Zion E-News (1-6-2022)

Recently, I was reading through the book of Genesis and spent some time reflecting upon the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18. The story itself is fascinating as Abraham has the audacity to negotiate with God over the future of these two cities. God is going to destroy them for their terrible sins. These sins are illustrated in the story, as Isaiah describes them, as a lack of hospitality and concerns for the foreigner or sojourner. The story is a bit more graphic and involves attempted violence and assault. Abraham first asks God if he will save the city if there are 50 righteous people in the city. Eventually, he gets God down to saving the city if there are only 10 righteous people. 

Fifteen years or so ago, Tim Keller observed that Abraham backed down too soon. He should have pushed God to save the city for the sake of one righteous person. A righteous God clearly shouldn’t destroy a righteous person for the sins of others. But Abraham stops at 10. Perhaps, Keller posits, Abraham knew there were no righteous people in that city or the whole world. There was no one righteous enough to save the city. The story then clearly points to our need for the one true righteous person to come, Jesus, who would deliver us from the death to which all sin leads. This is a great point and it preaches so well!

My reflection may not be quite big enough for a whole sermon. What struck me in reflecting on the passage was that Abraham intercedes for his enemies. In chapter 14, Abraham had just gone to war with these kings.They had kidnapped Abraham’s nephew Lot and Abraham had to rescue his nephew. The people of these cities are not friends, they are not even neutral strangers, they have been active attackers and threats to Abraham, and here is Abraham praying (that’s what taking with God is after all) for God to have mercy on his enemies and save them.

In a society that is so quick to give us enemies and divide us from others, the Christian faith offers another way. Even when someone is actually our enemy, we pray for them. We seek their good. We love them as God first loved us. It can be hard to do so. It takes intentionality and some spiritual grit. It is not the way our world chooses to operate, but it is the way of God’s kingdom.

– Greg

Connect to God
This week we will gather for worship at 9:30 am. The service will be live-streamed and replayed again at 11 am. This weeks service will be at zionreformed.online.church and streaming on our YouTube channel. We will also rebroadcast a version of the service on WCET at noon on Friday and 4pm next Sunday. (I heard recently we WCET has had some difficulty on Sundays and our service has not played at 4. I apologize for the confusion that may have caused. I have been in contact with them and they are unsure what the problem may be. I am hopeful we can get it straightened out soon.)

This Sunday, we begin a new sermon series entitled Upside Down Kingdom. This series will draw from the gospel lectionary readings, predominantly in Luke, to help us see the counter-cultural values and ways of God’s kingdom. In our text today, Jesus begins his public ministry in the most obscure way: baptized in the wilderness by a fringe prophet as just another face in the crowd. But this is the way of God’s kingdom , it starts small, quietly even, but it ultimately changes the world.

This Sunday, we will also be celebrating Communion, also called The Lord’s Supper 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.

Grow in Community
Our youth are collecting recyclable cans and change to raise money for their Alaskan Mission Trip. Any money raised through change or cans donated by this Sunday, January 9 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $3,000. You can drop off any $.10 recyclables at Zion’s garage on Sunday mornings. The door will be opened. Thank you for your generous support of our youth financially, through words of encouragements and in your prayers.

Following Kent County Health Department guidelines, we are no longer be requiring children to wear masks in Zion Kids as of last Sunday, January 2, 2022.

Serve the World
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
The remodel of our bathrooms in the Education Wing will begin on Monday! Until the remodel is complete, please plan on using the uni-sex bathrooms at the front of the sanctuary.

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:  $347,518.37
Fiscal Year 2021/22 Contributions: $294,055.10
Giving Last Week: $19,692.50