The News of Zion
Love God
Love People
~Luke 10:27
March 10, 2021
Housecats . . .

When we first moved to Lancaster, we bought our daughter a cat. She had one years ago before I started seminary and we had to send it to another home when we left for Kentucky. So, when we got to the Parsonage here, Avery got a little black kitten that she named Lilith. Now two years old the cat has more or less insinuated itself into the life of the family.
One thing that I find quirky about her, although it is common in felines I'm sure, is her sense of anticipation. Lilith sits in front of windows or looking out the screen doors at birds and lizards. She swishes her tail and follows their movements with a hunter’s focus. She will practically give herself whiplash if there are more than a few birds outside. She makes this odd little clicking sound whenever she sees they're close to the window, assign I imagine of her frustration and desire to attempt catching her prey in the out of doors.
However, other than occasionally going out onto the front stoop or a brief walk in the backyard, Lilith is a fraidy cat. She is all meows and yowls, very little bite. Once in a while, she will actually get ahold of a lizard that strays too close to the front stoop if she's out there but only rarely. Lilith for all her bluster is a housecat and nothing more.
The first cat Heather and I had, however, was a Gray and black striped harlequin named Julio. Julio was every bit the Hunter that I believe Lilith wishes she could be. When he was alive, I can remember seeing him leap off a back porch railing and grab a bird out of the air. He would wander off into the Woods for days at a time only to return with mice, voles, or most anything else he could catch and drag back to the porch. Julio lived into the ancestral hunter that he was and trying to keep him in a house during his prime was a lost cause.
I think where our Christian faith is concerned there are many church cats. They stock the pews and the fellowship Hall. They wandered the Sunday school rooms. They even go to other church cats’ homes and congregate there. But rarely, if ever, do they wander off the church stoop or the parking lot and into the world beyond. Often, they talk about the ills of the world, the things that need changing. Rarely do they actually respond to them.
The church has many house cats, many Liliths, what the church needs armor Julios. We need, within reason and safety at this moment of pandemic, those who venture out into the world to look for the hurting, the helpless, the downtrodden, and offer them the message of hope: the Way of Jesus.
 
We need to live The Way so they can see their need for it. We need to share this way of life so those around us will know what they have been missing.
It is time to stop being house cats and get out into the greater world. It is time to make a lifestyle of hunting for those in need and sharing the Way of Jesus with them.
 
Pastor Michael
In-person worship continues at 11:00 AM on Sundays in the Sanctuary. Also at 11:00 AM on Sundays, our children have resumed meeting in the TFLC, and our youth have resumed meeting in the Fellowship Hall. EVERYONE is invited to join us on Sundays at 11:00 AM!! We do ask everyone participating in worship to continue to wear a mask and to socially distance. We wish for everyone to remain safe as we meet in-person.
The Chancel flowers will be placed in the Sanctuary this Sunday, March 14 to the glory of God and in memory of Heath and Lois Gay on their birthdays
by Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Griffin, B. J. and Tia
The Kids of Zion will host an Easter Celebration on Wednesday March 24th on the grounds of the Family Life Center! Please plan to join us for Scripture, Games & Fun for Everyone! Feel free to Drop In 5:30-7:00 PM, The Kids will receive an Easter Treat Basket filled with activities for your family to share!
You are invited to the wedding of
Blake Bowers and Savana Burn
on Saturday, March 27 at 5:00 pm
at the Cotton Gin Barn
3714 Plyler Mill Road
Monroe, NC 28112
One of the things I really enjoy as a pastor is to be able to engage in deep study with parishioners. I’m looking forward to studying The Universal Christ with those of you who would like to join me. We will start our study together with an introduction on April 11th at 6:00pm in the fellowship hall. Anyone who would like to join us is welcome!                           ~ Pastor Michael
General Fund Expenditures: February 2021
Duke Energy............................................................................586.76
US Treasury (federal withholding)..........................................145.86
Southern Carpet Care (parsonage)...........................................75.00
Pastor Michael Jarrell (parsonage 45.87, worship 91.29).......137.16
Terminix.................................................................................300.00
People Facts...............................................................................16.20
Wycliffe Bible Translators.......................................................333.34
Rural Garbage..........................................................................165.00
Intuit Quickbooks (annual fee)...............................................650.00
Staff Salaries..........................................................................3949.49
SC Conference Direct Billing.................................................2407.16
LCNGA...................................................................................1217.80
LCWSD....................................................................................160.46
Dial My Calls.............................................................................50.00
Comporium..............................................................................216.34
Driver Support.............................................................................9.99
Constant Contact.......................................................................21.60
Wells Fargo .................................................................................2.00
Southern Mutual Ins.............................................................2702.00
The Upper Room......................................................................101.20
Wespath.....................................................................................49.00
My Church Website (annual fee)............................................299.00
Custodial..................................................................................712.00
Chris Massey (lawn care).......................................................600.00
March is our month to support HOPE in Lancaster with
donations of food for those less fortunate. Particular needs in March are: Rice (1 or 2 lb. bags/boxes), dry pasta, canned pasta, grits (any size), fruit juice (canned or carton), and canned meats. Please place your donations in the vestibule collection box. Donations will be taken to HOPE weekly. Thank you for your continued support of this ministry outreach for those in need in our community. 
You are invited to a drive through baby shower in honor of JoJo Morris and Tristian Ewing on Sunday, March 14 from 2-3 pm at the covered drop off of the Thompson Family Life Center at Zion. IT’S A GIRL!!! They are registered at Target. We hope everyone will drop by and celebrate this special addition to our church family!!
 _____________________________________

You are invited to a drive through baby shower in honor a Brett and Adair Craig on Sunday March 21 from 2-3 pm at the covered drop off of the Thompson Family Life Center at Zion. IT’S A BOY!!!!! 
They are registered at Babylist.com
 We hope everyone will drop by and celebrate this special addition to our church family!
Special Gifts to Zion Church
In Honor of:
Ellen, Bryan, and Donna Walters and Pat Threatt by Dianne Martin
In memory of:
In loving memory of Bobby McAteer by Frances Parris
Edna Robinson and Martha Robinson by Mary P. Knight
Martha Robinson by Barbara Hall
Jeff and Teresa Martin by Dianne Martin
 
 
Special Gifts to Building Fund
In Honor of:
Lee Hall on his birthday by Carolyn Massey
 
In Memory of:
Jimmy Barfield by Mike and Diane Rape
Pastor Michael continues to offer morning prayer and Bible study. Join us each morning at 7:00 AM for Prayer and meditation. Join us, also on Thursdays at 12:00 Noon for Bible Study. Pastor Michael is hosting these from our Facebook page. If you are unable to log in LIVE, these offerings remain available for viewing after on our website and FB page.
While the church office remains closed, you are encouraged to reach out if you have a need or know of a need. 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. The answering machine will also be checked daily. During these times, we ask everyone to pray together for each other, our church family, our community, our country, and our world.
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:
Nancy Ackerman
Angela Bailey
Francis Bell
Phillip Bell
Sue Catoe
Carol Cauthen
Angie Dobson
John Elder
Myra Funderburk
Mike Gay
Catherine Hammond
JoAnn Hinson
Rick Joyner
Tommy Knight
Rev. Frank Lybrand
Bill McCorkle
Kevin McCorkle
Marie Moree
Harris Plyler
Marcene Plyler
Ann Powers
Scott Rape
John Rollins
Virginia Rollins
Bonnie Sears
Eva Small
Greg Smith
JoAnne Smith
Billy Sowell
Becky M. Steele
Robbie Stepp
Matthew Sweatt
Pat Vick
Myrtle Walker
Donna Walters
Ellen Walters
Kim Yost
Our President and Troops
Those affected by the COVID virus
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 this Sunday 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 2021 Upper Room Daily Devotionals are available for pick up at the church! We will place some of these in the church vestibule on the table and some in the plastic communication box outside of the life center doors where the buses are for those who do not attend worship or have access to the church for you to pick up. There are large and regular print copies available.
March 11: Michael Steen
March 12: Linda J. Pardue (Mrs. Jody)
March 13: Dustin Sweatt, Chariti Pardue
March 14: Kyle Morris
March 15: Mr. and Mrs. Ken Preslar
March 17: Brooke Haigler
The Record Speaks....
March 7, 2021

Present for Worship: 49
Needed each week for the General Fund $4,350
Received for General Fund $5,029
Received for Building Fund $75
Received for Needy Fund $10
Received for Epworth Children's Home $400

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