June 30, 2023

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” Matthew 10:40-42

This week’s scripture lesson, from the end of Chapter 10 of Matthew, is Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples before being sent out on their missionary journeys. Words that many of us either glance over, or disregard as not being pertinent to us in today’s world. But are they?  Yes, of course these instruction are important, after all, they are from Jesus!   

And let us also not forget that all Christians are sent!  We are all sent to deliver the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are both called and sent to deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  But what about these rewards that are spoken of: the prophet’s reward, and the reward of the righteous?   And what about the “cold” glass of water analogy? Join us Sunday for those answers and more, as we also listen to Patriotic Melodies from our choir to celebrate our nation’s birthday. 

Happy Fourth of July!

                                    Pastor John

July Worship Greeters and Ushers:

Worship Greeter: Marion Curtis

Ushers: Steve Moseley, Will Moseley, Steve Duell, and Steven Duell

The Trustees are asked to meet briefly following worship on Sunday, July 9 in the Sanctuary.

A Meal Train for the Plyler Family!

Doug Plyler, who is the provided caregiver for Laura Plyler, recently broke his wrist at work. This family of three adults could use a little help with meals. Either home cooked, or fast food delivered to 1713 Hillside Drive between 6 and 8 pm. Gift cards are also appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact Terry Robinson, 803-283-7195.

We will have our July Grief Support Group meetings on Monday, July 10 and Monday, July 24 at 11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall.

Tony Neal Scholarship Applications are available in the church vestibule. Completed applications will need to be turned in to the church office by Sunday, July 2 for consideration. Scholarships will be awarded on Sunday, August 13 during worship.

If your group or team is interested in using Zion's ballfield, please contact Shawn Thomas, 803-984-9954. Shawn will be coordinating field usage for the church family. As in use of all facilities, a church member has to be present during use due to liability.

2023 is half complete and we have committees that have not met this year. If you are chair of a committee; Education, Children, Youth, Missions, etc., and have not had a planning meeting, please let the church office know when your committee would like to meet. Our Trustees, Council on Ministries, and Administrative Board are planning upcoming meetings so the need for planning meetings from our ministry/outreach committees is imperative. To be the hands and feet of Christ, we need to be working in and around our community, town, and country to grow the outreach of Christ and help to expand His Ministry. The Administrative Committees will plan meetings after allowing our Ministry Committees time to meet so that we can properly approve planning, facility usage and also plan for our upcoming budget and focus of the church. 

Save your Cardboard Boxes!   Keli would like to have them for VBS. Drop off to the toddler room by July 1st. Thank you!!

The Chosen, Season 3

Join us on Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary for our Bible study of The Chosen, Season 3.

Facility usage: If you (a church member) or a church committee/group uses the facilities, please take note of the guidelines that were approved by the Administrative Board for usage. Following use, any arrangement of tables and chairs, etc., needs to be put away, restrooms need to be checked for toilets being flushed, running water in restrooms, lights turned off, garbage taken out, and thermostats returned to non use temps (80 degrees in summer months and 60 degrees in winter months). This is especially important when we have families using the facilities for personal use. You are asked that if you have food on the floors and spills on the floors that you do clean those up so that the facilities will be ready for the next group to use the building. We do have custodial staff that clean the buildings however, they are only paid to clean once a week. If you do not wish to clean up after use, you may contact the church office about paying for a reclean of any facility however, the buildings should be left how you found them when you arrived. The biggest problem lately has been garbage, toilets not flushed or running and lights being left on and garbage not being removed from the buildings. We are a big Zion Church family and we need to make sure that we are doing our part to be good stewards of our buildings and utilities. If you would like to see the Facility Use Guidelines that are in place, these are available in the church office and will be posted in the TFLC and Fellowship Hall this week. Thank you all for taking care of what we have been blessed with!!!

June is our month to support HOPE in Lancaster with donations of food for those less fortunate. Particular needs in June: Rice (1lb. bags), Dry beans (1 lb. bags), Spaghetti Noodles, spaghetti Sauce, Jiffy corn muffin mix, pasta, canned potatoes, and peanut butter. Please place your donations in the vestibule collection box.

There are several reservations through the summer months for the TFLC. All reservations are church family but I just wanted you to be aware that we need to not assume the facility is always available so please contact Missy at 803-804-2434 if you have need to use the facilities.

General Fund Expenditures May 2023

Duke Energy…..482.13

Staff Salaries…..5,170.39

Constant Contact…..21.60

SC Conference Treasurer (apportionments and Epworth Budget and offerings)…..4,227.85 

Food Lion (Community Outreach/Buford High School)…..68.85

SC Conf Direct Billing (Retirement & Ins)…..2,250.66

Three Boys Lawn Service…..700.00

Hazel Robinson (bus gas)…..52.00

Keli Thomas (Children's Ministry)…..70.66

Perry's Pest Control…..180.00

Rural Garbage…...190.00

Wycliffe Bible Translators…..333.34

Comporium…..249.01

Amazon (graduation gifts)…..32.38

LCWSD…...160.28

Quill (office 68.19, kitchen 290.25)…..358.44

US Treasury (withholding taxes)…..462.16

The Upper Room…..101.20 

Wespath…..100.00

Quill (ofc 45.35, kitchen 182.50)…..227.85

Lifeway (literature)…..156.70

David C. Cook (literature)…..158.58

LCNGA…..174.41

US Postmaster (stamps)…..189.00

Group Publishing (children's Ministry)…..81.45

Custodial…..712.00

Breeze…..72.00

Wells Fargo (service charges)…..6.00

Dear Zion Church, On behalf of all of us at HOPE in Lancaster, please let me extend our sincere thanks for your donation of 18 lbs of food donated in the month of May! Thank you from all of us here at HOPE and thank you on behalf of all the people who will benefit from your kindness.

Grace N. Lewis, Hope In Lancaster

Special Gifts to Zion Church

In Honor of:

“Loved Ones” by Jack and Becky

In Memory of:

"Loved Ones" by Jack and Becky

In loving memory of Jamie Craig by Beth Craig

Special Gifts to Building Fund

In Honor of:

"Loved Ones" by Jack and Becky

In Memory of:

"Loved Ones" by Jack and Becky

June 30: Gabriel Salisbury, Mr. and Mrs. Rock Love

July 1: Bryson Sweatt

July 2: Missy Parker

July 3: Hazel Robinson

July 4: Annette Couch

July 5: Susan Scott, Milburn Small

July 6: Cameron Moree

The Record Speaks....

Present for 6/25 Sunday School: 39

Present for 6/25 Worship: 55

Needed each week for General Fund: $4,182

Received for General Fund: $2,448

Received for Building Fund: $150

Received for Needy Fund: $8

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