We invite you to join us in worship this Sunday, May 5, or this Wednesday, May 8! We read in the Book of Acts this week that while Peter shares the good news of Jesus with a Gentile soldier and his family, the Holy Spirit comes upon them, recognizing that the Spirit works in the lives of both Jews and Gentiles. The Apostle John writes in his letter of how God’s children believe that Jesus is the Messiah and the keeping of God’s commandment to love captures the world. In John’s gospel, on the night of his arrest, Jesus delivers a final testimony to his disciples to help them in the days ahead by repeating the most important of all his commands, that they love one another.
Red Stocking Alert
by Joyce Strand
Though Christmas is far off, we know
It wouldn’t be so shocking
To put one dime into the toe
Of your Zion Christmas stocking.
Since February is the second month,
You’ll put in two, you see,
While March, the third month of the year,
Will call for dimes three.
With April’s hope of early spring,
To the stocking four dimes you bring.
Next is May and flowers blooming,
Add five dimes – your stocking is booming!
Six in June, seven in July,
Oh, see how your gift is growing!
In August, eight more dimes
Into the stocking going.
September nine, October ten,
Eleven in November,
December calls for twelve,
You surely should remember.
Your Christmas dimes now are ready
Counting seventy-eight in all,
Or have you put a few more in
To your stocking standing tall?
Bring your filled Christmas stocking,
(Be sure you don’t forget)
To your Zion Christmas party
And make it your best one yet!