The News of Zion
Love God
Love People
~Luke 10:27
April 5, 2022
Living Questions . . .
When I started seminary, I was an evangelical. I had not thought about it, the idea of being an evangelical that is. I was a good little church member who believed and trusted the pastors I had. When I answered the call to ministry, I realized something: people were now going to look to me as the person they believed and trusted for answers. I would now be the one standing in the pulpit, the classroom, the church hallways. I would be the one quizzed, queried, and grilled by those who found themselves challenged by forces outside the church bubble.
After I began my first class in Wilmore, Kentucky at Asbury Seminary, I became acquainted with a few things. First, I discovered the B.L. Fischer Library. One thing about seminaries, they like their books. The choices I had available opened my eyes to a variety of things I had never considered. What began as questions posed by people like Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, and Donald Miller to the layperson version of me became full-fledged crisis of faith questions when confronted with things like text-context-pretext and writers like John Shelby Spong, Diana Butler Bass, Sister Joan Chittister, Paul Tillich, Fredrich Schleiermacher, Joseph Campbell and others who asked questions I had never fathomed to ask.
Second, I had a handful of professors who bucked the seminary party line. Every seminary—every institution for that matter—has an official party line. It’s the educational, ethical, political stance the institution presents as it’s public face. For instance, Asbury is one of the more conservative UM approved seminaries while Claremont is one of the more liberal. These schools portray themselves publicly in this way and frankly, seem proud of their stance (as you should if you are going to have a stance). A few professors were willing to question this status quo and encourage students to do the same (tenure is awesome). These professors allowed me the space to explore things like how you see the Hero’s Journey described by Joseph Campbell in Acts with the stories of Peter and Paul or how Jacques Derrida’s aporias could be used in a theological manner to talk about postmodernism.
Finally, I simply listened to Holy Spirit and learned to be comfortable with the journey as God led. If salvation is not a moment but a journey (as we teach in the UMC—https://www.umc.org/en/what-we-believe/ask-the-umc-faqs/beliefs-practices). Since the word for salvation means health and wholeness in Greek (sozo/soteria), I see my journey, and everyone else’s, as the journey toward God making me whole as God intended each of us to be. My journey of wholeness led me to these places to study these things to learn to see God in a way that helped me grow into a whole/healed person. It has included spiritual aspects as well as emotional aspects like therapy.
I say all that to say this. I think our world has become a lazy place intellectually. I learned what I learned in preparation to become a pastor. I learned and continue to learn how to ask questions rather than how to get answers. Answers create a place of arrival. As followers of Jesus, we never arrive, at least not in this life. There will always be more road to walk. We should be learning, moving from wherever we begin the journey forward toward our salvation/wholeness.
The problem is we want answers before we understand the questions. We want certainty over curiosity. We want to ignore the greater reality of our existence and escape to our fantasies. Mostly, we want someone else to tell us the answers rather than working for the knowledge and earning understanding for ourselves. If this knowledge is unearned, unlearned, if it is not your own by trial and reflection, it is nothing more than the parroted words of someone else. Rainer Maria Rilke wrote,
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”
Answers are not the point, questions are. Without the continued refinement of questions, we will never come up with good answers. Without challenging our beliefs and thoughts to see if they actually ‘hold water’ we will never know if we are following Jesus and the Way he taught or some cheap imitation we have created to make life easier on ourselves.
Where are you in your journey?
What are your next steps to move on in your journey?
Why aren’t you taking them?

Pastor Michael
Youth Sunday School is meeting on Sundays at 10:00 am in the TFLC gym!! Kristina Ray is leading our youth and would love to see your youth join us each Sunday!!
Our Sunday afternoon youth class will be taking a break. Our Youth SS class will continue on Sunday mornings but our evening youth group will break until the fall. We will have an end of the year party on Sunday, May 1st with food, games, and fun. Join us at 6:00 pm that evening. 
As most of you know, the United Methodist Church has been in a state of transition and conflict for some time. General Conference has been postponed until 2024. A number of issues have arisen as a result of this and some have come to Pastor Michael looking for an opportunity to discuss these issues related to that postponement along with its consequences. On April 10th at 4:00 pm, we will hold a meeting in the sanctuary where Pastor Michael will update any interested with the current news regarding these issues. Please be in prayer for the greater UMC as we continue to worship and serve God. 
The Rock Hill District Lay Servant Ministry is pleased to announce the registration for our next class session is now live and open! We will be meeting at St. John's, Rock Hill on April 30 and May 1.
Lay Servant Training-Spring 2022
 
Saturday, April 30, 9:30am-4:30pm
Sunday, May 1, 2:00pm-5:00pm
St. John’s UMC, 321 S Oakland Ave, Rock Hill
Attendance of all sessions is required for course credit.
Please be aware of the different dates for the Zoom course (will be TBD).
Registration Fee: $20 Course Books will need to be ordered by participants at:
Lay Servant Ministries, Participant’s Book (Basic Course) by Sandy Zeigler Jackson and Brian Jackson Participant’s Book – Paperback – March 13, 2013 (also available on Kindle) ISBN-10: 0881776262
ISBN-13: 978-0881776263
Course – Heritage
Participant: Living Our Beliefs: The United Methodist Way by Kenneth L. Carter – Paperback – October 1, 2009 ISBN-10 : 0881775711 ISBN-13 : 978-0881775716
Course – Polity
Participant: Polity, Practice, and the Mission of The United Methodist Church by Thomas E. Frank – Paperback – April 1, 2006
ISBN-10 : 0687335310 ISBN-13 : 978-0687335312
Course – Leading Prayer
Participant: Shaping the Prayers of the People: The Art of Intercession by Samuel Wells– Paperback – June 16, 2014 ISBN-10: 080287097X ISBN-13: 978-0802870971
Course – Conflict Resolution
Participant:  The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation: Creating a Culture of Justpeace by Thomas W. Porter– Paperback – June 30, 2010
ISBN-10: 0835810267 ISBN-13: 978-0835810265
Course – For The Common Good
Participant:  For the Common Good: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts by Christine Harman– Paperback – June 30, 2021 ISBN-10: 088177958X ISBN-13: 978-0881779585
Course – Opening Ourselves to Grace
Participant:  Opening Ourselves to Grace
Download from https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/lay-servant-ministries-advanced-courses
Registration deadline is April 16.
Confirmation classes are ongoing with Pastor Michael. We look forward to these youth joining the church on Easter Sunday. 
Attention those who were receiving and wish to continue to receive The Advocate or new subscribers:
We were offered a Church Leadership Plan however, they are unable to offer the mailed Advocate for $5.00 per copy. With the increased cost of print materials and postage, each subscription is $15.00. Please let Missy know, 803-804-2434 if you would like to resubscribe or simply make a donation of $15 and mark your donation Advocate and the subscription will be renewed. If you have not received The Advocate but would like to subscribe, please feel free to be added. The cost and instructions are above. Thank you!!
Our Adult Sunday School classes continue to meet each Sunday at 10:00 am. If you are unsure which class would better suit you, please contact the church office, 285-3864. Our Youth and Children’s Sunday School classes will be meeting at 10:00 am as well, youth in the basement of the sanctuary and our children in the family life center.
Zion will be hosting the Beautician Continuing Education event on Monday, April 11.  The life center will be in use on that day to accommodate the group and the Tony Neal Scholarship Committee is sponsoring this event.
Our United Methodist Women will be meeting on
Tuesday, April 12 at 7:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Beth Craig will have the program. All women of the church are invited to join us!
Easter Sunrise Service! 
He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!! 
Join us for our Easter Sunrise service on April 17 at 6:00 am. Sunday School will be held at 10:00 am and our Worship Service will be held at 11:00 am!
Churchwide Easter Breakfast! Join us at 7:00 am on Easter Sunday for breakfast in the Thompson Family Life Center. Our appreciation to our United Methodist Men for providing breakfast on this glorious day! No cost, donations appreciated!
Flowering the cross on Easter Sunday, April 17!!
We invite each of you to bring cut flowers from your yards and gardens on Easter morning to place on the cross that will be included in our 11:00 am worship service. These will be placed after the Sunrise service, and before/during/after Sunday School and before Worship. 
Easter Lilies will be placed in the church on Easter Sunday, April 17. If you would like to place a lily, please purchase same and bring to the church on Easter Sunday. If you would like your lily placed in honor or in memory of a loved one, please let the church office know this information by Thursday, April 14. Please call Missy at 803-804-2434 or email her the information at zionumc@comporium.net Thank you!
There are at home COVID test kits and K95 masks available in the church vestibule. These were donated to the church so please take what you feel your family needs. 
Our website is back up and operational!! Please visit www.zionumc.com for all the latest information on what is going on at Zion!!
Ongoing collections: we are collecting soda can tabs for Ronald McDonald House and also canceled stamps. Collection containers are in the church vestibule.
Due to the recent severe weather we have been receiving, there are many arrangements from headstones that have been blown around the cemetery yard. These have been placed along the wall inside the cemetery. If your family member’s are missing, you may wish to see if you can locate them along the wall.
Chinese Auction
Saturday, April 30, 2022 in the TFLC
We need everyone’s help with this fundraiser for our Building Fund.
1. Please pray for this event!
2. Buy a set of tickets for yourself and sell a set to your friends. Ticket Special Set—$20
3. New items and gift cards are needed for the auction and door prizes—Please bring to church on Sunday, April 10 or April 24.
 
Auction is less than 4 weeks away. Please, please help us sell tickets and share the info! Info is on Facebook and Flyers are available.
Lancaster County Back to School Bash:
SAVE THE DATE!!! 
August 13, 2022
Volunteer the day of the Bash; volunteers are needed to welcome our visitors, fit shoes, hand out backpacks, and coordinate traffic. You can financially support the B2SB. It takes approximately $50 per child to provide shoes, backpacks, and school supplies for those who attend. Donations to the Lancaster Back to School Bash are appreciated and can be mailed to Pleasant Hill UMC, 238 Fort Mill Hwy., Indian Land, SC 29707 or you may make your donation to Zion and notate your donation Back to School Bash and the church will send the donation.
Special Gifts to Zion Church
In Honor of:
Darlene Hallman by Mike and Diane Rape
The Family of Tony Yost by Judy and Rick Hammond
Faye Murphy on her birthday April 17 by Frances Parris
 
In Memory of:
Sidney Faye Catoe by Wanda Murphy
Richard Morris by Harris and Marcene Plyler
Tony Yost and Minta Horton by Judy and Rick Hammond
Richard Morris and Minta Horton by Hazel and Terry Robinson
 
Special Gifts to Building Fund
In Memory of:
Ralph Craig by Mike and Diane Rape
If you have a need or know of a need in the church family or community, 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.
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:
Angela Bailey
Francis Bell
Phillip Bell
Carol Boyles
Daisy Brunson
Casey Burgess
Barbara Catoe
Sue Catoe
Brenda Chapman
Amelia Clontz
Leslie Collins
Sandra Cope
Dawn Creech
Paula DePaula
Susan Duell
David Ethridge
Myra Funderburk
Karon Vick Furr
Mike Gay
Randy Gay
Janice Griffin
Ryan Griffin
Catherine Hammond
David Hayes
JoAnn Hinson
Melinda Hunter
Thurmond Johnson
Rick Joyner
Myra McAteer
Sandra McClain
Michael Mills
Bonnie Mitchell
Marie Moree
Chad Payne
Elfreida Plyler
Ann Powers
Jack Robinson
Floyd Rollings
Bonnie Sears
Eva Small
Greg Smith
JoAnne Smith
Billy Sowell
Becky M. Steele
Robbie Stepp
Kayla Strait
Matthew Sweatt
Graham Thomas
Lauren Thomas
Richard Thompson
Mike Vick
Pat Vick
Ray Vincent
Myrtle Walker
Donna Walters
Michael Walters
Kim Yost
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 on Sundays 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
Upper Room Devotionals are
available in the church vestibule. There are also copies available in the informational box outside the double doors at the drop off for those who have not returned to in person worship.
 

April 5: Catherine Hammond
April 6: Steve Salisbury
April 7: Mr. and Mrs. Randy Cauthen
April 8: Blake Finley, Anna Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Bailes, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Salisbury
April 9: Mr. and Mrs. Doug Plyler
April 10: Ethan Woodward
April 11: Ryan McManus
The Record Speaks....

Present for 4/3 Sunday School: 44
Present for 4/3 Worship: 74
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,224
Received for General Fund: $5615
Received for Building Fund: $200

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