Zion E-News (11-18-2021)
Christ the King Sunday is this Sunday! I know no one else is ever as excited about this holiday as I am. I love spending a week simply reflecting on how Jesus reigns in our world even when we cannot always see it.
Our world has co-opted Christmas and is getting its teeth into Easter and even Halloween, originally rooted in Christian tradition, has less and less to do with All Saints Day or anything remotely Christian. But no one has yet found a way to turn a day centered on the reign of Christ into anything else.
Christ the King Sunday ends the Christian liturgical year, which begins on the first Sunday of Advent. During Advent we remember how our world desperately needs God to act and deliver us from the pain and suffering of an unjust, broken world and even from the ways we have become trapped and become slaves to sin ourselves. Then we remember the life of Jesus between Christmas and Easter, celebrate Easter for 7 weeks, and then the beginning of the church on Pentecost and for the last 20 our so weeks, we have focused almost exclusively on discipleship, how to follow Jesus today. The whole year ends with this Sunday of hope where we proclaim to ourselves and the world that Jesus really is king.
Mind you, it does not often feel like Jesus is king. I have walked with too many people going through divorce and sat with too many spouses grieving the loss of the one they love to dare say all is well in our world. You only have to turn on the TV news to see how broken our world is today: refugees at the border of Poland with nowhere to go, tension with China, chaos in Haiti, maxed out hospitals in our community, a personal friend without a home, teens and young adults battling depression and thoughts of suicide. Our world is not as it should be. We are a deeply wounded and wounding people.
And yet, we gather on Christ the King Sunday and remind each other that Jesus does still reign and that one day all will be made whole and well. As my friend April Fiet wrote earlier this week,:
“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” – 1 Corinthians 15:26
Famine, Covid, violence, destruction, abuse… all of it will be swallowed up. Jesus, let it be soon.
Truly, come Lord Jesus.
– Greg
Connect to God
This Sunday we will gather for worship at 9:30 am. The service will be live-streamed at 9:30 and replayed again at 11. You can find the services either on our Facebook page, at zionreformed.online.church, or streaming on our Youtube channel. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday.
Christ the King Sunday concludes the liturgical church year. On this Sunday, we celebrate again the unchanging truth that Jesus has become the king of the world and has put all things under his feet. While it does not always feel this way, we know God is still in charge even in our broken and messed up world. As an old hymn puts it: though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This Sunday we meet the risen and reigning King in the vision of John from Revelation 1 and we look forward to the day when all things, even death itself, submit to his reign.
This Sunday, we will also be celebrating Communion, also called The Lord’s Super or the Eucharist. It is the family meal of Christians. We invite all committed followers of Jesus Christ to partake of this sacrament: those who are baptized members of a congregation that proclaims the gospel, who are at peace with God and with their neighbor, and who seek strength to live more faithfully for Christ. If you are not a Christian, or if you are not prepared to share in this meal, we encourage you to spend this time in prayer. We hope that this time is helpful to you as you consider your relationship with Jesus Christ and with His people, the church.
We also look forward to hearing from Dan Braker from Oasis of Hope Center in Grand Rapids, one of our three Thanksgiving Offering recipients.
On a related note, don’t forget to join us for our Thanksgiving service on Wednesday, November 24, at 6:30 pm in-person and on-line.
Grow in Community
Larry Westra was able to return home from Brookcrest earlier this week. He and Marge both appreciate your prayers for a smooth transition home, growing strength, and a full recovery.
The kids will be rehearsing the music for their Christmas program every week after church until Dec. 12. Preschoolers stay in Room 206 after church for a 10-15 minute practice. Elementary kids meet after church in Room 205 for 20-30 minutes.
We are reading through the New Testament over the next year as a congregation. The reading schedule for this coming week is below:
11/22 Monday Revelation 18
11/23 Tuesday Revelation 19
11/24 Wednesday Revelation 20
11/25 Thursday Revelation 21
11/26 Friday Revelation 22
You can also find the reading schedule on our website under the Ministries tab.
Serve the World
Every year, we designate three organizations to receive our Thanksgiving Offering. This year the Deacons have chosen:
1. The Pregnancy Resources Center which provides health care and support to women and families facing an unexpected pregnancy so they feel empowered to choose the life of their child.
2. Oasis of Hope Center that provides medical care to low income residents in the Grand Rapids community in the name of Jesus.
3. The Family Network of Wyoming’s Christmas Store. This seems self-explanatory. 🙂
If you need help, either with food, personal care items, help grocery shopping, or with financial needs, please contact Jerrod Holzgen, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is Jholzgen@yahoo.com and his phone number is 616-520-1771.
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 2021/22 Budget: $269,046.48
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $203,812.59
Giving Last Week: $15,230.50
