Love God
Love People
~Luke 10:27
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Reconnecting. . .
I am a lousy gardener. Some people have a green thumb and can turn deserts into oases. I can do the exact opposite. My mother, who has a green thumb, tried to teach me when I was younger. I succeeded in drowning plants with too much water or not planting them at the right depth and killing the roots or some other means of the best way to help was digging rows and flower beds. It turns out, I was pretty good at making holes in the ground.
My wife, who also has a green thumb, is also good with making things grow. While I was slaving away in the libraries of seminary, she turned the little rows of dirt around our apartment in a veritable garden. She grew flowers, vegetables, and even managed to grow some miniature corn rows. She did manage to create one interesting plant though. I call it the meloncumber. She was just getting started with gardening at the seminary and planted some cucumber plants too close to some melon plants. They managed to cross pollinate and we had melons that were white inside and tasted bitter and cucumbers that were orange inside and tasted sweet.
Jesus talks a bit about gardening in John 15. He says, “I am the vine, and my father is the vineyard keeper” or put another way, I am the main plant and God is gardener. He goes on to talk about how God goes about taking care of the plant and the branches connected to it (that’s us). When the branches are growing well, they get pruned, shaped, trimmed back so they can grow well. Those that grow well produce fruit. When they don’t grow well, don’t produce fruit, are cut off.
I have seen many preachers turn this into a heaven/hell kind of thing: be in Jesus or be cut off and throw into hell. I don’t think that’s the best way to look at this. I think a better way is to see us being connected to Jesus through the Spirit, nourished and growing. Or being disconnected from the Spirit and therefore Jesus and his Way and dying spiritually because of it. If we remain and Jesus and seek to live in the Way he demonstrated, our ideas and ideals will align with his and we will seek the things he sought. Or to put it another way, if we remain in Jesus, when we ask for the things we need, we will get them because we will ask for the right things. This will lead to us producing good fruit, good works that show others how great it is to live the
Jesus Way of Life and prove that we are truly those who follow Jesus.
The question for us becomes are we really living in such a way as to be pruned and nurtured by the Spirit of God rather than cut off from God? What do we need to change in our lives, our way of relating to God and neighbor to make sure we stay connected? How can we be reshaped to reflect the life and Way of Jesus?
Pastor Michael
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The Chancel flowers were placed in the Sanctuary on Sunday, January 3, 2021 to the glory of God and in honor of the New Year by Jack and Becky H. Steele
The Chancel flowers will be placed in the Sanctuary this Sunday, January 10 to the glory of God and in memory of Ken Vick and Tonya Catoe by Pat Vick
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Hello everyone!! I am working on a printed
informational directory that should be completed within the next few weeks. If you have any phone numbers or other changes you would like included, please call me at 803-804-2434 or email me at [email protected] I have tried to keep up with the posted changes through out the year however if you have had recent changes, please send those to me!
Thank you!! Missy
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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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The Salisbury Report…...December 2020
Bells Ringing….Christmas and wedding!!
Bells are for celebrations. We celebrate our Lord and the hope we have because of what he has done for us. He has never stopped loving us. This year I have been reminded many times that God is with us, never leaving us. Are you glad that He loves you?
2020 – A different kind of year. Did you notice? We have all been affected by Covid. I had it in July and didn’t think much of it. It was a mild case and I am thankful for that but so many have had hard experiences with it.
A few months after Emily’s passing I was asked to help move a microwave. I think it was a trap but I haven’t fought it very much. Barbara Castner and I have been spending time getting to know and love each other. Actually, we have known each other for several years as she and her former husband also worked at the JAARS center. We haven’t set a date yet but, with everyone so restricted from traveling, the wedding will probably be smaller and sometime in January or February.
We expect to continue at JAARS helping to support the work of Bible translation. We have both served as “retired volunteers.” Covid has restricted Barbara’s participation this year, but I have been able to be in the Appliance Shop two days every week
I hope you have all had a good Christmas and will know His love for you in 2021.
Bless you all this Christmas season.
Tom
Home Headquarters
Tom Salisbury Wycliffe Bible Translators
10320 Lancaster Hwy.
PO Box 628200
Waxhaw, NC 28173-9474
Tel: 704-843-4073
407-852-3600
e-mail:
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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. |
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
Edna Robinson
John Rollins
Virginia Rollins
Bonnie Sears
Eva Small
Greg Smith
JoAnne Smith
Billy Sowell
Becky H. Steele
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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January 6: Caden Payne
January 7: Doreen Catoe
January 8: Dennis Steele, Jeannie Moree, Max Funderburk
January 9: Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Steele, Chris Curtis, Mary Knight, Tommy Middleton
January 10: Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Collins, Reagan Williams
January 11: Justin Haile
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Special Gifts to Zion Church
In Honor of:
Barbara Castner by Tom Salisbury
In Memory of
Kathleen Robinson by the Wesley Sunday School class, Eric and Shana Dry, Ann Joyner, Carole and Tony Walker, Frances Parris, Pat Threatt, and Missy Snipes and Family
Ms. Kathleen by Wanda Murphy
In loving memory of Kathleen Robinson by Max and Myra Funderburk and Mary P. Knight
Special Gifts to Building Fund
In Memory of:
Kathleen Robinson by Carolyn Massey, Mike and Diane Rape, and Sonny and Marion Curtis
Special Gifts to Needy Fund
In Memory of:
Kathleen Robinson by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Creech
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The Record Speaks....
January 3, 2021
Present for Worship: 31
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,350
Received for General Fund $6,510
Received for Building Fund $185
Received for Needy Fund $100
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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