Love God
Love People
~Luke 10:27
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Musings: Learn From our Experiences....
My family has a lot of what you might call shade tree mechanics. Several are actual, honest to goodness mechanics, but many of them simple like to or know how to work on or with cars. Given many of them owned cars that required constant upkeep, it’s no surprise to find this a common skillset. My father was always pretty good at it and he tried to show me a few things here and there, mostly basics to keep a car running.
But all the lessons in the world are no match for actually spending time working on or with cars. Case in point. I was trying to get an old truck running that my father-in-law was basically giving me. The truth is, all it needed was a battery charge and it should have been good. No problem. I’ve had to use jumper cables on a few occasions (usually when I was a teenager and left my key in the ignition and the switch on to listen to the radio), so this was no big deal. I just had to match the positive to the positive, the negative to a ground, and voila, the truck is fixed. Except that I wasn’t paying attention, assumed the left cable was positive (it was on my car), and connected the cables backwards.
I was really looking forward to having a truck again. I would have looked to the future. I left it like that for about five minutes and tried to crank the truck, not realizing that I had reversed the polarity. It was an older truck, but it still had enough electronics to fry out most of the necessary systems. A little more experience or practice working on cars and I might have paid closer attention (something I am very careful to do now) and I might have had a truck.
Our faith life works in a similar way in that experience with our faith teaches us much. It can teach us how to hear, feel, listen to, and experience the Holy Spirit. It can teach us how to discern the moment, to hear what people aren’t saying when we interact with the family of God. It can teach us how to approach the Bible with greater care and consideration for things like the history around it, the culture, other writings about it, not to mention simply being aware that we ourselves bring much of ourselves and our understanding to how interpret the bible. It can teach us to look beyond our local and personal traditions to see that there is not always just one way of interpretation. It can teach us to be aware and alive to the possibilities the Holy Spirit can open to us, if we allow experience and the desire to gain new experience to become tools of understanding and growth.
With that I ask you, what experiences have you had with the Holy Spirit? How do they shape you, drive you, teach you? What can you/are you open to learn from the greater library of experience around you?
Pastor Michael
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We will continue worship services socially distanced in the sanctuary at 11:00am. We will continue with the service in the same way we have been worshiping but we will be moving out of the Thompson Family Life Center. The children will begin having activities in the Life Center at the same time, also socially distanced. We will be using a format like Lancaster County Schools.
- Children will be dropped off at the front door entrance of the Family Life Center to be assessed.
- Children will have their temperature checked as they enter and any child with a temperature above 100.4 or with any cold or flu like symptoms will need to stay home
- Children will be socially distanced during activities
- Children will be required to wear a mask
- Parents must wait until their children are cleared before the parents leave
Youth will also be meeting at the same time but in the fellowship hall.
- Youth will wait outside the fellowship hall door until they can be assessed
- Youth will have their temperature checked as they enter and any student with a temperature above 100.4 or with any cold or flu like symptoms will need to stay home
- Youth will be socially distanced during activities
- Youth will be required to wear a mask
We look forward to the opportunity to see everyone joining us for worship and activities on Sunday morning. We hope to have a great and safe time worshiping together.
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Poinsettias will be placed in the sanctuary this
Sunday, December 20 to the glory of God and as follows:
- In memory of Bill and Jessie Rae Threatt by Pat Threat and Sonny and Marion Curtis
- In loving honor of all of our grandchildren by Max and Myra Funderburk
- In memory of Billy McAbee by Mike and Barbara Vick
- In memory of Tony Neal Love, Laura Everall
- In memory of Bruce Lathan Love, Keli, Shawn,Colton, and Sadie Grace Thomas
- In honor of Dianne Martin on her birthday by Pat Threatt
- In memory of Pete Evans by Suzanne Evans
- In memory of Mr. and Otis Hall by Suzanne Evans
- In memory of Pat Barton and Pete Evans by Becky Barton and Daughters
- In memory of Pat Barton and Pete Evans by Chase and Jordan and Breeanna and Austin Brooks
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Luminaries: Our youth will be sponsoring luminaries that will be lit and line the driveway around the church cemetery on the evening of December 20. If you would like to place a luminary to be included in the announcement, please call Missy at 803-804-2434 before Sunday December 20. Thank you for your continued support of our Youth!!
In conjunction with the luminaries, our Youth and Youth Leaders will be sponsoring a LIVE NATIVITY (no animals) on the grounds in front of the men’s club at the cemetery/ballfield. You are invited to drive through the cemetery drive on Sunday, December 20th from 5:30PM to 6:30PM and enjoy the luminaries and the Live Nativity. We hope you will join us!!
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Peaceful Readings and Prayers for the Fourth
Sunday of Advent
Advent is the season in which believers eagerly anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth. Reading, prayer, and reflection are ways we can cultivate a sense of holy anticipation this Advent. The fourth Sunday of Advent we meditate on the peace that Jesus brings our hearts and our world. Scripture is the place we can find the promises of God. Let us meditate on these truths and allow them to comfort our hearts this Advent season! 2 Thessalonians 3:16 says, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
This week we focus our hearts on the “Lord of peace” who came down from heaven in the form of a baby. God knows that we are in a constant battle against fear! Fear wants to cripple us, to push us to react rather than carefully respond, and fear steals our joy. God has given us the gift of peace so we can live joy-filled lives!
Over this Advent, would you pray that God’s unexplainable peace would be evident in your heart and home. This year we all have faced so much chaos and uncertainty. God’s peace is something we need to grab tightly onto more than ever. May God’s spirit transform the days leading up to Christmas into a time to joyfully await our King!
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With the recent bad weather and high winds, a lot of loose flowers from arrangements in the cemetery have been blown around the grounds. You may wish to make sure that your arrangement is in tact. Several flowers were picked up and are placed beside the men's club building. Our appreciation to each one who helped in picking up all of the flowers around the cemetery!
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Our Children and Youth groups continue to meet on Sundays at 11:00 am. We hope that your youth or children can come out and participate and this will allow parents the time to attend in-person worship. Our appreciation to our youth and children’s leaders for volunteering for this outreach!
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Morning Walking Club: Our weekday morning walking group has resumed meeting in the life center Monday through
Friday at 8:00 AM. Church members are welcome to come out and enjoy getting in some exercise out of the elements and in a secure location!
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2021 Offering Envelopes are available in the church vestibule. As we are not meeting for Sunday school, the vestibule will be the best collection site for your yearly envelopes. As in years past, assigned numbers are not necessary. Thank you!!!
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Pastor Michael continues to offer morning prayer and Bible study. Join us each morning at 7:00 AM for Prayer and meditation. Join us, also on Thursdays at 12:00 Noon for Bible Study. Pastor Michael is hosting these from our Facebook page. If you are unable to log in LIVE, these offerings remain available for viewing after on our website and FB page. |
Please plan to join us for a socially distanced Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Thursday, December 24 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary of Zion. |
While the church office remains closed, you are encouraged to reach out if you have a need or know of a need. You may call Pastor Michael at 1-859-475-8800, call the church office, 803-285-3864 and leave a message, call Missy at 803-804-2434 or email [email protected] or [email protected]; these emails are being monitored daily. The answering machine will also be checked daily. During these times, we ask everyone to pray together for each other, our church family, our community, our country, and our world. |
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Please remember these in prayer:
Nancy Ackerman
Angela Bailey
Francis Bell
Phillip Bell
Sue Catoe
Carol Cauthen
Angie Dobson
John Elder
Myra Funderburk
Mike Gay
Ovedia Griffin
Catherine Hammond
JoAnn Hinson
Rick Joyner
Rev. Frank Lybrand
Bill McCorkle
Kevin McCorkle
Marie Moree
Harris Plyler
Marcene Plyler
Ann Powers
Kathleen Robinson
John Rollins
Virginia Rollins
Bonnie Sears
Eva Small
Greg Smith
JoAnne Smith
Billy Sowell
Robbie Stepp
Matthew Sweatt
Pat Vick
Myrtle Walker
Donna Walters
Ellen Walters
Kim Yost
Our President and Troops
Those affected by the COVID virus
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Even as we offer in-person worship, our services will still be made available online on our Facebook page. Log in to our Zion United Methodist Church Facebook page this Sunday for our service if you are unable to make it to church!! The service will also be available on our website at www.zionumc.com |
January/February 2021 Upper Room Daily Devotionals are available for pick up at the church! We will place some of these in the church vestibule on the table and some in the plastic communication box outside of the life center doors where the buses are for those who do not attend worship or have access to the church for you to pick up. There are large and regular print copies available. |
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December 15: Melody McKenna, Nolan McKenna
December 16: Lisa Phillips, Danny Ackerman, Kim Ford, Glenda Love,
December 17: Joey Horne, Dianne Martin, Mike McKenna
December 18: Nicole Faile, Mr. and Mrs. Max Funderburk
December 19: Tori Craig
December 21: Natalie Burrack
December 22: Michael Jarrell, Frances Parris
December 23: Miriam Griffin
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Special Gifts to Zion Church
In Honor of:
My ‘lil ‘sis, Sadie Grace on her 2nd birthday! Love, Colton
Dianne Martin on her birthday by Ellen Walters
Nancy Ackerman and Harris and Marcene Plyler by Ellen Walters
In Memory of:
Miriam Griffin on her birthday by Frances Parris
In loving memory of Clyde Walters and Wayne Pardue by Ellen Walters
Special Gifts to Building Fund
In Honor of:
Zion UMC members by Carolyn Massey
In Memory of:
Zion UMC members by Carolyn Massey
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The Record Speaks....
December 13, 2020
Present for Worship: 50
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,360
Received for General Fund $3971
Received for Building Fund $55
Received for Epworth Children's Home $360
Received for Luminaries for Youth $86
There are many options available to give to the continuing ministry and outreach of Zion UMC. You may drop your offering in the offering plate as you arrive or leave worship service on Sundays, give through Paypal on the website www.zionumc.com, text your giving to 803-525-1834 and follow the secure link, or if you are not comfortable attending worship at this time and do not wish to give online, you may drop your offering in the mail to Zion UMC at 1665 Zion Road, Lancaster, SC 29720 or drop off in the mail drop box that is located beside the double doors where the buses are. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Missy at 803-804-2434 or leave a message at the church office, 803-285-3864 and your call will be returned. Thank you for your continued support of the Mission that is Zion!!
"...because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to."
Deuteronomy 15:10,,
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803-285-3864 - www.zionumc.com |
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