From the Pastors Desk - June 27, 2023
For the past several months, the Zion/Good Shepherd Collaboration Group has been making plans to see what worshiping together would be like. We have decided to try out this concept on the fifth Sunday of the month. This means that worshiping together will happen three times the remainder of this year: July, October, and December. We have decided to trade off worship locations for these Sundays, and since our service begins at 9:15am and Zion’s begins at 10:30am, we have settled on a “middle of the road” worship time of 10am. Of course, after the worship service, in typical mainline church tradition, there will be a meal together!
So how will this work? I’m glad you asked (even if you didn’t)! Our first worship service together opportunity will take place at Zion, on Sunday, July 30th at 10am. We will join together for Zion’s worship service, then enjoy a picnic together in Zion’s pavilion. In case of bad weather, the picnic will be moved indoors to Zion’s fellowship hall. If you plan to attend the service and picnic, please bring your favorite picnic side or favorite picnic dessert. Burgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided by both churches. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy time and fellowship with Zion’s members.
The next opportunity to worship together will be on Reformation Sunday, October 29th when we will host Zion at Good Shepherd for a wonderful Reformation service. Again, we will eat together after the service. Then in December, we will be back at Zion on Sunday, December 31st for our final combined worship of the year.
Just to clarify, on the Sundays with combined worship there will only be one service which will happen at the host church (so if Zion’s hosting there will be no service at Good Shepherd that Sunday). This does not mean that these services will be the only events we will participate in with Zion. There are already plans in the works for “God’s Work Our Hands” Sunday. Both churches will participate in “Undie Sunday” collecting undies for the Refuge of Hope. In September, Good Shepherd’s concern of the month will be collecting items for Zion’s Blessing Box. (It’s like a little library only with food and personal items.)
For those of you who are early risers, Zion will be handing out free water and coffee to the runners in the July 4th North Canton Firecracker race. Anyone wishing to help hand out water and coffee with Zion is welcome. My understanding is that we are also planning to get booths placed together at the Main Street Festival as well. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy each other’s company, and if at all possible, please plan to attend our July combined worship. If the worship and picnic are as enjoyable as the planning has been, then it’s certain to be a great time!
Faithfully, Lei Fahrner
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