the Logos

Thanks for your generous giving to help the India Flood Victims. Your giving enabled us to provide over 100 gift boxes containing vital supplies. I'm sure your generosity will be greatly appreciated Don't forget that next Sunday, the message will be "The Truth about SEX". The message will be rated PG-13 (but appropriate for 10-12).

If you have not taken this quarter's survey, please take it before the deadline of November 30th. The survey is online . Copies are also available for pick up and drop off at the Welcome Center. Thanks in advance for your participation! In two weeks, I will be talking about S-E-X. Join us on December 6th, for the message "The Truth About SEX". I advise parents to make sure your teens are here for it! If you have plans on that Sunday, cancel them! It's just that important. The message will be rated PG-13 (but should be appropriate for ages 9-12). Today's Love Offering will go to help the India Flood Victims. Thanks to all who gave to help show the love of Christ to those far away from us.

There are more opportunities to put our faith into action. Mt. Zion will be having services at a couple of area Nursing Homes this month. Today, we were at Clare Bridge Nursing Home and next Sunday, we will be at Chatham Commons at 2pm. Please join us as we spread some joy and hope to the residences at these nursing homes. The Men of Zion are currently sponsoring a Coat Drive until December 6th. So donate your new or slightly worn coats. Please contact Bro. Barry Singleton or the church office for more information. I will be speaking at Built Upon a Rock Church, in Fuquay-Varina, for their Pastor’s Anniversary on next Sunday at 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome to join us. Our friend, Evangelist Sukumar of India is requesting help for the Flood Victims in India . Dear Brother, here floods are massively damaged the villages. So many people are suffering without food. They are starving for food. Our Government is not able to help all the flood victims, because victims are in millions. ...

On Sunday, I volunteered in the Children's Church and survived the 3-5 year old class! But seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed helping out with the little ones. I also got a chance to stop by the other age classes. I encourage everyone (especially parents) to volunteer in our Children's Church. Just a little bit of your time can make a big impact in the lives of our children. Sunday was the deadline to sign up for the Discipleship Training that starts on this Sunday, November 1 at 8:30am in Adult Classroom 2. On Sunday afternoon, Deacon Keith Patterson delivered his initial sermon. His message was entitled, "Reunited and It Feels So Good" and his text was Luke 15:11-32. Here are a couple of upcoming opportunities to serve & help those in need: Ladies: You can help serve the homeless women at the Helen Wright Center on Thursday, October 29th, at 7:00pm. Sign up at Welcome Center Mt. Zion will again offer the Thanksgiving Assistance Program. Submit the names of fam...

Faith in Action was last Sunday (I hope to give my reflections sometime this week) and I want to thank all who participated. If you volunteered during Faith in Action, please take a brief online survey about your experience. I encourage everyone to continue to look for ways to serve and put your faith into action. If you want to find out how to plug into Mt. Zion, we will have a volunteer expo at the One Body Family Fun on Oct. 31st. Representatives from various ministries will be there to discuss and answer questions about their ministries. Do you want to make a positive impact in the lives of others? Learn how to be a spiritual guide by attending the Discipleship Training on Sundays, November 1-22, 2009 from 8:30am to 9:30am in Adult Classroom 2. The Disciple-makers' Handbook by Alice Fryling will be used. Youth & Adults can sign up for this training at the Welcome Center. The deadline to sign up is next Sunday, October 25th. I am pleased to announce that Deacon Keith ...

Next Sunday (Oct. 11) is Faith in Action Sunday! We're going to gather at 8:30am for a brief service and then go out to serve our community. Faith in Action t-shirts are available to pick up in classroom #3 after Wednesday before & after Bible Study, Saturday before & after FPU & Outreach Meeting. ONLY IF NECESSARY will t-shirts be available for pick-up on next Sunday before 8:30am. You can verify your area of service by checking the volunteer list that's posted on the wall across from the Welcome Center. If you missed the deadline to sign-up (and get a t-shirt), there's still opportunity to volunteer to serve. We can use more volunteers at Cary Health & Rehab, Claire Bridge, Chatham Creek, Mt. Zion, Bond Park, and Dillard Drive Middle School. Sign-up at the Welcome Center. The next Discipleship Training is scheduled for Sundays from 11/1 to 11/22 during the Sunday School hour. The deadline to sign-up at the Welcome Center is 10/25. We will be using ...

Split personality or Dissociative identity disorder is a condition in which a single person displays multiple distinct identities or personalities. Too often, church leaders try to be different people in an effort to please others. I was talking with one of my elders and he shared how he had changed his behavior because of some criticism he received. I warned him to be careful to not allow criticism to change who God made him to be. I do believe we can learn something even from our worst critics, but if we are not careful we can allow criticism to alter our personalities and behavior in an effort to please others. We cease to be who God called us to be and we try to be everything to everybody. And as more critics come, we develop more personalities to please each one. Then our leadership becomes ineffective because we are no longer acting to please God, but we are working to please men! Leaders, work to improve your leadership, but be who you are and do what God has called ...

We have a great Family & Friends Day on this past Sunday. We had many guests to join us so the church was packed and a few who joined us on Zion Live . We worshiped in song and our Fine Arts Ministry demonstrated how important it is for the Body to work together to accomplish the goal that God has given us. We shared our Faith in Action campaign with our guest. I detailed how our members are volunteering to serve our community by picking up trash, serving the homeless food, cleaning at nursing homes, building & gardening, etc. On Oct. 11, we will gather for about one hour then close down our service and go put our faith into action by serving in these areas. During the sermon, I had the privilege to share that all people want to have purpose and put their faith in something. What we put our faith in will determine our actions and how we live. But too often, we put our faith in earthly treasures that fail us and do not last. We must put our faith in something that truly ma...

We're expecting to have a wonderful time this week at our Fall Renewal services (this Wed. through Fri). We're going to have great speakers each night delivering the Word of God so join us and bring a friend. Faith in Action update: Thanks for your response in signing up last week. You filled up all of the service areas. We now have more service areas for you to volunteer. Remember to only sign up for 1 area. The deadline to sign up will be next Sunday (9/27). Next Sunday is Family & Friends Day. Dress will be causal, worship will be intentional, food will be served, and God will be experienced! We will be eating lunch outside so bring your lawn chairs and dress comfortably. Invite your friends, co-workers, family, and those who may be far from God. If they can't or won't attend in person, invite them to check out Zion Live .

A BIG shout-out to our IT/Media Ministry as we launched our new online experience called Zion Live. Our online experience now offers more interactive features than before and we will be adding more in the future. Zion Live will be a great way for people to experience God with Mt. Zion no matter where they are. We have several members in our church that are currently experiencing bereavement. Let's keep them in our prayers... Sis. Michelle Skeen - passing of her mother Sis. Josephine Singleton - passing of her father Sis. LaDonna Bethea - passing of her sister Minister Candace Walden - passing of her husband Here's some info on Wednesday Bible Study for the next few weeks: This week, we will watch & discuss an awesome message from Pastor Francis Chan Next week, no Bible Study due to Fall Renewal service On 9/30, we start a new series called "Does God Know Your Next Move" The Couples Ministry is doing advance planning for Sweethearts' Ball 2010 a...

We are excited to announce the "official" launch of our streaming online service on next Sunday. We've already been streaming our Sunday services, but with the official launch we will add functionality like integrated chat, online donations, and the ability to request prayer and register a decision for Jesus Christ. Our vision is to spread the Gospel and we will use the internet for that very purpose. Spaces are filling up quickly for Financial Peace University (FPU). If you are planning to attend, the last day to register and pay is Sept. 14th. We will have another free preview next Sunday at 9:00 am. Please see Henri or Rhonda Spivey or contact the church office for further information. The Men of Zion will have a fellowship meeting on Saturday, September 12th, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the home of Deacon Sean Cherry. We will be continuing the "Quiet Strength" Study (from Tony Dungy). All men are encouraged to attend (even if you didn't attend the ret...

In case you missed it, we introduced video announcements today. We are very proud of our team for their first time. We look forward to them getting better and better!

We are hosting a "Back to School Jam" for students in grades K-12 and their parents on Friday, September 11th, at 6:30pm. The program will include drama/skits, activities, and a panel discussion with local school administrators, etc. Refreshments will be provided so please sign up at the Welcome Center so we can get an idea of how many to prepare for. Due to Labor Day weekend, we will not have communion on next Sunday, but on the second Sunday in September. Be safe if you are traveling next weekend. Today's love offering will go to bless the Walden family and others in our church family. Thanks to those who gave generously today.

Imagine yourself debt free! We will be starting the Financial Peace University course on 9/26, but you can catch a free preview of what the course is all about on Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Multi-Purpose Room. This preview is about 20 minutes long and will explain exactly how the program works, what you'll get out of it, and how it can completely change your life! On Saturday, 8/29 at 4pm, we will be hosting a free Gospel stage play entitled, " Yet, Praise Him! " Everyone is invited to attend and to bring a friend. If you haven't done so yet, please take the current quarterly online survey which ends on August 31st. Copies are also available at the Welcome Center. Thanks in advance for your participation! Keep in the Walden family in your prayers. Next Sunday, we will take the love offering to bless the Walden family and other members who are in need. So please come prepared to give generously to next Sunday's love offering.

Last Sunday (8/9), we had three people come to Jesus! We continue to celebrate the amazing work that God is doing in the lives of people. We had an incredible time at the Men's Retreat! I've blog about the retreat later. Ladies: the Women's Ministry's "Chocolate and Friends" event on this Friday, August 21st, at 7:00pm. See announcements for further details. Another outreach opportunity, Mt. Zion ministered at Chatham Creek Nursing Home on Sunday at 2:00pm. Deacon Cherry gave an inspirational message and our Men's Choir sang. Mark your calendars: 8/29 at 4pm, Mt. Zion and Gifts of God Ministries Theatre Company is sponsoring a free Gospel play entitled, "Yet, Praise Him!" With sadness I announce the sudden passing of Bro. Douglas Walden on last week (husband of Minister Candice Walden & brother of Sis. Beatrice Fields). His home going service was held on Monday. Please keep the Walden family in your prayers.

We had a nice time at the Skits & Pizza event on Friday. The skits were performed by our children to some adults. The best part was some of the discussions about the skits (prosperity gospel, diversity in the church, overcoming that annoying sin in your life, and avoiding false accusations. Thanks to the College/Young Adult ministry for sponsoring. All men who are planning to attend the Men's Retreat are asked to meet on tomorrow, August 3rd, at 6:30pm in the Multipurpose Room. Parents of the young men who will be attending the retreat should also be present for additional information and to sign permission slips. All of the parents of teens should have received a letter about an important meeting on August 10th at 6:30pm to discuss some critical things in our Youth Ministry. I also want to extend an invitation to parents of 10-12 years old to attend as well in preparation for your children being a part of the Youth Ministry. Mt. Zion would like to hear from you. We are go...

Thanks to all who came out to the Church Family Meeting. Our focus is reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though we don't have a formal dress code at church, I think we have an unspoken one. Our guest may perceive a dress code based on what they see on the stage from leadership. So in order to remove any barriers that might prevent some from visiting us or feeling comfortable in our service, the leadership will dress a little more casual. We will try this out until the end of the year and then evaluate. So don't be surprised when you see me not wearing a tie! I shared the following email that we got via our website to show that we are spreading the Gospel worldwide. To God be the glory! Greetings Mt. Zion Church Family...Today is July 27, 2009 and I would like to share the blessing that I have received from your church. I was talking to my very dear sister, soror, friend Sis Brandi Hancock and she and I were having a heart to heart. I told her that I was...

I give a BIG shout-out to all the men that participated on the Habitat for Mt. Zion project. These men came out and worked hard over two Saturdays to do some renovations at our old facility. Thank you all for your service and hard work! It is greatly appreciated. On Sunday afternoon, Mt. Zion ministered at Cary Health & Rehab Center at 2:00pm. Sis. Angela Cody was the speaker and the Senior Choir brought the music. If you are looking for opportunities to reach out to our community, this is a great one. Often, the residents at these homes are so neglected and it's great for the Body of Christ to share with them that God loves them. Starting Wednesday, we're starting a new Bible Study series called "Dual Citizenship". Everyone is invited to join us for this new series. Our next Church Family Meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 27th, at 7:00pm. All members are asked to be present.

I've been been quite busy the last couple of weeks preparing for a couple of outside speaking engagements. On last Sunday evening, I spoke at Greater Love Worship Center where Robert Mason is the pastor (he is the son of our very own Sis. Beatrice Fields). The Everready Gospel Choir accompanied me and we had a great time. I spoke on "How Big is God?" On this Friday (7/10), I will be speaking at Scott's Grove Church (on Hwy 55), for their Deacon's Program at 7:00pm. The Male Chorus is coming and I anticipate a great time in the Lord. Everyone is invited to join us. Our "Habitat for Mt. Zion" project has finally be rescheduled for Saturdays, July 11th and 18th, at our old facility.

Thank you Mt. Zion for showing the love of Christ. I received the following email via Facebook regarding VBS: "This is Jonathan Lewis, Doug's cousin. Tell the church I miss them and I can't wait to come back next year. Ya'll treated my mother and I like we were members of the church I love yall and can't wait to come back to Cary again". I will be speaking at Greater Love Worship Center (Pastor Mason) on Sunday, July 5th at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited to attend. We started a new Bible Study series. . " Life. Money. Hope: Biblical Advice in Difficult Times ," on Wednesday, July 1st. This 3-week series features David Ramsey. If you are interested in his Financial Peace University , check out this series. Due to July 4th holiday this weekend, we will have Communion on the second Sunday in July.