April 17, 2024

The Pastor’s Pen

 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows  

  me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep… John10:11, 14-15

The Fourth Sunday of Easter in the Revised Common Lectionary is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday” with reading from Psalm 23 and John 10. The main theme of this week’s text is laid out in very first verse of John 10:11-18: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Of course, the Good Shepherd is Jesus. 

Yet, most people today have never seen a shepherd, except in photographs, or at Christmas pageants. And most people today have probably never seen a large flock of sheep, and if they have, a fence was probably managing the sheep rather than a shepherd. So, most people don’t know want it takes to be a shepherd, much less a Good Shephard. Join us this week as take a look at John allegories, woven beautifully together, as we celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday. Hope to see all of the Good Shepherd’s sheep on Sunday!

Pastor John

Our United Methodist Men’s Dinner and meeting will be held on Thursday, April 18 at 6:30 pm. All men and all women are invited to join us! Susan Scott will be our guest speaker and she will share about the work she does for The Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Zion will be hosting the Annual Cosmetology Continuing Education Event on Monday, April 21. This event is sponsored by the Tony Neal Scholarship Committee. PLEASE NOTE, we will not be able to host the walking club on this day.

April Worship Greeters and Ushers:

Tommy and Julie Middleton, Teresa Evans, and Jeffrey Thomas

The Joy Sunday School class will be cleaning out the storage room at the bottom of the Sanctuary stairs on Wednesday, April 24 beginning at 9:30 am. If you have items you have stored and would like to keep, please remove these before the 24th. Thank you!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND OUR CHINESE AUCTION

SATURDAY, APRIL 27th

Doors open at 4:30 PM, Auction begins at 6:00 PM. 

Our Worship Committee and Family/Senior Adult Committee will be sponsoring a CHINESE AUCTION to support upcoming church events. Please pray for this event! New items are needed (no Yard Sale stuff) for auction as well as DOOR PRIZES. TICKET SPECIAL SET includes 125 auction tickets plus 5 Door prize tickets for $20!! Each adult is asked to buy a set for yourself and sell a set to your friends. It is a fun filled night with lots of free food and great opportunities to win wonderful items!  

Tickets are now available. 

JOIN US!

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Folks bringing food donations: All food needs to be at the life center kitchen by 2:30 pm. 1/2 sandwich per zip lock bag, 2-3 cookies per zip lock bag (depending on the size of cookies). 

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If anyone needs to drop off auction donations, Terry Robinson will be at church from 6-7 pm on Thursday, April 25. If that time doesn’t work, please contact Dennis Hall or Beth Craig to drop off items.

Help Make Epworth Foster Parents Feel Appreciated!

You’re invited to assemble foster parent appreciation baskets for our Rock Hill families. 

Suggested value: $50-$75

Deadline: May 1, 2024

Wrapping: Wrap the basket but not individual items

Drop Off:

321 S. Oakland Avenue

Rock Hill, SC 29730

Call to arrange drop-off time:

803-540-58000

Questions: Contact Rev. Kathy James, kjames@epworthsc.org, 803-604-6220

Suggested basket themes:

Family Fun Night: board and card games, snacks, dinner kits, charcuterie board and food.

Date Night: Movie tickets, Dinner Gift Card, popcorn, boxed candy

Home Goods/Stock the Pantry: paper products, tin foil, sandwich bags, freezer bags, seasonal knick knacks, kitchen utensils.

Beach/Pool Outing: beach towels, sunscreen, beach bag, flip flops, water bottles, beach ball, bocce ball, paddle ball, volleyball, floats.

Thank you to everyone who helped with set up, prepping, serving, and clean up for the Tony Neal Scholarship Fundraiser on Sunday!!  We cleared $1,059 from the luncheon. Thank you, thank you!!

Expenditures March 2024:

People Facts 8.59

The Upper Room 23.85

Rural Garbage 190.00

Wycliffe Bible Translators 333.34

Joseph Outen 75.00 (Trustees plumbing)

Pastor John (travel) 119.81

Tommy Middleton 1000.00 (Trustees - retainer for atty) 

Lancaster Fire Extinguishers 529.84 (Trustees maint)

Duke Energy 520.59

Constant Contact 24.84

Comporium 251.65

US Treasury 570.96 (withholding)

Steve Sentz 1125.00 (Trustees painting)

Three Boys Lawn Service 700.00

Staff Salaries 5301.22

LCNGA 763.23

LCWSD 326.28

M & B Tree Service 250.00 (Trustees lift for steeple)

Custodial 712.00

Tommy Middleton 229.46 (Trustees plumbing)

Perry's Pest Control 30.00 (Trustees - mice pest control)

SC Conf Direct Billing 1777.34

Hinson Heating and Air 7500.00 (Trustees - HVAC)

Wells Fargo 5.00 (service charge)

Special Gifts to Zion Church

In Honor of:

Carson Payne on his 2nd birthday by MawMaw JuJu

Caleb Payne and Ashlyn Deese by Mawmaw Judy

My mom on her birthday - Happy Birthday, Mom!! by Wanda Murphy

Visitors on Sunday, April 14: Rick Hammond, Janice Bowers, and Carol Hinson.

The COVID-19 postponed 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church will take place from April 23rd to May 3rd, 2024, in Charlotte, NC.  We urge our church members to pray for the delegates attending the conference from around the world that they will do God’s will in determining the direction of the United Methodist Church. Also, we ask you to stay informed regarding the business that is conducted throughout these eleven days as decisions made at this conference could cause changes in UMC doctrine and policies. Since the conference is being held in Charlotte, our local TV stations will likely have reports from there on a daily basis. You can also visit the official 2020 General Conference website at www.resourceumc.org/en/churchwide/general-conference-2020 where there are many links available to help keep you informed including a link for a live stream.

April 18: Jenna Vaughn

April 20: Christian riffin

April 21: Jerry Stogner

April 22: Savana Burn Bowers

April 23: Becky H. Steele, Wanda Faile

April 24: Renee Woodward

April 25: Cameron Faile, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Moseley

The Record Speaks....

Present for 4/14 Sunday School: 46

Present for 4/14 Worship: 74

Needed each week for General Fund: $4,313

Received for 4/14 for General Fund: $ 2,754

Received for Tony Neal Scholarship Fund: $ 20

Received for Chinese Auction: $640

There are several 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 you put your hand to."

Deuteronomy 15:10