The News of Zion
“God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible — what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.”—AW Tozer
Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen
your faith and connect within our community.
Musings~ Complications
 
We live in a world that usually has to be plugged in. Whether it is a phone, a tablet, a television, or most any other modern ‘necessity’, we find ourselves connected to something that requires electricity and rechargeable battery power to keep it and us going. We have become so accustomed and so dependent on these technologies that to not have them seems almost ludicrous. While some have proved useful under the current circumstances, I have a tendency to think they bring as much harm as convenience.
 
A good example of this comes from my own life. When I started college in 1991, I had a Word Processor that would allow me to see and correct two lines of type at a time and save several documents on a floppy disk. I went to class and took notes by hand and if I managed to write it down, I most likely remembered what I wrote. When I started taking class on campus in seminary in 2012, everyone was using laptops to take notes and keep up with class assignments. Having always been a technophile I had no problem using the technology available. What I couldn’t do was remember what I typed.
 
The reason for this is simple, muscle memory.
 
I was accustomed to taking notes with a pen and paper and that allowed me to have two means of inputting information in my brain: the muscles in my hands moving a pen and my eyes watching the pen create the words. With a keyboard, the letters only form on the screen after you type and if you watch your fingers, you will likely only see a jumble of letters. For the more recent generations it may be different but for me, I loose something with technology.
 
I think the current situation creates an opportunity to practice a bit of muscle memory for the church. We have the chance to slow down and remember what it means to be church for each other. The focus of the early followers of Jesus was on the well-being of the people, on making sure that each person who was part of that extended family called the Kingdom of God had what they needed for their day to day existence. It was about knowing they were part of the family, born of the new way of living and being that Jesus taught his disciples. Under the circumstances of the moment, we have a chance to get back to that mindset, one that focuses on taking care of the needs and maintaining the connections with one another beyond the once a week ritual gathering.
 
Be the church. Be the extension of Jesus’ work on earth, the hands and feet that carry the work of the good news of the gospel to the people around us. Flex the muscles of the body of Christ to get it and keep it in shape, help them to remember the work they were called to.
 
Be safe. Be prayerful. Be Kingdom people.
 
Pastor Michael
The Church Office Will Be Closed: It is with a heavy heart that we announce that the church office will be closed for the next few weeks. If you have a need or know of a need, you may call Pastor Michael at 1-859-475-8800, call the church office at 285-3864 and leave a message, call Missy at 804-2434, or email [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]; these emails are being monitored daily. The answering machine will also be checked daily. During this troubling and unprecedented time, we ask everyone to pray together for each other, our church family, our community, our country, and our world. May God 's healing presence be with us all!
Please remember these in prayer:
Nancy Ackerman
Angela Bailey
Francis Bell
Gene Blackmon
Marion Boswell
Carol Boyles
Randy Boyles
Caleb Catoe
Sue Catoe
Ann Chappell
Linda Coker
Sandra Cope
Brett Craig
Bill Dingler
Sophia Dixon
Angie Dobson
Heather Elder
John Elder
Ashley Fort
Betsy Gardner
Mike Gay
Steve Ghent
Judy Goodnight
Travis Gordon
T.R. Grier
Ovedia Griffin
Catherine Hammond
JoAnn Hinson
Rev. Shelly Holder
Julia Horne
Kevan Horton
Eric Hough
Libby Hunter
Melinda Hunter
Rick Joyner
Henry Ray Knight
Mary Jane McAteer
Kevin McCorkle
Tammy McMillian
Debbie McWaters
Marie Moree
Rusty Mosier
Bell Perry
Betty Jo Phillips
Ann Powers
Vicky Pickett
Ann Reed
Kathleen Robinson
Mayme Jo Robinson
Terry Robinson
James Rushing
Bonnie Sears
Dale Sherrin
Eva Small
Greg Smith
JoAnne Smith
Mike Smith
Freda Snipes
Billy Sowell
Robbie Stepp
Sue Stewart
Jim Thomas
Mike Vick
Pat Vick
Ellen Walters
Megan Wilson
David Woodruff
Kim Yost
Our President & Troops
Those affected by the COVID-19 virus
Those affected by recent tornadoes
Online Worship this Sunday!!!
Tune in to our Zion United Methodist Church FB LIVE service at 10:55AM this Sunday!!
Worship will begin
at 11:00AM.
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP!!

If you are unable to join us live, the service will be available online on our FB page or on our website at zionumc.com
Being a House Church
As we deal with the expanding effects of COVID-19, we have come to a place where the safety of our people necessitates not having our weekly worship service. Following the advice of the CDC and our Bishop, we will not be having church activities or worship services on March 29 or April 5. Whether we are in a building or not, we are still the church and we will worship together though we are apart. To that end, Pastor Michael will be setting up a Facebook Live broadcast for the next two Sundays at 11AM. You will be able to log in to Facebook and go to our page and watch the service and hear the music. He is suggesting that people gather together in homes with family members who have access to Facebook or in small groups (less than 8) with those who can help them to have access. As with the regular service, please, PLEASE stay home if you are sick or feel you may be sick. Let us all be in prayer for all in our communities, our nation and our global communities. 
Salkehatchie 2020 Camps canceled...
After careful consideration by the Salkehatchie Board of Directors, all Salkehatchie camps for 2020 have been canceled. The plans are to begin again in 2021. While this is sad, it is understandable in the current situation with COVID-19. Please say a prayer for the campers that were already set to attend and the families that had already felt led to open their doors. This will be another loss or 'not normal' for them.
Zion's United Methodist Men are taking orders for 10 lb bags of Vidalia Onions through April 10.  Onions will be available for pick up on April 26.
The cost is $12.00 per 10 lb. bag. Please place your orders with Mike Vick, 246-2068 or Steve McDonald, 288-2892 by April 10. Thank you!!!
April is our month to support HOPE in Lancaster with donations of food for those less fortunate.  Particular needs are grits, cereal, spaghetti sauce, canned beef stew, and canned chicken. Even though we are not having church services, if you would like to drop off donations, arrangements can be made to accept your donations and your willingness to help those less fortunate is greatly appreciated!! Please place your donations in the collection box in the vestibule or if you are unable to access the building, you may drop donations off at the double doors under the covered porch where the buses are. They will be collected daily from that location as well.
April 1: Cassie Mathews
April 2: Nancy W. Knight
April 3: Mr. and Mrs. Hazel Robinson
April 5: Catherine Hammond
April 6: Steve Salisbury
April 7: Mr. and Mrs. Randy Cauthen

How can you continue to support the ministry and outreach of Zion UMC?
The need to continue our ministry is evident. The ability to do so is made difficult by our current circumstances. To that end, we ask you to continue with your tithes and offerings that we may continue in ministry. We will do everything we can to continue managing our church finances well but we cannot do that without you. You can give online through the website by clicking on the donate tab. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this option, simply click on the donate button and follow the prompts, you can text your giving to 803-525-1834 and follow the secure link, or you may give by mailing your tithes to the church at 1665 Zion Road. 
If you have misgivings about online donations, a locking mailbox has been installed under the covered carport where the buses are. You may place your contributions in the box. It will be checked daily.
Together we can move forward.
Together we can continue and make a difference!
WE ARE the CHURCH!!
Our appreciation to Jimmy Neal and
Shawn Thomas for mowing the church
lawn!! It looks awesome!!! An expense we had to cut back on for the time being was the paid service for the lawn mowing so it is greatly appreciated that church members volunteered to mow!
Our Youth are continuing with online Confirmation Classes! We are scheduled for 7 youth to join Zion on Easter Sunday!!!! What an awesome accomplishment!
The Record Speaks.....
March 29, 2020

Present for online worship: 46
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,360
Received for General Fund $4,875.59
Received for Building Fund $125

"...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
285-3864 - www.zionumc.com