Zion’s (Spies) Evangelical Reformed Church
January 2026
Parson’s points
God – The Architect of the New
Once again, our clocks have completed their annual cycles, and we find ourselves standing at the threshold of another new year. At such times as these we often find ourselves looking back at the year and the years gone by. What has been has become comfortable to us – the good and the bad alike. We recall the high points of life and those whose lives have intersected with our own – some whom we have loved and others we have failed to love as Christ has loved us. We take stock of ourselves – our growth, the mistakes we have made, the burdens we have carried, the areas we know we need to turn over to the Lord but continue to resist. And then we look at 2026 – this still foreign territory into which we are about to venture. And we wonder and worry – will 2026 be a good year or a difficult one?
Either way, the beautiful truth of the Gospel is that God is the architect of the new. While our attention is on the flip of the calendar page, in reality, it is you and I that truly change as we are a new creation and continue to edge towards Christlikeness. No doubt, as long as we live we will continue to experience the refining that nudges us in that direction and surely 2026 will involve more refining. While the burning away of the refining process sounds painful and terrible, all we will lose through it is the worthless and fruitless aspects of our lives. While we do not know the challenges that will lead us through this pruning process, we do know the God in control of it all. So, we boldly face the future trusting in HIM and, as Philippians 3:13-14 suggests, forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, we press on towards the goal – to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.
We may not know the future, but we know who does – and he promises us that His plan is altogether good. Happy 2026.
In His Service,
Pastor Vaughn and Lisa Starr
NEW YEAR HOLY COMMUNION - SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026 – 10:30 A.M.
Join us as together we begin the New Year,
serving the Lord.
MEN’S MINISTRIES
Next meeting, January 10th at 7:30 A.M.
BREAKFAST CLUB
January 7th, @ 8 A.M. @ Chatty’s
January 20th, @ 8 A.M. @ Mt. Penn
JANUARY 17th SPAGHETTI SUPPER
4-7 P.M.
All you can eat spaghetti dinner and salad bar.
Adults $12.00 / Children (6-12) $6.00
Donations of dessert would be appreciated.
YOUTH SUNDAY
January 18, 2026
Come join us and support our youth.
SPIES DART BASEBALL
January 7th – @ Zion Spies Lutheran
January 14th – @ Grace (Zion Spies Lutheran)
January 21st – @ Zion’s Spies E.R.
January 28th – BYE
Questions call Kenny Manwiller at 484-332-8092.
2026 ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING…
The annual meeting of the Zion’s Spies Evangelical Reformed Church will be held –
Sunday, February 8, 2026
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE MORNING SERVICE. We trust you will be present for this very important time in the life of the congregation
2026 ALTAR FLOWER / BULLETIN CALENDER
The new Altar Flower/Bulletin Reservation Calendar has been placed in the Narthex, on the back bulletin board, for your use. Please use ONLY the dry erase marker that is provided. Should a specific date have already been filled, you are invited to sponsor a “separate arrangement” on that date which will be placed in the chancel area.
Many January/February dates available please think about signing up for a Sunday
Altar Flowers -$45 Centerpiece-$35
FUTURE PLANNING
A new church worship calendar is available on the table in the Narthex for your use in the coming year.
NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
ARE DUE THE SECOND TO LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH
PLEASE HELP
PLEASE save your extra 2026 Calendars / Day Planners. Calendars will be accepted till
January 11th. Give them to Linda Wilson.
EVANGELISM & OUTREACH
What a great year we had in 2025 continuing our mission for the homeless veterans, thank you for the wonderful support from everyone. We made lunches for the homeless vets every other month. Lunches items are next due on January 18th. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex for food donations or call the church office to sign-up. We welcome everyone to attend our meetings, we are always glad to have new ideas and new faces.
FOOD PANTRY
Thank you to everyone who placed food in the cupboard in the church Narthex. All food is taken to The Hope Rescue along with the Vet Lunches every other month. Thanks again for your support.
STEWARDSHIP
After meeting over the past several months, a budget was agreed upon for the year 2026. It was presented to the congregation on December 21st at the congregational meeting and approved. We will continue as a committee to meet periodically throughout the year to monitor the financial status of the church. The next meeting will be April 20th at 6:30 P.M. to review the current status of our expenses versus our budget for the first quarter of 2026.
Mollie Prey, Stewardship
BIRTHDAY CARD SHOWER SHEETS January thru April 2026 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
SNOW CANCELLATION OF CHURCH ACTIVITIES
The Pastor and your Consistory have a telephone call schedule set up in case of questionable weather. The church family may feel free to phone any of these persons or tune
the TV/radio to our local stations – Channel 69-WFMZ for cancellations.
CHRISTMAS MUSIC
To those involved in the Christmas Cantata
"Promise Of Peace" - Thank you so much for your
hard work and amazing performance! Jeff Griffin
Christmas Eve Music - Thank You to all who
provided wonderful music on Christmas Eve.
You made the service extra special. Jeff Griffin
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.
Adult VBS- 2026
Save the date
July 19th – July 23rd
6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.
ASH WEDNESDAY
HOLY COMMUNION
Wednesday, February 18, 7:30 P.M.
Wednesday, February 24, 7:30pm
Rev. Rebecca Knox
At ZION ‘S (SPIES) EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCH
(Beginning at 6:00pm…
Soup and Bread in Fellowship Hall)
SOUP AND BREAD SOCIAL
6:00 P.M. before Wednesday lent services.
There are 3 sign –up sheets on the table in the Narthex if you would like to help provide soup or bread for the social held here at Zion Spies E.R. on Feb. 24th or March 11th or March 25th. All Soup and bread should be here by 5:30 P.M. and all soup should arrive hot and in a crock pot.
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 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.
Next lunches items due – January 18th
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
As we begin a new year, it is time to think about and start planning some of the activities in which Women’s Ministries will be participating. This month the Men’s Ministries will hold their Spaghetti Supper and Women’s Ministries, along with any others from our church, will be providing the desserts. Also, in January we will once again be making lunches for the homeless vets. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the Narthex for donated items, which are due by the 18th
Already we discussed at our meeting last month ideas for the Family Banquet to be held May 2nd, and will be making final preparations shortly.
As we have been doing in 2025, we will continue to sell tickets from M & M Sandwich Shop in Oley for a small cold sandwich at $7.00 per ticket (see Sue Barnett).
Our meetings are always open to any lady from our church to come and enjoy the Christian fellowship of our group of ladies. The next meeting will be January 13th at 11:00 A.M.
WHITER THAN SNOW
The velvet hush of new-born snow,
free-falling from above,
Beckons to human hearts below,
awe-stricken by God's love.
The lacy crystals soon adorn
the dark-stained street beneath,
Cradling this early winter's morn
within their jeweled wreath.
In waiting arms of Christ the Lord,
repentant sinners' stains
Are blotted out by God's own Word,
forgiven souls to claim.
Jesus redeems those who are lost,
from shame He grants release;
For them, He bore the rugged cross
to bring eternal peace.
See how the snowflakes are falling,
sifting grace upon grace ~
Come while the Savior is calling,
compassion on His face.
He offers life from God above,
with grace abundantly,
From heaven's realm,
His purest love to cleanse and set you free!
By Connie Faust
Snowflakes remind us of God's grace.
His grace not only covers our sin, but takes it away forever!
PRAYER REQUEST FORM
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