July 7, 2023

“But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ¹⁷‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ Matthew 11: 16-17

The Gospel of Matthew persistently affirms God’s reign, realized in the proclamation and teaching of Jesus which often brings both judgment and salvation, as well as both healing and division. This week’s lectionary reading brings to light the dynamic of this division. It focuses on the failure of those who have witnessed Jesus’ ministry of response and his ministry among those who sit on the fringes of society and the most vulnerable and do not respond.

Here, Jesus compares those who are rejecting the proclamation to street vendors sitting in the marketplace and refusing to play each other’s games (11:16-19). Matthew uses the expression “this generation” not to designate his contemporaries alone, but to those who are unfaithful, unrepentant, and ultimately violent in their defiance of God. Join us this Sunday, as we discovery how these scriptures relate to us and the relevance to us today!



        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 this 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.

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.

Attention Church Leaders: 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. 

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!!!

South Carolina Conference Lay Academy

August 5, 2023 Washington Street UMC Columbia

8:30-9 a.m. Registration

9-9:25 a.m. Greetings & Devotion

9:30-11:15 a.m. The Meaning of Grace (Rev. Ken Nelson) Plenary 1: Your Prayer Life Plenary 2: Discernment

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch

12:45-4:30 p.m. Course Breakout Sessions: Youth Basic (Melissa Williams and son, Bryce Williams) Discipleship Begins With Relationship (Tony Watson) God’s Mission…Our Journey (Tony Jackson) Living Our United Methodist Beliefs (UM Heritage) (Rev. Athena Cathcart & Ted Cathcart) Justice in Everyday Life (Rev. Bernie Mazyck) Ministry With The Forgotten (Rev. Steve Holler) Register online at bit.ly/LayAcademy Deadline: July 28, 2023 | Cost: $25 (+books) You must buy books for classes in advance (see next page) You spoke, we listened: Train the Trainer will be held in four different regions in September. Locations and dates will be provided at the Lay Academy. This training will be for new instructors and others who need to be updated. We suggest that you attend a site that is convenient for you.

July needs for HOPE in Lancaster: Particular needs in July: Peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, stuffing mix, canned meat, jelly, canned pasta, and green beans. 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.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

It is a beautiful thing when a body of believers work together to grow the kingdom of God. That is what you did when you came together as the hands and feet that feed the missioners of Salkehatchie and poured into them the love and strength that they needed to complete their week successfully. The banner that goes along with this letter for you is one that was put in the center of our Salkehatchie cross forty days before the camp (this will be placed on the vestibule bulletin board). We place it there to remind us that God is providing for us through people like you. You may not be on the sites themselves, but you are responsible for strengthening those that are there. There would be no Salkehatchie without you. We thank you for the delicious food and drinks but equally for the smiles, the kind, encouraging words, and your prayers. You are our foundation! Thank you from all of us!!

- David and Susan Hagins

Co-directors—Lancaster Salkehatchie Summer Service

Our deepest love and sympathy are extended to Beth Craig and her family in the death of her mother, Ann Powers. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 8 at 11:00 am at Douglas Presbyterian Church, 2325 Sunday Place, Lancaster, SC.

Special Gifts to Children's Ministry

In Honor of:

Colton Thomas and his team by Jamison Craig

Visitor on 7/2: John Sistare.

July 9: Ashley Thomas

July 10: Tammy Hayes, Alicia Morris, Tony Broughton, Myra Funderburk

July 11: Phillip Hayes, Elfreida Plyler

July 12: Jimmy Parker

July 14: Tommy Baker, Suzanne Evans

The Record Speaks....

Present for 7/2 Sunday School: 43

Present for 7/2 Worship: 72

Needed each week for General Fund: $4,182

Received for General Fund: $3,866

Received for Building Fund: $20

Received for Children's Ministry: $20

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