February 24, 2023

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him… Matthew 4: 1-3

         After Jesus’ baptism, He was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil.  We may wonder why would the Spirit do that?  Yet, during those 40 days and nights, Jesus was praying, thinking, questioning and seeking what God wanted Him to do? It was the Holy Spirit who ultimately revealed to Jesus what He had to do and his purpose of coming to the earth, to bring salvation the world.  Christians know Jesus is the Son of God! So, temptation "shouldn't have been a problem for Jesus" for Jesus is God ‘s only son and is able to conquer anything!  Yet, some of us might think it was for our own benefit as we see that Jesus was indeed obedient to God, and that the Holy Spirit had brought Jesus to the wilderness to prepare Him for the journey to come, and his final destination, the cross.

           But let us not forget the fact that Jesus was tested by the devil, and this reveals and reminds us that Jesus was not only divine, but also 100% human.  For the temptations were and are still real, even today!  And Jesus had the same struggles, doubts, fears, and wishes that we have. For by coming to earth as a man, Jesus actually humbled Himself and lived to be as one of us.

But why the wilderness?  Because the wilderness is void and far from any man-made civilization and distractions. For the wilderness is unpredictable and a harsh place that offers nothing but the possibility of death. As the word itself says, it is wild. To be in the wilderness is to be alone totally relying on God for survival.  So, what does this this text show us? And how does this text relate to us and today’s temptations, and what are we to do? Join us the Sunday as we take a look at these 3 temptations!

Pastor John

Our Grief Support Group continues to meet the first and third Mondays of each month in the Fellowship Hall at 11:00 am. Our next meeting will be Monday, March 6. All are welcome!

Our Administrative Board met on Sunday, February 4. Our Pastor, Lay Leader, church leaders, and board members are aware of the concerns and confusion about the future, especially in relation to changes in The United Methodist Church. There are informational packets that have been prepared and are available in the church vestibule. Please pick up a copy and if you have questions or concerns, please speak with Pastor John or your Lay Leader, Steve Moseley. Please be aware that if you hear concerning information from friends, or those in the community, it is better to get clear answers from your informed church leaders.

2023 Informational Directories are available in the church vestibule. Please add Luke Massey, 2396 Great Falls Hwy., Lancaster, SC 29720, phone 803-246-0966. His information was left out of the book in error. If there are any other corrections, please let Missy know at 803-804-2434. Thank you!!

Steven Duell is selling Lancaster area multi use discount cards for $10 each for Scouts. Please see Steven to purchase your cards!

Our Adult Sunday School classes continue to meet each Sunday at 10:00 am. If you are unsure which class would better suit you, please contact the church office, 285-3864. Our Youth and Children’s Sunday School classes will be meeting at 10:00 am as well, youth and children in the family life center.

Come out and support the Unity Volunteer Fire

Department BBQ

THIS Saturday, February 25 11:00 am until sold out. 

Plates include BBQ pork or chicken, baked beans, slaw, and bread. 

$10 per plate or pork by the pound. 

Take out only. 

Lenten Bible Study beginning Monday, February 27. We will begin our study on Luke at 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Cost of each study book is $10.00 You may just mark your donation Bible study and Pastor John will make sure you receive a book.

Zion will be hosting the Rock Hill District Clergy meeting on Thursday, March 2. Thank you to the ones who have agreed to help set up and serve breakfast for those who will be attending.

Worship Greeters and Ushers:

Those who have signed up for the first rotation for the month of March are as follows:

Greeters: Diane Rape and Marion Curtis

Ushers: Brandon Bowers, Steve Moseley, Mike Rape, and Tommy Middleton. 

Our appreciation to each one of these willing to serve and also to Beth Craig, our worship chair for helping to organize this outreach. April Greeters and Ushers will be announced later in March.

Spaghetti Luncheon

Sunday, March 5 following worship in the TFLC

Eat in or take out, plates are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 10. Proceeds to benefit the Tony Neal Scholarship Fund.

Rock Hill Charge United Methodist Church Women’s Conference, 1222 Ogden Road, Rock Hill, SC 

Join the Women’s Ministry

Connect, Encourage, and Empower

Jeremiah 29:11 

March 18, 1am-3pm

Dynamic speakers on prayer, health, finance, and growth in your gifts. This is a no Charge Conference

You must register your name via email at rhwomenconfeerence@gmail.com Athena Dickey-Cathcart Host pastor: New Hope and Mt. Olive UMC

College students are encouraged to apply for Advocate’s annual $1,000 scholarship; deadline is March 1.

Scholarship applications are being accepted now for the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate annual $1,000 college scholarship.

The scholarship is for South Carolina United Methodist students for the 2023-2024 academic year who are planning to attend or is attending one of the four United Methodist colleges in South Carolina: Claflin University, Columbia College, Spartanburg Methodist College or Wofford College. Students ideally will have an interest in communications, journalism or business.

Requests for the scholarship are due March 1.

Required are an application with an essay, a college or high school transcript, and a letter from the senior pastor of the applicant’s home church or a college chaplain confirming the applicant is a United Methodist and describing their participation.

Learn more and download the application at https://advocatesc.org/scholarships   

For questions, email jbrodie@umcsc.org

Collection For Our Local Animal Shelter

Used blankets, towels, and hand towels are being collected for the Lancaster Animal Shelter. Please place your donations in the collection box in the church vestibule.

Thank you so much for the bags for 4K and SPED. So sweet of y’all to do! We appreciate it so much!

 -McDonald Green Elementary Office, SPED and Pre-K.

Greetings Church Leader,

The Rock Hill Connectional Ministries Team invites you to consider being a part of our upcoming C3 Workshops on April 15th at Mount Holly UMC from 9-Noon. Based on feedback we received during our Town Hall meetings last spring, we have created the C3 Workshops with a two-fold goal. First we hope to offer churches the opportunity to share with those in attendance information about one successful ministry at their church in order to encourage other churches to think outside the box and possibly to foster collaboration to expand the impact of said ministry. The second goal of the event is to allow those in the local church to connect with others around specific conversations to enhance connections across the district. To that end we titled the event C3 Workshops – Connect, Converse, Collaborate.  

We will be sending out more details about the event including registration information for those that wish to be a part. At this point, we are looking for churches that would like to share your most impactful ministry with others in the district at a ministry fair. Those that take part in the fair will have an opportunity to share an “elevator pitch” (90-second description) of the ministry to all in attendance and then have an opportunity to engage attendees at a booth at the end of the event. IF you are interested in hosting an informational booth and information about your ministry at this event, please complete the online ministry form NO LATER than March 1, 2023. After March 1st, one of our Connectional Ministries team members will be in touch with more information about the event. Thanks so much.  

The Rock Hill DCM

Special Gifts to Zion Church

In Honor of:

Corey Payne and Family and Chad Payne and Family by Mom

In Memory of:

Harris Plyler by Ryan and Miriam Griffin

In loving memory of Mike Payne by Judy

February 26: Jody Craig, Cathy Seegars, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Ray

February 27: Jason Knight, Ellen Salisbury, Shawn Thomas

February 28: Tara Whitley, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Whitley

February 29: Kim Yost

March 2: Warren Woodward, Mr. and Mrs. Joe East, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Waters

The Record Speaks....

Present 2/19 for Sunday School: 37

Present 2/19 for Worship: 75

Needed each week for General Fund: $4,182

Received for 2/19 for General Fund: $3,565

Received for Building Fund: $10

There are many options available to give to the continuing ministry and outreach of Zion UMC. You may give through Paypal on the website www.zionumc.com, text your giving to 803-525-1834 and follow the secure link, or if you are not comfortable giving online, you may drop your offering in the mail to Zion UMC at 1665 Zion Road, Lancaster, SC 29720 or drop off in the secure drop box that is located beside the double doors where the buses are. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Missy at 803-804-2434 or leave a message at the church office, 803-285-3864 and your call will be returned. Thank you for your continued support of the Mission that is Zion!!

"...because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to."

Deuteronomy 15:10