Weekly News From Mt. Zion UMC

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Wednesday Lenten Devotional

Thank you Open Table Class for bringing us a special series of devotionals, each Wednesday during lent. This week we hear from Lee O'Neal.

Editor's Note: Not to diminish the solemnity of this devotional but, If anyone has a more impressive quarantine beard than Lee, we'd like to see it. Send pictures to communications@mtzionumc.org

Sunday February 28 - Two Worship Services

Look What's Happening Today

Never heard of a WOW Souper? That's because this is the first. Next Wednesday, February 24, you will have the opportunity to pick up soup at Mt. Zion. Patti Weaver and Andrea Buhr have put on their thinking caps and come up with this way to give you a treat, and hopefully a little break from cooking. On the menu are Chili con Carne and Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. Along with that comes corn muffins and/or cheddar biscuits (you know, the Red Lobster kind). Soup pick-up is happening at two convenient times that day, 12 Noon to 1:00 pm and 5:00 to 6:30 pm.

Say, while you are planning...is there a church family member you could deliver soup to? Perhaps you know someone in your neighborhood or from your circle of friends who has a hard time getting out. Just add them to your order.

Join the Prayer Ministry team for WOW Prayer on Wednesday, February 24, at 6:30pm, as we continue opening and Rending Our Hearts to Claim the Promise of God’s presence. Praise God, we are NOT alone (Gen.9:8-17).

Order of Worship mtzionumc.org for link.

Sanctuary for Lent 2021

Available in Drive-thru

Many of you asked for a copy of this year's Sanctuary for Lent when registering for the Open Table Lenten study. Some of you, who attended the Ash Wednesday service, will already have your copy. Others may pick up a copy from the bench in the drive-thru circle. You may even "kill two birds with one stone" and pick it up along with your soup today (2/24), not to imply that we are having stone soup.

Join Mt. Zion Preschool For

Their Diaper & Wipes Drive

Mt. Zion Preschool is hosting a Diaper & Wipes Drive for Foster4Love. The need is great, as we recently learned that their supply of diapers and wipes is nearly exhausted. The Preschool will be collecting the following most-needed items from March 1-15:

• Diapers Size 4 and larger

• Pull-ups

• Wipes

• Diaper Creams

If our Mt. Zion congregation would like to participate, there will also be a collection bin in the covered drive-thru.

Mt. Zion has partnered with Foster4Love for many years as a source for our Angel Tree names and donations from our Foster Care Closet.

Foster4Love advocates for all foster children and is committed to improving the lives of all children in the foster care. This non-profit organization, located in Kennesaw, provides resources for children in care and at-risk youth. Their programs aim to fulfill the enormous need for support of children in foster care from medical and professional services, supplying daily necessities, and engaging the community to facilitate a sense of belonging and normalcy to youth in foster care.

Friday Morning Men's Group

Starts New Study of Hebrews

The Friday Morning Men's Bible Study welcomes newcomers at any time but this Friday would be a great time to join in. They are meeting via Webex during pandemic days, so are starting a little later at 7:00 am. Contact Marty Sharpe at mesharpe@yahoo.com for a link or more information.

Hebrews: A Twelve Week Study by Matthew Z. Capps
from Knowing the Bible Series
The book of Hebrews stands apart from other biblical books in its unique portrait of Jesus Christ as the supreme revelation of God―a portrait bolstered by the author’s skillful use of imagery, metaphor, and Old Testament analogy.

This accessible guide walks readers through the book of Hebrews, one of the most beautifully written and theologically rich books in the New Testament.

Help End Childhood Hunger

Support Our March Focus

It's time for the annual Giving Hope Food Drive designed to end childhood hunger in Georgia, in partnership with Action Ministries, March 1-31.

Action Ministries works at meeting the basic needs of hunger, housing, and education in Georgia. During the entire month of March, we’ll be collecting single-serve food items for Action Ministries’ Giving Hope Food Drive.

The collection bins can be found in the covered drive-thru at Mt. Zion.

More Details

Family Promise… You’ve Got Mail!

Family Promise Coordinator Joy Jones and The Outreach Cluster would like to share a story from a letter written by Family Promise of Cobb County…

The year 2019 was devastating for Eva* (name has been changed), as she lost her mother, her job, and her home, all in a short time.

In March 2020, Eva, along with her three children and grandchild entered into the Family Promise rotational shelter program feeling overwhelmed. She had lost all hope and retreated to her room feeling helpless. But what she found on her pillow were cards with words of kindness and encouragement written by members of the hosting congregation. These little acts of kindness, along with meals and a warm safe place to live, helped her put one foot in front of the other. Eva was reminded daily, ‘You can do this. You are not alone.’ Working with her case manager, Eva applied for a better job at a national insurance company where she was hired with full benefits. Her family moved into one of the three transitional homes, The Promise House, until her graduation from the program that July. FPCC was the critical stepping-stone for Eva’s family, giving them the promise of hope and the promise of community.”

That host church was Mt. Zion UMC. You made a difference to Eva and her family through your caring spirit and prayers.

Next week, Feb. 28-Mar 7, is Mt. Zion’s week to host Family Promise families in the church. Because the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the country, we will not be able to support the program in our normal manner. Although FPCC is no longer able to house families in hotels, it continues to serve three families in its transitional homes. Mt. Zion Outreach is sending a donation to help support the families. We would also like to encourage them with prayers and uplifting words.

If you would like to participate in sharing encouragement and God’s love, please mail a card to a family or a child to Family Promise of Cobb County, 1823 Blackwell Road, Marietta, GA 30066. FPCC will happily distribute your notes.

Outreach Calendar Corner

February has been an active month. With your help…

• We delivered two packed vehicles of much needed food and toiletries to Communities Assistance Center in Sandy Springs, almost 800 pounds in supplies.

• We had 55 people from Mt. Zion and the community sign up for the Red Cross Blood Drive, for a total of 57 units of blood.

• CHOA was extremely appreciative of the PJ packs that were delivered last week, as they had none on hand at the time.

• Over half of the Wellroot Family Services Easter Baskets have been sponsored with just a few left.

Here’s what’s currently scheduled for March:

Feb 28-Mar 7-Family Promise Week… You’ve Got Mail

Mar 1-12-Easter Baskets for Wellroot Family Services

Mar 1-31-Action Ministries Single-Serve Food Drive

Mar 15-31-Soles4Souls Shoe Collection

March / April Upper Room

Pick-Up Available

Coming up on a full year of quarantine, it has now become customary to get your Upper Room from Mt. Zion's drive-thru circle.

Pick up your new March / April issue in the circle drive through.

Continuing This Sunday

Link will be sent to registrants on Friday and Sunday morning.

Open Table Sunday School

Hosts 2021 Lenten Study

Open Table invites Sunday School Classes and individuals to join them for this special Lenten study via Zoom. The link will be sent to registrants.

This class will meet each Sunday during Lent at 10:00 am.

In addition to Sunday class, Open Table will offer a Wednesday devotional video, which will be linked to this newsletter, taken from the 2021 Sanctuary devotional text.

Order your free 2021 Lenten Devotional along with your registration for class.

In this study of scripture and inspiration, bestselling author Adam Hamilton brings modern eyes to the most famous set of rules in history, recovering the Ten Commandments as more than just a set of onerous prohibitions. He considers the commandments in their historical context, unpacking the meaning of each commandment.

Plan Now to Spread the Joy of Easter!

Easter is such a joyful time as we celebrate the Risen Christ. Children start the day full of excitement as they receive their Easter baskets and go on egg hunts. But for many children in foster care and those in at-risk families, the holiday can often be a tough time. Wellroot Family Services is working with their partners to make sure every child in their programs receives a personalized Easter Basket to let them know they are loved and to celebrate the joy of Easter.

Mt. Zion is partnering with Wellroot to sponsor Easter Baskets for twenty children, ages 2 to young adult (18-21). Each basket should contain the following:

A new outfit or shoes (if requested)

A new toy or activity

1 Easter egg dye kit

1 small chocolate bunny

Each basket should be wrapped in clear cellophane and tied with a ribbon or bow. A tag should be tied to the outside of the basket with the child’s name and age. The cost of a filled basket is typically round $40-$50, although baskets for the young adults may be closer to $60.

The Outreach Cluster is once again using SignUp Genius to sign up and sponsor a child and their Easter Basket. We hope you’ll join us in giving children a chance of normalcy by experiencing the joy of waking up to a personalized Easter Basket.

Please return your baskets to the church office on the following dates:

Mondays: March 1 or 8, from 10:00 am-1:00 pm

Saturday: March 13, from 10:00 am-1:00 pm

If you have questions, please email Ellen Bulterman at ellen.bulterman@mtzionumc.org.

Racial Reconciliation Study

Final Session Tonight

This evening at 7:00 pm, join Dan Farr for the final session of the Racial Reconciliation Study.

if you have not attended previous sessions, register below to receive the Zoom Link. The link will be in your confirmation email.