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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 ...

Today was our 5th Sunday Youth Day and our kids did a great job presiding, reading Scripture, praying, and singing. Bro. DomiNick Downing delivered a message called "Your Biggest Role Model" from 1 Peter 2:21-25. Everyone is invited to join us for our New Year’s Eve Service on Monday, December 31st, at 10:00pm. Worship with us as we usher in 2019! There is no Bible Study on Wednesday, January 2nd. We'll kick off a new Bible Study series on Wednesday, January 9th. Men, join me for our Men's Foundation Fellowship class on 1st and 3rd Sundays at 9am starting in January as we look out how we can fight and overcome particular sins. I once heard Pastor John Piper say something years ago that stuck with me. He told his church that one of his pastoral duties was to prepare them to suffer well. It speaks to the reality that we will all suffer in some form in this life. But how do we respond to suffering? As your under-shepherds, the elders and I want to equip Mt. Zi...

Even though this is supposed to be a joyous season, many people are stressed, depressed, and even suicidal. There are many reasons for this but one reason that many people have lost the joy of the season is that they are caught up in the commercialization of Christmas. Too often, people focus on stuff and material things that will never truly satisfy. We were made to worship but instead of worshipping the Creator, people worship created things. But let us regain the joy of the season by remembering that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son! So this Christmas, enjoy the food, your family, and your gifts, but don't forget the greatest gift that was ever given! Just a reminder that Bible Study is canceled on Wednesday, December 26th. Everyone is invited to join us for our New Year’s Eve Service on Monday, December 31st, at 10:00pm.

Even though this is a joyous time of the year, let's not forget that this season can be tough for many people especially those who have recently lost loved ones. Let's be in prayer for the following who are grieving the recent loss of a loved one: Deaconess Susan Fortenberry – loss of sister  Bro. Ellery Oliver – loss of grandfather  Bro. Travis Anderson – loss of grandmother  Thanks for your donations to the Devoted Disciples' coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and socks "Stay Warm" drive. We were able to donate from the drive to the Holiday Extravaganza that will go to help people in Wilmington, NC who were affected by the hurricane. But you can continue to bring your donations until December 23rd which will go to help people in our local area. Today, we concluded our Wounded series by addressing how the Gospel heals those wounded by sexual assault. My prayer is that God would use this series to help people start their journey towards healing and a healthy se...

Happy Snow Day!  Due to the winter storm, we did not have church service but we were still able to worship and get God's Word via Zion Live .  Praise God for technology! We are requesting that all members to update your address/contact information with the Church Office by emailing info AT mtzioncary.org. We would like to have this update by December 10th. The Devoted Disciples need your help with collecting coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for their "Stay Warm" drive for the homeless and those in need. Please support by donating these items by December 23rd. New Dimensions and the Pastors Praying Together group will be having our Holiday Extravaganza again this year. It will be on Saturday, 12/15 starting 12 to 3 pm at Cary Church of God (on Evans Road). There will be food, fellowship, fine arts, as well as a collection for a Winter Drive & Hurricane Relief. So we'll be donating some of the items from our "Stay Warm" drive. We were sc...

We are requesting that all members to update their address and contact information with the church office using a Connection Card. We would like to have this update by December 10th. Our next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering is Tuesday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. 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 . I will not be at the Prayer Gathering as I have the opportunity to give a lecture to students at Northern Wake Tech for their Doubt Night . It's a opportunity for students to bring their doubts and questions about Christianity. I'll be lecturing and answering questions on the topic “Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen?”. Please pray for me and the event. New Dimensions and the Pastors Praying Together group will be co-sponsoring our Holiday Extravaganza again this year. It will be on Saturday, 12/15 from 12 to 3 pm at Cary Church of God (on Evans Road). There...

Join us on Wednesday at 7 pm for the last week of our Bible Study series "Who Did Jesus Die For?". We've been examining the doctrine of Definite Atonement from the Scriptures that show Jesus died only for the elect. This week, we're looking at some texts that seem to contradict this and why does it matter who Jesus died for. Even if you've missed the other sessions, you can still join us. The Devoted Disciples need your help with collecting hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for their "Stay Warm" drive for the homeless and those in need. Please support our service project by donating these items by December 23rd. For more information, contact a Devoted Disciple or Sis. Tracy Dunn . Today, we continue in our new sermon series called “Wounded: How the Gospel Heals the Sexually Hurting”. Since this is a sensitive subject and could possibly trigger those who have been sexually wounded in the past, as we go through this series, please feel to step out of th...

Bible Study is canceled on Wednesday due to the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. We'll be back the following week with our final session on "Who Did Jesus Die For?".  Enjoy Thanksgiving with your family and friends. We have much to be thankful for! Thanks to all who came out yesterday to help clean the church for our Fall Spruce UP. Here are the stats: 13 members (2 youth and 1 new member)  13 members from Leadership  1 visitor – (A big shout-out to Bishop Eric Ellis of New Restoration Outreach Christian Center in Raleigh) We worked 46.38 total hours for a total savings of $1,159.58.  A huge thank you to Elder Bobby Dunn for really stepping up and helping out.  Devoted Disciples Youth Ministry will be doing a Stay Warm Drive from 11/25 to 12/23.  Please bring in hats, scarves, gloves, & blankets to be donated to the homeless. Today, we started our new sermon series called "Wounded: How the Gospel Heals the Sexually Hurting". As we go...

Today is Veteran's Day where we honor and thank those who have served in the military. Happy Veteran's Day!  We also recognized the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity who worshipped with us today. Last week, we started our new Bible Study series, "Who Did Jesus Die For?" We had a great time with lots of lively discussions. Join us this Wednesday at 7:00pm as we look at the Scriptural support for the Doctrine of Definite Atonement. If you missed any of this series, you can watch the recording at Zion Live . Fall Spruce UP: All are welcome to help clean God’s house on Saturday, November 17th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Come for any amount of time. Thanks in advance for your service. Next Sunday, I'm starting a new series called "Wounded: How the Gospel Heals the Sexually Hurting". It's a heavy subject that I know could trigger those who have been sexually wounded in the past. In order to prepare yourself, here are the specific topics covered in the s...

I would like to encourage everyone to vote on Tuesday (if you didn't early vote). Research the candidates, issues, think biblically, pray for wisdom, and exercise your right to vote. Remember your true allegiance to not to an elephant or donkey but to the Lamb ! After you've exercised your right to vote, come out and exercise your right to pray to our Heavenly Father. The next Church-Wide Prayer Gathering is Tuesday, November 6th, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. 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 . Did Jesus die for everyone? The answer seems simple enough but this question has been hotly debated throughout church history. Did Jesus’ death merely make salvation possible for everyone or did it actually accomplish the work of redemption? Join us for our next Bible Study, "Who Did Jesus Die For?" starting on Wednesday, November 7th, at 7:00pm as we tackle t...