The News of Zion
Love God
Love People
~Luke 10:27
March 23, 2021
Context . . .

I quit.

For some of you, these words may sadden you. For others, you are wondering what’s wrong, what happened? They elicit a feeling of confusion or curiosity. For others still, you may even be thinking, “Thank God.” The statement itself seems to have some assumptions built into it. For most of us these words are related to our jobs or some other aspect of the work we do. The truth you could quit a lot of things. We temporarily, sometimes permanently, quit things for the Lenten season. We might quit certain behaviors, dietary habits, ideas, any number of things. To say, “I quit”, can refer to many things.

In this case, it was nothing more than a thought exercise, something I cooked up to illustrate the idea that context is necessary when we read, especially the bible. Without context, without an understanding of the history, circumstances, languages, cultures, and times the bible was written in and under, it is easy for us to read it in our time and place and assume the writers mean what we understand and the readers who have always read it understand it as we understand it.

Take for instance, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” I have heard this preached, quoted, and taught, usually with the idea that salvation is a matter of only having to believe in the right things. The problem is context. You are taking a sentence out of the middle of a paragraph. The first part of the paragraph talks about the kind of people we were before God led us to change our lives and those of who are in Christ Jesus—that is, walking in the Way of Jesus—have been set on the proper path of life and living. The last part says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” In other words, the expectation is now that we have been shown the right way, right understanding of how to live to honor God through the life of Jesus, we act on what we believe about the Way of Jesus by emulating the Way of Jesus—we believe in it, so we do the good works we were made to do as those who God prepared to do so.

But context extends into every other aspect of life as well: how we make judgements about people or situations without knowing the whole story; how we approach family life; how we choose to engage with most everything in the world around us. So, slow down. Take a moment. Be thorough in engaging with people and situations. Try to see or imagine the ways in which you could be taking people and circumstances out of context and making divisive or damaging assumptions. Most of all, open yourself to the Spirit of God to take a Jesus eye view of things, and try to see the world with greater vision.

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 Chancel flowers will be placed in the Sanctuary this Sunday, March 28 to the glory of God
and in loving memory of Billy Michael Williams
by Max and Myra Funderburk
Thank you so much for the incredible shower that we had at Zion to welcome baby Blakely Morris into the world. We were overwhelmed and humbled by the tremendous support by our families, our church family, and our friends. Thank you to each and every one for all of the wonderful gifts!!! - JoJo and Tristian
The Kids of Zion will host an Easter Celebration on Wednesday March 24th on the grounds of the Family Life Center! Please plan to join us for Scripture, Games & Fun for Everyone! Feel free to Drop In 5:30-7:00 PM, The Kids will receive an Easter Treat Basket filled with activities for your family to share!
You are invited to the wedding of
Blake Bowers and Savana Burn
on Saturday, March 27 at 5:00 pm
at the Cotton Gin Barn
3714 Plyler Mill Road
Monroe, NC 28112
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
March is our month to support HOPE in Lancaster with
donations of food for those less fortunate. Particular needs in March are: Rice (1 or 2 lb. bags/boxes), dry pasta, canned pasta, grits (any size), fruit juice (canned or carton), and canned meats. Please place your donations in the vestibule collection box. Donations will be taken to HOPE weekly. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry outreach for those in need in our community. 
Join us for our Maundy Thursday Service on April 1 at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
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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. 
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Easter Lilies will be placed in the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday, April 4. If you would like to place a lily in the church, you are asked to purchase a lily and bring it to the church on that day. If you would like to place your lily in honor or in memory of a loved one, please contact Missy at zionumc@comporium.net, 803-804-2434, or call and leave a voice mail at the church, 803-285-3864 and let her know that information by Monday, March 29th. 
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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:
Our Mommy and Daddy this Easter! Love, Colton and Sadie
Our Dah Dah this Easter! We love you!! Colton and Sadie
 
Special Gifts to Building Fund
In Memory of:
Gene Bowers by Margie and Ray Vincent
 
 
Special Gifts to Children's Ministry Fund
In Honor of:
Laura Everall on her birthday by Pat Threatt
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 lmjarrell@umcsc.org or zionumc@comporium.net; 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
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 23: Mr. and Mrs. Steve Duell
March 24: Amy Wallace, Laura Everall
March 26: Mr. and Mrs. Bobo Simpson, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Hammond
March 27: Gayle Ghent
March 28: Cynthia Mackey, Pat Vick
March 29: Mashalle Bailes
March 31: Andy Plyler
The Record Speaks....
March 21, 2021

Present for Worship: 62
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,350
Received for General Fund $3202
Received for Building Fund $20
Received for Children's Ministry Fund $25

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