Love God
Love People
~Luke 10:27
|
|
|
Help . . .
But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.”—Matthew 15:25
In their travelers, Jesus and his disciples had run across a woman from the regions of Tyre and Sidon. These two cities were outside of Israel and to the Israelites, the people there were Gentiles, thought of in the same way Romans were thought of. Not only that, but the woman was of Canaanite lineage. This meant she was part of a people group the early Israelite settlers believed they had a God-given mandate to remove from the area (Joshua 3:10, 5:12, 17:18). Jesus knows all of this. The disciples know all of this. The woman knows all of this. And yet she still comes to Jesus and begs for Jesus to heal her of demon possession. I can’t begin to imagine what she must have felt, knowing the one man who could help her being a man whose people regarded her as spiritually unclean and therefore unworthy. Yet, in her desperation and need, she goes and begs Jesus on her knees, “Lord, help me!”
For some theologians, demon possession was another way of describing mental illness. At that time in history, people didn’t understand the workings of the mind as we do now and even now, we have a long way to go. In Jesus day, people suffering with what we would call manic-depressive episodes or schizoaffective disorders were considered possessed by evil spirits and often shunned for fear that the evil spirit might get into them. The Canaanite woman, possibly reaching the end of her proverbial rope, begged for Jesus’s help for fear the illness would get worse or worse yet, her family would be further shunned by a fearful community.
Unfortunately, people aren’t always as persistent as the Canaanite woman and they often fail to get the help they need. Many people suffer in silence with the pain of mental illness for fear of how they will be regarded socially by their family and friends. They cry out “help me!” but their cry seems to fall on deaf ears.
Some of us need to cry out. Salvation is the journey of wholeness and we need to be willing to ask for the help we need. Some of us need to accept a role as healers or helpers of healers.
There are those in our lives who are hurting and in need and we need to answer their cries for help. And some of us need to grow past the stigmatism of mental illness as “weakness of character” or “something for people who can’t handle life.” I have heard people say these things about those struggling and frankly, it’s ignorance. It is time to grow up and learn that in the real world, people hurt. The hurt they feel isn’t always something that can be dealt with alone nor should it be.
John Donne, the English poet and priest wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…” We need each other and need to be able to answer the call for help from those around us. Be open and be willing to reach back when people reach out. Remember, it takes more strength to admit weakness and shows greater weakness to pretend to have strength when you don’t.
Love God, love neighbor, and in this case do it by being a safe place for those who need healing.
Pastor Michael
|
In-person worship continues at 11:00 AM on Sundays in the Sanctuary. Also at 11:00 AM on Sundays, our children have resumed meeting in the TFLC, and our youth have resumed meeting in the Fellowship Hall. EVERYONE is invited to join us on Sundays at 11:00 AM!! We do ask everyone participating in worship to continue to wear a mask and to socially distance. We wish for everyone to remain safe as we meet in-person. |
The Easter Lilies will be placed in the Sanctuary this Sunday, April 4 to the glory of God
and as follows:
In honor and in memory of “The Threatt Family” by
Dianne Martin
In Memory of Jessie Rae and Bill Threatt by Marion,
Sonny, and Pat
In memory of Pat– Husband, Daddy, and Granddaddy by Becky Barton
In memory of Bennie Moseley, Sr. by Becky Barton
In memory of Pete Evans by Suzanne Evans
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Otis Hall by Suzanne Evans
In honor of Hazel and Terry Robinson on their 50th
wedding anniversary Love, Roman
In memory of Peggy Knight by Tommy Knight
In memory of Peggy Knight by Danny and Nancy
Ackerman
|
The Administrative Board is asked to meet on Sunday, April 11 at 4:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Members are: Steve Moseley, Steve Duell, Jeffrey Thomas, Tommy Middleton, Keli Thomas, Jimmy Neal, Missy Snipes, Judy Humphreys, Max Funderburk, Hazel Robinson, Libby Morris, Brooke Collins, Cierra Hartley, Dianne Sweatt, Terry Robinson, Diane Rape, Earl Hinson, Pastor Michael Jarrell, and Sharon Haile.
|
BIRTHDAY CLUB
In Memory of:
Mike Mitchell
by Libby, JoJo, and Alicia
|
Our deepest love and sympathy are extended to the family of Donald Jenkins in his death on March 23, 2021 |
Congratulations to Savana Burn and Blake Bowers who were united in holy matrimony on March 27, 2021 |
BOOK STUDY TO BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11TH!!
One of the things I really enjoy as a pastor is to be able to engage in deep study with parishioners. I’m looking forward to studying The Universal Christ with those of you who would like to join me. We will start our study together with an introduction on April 11th at 6:00pm in the fellowship hall. Anyone who would like to join us is welcome!
~ Pastor Michael
|
Join us for our Maundy Thursday Service on April 1 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
______________________________________
Two opportunities for worship on Easter Sunday:
You are invited to join us for our Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 am on Easter Sunday and also for our Traditional Worship Service at 11:00 am. Both services will be held in the Sanctuary.
_____________________________________
You are invited to bring cut flowers from your yards
to place on our living cross on Easter Sunday, April 4. There will be a bucket for the flowers to be placed in on the covered porch of the Sanctuary. You may bring these anytime on Saturday or EARLY Sunday morning.
|
Special Gifts to Zion Church
In Honor of:
“Loved Ones’ by Jack and Becky H. Steele
In Memory of:
“Loved Ones” by Jack and Becky H. Steele
Heath and Lois Gay and Phyllis Gay Tolbert by Ryan and Miriam Griffin
Gene Bowers and Mackie DeBruhl by Frances Parris
Special Gifts to Building Fund
In Honor of:
“Loved Ones by Jack and Becky H. Steele
In Memory of:
“Loved Ones” by Jack and Becky H. Steele
Ralph Craig by Mike and Diane Rape
Peggy Snipes and David Ballard by Carolyn Massey
Special Gifts to Children’s Ministry Fund
In Honor of:
Everyone who hosted and all who gave to the wonderful baby shower for Brett and Adair! A big “THANK YOU’ to each one of you!! Love, Beth Craig
|
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 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. |
|
 |
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!
|
|
|
|
|
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
Catherine Hammond
JoAnn Hinson
Rick Joyner
Tommy Knight
Rev. Frank Lybrand
Bill McCorkle
Kevin McCorkle
Marie Moree
Harris Plyler
Marcene Plyler
Ann Powers
Scott Rape
John Rollins
Virginia Rollins
Bonnie Sears
Eva Small
Greg Smith
JoAnne Smith
Billy Sowell
Becky M. Steele
Robbie Stepp
Matthew Sweatt
Mike Vick
Pat Vick
Myrtle Walker
Donna Walters
Ellen Walters
Kim Yost
Those affected by the COVID virus
|
|
|
|
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 |
March/April 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. |
|
|
|
March 31: Andy Plyler
April 1: Cassie Mathews
April 2: Nancy W. Knight
April 3: Blaine Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Hazel Robinson
April 5: Catherine Hammond
April 6: Steve Salisbury
|
|
The Record Speaks....
March 28, 2021
Present for Worship: 56
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,350
Received for General Fund $4332
Received for Building Fund $275
Received for Children's Ministry Fund $100
There are many options available to give to the continuing ministry and outreach of Zion UMC. You may 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 giving online, you may drop your offering in the mail to Zion UMC at 1665 Zion Road, Lancaster, SC 29720 or drop off in the secure 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
|
|
803-285-3864 - www.zionumc.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
