Zion’s (Spies) Evangelical Reformed Church
September 2023
Parson’s points
A FAITH THAT STANDS
It would be great if I could tell you as a pastor that there would never be a time when your faith and confidence in God will be tested, or that attending church would result in smooth sailing, Unfortunately, scripture paints a different picture. At some point, everyone’s faith is tested and must stand and be counted. Believing that you can do things on your own is not the faith we ought to be seeking – faith in God is faith in him alone. The sort of faith that trusts in God in all we do isn’t something we can just turn on. It is not there at our disposal for those occasions when we need it.
Faith and confidence in God needs to be developed over time and through experience. Just like human relationships, the better the relationship – the more confidence. For many people, getting right with God involves fixing up their own lives as best they can. But this misses the point – no one can fix their own life in such a way. Being good, going to church, tithing – these things are good things to do, but they should not stem from trying to be good enough, but rather come from a heart of gratitude for good enough comes as a gracious gift of God through the cross.
Developing a faith that can stand begins with accepting your need for such grace and trusting the one who provides it to see his work in you through to its completion. This trust develops as we allow God to speak to us through reading his word, through times of prayer and meditation on his word. The word of God is a source of faith.
In His Service,
Pastor Vaughn & Lisa Starr
610-396-5942
BIBLE SUNDAY - Sept. 10th, 10:30 A.M.
Happy Grandparent’s Day! September 10th
MEN’S MINISTRIES
As always, Zion’s (Spies) Men’s Ministries invites all men of the congregation to participate in our meetings and activities. We will meet.
Sept. 9th @ 8:00 A.M.
STEWARDSHIP
Next meeting September 18th to work on the
2024 budget @ 6:00 p.m.
BREAKFAST CLUB
September 13th, @ 8 A.M. @ Chatty’s
September 26th, @ 8 A.M. @ Mt. Penn Family
HARVEST HOME SUNDAY
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th
10:30 A.M. Morning Worship-Inside
You are invited and encouraged to bring food (non-perishable) items representing this season’s harvest to the grove to be placed on a table provided when you arrive. We thank you for your contributions and willingness to participate at this special time. Bake Sale after the service.
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Fall is just around the corner, our children are starting back to school, it’s a new church year. We would love to have you as part of our team. We’re looking for volunteers to step up as a leader in Sunday School, consistory, men’s ministries and women’s ministries. I was superintendent of the Sunday School and I am President of the consistory till my term in February. I am giving up my superintendent position to focus more on my family. That being said, the Sunday School is looking for a superintendent. This can be anyone in the church who has a desire to bring new ideas to the board, run the meetings which are 5 times a year and have a faithful mind set. Please prayerfully consider this position.
On September 10, 2023 we will have Bible Sunday. The Sunday School Board and Women’s Ministries Officers will also be installed and dedicated on September 10th. Our next meeting is September 12th @ 7:00 P.M.
Blessings, Doris Parr
Special Music Thanks:
A sincere thanks to all who provided special music throughout the summer. You made each service special! Remember choir practice starts September 7th @ 7 P.M. Jeff Griffin
BIRTHDAY CARD SHOWER LISTS
Card shower lists for members of our congregation 80 yrs. of age and over provided by Evangelism Outreach, the list is available on our church website www.zionspieser.com or on the table under the pavilion or in the Narthex.
Help us honor these special folks.
CALENDARS AND DAY PLANNERS
The various charities are starting to send out their 2024 calendars. If you do not want them please bring them to the church and give them to Linda Wilson. She will pass them on to the soup kitchen.
DINNER AT STOLTZFUS’S
The Stoltzfus’s meal this year will include meatloaf and chicken. September 30th @ 4 P.M. $18 per person.
If interested, please contact John or Eleanor Noll 610-929-5228
ELDERS/CONSISTORY MEETING
Our next meeting will be MONDAY,
September 18th Elders @ 7:00 P.M.
Consistory @ 7:30 P.M.
OLEY FAIR
On Thursday, September 21st help is needed at the food stand at the Oley Fair. The work shift is: 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (2 people may split this shift) We will need 20-25 people. A sign-up sheet is on the table under the pavilion or call Sue Barnett 610-779-9787-office
Sign –up deadline September 17th.
SPIES DART BASEBALL
September 6th – @Zion’s Spies E.R.
September 13th – @ Zion Spies Lutheran
September 20th – @ Zion’s Spies E.R.
September 27th – @ Christ Lutheran Spangsville
Questions call Kenny Manwiller at 610-944-0729.
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES UPDATE
This month brings the beginning of the Fall season on the 23rd. With that in mind, we celebrate Harvest Home Sunday on the 24th. This is a time for our church members to bring non-perishable food items which are then given to The Hope Rescue Mission. Also, our group will once again have baked goods for sale after church. Any donations of baked goods will be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off that day.
As always it is our goal to keep God and his Son at the center of our busyness, and we invite ALL the women of the church, whether members or not, to join us at our monthly meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month. Our meetings usually last about an hour, but it’s an hour spent in Christian fellowship with each other. The next meeting will be September 12th at 11:00 A.M.
BOOKS FOR THE BAZAAR
Linda Wilson will be looking for hardcover book donations for the November 4th Bazaar. Thank you.
JUST A REMINDER! Please remember to notify the church office regarding anyone in the hospital or of any transfers from hospitals to home or to any other facility. It becomes difficult sometimes to keep up with everyone’s moves which results in extra traveling.
Thanks so much.
CONTEMPORARY CHURCH SERVICES
Saved by Faith modern worship style services will begin here at Zion’s Spies ER starting September 9, 2023. These services will run on Saturday evenings from 7:00-8:00 with a time of fellowship to follow. Needless to say, this proposal will take a great deal of effort to bring into reality.
Please keep this endeavor in your prayers. Pray that we might reach those in our community who
need to hear the Word. Pray for the revival of our church – that the younger generations would be drawn to our church. Pray that people will come forward to support this outreach – we need additional musicians and technical people to help run the service. In addition to prayer, please spread the word. Invite others to join us this fall.
Pastor Vaughn
HELP NEEDED
We are seeking a talented guitar player and other musicians interested in helping out with our contemporary services beginning in September. Please contact Pastor Vaughn with questions.
Pastor Vaughn 610-396-5942
HELP OUR HOMELESS VETERANS –
The next date for items due to make 30 lunches for the homeless vets is on Sept. 17th. We will make them during the week, probably Wed, Sept. 20th. We are still looking for fresh fruit, small plastic containers of fruit or applesauce, or puddings (ones that don’t need a can opener). Call the church office if you would like to make a food donation to the vet lunches and Sue will sign you up. It can be dropped off on Sundays to Sue or during the week when Sue is in the office. Mon. –Thurs. 9am-2pm.
Please have your donations in by (Sept. 17th), with the exceptions of the bread and fresh fruit. The monetary and food donations from our church family have been very generous. With the help of God, we are making a significant difference in many lives. Our thanks to all that support this mission. Because God gives us all we need, we should give to those in need.
WORLD WIDE COMMUNION SUNDAY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2023
10:30 A.M.
“This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
“This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
BE WITH US AS WE SHARE THE BREAD AND WINE WITH CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD REMEMBERING CHRIST’S SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS, GIVEN FOR OUR SINS.
LAYMAN’S SUNDAY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8th – 10:30 A.M.
Members of the church family will participate in the morning service and the message will be given by Max Muller
OCTOBER 15th IS PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY
We would like to shower Pastor Starr with cards to show our appreciation. There will be a basket on October 8th & 15th to collect all your cards and or small tokens of appreciation.
REDNER’S SAVE-A-TAPE PROGRAM
Save your Redner’s receipts. You must have a Redner’s card which you can easily get at their customer service area. After using your card when paying for groceries your register tape will have on it (about half way down) Today’s 1% Save-A-Tape total is____. This must be on the tape to make it viable. Use it also for gas purchases. Thank you and if you have any questions see me or Sue Barnett who has been helping me with the program. Linda Wilson
NEWLETTER ARTICLES
ARE DUE THE SECOND TO LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH. This Month Sept. 17th.
Work for the Lord
Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long, and the pay is low.
But the retirement benefits are out of this world.
GRANDPARENT’S DAY
A grandparent is the grandest mom or dad,
Not just because of all the kids they've had;
They've seen and done and known so many things
We honor them like preachers, priests and kings.
They tell us of a way of life that's past
When the world wasn't moving quite so fast.
When the family sat together every day,
To eat, to laugh, to sing, to talk, to pray.
The road we walk now they have seen before,
The tears we shed, they shed a whole lot more.
They understand our feelings, joy or pain.
They know the path; they've walked the dusty lane.
What can we do to honor these dear Grand’s?
We have no gift to place in weathered hands,
To adequately show how much we care.
Or prove to them how great the love we share.
Yet there is something awesome we can do
To show beyond a doubt our love is true.
If what they've taught is seen in how we live,
This is the best gift we could ever give.
- Unknown Author
THE SECRET OF LIVING
The Secret of living is learning to pray
It’s asking our Father for strength for the day!
It’s trusting completely that His boundless grace
Will overcome care and each problem we face!
It’s walking by faith every mile that we plod,
And knowing our prayers bring us closer to God!
What is it like to you?
Mortal: What is a million years like to you?
God: Like one second.
Mortal: What is a million dollars like to you?
God: Like one penny.
Mortal: Can I have a penny?
God: Just a second.
JUST THE TICKET
When a police officer stopped a woman because her young daughter was riding in a car without the required booster seat, he could have written her a ticket for a traffic violation. Instead, he asked the mother and daughter to meet him at a nearby store where he personally paid for the needed car seat. The mother was going through a difficult time and could not afford to buy a seat.
Although the woman should have received a fine for her misdemeanor, she walked away with a gift instead. Anyone who knows Christ has experienced something similar. All of us deserve a penalty for breaking God’s laws (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Yet, because of Jesus, we experience undeserved favor from God. This favor excuses us from the ultimate consequence for our sin, which is death and eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins” (Ephesians 1:7).
Some refer to grace as “love in action.” When the young mother experienced this, she later remarked, “I will be forever grateful! . . . And as soon as I can afford it I will be paying it forward.” This grateful and big-hearted response to the officer’s gift is an inspiring example for those of us who have received the gift of God’s grace! --Jennifer Benson Schuldt God’s gift is grace.
GOD’S ANSWER TO PRAYERS
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Yes
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Not yet
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I have something better in mind.
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MONTHLY PRAYER LIST
Monthly prayer lists are located on the side table in the Narthex. If you have requests for the list, you can fill out a prayer request form which will be on the table in the Narthex and give the information to Bob Hallman 610-779-9376.If you have any questions about this list or our prayer chain you can see Bob Hallman or Carol Christman. New lists will be available the first Sunday of each month.
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PRAYER REQUEST FORM
Please pray for___________________________
Prayer needs_____________________________
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Your name (will be used to get updates)
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