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December 2007 - January 2008 Newsletter Download a printer friendly version of this newsletter * View the Church Calendar |
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Dave’s Didactics"Pay close attention now: I’m creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I’m creating: I’ll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight. (Isaiah 65:17-25 MSG)
What a wonderful thought—a new heaven and a new earth! A place of sheer joy and delight. A place where there will be no more trouble, no more pain!
But there is a down side. The old must pass away—the familiar will be gone. For those of us content with the way things are, the thought of “all things new” is a little disconcerting.
We who call ourselves Christian understand that these verses are not something that will only happen on a grand scale sometime in the future; these are things that must happen in each heart for those who call Jesus “Lord.” Each of us is a new creation. Each day we must remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We remain open to the transformation that Jesus is working in our lives.
And because the church is not a building but the people of God who gather in worship and praise of the Creator and Redeemer, this transformation must happen in the church—the Body of Christ, as well.
God is doing a new thing individually and corporately at Mt Zion Church. It is up to us with the guiding of the Holy Spirit to grasp the revelation of what God is doing. What do you see God doing in and through Mt Zion Church? Even more to the point, how is God calling you to be a part of this new creation?
We must think about it. We must pray about it. We must talk together about it. But we must do more than think and pray and talk. We have to do. As we embark on a New Year let’s do it together.
Be Blessed, Pastor Dave - PASTOR@EASTMTZIONCHURCH.COM
Tonya’s Tidbits "But, mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God---having a form of Godliness but denying its power”. 2nd Timothy 3:1-5NIV Does this describe the world today? Yes, it is the Christmas season and we have the birth of Jesus to celebrate. But, as I read this scripture I felt called to write about today…who and what we are today. The one description that alarmed me the most is “Having a form of Godliness but denying its power”. Wow! I ask you to think on this as I have been. Do I have the form of Godliness? The footnotes in my Bible says: “Having the form of Godliness includes going to church (yep!), knowing Christian doctrine (yep!), using Christian clichés, and following a community’s Christian traditions (yep and yep!). Such practices can make a person look good, but if the inner attitudes of belief, love, and worship are lacking, the outer appearance is meaningless. MEANINGLESS! Also, it is important to know that these people are not easy to spot….it is difficult to distinguish them from true Christians at first but their daily behavior gives them away. I am thinking also on the words “denying its power”. Do we deny Gods power? His power to heal, to change hearts and minds, to restore, to grow our church and change those of us who have a form of Godliness but are denying His power? Our God is powerful and mighty! He requires us to do much more than have a form of Godliness. He warns against those of us that wear this form of Godliness but do not have the inner attitudes. He warns against those of us that are “lukewarm”. Revelations 3:14-16 says: “These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm---neither cold nor hot---I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” I take this as a warning….to get on fire for Jesus. I appreciate that my Bible says “I am ABOUT to spit” as there is still time to get on bended knee and repent….to become HOT and lose the “form of Godliness” and become true to our Lord Jesus Christ. We are about to celebrate the birth of Jesus. What a joy and blessing that we were sent a savior. He came as a tiny baby. He was a little boy that grew up to be a carpenter. He has remodeling skills. He can remodel us from the inside out. Sometimes remodeling something is just a small easy project, taking something already pretty good and making it better. Sometimes we need a complete over haul. He is skilled and can remake us after His will. Let’s not just go through the actions. Let’s truly celebrate that our savior was born! That He came for reason, not just a season. He is our Savior, Christ Jesus! As we begin our lists of “New Years Resolutions” let’s consider putting away our forms of Godliness and opening our hearts and minds to hear the words of wisdom and love that He so badly wants to share with us. He came to give light to a dark world….and He would like each of us to understand the fullness of this. Be Blessed, know it and show it! Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year! -Tonya - NEWSLETTER@EASTMTZIONCHURCH.COM United Methodist Women December 6 at 7:30 PM- All women are invited to St Andrews UMW Christmas Program of string music "Potpourri of Praise". Come enjoy a night of sharing! Jan 2, 2008 UMW 9 AM--we will cut out school bags, have lunch. Prayer and Self Denial Program by Hope Riegle. Come join us to share and enjoy this mission project. Thanks for all who helped make possible $3,820.00 worth of kits to aid others in need. A total of 33 health kits ($396), 129 school bags ($1419), 53 layettes (855,00), 10 Flood Buckets($450). How amazing! A special thanks to Kay Bosworth who crocheted 15+ baby sweaters and blankets, Carolyn St James who knit 13 baby blankets, and Bill Riegle and Ralph Marvin for delivering the kits to St. Marks to be taken to Festival of sharing.--wish we could thank each of you by name as many did much! Thanks and God bless for making this possible. - Submitted by Betty Marvin Adult Sunday School
Kid’s Korner & Teen Tattler
Jacob Coldren earned all A’s on his report card!
Bible Study News The Tuesday night Bible Study is studying a book and DVD series called “The Good Life”. It is about seeking purpose, meaning and truth in your life. The group meets at 7PM and all are welcome! After the first of the year there is a desire to start other small group studies. Let your desires be known! Is there a desire for a Men’s study? A women’s study? A couple’s study? Starting a New Year seems a great time to begin a new study group. As Aquilla and Priscilla show us in Acts……every believer needs to be well educated in their faith! It is so great to learn together and grow our relationships with one another. Wannabee News We have a new group blossoming at Mt. Zion. It is a social group that is mission minded. Not to exclude anyone but the group is aimed to grow the relationships of fellow Christians between the ages of 20-something and 50-something. We long to develop deeper relationships with one another and with our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are meeting once a month and so far we are growing leaps and bounds! As this new group begins we desire the Spirit to lead us! For what begins with God will not fail. Our first gathering was held at Mark and Tonya Marvin’s. We met out at their pond, enjoyed good food and had a great time. We discussed future plans of the group and decided to meet monthly…taking turns planning the event. The host or hostess chooses the date, time and place. Also, they choose a study or lead a devotion time, choose a mission project and God takes care of the rest. Our second gathering was held at Jen and Al Stansbery’s. We each took a dessert to share and had a wonderful evening. We were each to study a missionary in the Bible and discuss their journeys. Also, we took a toy and donated to “Toys for Tots”. At our third gathering we celebrated Thanksgiving together. A BIG thank you to Martha Pegg for decorating for us….she out did herself! We enjoyed LOTS of great food as usual. Charles Wagner led devotions and we each took a time to share what we were especially thankful for. We took up a collection for a family that we have “adopted” for Christmas. The money gathered was such a blessing. “God sees the giver as well as the gift, the heart as well as the hand!” Our hope is to give and have this family receive more than just presents…… but Christ’s love. Our next gathering will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 12th. We are meeting at the church at 6PM and will head to Findlay. We plan to deliver the Christmas gifts and food to our “adopted” family and share some special time with them in song and prayer. Afterwards we will once again eat together. We will have dinner at the Rocking U to celebrate the Christmas season. Please join us if you have not already. This is a special group that God has joined together. We are excited to have the Hackworths and Metzgers joining us! We are eager to see where God leads us. We remain open minded, mission minded, and of course, wannabee more like Jesus! - Submitted by Tonya Marvin
To God be the Glory! |
Dave Noel 419 - 894 - 6887 |
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newsletter@eastmtzionchurch.com Tonya Marvin - 419 - 894 - 6958 |
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Marilyn Miller 419 - 387 - 7476 |
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Peter Zaras - 419 - 387 - 7934 |
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ATTENDANCE DATE/ SS / WORSHIP
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PRAYER CONCERNS
Our Service Men & Women Lisa Baughman - missionary in Kenya
Recent Injury/Illness/Surgery
On Going Illness & Shut-Ins
In Our Memory & God's Glory Mary Lou Roszman Don Rydell Maria Spriggs John Bender
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Pictures of 2007 Findlay flood
Submitted by Nancy Miller
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WEBSITE Visit the website to keep a day to day update on the church schedule, meetings, birthdays and more.
CHOPIN HALL We received 1 microwave, 2 lamp and shades, 1 bag of shoes, 1 bag of stuffed toys, 4 bags of bedding, 24 bags of clothes and a car full of XL men’s clothes! Also, 4 coats, 1 bag of plastic ware,10 Ramen noodles, 1 quarts of peanut butter, 1 small peanut butter, 3 large jars of grape jelly, 1 can of fruit, 1 bed spread, 6 cans of ravioli, 6 pairs of men’s pants, and two coats. Thanks you! Carol and Kate Needs for Chopin are: Laundry and dish soap, paper products any canned goods, toothpaste and toothbrushes, towels, washcloths, lotions, diapers or anything you can think of that would help a family begin a New Year! Christmas Donations to Chopin We had 40 sacks of food and $187.00 dollars to give to Chopin. Thank you for your generous giving! For Christmas there will be 50 families that will receive new toys, clothes and a basket of food. Thank you again for all the love you all have shown! Submitted by Carol Ziessler |
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Pictures of flood water surrounding the church, Taken by Nancy Miller
+++++++++++++++++++++ We need to ask God for things so large that when it happens we know that it was not the doctors, not the pastor, not the friend or parent but that it could only be of God. God welcomes the asking. He desires to do miracles in our lives and He can and will do them. (unknown) +++++++++++++++++++++ Sins of Commission and Sins of Omission We tend to think that sin is doing wrong. We strive to not do what is wrong! James 4:17 tells us that sin is also not doing what is right. To know the truth and not tell it, to avoid a person that needs our friendship, to not do a kind deed that is put on our heart to do….this too is sin! To not pray for others, to not give to those in need….this is sin! James 4:17 “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins!” Let us strive this Christmas Season to do what is good and kind. Let us give to those In need. |
Way to go
Jacob! 
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