Upcoming Events
5/9 Mother's Day - Sunday School Sings 5/10 Ladies' Fellowship 7:00 p.m. 5/16 Crop Walk - Last Day of Sunday School 5/23 Strengthen the Church Offering 5/31 Memorial Day - Office Closed 
All women of the church are invited to join us May 10th at 7:00 p.m. This will be another business only meeting, we do have much to discuss for the year ahead.
It is with great sadness that we will be in search of a secretary. Please prayerfully consider this position. Don’t forget your donations for the Baroda Bible Church Food Pantry. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed. 
Crop Walk 2021Turn your walk into donations for the 2021 Crop Walk. The event will be virtual once again this year. Sunday school will also participate.
Use this link: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/team/zion-ucc-baroda to make your on-line contribution. For more information, contact the church office. 
Pennies for PatientsThe Berrien County Cancer Service, Inc. is delighted to announce their Annual “Pennies for Patients” date of Thursday, May 13, 2021. Their mission is to provide compassionate, in home skilled nursing care and supportive resources at no cost for those affected by cancer or related illnesses in Southwest Michigan. We have a “penny” jar located just inside the Narthex. Our own Connie D. is a nurse for BCCS. Please give generously. 
Altar FlowersOur church altar is so beautiful on its own, but the flowers add that little something extra. I have placed a sign up sheet on the communication desk for those interested in helping with the flowers. You may use real or artificial arrangements. There are also some artificial arrangements in the basement closet should you choose to use those. Please always feel free to talk to me if you have never done this and would like to give it a try. I would like to encourage anyone that would like to bring in flowers to place upfront by the organ to do so. Everyone absolutely loves the flowers! Thanks for your help! God’s blessings, Diane D. 
Church Directory UpdateIt’s time to update our church directory. Please fill out the directory form on page 5 of the April Chimes or you can find additional forms on the communication desk in the Narthex. If you would like a form mailed to you, please contact the church office. Please return the form to the church either by mail or in the box on the communication desk. This information will not only help update our printed directory, it will help the church office have the most up to date contact information for our member files. 
Graduate RecognitionZion will be recognizing our graduates on June 13th. If you have a family member who is graduating this year, please forward their school information and future plans to the church office no later than June 3rd. |
Worship GuidelinesWe want to highlight some of the extra safety precautions we are taking at Zion UCC, as these are important in protecting one another and folks in our community. It is also important to take extra care now so that we are able to move forward and do the things we love to do again.
Masks are required for entry into the building. If you are uncomfortable wearing a mask, you are welcome to access our worship service from one of the other ways it is being offered. Please sit at least 6 feet away from other families, and do your best to keep distance between you at all times. You will notice some pews taped off to help guide us. Please remember not to congregate either in the narthex, or right outside the front door. We want to give space for folks to exit while still practicing social distancing. We encourage you to continue wearing your mask outside if you are within 6 feet of other people. Please note that we will not have coffee hour nor any other communal food or drink. Please also refrain from bringing non-essential food or drink into the building. Communion will be celebrated with pre-packaged cups. We will not be passing offering plates, but there is a plate at the back of the sanctuary, and you can also give online. If you would like give during the offering time, consider writing your check or donating online at: https://www.zionuccbaroda.org/donate.html. Thank you for understanding and respecting these guidelines, which are in place to protect our neighbor and ourselves. Let us continue to worship God and care for one another as we continue to Be the Church now and always! Please contact Pastor Cal or an MLG member if you have any specific questions regarding our current guidelines. UCC Daily Devotions Each day authors from the UCC provide a powerful devotional. Click on the link to take you to the day's reflections. Contact Us:
Rev. Calandra Nevenzel - Pastor pastorcalandra@gmail.com Susan M - Office Manager zionuccbaroda@gmail.com Rhonda H - Bookkeeper zionuccbaroda@gmail.com Music Director zionuccbaroda@gmail.com Jessica M - Christian Education jmachiniak@gmail.com Office Hours: Tues-Thur: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Letter from Pastor Cal“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen! Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles and the rest. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. -Selection from Luke 24:5-12 We have celebrated Easter Day, we have shouted and sung together: Alleluia! Christ is Risen! But it can be so easy to settle back into our routine, and forget that it is still Easter! We continue in the Easter season of celebration of Christ’s resurrection all the way until Pentecost on May 23. Let us continue to look and listen for the spirit of resurrection all around us. Peter gets a lot of flack, and well, he is often impulsive and speaks and acts before he thinks. But here is where his gift of eagerness shines. The women tell the apostles of the good news, that Jesus is not dead, he is not in his tomb, but he is risen! He is alive! But most of the apostles and other folks are too lost in their grief and depression to believe or even hear them. After all, it was only a couple days ago that their Messiah, their great leader, was put to death in a horrible way. But Peter doesn’t miss a beat! Peter jumps up, runs to the tomb and discovers the truth for himself. Let us learn from Peter’s eagerness! We often don’t have the luxury of direct proof, of discovering the truth for ourselves. We have to rely on the news shared by the prophetesses and preacher-women who shared the good news. Let us not ignore it. Let us not be lost in our grief. Let us not go back to looking for the living among the dead. Let us go out and share the news boldly that Jesus is risen and that love is alive! I pray that Christ would be risen in our hearts this Easter season, that we would be inspired to create new things every day, to share laughter and joy in this world, enough to break through the tears and sadness that we struggle with, yes, even in a season of celebration. Jesus is Risen! It is not time to be tame. May God give you joy through your sorrow, and laughter through your tears. May the good news of Jesus rise through your shame, and let you feel the beauty of grace now, and all through your years. In Grace and Joy, Pastor Cal 
Daily PrayerWhatever happens today, dear Lord, help us remember that you are present. If we find ourselves in the shadows of disappointment or rejection or pain, let us see your comforting light. If we’re in the radiant light of success or acceptance or wholeness, may we acknowledge your providence and grace. Wherever we are, grant us the assurance of your nearness. Amen. 
Update to Zion's BylawsZion UCC’s bylaws were last looked at and rewritten in 2003. Believe it or not, it’s been 18 years! We are looking for anyone interested in working to look at and update our bylaws. Some things haven’t really changed, but in other areas there needs to be some rethinking and rewording. This committee would start meeting this coming Fall to work through the bylaws. We are looking for dedicated and thoughtful individuals who would like to be a part of this process. If that is you, please sign-up in the Narthex or let George S know. |