May 2017

160 Years of Growing God’s Kingdom

Anniversary Theme: Planting God’s Seeds – From a Small Seed, a Bountiful Future May Grow

“30 He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’’
Mark 4:30-32 (NRSV)

Our 160th Anniversary Celebration is quickly approaching. It amazes me to think about all the wonderful ministry that has taken place in 160 years of faithful service. The seeds of God’s love and mission that were planted 160 years ago have taken deep root and brought forth abundant hope and life.

Lately I’ve taken notice of how much service and outreach is taking place at Zion. I think about what we’ve been up to the past couple of months and what we have planned in the weeks ahead, and it brings me a great deal of joy to see what a positive impact Zion UCC is making on our community, as we seek to serve God through mission that witnesses to God’s love. Let’s take a look!

What We’ve Already Done in Just a Few Months:

Franklin Township Ministerial Association (FTMA) Voucher Program – The 9 congregations of the FTMA partner to provide vouchers for food, gas, and lodging for those in our community who find themselves in moments of crisis and need. Anytime someone comes to Zion UCC looking for assistance, we are able to respond to their request because of the joint efforts of the FTMA to ensure that funds are available for this ministry. This year during our Lenten services, our offerings were collected for these partnership efforts. We raised around $1,000 for this important ministry! That means we collected enough for about 33 vouchers worth $30 of food or gas! Thank you so much for your generosity! It means this ministry can continue.

Our FTMA partner churches: Acton Baptist Church, Acton United Methodist Church, Franklin Central Christian Church, Grace Community Church, Maple Hill United Methodist Church, Nativity Catholic Church, New Bethel Baptist Church, and Southminster Presbyterian Church, and Zion United Church of Christ.

Spring Sale Supports Disaster Preparedness and Response Ministry – Every summer the Indiana-Kentucky Conference Disaster Relief Ministries organizes mission trips for our congregations to help rebuild after natural disasters strike. This summer our conference is heading to South Bend to help repair flood damage and to Kokomo to help repair damage from the tornadoes that hit last summer. It has been hard for these communities to get funding because the damage didn’t meet certain requirements that would make them eligible for certain types of funding. Zion raised just around $600 that will help providing funding for building materials for these projects. What an impact this will make for our Hoosier neighbors!

What We Will Do in Just a Few Months:

Senior Health Fair, May 13, 10am-2pm – In partnership with Oak Street Health and the Franklin Township Ministerial Association, our wonderful facilities and hospitality here at Zion UCC are making it possible for seniors in our community to receive free screenings, attend workshops, learn from educational seminars, and get connected with health organizations. All of our seniors here at Zion are welcome to participate in this wonderful event. Don’t forget to invite your friends!
Community Service Day, May 20, 8:30am– The Pairs and Spares have organized several ways for us to share God’s love through community service projects. From wrapping crayons for Riley Children’s Hospital, to gardening at Horizon House, to giving a deep clean to God’s Bounty Food Pantry, these are opportunities for all of us to serve. We are sure to have a lot of fun and will gather at the table for a delicious mean, too.

Hygiene Kits for Annual Gathering – Zion UCC is part of the Southeast Association (a geographic region that consists of UCC churches in the southeast quarter of Indiana), which is part of the Indiana-Kentucky Conference (a geographic region made up of several associations within the states of Indiana and Kentucky). Every year during the Indiana-Kentucky Conference Annual Gathering, our sisters and brothers around the conference come together for service projects. As part of the Southeast Association, we have been asked to collect hand towels (approx. 16×28”) and bring them to Annual Gathering so they can be used to make hygiene kits for Church World Service (learn more about CWS at http://cwsglobal.org). There’s a flyer in this month’s ECHO with more information. These kits will make a difference in the lives of people facing natural disasters, violence, and poverty. Our conference has set a goal to put together 1,000 kits. How many towels can Zion UCC collect?

Mission Trip, Indiana-Kentucky Conference Disaster Preparedness and Response Ministry – During the Week of June 18th, some of us will head to Kokomo, Indiana, to help people rebuild their lives after the tornadoes struck our neighbors up north. When natural disasters strike, rebuilding can be a long and frustrating process. We will join people across the Indiana-Kentucky Conference this summer who will be serving both in Kokomo and South Bend. What an exciting opportunity to be able to help our neighbors up north. We’ve already collected $600 for building materials for these projects. Thank you for the support you have already given to this ministry. If you feel a call to participate in this ministry, please, let me know.

What a tremendous impact we are making on our community as we seek to build God’s kingdom on earth. These are signs of a vibrant, generous, loving, and caring community of faith committed to being Christ’s hands and feet in this world. From a single set of crayons wrapped and every penny placed in our offering plates, to swinging a hammer in Kokomo and shoveling mulch at Horizon House, and to every prayer said for our ministry, each act we do for God and God’s people grows God’s kingdom when it is done in love and faithfulness.
I give thanks for the ancestors of our faith who planted the seeds of ministry at Zion United Church of Christ 160 years ago. We are continuing in their legacy of faithful service and mission. God has given us so much to celebrate here at Zion. Keep inviting your friends, family, neighbors, and past members to join us June 11th as we celebrate what God has been growing at Zion these past 160 years.
With Christian Love and Thanksgiving,

Pastor Sarah