the Logos

We are now in Lent which started on Ash Wednesday and will end on Easter. Why do we fast during Lent? Fasting is a very helpful way to reduce distractions, focus on God, and cultivate a sense of dependence on Him. When giving up certain foods or drinks, fasting is a way of sacrificing physical nourishment to seek spiritual nourishment. It is also good to give up things or activities that might be feed our sinful desires. So I pray that our fasting and praying during Lent this year will remind us that we need God and we will draw closer to Him. Don't forget to sign-up for Project: Serve Thy Neighbor . Let's sacrifice of our time to serve our neighbors with the love of Christ.   Members: Help us improve our communication in the church we request that you make sure your membership record in up-to-date by using the Connection Card in the bulletin, contacting your Deacon, or calling or emailing the church office.

This afternoon, Sis. Angela Cody delivered her Initial Sermon. Thanks to all who joined us for this special occasion! This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday.  We will anoint everyone with ashes (as sign of mourning and repentance over sin) right after Bible Study.  Ash Wednesday is also the beginning of Lent (40 day fast until Easter Sunday). We do a partial fast by giving up something.  In light of our Make War series, I recommend that we should give up something that may be feeding our sinful desires. Sometimes non-sinful things can be sinful for us.  We may need to limit the practice of these things (by fasting from them) so they do not become weights that hinder us. Don't forget to pick up your Giving Statements at the Welcome Center for your taxes. We are calling all men to help us on Saturday starting at 8am to put down mulch.  Help us keep our church grounds looking good. 

I'm pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Cherry as an elder.  I know that Sean and his wife, Angelique would appreciate your prayers as he takes on this important role to help lead and shepherd Mt. Zion . We have a Town Hall meeting on Saturday at 9am to discuss and get your feedback on our proposed ministry realignment. All members should have received a copy of the proposal via email. If you did not receive it, make sure your email address is current with the church office. We want to send another team to Ecuador this year in July on a mission trip. We are calling on all members (adults, college-age, & teens) to consider sacrificing a week of your summer to spread the Gospel and love of Christ.

We presented our proposal for realigning our ministries to our Discipleship Model at the Church Family Meeting. We will email what was presented to all members this week. Make sure we have your current email address. Our Town Hall meeting on 2/18 at 9am will be devoted to discussing and getting your feedback on this ministry realignment. The next Bible Study series, "SERVICE ROOTED IN GRACE," will begin on this Wednesday at 7:00pm. We progress in the Christian life when we see our sin as first and foremost against a Holy God. We are sinners saved by grace. Join us for this exciting new series. I'm happy to announce that Sis. Angela Cody will deliver her Initial Sermon on Sunday, February 19th, at 4:00pm. Everyone is invited to join us. Don't forget that the Ecuador trip info meeting is tomorrow at Cary Church of God (on Evans Road) at 6:30pm. Pick up a brochure at the Welcome Center. As a reminder, we ask everyone to restrict movement during the Call to D...

Project: Serve Thy Neighbor is happening now. We want to do at least one act of service for a neighbor. Check out the Radical Love website for different ideas on how to serve your neighbor. I'm asking all families to participate and sign-up on the website or use the Connection Card. Thanks to all parents who attended the "Upgrading Your Parental Software" seminar on yesterday.  It was a great success and I want to thank the youth directors, Deacon and Deaconess Jerkins, for their research and hard work with putting on the seminar. The Church Family Meeting is tomorrow (1/30) at 7:00pm. All members are asked to be present. This is an important meeting to attend as we want to share some ideas we're working on for realigning our ministries to our Discipleship Model. On Saturday, February 4th, a local chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is sponsoring a blood drive by the American Red Cross here at Mt. Zion from 9:30am to 2:00pm. Since this is tied to the ...

Project: Serve Thy Neighbor is happening now.  Check out the Radical Love website for different ideas on how to serve your neighbor. I'm asking all families to participate and sign-up on the website. One of our objectives this year is to help equip parents so we are hosting the "Upgrading Your Parental Software" seminar on Saturday, January 28th, from 10am to 2pm.  Please register online . The next Church Family Meeting is January 30th, at 7:00pm. All members are asked to be present. This is an important meeting to attend as we want to share some ideas we're working on for realigning our ministries to our Discipleship Model . Next Sunday, we're starting a new series called "Make WAR".  As Christians we can't not be passive about sin but must fight it.  Don't miss the first sermon because it will be foundational for the rest of the series.  Invite friends, family, believers, & unbelievers to this series. One of the great privilege...

Tomorrow is the MLK holiday to celebrate his birthday.  Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream was not just about black advancement but racial harmony and equality.  We can find this in the Gospel. Ephesians 2:11-16 (ESV):  Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility  by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,  and might reconcile us both to God in o...

The start of a new year is a good time for our members to update the church if your info (address, phone number, email address) has changed. You may use the "Connections" card in the bulletin, contact the church secretary at 919-469-5323 (ext. 3), or send an email to mzsectry@mtzioncary.org . We had a great start to our Wednesday Bible Study on Christ in the OT as the Angel of the Lord.  Christ was active in human history long before His incarnation in Bethlehem.  His appearance as the Angel of the Lord will increase our understanding of Christ's role in the OT and how the Bible really is all about Christ. Our Radical Experiment has concluded.  I hope many were able to read the entire Bible last year.  If not, make it a priority to read through the whole Bible this year . Our theme for 2012 is Missional: Sent by God on the Mission of God .  One of the key Scriptures is John 20:21: Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, ev...

  Our theme for 2012 is "Missional: Sent by God on the Mission of God".  About 40 times in the Gospel of John, Jesus declares that the Father sent Him. The incarnation is the sending of the second Person of the Trinity into human history as a missionary.  Likewise, Jesus tells us that He is sending us as missionaries into different cultures by the power of the Holy Spirit.  As Christians, we are called and sent into the world to spread the Gospel in our communities and around the world. We must not shrink back and stay in our holy huddle. Christ did not stay in His holy huddle (with the Father and Holy Spirit) but He came into our world to redeem us. That means we must go out into the world where the lost are and tell them about a King who calls all men and women to repent and believe the Gospel.  Jesus dressed, spoke, and ate according to Jewish culture, participated in their holidays, and observed their customs without sinning. So Christians are ...

They say Santa is checking his list to see who is naughty or nice. The sad fact is that we're all on the naughty list.  But I'm so glad that Jesus has ripped up that list by His death on the Cross and resurrection from the dead! "You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.  In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT) Jesus Ripped Up Santa's List Jen Smidt »   For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God - Ephesians 2:8 As a family, we are in the midst of celebrating the Christmas season which includes viewing all the holiday classics ( Heat Mis...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Hebrews 1-6 (We have read 96% of the Bible so far. Almost done!)  Today's Country: Vietnam (52% Buddhist)  Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation). We have a team going to Haiti in a few weeks  on January 1. We prayed for our Haiti Mission Trip Team. Please continue to pray for their safety and that their trip will be fruitful. Haiti Mission Trip Team: Deacon Rufus Credle  Deacon George Brown  Sis. Nicole Sawyer  Sis. Stephanie Baker There's still time to join Project: Know Thy Neighbor. The Christmas holiday is a great time to get to know at least 1 neighbor (one that you don't know at all or know very well). Go to radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors for ideas on how to get to know your neighbors. Christ First Christian Fellowship Center is having their 4th Annual Christ...

We live in a sin-cursed, fallen world.  Because of sin, our bodies are fragile and decaying.  Disease afflicts many of us and our loved ones.  Cancer is once again hitting our church family at Mt. Zion .  Deaconess Cythnia who had already fought this disease earlier is now facing a new fight, one that we will fight along with her. But I'm so encouraged by her email below that she gave me permission to share.  It is full of the Gospel hope of Jesus Christ.  I hope that it encourages you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus no matter what circumstances life brings your way.  Jesus is our only hope! “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.  I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”  Philippians 3: 10-11 NLT  Dear family and friends, it is with mixed emotions that I share news of the “war” to which I a...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Phil. 1-4  Today's Country: USA  Spend time in another context. Thanks to all who went out yesterday caroling in the neighborhood by the church and the area nursing homes.  The Christmas holiday is a great time for Project: Know Thy Neighbor. Get to know at least 1 neighbor (one that you don't know at all or know very well).  Get more details at radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors . We conclude our study of the doctrine of "Election" on Wednesday.  Also, bring any remaining questions you may still have. Join us for service on Christmas Sunday at 8am for 90 minutes. Our New Year's Eve service starts at 10pm. We'll have Communion after Midnight and there will be no service on New Year's Day. We are asking all members to sacrifice to give more at least 5% more until the end of the year to help with our budget deficient. If you are able to give more, please do so. You can give online as ...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 1-4   Today's Country: UK (of Great Britain & Northern Ireland)   It's not too late to join the initiative Project: Know Thy Neighbor. 15 families have signed up so far. We want to more to be involved. Holidays are a great time to reach out neighbors.  Go to radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors and sign-up and get ideas on how to get to know your neighbors. We continue this Wednesday with our study of the doctrine of "Election" . Join us and bring a friend. Right after today's service, we had a meeting in the MPR for those interested in volunteering with the College and Youth Ministries! Thanks to all the volunteers and parents who attended. We look forward to having a great year of making young disciples in 2012. We are canceling the Town Hall on Saturday.  Feel free to submit any questions you might have.  Instead, we need your participation that afternoon. We are going caroli...

Today is the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent means "coming". This is the season where we get ready to celebrate the first coming of Christ, His virgin birth.  We also look forward to the second advent when Christ returns for His bride, the church. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Romans 11-13   Today's Country: Turkmenistan (Asia) (96% Muslim) Join the initiative Project: Know Thy Neighbor . 15 families have signed up so far. We want to have more families at Mt. Zion to be involved. The holidays are a great time to reach out to neighbors to get to know them. Join us this Wednesday as we start a new series on the Doctrine of Election (or Predestination) where we tackle the questions, "Does God choose some to be saved but not all?" "Does God show favoritism?" "Is God unfair?" The College and Youth Ministries are looking for volunteers! There will be an interest meeting briefly after service on next Su...

We praise God for the young man (age 18) that came forward last Sunday to place his trust in Christ.  He will be getting baptized on Sunday. Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Acts 18-20   Today's Country: Timor Leste (Asia) We have 14 families have signed up for Project: Know They Neighbor. We want to see more of you involved.  The holidays are an excellent time to get to know at least 1 neighbor (one that you don't know at all or know very well).  Go to radical.mtzioncary.org/neighbors to sign-up and get ideas on how to get to know your neighbors. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no Bible Study this Wednesday.  On 11/30, we start a new series where we tackle the questions, "Does God choose some to be saved but not all?" "Does God show favoritism?" We'll be studying the doctrine of "Election". The College and Youth Ministries are looking for volunteers! There will be an interest meeting b...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Acts 1-3   Today's Country: Switzerland   Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation).  Thank everyone who went with us to C.A. Dillon. Your presence was greatly appreciated. We ended up only have about 30 minutes for the service but the Gospel was proclaimed and we did get a chance to pray with many of the boys. Sis. Samantha Hanebeck will deliver her Initial Sermon on next Sunday at 4:00pm. Everyone is invited to join us for this special occasion. In recognition of Veterans Day on last Friday, we want to thank all who have served our country. Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Please watch this video and then pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the faith. We are asking all members to sacrifice to give at least 5% more until the end of the y...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: John 5-6   Today's Country: St Barthelemy , St Helena , St Kitts and Nevis , St Lucia   We recognize the artists from the Dominican Republic who painted the mural at the entrance of our children's wing. They did a wonderful job for us and they did it for free. Pray for us as go to spread the Gospel to the young men at the C.A. Dillon Youth Development Center on this Wednesday. You have to be 18 or older. If you are interested in going, sign up online or fill out connection card. An important doctrine for us to understand is the doctrine of propitiation. Propitiation is Christ's payment for our sins and the removal of God's wrath. It works to provide our justification (being declared not guilty). Here's the video that we played during the announcement. Happy Birthday & Anniversary to all celebrating in November. Part of the Radical Experiment is to give sacrificially for a specific p...

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Luke 14-16   Today's Country: South Africa We have the opportunity to spread the Gospel to the young men at the C.A. Dillon Youth Development Center on Wednesday, 11/9. The Male Choir is going and we want to take as many men as we can. Ladies are welcome to come as well. You have to be 18 or older. If you are interested in going, we will have short meeting after church to discuss. The Church Family Meeting is tomorrow at 7pm. All members are asked to be present. Since tomorrow is Halloween, I'd like to share a few thoughts on it.  Because there are so many different opinions on this topic, we must think biblically. First, we must guard our hearts so that we are not judgmental.  We should not judge harshly other Christians who may differ from us. Colossians 2:16 says, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath....

Radical Experiment 2011 Update Today's Scripture Reading: Luke 1   Today's Country: Kosovo , Serbia   Spend time in another context: Give some of your time to help make the gospel known outside of your normal context (different community, city, nation).  Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose: Our hearts follow our money. One way is to give in a way that is church focused. The church is God’s primary agent to make disciples of all nations.  Don't forget to join us during the week for Prayer & Testimony service on Tuesday at 7pm, Bible Study on Wednesday at 7pm (current series: "The Gospel Defined"), Bible Study on Thursday at 9am. We have the opportunity to spread the Gospel to the young men at the C.A. Dillon Youth Development Center on Wednesday, 11/9. The Male Choir is going and we want to take as many men as we can. Ladies are welcome to come as well. You have to be 18 or older. If you are interested in going, please sign up online or use...