The News of Zion
"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.
Do not fear or be dismayed."
 Deuteronomy 31:8
June 10, 2020
Musings ~ The Masks We Wear (or Don't)

Going to the store is a normal occurrence for me, mostly because even when I make a list, I inevitably forget something on the list or just forget to put it on the list. So, it was no surprise to get home from the store a few days ago and find that I had forgotten to get dishwasher tabs. Back to the store I went, for the proverbial missing item.
I decided to go to a smaller store since what I needed was nothing special and it might be easier to get in and out of a smaller place. I found what I needed and headed to the checkout, waiting behind another customer. I’m usually an oblivious person when it comes to conversation going on around me in public places, but I guess the general quiet of the place made it easier to hear; that and the fact that the cashier and customer were actually talking about me and seemed to want me to hear it. The subject in question was my mask. The conversation: Why are these stupid people still wearing masks? Don’t they know it doesn’t do anything? Why are they trying to force this stuff on people anyway? We don’t have to wear a mask; it’s just stupid. The customer left and I went through the line. The cashier did not bother with a greeting, barely said anything other than the price of the item and turned away from the cash register when she finished. I don’t expect a medal or a parade for wearing a mask (for that matter I don’t expect anything), but I certainly didn’t expect the response I got at that store.
When I got home, I started thinking about the ignorance—meaning simply lack of knowledge—on display at the store and I wondered how many more people miss the point of the mask. I don’t wear it for my health, I wear it for the people around me . The goal of wearing masks is to not inadvertently spread the virus from yourself to someone else, especially if you are an asymptomatic carrier. The mask won’t protect you, but it might protect the people around you.
That made me think of our faith. While we practice certain acts of faith as private (acts of compassion and devotion), there are others that must be public (acts of justice and worship). The private acts are intended to be internal evidences to us that deepen and nurture our love of God. The public acts are intended to be external evidences to others that express our love and care of neighbor and show them the hand and work of God in the world. People see the love you show them or others and through that, see the evidence of Jesus in this world. We become the Jesus that those around us see because we are, in that moment, wearing the Jesus mask, or rather are showing the person of Jesus to those around us.
So, the mask you wear in public during this outbreak can also be the visage of Jesus you show to others. You are subconsciously telling them that you care enough about them to be concerned for their health. The same is true of bearing the image of Jesus in your lifestyle—and it is a lifestyle, a 24/7 way of living. The question to be asked is what kind of image are you portraying to the world? Is it your way of life or the Jesus Way?

Pastor Michael
A Return to Worship

To those who have been made holy to God in Christ Jesus, who are called to be God’s people. Together with all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place—he’s their Lord and ours! Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always for you, because of God’s grace that was given to you in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:2-4

It is in God’s grace that we were brought together at Zion and by God’s grace that we have continued for 150 years. It is also grace that has seen us through this most recent moment in history. We have faced life under the specter of SARS-CoV2 or Covid-19 for most of the year. This has led to the monumental closure of nearly all aspects of life and has changed our way of life, perhaps permanently. 
During this time, we have had to make the very difficult decision to halt our in-person worship services. We have been fortunate to be able to worship using the technological tools of the internet and social media. Your willingness as a church body to embrace a different way as we have engaged in this new form of worship has been both gracious and encouraging. Though we have spent the last few months apart due to this unprecedented pandemic, we now can begin coming together to worship again.
This brings about new challenges as we try to develop the safest practices for those who gather with us. Using the guidance of the South Carolina Conference, the CDC, and SCDHEC, we are suggesting a format for worship that will, by God’s grace, keep people safe if we are willing to follow a new method for gathering.
  1. If you are sick or have been sick in the last week before the gathering, please stay home. We want to see you but more importantly we want to see you get better.
  2. If you are immune-compromised or part of an at-risk group and concerned about your health, we suggest you consider staying home for your safety.
  3. All worship services will continue to be broadcast and recorded on Facebook Live in order for people to stay home but still be part of the service if they wish.
  4. We will be practicing social distancing as we gather, worship, and depart.
  5. We will gather underneath the awning that leads into the family life center nearest the children’s classrooms and nursery.
  6. The ground will be marked by at least six-foot intervals to keep people separated as we enter. Once inside, there will be more markers as you enter the gymnasium.
  7. Once inside, an usher will lead you to a table or chairs that will be at least six feet from any other table or chairs. Please stay in these areas during the service.
  8. Please do not hug, shake hands, or make physical contact with others gathering, for their safety and yours.
  9. When the service is over, we will file out one area at a time, going out the doors nearest the area where the buses are parked.
  10. We will be implementing safe practices to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
  11. There will be hand sanitizing stations at the entrance for people to clean their hands. Please do not wear gloves as they simply move things from one place to another.
  12. We will be giving out masks for people to wear during the service. These are not optional. Please expect to wear a mask if you join us for worship.
  13. We will not be singing during the service. Singing produces something called the aerosol effect that spreads fine particles through the air, potentially spreading any contagion that a person might have.
  14. There will be one marked designated bathroom between two of the Sunday school classes. Please use this only if it is absolutely necessary.
  15. There will be no nursery during the service.
  16. We will continue our prohibition on all other activities other than worship for now.
For the safety and well-being of each person that gathers with us, I pray that you will be willing to abide by these safety measures. It will be different, perhaps uncomfortable but it will allow us to gather together and worship with one another again. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to me.

Pastor Michael
High School and College
Graduate Recognition:
We are planning on honoring our High School and College Graduates with a drive thru celebration!! We are planning for this to happen this Sunday, June 14 from 2:00-2:30 PM. Our college and high school graduates are invited to be recognized and honored and we hope many of you will take the time to come and drive by the bus drop off where our young adults will be socially distancing. Everyone is asked to enter at the lower parking lot and drive up and past the covered porch and honk and wave at our graduates!! Our 2020 High School graduates are: Emma Curtis, Taylor Faile, Luke Massey, Zachary Parker, Caleb Payne, and Hannah Steen. Our college graduates are Ashley Cauthen, Ashley Thomas, and Keli Thomas. 
Ashley Cauthen has graduated with her Doctorate of Dental Medicine, Ashley Thomas has graduated with her Masters in Nursing, and Keli Thomas has graduated with her Masters in Sport and Fitness Administration. 
We are so very proud of each one of these!! 
We hope you will come out and show them your support
on June 14th!!!
Kathleen Robinson has a big birthday on June 19! She is turning 100!! We would love for her to receive 100 (or more) cards for her special day. If you would like to send her a card, we know she would be so appreciative. As we are sure you are aware, White Oak is quarantined. NO VISITORS SINCE MARCH. (Address is 253 Craig Manor Road). Love and Prayers ~ Hazel and Terry
There will be a called Charge Conference on Sunday, June 21 following the worship service. The Charge Conference will be for the purpose of voting on Tom Salisbury to be elected as our lay delegate to Annual Conference this year.
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
Rick Black
Gene Blackmon
Marion Boswell
Carol Boyles
Randy Boyles
Caleb Catoe
Sue Catoe
Carol Cauthen
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
Kevan Horton
Eric Hough
Libby Hunter
Melinda Hunter
Rick Joyner
Henry Ray Knight
Mary Jane McAteer
Kevin McCorkle
Ann McManus
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
Even as we begin in-person worship this Sunday, our services will still be made available online on our Facebook page. Log in to our Zion United Methodist Church Facebook 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
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.
June 10:Karen Craig, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burn, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Faile
June 11: Dennis Plyler, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Vincent
June 13: Michael Bailes, Stephen Cooper, Gavin Love
June 14: Heather Snipes Miles, Abby Conwell
June 15: Donovan Jarrell
June 16: Stacy East
June 18: Kaylee Snipes, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson
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:
Clyde and Ellen Walters, Pat Threatt, and Marion and Sonny Curtis by Dianne Martin
In Memory of:
Julia Horne, Bennie Moseley, Sr., and Dillon Knight by Clyde and Ellen Walters
Our seven confirmands, who have concluded their classes online with Pastor Michael, will be joining the church in the next few weeks. We look forward to rejoicing in these new members of our church!!
The Record Speaks....
June 7, 2020

Present for online Worship: 26
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,360
Received for General Fund $4,337

"...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