September 14, 2023

Scripture Focus for this Sunday, September 17: 

Luke 15:11-31

The Parable of the Lost Son

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’  So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.  So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.  ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’”

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN WORSHIP ON SUNDAY!!

Homecoming 2023 will be held THIS Sunday, September 17.   We will be welcoming Rev. Frank Lybrand back to bring the message on this special day. A church wide covered dish meal will follow worship in the life center. Everyone is invited to bring a well filled basket and drinks to share in the meal.

The Administrative Board is asked to meet this Sunday, September 17 at 6:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. 

Members are Tommy Middleton, Jeffrey Thomas, Keli Thomas, Rock Love, Dennis Hall, Missy Snipes, Janet Webster, Steve Moseley, Wanda Murphy, Hazel

Robinson, Libby Morris, Pastor John, Cierra Hartley, Elizabeth Moseley, Terry Robinson, Diane Rape,

Kristina Ray, and Beth Craig.

Thank you to those who came out early Tuesday morning to help put out pine straw and spruce up the church grounds. We appreciate your hard work! Everything looks great!

September Worship Greeters and Ushers:

Greeters: Diane Rape and Karen Love

Ushers: Mike Rape, Rock Love, Ricky Steele, and Tommy Middleton

Prayer Requests: In order to communicate your praises and concerns more efficiently, we offer the option of writing your requests. Our prayer request box will be placed in a convenient, visible location in the vestibule. Please print your praises and concerns, place them in the box and they will be given to Pastor John just prior to the beginning of worship service. Besides this option, there will still be an opportunity to express your requests during the service if you choose to do so.

You are invited to join us for our Grief Support Group. We will meet on Monday, October 9 and Monday, October 23 at 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall.

All men of Zion are invited to our United Methodist Men’s  dinner and meeting on Thursday, September 21 at 6:30 PM in the TFLC. We look forward to having a Game Warden from the SC Dept. of Natural Resources, who will share a presentation with us. Our menu will include spaghetti, tossed salad, and garlic bread. Invite your friends, family, and neighbors.

Charge Conference is scheduled for Sunday, October 1 at 3:00 pm. All members of the Administrative Board are members of Charge Conference and are urged to attend. Any others who would like to attend are more than welcome.

Our Church will be publishing a new pictorial directory! We want everyone to get a new picture made so that our new directory will be complete. IT WON’T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT YOU!

Photo dates are:

Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17

You will have a professional photography session, see your proofs, and have the opportunity to purchase extra portraits for family and friends.

YOU CAN SIGN-UP ON OUR CHURCH’S WEBSITE, www.zionumc.com, or you can click on the Facebook link that was shared. Your participation will help the church and yourself. Every family photographed for the directory will receive a copy of the directory and an 8x10 portrait at no cost. So please, sign-up today!

Lancaster, we need your help!!! We have distributed well over 70,000lbs of food here in the last 2 months and our shelves reflect it. We seriously need a few items! Please share this with your friends and family members.

September Needs for Hope in Lancaster

· Peanut Butter

· 1 lb bag of dried beans

· 16 oz box of spaghetti pasta

· canned potatoes

· Canned Mixed Vegetables

· Canned Soup

· Canned Assorted Beans

· Canned Peas

· Boxed Mac N Cheese

· Canned Corn

· Boxed Oatmeal

· 24 oz bag of Grits

· Boxed Instant Potatoes

Red Items = Really Low Numbers

Please place your donations in the vestibule collection box and they will be taken to Hope weekly. 

Would you like to participate in the music ministry of the church?

Our Chancel Choir is a volunteer group with a wide range of skills. Each Sunday, the choir not only provides special music, but they also lead the worship service in congregational hymn singing. Practice is on Sunday afternoon at 5:00 PM. Please consider joining!

· If you are a soloist, we can arrange for your performance as our Anthem or Introit for the worship service.

· If you plan an instrument (guitar, flute, keyboard, etc.) we would love to have you participate whether as a soloist or accompanist.

· If you know of someone outside our church, who could be a guest performer, we welcome suggestions for those who could share their gifts with Zion.

· Do you have a special song request for the service, the choir, or as an instrumentalist? Let us know and we will try to work it in.

Please contact Carolyn Massey, Choir Director, for more information.

Special Gifts to Zion Church 

In Honor of:

Pat Threatt and Betty Crook by Dianne Martin

In Memory of:

Peggy Knight by Nancy and Danny

Ellen Walters by Dianne Martin

Epworth Children's Home

In Honor of:

Luther and Ivy McAteer, Tim Steen, and Mary Knight by Hazel and Terry Robinson

Diane Rape—thank you! by Beth Craig

In Loving memory of Elfriede Schmidt by Hazel and Terry Robinson 

 _____________________________________

BIRTHDAY CLUB

In memory of Harris Plyler by Libby, JoJo, and Alicia

_____________________________________

9/16: Crystal McKenna, JoAnne Smith, Wade Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Phillips, Drew Burn, Mark Whitley, Mr. and Mrs. Eric Everall

9/17: James Mackey

9/18: Anna Massey, Adam Fields

9/19: DAle Jenkins

9/20: Ryan Griffin, Josh Moree

9/21:Mr. and Mrs. Micah Seegars

The Record Speaks....

Present for 9/10 Sunday School: 26

Present for 9/10 Worship: 60

Needed each week for General Fund: $4,182

Received for General Fund: $2,162

Received for Building Fund: $70

Received for Epworth Children's Home: $444

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