First, let’s consider the fact that when Bart came to UNL seven years ago to start RUF in Nebraska, his first “large group” meetings could just about fit in the back seat of a Toyota. Today RUF at UNL regularly has 50-60 students at the weekly large group meetings, building relationships and hearing solid Bible teaching. That kind of ministry building does not happen easily. We have seen something remarkable.
Even as we see Redeemer Church launch in Lincoln with Tobey and Adam, we will watch as Bart works to start a new church in Minneapolis. I am so thankful to be part of a church that keeps the kingdom task in plain view. And I can’t help but think about the next plant after Redeemer. What will it be like? When will we be ready to launch it? What will my role be?
There are certain comfortable qualities about being in a church that is, well, “stable.” In such a church you can have many long-term relationships and things continue as they have always been. But even though change is hard and growth is difficult, I want to be in a church like Zion. Only let us always be faithful in the ministry God has called us to for the glory of his son Jesus Christ.
]]>Anyway, look for John and Rob’s class coming to an AFC near you. According to the current schedule, AFC1 gets them next fall. AFC2 in February.
]]>But every family faces the same kind of thing. Raising kids costs money. Sometimes there seems to be no end to the financial demands. But would you rather do without children? A thousand times no.
Raising kids is also difficult when they come of age, because there comes a day when you say goodbye. They move away. The house seems empty. But that is the natural way of things. A boy who still lives with his parents at age 35 is not what you hope for. At Zion we are preparing to go through the same kind of thing with the Redeemer plant. The day is not far off when we will say goodbye to a hundred of our dear friends and family. They will move on. To those of us who remain, our building will seem empty. But this is the natural way of things in the church. We will feel the loss, but we can be glad to pay the cost.
And I believe that committing ourselves to such costs pleases our Lord Jesus. The kingdom of heaven is like a woman who took a pound of very costly ointment and poured it out at the feet of her savior. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance.
]]>I wasn’t originally one of the guys with signature duty, but Wayne is in Texas this week, so ... I was at hand.
It gives new meaning to the idea of a representative office. There is no way a bank or seller would take my signature individually in a transaction like this. But I won’t be signing for myself. I will sign as a representative for the whole church. We are all committing together to take ownership, care, and responsibility for our new building.
It also reminds me that nothing I do as a minister of the gospel is on my own authority. Whenever I preach and teach, I do so as an ordained minister, as a designated representative of Jesus Christ. So I call people to repentance and faith not because of my personal feelings on the matter, but because Christ has commanded it. I preach God’s word because it is God who has chosen the foolishness of preaching to convert sinners, to call the wicked to forsake his way, and to admonish and encourage the faithful.
So when I sign the purchase documents today, my signature will count because it is NOT just mine. And when I preach and teach the Bilble, my words count because they are NOT just mine; the gospel of Christ is the very word of the Living God.
(Signed,)
Pastor Keith
What would your response be if you were in charge? Money? Influence? Power? Relationships? A new job?
1 Kings 3:6-9 is Solomon’s response:
“You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.7 “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
1 Kings 3:10 states, “It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.” And 1 Kings 4:29 tells us the Lord’s response: “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore.”
James 1:5 teaches that God’s gift of wisdom isn’t limited to Kings in Israel. James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Later in his letter, James teaches the wisdom God gives leads to the building and flourishing of community. James 3:17 says, “...the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
This is what I need. This is what the growing launch team needs. We have three important discussions occurring among the ever growing launch team at this time: 1/ what should we name this new church?, 2/ where should we meet to worship?, 3/ what ministries should have priority focus when we launch? We are having a fruitful discussion together as we begin talking and thinking about these questions. It’s been encouraging and I’m learning a lot.
One question I have been asked by one of the team members is, “Who decides?”
My answer and goal, as much as possible is, “We do.”
So, my prayer request this week is for wisdom, the kind that builds community. The kind that will unite us as a new community of God’s people, here to serve the city of Lincoln. So, please pray and ask God to give His gift of community building wisdom to us.
-Tobey
1/ Pray that the Holy Spirit would give us insight into how to be a “missional” church that is skilled at communicating the gospel in post-Christian Lincoln, Nebraska.
2/ Pray we would have a deep love for lost people and that Jesus would allow us to see many come to saving faith.
3/ Pray that we would love Jesus and know the power of His gospel.
4/ Continue to pray for 100 pray-ers. Thanks to those who have committed to praying. This church is only possible through the blood of Jesus and the prayers of His people.
Keep praying,
Tobey Brockman
Lead Pastor
tobeyb [at] zionpca [dot] com
When we consider the type of church we want to be, Tim Keller, Sr. Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC reminds us that understanding our context is critical to mission. In “The Missional Church” (link below), Keller writes,
“The British missionary Lesslie Newbigin went to India around 1950. There he was involved with a church living ‘in mission’ in a very non-Christian culture. When he returned to England some 30 years later, he discovered that now the Western church too existed in a non-Christian society, but it had not adapted to its new situation. Though public institutions and popular culture of Europe and North America no longer ‘Christianized’ people, the church still ran its ministries assuming that a stream of ‘Christianized’, traditional/moral people would simply show up in services. Some churches certainly did ‘evangelism’ as one ministry among many. But the church in the West had not become completely ‘missional’--adapting and reformulating absolutely everything it did in worship, discipleship, community, and service--so as to be engaged with the non-Christian society around it. It had not developed a ‘missiology of western culture’ the way it had done so for other non-believing cultures.”
Our task as we develop plans for this new church, is to know the people in our neighborhoods and our city well enough that we are skilled at “adapting and reformulating absolutely everything we do in worship, discipleship, community, and service - so as to be engaged with the non-Christian society around it.” We must develop a “missiology” of Lincoln, Nebraska.
I’ll never forget sitting in my office with a young woman who grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and was now attending the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She had asked to meet with me following a presentation I gave to college students on dating relationships, at the end of which I had shared how I had come to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. This young woman had experienced a number of painful dating relationships and was intrigued by what I had shared about Jesus. As we talked together the next day, I mentioned that much of the pain we experience is due to our sin. She wanted to know what sin was. I mentioned that sin began with Adam and Eve. This young, college educated woman from Omaha, Nebraska then asked me something I will never forget - she said to me, “Who is Adam and Eve?” I just looked at her in amazement that she had no idea who Adam and Eve were and I realized at that moment that all my assumptions about the Midwest were wrong. Everywhere we go we will find a “post-Chistian” culture and the people living in it have very little if any Biblical insight that shapes how they look at the world, at relationships, at themselves.
So, what type of church should we be? Keller mentions five elements of a “missional church”. We are to:
1/ Discourse in the vernacular
2/ Enter and retell the cultures story with the Gospel
3/ Theologically train people for public life and vocation
4/ Create Christian community which is counter-cultural and counter-intuitive
5/ Practice Christian unity as much as possible at the local level
I encourage you to read the brief two page article, The Missional Church, for further development of these ideas.
http://download.redeemer.com/pdf/learn/resources/Missional_Church-Keller.pdf
Also, as a follow-up to last weeks email on worship I would recommend the following article on “Evangelistic Worship” (and no, to clarify, we are not going to have a “seeker friendly” worship philosophy along the Willow Creek model. The following article will help explain our approach.)
http://download.redeemer.com/pdf/learn/resources/Evangelistic_Worship-Keller.pdf
- Pastor Tobey
]]>Following months of examination and prayer for God’s guidance, the congregation approved a recommendation to purchase the former Southwood Lutheran facility at 5511 S. 27th Street. We believe that this purchase will allow Zion to continue to proclaim the transformational power of God’s grace as well as fulfill our mission to be a resource church for Lincoln and the greater Kingdom of God—pouring ourselves out for others.
We have not abandoned the 9th and D neighborhood. Our mission there has simply changed. Rather than being the location of the mother/resource church, 9th and D will be the location of the next daughter church of Zion. As a resource/mothering church, we will have an opportunity from our new location to support, equip, and commission church planting efforts—the first of which will be headed by Pastors Tobey Brockman and Adam Odell back to the 9th and D neighborhood.
We hope to finalize the purchase of 5511 S. 27th by October 1, 2007. However, the church is obligated to honor an existing lease to MiddleCross Church until March of 2008. We will be working with MiddleCross Church—who is currently renting the facility—on a transition plan. MiddleCross has been very gracious during this period of decision, allowing us access into the facility for inspection on many occasions and praying for us. Please pray for their future as well. We are pleased to be partners in the gospel with MiddleCross and other gospel-preaching churches.
As time progresses there will be some improvement projects at 5511 S. 27th. Stay tuned for opportunities to spruce up the grounds and facility.
Please continue to pray that we would be a grateful, Kingdom-minded, gospel-living people. The facility is a helpful tool in ministry, but people are always God’s primary tool.
Yours in Christ,
Stu Kerns
Senior Pastor
Why plant new churches?
“New churches reach the non-churched far more effectively than longer-existing churches. Dozens of studies confirm that the average new church gains most of its new members from the ranks of people who are not attending any worshipping body, while churches over 10-15 years of age gain 80-90% of new members by transfer from other congregations. This means that the average new congregation will bring new people into the life of the Body of Christ at 6-8 times the rate of an older congregation of the same size. ”- Tim Keller
Why plant new churches? As the quote from Tim Keller states, study after study shows that the most effective way for God’s people to reach the unreached is through the planting of new churches.
Thus, numerous new churches are the only way to really expand the number of Christians in a city.
When I discuss this truth with people, I usually get two responses: First, I hear excitement. People are fired up by the opportunity to be a part of a church where new people are being brought into the life of the Body of Christ through either new or renewed faith commitments. Second, I’m asked a question: “What kind of worship service are you going to have?” Translation: “Are you going to have one of those watered-down, flashy, entertaining, cheesy, seeker-friendly worship services?” My answer: “Well, yeah, why wouldn’t we.”
If worship is the source and purpose of our mission, designing a “watered-down, flashy, entertaining, cheesy, seeker-friendly worship service” would be kind of like training for a marathon on a diet of Twinkies and Ho-Ho’s. Worship is what we were created for and as God’s people gather to worship before the nations we are given God’s promise that the nations will flock to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 67:1 TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM. A SONG. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, (Selah) 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. (Selah) 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Thus, Christ-formation in an individual happens best not through programs, but through a local worshipping church.
Evangelistic worship is shaped by the deep conviction that the gospel is what both the believer and the non-believer need. Only a person who is hearing the gospel in the context of an on-going worshipping and shepherding community can be sure of finally coming home into vital, saving faith. This is why a leading missiologist like C. Peter Wagner can say, “Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.”
-Tobey
]]>“...Zion Congregation was founded in Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 17,1900. The Congregation had to enlarge the house of God after 7 years, that is in 1907, because the congregation grew through the grace of God. Hence it followed that they may build a new house for God and the cornerstone was placed on July 17,1927. Since the beginning the congregation has found peace in Jesus Christ their redeemer ... As fathers and brothers in Christ we wish for our descendents that they will follow Christ’s calling and the teachings of Jesus his blood cleanses us from all sins. Till we meet in the eternal Zion.
-Recorder, Johannes Doell”
It has impressed me that these German-speaking believers took their faith with them wherever they went. When things were hard in Germany and there was opportunity in Russia, they moved, and they took their faith with them. They built villages and churches. Then when things changed in Russia, they saw opportunities in the United States, and they moved again, and they took their faith with them. They built homes in the South Bottoms neighborhood of Lincoln and a church building that they soon outgrew. So they found a new place and built a new building. And as we read in the document they put in the cornerstone, they took their faith with them.
So when we think of the Zion Chuch building that stood at 9th and D, we should remember that it was really just one more building in a series that housed a church of faithful Christians. They were used to moving as things changed. We can learn from their example and view our planned move to South 27th as an incidental circumstance. The building and the location is not the important thing. The real question is, what faith will we take with us?
-Pastor Keith
]]>As many of you heard yesterday during the AFC hour, I am in the process of developing plans for a church plant in downtown Lincoln. Although at this point the plans for the church plant are in very early stages, now that things have become more public, I wanted to begin the communication process with the congregation.
I am currently gathering people who may be interested in the church plant for some informal dinner/discussions. I’m looking to bring together people who would like to help me think through two questions: 1/ why does Lincoln need another church?, and 2/ what could that church look like in order to reach downtown Lincoln? I am looking to hold a dinner/discussion gathering sometime at the end of this month: either Sunday, August 26, or Tuesday, August 28.
If you would be interested in participating in these dinner/discussions I would love to speak with you about joining us.
At this time participation does not require anyone to commit to joining the church plant, opportunities to join the church plant will come a couple months from now when all of you are able to hear about and consider the vision/mission of this new church, although I am certainly interested in connecting with those of you who may be particularly “curious” at this time.
So, two things: 1/ please feel free to let me know if you have an interest in joining the dinner/discussions, and 2/ please pray for the church plant. To begin a new church is a great privilege, and one that our enemy will greatly oppose. So, please pray.
I look forward to communicating with all of you and casting the vision for the church plant in the weeks and months ahead, and again, please feel free to let me know if you would like to talk further about this new work. I really would love to speak with you.
Keep praying and let’s talk,
Tobey
Could the south towers have been saved?
When it comes to buildings, nearly anything can be done…for a price. When the fire went through the roof it actually bent (melted?) the iron beams that ran from north to south. Those beams were connected to the north and south brick peaks. Consequently the north wall was completely unstable. The structural engineers recommended that the entire building be taken down. One engineer told me that he ‘loves old things’ and ‘lives in a hundred year old house’ but that the remaining building needed to come down.
Why did we meet at Capitol City Christian Church?
Pastor Bill Thornton is a friend of Stu’s and he immediately offered their help. They do not use their worship center at the 10:30 hour and were able to free up a couple of rooms for nursery. Though their facility is quite a distance from 9th and D, their hospitality, availability, parking, time-slot, and friendship made it quite a blessing.
Why are we now meeting at Grace Lutheran Church?
Capitol City did not have extra space for our educational programs. Our friends at Grace Lutheran were willing to create a schedule that will allow us to operate all of our weekly programs, including worship, Sunday School, AFC, AWANA, and other occasional ministries.
How long will we be meeting at Grace?
The month of August will be a trial period for both congregations. We will need to work out some of the traffic flow issues as 500-600 people could be roaming the hallways on some Sundays. Assuming we can mutually iron out all the bugs, we could be renting from Grace Lutheran for the duration of our ‘wilderness wanderings’ (until we build or buy a facility).
Will Zion rebuild at 9th and D?
The elders and deacons have been gathering as much information as possible and assessing all options. These options seem to boil down to this: (1) Rebuild Zion at 9th and D, (2) Rebuild Zion at another location and plant a daughter church at 9th & D, or (3) Relocate Zion to an existing facility and plant a daughter church at 9th & D. All of these scenarios envision a church rebuild at 9th & D (perhaps mother, perhaps daughter). We have been actively investigating all facilities that might work with option 3. There are only two churches on the market at this time. One church was deemed unsuitable due to maintenance and upkeep needs (Trinity Methodist, 16th & A) and the other is considered suitable for our current ministry needs (Southwood Lutheran, 5511 S. 27th). We have begun negotiating to purchase the former Southwood Lutheran property and if we come to terms with them we will call a congregational meeting for final approval of the purchase.
What are the advantages of ‘option 3’?
It is much cheaper to buy an existing property than to build. If we would have completed our education wing at 9th and D, Zion would have been about 20,000 square feet large. At a rate of $140 per square foot (which will create a brick, pleasant, good quality facility) and add in costs of furnishings, design, etc. it would range in cost from about $3 to 3.5 million to rebuild.
What are the disadvantages of ‘option 3’?
There are very a very limited number of churches for sale. It is also very concerning to leave 9th and D. The officers are not interested in abandoning ministry at our current location. We believe God has called us to have a strong gospel presence in the core of the city. God’s providence in providing Pastor Tobey’s desire to church plant in Lincoln, passion for the urban center, and potential resources to accomplish this task can overcome the disadvantages of option 3.
Why would we church plant at this time?
Zion planted Grace Chapel (40th & Sheridan) six years ago. Our vision has been to saturate Lincoln with PCA churches through church planting. Originally we had hoped to expand Zion’s facility and grow enough to fund another church plant several years from now. God seems to have other plans. With an approved church planter on staff, Tobey’s desire to plant a church in Lincoln, the potential to effectively—though not completely—fund the church planting effort, all while eliminating all of Zion’s debt seems amazing. Wisdom, timing, and providence all work hand in hand.
Since Zion has insurance money, will any additional capital campaign funds be necessary?
Yes. There will be ongoing capital needs and if a daughter church is planted at 9th and D she will need help to eventually build. When our financial situation begins to unfold more clearly we will communicate those needs to you. Since ‘fire recovery’ money has been sent with the primary idea of rebuilding at 9th and D that money is being designated for that purpose.
How will all these possibilities affect Zion’s vision for ministry?
In short, it won’t. As a reminder, here is Zion’s mission statement:
By God’s grace Zion Church will be a Christ-centered ministry committed to worship God by proclaiming the truth of Scripture and relating to one another on the basis of the transforming power of the Gospel. As God’s people living in community, we will equip one another to pour out our lives for Christ at home, in the city, on the campus, across the Midwest, and to the ends of the earth. This vision rests upon the supernatural work of Christ who alone can build His Church through the Spirit’s work in our lives together.
Our calling remains the same. We want to continue to practice a grace-oriented relational style of ministry. We want to saturate Lincoln with PCA churches (we were the only one in 2000; by God’s grace we might have 4 by 2012 as Grace Chapel is working toward a plant). We want to participate in the planting of churches throughout the region. We know that Christ alone can accomplish this, but we pray he would give us the joy of participating in His plan.
This Sunday we will begin our full Sunday Schedule at Grace Lutheran Church, 22nd and Washington (one block south of ‘A’ street). Hopefully, this will be our last stop until we have a permanent facility (as permanent as this life offers...). Please park on the south side of the facility and use the east and west doors for entrance. There are usually many places to park on the street as well.
We are asking everyone to go to the church gym area (also called Lesher Hall) at 9:15 AM this first Sunday. The children will be dismissed with their teachers to their classes from there. Also, I’ll give an update on the latest information on our plans for a permanent facility to all of the adults. After my update we’ll break for an abbreviated AFC hour. In that AFC time you will have an opportunity to ask follow up questions and process the events of the last two months.
At various points there could be about 500 people roaming the Grace hallways, so have a good sense of humor, take your time, get to know someone new, and know that there will be details to figure out. We want to be good guests. My prayer is that this will be a blessing like our time at Capitol City was. If you come across an issue that needs to be addressed please say something to one of the staff or one of the elders/deacons.
The schedule will be:
* 9:15 AM Christian Education Hour for all ages
* 10:15-45 AM Fellowship in the church foyer
* 10:45 AM Worship
Pray that God would continue to use this time in the life of Zion to draw us closer to each other and to our Lord Jesus.
In Him, Stu
The sobering fire of June 9 has taken Zion on a short-term ‘wilderness wandering’. The hospitality of St. Paul UMC and Capitol City Christian Church has been a great encouragement. We have reached an agreement with Grace Lutheran Church for a trial period of joint use and rental at their 22nd and Washington facility. Sundays at Grace Lutheran will begin August 5, with an education hour at 9:15 AM and worship at 10:45 AM. If all goes well we will be doing ministry at 22nd and Washington until we have a new facility.
On our last Sunday at Capitol City—July 29—we will leave our worship service to join their late service. We want to express thanks to them and they want to send us forward with a blessing. It should be a real joy. I hope you can stay to be a part of it.
As the elders and deacons have been praying, talking, and gathering information it has become fairly clear that there are only a handful of realistic options that sit before us:
1. Rebuild Zion at 9th and D.
2. Rebuild Zion at another location and plant a daughter church at 9th & D.
3. Purchase an existing facility and plant a daughter church at 9th and D.
We are not comfortable leaving the core of the city. By God’s providence the officers have been preparing to church plant with Pastor Tobey after he was assessed and approved to have the essential qualities of a church planter by the denominational assessment process (January 2007). We are prayerfully considering whether the event of the fire might be meant to speed up that church planting plan.
Please pray for the elders and deacons. Specifically, that we would have wisdom in determining how best to proclaim and stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in downtown Lincoln, that we would use our resources wisely, that we would have a Kingdom mindset, and that we would work toward the larger goal of saturating Lincoln with gospel-preaching, Bible-believing, Christ-honoring churches.
We have inherited a great legacy from those who have gone before us. Let us labor for the Kingdom and leave a godly legacy in our wake.
Only by His grace,
Pastor Stu Kerns
For the Session
Dear Friends,
On June 9, 2007, the Zion PCA church facility in Lincoln, NE was destroyed by fire. Structural engineers and church leadership determined the building could not be repaired and subsequently contracted to have it razed, which has been accomplished. At this point it appears that the insurance settlement will not be sufficient to build a physical plant large enough to meet the needs of this growing congregation. In fact, Zion PCA was going to break ground for a Christian Education addition on the very morning of the fire. Although this fire has been traumatic to the saints at Zion, Associate Pastor Tobey Brockman reminds us that the most horrific event in history, the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus, was the turning point of history and the key to our salvation. God is not caught off guard by tragedy, He plans it. And He will use it for His glory and for our good, burning away the dross and forming the character of Christ in us.
The officers of Zion want to communicate this simple message to their brothers and sisters in the PCA, the congregation and the Lincoln community: We believe God wants a church at 9th and D streets and we will labor toward that end.
MNA Disaster Response is working with Senior Pastor Stu Kerns and has established an account to receive and process contributions to help our family at Zion PCA to meet immediate and ongoing operational expenses and to help with rebuilding costs. MNA charges no fees in processing your gift; 100% will go to Zion Presbyterian. By giving through MNA, you will save Zion the extra work of receipting and processing your gift. Current information can be obtained by navigating to the Zion PCA homepage, or by contacting Rev. Tobey Brockman, Associate Pastor at 402.476.2524.
Pray that the Lord will comfort our church family in Lincoln and provide for them. Pray for the officers as they are challenged to locate a facility large enough to gather the entire congregation together for worship on the Lord’s Day. Pray for those involved in the building process/decision making, that the Lord will equip them with Godly wisdom. I also ask you to prayerfully consider how the Lord would have you participate in these efforts. Let us wrap our arms around our family in the loving nature of our Savior Jesus Christ. To contribute online, please follow this link.
With a servants heart,
Arklie Hooten
MNA Disaster Response Director
June 28, 2007
The media in Lincoln has been very kind to continue to tell our story. If you watch the 10 PM news on channel 8 they are doing a follow up on those who went on the missions trip to Peru. Today the LJS gave an update on the building status. There really isn’t much that is new, but the article summarizes pretty fairly where things are at. The officers remain open to all possibilities (the lead to their article) and continue to prayerfully consider what God would have us do. I want you to know that while we are praying, we are also gathering information.
As far as purchasing an existing church, there don’t appear to be any realistic options. If you know of a facility that is for sale please let me know.
Here are a few more notes for the week ahead:
* We continue to meet at Capitol City Christian until further notice. Services are at 10:30 AM with nursery provided. This Sunday Capitol City has a wedding at 2:00 and they need us to leave the worship center right after services. I think we could linger a bit in the foyer, but they’ll be decorating and taking pictures in the worship center right after we leave.
* One of the nurseries will be on the opposite side of the worship center. One of the rooms we’ve been using is also the “bride’s room” and they’ll need it this Sunday.
* We are asking people to put on a nametag. Grab a sharpie and slap on a nametag. We’ve been one church in two services for quite a while and nametags are very helpful.
* We continue to take orders for t-shirts, polos, and caps. There will be a table ordering these ‘Zion’ products. We hope to have them in hand and distributed by the 15th.
* If you see a need or a gap in ministry don’t be shy about saying something to one of the officers. We need lots of eyes and ears.
* We are very near to a long-term agreement with Grace Lutheran church for Sunday rental space (22nd & Washington). We will be able to do all of our Sunday morning activities, with an education hour at 9:30 AM and worship at 11:00 AM. Pray that these details are finalized and that this situation would be a blessing to both congregations.
* There will be a prayer walk, beginning at the Ed Center (8th & D) on July 18, 7 PM. We’ll take an hour to walk through the neighborhood, pray, and talk about the future.
The basement hole at 9th and D was filled and the lot will be seeded shortly. Some will wonder why (when we might be messing it up again soon). Here is the answer from Jack Way: “This is a requirement of City of Lincoln when demolition of a building occurs. They sent an inspector when the hole was open to see that the footings removed. If Zion had not completed this work and left the site in an unsightly mess, there would have been considerable reaction from City Hall possibly resulting in litigation which Zion does not want. Plus, it’s being a good neighbor.”
We want to be good neighbors! Use every opportunity God gives you to talk about Jesus, who leads Zion Church, who loves lost people, and who has a purpose behind our temporary trouble.
In Christ, Stu
]]>
* We will be meeting at Capitol City Christian Church until
further notice. Their space and hospitality has been a great blessing.
The have a wedding this coming Sunday, so we need to start on time and
end at 11:30, so they can re-claim the worship center at 11:45 AM.
* T-shirts, polos, and caps will be available for order again this
Sunday. “Zion clothing” is another way to share with others the story
of Zion and the story of Christ’s gospel (it opens doors of
conversation).
* Pray for a ‘permanent’ place to meet (for the duration of
construction). We have centered in on about 3 options.
* Find someone who took the missions trip to Peru and listen to
their stories. They had some adventures going down (lost luggage) and
an adventure coming back (flight cancelled into Omaha!). Their
perspective on how blessed we are, in spite of the fire, will be
helpful.
* Over $6,000 has come into the fire recovery fund. What a
blessing that others care about this congregation!
* If you know someone who would like to receive the current
newsletter just e-mail their address to Lynn at the church office:
lynn@zionpca.com
That’s all for now. The office is running just as usual (praise God!).
Don’t hesitate to call or e-mail with questions, suggestions, or ideas
on how to make our time in the wilderness more smooth.
In Christ, Pastor Stu