Love God
Love People
~Luke 10:27
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Being Honest With Ourselves . . .
One of the hardest things to do as a person is be completely honest with yourself. Even though we are well aware of our reality, we tend to disguise our reality by telling ourselves a certain narrative that makes things more palatable. Sometimes that narrative is a story about us against the world, sometimes, it’s a poor, pitiful, woe is me kind of story, and various other stories depending on our personalities and the kind of reality we are comfortable in. I don’t think anyone is immune to this and I think to varying degrees everyone is doing it, even as you read and react to these words right now and add them to your story in the moment.
A part of our reality for the past year has been the Covid-19 virus. I remember joking with confirmands last year that the 19 in Covid-19 meant they had 19 other versions of this, and this was just the latest version to get rid of. It was a terrible joke (mostly because I have a terrible sense of humor and went to seminary not comedy camp) and a lousy attempt at levity in a difficult situation. I had hoped (admittedly, failed) to bring a sense of humor to a difficult circumstance and change a bit of the student’s view on things in my silliness. Then the virus got worse and everyone’s view changed.
That change was different for everyone though. Some people had no choice but to struggle. They lost jobs, had to work twice as hard to make ends meet, had to fight to survive from week to week. Some had the chance to reinvent themselves. They went back to school. They chose new careers. They found ways to work at home and spend more time with family. Some tried new things and got better at other things they always wanted to work on. The Covid-19 pandemic created different settings for people to retell their stories, to hit reset buttons on their lives, to try and fail and succeed at new things, new ways of doing things.
Church is no different. Every congregation has had to decide how they would respond. Would they ignore and go on with church as usual, risking outbreaks among the congregation? Would they go virtual, keeping people safe but risking losing members to other places? Would they simply close the doors and hope for the best when this is all over? In many respects, this has tested the faith of pastors and their congregations and has left us in a situation unheard of in most of our lifetimes.
It has however, allowed us to really ask some deep questions of ourselves. What does it mean to be the church?
Do we need to see each other in-person weekly, monthly? Do we need to invest in buildings and programs? What does it mean to be a disciple? What are we really following when we scrutinize our day-to-day lives and the way we live? How does the Way of Jesus really intersect with our lives and the direction of our lives? Do we want to be change agents leading people to transformation of life and heart or do we want to as one author put it, “a pseudo country club?” I could ask many more questions but getting started with the these will suffice for the time being. As an assembly of Jesus followers, these questions need to be asked and answered for a changed world and a changing world. I do not believe we can go back to the good old days as we knew them. The pandemic has changed the world and it will in many respects change the way we practice our discipleship.
It is time to ask these hard questions of ourselves and time to accept that we may not like the hard answers. We are at a place where we have to sort out who the Holy Spirit is leading us to be as a congregation going forward and have the courage to sort through it along the way. And so I ask, are we willing?
Pastor Michael
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Hello Zion Family, It appears over the last few weeks the infection numbers are down to a more manageable level. With that in mind, we will be going back to in-person worship this Sunday, February 14. We will, of course, be offering online worship for those who would prefer to join us on Facebook and our prayer is that either way, you will worship with us Sunday!
Grace and Peace, Pastor Michael and the COVID Response Team
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These Share our Love Boxes are under the bus shelter for any children willing to collect pennies for our annual Share our Love Event! More details to come but swing by and grab your collection box! |
Congratulations to Drew and Samantha Lin Burn in their marriage on February 8, 2021!!
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Our deepest love and sympathy are extended to Sharon Haile and her family in the death of her brother in law, Norman Dobson and to Hazel Robinson and his family in the death of his sister in law, Edna Robinson. |
Special Gifts to Zion Church
In Honor of:
Pat Threatt, Marion, Sonny, Chris and Becky, and Ellen, Bryan, and Donna Walters by Dianne Martin
Tommy Knight and Ray Vincent by Mary P. Knight
In Memory of:
Kathleen Robinson and Ovedia Love Griffin by Ellen, Bryan, and Donna Walters
Margaret and Vance Threatt, Sallye Estridge, and
Kathleen Robinson by Dianne Martin
Jewel McAteer, Lucille Rollins, and Mike Payne by Ryan and Miriam Griffin
Jewel McAteer by Barbara Hall
Jewel Tolbert McAteer by Shirley Smith
Vernon Hallman by Tommy Knight and Danny and
Nancy Ackerman
Jewel McAteer and Vernon Hallman by Mary P. Knight
Special Gifts to Building Fund
In Honor of:
Tommy Knight by Beth Craig and Brett, Adair, and Jamison Craig
Tommy Knight by Mike and Diane Rape
Della McManus and Barbara Hall by Carolyn Massey
In Memory of:
Vernon Hallman, Julie Ghent, Jewel McAteer, Ovedia Griffin, and Kathleen Robinson by Judy Humphreys
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General Fund Expenditures: January 2021
Rural Garbage……………………………………..165.00
Wycliffe Bible Translators……………………..333.34
Pastor Jarrell………………………………………….55.86
Comporium………………………………………….215.33
US Treasury (federal withholding)………….145.86
Staff Salaries……………………………………..3900.49
People Facts…………………………………………..16.20
State Farm…………………………………………..275.56
LCNGA……………………………………………....569.26
Duke Energy…………………………………….…..78.62
LCWSD………………………………………………..175.06
SC Dept of Revenue (state withholding)…..36.38
Custodial……………………………………………..712.00
Chris Massey (lawn maintenance)………...600.00
SC Conference (direct billing)……………....1811.16
Wespath……………………………………………....49.00
Keli Thomas (children’s min)……………....202.82
Driver Support…………………………………….….9.99
US Postmaster (stamps)……………………….110.00
Constant Contact……………………………….....21.60
Breeze………………………………………………....50.00
Wells Fargo…………………………………………....2.00
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HONORING OUR VETERANS
VIRTUAL JOB FAIR
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH
10AM-1PM
Register at https.//portal.premiervirtual.com/event/register-jobseeker/3278-honoring-veterans-virtual-fair
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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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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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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
Edna Robinson
John Rollins
Virginia Rollins
Bonnie Sears
Eva Small
Greg Smith
JoAnne Smith
Billy Sowell
Becky M. 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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February 9: Zach Hall, Mason Parr
February 10: Ryan Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. Danny Thomas
February 11: Lane Knight
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The Record Speaks....
February 7, 2021
Present for Worship: 26
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,350
Received for General Fund $3935
Received for Building Fund $215
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,,
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803-285-3864 - www.zionumc.com |
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