Zion E-News 4-18-24

ZION E-NEWS (4-18-24)

AS WE GATHER in person for Worship each Sunday at 9:30am the service can also be viewed on our website 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 10:30AM on Sunday. The service will continue to be available on YouTube to watch at your convenience.

THE ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held in the sanctuary after worship on Sunday, May 5.  The meeting is open to anyone who attends Zion, but only active confessing members can vote. Childcare is not provided. There will be a brief time for refreshments and picking up children from Zion Kids between the service and the meeting. This year’s double slate of nominated and consenting individuals are:
Elders: Matt Eling, Rachel Eriks, Mark Gazan, Andrew Moore                                                                          Deacons: Jacquie Knott, Adam Morehouse, Josh Sanders, Justin Steere
From the four Elders and four Deacons, two of each will be chosen by the drawing of names at the meeting. A copy of the proposed budget is available in the back of the sanctuary.

THREADS BOUTIQUE was ready for spring on Tuesday, April 9th.  The boutique was filled with spring apparel and accessories, Prom dresses, brand new donated Vera Bradley items, and new shoes donated from Striders.  And Wow!  Threads was hopping on Tuesday’s shopping day!  A couple of us were talking about how it felt as busy as it does before Christmas.  Then I did the numbers…and this was actually our HIGHEST NUMBERS EVER!
*We served 62 families
*219 people received clothing
*1,413 pieces of clothing were given away
*196 accessories were given away
*60 families received personal care items
*10 people had haircuts
Praise be to God that we were able to serve that many families and were able to give away over 1,600 pieces of quality clothing items to these families in one day! Thank you, Lord, for this truly remarkable ministry that our church can provide to the community.   ~Jill

IT’S A GIRL! Bronson and Ashley Swan welcomed Harper Alaina into the world at 11:27AM on Wednesday, April 17. Harper weighed 7 lbs 15 oz and measured 20” long. Congratulations to the Swan family on their new, beautiful little blessing!

CONGRATULATIONS to the winners of our Zion March Madness bracket challenge!  First place went to Kim Zoet and second place to Pastor Jeremy!  Jacob Sundberg and Tom Boeve tied for third place. Winners will receive their prizes soon.  Thanks for playing!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are working on cosmetic and safety updates in our kitchen.  We are excited that some work has already begun and we should be able to complete all the updates in about 2 weeks.  We need your help.  We are looking for about 8 – 10 pictures of people using the kitchen.  Old and new, it doesn’t matter but we are trying to put together a small picture wall showing the deep history of how our church kitchen has been used.  You can bring these into the office, put them in Troy Austin’s mailbox, or give them to Troy and tell me the story behind the pictures.  We will keep everyone updated on the progress and hope to have an open house sometime after church where all can see the kitchen and the various ministries run from the basement.

“YOU ROCK” Appreciation Luncheon:  We want to celebrate all of our Nursery, Zion Kids & Youth Group volunteers and thank you for all the time, talents, energy, and joy you have given this year to our children and youth ministries.  So, we are serving up lunch for you at the Zion rock-n-roll diner.
Who:  All Nursery, Zion Kids & Youth Group volunteers and their families.
When:  April 28, 2024 – Following the morning worship service.
RSVP: Text (616- 258-3291) or Email (zionkids@zionreformed.org) Rachel Verbrugge, by April
24th, with the number of people from your family that plan to attend.

SAY IT DAY #6: Kids, we will be practicing the following Bible verse for the next four weeks in class and at home. Anyone who can recite this verse from memory to their teacher in class on May 12, will be able to choose a prize from the treasure box.
Preschool – 2nd Grade: “Yours, Lord is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11b CSB
3rd-5th Grade: “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.”   1 Chronicles 29:11 CSB

SPRING BOOK CLUB Would you like to grow in life-giving ways as you age? In Aging Faithfully, spiritual director Alice Fryling explores how to navigate the journey of retirement, lifestyle changes, and new limitations – and invites us to see God at work in new ways in the midst of it all. Join Pastor Marcia for one of two Book Club sessions to discuss the book together. RSVP for whichever day/time works best for you – Monday, April 29th at 6:30 PM or Wednesday, May 1st at 10:00 AM at Zion. This is just a one-time gathering. Please read the book before you come.  (It’s fairly short!) This is open to anyone interested in the topic, regardless of your age! Books can be purchased on your own at a local bookstore or via Amazon here: Aging Faithfully book. You can RSVP by calling the church office, emailing Pastor Marcia at mpratt@zionreformed.org, or signing up on the bulletin board outside the office.

WOMEN’S BUNCO NIGHT: If you’re interested in getting to know other women at church or simply reconnecting, join us for a fun night of games and food on Wednesday, April 24 at 6PM! Nancy Steenbergen will lead us in Bunco (an easy group dice-rolling game). Don’t know how to play? No problem we will teach you! To RSVP, sign up on the sheet outside the office or text Haley Stone at (616) 916-6698 by April 21. Please bring an appetizer to share!

DONATIONS of the following items (full size – not travel size) are needed for the Personal Care Pantry and can be placed in the box in the narthex marked “pantry donations”.  Laundry Soap,  Bar Soap,   Dish Soap,  Disposable Razors,  Shampoo,  Conditioner,  Toothpaste,  Paper grocery bags, Deodorant, Tampons, Maxi Pads, Paper towels (1 or 2 pack) and  Toilet paper (1-4 pack).

IF YOU need help, either with food, personal care items, or financial needs, please contact Tom MacGraw, our chair of deacons, and he can help connect you with the appropriate resources at Zion. His e-mail is thomas.m.macgraw@gmail.com and his phone number is (616) 315-7938.

WE CONTINUE to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and resources.

Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget:  $530,975.70
Fiscal Year 2023/24 Contributions:  $507,325.59
Giving Last Week: $7,622.73                                                                                                                                      Mission Offering for Emma DeVries $2,136.00