion came alongside their family many  years ago when everything had fallen apart relationally and financially. And then, I noticed the Benevolent fund offering again this past week. And I am reminded the spirit of generosity continues at Zion.

Thank you for the ways you give freely of what you have to bless others.

Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in person at 9 am and online at both 9 and 11 am. You can find the services either on our Facebook page or at zionreformed.online.church. We will also rebroadcast the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.

Beginning March 28, Palm Sunday, our in-person worship time will go back to 9:30 am. We look forward to seeing you then and hope you enjoy the extra half hour of sleep each Sunday morning.

Christianity at its core is not about thinking the right things about God or knowing our Bibles inside and out, but about following Jesus. The earliest believers were called Christians because they looked and acted like little Christs, little Jesuses.  This morning we are excited to welcome Julianna Kempema back to Zion as she shares a message from Mark 9.

Grow in Community
Zion Families! Pick up your “Eggs of Easter” gift at church this coming Sunday! It is a 12-day devotion for families to lead them towards the true meaning of Easter. There’s also some candy filled eggs included, just for fun. And, if you’re not worshiping in person, we’re happy to drop one off at your home.  I made some extras too, if someone would like to gift one to a grandchild, niece, nephew, friend or neighbor. Limited extras available.

We express our sympathy to Dave and Tami Hewitt and family in the sudden passing of  his father, Arthur Hewitt, on Sunday and his step-mom, Carol, on Monday.  May God give them peace, comfort, and hope in this time of deep loss.

Jim and Barb Overweg would like to thank everyone for the prayers for our son-in-law Clyde.  He is improving and at Blodgett  for therapy.  He still has a ways to go and we would appreciate your continued prayers for him, our daughter Brenda, and our granddaughter Anna.

We extend our congratulations to Justin and Amanda Vasquez as they welcomed two healthy babies into the world on Friday, March 12. Emersyn Grace was born at 8:45 at 19 inches long and weighing 5 lbs 4 oz and Quinton James was born at 8:46 at 18.5 inches long and weighing 5 lbs 10 oz. Amanda and both babies are doing well.

If you would like to keep up with Steve Landstra’s health journey as he battles lung cancer, the family has set up a CaringBridges page and you can find it here.

In the last decade, a giant cultural wave has swept the North American church into a brand new world — a pluralistic, complicated, high-tech/low-touch world that has only been accelerated during this Covid-time. Facing the challenge of engaging a jaded world, a fresh expression has emerged alongside the traditional church. If you have any interest in church planting or how to reach new generations, join us for a 3 week discussion led by Andrew Moore of the book Fresh Expressions of the Church. You can sign-up for this book discussion by e-mailing Pastor Greg at gbrower@zionreformed.org.

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below (and thank you to everyone who reminded that Luke only has 24 chapters and not chapters 25 and 26 I included in last weeks e-mail):
Monday: John 13
Tuesday: John 14
Wednesday: John 15
Thursday: John 16
Friday: John 17

You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.

Serve the World
Camp Zion will be occurring again this summer. If you have or are a teen interested in working at Camp Zion this summer, make sure you apply by filling out the application at the link below by the end of March. It is a great way to invest your summer in blessing our neighbors.
Camp Zion Teen Staff Job Application

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. 

Fiscal Year to Date Budget:  $430,757.48
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $413,448.47
Giving Last Week: $5,115.00
Benevolent Fund Offering of 3/14: $2,620.00