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Pastoral Update - Zion Worship September 2021

Saints of Zion,

We are excited to announce that Sunday, September 19th, will be our first 10:30am worship in the sanctuary while live on Zoom and Facebook! That means just one Sunday service! We praise God for this! Our online community will be able to log into zoom worship as usual at 10:30, and see and hear the sanctuary congregation, worshipping, listening and singing along. Participants will also be able to interact with other Zoom worshippers. We encourage you to check it out if you are not yet ready or able to be a part of in-person worship. The quality of the worship online will increase significantly. If you have any questions on this, let us know. We think if you just show up on Sunday in the zoom link or call-in, it will make sense to you.

We thank the Innovation Team for this work, led by the fearless Jim Littrell! We thank him and Stacey Jamison for the initial agreement to help do the technical leadership on this (to be in the booth), and we need more help! We need those interested in learning the sound and zoom leadership to rotate in that ministry so we are not dependent on only two people. If you have an interest, please see JIm or PMB and we can get you set up for a trial training to see if this is a ministry that fits your gifts and calling.

We also thank the church council for their leadership, going back and forth with various plans, through hours of meetings and discernment. We thank the full congregation, as your tithes and offerings are being used to not only hold our community together, but to grow us with different models of worship and communication, near and far.

We thank the choir under Roger Smith's leadership for taking a step out as they are comfortable to return to singing on Sunday mornings. The exceptional discipline in maintaining distance and masks during rehearsal and Sunday morning is essential to our return, even if difficult and sometimes uncomfortable.

Please be reminded that Sunday morning worship will have the same protocols for 10:30 as 9:00: pick up one's own bulletin, pick up your communion cup, place offerings in the plate in the middle of the sanctuary, wear a mask at all times, and remain physically separated as much as possible. There will be no box or passing of the peace until we can figure out how to do that safely. We fully understand that some congregations are less restrictive than us, and some are far more (many ELCA congregations still do not allow singing, even with masks). We ask, as you have been, to continue to respect the protocols that are put in place to do our best to keep each other safe during the time of this COVID Delta variant.

We realize that not everyone is comfortable with in-person worship yet. Some in our community are not yet eligible for vaccines, and others of us have health issues that make us more vulnerable, even if vaccinated. The blessing of this new ministry means that everyone can attend worship in the manner in which they feel safe and comfortable. Whether it be from home, a vacation spot, a hospital or rehab bed, or anyplace else, we can be connected by the Holy Spirit in worship together thanks to this innovation gift.

Finally, praise God for worship. Praise God for God's mighty deeds, that God can do anything God wants in support and love of God's people. With every door that has closed during this long 18 months, another has opened to create innovative and new ways to connect to God in Jesus Christ and to one another. As always, my door is always open and feel free to contact me with any questions or thoughts.

May God continue to bless us and keep us in these times. Peace and Power, PMB

Sunday In Person Worship & Live on Zoom and Facebook

10:30am, September 19, 2021

17th Sunday of Pentecost

In person: 10:30am, 143 Albany, Ferndale, MI

Online: 10:30am

Click Here for September 19th Order of Service

Ways to Join

Zoom Use the information below to join us for online worship. You will be connected to online worship via Zoom video conferencing.

Click Here to Join Zoom Worship

Meeting ID: 972 4592 2829

If you prefer to call in by phone, use the number below.

(312) 626-6799 - Meeting ID: 972 4592 2829

Facebook

Click Here to Join Facebook Live Worship

Wednesday Hope

Summer Worship

7:00pm - Eastern Time

Every Wednesday evening will be focused on words of
real hope that strengthen us for the week’s journey.

Ways to Join

Use the information below to join us for online worship. You will be connected to online worship via Zoom video conferencing.

Click Here for Wed Hope Summer Season Order of Service

Click Here to Join Wed Hope Service

Meeting ID: 937 4467 5511

If you prefer to call in by phone, use the number below.

(312) 626-6799

Meeting ID: 937 4467 5511

Holy Communion Online

1st Sunday of the Month

Zion offers Holy Communion in person and online first Sundays of the month. Click here to view Pastor Bode’s Statement about Communion Online including the appropriate elements needed for communion at home.

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Sunday's Sermon

September 5, 2021
Sunday Worship

Season of
Pentecost

Pr. Matthew Bode

Just because we aren't gathering for service at this time doesn't mean you have to go without your weekly sermon or worship.

Zion is committed to staying connected and being a resource of hope during this time of separation.

Community Resources

Oakland County

COVID-19

Information

Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) is working closely with healthcare providers, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to actively monitor the presence of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the community. OCHD is providing information about how to prevent the illness and stay healthy, and where to get testing and help.

Learn More

Detroit COVID Vaccine Update

These groups can now schedule an appointment by calling 313-230-0505 Monday-Friday from 9 am until 6 pm.

Any resident of the City of Detroit who is age 16+.
Any person who works in the City of Detroit whose job requires them to work from their job site.

There will be no cost to individuals for the COVID-19 vaccination.

One caller can book for multiple people in your car. You will need 6 pieces of information for each person when you make the call:

Name
Address
Date of Birth
Phone number
Email
Have you had previous allergic reactions to vaccines.

Learn More

"Save Your Spot" in Line

On Monday, April 5, all Michigan residents age 16 and over became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Oakland County will continue to require appointments and prioritize from the Save Your Spot list based on highest risk including older adults, disability, medical conditions, essential or frontline workers, and communities with residents who may have more difficulty accessing the vaccine.

When you are eligible to set an appointment and vaccine doses are available, you will be contacted by phone, text or email.

Save Your Spot

Free Covid Testing

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church (8129 Packard Avenue, Warren, MI) is now a COVID Testing Site on Wednesdays (12 noon to 7 p.m.), Thursdays and Fridays (9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

For more information, call the Mount Calvary Church Office at (586) 757-0319.

Severe Blood Shortage Due to Coronavirus

The American Red Cross has a constant and ongoing need for blood and platelet donations. With the ongoing pandemic, the Red Cross needs the help of blood and platelet donors and blood drive hosts to meet the needs of patient care. Please schedule your next donation appointment now to help prevent another blood shortage.

Give Blood

Recovery & Mental Health

Recovery

Online AA Meetings

Online AA with ASL Interpreter

Online NA Meetings

Mental Health

Dealing With Depression: A Resource Guide

Learn More

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, it can be difficult to know where to turn. There are many excellent resources online that you can use to find out more about depression, including treatments, where to get help, and support for family and friends.Click the link for websites, organizations and other helpful resources available to anyone who has been diagnosed with or suspects they are suffering from depression.

A family devotional written for these times to help stay spiritually grounded, as well as busy!

Learn More

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Outdoor Activity

For mental, spiritual and physical health

Metroparks

If you’re looking for things you and your family can do over the next few weeks, your Metroparks have some options for you to consider. Across the 13 Metroparks properties, you can walk, bike or hike a variety of trails, paddle our rivers or just sit back and enjoy the nature around you as spring returns to Southeast Michigan.

Learn More

Senior

Resource Libary

Due to changes in mobility and cognition over time (and in the midst of a global pandemic), it's only natural that our needs change as well. Not every senior has family nearby to lean on, which is where the church community can step up and support seniors in a big way.

Here are some resources for helping seniors with needs related to aging in place, daily living and combating social isolation.

Church Boosts Health and Wellness in Seniors

By Jason Lewis

Aging brings many changes in life. Getting older may mean that your activity slows down a bit, and the years can have a way of putting distance between you and old friends, which results in less social interaction. For seniors, the risk of isolation is high. Loneliness is not a path to good health, so it's essential for seniors to be engaged. One way to increase social engagement and battle loneliness is to become involved in a church, and such spiritual connectedness may benefit health as well.

Alzheimer Support

Alzheimer Support is a free service that helps families who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Learn More

Memory Care Facilities

Memory Care Facilities is a free service that helps families who have loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Through our free search tool and nationwide database of memory care facilities, families who are in need of memory care for their loved ones are able to find licensed care homes and communities in their location.

Learn More

Senior Guidance

Seniorguidance.org, provides numerous helpful resources and articles on senior living, aging, dementia, senior care, caregiving, and more. In addition, we enable seniors and caregivers to search and find 50,000+ senior living facilities across every city, town, and county in the United States.

Learn More