The News of Zion

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. but take heart! I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

May 21, 2020

Musings ~ Getting Back to Normal...Sort of

The year 2020 will be remembered for lots of reasons but the most notable is obvious: Covid-19. Because of Covid-19, we haven’t had a lot of things this year—sporting events, award shows, April & May, and for the better part of three months, in-person church services. For most of us, this is an unprecedented event, something unheard of in our lifetime.

But now, the time has come to consider our return to the new normal. While there doesn’t seem to be a downturn in the number of cases in the state and only a minor plateau in our own county, there have been recent announcements by the bishop and cabinet of the South Carolina Conference that we can begin looking at a return, possibly June 14 ^th . Certain requirements/suggestions have been put forward on the conference website ( www.umcsc.org/restart ) and our church has convened a team of people to figure out how we might use them.

Even with a potential return, our previous version of normal will not be the normal we find. It is possible, even hopeful in some ways, that the past three months have helped us slow down and grow spiritually as individuals and disciples. For some, the other side of this crisis will bring a different outlook, perspective on the practice of Christianity, both personally and corporately. In other words, we may not be the same people on this side of the outbreak as we were before it started and our church and way of doing church may be different as well.

As I said in the sermon this week, where we go from here will require us to be a patient and prayerful people. We may have to start again, stop and regroup, then start once more to get things right. For the sake of the most vulnerable in our congregation—of which there are quite a few—we need to get it right. If we can’t be safe and be together in-person, we will have to continue to be together in spirit. Again, it will need to be a patient and prayer-filled process.

That said, there is always cause for hope, hope that we have come to a new chapter in the life of our church and hope that God is leading us to a new place as a congregation. What does that look like? I have no idea. But I do know that if God is in it, we should be too.

Pastor Michael

High School and College Graduate Recognition:

We are planning on celebrating the achievements of our High School and College Graduates and we hope this will happen on June 14th. We are working on plans now. We are so very proud of each of our high school and college graduates and hope to be able to have some type of celebration in their honor!!! If you have not turned in your graduates’ information to Keli Thomas or the church office, please do so as soon as possible!!

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 LIVE 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, 285-3864 and leave a message, call Missy at 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 troubling and unprecedented times, we ask everyone to pray together for each other, our church family, our community, our country, and our world. May God 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

Brandy Champion

Ann Chappell

Linda Coker

Sandra Cope

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

Dillon Knight

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

Nancy Rushing

Bonnie Sears

Eva Small

Greg Smith

JoAnne Smith

Mike Smith

Billy Sowell

Robbie Stepp

Jim Thomas

Laverne Thompson

Mike Vick

Pat Vick

Ellen Walters

David Woodruff

Kim Yost

Our President & Troops

Those affected by the COVID-19 virus

Online Worship this Sunday!!!

Worship will begin

at 11:00 AM.

If you are unable to join us live, the service will be available online on our FB page or on our website at www.zionumc.com

The Upper Room daily devotionals are available for pick up at the church. We will place some of these in the church vestibule and some in the plastic communication box outside of the life center doors where the buses are for those who do not have access to the church for you to pick up.

While our United Methodist Women will not be meeting for now, our thoughts and prayers remain with each one of you and with all in need during these trying times! If you know of a need that our women can help with, please contact an officer in the women’s group so that we can try and meet any needs! Executive officers are Sharon Haile, Darlene Hallman, Terry Robinson, Missy Snipes, Dianne Sweatt, and Mary Knight.

May 19: Debbie Waters, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Parr

May 21: Karen Love

May 22: Brittany Jordan

May 23: Sue Catoe, Meredith Steen, Cheryl Catoe

May 24: Tonda Wallace, Donna Conwell, Randy Cauthen, Mr. and Mrs. Steve McDonald

May 25: Colton Thomas, Joey Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Finley

May 26: Dillon Broughton, Sherry Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Massey, Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Haile

Our United Methodist Men's third Sunday meeting and our weekly Saturday Bible Study meetings have been suspended until the stay at home order has been lifted and we are told that we can begin to gather again.

To all church members: please understand that we are unable to allow folks to meet inside the buildings at this time. If you had a reservation for personal use inside of one of the buildings over the next few weeks, we are unable to honor those reservations at this time and will announce when we will again be able to honor reservations. As it is, gatherings inside our facilities is not possible.

The members of Zion ARE CONTINUING

to support the ministry and outreach

of the church!!!

Thank you to each one of you who have adjusted to this change in our lives and have continued to support the ministry and outreach of Zion UMC and for your continued presence at online worship!!! Each ONE of you ARE the CHURCH! You can continue to give online through the website, www.zionumc.com 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, Lancaster, SC, 29720. Pastor Michael is also available on Sunday afternoons at the church from 2:00-3:00 PM to accept your donations and have a word of prayer with you! If you have misgivings about online donations or mailing your donations, a locking mailbox has been installed under the covered carport where the buses are. You may place your contributions in the box and it will be checked daily.

Together we can move forward.

Together we can continue and make a difference!

TOGETHER, WE ARE the CHURCH!!

Special Gifts to Zion Church

In Honor of:

Ellen and Clyde Walters, Pat Threatt, and All Mothers by Dianne Martin

In Memory of:

Dale Sherrin by Hazel and Terry Robinson

Special Gifts to Children’s Ministry Fund

In Honor of:

Colton Thomas on his birthday by Teresa Evans

Our seven confirmands, who have concluded their classes online with Pastor Michael, will join the church on our first Sunday worshiping together as a church family of Christ in His house! We look forward to that day!!

Our deepest love and sympathy are extended to Becky M. Barton and her family in the death of her father, Bennie Moseley, Sr., to the family of Dillon Knight in his death, and also to the family of Julia Horne in her death. Our thoughts and prayers are with each of these.

The Record Speaks.....

May 17, 2020

Present for online Worship: 28

Needed each week for the General Fund $4,360

Received for General Fund $2890

Received for Building Fund$60

Received for Epworth $25

"...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