Zion’s (Spies) Evangelical Reformed Church
APRIL 2026
Parson’s points
Experiencing The Crucifixion
We often look at the cross and see a historical event or a tragic end. But when we truly behold Christ crucified, we aren't just looking at a moment in time; we are looking into a mirror that reveals who we were and a window into who we are becoming.
The transformation begins when the "I" of our ego is eclipsed by the "He" of His sacrifice.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul declares, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." This is the great exchange. As we gaze upon His finished work, the power of sin—which relies on our effort and our shame—is broken. We see our old selves, with every failure and every heavy chain, pinned to that wood.
Seeing Christ crucified transforms us from striving to receiving. We stop trying to "fix" ourselves through shallow religion and start being "rewired" by His grace. The cross proves that God did not come to condemn the world, but to save it through Him. When we internalize the reality of His suffering, our hearts of stone are replaced with hearts of flesh. We are born anew, not by our own will, but by the Spirit that flowed from His side.
To look at the cross is to be set free from shame. The gaze of the world judges, but the gaze of the Crucified King restores. Let us linger at the foot of the cross until His likeness is etched upon our souls.
In His Service, Pastor Vaughn & Lisa
BREAKFAST CLUB
April 8, @ 8 A.M. @ Chatty’s
April 21, @ 8 A.M. @ Mt. Penn
MAUNDY THURSDAY
HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE
April 2nd @ 7:30 P.M.
“Tenebrae Service” (Service of Lights)
Holy Communion at the Chancel Rail.
Join us for this special time.
EASTER SUNDAY
April 5th @ 9:00 A.M.
Join the Lutherans @ 7:00 A.M. in the cemetery
Light breakfast before the service @ 8:00 A.M.
NEWLETTER ARTICLES
ARE DUE THE SECOND TO LAST SUNDAY
GOOD FRIDAY PRAYER VIGIL
April 3rd, 2 P.M. -6 P.M.
As in previous years, we anticipate having one or
more persons in the church sanctuary for silent
prayer in all time slots throughout the day.
“Our Church Family List”
will be available in the Narthex so that you may take from the list as many persons as you will be praying for. May you be encouraged to sign up for one or more time slots as soon as possible on the sheet provided in the Narthex
MEN’S MINISTRIES
Our next meeting will be April 11th at 7:30 A.M.
All men encouraged to come and share in the food and fellowship.
ANSWERS GROUP
Have you become estranged from the church? Do you struggle to believe? Do you have questions and you’re not sure where to get the right answers? Well – this is what our Answers Group is all about – a safe, non-judgmental place where you can find out more about the evidence for Jesus. Beginning
April 9 Answers will meet Thursday evenings at 7:00 in the Fellowship Room.
CONSISTORY MEETING
Our next meeting will be MONDAY,
April 20th Stewardship @ 6:30 P.M.
Elders @ 7:00 P.M.
Consistory @ 7:30 P.M.
BIRTHDAY CARD SHOWER SHEETS
for January thru April 2025 available on the Narthex table for anyone willing to participate in sending cards to church family members 80 yrs. & over. Also available on our church website
STEWARDSHIP
The first meeting of the year for our Stewardship Committee will be on April 20th at 6:30 P.M. in our Social Room of the church. Join us as we check out how our budget is progressing for the year 2025. If you are interested in this aspect of church planning, please come and join us for this half-hour meeting. More input is needed.
STATISTICS
ATTENDANCE
JANUARY FEBRUARY
01/04/26 70 02/01/26 45
01/11/26 62 02/08/26 37
01/18/26 snow 02/15/26 61
01/25/26 snow 02/18/26-Ash Wed.23
02/22/26 snow
GAINS (0)
LOSSES / TRANSFERRED (0)
DEATHS (1)
Esther Bedard
MEMBERSHIP
March 25, 2026 257
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Barnett, Secretary
CHURCH TREASURER’S REPORT
JANUARY 2026
Congregational Offering Receipts $ 6,783.00
Total Operating Expenses $16,612.81
FEBRUARY 2026
Congregational Offering Receipts $ 11,321.00
Total Operating Expenses $ 10,825.45
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Barnett, Treasurer
2026 ALTAR FLOWER/BULLETIN SPONSOR CALENDAR
The new altar flower and bulletin reservation calendar is available in the Narthex. Please reserve a date now. Should a specific date already be filled, you are invited to sponsor a “separate arrangement” on that date which will be placed in the chancel area.
April 19th and May dates available
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES UPDATE
Thank goodness winter has ended and now we can begin to enjoy spring weather. This month the women will once again decorate the sanctuary with colorful flowers which were donated by our members to celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.
Our ladies are also preparing for the Family Banquet to be held on May 2nd. Please stop by the table in the Narthex to sign up if you are planning to attend. Cost is $16 for adults and no charge for children and youth up to age 18. Tickets are available from Sue Barnett and MUST be purchased no later than April 19th, as that is the deadline for us to notify the caterer. (See the full-page ad included in this newsletter.)
We are still selling tickets for a small cold sandwich from M & M Sandwich Shop in Oley.
Any lady interested in attending our meetings is welcome to join us and become a member. We meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month all year round. Next meeting will be April 14th at 11:00 A.M.
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.
HELP OUR HOMELESS VETERANS
They are no longer taking clothes, blankets or sleeping bags. Donations they do need are hand soap, wipes, toilet paper, and paper towels. Envelopes are available on top of the mailboxes if you would like to make a monetary donation. Our thanks to all that support this mission. Because God gives us all we need, we should give to those in need. Sign-up on the table in the Narthex.
Next Lunches May 17th
EVANGELISM & OUTREACH
On March 18th we once again made lunches for the Homeless Veterans, many thanks to all who helped prepare the lunches and to everyone who contributed food items and money. Remember we collect these items at all times, and they can be placed in the social hall near the stage, also there are always envelopes on top of the mailboxes for monetary donations. We sent another $500 in gift cards to Doug & Liz Graybill along with the lunches. Just a FYI, since we started collecting for the Vets Jan. 2012 thru Dec. 2025 we have brought in $44,157.
We will have our next meeting on May 12th @ 7 P.M. along with the Future Planning committee. We will begin planning our July Flea Market and any other summer events. We are always looking for new members, why not come out and join us.
2026 NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
The upcoming Annual National Day of Prayer is on May 7, 2026. The theme for 2026 is
“Glorify God Among the Nations Seeking Him In All Generations”
I Chronicles 16:24
Please mark your calendar now to come out and join in prayer for our nation @ 7:00 P.M.
GRADUATE RECOGNITION
Anyone graduating from college or high school is asked to contact Sue Barnett, at the church office at 610-779-9787 so that they can be recognized during the church service on June 28th. Please fill out a form which can be found on the table in the Narthex and hand in to Sue Barnett.
REDNER’S SAVE A TAPE PROGRAM
This program is going well thanks to all who donate your receipts. Please hand your receipts to Linda Wilson or Sue Barnett or place in the wooden box above the food pantry. Thank you
SPECIAL MUSIC NEEDED
I am looking for special music for the summer months when we go outdoors. Please see me! Thanks. Jeff Griffin
610-217-7624.
FREEBAY EVENT
JUNE 27, 2026
8:00 A.M.- 12:00 P.M.
Everything is free
Start saving donation items now. They may be dropped off at the church 2 weeks before the event.
A list of the type of items we are looking for is on the table in the Narthex.
CHURCH PICNIC- JUNE 28th
We will have our Church service in the church grove @10:30 A.M.
Following the service, we will have the Sunday School/Church picnic.
JULY FLEA MARKET
FESTIVAL- JULY 18th -Date change
7:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Come join us for the day. Flea Market starts at
7 A.M. There will be food-TBD. The women’s Ministries will have a baked goods stand - any donations appreciated. More information in the May Newsletter. If you would like to offer your services and volunteer for any part of the day, call the church office at 610-779-9787
Linda Wilson is looking for paperback books for the church stand.
OUTDOOR SERVICES FOR 2026
Our last Sunday inside will be May 31st which is Trinity Sunday with Holy Communion. This will also be the first communion for our confirmands.
The month of June we will be outside.
July 5th will be an indoor service with Holy Communion, the rest of July outside. August 2nd will be an indoor service with Holy Communion, the rest of August outside.
We will move inside if the temperature is going to be above 85 ° or rain is expected.
We will move back inside for services on
September 6th.
PRAYER REQUEST FORM
Please pray for___________________________
Prayer needs_____________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Your name (will be used to get updates)
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