The News of Zion

The News of Zion

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style" - Maya Angelou

Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen

your faith and connect within our community.

Musings~ Making the Most of It...

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity…Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do. – Ephesians 5:15-17

The world is an odd place right now. It is currently being held hostage by an organism that measures between 50-200 nano-meters in diameter and is, as such, completely unseen by the naked eye. Yet, day after, day, we see its effect on the world around us across every culture, demographic, religion, and continent. And as we are held in this way by the viral contagion known are Covid-19, there is little we can do but try to avoid public places and wait for the virus to run its course.

Or perhaps not. Perhaps there is something we can embrace and live into that is ideal for the times and circumstances. As we read these words from Ephesian letter about making the most of our time, we encounter an opportunity. Many people, myself included, have begun to engage in something being called the growth mindset. Growth mindset has been around for a while and it is really nothing more than a simple attitudinal adjustment. It is an idea that says, “What can I learn from my present circumstances – good or bad – that will help me grow, learn, or mature as a person. How do I become what I am meant or called by God to be out the present moment?”

The current circumstances in the world are a great opportunity to embrace the growth mindset and as Christians we might think of it as simply sanctification or maturing in the faith. Think of all the things that you have considered doing in your life but the time wasn’t right – be they related to yourself, your family, or your faith – and realize that you now have that time available. All the projects that were shelved for a rainy day are now within your grasp to achieve. All the things you felt a calling to practice or embrace now have a proving ground in the current climate of the world.

Ask yourself, what can I do to make the most of my time? What ministry can I take part in, what life skill can I learn, what opportunity previously missed can I go back to? Each of us has this opportunity. Make the most of it for the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Michael

Join us for a special LIVE Maundy Thursday Service on April 9 at 6:30 PM on our Facebook page. Log in around 6:25 PM. If you are unable to watch the service live, it will be available after on our Facebook page for viewing and also on our church website at www.zionumc.com

Flowering the Cross for Easter Sunday!

While we will not be able to gather together for worship on Easter Sunday, we still invite everyone to bring fresh cut flowers from their yards and gardens to add to the cross that will be placed in the church courtyard on Easter Sunday. Buckets with water will be placed outside the Sanctuary under the porch on Friday morning and everyone is invited and encouraged to bring cut flowers to place in the buckets Friday and Saturday and the cross will be flowered late Saturday evening for Easter Sunday morning. While we would LOVE to have everyone gather together to flower the cross, we are not able to do that during this time. We hope to place this lovely cross FULL of flowers on the church grounds for Easter Sunday as a symbol of our continued faith in our RISEN LORD!!!! If families wish to stop by on Sunday to take Easter pictures, please be mindful of the distancing requirements. Much love to each and every one! HE IS RISEN!!! HE IS RISEN INDEED!!!

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 lmjarrell@umcsc.org or zionumc@comporium.net; 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

Gene Blackmon

Marion Boswell

Carol Boyles

Randy Boyles

Caleb Catoe

Sue Catoe

Ann Chappell

Linda Coker

Sandra Cope

Brett Craig

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

Julia Horne

Kevan Horton

Eric Hough

Libby Hunter

Melinda Hunter

Rick Joyner

Henry Ray Knight

Mary Jane McAteer

Kevin McCorkle

Tammy McMillian

Debbie McWaters

Marie Moree

Rusty Mosier

Bell Perry

Betty Jo Phillips

Ann Powers

Vicky Pickett

Ann Reed

Kathleen Robinson

Mayme Jo Robinson

Terry Robinson

James Rushing

Bonnie Sears

Dale Sherrin

Eva Small

Greg Smith

JoAnne Smith

Mike Smith

Freda Snipes

Billy Sowell

Robbie Stepp

Sue Stewart

Jim Thomas

Mike Vick

Pat Vick

Ellen Walters

Megan Wilson

David Woodruff

Kim Yost

Our President & Troops

Those affected by the COVID-19 virus

Those affected by recent tornadoes

Online Worship this EASTER Sunday!!!

Worship will begin

at 11:00 AM.

If you are unable to join us live, the service will be available online on our FB page or on our website at www.zionumc.com

Growing While Being a House Church

As we deal with the expanding effects of the coronavirus, we have come to a place where the safety of our people necessitates not having our weekly worship service. Following the advice of the CDC and our Bishop, we will not be having church activities or worship services for now. We are not sure when regular worship services will be able to resume . Whether we are in a building or not, we are still the church and we will worship together, though we are apart. To th at end, Pastor Michael has been hosting Facebook Live worship services on Sundays at 11:00 AM, daily morning Prayer meetings at 7:00 AM and Bible Study on Thursdays at 12:00 Noon. You may log in to Facebook and go to our page and watch the services and studies together if you are unable to join the group. Let us all continue in prayer for all in our communities, our nation and our world.

Salkehatchie 2020 Camps cancelled...

After careful consideration by the Salkehatchie Board of Directors, all Salkehatchie camps for 2020 have been cancelled. The plans are to begin again in 2021. While this is sad, it is understandable in the current situation with COVID-19. Please say a prayer for the campers that were already set to attend and the families that had already felt led to open their doors. This will be another loss or 'not normal' for them.

Our United Methodist Women’s meeting for

Tuesday, April 14 has been cancelled. 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.

Zion's United Methodist Men are taking orders for 10 lb bags of Vidalia Onions through April 10. Onions will be available for pick up on April 26.

The cost is $12.00 per 10 lb. bag. Please place your orders with Mike Vick, 246-2068 or Steve McDonald, 288-2892 by April 10. Thank you!!!

April is our month to support HOPE in Lancaster with donations of food for those less fortunate. Particular needs are grits, cereal, spaghetti sauce, canned beef stew, and canned chicken. Even though we are not having church services, if you would like to drop off donations, arrangements can be made to accept your donations and your willingness to help those less fortunate is greatly appreciated!! Please place your donations in the collection box in the vestibule or if you are unable to access the building, you may drop donations off at the double doors under the covered porch where the buses are. They will be collected daily from that location as well.

A pril 8: Blake Finley, Anna Hemminger, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Salisbury, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Bailes

April 10 : Ethan Woodward

April 12: Mr. and Mrs. Dustin Sweatt

April 13: Ovedia Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Steele

April 14: Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Hayes, Mr. and Mrs. David Hayes

The members of Zion UMC ARE continuing

to support the ministry and outreach

of the church!!!

Let me just say, the folks of Zion are FAITHFUL!!!! 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!!! 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!!

Our seven confirmands, who have been continuing with their classes online with Pastor Michael, will join the church on our first Sunday worshiping together as a church family of Christ in His house! We look forward to that day and pray it will be soon!!

The Record Speaks.....

April 5, 2020

Present for online worship: 45

Needed each week for the General Fund $4,360

Received for General Fund $4,560

Received for Children's Ministry $50

"...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