Weekly News From Mt. Zion
Ready, Set, Wait...for Live Worship
A glimpse of things to come...they also serve who only stand and wait.
The Israelites wandered in the desert and waited 40 years to enter the Promised Land so waiting a little longer before resuming live worship seems minor in comparison. Wait, this is what Church Council voted to do at Monday evening's meeting, partially because of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Georgia. This decision will be revisited each week until there is group agreement that the time is right.
For Sunday, June 28, this means we will continue to worship online with two services at 8:30 and 11:00 am. (see more about this Sunday in this newsletter)
The good news is... all tasks to prepare for live worship are completed and in place. The sanitizer has arrived, signs are printed, chairs are properly distanced, sound and live stream video are up and running and a thousand other details are worked out. When the time is right...Mt. Zion is ready. We'll keep you in the loop!
"I Will Heal Their Land"
Prayer Team's July Focus:
Healing our Land with Prayer
WOW Prayer - Online Wednesday Evenings from 6:30 - 7:00 pm. 
The Prayer Ministry invites all Mt Zion members, family and friends to join us for a time of corporate intercessory prayer. For July our prayer will focus on the healing of our nation using 2 Chronicles 7:14 as our inspiration. We will lift up our nation, our church and civic leaders and individual prayer concerns. 
Members of our Prayer Ministry will lead our prayer time. If you wish to share prayer concerns privately you may use the chat feature in Zoom during our prayer time. You may request a time of private prayer with a Prayer Minister.
Please use the link at mtzionumc.org to join us at 6:30 Wednesday evenings in July.
Anytime you wish to bring a prayer concern to the Prayer Ministry please call the church office or email:
If you have any questions about WOW Prayer or the Prayer Ministry please contact the church office or Eva Sherwood or David Brigham. They both receive emails through the 
Grace and Peace,
David Brigham
Prayer Minister

Tonight at 6:30 pm is the final WOW Prayer Session for June.
All Are Welcome.
2 Chronicles 7:14 
New International Version (NIV)
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
One Online Worship: Conference-Wide This Week
Another reason for delaying live worship this week is that all congregations in the North Georgia UMC District have been invited to worship in a much larger online arena.
One Worship is a streamed 45-minute service meant to gather our North Georgia Conference together in digital worship. The service will feature familiar and original music, prayer, proclamation, special guests, and recognitions, and a gathering to the Table led by the 2020 Ordinands and Retirees.
A statement from the conference expresses this thought: "At our best, we United Methodists are One Church in limitless expressions, locations, and mission fields. And in this incredibly difficult season, we are all learning to lean more heavily on the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We thank you, God, for the gift of your Spirit, especially during such a time as this."
Pastor Harden will introduce the service and make some announcements. Then we will break away to the conference worship service.
There will be two services at 8:30 and 11:00 am. Services will be available on-demand, after they have aired. You may still live-chat with the Mt. Zion congregation.
Let's Talks About It
Mt. Zion's pastors invite you to join them on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:00 pm for a discussion about racism and faith.
Listen and share thoughts via the Zoom meeting app.
Pastor Hamby will host one conversation for Children, Youth and their parents. Pastors Stewart and Hopper will host a separate discussion for everyone else.
Watch this newsletter and Mt. Zion's website ( mtzionumc.org ) for meeting links, which will be posted closer to the date. Zoom is free and easy to use. Don't let the technology scare you.
Books Open Doors for Kids
As one of the Great Year of Service projects for 2020, the Outreach Cluster is collecting new children's books in English and Spanish for the Craddock Center's Story Express Mobile Library. 
The Craddock Center provides educational and cultural enhancement programs to children, families, and communities in Southern Appalachia. 
Covered collection bins will be available at the drop-off circle, July 1-15. We hope you'll join us.
Email: communications@mtzionumc.org with any questions.
Save the Date
Save A Life!
Mt. Zion will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, August 3 from 1-6 pm. You can save lives with your donations
You may reserve your appointment by signing up directly at the Red Cross website: Registration Page .
Can't donate? Did you know that more than 80% of Red Cross workers are volunteers? Here's a link to tell you more about volunteering: volunteer
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 the three remaining special sessions from GriefShare.
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.
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.

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 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: