the Logos

Our dear brother, Otto Lyons, went home to be with Lord on Friday. The Homegoing service is tentatively scheduled for Saturday. Please keep Sis. Linda and the entire Lyons family in your prayers. Join us and bring a friend to our New Year's Eve service starting at 10pm as we worship together and pray in the new year. Also on New Year's Eve, the Youth Ministry will have a "Watch Night Fellowship" starting at 9:45pm at Sis. Tracy Dunn's home. The youth will have a special time of worshipping God while connecting with one another to bring in the new year. All youth desiring to attend need to RSVP by December 29 at mtzyouthcouncil AT gmail.com. Our church theme for 2020 will be "Being a House of Prayer". We'll be focusing on understanding prayer better and spending more time praying. Next Sunday, we'll start a new series called “When the Church Prays”

For the Season of Advent, the Devoted Disciples (Youth Ministry) read John 3:16-19 and lit the fourth and final candle for Love. Jesus’ coming to the world is a picture of a love for us that cannot be measured! In a season that is sometimes filled with not only happiness, but with of grief, pain, loneliness, hoping, and suffering there is much comfort in God’s love. So as you unwrap your gifts on Wednesday, remember the true reason for our celebration. It is not about the new items from your wish list that you will receive. Love is not just shown in the giving of gifts to those we love. Unconditional Love was shown over 2,000 years ago in a manger; the giving of the best gift by God, His Son, Jesus Christ. No Bible Study for the next 2 weeks due to Christmas and New Year's holiday. Bible Study returns on 1/8 with a study on the supremacy of Christ in the book of Colossians. Mark your calendars for our New Year's Eve service starting at 10pm.

For the Season of Advent, the Devoted Disciples (Youth Ministry) read Matthew 2:10-11 and lit the third candle which symbolizes Joy. We can have much joy in the fact that Jesus came as a human to reconcile us back to God. Our joy comes from being in a right relationship with God. Despite the trials and suffering we might be facing this Christmas season we can have joy because Jesus is with us (Immanuel). The joy of the Lord is our strength. Thanks to all who participated in and attended our Christmas Cantata & Pantomime yesterday. The most important thing that happened was the two men who responded to the Good News after the Christmas Program!! One of them is joining the church and was in service today. The other is the youngest son of Sis. Daureen Richards. She had been praying for him to be saved for years! All glory to God! New Dimensions & Pastors Praying Together is having a Holiday Extravaganza Giveaway. We're collecting new unwrapped toys and books for children

For the Season of Advent, the Devoted Disciples (Youth Ministry) read John 3:16-19 and lit the second candle which symbolizes Peace.  We often wish for peace on earth during the Christmas season but true peace will not happen until the Prince of Peace returns. Because of Jesus' work on the Cross, we have peace with God because we're not reconciled back to Him. And we also have the peace of God even in the midst of suffering. New Dimensions & Pastors Praying Together is having a Holiday Extravaganza Giveaway . We're collecting new unwrapped toys and books for children of all ages. They will be distributed at the Oxford Manor Community Center in Durham on Saturday, 12/21 from 2- 4pm. All are invited to A Joyful Nativity , our Christmas Cantata & Pantomime about the Birth of Jesus Christ, which will be on Saturday, December 14th, at 3:00 pm.

For the Season of Advent, the Devoted Disciples (Youth Ministry) read Isaiah 9:2 , 6-7 and lit the first candle which symbolizes Hope.  The prophets, like Isaiah, prophesied the birth of Christ. This candle represents the hope and expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.  Likewise, we have hope because we are anticipating the return of the Messiah. Starting tomorrow (Monday), we're having a church-wide 5 days of prayer and fasting.  Each day, we'll be fasting from particular items, reading and meditating on the indicated Scripture, and spending time in prayer.  Fasting is not way to manipulate God into doing something for you.  Fasting is a spiritual discipline where you deny your flesh something it desires so that you can declare your dependence on God.  Fasting helps to remind us that we need God far more than we even need food or anything else.  We will conclude our time of prayer and fasting with a Prayer Rally on Friday, 12/6, starting at 7 pm. 

During the week of 12/2, we will have 5 days of prayer and fasting. Each day will have specific scriptures to read and pray over and specific items to fast from. Then on Friday, 12/6, we'll gather for a Prayer Rally at 7pm. Also, we're extending our Stay Warm Drive until Sunday, 12/1. We have a lot of coats but could use more hats, gloves, scarves, and socks. Please continue to bring in your items this week. Today was Youth Sunday and Sis. Tikayla Downing delivered a message from 1 Thess. 5:16-18 with the subject "From Ungrateful to Thankful". Through the Word, she admonished us to rejoice always, keep praying, and give thanks. It's so easy for us to complain but God has given us so much to be thankful for. Ultimately, we can be thankful for Jesus who forgives sinful complainers. As we head into Thanksgiving, let's move from being ungrateful to thankful!

Thanks to all who came out to the PACKHOPE event yesterday. It was a wonderful experience to work with others in the community and our brothers & sisters from other churches. I would like to take all of our volunteers who helped with registration, setup, clean-up, and other logistics. And I'd like to especially thank Minister Matt Darby for being our coordinator for this event. Check out the church's Facebook page for some pics from the event. We're hosting a Blood Drive on Saturday, 11/30 from 9:30 am to 2 pm. Diverse blood type donations are critically needed. Our goal is to get 38 donors. You may register on-line or see Sis. Peggy Credle for more information. It's getting cold outside. What a blessing it is to have a warm home to go to daily. Some are not as fortunate and the Youth Ministry needs your help to serve them. Through Sunday, 11/24, we will be collecting hats, scarves, gloves, socks, coats and brand new new born baby clothes for our Stay Warm

Veterans Day is tomorrow where we honor those who have served in the military. We honored the veterans in our service today. We praise God for them and are thankful for their service. Our PACKHOPE event on Saturday, 11/16. Come out and bring your family and friends to help us pack seeds for people around the world. There are three different sessions you can register for at:      * 9:00am – 11am      * 12:00pm-2:00pm      * 2:30pm-4:30pm You can also support this effort with a charitable donation that goes towards the purchase of seeds.

Thank you all for your prayers during my Sabbatical. It was good to take a break. And I had a good visit with my mom and started the process to get her some help. During my Sabbatical, I got confirmation on next year's church theme already. The theme will be on Prayer . We need to get back to prayer...individual prayer, family prayer, and corporate prayer in the church. Jesus said that His church should be a house of prayer. To prepare ourselves, we're going to have prayer and fasting during the week of 12/2. Each day we'll be fasting from something different and it will culminate with a prayer rally on that Friday evening. More details to come. Speaking of prayer, Our next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering will be Tuesday, 11/5, from 7-8pm. Everyone is invited to join us as we focus on specific prayer needs. You can submit your prayer requests on the church website . We also have Prayer & Testimony Service on Wednesday, 11/6, from 6-7pm. Please join us for our PACK

Today, we had a joint service with New Life Ministries of Apex . We had a wonderful time worshipping with Pastor Daryl Cody and the rest of the NLM family. We still have some tickets left for the Prayer Rally 2019 that's happening on Tuesday, October 1st at 7pm in Raleigh. Prayer 2019 is an area-wide gathering with over 100 churches participating across denominations and ethnic groups for a night of prayer. They are also asking people to bring non-perishable goods to be donated to With Love From Jesus for distribution to those in need. Please coordinate with Sis. Sandra Broadwater to get your ticket. All are welcome to our 2019 Fall Spruce UP on Saturday, October 5th, from 9:00am -12:00pm. Come out and let's clean God’s house. My Hope Sunday will be October 13. All of our members are asked to commit to inviting at least one unbeliever or unchurched person to join us at church on My Hope Sunday. During that service, we will share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We ha

Today was our Youth Sunday where our children led us in worship by presiding, reading Scripture, praying, and singing.  Evangelist Patrick Wilson preached a sermon from Jeremiah 1:1-10 on the topic "God's Child, God's Purpose". Don't forget to register for Prayer Rally 2019 happening in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday, October 1st at 7pm. It is a gathering of over 100 churches in the Triangle across denominations and ethnic groups for one night of prayer. Mt. Zion has 25 seats reserved so register to get your seat today . Our next My Hope Sunday will be October 13. All of our members are asked to commit to inviting at least one unbeliever or unchurched person to join us at church on My Hope Sunday. During that service, we will share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We have commitment cards today where you can write down the name(s) of those you are committed to inviting. We will collect the commitment cards on 10/6. Start praying about who you will invite f

Prayer Rally 2019 will be happening on Tuesday, October 1st at 7pm in downtown Raleigh. It is an area-wide gathering with over 100 churches participating across denominations and ethnic groups for a night of prayer. If you've never attended one in the past, I would encourage you to do so. Mt. Zion has 25 seats reserved which are starting to fill up so register to reserve your seat today . Mark your calendar for our Fall Spruce UP to be held on Oct. 5, 9 am- 12 pm. All are welcome to come out and help us keep our facilities clean. Our next My Hope Sunday will be October 13. All of our members are asked to commit to inviting at least one unbeliever or unchurched person to join us at church on My Hope Sunday. During that service, we will share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We have commitment cards today where you can write down the name(s) of those you are committed to inviting. We will collect the commitment cards on 10/6. Start praying about who you will invite for My Ho

Be in prayer for those affected by Hurricane Dorian especially the Bahamas which has been absolutely devastated . At least 43 people have been killed and nearly 70,000 people are believed to be homeless . We'll be looking to see how we can help in the near future so stay tuned. We're having a FREE Outdoor Movie event on September 27 at 7 pm. We'll be showing the movie " Breakthrough ".     (email subscribers: click here if you can't see the video) Grab your lawn chairs and blankets to join us at Mt. Zion for some family fun! Enjoy popcorn, drinks, and snacks while we view the movie on a large, outdoor movie screen.  This is a great opportunity to build relationships with non-believers and introduce them to our church family. So invite family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, especially those who are non-believers, to join us for a fun night.

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Back to School Drive. Due to your generosity, we were able to fill 6 boxes of assorted school supplies that were delivered Wednesday to West Cary Middle School and to the Masonic Oxford Children's Home. These items would have a retail value in excess of $1200. Both the school and the children's home were very appreciative of what we have done. In light of another mass shooting this weekend , Hurricane Dorian approaching , and the fire raging in the Amazon , it should be no surprise that prayer is greatly needed.  There are two great opportunities for corporate prayer this week: Church-Wide Prayer Gathering on Tuesday from 7 to 8pm and Prayer & Testimony Service on Wednesday from 6 to 7pm. On Wednesday, we're starting a new Bible Study series on the book of Ruth. We're be using the book Renewal: Grace and Redemption in the Story of Ruth by our friend, Pastor Jerome Gay, Jr . Due to this being Labor Day weekend, we

Today was our Youth Sunday which was the conclusion to our 2019 Youth Explosion.  I was able to attend much of the service but left to preach at Christ Family Church for their 11 am service to give Pastor Patricio Wilson a break. Elder Cherry prayed for all the students, teachers, counselors, bus drivers, school workers, etc. that are heading back to school for tomorrow (traditional school starts). In honor of the Back to School Prayer, here's a beautiful one from John Calvin that I'd like to share... Prayer on Preparing to Go to School O LORD, who art the fountain of all wisdom and learning, since thou of thy special goodness hast granted that my youth is instructed in good arts which may assist me to honest and holy living, grant also, by enlightening my mind, which otherwise labours under blindness, that I may be fit to acquire knowledge; strengthen my memory faithfully to retain what I may have learned: and govern my heart, that I may be willing and even eager t

Don't forget our Back 2 School Drive is underway. We are collecting donations for West Cary Middle School & The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford . We have a breakdown of supplies by zones . The drive will end on next Sunday, the 25th. The 2019 Overcomers Youth Explosion for grades 6th-12th will be August 23-25! Registration is available online at 2019youthexplosion.eventbrite.com but closes on Tuesday, August 20. On Saturday, the 24th at 2pm, everyone is invited to go out to watch the movie Overcomer . Tickets for the movie must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the theatre.    (email subscribers: click here if you can't see the video)

The 2019 Overcomers Youth Explosion for grades 6th-12th will be August 23-25. On Friday, the 23rd there will be a Game Night (6:00pm- 9:00pm), on Saturday, the 24th there will be a College Fair (9:00am- 12:00pm), and then going to watch the movie " Overcomers " at 2:00pm, and concluding with Youth Sunday on the 25th. Don’t forget to register online by August 20. Our Back 2 School Drive starts today through 8/25.  We'll be collecting donations for West Cary Middle School and the Oxford Children's Home. With two mass shootings this weekend, one in El Paso, Texas and the other in Dayton, Ohio , we know that prayer is greatly needed. Everyone is invited to join us for our next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering on Tuesday, August 6th, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. You can also submit your prayer requests online . We took the time to condemn racism in any form (white nationalism, etc.) because regardless of people's skin color, immigration status, politics, social

Today was our monthly Youth Sunday and I'm thankful for the grace that I see God giving to our children as demonstrated by their leading up in singing, praying, and reading Scripture.  Minister Jae Smith delivered the message to the youth and all of us on the topic "You Ain't Got This" coming from 2 Cor. 12:7-9 .  He preached that we are unable to handle the trials and "torns" in our life but God's grace is sufficient. We must depend totally on Him. For those that missed yesterday's Theological Seminar on "Evangelism and Discipleship", I would highly advise you to watch the video from the archives of Zion Live . Our speaker, Josh Reed , gave us a couple of great tools that we can use to share our Gospel story & God's story.

Bereavement: Please continue to pray for the family of Philip Jackson (the grandson of Sis. Sarah Payne & nephew of Sis. Jennifer Allen) as they grieve his tragic death. Philip was 26. Let's surround the family with our love, compassion, and support. Do you believe it’s your responsibility to make disciples? All Christians have the duty and delight to make disciples. Disciple-making is a joy-filled, intentional, relationship that encompasses both evangelism and discipleship. Evangelism is the proclamation of the Gospel with the aim to persuade. Discipleship is the ongoing journey of becoming more like Jesus and helping others do the same. Join us for our upcoming Theological Seminar on Saturday, July 27th, at 9:00 am where Josh Reed from NC Baptists will be teaching on "Evangelism and Discipleship". You can register online . All members are asked to stay after the service on next Sunday, 7/28, for our Church Family Meeting on Sunday.

All parents and those interested are invited to attend our free "Train Them Up: Parents Digging Deeper" seminar on Saturday, July 20th, from 12:00pm-3:00pm. Topics include: "Seeking, Studying, and Sharing God’s Word" with your children. Registration for the Train Them Up Seminar is available at  https://2019trainthemup.eventbrite.com All Christians have the duty and delight to make disciples. Disciple-making is a joy-filled, intentional, relationship that encompasses both evangelism and discipleship. Register for our Theological Seminar on Evangelism and Discipleship scheduled for Saturday, July 27th from 9 to 11:15am. Mark your calendar for our next Church Family Meeting on Sunday, July 28th, following church service

We have a couple of great seminars coming up: A free "Train Them Up: Parents Digging Deeper" seminar on Saturday, July 20th, from 12:00pm-3:00pm. Topics include: "Seeking, Studying, and Sharing God’s Word" with your children. For more information, contact Tracy Dunn . Our next Theological Seminar will be on Saturday, July 27th from 9 to 11:15am. The topic will be on Evangelism and Discipleship. The speaker will be Josh Reed who is a senior consultant with the NC Baptists for Evangelism and Discipleship. Heres a short highlight video of our VBS this year. (email subscribers: click here if you can't see the video)

The next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering will be held on Tuesday, July 2nd, from 7 to 8 pm. Everyone is invited to join us as we focus on specific prayer needs. You can submit your prayer requests online . The Youth Summer Bible Study Series will begin on Wednesday, July 3rd. The class is open to school-aged youth. Our study explores "The Truth and the Way". The sessions continue through Wednesday, August 21st. Please see Sister Daureen Richards for more information. We'll return to our Job series, "Faithfulness in Suffering", on next Sunday. To prepare, please read Job chapters 15-17.

Thanks to all who participated in this year's VBS "Power Up: Raise Your Game".  We had great classes, games, a picnic at Pullen Park, and it all culminated with our Children and Youth Graduation Service today. Congrats to our 2019 High School Graduates: Christopher Banks Anitasheona Bell Jourdan Hunter CJ Smith This year's J. Allen Lewis Scholarship award recipient is CJ Smith! Sis. Destiny Spivey delivered a powerful message from Proverbs 3:5-6 on the topic "Trust God". And congrats to Zeb Merrill (age 10) on being baptized today! This week, my family and I are going on vacation. Keep us in your prayers and we'll see you when we get back.

Bereavement: Sis. Eva Utley went home to be with the Lord on Thursday morning. She was 92. The homegoing service will be on Wednesday at noon with the viewing at 11am. Happy Father's Day!! I know that Father's Day can be tough for many. Some of you have lost your father so I pray that God would comfort you. Some of you may not have had a good relationship with your father or none at all. At the Men's Conference, Pastor Chris Furr made two insightful statements: "Children are always looking for their father's approval" and "A father's approval is like immunization for our children against Satan's attacks". God has designed a father to have a huge influence on the lives of their children. I'm thankful that even when an earthly father fails in this regard, we have God's approval through Jesus Christ. I'm also thankful that we have MANY great fathers at Mt. Zion that are striving to raise their children in the admonition of

On Saturday, June 15th, we'll have our "Total Body Fair" from 9 am to 12 pm. Sessions will address the whole person from the Spiritual, Physical, Mental, to Financial aspects. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome. There are flyers at the Welcome Center with more information that you can share with others. The Men at Work Conference is almost here. It starts on Friday, June 7, at 7pm through Saturday, June 8 until 2pm. The conference will encourage men in their servant leadership at home, in the workplace and the importance of living out their calling. Register today for $35 which includes conference materials and meals. There are a couple of opportunities this week for corporate prayer. Join us on Tuesday from 7 to 8pm for our Church-Wide Prayer Gathering. Submit your prayer requests online . On Wednesday from 6 to 7pm, there's Prayer & Testimony service. Come out to share your testimony and pray for others.

Our next "Total Body Fair" will be on Saturday, June 15th, from 9:00am- 12:00pm. Sessions will focus on spiritual, physical, mental, and financial well-being. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome. Men, there's still time to register for the upcoming Men’s Conference on June 7-8. The conference will include praise & worship, panelists, and sessions on "Working for HIM at Work", "Servant Leadership at Home", and "Living Out the Call". Registration is $35 which includes conference materials and meals. Happy Memorial Day. As you celebrate tomorrow with a day off from work, let's remember to pray for the families of those who lost their lives in service to our country.

It's my solemn duty to announce that our dear brother Henry Boyd went home to be with the Lord on Thursday. He had gone into the hospital the Thursday before for pneumonia and then went on life support. Praise God for a faithful brother. We will miss him but we can rejoice in knowing that He was trusting in Christ. Please pray for his wife and daughter during this time of bereavement. I will share the details on arrangements once they have been made. Mark your calendars for our second "Total Body Fair" on Saturday, June 15th, from 9:00am- 12:00pm. Sessions will focus on the spiritual, physical, mental, and financial well-being. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome. Men, don't forget to register for the upcoming Men’s Conference on June 7-8 . The conference will include praise & worship, panelists, and sessions on "Working for HIM at Work", "Servant Leadership at Home", and "Living Out the Call". Registration is $35 which i

Happy Mother's Day! Proverbs 31:28 says "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her".  We honored all of the moms today at church.  But we also remember and pray for those who have lost their moms, those who lost children, those who desire to be moms but it hasn't happened, and those who have a strained relationship with their mothers. Thanks to all who attended yesterday's Theological Seminar. If you missed it, I would encourage you to watch the recording . It will change your perspective on work even working at a job that you might hate. All men are invited to the first fellowship of the new ImageBearers Men’s Group on May 18th at 8am in the MPR. Food and drinks will be provided. See Minister Jae Smith to reserve your spot. Men, register for the upcoming Men’s Conference on June 7-8 . The conference will include praise & worship, panelists, and sessions on "Working for HIM at Work", "Servant Leadersh

In light of the recent bombings, shootings in synogagues, and the UNCC shooting , we corporately cried out to God in lament by praying Psalm 90 . The next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering will be held on Tuesday, May 7th, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Come out and let's pray together. You can submit your prayer requests online . Do you dread Mondays because you have to go back to work? Many people see working as a necessary evil to make an income. Would your view of your job change if you knew that your work matters to God. Join us for our Theological Seminar on the Doctrine of Vocation: the Theology of Work as we'll examine the distinction between vocation and work and how our faith integrates with both. Dr. Walter Strickland from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will be our speaker. Register at http://bit.ly/2ZGm7Qh . The Theological Seminar is a good precursor to the upcoming Men at Work Conference being co-hosted by Mt. Zion and Heart Imprint Ministries on June

We praise God for all the youth that led us in worship for Youth Sunday. Young Bro. Darish Jacobs gave a wonderful message on the topic "No Matter the Age, Imitate Christ". Thanks to everyone who participated in Saturday's Spring Spruce Up. We had 36 members, 2 visitors, and 17 from leadership The Zone breakdown...Zone 1: 8; Zone 2: 6; Zone 3: 3; Zone 4: 17  A total of 70 hours and 8 minutes was spent cleaning  For a grand savings of $5,180.00 for our combined efforts to clean our church ourselves.  After the service, we had our Church Family Meeting. From the meeting... We welcomed new Deaconesses: Josephine Singleton, Junève Toche, and Theresa Vinson. The role of deaconess is open to any qualified woman. She does not have to be married to a deacon, minister, or elder to serve as a deaconess. If anyone does not feel comfortable asking a question or expressing a concern during the family meeting, please submit them to the elders. And everyone is welcome to

Join us and invite others to celebrate Easter this weekend: Good Friday service on 4/19 from 6:30-7:30pm  Egg Hunt on 4/20 at 2pm  Annual Easter Program on 4/20 at 3pm  Sunrise Easter & Communion Service on 4/21 at 6am (THIS WILL BE OUR ONLY SERVICE)  Don't forget that our Spring Spruce Up is on 4/27 from 9 am to 12 pm. Come out for any or all of the time to help us keep our facilities clean. On 4/28, I'll be speaking at New Dimensions (Pastor Wright) for their 15th church anniversary at 5pm. The service will be held at Apostolic House of Deliverance, 2806 Cheek Road, Durham. Everyone is invited to join me.

We have a lot happening in April! Men, we will begin the Brother 2 Brother: Real Talk Fellowship meetings on Saturday, 4/13, at 1:00 pm in Adult Classroom 3. This will be an opportunity for fathers, sons, uncles, and brothers to come together and discuss topics of today unfiltered and unfettered. We will talk to one another, listen to one another, support one another, and pray for one another. For questions, contact Brother Corey Smith and Brother Pat Wilson . Join us for our Easter celebration: Good Friday service on 4/19 from 6:30-7:30pm  Easter Egg Hunt on 4/20 at 2pm  Easter Program on 4/20 at 3pm  Sunrise Easter & Communion Service on 4/21 at 6am  We'll have our Spring Spruce Up on 4/27 from 9 am to 12 pm. Come out for part of or the whole time to help us keep our church facility clean. We save a lot of money by cleaning it ourselves. Mark your calendars for our next Church Family Meeting on 4/28 right after the church service. This month I celebrate 17

Join us for a wonderful time of corporate prayer at our next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering on Tuesday, April 2nd, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. If you are not able to attend but have prayer requests, you can submit them online . Our newest Bible Study series on the book of Habakkuk will begin on Wednesday, April 3rd, at 7:00pm. Everyone is invited to join us for this 4-week series as we learn to wait and trust in God, who works out all things for His glory. Next Sunday, we will resume our series in Job called "Faithfulness in Suffering". Please read Job chapters 4 - 5 in preparation.

We live in a fallen world so we have much to pray for. Pray for those affected by the tornado outbreak earlier this month in the southeast that killed 23 people in Alabama. On Friday, at least 49 people were killed and 48 injured, in a terror attack targeting two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch . Pray for the community and families grieving from this hate-filled attack. Just a reminder: We're asking for people to please not congregate in the hallway during service. Everyone should be in the service participating in worship anyway.  Also, this can cause a distraction to our Security ministry. We are taking a break from the book of Job but will be back in April. Next Sunday, my wife and I will not be here as we'll be out of town due to officiating the upcoming wedding of Wendell and Brittany .

Today was My Hope Sunday.  We are still in our Job series, Faithfulness in Suffering, and looked at Job 3 where Job is in deep despair.  So we focused on how to cultivate hope in the midst of despair with a sermon entitled, "My Hope in Despair". Noonday Prayer and Bible Study will be on Tuesday, March 12th.  MAPS (Mature Adults Praying and Studying) will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at noon at the church. All are welcome to attend. To all married and engaged couples, today is the deadline to register for the Spring 2019 Couples Conference on March 23rd. Please register by sending an email to mtzioncouples@gmail.com. The cost is $20 per couple which includes breakfast and lunch. Childcare will be available. In the midst of all of our sufferings and hardships, let us contemplate if Jesus is worthy of our praise and devotion. Listen intently to the words of this beautiful song:   (Click here if you can't see the video)

The next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering will be held on Tuesday, March 5th, from 7 to 8 pm. Everyone is invited to join us as we focus on specific prayer needs. If you are not able to attend but have prayer requests, you can submit them online . This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which is the start of Lent season. We will anoint with ashes after Bible Study around 8pm. We anoint with ashes as a symbol of our mourning and repentance over sin. If you'd like to be anointed with ashes but cannot make it that Wednesday evening, you can come to the church between 11 am and 1 pm to be anointed with ashes. I'm also calling for church-wide fasting and prayer during Lent. You can do a partial fast where you will give up certain foods, drinks, or activities. Lent is 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday and will end on Easter Sunday, April 21, but does not count Sundays. My Hope Sunday is next Sunday, March 10th. This week, please follow-up with those that you invited to come to church

I want to remind everyone that there's a difference between the umbrella stands and the trash cans. We've found trash in the umbrella stands...including lottery tickets (that's probably a subject to address at a later date)!! Thanks to all who attended yesterday's Theological Seminar on "How to Interpret the Bible". If you missed it, you can watch it from the archives on Zion Live . Also, you can download my presentation from here . Ladies, we need mentors for single mothers. There was a brief informational meeting after church service today for those who are interested in becoming a mentor. If you missed the meeting and are interested, please follow-up with Minister Jacquelyn Harrison. My Hope Sunday is 3/10. All of our members are asked to commit to inviting at least one unbeliever or unchurched person to join us at church on My Hope Sunday. During that service, we will share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Take a commitment card and write down the n

Ladies, you are invited to a Women's Prayer Fellowship on 3/2 at 10 am for fellowship and discussion about prayer. A sign-up sheet will be located in the Welcome Center or you can register on Eventbrite . If you have any questions see Sis. Sandra Broadwater Register online for our upcoming Theological Seminar on Saturday, February 23rd, at 9:00am where I will be teaching on "How to Interpret the Bible". When studying the Bible, we want to find the one meaning that the author intended (inspired by God). Join us and bring a friend! Our next My Hope Sunday is 3/10. All of our members are asked to commit to inviting at least one unbeliever or unchurched person to join us at church on My Hope Sunday. During that service, we will share the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We have commitment cards where you can write down the name(s) of those you are committed to inviting. We will collect the commitment cards on 3/3. We also have invitation cards next week that you can use to

"What does this text mean to me?" That’s the question many ask when studying the Bible. But the better question is "What does this text mean?" When studying the Bible, we want to find the one meaning that the author intended. Join us for our upcoming Theological Seminar on Saturday, February 23rd, at 9:00am where I will be teaching on "How to Interpret the Bible". Please register for the seminar online . Bro. Mike Jerkin's Bike Club, Rare Breed, joined us again for worship. I had the pleasure of sharing the Gospel with them and praying for their riding season that's about to start. They presented me with this award.

The only way for you to not think that there's a great need for prayer is if you have turned off the TV, stayed off social media, and stuck your head in the sand.  Everyone is invited to join us for the next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering on Tuesday, February 5th, from 7:00 pm to 8:00pm.  If you are not able to attend but have prayer requests, you can submit them online . Our next Bible Study series will start on Wednesday, February 6th, at 7:00 pm as we explore the book of Philippians. Everyone is invited to join us for this 4-week series as we look at the themes of encouragement, joy, and Christian living. There will be a Men’s Fellowship Breakfast on Saturday, February 9th, at 8:00 am in the MPR (Multi-Purpose Room). The men will also have a brief fellowship in the MPR following church service on February 10th.

Members' 2018 contribution statements are in the Welcome Center ready for pickup. Church leadership will find theirs in their church mailbox. Why is there suffering in the world? If God is loving, how can He allow human suffering? How should we respond to suffering? These questions and more, we'll address in our new series in Job starting next Sunday called "Faithfulness in Suffering". We had our Church Family Meeting right after the service today. We praised God for the things we were able to accomplish last year and looked forward to the new initiatives for 2019: Developing a Disciple-Making Culture : The metaphor is the trellis & the vine. The trellis is a structure that is used to support, to hold up, a vine. The trellis refers to the administrative work within a church, those tasks that, though important, are not actually directly related to discipling people. Vine work, on the other hand, is those tasks of working with the vine, drawing people into

Please keep Sis. Wendy Roberts in your prayers for the loss of her sister-in-law and Minister Jaquelyn Harrison for the loss of her brother, Pastor Pat Clay. We've started our new Bible Study series in the book of 1 Thessalonians on Wednesdays at 7:00pm. Join us as we look at how we should live holy, love others, and anticipate Jesus' second coming. I also had the wonderful privilege of dedicating Geoffrey and Grybrielle's newest addition to their family, Ashytin Malik Lassiter.

Big congrats to Min. Brandi Hancock on the release of her debut solo album proclamation: The TRUTH!  Please support her by picking up a copy! Everyone is invited to join us on Wednesday, January 9th, at 7:00 pm as we kick off our first Bible Study series of the year with an exploration of the books of 1 Thessalonians. Our church theme for 2019 is "Suffering Well Through Faith in Christ". It speaks to the reality that we will all suffer in some form in this life. It's not IF you will suffer, it's WHEN you will suffer. But how do we respond to suffering? My desire that we would endure suffering well, all to the glory of God! Our next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering is Tuesday, January 8th, from 7 pm to 8 pm. Let's gather corporately and pray together. We have much to pray for! If you are currently going through suffering, I especially encourage you to come out so we can pray for you. If you are not able to attend but have prayer requests, you can submit them