Weekly News From Mt. Zion UMC
Hold Onto your Hat, It's Children's Sunday at Mt. Zion
Join Mt. Zion online June 21 for the Third Sunday after Pentecost worship service. Jeni McCord will deliver the message and lots of Mt. Zion's children contributed to this special worship experience.
As is our online tradition, there will be two services at 8:30 and 11:00 am. These are YouTube Premier services with live chat available. Services are available on-demand after they have aired.
Message from Bishop Sue:
The Concept of We
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson shares an important update on in-person worship, on our work to end racism, and on the concept of "we."
More About Regathering
for Live Worship
In last week's sermon, Pastor Harden mentioned the plan to target Sunday June 28 as the day for a "trial-run" to resume live worship services. That is, with the caveat that it will only happen if all supplies and safety measures are in hand and in place. This first service, whenever it happens, will be attended by the Church Council and their families to test the process and make sure plans are sound, when they are put in motion. Lessons learned will be used to adjust the plan and make it better.
The Church Council continues to meet, virtually, every Monday evening to concentrate on the minute details of the plan. One early decision was to use the Family Life Center (gym) as the worship space, to allow for proper social distancing and more flexible seating.
This location also allows for direct access to the worship space.
Provided the trial service takes place on June 28, the target for
others to attend would be Sunday, July 5. Prior registration would be a requirement.
Additionally, no amount of planning could guarantee complete safety from COVID-19. Anyone who is over 65 yrs. old, has a health concern or has a question about an exposure, would be encouraged to continue worshiping at home. Services will still be available online for attending via live streaming.
Grief in the Time of Covid-19
Grief is hard enough without adding the difficulties of a pandemic, fear, anxiety and isolation. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one please consider joining us this summer for 4 special sessions from GriefShare.
June 22nd: Covid 19 & Grief
June 29th: Anxiety & Grief
July 13th: Dealing with Loneliness
July 20th: Establishing a New Normal After Grief
Each session consist of a 15 minute video to be viewed online and then joining via Webex for meeting where we will discuss the video content and address the grief we are struggling with. All sessions are on Monday mornings from 10AM to 11:30AM.  If you are interested in joining us please email Karen Chambers at  k.chamb@comcast.net   to register and receive info on how to view videos and links to join sessions.
June 21 Topic:
Law & Order: Race, Police, and Protest

The murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis has sparked protests across the nation and the world. How can we see the anger and frustration of these protests in historical context? As people of faith, how can we work to pursue peace that fully integrates the biblical demand for justice? 
Meeting ID: 979 9565 3189
Password: mtzion

Tracy Wheelis will facilitate this on-line class, using weekly FaithLink, ready-to-use lessons, that connect faith to the issues and events making headlines every day. Go to Mt. Zion's website ( www.mtzionumc.org ) and click on the FaithLink poster for a link (or dial-in number) to join this class via Zoom meeting software. Or, dial in with your cell phone, land line or Alexa app. All are welcome. Contact Tracy Wheelis for more information or with questions. Her email is tracy@wheelisfamily.com .
Link Information
Church Wide Sunday School (FaithLink)

Time: 10:00 AM 
     Jun 21, 2020
Topic: Law and Order: Race, Police, and Protest
Join Zoom Meeting:


Meeting ID: 979 9565 3189
Password: mtzion
Atlanta/Marietta District News
Keep up with news from the UMC beyond Mt. Zion. Here is the North Georgia district newsletter, with Third Day Thoughts from Rev. Dr. Terry Walton.

Editor's Note: The NGUMC prayer focus this week is for Trinity UMC in the heart of downtown Atlanta. In case you don't realize it, this is the church where Rev. Deborah Williams Haag is currently serving as Pastor-in-Charge. Keep her in your prayers also.
UMC Moved District Office
Contact information for the Atlanta Marietta District office has CHANGED.

New Mailing Address
PO Box 2058
Hiram, GA 30141

New Phone Number
678.224.6709

Please update your records to avoid delays. 
Join Mt. Zion's Prayer Team
Wednesdays, for WOW Prayer
Again Tonight!!!
The Prayer Ministry Team is working on ways to keep our prayer lives rich while we are socially distancing. We are offering a community prayer opportunity on Wednesday in June. Our prayer focus will be the reopening of the church and taking requests from participants or requests emailed in to: prayerministry@mtzionumc.org .

Our next meeting is June 10 from 6:30 to 7:00 pm. We chose this time to help reestablish Wednesday evening as a time for church community and thus are calling it WOW Prayer. 
Directions for linking in or calling in with the Zoom Meeting Application are listed on the church website, www.mtzionumc.org . If you click on the Prayer Wall poster, which displays a photo of the actual Wailing Wall, it will bring up directions for joining in.
Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, the prayer wall is the western support wall of the Temple Mount. Visitors from all parts of the globe come to tuck prayer requests into the cracks between stones. We encourage you to bring your requests and pray with us. All are welcome.
Grace and Peace,
David Brigham
Prayer Minister
Mt. Zion's Is Still Here For You
Tell Us Your Concerns
Isolation and quarantine can make us feel like we are alone and that our support systems have disappeared. The staff at Mt. Zion wants you to know that we are still here and want to hear from you, especially if you are experiencing an illness or hardship. And don't forget your small group and Sunday School friends. Check in with each other and then let us know what's going on and what we can help with and/or pray for.
Also, in case you missed it, prayer concerns are listed at the bottom of the Sunday Worship Link emails.
You can leave messages on the church answering service, which is being monitored. There is also an emergency number, listed on the recording, should you need to contact someone immediately. Additionally, you can always send questions and requests to: communications@mtzionumc.org or to prayerministry@mtzionumc.org .
The church phone number is 770-971-1465. Individual staff members emails can be found at mtzionum.org .
Keep in touch!!!
In Need of a Mask? You got it
Mt. Zion volunteers have been busy making masks for when worship at church resumes. So far they have produced about 300 machine washable masks, sizes extra small to large.
If anyone needs a mask right now, they are available. Patti Weaver will mail or deliver to your house or put them on her porch for you to pick up. Call or email Patti at:770-7124055 or gkweaver@comcast.net    
Who Is The Giver of Stars?
Mt. Zion's Evening Well Book Group continues to actively meet via Webex during our pandemic hiatus. In fact, it may be that we are better able to focus on the book, using this vehicle.
Join us for a discussion of Jojo Moyes ( You Before Me ) new novel, The Giver of Stars , on Tuesday June 23 at 7:00 pm. Or just follow along with our reading selections, which are carefully chosen to deepen your faith walk.
before June 23 for a meeting invitation.
P.S. The July selection is, This Tender Land by Wm. Kent Krueger.
Youth Plan to Stay in Touch with ZOOM
As our church leadership continues to develop the next steps for our congregation and ministries, we want to invite all of our youth to join us on Wednesday nights during the month of June from 6:00-7:30 for a time of devotion, fellowship, and fun. You might notice the extension of time so that we can enjoy one another's company a bit longer! As for now our plans are to meet online via Zoom through the month of June, and continue assessing future plans as we progress towards July.
You can access the Zoom meetings for all scheduled meeting in June from the following invitation:
Wacky Wednesday Night Zooms
   Jun 17, 2020 at 6:00 PM
   Jun 24, 2020 at 6:00 PM
   
Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 715 0006 4554
Password: youth
Your Giving is Appreciated
Remember, you can mail your gifts and offerings to the church office or you can give online.
Mail to:
Mt. Zion UMC
1770 Johnson Ferry Rd.
Marietta, GA 30062

or Click below to give online: