Here is this week's update from Zion UMC in Myerstown.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," (1 Peter 1:3).

In a time when it can seem that all hope is lost...Be encouraged! God has caused us to be born again to a living hope through Jesus Christ. We have the hope of Christ's final victory. We have the hope of the resurrection of our bodies into glorious bodies. We have the hope of everlasting life in the presence of the Lord. My prayer is that each of you know this hope in Jesus and that it may translate into lives that shine Christ's love, joy and peace in this community. 

Worship Updates:

We now have bulletins available for the worship services. They will be at the entrance of the sanctuary for you to pick up on your way into church. We ask that you either take the bulletin home or throw the bulletin in the receptacle at the end of the service.

We will continue to hold our Sunday morning services as follows: 8:00am, 9:00am and 11:00am. Nursery is available for infants and small children during the 11:00am service.

The 8:00am bulletin is attached to this email for your reference and includes all of the latest church announcements and updates.

This Sunday we will conclude our sermon series, "What Is the Church?" This week, we will take a look at Acts 1:1-11, when Jesus told his disciples that they would be his witnesses.

Prayer services at 6:30pm on Wednesday evenings are open to everyone.

We ask that everyone continue to follow good practices such as:

Stay home if you have Covid symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc. (See Centers for Disease Control website for a full listing of Covid symptoms).
Following the PA state mask requirements

Refrain from handshaking and hugging and other physical contact
Keep 6 feet apart from others while in church (with the exception of family members). Sit at least 6 feet apart from others in the sanctuary and in Sunday School classes
Use frequent hand washing and sanitizing practices.

Live Streaming Now Available!

Live Steaming is a "real time" video of the worship service that you can watch from your computer or device. The Sunday 9:00am service will be live streamed each week. Please see our church website for the link to watch the service on Sunday mornings at 9:00 or watch the taped version at any time. 

Prayer Requests:
Here are the prayer requests from our church family:
Jeremy Lutz (upcoming surgery), Alicia Boger (surgery), Donald Steiner (cancer), Allen Yiengst (recovering after surgery, kidney problems), Ginny Maat (surgery), Annette Miller (continued healing after hospitalization), Bonnie Zimmerman (cancer), George Heckard (Kathy Klinger's father, healing),  Joyce Weinrich (surgery), Vanessa Tobias (healing and strength through chemo), Kelly Purdy (strength and healing / chemo treatments), Jan and Val Diefenderfer (Jan diagnosed with stomach cancer), Stanley Corbin, Kim (a friend of Cookie Haag who has Lou Gehrig's disease), The Weaver Family (lost Glen to Covid), Helen Rabold (needs prayer), Carl Blatt (in ICU), Libby McGuire (on crutches) and Husband Dan (recovering from surgery, and broken ankle), Nephew of Barb Kriston (prostate cancer), Diane (Grace Marquette's daughter - cancer / surgery), Brian Sites (suffered a stroke) and his wife for comfort. Please also pray for our members and friends in nursing homes and retirement communities that are confined to their rooms and apartments. 

Praise God for answered prayers - JoAnn Rittle's tumor has shrunk and her cancer is in remission.

If there are other prayer requests, please email me and I will add them to the list.

Stewardship:

If you are not able to come into church, please feel free to mail in your offering or give online by clicking HERE.

Special Offering in August:
During the month of August, we are encouraging you to give toward the Covid UMCOR Fund, which is used to help communities across the world who have been devastated by the pandemic. Many have lost their jobs and livelihoods. Many have been ill and lost loved ones as a result of the pandemic. Please consider giving to this cause by sending your check to the church (or putting into the offering plate Sunday) and writing "Covid UMCOR Fund" in the memo. Thank You!

Outreach:
Let’s join together to be “the people of God” in the community of Myerstown
through a Small Business Outreach.

Zion’s Small Business Outreach boxes are being purchased from Smith’s Candies.
Thirty individuals, or families, will have the opportunity to deliver a box of treats
to a local business as a show of community support and Christian caring.
No sign-up necessary! The treat boxes will be available on Sunday, August 9 in
the Fellowship Hall after each service. You only need to sign the list for the
business you would like to visit, and then deliver your surprise on Monday, August
10 or Tuesday, August 11.

Giant Ca$h for Causes Fundraiser for the Grace Marquette Music Scholarship is up and running again. Call Barb Kriston at 717-866-7053 and leave a message or text 717-821-8211, or email by clicking HERE for more information on how to give to this fund.

Men's Group:

We will be meeting outside (weather permitting) for Men's Group on Saturday August 8th at 7:30am. Please contact me (Pastor Keith) for more information.

Reminder of Church Office Hours:

Our church office is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm. If you have questions or need to submit information for the bulletin, please call Judy at 717-866-6839, or email by clicking HERE.

Have a blessed week!