Zion's October 2009 Newsletter

A Real Church for Real Life

October 2009

Vol. 2 No. 2

891 Coply St., Palm Bay, FL 32909 www.ziononline.com

Our Mission:

To walk with people in their journey of faith; helping them to know Christ and grow in their relationship with Him.

Dr. Tom Walker, Senior Pastor

Rudy Greco, Associate Pastor

Milton Mazariegos, Family Life Pastor

In This Issue

Pastor's Corner

Find Your Place at Zion

Flu Season Update

Flip Kids Student Ministry

Worship and Music

A Healthy 3-On-3 Prayer Model

Home Group Leader Tip of the Month

Get Connected!

Online Giving Now Available

Pastor's Corner

Welcome to our second Zion e-newsletter! I hope you find it informative and useful as a way to get and stay connected to Zion. Each edition will include news about various ministries and activities, and will highlight a different ministry monthly.

This month, we spotlight Connect Groups. The goal is to to enable us to build friendships outside of Sunday morning and grow in understanding God and His purposes in our world. Our mission is "to walk with people in their journey of faith, helping them to know Christ and grow in relationship with Him." What better way to do this than through Connect Groups?

Connect Groups can be placed in four catagories:

Interest Groups

Whether it is on a golf course, a softball team, writers club, or a variety of other opportunities, these groups offer a chance to meet others who share similar interests.

Support Groups

Jesus formed the Church to enable us to grow in our faith and overcome past choices. Zion's support groups are here to help in that journey.

Growth Groups

If you are interested in a Bible study, learning how to have a stronger marriage, or understanding how Christianity stacks up against other religions then growth Groups are for you.

Home Groups

Several groups of 10 to 15 people meet weekly to discuss the Bible and pray together. We like to say these people are learning to do life together.

Please take the opportunity to become a part of one of these groups. Not only will you make some good friends and have a great time, but you will grow in your faith. Together, we become the individuals and the people God intended us to be.

Serving together,

Pastor Tom

Find Your Place at Zion

Thanks to the 73 people who completed the "Finding Your Place" Skills and Interest questionnaire. It reminds us that Zion has a rich pool of talent and skills. We hope you will find an area that you're interested in and enjoy serving God.

For some this will mean plugging into an existing ministry, while others will get to use their gifts and skills as needs arise. If you are interested in a current ministry, a ministry leader will be contacting you. If you were not contacted, please call the church office as we may not have had a phone number or e-mail address to reach you.

If you are interested in serving or have questions, contact Sue Walker at (321) 723-1216.

Flu Season Update

The new H1N1 strain is causing problems around the globe. Like other strains of flu, symptoms include fever, chills, sneezing, coughing and sore throat. If you or your family suffers these symptoms, the best defense would be to stay at home and avoid going out in public to work, school, church or shopping. For your own health as well as the health of others, you need to take precautions to prevent the illness from spreading.

As per CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines, we ask that children and staff (including volunteers with children) who have flu symptoms stay at home. Volunteers: If you or your child is sick, call the church and we will find replacement staff.

Other prevention tips:

Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and wash your hands. For added protection use a hand sanitizer. Zion has hand sanitizer available in each classroom, and staff is instructed to wash their hands between contact with every child. Toys are also sanitized per state guidelines.

Contact your primary care physician or the health department about annual flu shots. Physicians usually start inoculations in September. A separate vaccination for H1N1 may be available in October. Check with your physician or health department and follow their instructions.

May God's rich blessings and safety surround you.
Jeremiah 30-17 "Your healing shall spring forth speedily."

Flip Kids Student Ministry

praise

We're really excited to see what God is doing through our kids, but more importantly, what He is doing in them. They are making commitments to follow Christ and are becoming a working part of the ministry. We're gearing up for this year's Flip Kids Fall Festival on October 31. It will have something for the entire family and there will be areas where you can serve. We will need help with carnival games and booths, hay rides, bounce houses and much more. Please call Pastor Milton if interested in helping with this event.

Quote of the month:
You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~ Desmond Tutu

Book of the month:
"The Heart of Anger" by Lou Priolo
Description: Do you have an angry child? Do you know someone who does? Do you know that parents often unknowingly provoke their children to the point of anger? This is a manual for parents seeking to correct or prevent the development of those angry responses that characterize what the Bible calls "an angry man."

Worship and Music

One of the most important things we do at Zion Church is come together and encounter the power of God's presence. Music itself is not worship - it is a language of worship. It is one of the ways we express our love to our Creator. What a privilege it is to unite with one another, giving praise and thanks to God, while allowing Him to draw close to us! Aristotle once said, "Music has the power to shape character." God created music for his delight. So, when we use it to give Him thanks (Psalm 92:1), to celebrate His faithfulness (Psalm 92:2), or to bring Him honor for all He has done (Psalm 100:2), we are using music as an act of worship. Although music itself may not be worship, it is most definitely a powerful love language to our King!

A Healthy 3-On-3 Prayer Model

A 3-On-3 is three people getting together once a week for 15 minutes to pray. In a committed 3-On-3, relationships are built, personal needs are shared and a sense of spiritual accountability is formed.

Guidelines for a Healthy 3-On-3 Prayer:

3-On-3 works best when three people are committed It is fine to start with two people, but ieventually expand it to three. A 3-On-3 with only two people can be intimidating to the less assertive person. With four people, it borders on becoming a prayer meeting.

Select a time best suited for your schedule Be consistent and, in a positive way, hold one another accountable. There will be times when you won't feel like praying, but make it a priority and guard your time.

When gathering, remember the key is to pray Minimize socializing or just chatting; spend the time designated to pray.

Allow plenty of room for the shy and quiet person Many avoid prayer gatherings because they are intimidated. The 3-On-3 model gives a great opportunity for the shy person to begin to overcome those barriers. It's okay to listen in and agree silently. Single sentence prayers are encouraged. Be reminded that God is not looking for eloquent "pray-ers". He is looking for sincere hearts.

Encourage one another Don't allow this to be a time of discussion or evaluation of what you think church should be. That would defeat the purpose. Instead, pray for God's heart and let Him do the rest.

For questions, contact Sue Walker at 321-723-1216.

Home Group Leader Tip of the Month

Five habits that create a grace-filled, truth telling Home Group:

1. Care

* Being "for" each other.

* Encouraging one other.

* Coming alongside one another.

2. Safety

* Exemplify a "come-as-you-are" culture.

* Feeling safe enough to be yourself.

* Accepting each other unconditionally.

3. Authenticity

* Being "real" with each other.

* Taking relational risks with one another.

4. Growth

* Motivating each other to take growth steps.

* Identifying areas where growth needs to happen.

5. Help

* Providing resources others may need (this can something as

practical as helping someone move, filing tax returns, etc.)

* Asking others for help when you need it

(Excerpts from ReGroup by Henry Cloud, Bill Donahue, & John Townsend 2007)

CONNECT GROUPS

Connect Groups offer many ways for you to get involved in the life of the church in group settings. Strengthen your bonds with others, grow deeper in your faith and enjoy the journey!

Home Groups Develop friendships and experience a real church family. Home Groups meet weekly in the evenings for Bible study, food and fun!

Interest Groups We have lots of acivities and events indoors or out!