Zion’s (Spies) Evangelical Reformed Church
OCTOBER 2026
Parson’s points
Missionary Prayer Request
It is such a blessing to be able to serve our Lord by loving his sheep. As I prepare for missionary travel once again, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude. I am thankful for this burden the Lord has laid upon my heart. I am thankful for the abundance and freedom we enjoy in this land that enables us to help others. I am, most especially thankful, however, for those who have prayed for this mission, stood with me in encouragement and those who have supported this mission in so many ways – you cannot imagine how much your gifts and prayers have meant. We truly are a miracle in the lives of other people. I wish I had the words to communicate this feeling of immense humility in the presence of God’s glory as He has uses you as his tool to deliver a miracle. I wish I could adequately communicate the gratitude of those who have benefitted from your support, but it is beyond words. It is my prayer to raise up others who will go and experience these blessings.
Nonetheless, the need remains overwhelming and prayer is needed. There is so much need it becomes tempting to believe our mission cannot make much impact. As we continue to free people from the shackles of slavery and try to establish families in profitable work, the need also grows. At least for the short term, more children become dependent on us and the specter of failure ominously hangs overhead. Finding opportunities to share the mission remains elusively difficult. Once free to make their own decisions, some we have helped decide poorly. And personal health and safety is always a concern in the part of the world we operate. Add in the standard level of fear for one’s own future and I’m sure you can see where Satan has many opportunities to attempt to derail such a mission. Simply put, wherever the blessings are high, Satan ratchets up the fear and uncertainty.
This year I will be traveling from October 30 through November 23. Please keep me, my family, the mission and the people we serve in prayer as we come to mind during that time. For those interested in learning more, please visit our website: www.cmi.charity. Or mark your calendar and join us for a presentation here at Spies on Sunday evening November 29 at 6:00. Those interested in receiving brief updates while I am on the ground, please make sure we are connected on Facebook and message me “updates”, so I remember to include you. Thank you again so very much, Church Family. In His service, Pastor Vaughn & Lisa Starr
OLEY FAIR HELP
A “BIG THANK YOU” to everyone who helped at the Oley Fair. It was greatly appreciated.
BREAKFAST CLUB
October 7th, @ 8 A.M. @ Chatty’s
October 20th, @ 8 A.M. @ Breakfast Hut
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.
October 10th @ 8:00 A.M.
World Communion-October 4th
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY
“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.”
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2026 @ 10:30 A.M.
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.
SPIES DART BASEBALL
October 7th – @ Spies E.R. (Holy Spirit)
October 14th – @ Zion’s Spies E.R.
October 21st – @ Spies Lutheran
October 28th – @ Zion’s Spies E.R.
OCTOBER 12th
PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY
We would like to shower Pastor Starr &
Rev. Marisseau with cards to show our appreciation. There will be a basket on October 4th & 11th to collect all your cards and/or small tokens of appreciation.
LAYMAN’S SUNDAY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18th – 10:30 A.M.
Members of the church family will participate in the morning service and the message will be given by
Kathy Fegely
ELDERS/CONSISTORY MEETING
Our next meeting will be MONDAY,
October 19th Stewardship @ 6:30 P.M.
Elders @ 7:00 P.M. Consistory @ 7:30 P.M.
REFORMATION SUNDAY
October 25, 2026-10:30 A.M.
STEWARDSHIP
We have begun the process of developing a budget for 2027. Your input on next year’s budget is important. Please come and join us in developing the 2027 budget. Our next meeting is October 19th @ 6:30 P.M.
NEWSLETTER ARTICLES
ARE DUE THE SECOND TO LAST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH
Altar Flower Spnsors Needed
Oct. 18th and many Nov. dates
Please think about sponsoring flowers
BOSCOV’S FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS
Would you like to donate $5 to support Women’s Ministries? In return, you get a 25% Off Shopping Pass for Boscov’s to be used on October 21st instore or online. See Sue Barnett for a 25% off pass.
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES is selling tickets for a small cold sandwich from M&M’s Sandwich Shop in Oley. Please see Sue Barnett for tickets.
Cost $7.00
BIRTHDAY CARD SHOWER SHEETS
for September thru December available on the Narthex table for anyone willing to participate in sending cards to church family members
80 yrs. & over. Also available on our website.
HELP OUR HOMELESS VETERANS
LUNCHES ITEMS DUE NOVEMBER 15th
ALONG WITH 30 CARE PACKAGES
We will be looking for small bags of chips, pretzels, Tastykake’s, fresh fruit, small plastic containers of fruit or applesauce, or puddings (ones that don’t need a can opener). Signups on the table in the Narthex if you wish to contribute personal care items or lunch items or call the church office during the week. It can be dropped off on Sundays in the Narthex or given to Sue during the week when Sue is in the office. Mon. –Thurs. 9am-2pm
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.
Pastor Vaughn in Pakistan
October 30- November 21st
Please keep Pastor Starr in prayer during his trip to visit the missions he and Lisa have been supporting in Pakistan. Pray for safety and for the success of the mission to reach and support Christians in need.
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.
REDNER’S SAVE A TAPE PROGRAM
This year we have received $200.47 so far.
Our church gets 1% of the total of your register receipts. You must have a SAVE A TAPE card which you can get at your store’s courtesy desk. Thank you for your continued support.
Customers must use their Pump Perks/1% Save-A-Tape card for purchase. This will be noted on the bottom of the receipt. Please submit the whole receipt (cannot be cut off) in the wooden box on top of the food cupboard in the church narthex. Please do not use a highlighter marker on your receipts, it can erase the totals. All receipts must be dated within three years prior to the date of submission. Fuel purchases are not considered. Thank you.
Christmas Cantata Choir Members Needed
The choir will start working on the Christmas Cantata soon, and we could use extra voices.
We work extra hard on the cantata especially in November, but you are welcome to join us sooner! See Jeff Griffin if you are interested!
CHURCH TREASURER’S REPORT
JULY 2026
Congregational Offering Receipts $10,725.00
Total Operating Expenses $14,100.72
AUGUST 2026
Congregational Offering Receipts $13,205.00
Total Operating Expenses $12,162.32
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Barnett, Treasurer
STATISTICS
ATTENDANCE
JULY AUGUST
5 43 2 48
12 49 9 53
19 53 16 41
26 55 23 48
30 41
MEMBERSHIP
September 26, 2026 - 253
GAINS (0)
DEATHS (2)
George Kauffman, Jr.
Frederick Cutler III
LOSSES / TRANSFERRED (0)
Respectfully submitted, Susan Barnett, Secretary
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
Fall has officially arrived and now we ladies of Women’s Ministries will be busy preparing for the bazaar on November 7th. It will begin with an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 7:00-11:00 A.M. prepared by the Men’s Ministries-$10/person. Once again, we will be selling Christmas cookies at $10 per pound; and various baked goods will be available for purchase. Also, we would be thankful for any baked goods donations from the women of our church. Craft vendors are always welcome to participate and once again the charge to rent a table is $10
Harvest Home Sunday which was held last month was another time we asked the ladies of our church to provide baked goods for the sale we had after the church service. As always, we never run out of homemade baked items thanks to all the donated pastries we receive. We do appreciate what is provided anytime we ask you ladies for help. Because of you our sales are a success!
Tickets from M & M Sandwich Shop are still being sold by us at $7 apiece for a small cold sandwich. And don’t forget the One Day Only (October 21st) 25% off Boscov’s Friends Helping Friends shopping pass we are selling for $5 each. You can’t beat that discount and it’s a good time to start your Christmas shopping. Also on the back of the pass are other offers. See Sue Barnett for both the sandwich tickets and the shopping pass.
Once again we will be taking orders for potato filling, it will be in aluminum pans ready for your Thanksgiving ovens! We are also making pepper cabbage! Items will be ready for pick up at the church, on the Monday before Thanksgiving (11/23/26), between the hours of 1:00 PM -5:00PM. Order forms are included in this newsletter and may be given to Sue Barnett. We hope that you will keep these things in mind and let us make your Thanksgiving dinner easier for you.
We are only a small group of ladies who meet the second Tuesday every month, but we enjoy the time we spend together and serving our church. We welcome any ladies who would like to come to our meetings. The next one will be October 13th at 11:00 AM.
CALENDARS & DAYPLANNERS
The various charities are starting to send out their 2027 calendars. If you do not want them, please bring them to the church and give to Linda Wilson. She will pass them on to the soup kitchen
ALL SAINTS DAY – “TOTENFEST”
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1st – 10:30 A.M.
Let us observe and pay tribute together on this day to all who have passed away during this year. Please give names/pictures of loved ones
to the church secretary, Sue Barnett, at your earliest convenience so that they may be named personally during a special time in our service.
Rev. Marisseau will share the message
EVANGELISM & OUTREACH
Thank you to all who contributed food for Harvest Home. All food was taken to Veterans Making A difference. Remember we accept non-perishable food items all year; they can be placed in the cabinet in the Narthex.
Advent Season starts on November 29th.
We will only be putting in RED poinsettias this year. Order forms will be included in the November newsletter or may be found on the table in the Narthex mid-October.
Don’t forget our Homeless Veterans Mission. Lunches and Care Packages for November, items due Nov. 15th
ZION’S SPIES E.R. CHURCH WOMEN’S MINISTRIES
Potato Filling $9.00/quart
Pepper Cabbage $4.00/Pint or $6.00/Quart
Order forms are on the table in the Narthex
Get your orders in by Sunday, November 15th
to Sue Barnett
TEEN CHALLENGE
November 15, 2026-Women’s Choir
During our 10:30 A.M. service
Light lunch afterwards
THANKOFFERING SUNDAY
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2026
The women of the church will participate in our morning worship. Thank offerings received on that day will be used to assist our members or neighbors in need. Your yearly box of envelopes contains the envelope for your thank offering.
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE
Thanksgiving Eve Service will be held on Wednesday, November 25th, at 7:00 P.M. at Zion Spies E.R. Church. Please plan on attending this spirit-filled service showing our thanks to God.
ADVENT Begins November 29th
With Holy Communion
WHEN THE AUTUMN LEAVES ARE FALLING
When the Autumn leaves are falling
With their flash of beauty rare,
And the cooling breeze is blowing
Leaving trees so bleak and bare;
Then to wander in the forest
Lay aside the cares of life
Brings the lessons of the Autumn
To allay all fears and strife.
Back to days of happy childhood
Tossing bright leaves to and fro,
Loving every gleam of sunlight
That beneath the trees would glow.
Happy Autumn days we welcome
Such a challenge do they bring.
Though the Autumn leaves are falling
Songs of victory they sing.
How the leaves are clothed with beauty
Like the flowers of every hue
Never two the same among them,
But with colors tried and true.
Like the glory God has promised
To the ones that die in Him.
While the Autumn leaves are falling
May their message ne’er grow dim.
Autumn ever comes to cheer us
With its messages sublime
Of God’s way to shed His glory
On the failing things of time.
Showing us that through life’s changes
We prepare for Heaven’s dress,
Yielded, then, we share His glory
Then we know God knoweth best.
Many, then, may seek His glory
But they shrink from any change;
Cannot take the Autumn message,
So no glory shall they gain.
Rejoice, then, when the Autumn breezes
Sway the trees with gladsome sound
See the brilliant leaves come dancing
‘Ere they settle on the ground.
PRAYER REQUEST FORM
Please pray for___________________________
Prayer needs_____________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Your name (will be used to get updates)
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