This week at Zion

 

Do you want to participate in an exciting opportunity to engage Christian brothers and sisters in an other country?  Yes? The Central Southeast Association (of which Zion is a member) has a partnership with Iglesia Mision Cristiana of Nicaragua.  We read in our Covenant Agreement that "we are invited by God to discover what the Body of Christ looks like from God's view of the whole human family, particularly as that family is found in Nicaragua and Ohio."

 

Sarah Newcomb and Pastor Pete will travel to Nicaragua June 12-22, 2013 with others from Central Ohio churches. We will worship with our partner churches, visit their mission outreach projects, and explore the natural beauty and historical significance of their land.   The cost of the trip is estimated to be $1500. (Travel costs vary. Assistance may be available for those unable to gather resources for the trip.)

 

Please see Pastor Pete or Sarah if you have an interest in traveling with us to Nicaragua.  Having participated in this trip last year, we can testify to the wonderful and transformative experience it was and will be again this year.  You will experience people, places and an environment which are probably unlike anything you have experienced in your life.  We hope you will consider this meaningful mission opportunity.

  

Well, our week with our guest families is coming to an end.  We have enjoyed the new friendships we have made, the abundant fellowship, the smiles and the laughter.  Our thanks to all who gave of themselves to cook and provide meals, to stay overnight at the church with our guests, and to come to the church during such a cold spell to share warmth and hospitality.

While our time with the families is concluding, the memories will remain.  As the Family Promise home on Winter Street nears completion, we wonder what the future will bring for our efforts to support those who unexpectedly find themselves without shelter.  Later this year, it is expected the home renovation will be completed and that we will be providing support services "just around the corner", and not here at the church.  This will prompt some changes but we welcome the challenge and the opportunity to continue to serve our families.

During my years as a politician, I was used to hearing phrases such as these; "reasonable minds might disagree" or "we must be more conversational and less confrontational" or "we can disagree without being disagreeable".

All of these statements express worthy sentiments but they do, nevertheless, state a sure fact of life.  We are not all of one mind.  There are matters incident to this human life that we are divided upon and that we feel very strongly about. Yet our Christian tradition stresses that we are all of one body, the Body of Christ.

Understanding that we might (and frequently do) disagree on important matters, how do we reconcile our feelings with others who feel just as strongly as we do?  There can be no doubt that Christ calls upon us to do just that.  This Sunday we will reflect upon the ministry of reconciliation Paul speaks about in the fifth chapter of 2nd Corinthians.

The notion of Shalom speaks to that state of being/living where harmony exists between God and God's children; between and among God's children with each other; and between God's children and God's creation, the environment.  We are a long way from realizing that state of affairs.  Every day brings news of further cultural divides within our nation and the world.  Must we resign ourselves to a bitterly divided world or is there hope for an alternative reality?

Come and let us reflect on just that notion.  See you on Sunday!  In Christ.  Pastor Pete.

 

Our Ministers of Property (MOP) have been very busy.  The rear entrance handicapped remote access "buttons" are working again!  Truth be told, they weren't broken; we just didn't know how to activate them.  (Yes, that was an embarrassing admission.)  Our ministers will meet on February 6 to finalize our "punch list" of items around the building and grounds which need to be tended to.  Please feel free to add to the list if you have items you have noticed which need to be fixed or replaced or repaired.

The long awaited sanctuary repairs are now nearing completion.  Those of us spending a lot of extra time at the church this week with Family Promise have marveled at the skill and work of the craftsmen who are laboring so diligently and carefully within our primary worship space.

Many thanks to our own Cheryl and Wayne Rogers who have spent a considerable amount of time getting a headstart on the "to do" list and have already made significant progress on some of the items.  In the near future you will be given the opportunity to "adopt a room" or "adopt a project" to complete with your family or friends if you wish to do so.

 

Kay Lundy                             Jeff Burkam

Lowell Allen                           Donna Jarrell

                The Families of Newtown