This evening a Maundy Thursday devotion will be available on our Facebook site (www.facebook.com/mtzpresbychurch)  or on our church's website (mtzpresbychurch.net).  And Easter Sunday at 7 am a "sunrise service" will be offered live on our Facebook site, and later available on our website.  This Easter morning service will feature communion, so have bread and some juice or a bit of wine available!

Friends,

We are planning a safe yet celebratory way to observe Palm Sunday!

On this coming Sunday, April 5, Mount Zion Presbyterian Church will be having a "Palm Sunday Car Caravan." You are invited to meet at the church's parking lot. Individuals in cars will be asked to not visit physically outside of their cars with one another!  You will have the opportunity to retrieve a palm branch and a printed sheet with scripture and prayers.  At 10:00 a.m. we will depart the parking lot and go on a short drive through Mount Zion, waving palms and – if you choose—shouting "Hosanna!"  That ancient phrase means “Save us!” We will return to the church parking lot, where you will be given the opportunity to get the name and address of one of our homebound to take to their residence (that's a volunteer thing--you may choose not to do that).

We need to take care to maintain physical distance (but not spiritual distance). Gloves will be available when appropriate. We’ll need to resist that MZPC tendency to greet each other with great gladness in person and visit about how things are going during this time.  Please know that this event has been cleared with the Mount Zion Police Department.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact me!

Also, regarding Easter Morning: you will have the opportunity to join worship on-line and to take communion at home! This will require having some bread and juice or wine ready.  More on this next week.

Please pass along any needs you have or knowledge you have of a neighbor or sister or brother in the faith who has a situation we can help address. Several people have volunteered to help in various ways during this time.

Public worship may be suspended right now, but we can still gather spiritually.  God be with you!

Rev. Mike Wakeland
Mount Zion Presbyterian Church
(217) 428-2339
mtzprespastor@comcast.net

• Palm Sunday Worship Services, Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt are cancelled
• Maunday Thursday Tenebrae Service is Thursday 4-19-2020
• One Geat Hour of Sharing is collected during Lent.  This offering provides us a way to share God's love with our neighbors in need. 
• LOGOS, Church meetings, Choir cancelled at least through 4-8-2020

We now have videos of church services, messages and devotions available on the LINKS  tab on the home page.  Click on the LINKS  tab and select the item you want to see.  

Dear Friends in Christ,

With some sadness, but with confidence that it is the right decision, I report to you that our Session has decided public worship and on-site church activities will be suspended at least through April 30. Previously the Session had decided to remain open, but the situation has shifted since that decision was made. Our worship is now on-line through Facebook (see the link below). Like a lot of churches, we are going to be learning some things "on the fly".

We will have a short Sunday worship service, and possibly daily prayer and meditation (as Molly Tenuto has posted the last two days), available on our Facebook page. You may go to https://www.facebook.com/mtzpresbychurch to see our worship service each week.  You can also continue to find the audio recordings on this website. We have applied for the ability to receive on-line giving and donations as well; directions should be available here soon. As always, you can still mail in your donations and contributions. The church's mission and financial commitments continue.

At this writing, Decatur Memorial Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital have implemented policies that make pastoral visits unlikely except in the direst of circumstances. Their policies do vary slightly, and like the rest of us, they are adapting to changing circumstances day by day. For pastoral needs, please feel free to contact Pastor Mike Wakeland at 217-428-2339 or Parish Visitor Gloria Marshall at 217-412-2254. If you are coming by the church and wanting to make sure it is staffed, you may wish to check with the church office at 217-864-2528 or Pastor Mike.

We are headed for a time of "physical distancing" but not "social distancing." We are a church family. We will do everything we can to meet one another's needs, to combat loneliness through the telephone and social networking, and to look for creative ways to adapt to a new time. Remember: "Perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18)  Christ's people rise to these challenges.

Peace be with you--

Pastor Mike

Book Club meets Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss Thorn in my Heart by Liz Higgs.

Cancelled until further notice.

Mt.Zion Presbyterian Church has teamed up with Lifetouch and  Shuterfly .  You can support our storefront by going to mtzpreschurchdirectory.shutterflystorefront.com to shop for cards, gifts, books, canvas, and calendars  No promo code is needed.  The church will earn 8% commission on every purchase made.

Derin & Donna Rominger traveled to Honduras from February 5-15 with 26 other mission travelers where we were joined by a team of 13 translators. Together, we worked to serve the people of LaCeibita and Tocoa, reuniting with Hondurans that have become close friends and feel like family. Our philosophy is One Mission One Team, which means that we all work together with the Holy Spirit to minister to one another and provide services to those who need it. We again set up a primary care clinic in the church where nearly 900 patients were seen. Additional services included having nurses performing student physicals at the school, women's health services at the Central de Salud, a literacy program to help struggling readers, neurologic assessments at a special needs school and at an adult rehab center, dental and vision services, Bible school for the kids, a baking ministry to help provide a source of income for the local women, and gynecologic surgical services at a local government-owned hospital. We continue to be impressed with the level of care provided at the hospital, especially with limited supplies and aging facilities. Hospital personnel are remarkable stewards of their limited resources as they work very hard to stretch their supplies and minimize waste, oftentimes reusing and sterilizing items that we commonly discard after a single use. We also got to see many of the sponsored students including our new 10 year old girl who is very talkative and affectionate. The time spent in mission was wonderfully fulfilling while doing God's work. We are so very grateful for the support we receive, and we are all eager to return to Honduras for more!

¨PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN have decided to take a break from their rummage sale fund raiser this May. There are several missions we support that will gladly take donations. The Northeast Community Fund on Martin Luther King Drive and Habitat for Humanity on Wood Street.

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?

Religion is a set of beliefs a group of people subscribe to, while spirituality is a personal journey that takes place with one's self and God.

How does this fit in your daily life?

Your help is needed!  To volunteer to be Coffee Host please call Deacons Tina Gotts or Amy Scranton.  To volunteer for Greeter/Usher call Deacons Nancy Mains or Nancy Ryan.  Your help is appreciated!

Pennies are collected the last Sunday of each month for the 2 cent Hunger Fund.  The children collect the coins after the children's sermon.  Then the Presbyterian Women's Association sends the money to the Presbyterian Hunger Fund.

The Spirituality Team meets each Tuesday from 1:15-2:30 in the church parlor.  Come give it a try as we work together to grow closer to God - it's not a class, it's an experience!

MILLIGAN ACADEMY SUPPLIES NEEDED: Clorox wipes, napkins, boxes of tissue. Lunch items: Ramen noodles, mac ‘n cheese, other non-perishable microwave foods, granola breakfast bars, applesauce and other fruit (individual containers), ranch dressing, hot sauce, and microwave-proof containers for individual servings.

We have initiated a new column on the web site labeled the History Page.  Our first article is about the church bell.  Over time we will be bringing articles of the history of the church.  If you have history articles, pictures and such please contact:  Dave Rozanski, Aric Troll, Derin Rominger, or Jessica Sattley about them for adding to the history of our chuch community.

Please list Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church and/or have a loved one call the Church when you are admitted to the hospital, so we will know you are there.