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Thanks to all who donated and supported our 3rd Annual Back to School Supply Drive.  The donations continue to increase each year.  Your willingness to serve the community has allowed us to provide supplies and personal items to West Cary Middle School, Raleigh Rescue Mission, and Oxford Children's Home.  Next Sunday, we start our final series in Acts, covering chapters 13 to 28.  The series is called "Missions to the Ends of the Earth".  This is our longest series that will take us well into next year.  Join us and bring someone as we dig into the last part of Acts. As we got ready to worship through our giving, I shared this excellent writing from our Sunday School lesson.  God's grace equals giving... "Jesus paid the cost of leaving heaven to become a baby, grow up on earth, live with constant criticism by religious people, and die on the cross.  He paid the price that we might experience God's grace (undeserved favor).  Theref...

Thanks to those who attended the Theological Seminar on yesterday. We have a few copies of the handout available at the Welcome Center.  If we ran out and you would like one, please contact me (pastorharris AT mtzioncary.org) and I'll send you a soft copy. You can also watch the seminar online or order a DVD copy of it . Please join us for Elder-led Prayer on Tuesday from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. We will be focusing on praying for strength, deliverance, and endurance.  So if you're struggling with something (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc) including a particular sin, come out on Tuesday.  Do not keep pretending that everything is okay or keep hiding your struggle. James 5:13-16 (ESV) states, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick [the Greek word literally means "weary" such as weary from suffering]? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with...

The recent events should be a reminder that we live in a fallen world infected by sin.  Human depravity is on display with the senseless killings of individuals like Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO by the police and even the massacre of Iraqi Christians (who are fleeing for their lives) by radical Islamic terrorists .  This is why we have no time to play church weekly but we should gather to worship Jesus Christ and be equipped to go out and spread the gospel (people need Jesus) and serve our communities (love our neighbors). Please pray.  Pray for Ferguson, Missouri...that peace be restored in this city.  Pray for Michael Brown's family...that they would be comforted as they mourn the loss of their loved one.  If they don't know our Lord Jesus, that they would come to know him through this tragedy.  Pray for the officer involved in this shooting.  Pray for honesty and justice.  And if the officer does not know Jesus as Lord that God would use...

You asked for it! Dr. Ben Merkle, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary , is returning to teach part 2 of "How to Study the Bible."  Join us for this theological seminar on Saturday, August 23rd, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.  Come out and learn how to properly read and study Scripture.  Light refreshments will be served.  Please register for the seminar online. Sunday afternoon, the Men's choir and I traveled to Virginia for my speaking engagement at Lovingston Baptist Church for their Family and Friends Day.  Thank you all for your prayers as we were able to travel to and from and have a great service. My text was John 8:31-38 with the subject "Welcome to the Family".  Sin is a harsh slave master that oppresses and tortures us. And ultimately sin kills us (for the wages of sin is death). What we need is liberation.  We need freedom but we cannot free ourselves.  Christ is our great liberator and redeemer who sets believers free from the ...

Even after God has saved us, believers still struggle with pride. How does pride show in the life of believers? One of the ways is the "fake it to you make it" attitude. This attitude will have us putting on a mask because we want others to think we have it all together. That's pride. God's grace enables us to be transparent. Another way is when we are not willing to receive help from others. It sounds so humble to say that we don't want to bother others but really that's pride. True humility is being able to receive help when we truly need it. James 4:6 (ESV): But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." I love this video from Joe Solomon ( @WhatIsJoeDoing ) where he discusses how believers "front" and gives some wise counsel on being transparent with other believers.   RSS or Email Subscribers click through  here  to see the video  

Jesus came for the ratchet! Praise God!!   RSS or Email Subscribers click through  here  to see the video Thanks to all who came out to Back to School Conference! A lot of great information was given and we prayed over our children for another successful school year. We still have some great info available on Wake County schools for parents at the Welcome Center. Attention, All Youth (13-17) and Young Adults (18 and up): The Youth Ministry is sponsoring an outreach opportunity with Dorcas Thrift Shop (Cary) on Saturday, August 9th, from 9:00am to 12:00pm. We are expected to have at least 12-14 volunteers available to support.  Have you signed up yet? Please take time to sign up today.  See Brother Ellery and Sister Rasheeda Oliver for details. Minister Matt Darby shared his testimony about Ecuador.  He reminded us to not just look for the miraculous, external things as a sign of God working.  God is working even when it doesn't appear ...

Please add Sidney Mills to your prayer list and pray for her salvation. We met her at the Phoenix Nursing home last Sunday.  She thinks Jesus is a good mentor and role model but does not believe in God.  Deacon Bowser is going back in a month to talk more with her.  Pray that God would change her heart and grant her repentance that leads to eternal life. We have another opportunity to serve our community. The Deaconess will be serving dinner to the women at the Helen Wright Center in Raleigh on Thursday, July 31st.  If you would like to volunteer your time or make a donation, please contact Deaconess Angelique Cherry. Don't forget our next Church Family Meeting on tomorrow at 7:00pm.  All members are asked to attend. Join us for our Back to School Conference on Saturday, 8/2. Registration is at 9:30am and the conference is from 10am to noon.  It will include break-out sessions to encourage families to become well balance academically, physically...

Please pray for the Ecuador missionaries who are traveling home today. We look forward to hearing testimonies of what God did last week in Ecuador! Mark your calendar for our next Church Family Meeting on Monday, July 28th, at 7:00pm.  We'll give an update on current finances and provide info on the tree that fell on the church building at our old property location.  All members are asked to attend. There's an opportunity for outreach today. Everyone is welcome to join Zone 4 members as they minister at Phoenix Nursing home at 2:00pm. Deacon David Bowser will be the speaker and the Praise Team will be singing.

Please be in prayer for the Ecuador missionaries for their ministry this week. Back to School Supply Drive is underway for school supplies and toiletries until August 2nd. The collected supplies will benefit West Cary Middle School , the Home for Children in Oxford, and the Raleigh Rescue Mission . Don't forget that we have another Family Dinner Night at PDQ Restaurant in Cary on 7/14, where 10% of all sales between the hours of 5:00pm to 9:00 pm will be donated to Mt. Zion to assist with our upcoming Back to School event. The Career Assistance Lab will be open on July 15 from 6pm-7:30pm. Please stop by if you need assistance with basic computer skills, writing your resume or mock interviews! Contact Sister Tracy Downing

We have started a Back to School Supply Drive collecting school supplies and toiletries until August 2nd. The collected supplies will benefit West Cary Middle School , the Home for Children in Oxford, and the Raleigh Rescue Mission . This is one of the ways we can serve our community. On July 7th & 14th, PDQ Restaurant in Cary will have Mt. Zion's Family Dinner Night where 10% of all sales between the hours of 5:00pm to 9:00 pm will be donated to Mt. Zion to assist with our upcoming Back to School event. Please see Deacon & Deaconess Spivey for more details. Last week, we had a good start to our Bible Study series on Hebrews.  Join us on Wednesday at 7pm as we continue our study. Next weekend, a team from Mt. Zion will join others from Cary COG and other churches on a mission trip to Ecuador.  We prayed for our team and all those who are going.  Please continue to pray for their safe travel and fruitful time of ministry that the Gospel will be spread and ...

Join us again on this Wednesday for Wednesday Family Worship. We'll start at 6pm with dinner, praise & worship, and Bible Study with the whole family. We'll end at 8:00 pm. Again, invite others to join us. Our next Elder-led Prayer is Tuesday from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Everyone is invited to join us as we focus on specific prayer needs. If you can't make it, submit your requests via the prayer request box at the Welcome Center or online . Our Family Power Hour will meet on next Sunday at 9:00am. We'd love to see you there. Next Sunday, I'll be preaching at New Life Ministries for their morning service. I would appreciate your prayers. So I won't see you next Sunday but Mt. Zion will continue through the book of Acts.

Bereavement: I wanted to inform everyone that one of our members, Sis. Cheryl King has passed away after a long battle with cancer.  She was the cousin of Deacon Warmack.  Please pray for the family that they find comfort in the fact that Sis. King is no longer suffering and has entered eternal joy with her Savior. Thanks to all who participated in VBS and to all the teachers and organizers. We had a great VBS this year. Join us on this Wednesday at 6pm for Wednesday Family Worship. We'll have dinner, praise & worship, and studying of the Bible as an entire church body. We'll end promptly at 8:00 pm.  So feel free to invite family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, and co-workers to join us. As a church on mission, we have a team going on a mission trip to Ecuador in July. You might not be able to go but you can still support.  A Fish Fry Fundraiser will be held Friday, June 20th starting at 12:00 Noon until 7:00 PM at our 8500 Chapel Hill Road loc...

Congrats to this year's High School graduates: Kevin Gray Stavian Allen Joseph Cochrane-Brown D'Asia Bethea And the winner of the 2014 J.A. Lewis Memorial Scholarship is Kevin Gray It's not too late...you can still register for VBS . VBS starts on Monday, 6/9.  Our theme is "God's Backyard Bible Camp Under the Sun." Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, bug spray, suntan lotion, and your biggest hat so we can have a great time. Prices are $10.00 for singles; $15.00 for couples; and $20.00 for families. Visitors and Donations are always welcome. As part of VBS will be debuting our Wednesday Family Worship. Wednesday Family Worship will consist of dinner, worship, praise, and studying of the Bible as an entire church body.  We'll have dinner at 6:00 pm and Bible Study will end promptly at 8:00 pm.  The focus is that the Mount Zion family will come together and have a life experience with God in order to better understand and embrace His will for o...

Yesterday's Theological Seminar on "How to Study the Bible" was a huge success.  Looks like we have to invite Dr. Merkle to come back to do another seminar on this topic.   If you missed it, you can watch it online in our archived section for previous services when it's available or you can get a DVD (contact the MarkITMedia team ). We also have extra copies of handouts at the Welcome Center. Next Sunday, we will celebrate Children's Day during the morning worship service.  The children will be actively leading and participating in the service.  So we'll take a break from Acts as we'll have a youth speaker.  So come out to support but most importantly to worship God with our children. Have you registered for VBS yet? Now is the time. VBS is June 9-13. Our theme is "God's Backyard Bible Camp Under the Sun." See the announcement for more details . Join us this afternoon for the Initial Sermon of Deacon Patrick Wilson at 4:00pm.  Don...

Thanks to Will and Melissa Oliver for leading us in worship.  Melissa is a recording artist so please check out her Facebook page . Tomorrow is Memorial Day which is a day to remember those who have died while serving in the military. We should also pray for those families who may still be mourning the loss of their loved one . Everyone is invited to join us this Tuesday for Elder-led Prayer from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. We will be praying for various things. If you can't make it, submit your prayer requests online . Don't forget to register our FREE Theological Seminar on May 31 at 9am. The topic will be "How to Study the Bible".  Our speaker will be Dr. Ben Merkle who teaches hermeneutics (science of interpreting the Bible) at SEBTS. We have seminary-level instruction happening so don't miss it. Register online . Also on May 31st, the Children's Church will be having a "FAMILY DAY in the TROPICS" on Saturday, May 31st, from 10:00am to 2:00pm....

The next Elder-led Prayer will be held on Tuesday, May 27th, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Everyone is invited to come out and pray.  If you are not able to attend but have prayer requests, you can place them in the prayer requests box at the Welcome Center or submit them online . Register for our next FREE  Theological Seminar, "How to Study the Bible" , on May 31 at 9am. We have an opportunity to serve our community: West Cary Middle School , the next-door school we've adopted, is seeking volunteers to proctor during the upcoming tests the week of June 2.  We have volunteer forms at the Welcome Center.  All former and new volunteers will need to register at the school on Monday, May 19th.  Take the forms with you when you register at the school on Monday. You can register between 8am and 4pm.  Ladies: Here's an opportunity for you to participate in a community outreach service. The Deaconess' Ministry will be serving dinner to homeless women at the H...

(Click on the graphic for a larger view) Join us for our upcoming Theological Seminar on Saturday, May 31, from 9:00am to 11:00am. Dr. Ben Merkle, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary , will be teaching "How to Study the Bible". Come out and learn how to properly read and study Scripture.  Light refreshments will be served. Please register for the seminar online or use the Connection card on Sunday morning.

I'm very excited about our next Theological Seminar on May 31 at 9am. The topic will be "How to Study the Bible".  Our speaker will be Dr. Ben Merkle who teaches hermeneutics (the science of interpreting the Bible) at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary .   Sign up online or use the Connections card on Sundays. Next Sunday, we are starting our next series in Acts called "The Expansion of the Church".  It's going to be an exciting series so come out and bring a friend. Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers. We should also acknowledge that Mother's Day can be a tough day for many .

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers. But we should acknowledge that Mother's Day can be a tough day for many. Some of you have lost your mother.  Take comfort in God, our heavenly Father.  The Bible says that God watches over His people like a hen who protects her chicks under her wings.  If you are in Christ and your mother was in Christ, then you shall see her again. Some mothers have lost children (some by miscarriages or abortion).  God has mercy on children and I do believe you shall see your child one day in eternity.  And even if you have aborted a baby, there is forgiveness in Christ.  Christ can remove your shame and guilt. 1 John 1:9 (ESV): If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There is no condemnation for those in Christ! There are some women who desire to have children but it has not happened yet.  Trust in the sovereignty of God and know that you...

Zoe's Kitchen has extended their fundraising support for our Ecuador Missions Trip.  Every Sunday, mention Mt. Zion when you purchase food and 15% of your order will go to our missionaries. Why did we start Life Groups? Life Groups are small groups where community exists. As Mt. Zion has grown is not always possible to build meaningful relationships on just Sunday mornings.  Life Groups provide a safe place for us to know others and be known by others, love and be loved, serve and be served, and to celebrate our walk with Christ together!  It is in Life Groups that we find understanding and support.  And it is also the place where we hope discipleship relationships will develop. We have a variety of Life Groups available now.  You can go to the Life Groups website or you can check with a discipleship ministry member for more details. We also would love your feedback regarding Life Groups (such as you're too busy; don't see a group that fits; etc). This...