Zion E-News (4-15-2021)

During college one year, I come home to visit and through my younger sister was introduced to the absolute joy and delight of watching Veggie Tales. First appearing in DVD, Veggie Tales attempted to tell Biblical stories and teach Christian morals through talking and singing vegetables. This was before computer animators knew how to make decent arms and legs so appendage-less vegetables were easier to maker. Filled with humor for both kids and adults, they were a big hit back in the 90s.

Phil Vischer was the primary creative force behind Veggie Tales and later the What’s in the Bible series (that is truly an excellent overview of the Bible available on RightNow Media through church – sign-up here). Phil now has a regular podcast called HolyPost that tackles topics of the day really well from a Christian perspective. All of this is to say, Phil seems like a great guy, who loves kids and the Bible.

Recently, he made a comment about not losing the plot of the story we are in as followers of Jesus. It follows below:
If table-flipping Jesus is our favorite Jesus, we’ve lost the plot.
If Pharisee-insulting Jesus is our favorite Jesus, we’ve lost the plot.
If the Jesus who, out of love for others, laid down his rights and picked up his cross – and called his followers to do the same – isn’t the Jesus we’re devoted to, we’ve lost the plot.
Every day when I walk out the door, or log onto social media, I need to remember the plot. “Christian” doesn’t mean “little Rambo.” It means “little Christ.” I’m on the cross with Christ. I die with Christ. I have the power to love my enemies with Christ. Remember the plot.

I find it is very easy in an American and Christian culture that often values winning, fighting for our rights, defending our freedoms, that positions every issue as a some sort of war, it is really easy to lose the plot. Scripture does not teach that we should fight for or use political or economic power for our own gain. Or that we should shout down or belittle others to get our way, Instead, we should serve, sacrifice for, and love even our enemies.

What might it look like for you today to die with Jesus and love with his power?

Greg

Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather in person at 9:30 am and online at both 9:30 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.

The Christians to whom Peter writes in 1 Peter feel alone, scared, and as if they no longer belong in their own country. Maybe you have felt similarly at times. Peter reminds them and us that our hope is not found in fitting into the culture around us, but in Jesus who is creating us to be a new kind of chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. This week, we consider what it means to be a people who have tasted the goodness of God and how to continue to experience his goodness in our lives.

Grow in Community
Jess Huizenga had an unexpected surgery early Tuesday morning and is currently recovering at home and doing well. Dick Weber had knee surgery on Wednesday and is also recovering and doing well.

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

We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
Monday: Acts 12
Tuesday: Acts 13
Wednesday: Acts 14
Thursday: Acts 15
Friday: Acts 16

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

Serve the World
Registrations for Camp Zion are open. If you have a child who could benefit from Camp Zion, the link is here. Please be in prayer for all our campers and staff as the summer season draws nearer.

We have continued our conversations with JPS and Solomon’s Porch to continue Threads, a clothing ministry serving Jenison, Grandville, and Hudsonville schools. We anticipate moving supplies and equipment beginning in mid-May and opening Threads at Zion by early fall. Jill Austin is currently leading this effort and would love to tell you more about it if you are interested.

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
Beginning this Sunday, yea re slightly relaxing our mask policy by allowing people to take their mask off when seated, but to keep it on when moving around the building, in kids ministries, or while singing. We still encourage everyone to continue to wearing their mask at all times in the building to minimize the risk of spreading Covid to those at particular risk or unable to receive a vaccine, but trust your wisdom to decide if you need to wear the mask when seated.

The Consistory approved remodeling our bathrooms at our latest meeting. If you have been in our bathrooms recently you may have noticed they not only look dated, but also have a particularly uncomfortable scent and are in need of some significant repairs. The approved plan will intentionally fit with the larger building remodel plan we approved prior to Covid rather than simply updating the bathrooms. By doing so, we leave open the possibility of moving ahead with the building remodel after Covid and as the financial impacts of this past year become more clear. This small project, however, will cost about $125,000. We will not move forward with this remodeling step until at least half of those funds are raised. If you would like to give to the bathroom remodel, you can do so by donating to our building fund. We do ask that anything given to the building fund be in addition to your regular support of Zion ministries through the general fund so we can still effectively fund our ongoing ministries.

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:  $472,782.60
Fiscal Year to Date Contribution: $451,297.98
Giving Last Week: $8,564.00