- 1 -They will enter Zion with singing… Isaiah 51:11b

June 2014

Why Do We have elDers anD Deacons?Pastor Kevin Efflandt

Zion’s NewsletterZion’s Newsletter

Over the last several months, we’ve been looking at the qualifications for elders and deacons. This month, we want to ask the question, “Why has God given us these offices?” Why do we have elders? Why do we have deacons?

If you are somewhat new to the Reformed church, you might have been in churches where you never really knew who the elders or the deacons of the church were. To you, the church was all about the pastor. He was kind of this cult personality and everyone was there because of him. But here, there’s no hierarchy. The pastor’s not way up here, while the elders and the deacons are way down there.

Or, maybe you grew up in a Re-formed church and to the question of “Why do we have elders and dea-cons?” you would simply say, “Well, that’s just the way it is. That’s the way it’s always been. That’s our tradition.”

It’s important for us to realize that is not a very good answer. In fact, it’s a horrible answer. Whether we come out of unbelief, or a Baptist, broad evangelical background, or whether we grew up in the Reformed faith, we need to understand why we practice what we practice.

In many Protestant circles, the whole idea of the offices of the church has fallen on hard times. Sadly, the offices have taken on more of a business model than a Scriptural model. Pastors are seen as the CEOs of the church. Elders are seen as the board of directors. Deacons are seen as the accountants.

Yet, when we read the Bible, what we find is that the offices of the church are Christ’s gift to His church. It is a gift that He has given us so that we would be built up in the faith and so that things in the church would be done decently and in good order, all to the glory of God.

In Jeremiah 23, God has a very strong word of condemnation to shepherds who do not do their jobs. Very simply, He says, “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” And yet, Jeremiah 23 also speaks of the coming of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who will come and care for His sheep. One of the results of the coming of the Good Shepherd is that He will give to His church faithful shepherds. Verse 4 says, “I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking, says the Lord.”

The men who serve this church as elders and deacons are the direct ful-fillment of Jeremiah 23. They are the direct fulfillment of God’s promise to provide shepherds who will care for the sheep.

We also read in Ephesians 4, where the apostle Paul says that when Christ ascended on high, “he led a host of captives, and gave gifts to men.” One of those gifts that He gave was the offices of the church.

As we think about the offices of the church, we must first recognize that these men are gifts from the Lord. They have been given by Him to us. This obviously speaks to the concern that the Lord has for the spiritual wellbeing of His people. He hasn’t left us on our own.

But what is their purpose? Are the elders the board of directors? Are the deacons the church accountants? To get back to the original question, “Why do we need elders and dea-cons?” For a very important reason: they preserve the ministry of Word and Sacrament. In Matthew 28, Jesus gave the church the commission to go into all the world and make disciples. “Discipleship” is a word that you hear a lot of nowadays. Maybe

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Prayer chain

Are you familiar with the prayer chain? We have people who get the prayer requests by e-mail, and others who prefer to be phone prayer partners. It is your choice.

If you wish to know more about it, or would like to be added to our prayer chain, please call Nettie (599-7404) or Adri (599-6639).

you’ve heard a person say, “I’m being discipled by so-and-so.” What that typically means is they meet with a buddy once a week at Starbucks and they’re going through a book to-gether. Or, someone takes you under their wing and they are “discipling” you. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that. God certainly uses these Chris-tian friendships to grow us spiritually.

What is important for us to understand is that discipleship is not simply an occasional meeting at Starbucks. This work of discipleship has also not been given to the parachurch organizations. This work of making disciples has been given to the church. The primary means that God uses to make disciples, to grow us, is the ministry of Word and Sacrament; in other words, the preaching of God’s Word on Sundays and the sacraments of the church (baptism and the Lord’s Supper). It’s through the ministry of the Word that we receive what we need in order to be built up and nourished in the faith. The apostle Peter speaks of the “pure spiritual milk” of God’s Word, whereby we grow. Hebrews

5 talks about the “solid food” that we need as Christians. In Romans 16:25, Paul says, “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.” In Romans 10, we read that faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. The church plays a hugely significant role, through preaching and the sacraments, of building God’s people up in the faith.

This is quite the opposite of how many people view spiritual growth. Many think that organized religion is outdated, and that what counts is pri-vate spirituality, individual spiritual-ity. “It’s just me and my Bible. I don’t need the church.” Or, maybe they’re involved in a weekly Bible study somewhere, but outside of that, they have no connection to the church. The Bible teaches us that God has given us the ministry of the Word and Sacrament, through the church, to nourish us and build us up. Apart from the ministry of Word and Sac-rament, disciples will not be made.

God has given us the offices of the church to make sure this ministry is maintained. Our elders and the dea-cons are not merely board members or accountants who come together once a month and make decisions about the church or count money on Sundays. It is through the ministry of these offices that we receive what we need, Word and Sacrament, “…so that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craft-iness of deceitful plotting” (Ephe-sians 4:14). And then, here’s what Paul says in verse 15: “But, speaking the TRUTH in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the

Deacons... (continued) head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held to-gether by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

It is the job of the elders in particular to ensure that the purity of the Word and Sacrament is maintained. Think of the importance of the deacons in this regard. Do you remember how the office of deacon was instituted? In Acts 6, we find that the church is growing and expanding: there are all kinds of needs within the congrega-tion. Widows have needs. The poor have needs. And the apostles are just overwhelmed. What did the apostles say at that point? Did they say, “You know, it’s important that we care for these people. And so we’re going to focus our attention on that right now rather than on the ministry of the Word”? No, here’s what they said: “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” You see, the deacons, through their vital ministry, also help preserve the min-istry of the Word. Ministering to the physical needs of the congregation is important, and that’s why the dea-cons have been given this task as one to focus on. This allows the minister to focus his attention where it should be: on prayer and the ministry of the Word.

This is an important reason why God has given us elders and deacons; it addresses the critical need of main-taining the purity of the Word and Sacraments in the life of the church.

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online churchAngelina KamperNever miss a sermon again! Zion URC’s worship services are broadcast in their entirety in real time through our website at www.zionurc.org. Older services are archived on our You-Tube channel and can also be viewed through our website. So, with an internet connection and an internet-browsing device (such as a computer, smart phone or TV, iPad, etc.), you can virtually enjoy our congregational worship from, well, virtually anywhere! Here is how to get started:Watch Live SermonsTo watch a live sermon (Sundays at 9:30am and 6pm):In your internet browser, open www.zionurc.org.Move the cursor over the Sermons tab. From the drop-down menu, click Video Sermons. On the Video Sermons page, click the “play” arrow in the video box to begin watching.Note: If you begin watching a live sermon after it has started, you can’t go back to the beginning. This feature is available after the file is archived to Zion URC’s YouTube channel. Watch Archived SermonsTo watch an older service, follow the above steps. Scroll down on the Video Sermons page to find the list of available services. You can also watch them on our YouTube channel. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/zionurc, or search for “Zion United Reformed Church” on the YouTube site. Watch HD SermonsTo watch the service in high-

definition (HD) video, look for the “Settings” gear icon in the bottom right of the video player. Click it and choose 720p from the list. (The lower the video resolution number, the lower the video quality.) HD viewing is only recommended if you have a fantastic internet connection.Note: If the sound is choppy or garbled, try selecting a lower video resolution.Audio Files & PodcastsAudio files of sermons dating back to 2011 are available on our website

through the “Audio Sermons” link. Click the play arrow on the black bar below the sermon title to listen. How to Get HelpIf you have never done this before, try watching a sermon during the week to see if it works. For help set-ting up, please contact Greg or Angel Kamper at happykampers@gmail.com, or 209-652-5732. Keep in mind that we are not likely to be available during church service times to pro-vide troubleshooting assistance.

BaPtisms

Isaiah Sonke, baptized May 4, 2014

Charles Wallace, baptized May 18, 2014

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vBs time!Amy HoeksemaVBS is just around the corner! We are looking for many volunteers to help make this program a success. VBS will take place June 23-27 from 9-12. If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out a green form on the back table. Place it inside the box right next to the forms. If you have any questions, contact either Pastor Angelo or Rachel Mouw.

Are your kids interested in becoming special agents? Have them join us this year for VBS! Registration is up! You can either register your kids at www.zionurc.org or contact Wilma at 599-9399. There are also paper registration forms on the table in the fellowship hall which can be filled out and placed in the secretary mailbox. This special Spy Academy is for all kids entering 1st-6th grade and runs June 23-27 from 9-12. We hope your kids can join us!

If you are a veteran, or know someone in our church who is a veteran, we would love to publish your story in the Zion newsletter! Leonard Enserink has been doing articles on the veterans in our church and we as a committee have gotten positive feedback on these articles. If you don’t recall seeing your veteran’s story in the newsletter, talk to Leonard. If you are the widow of a veteran, we would love to get your spouse’s story from you. If you are interested in seeing your story in the newsletter, contact Leonard Enserink at 599-3301, or talk to him at church. Veterans, we want your stories!

veterans: We Want you! Amy Hoeksema

Join the neWsletter teamAngelina KamperThis newsletter is the last one for the summer, but we will be starting up again in the fall. Would you like to be a part of the newsletter team?

We need help in photography, writing, editing, and layout and design. Experience isn’t necessary; just a willingness to get the job done. And, for those of you who know what I’m talking about, this is an easy opportunity to collect published pieces for a portfolio.

The aim of our little publication is to share church-related events and causes with all Zion’s members. It usually ap-pears in everyone’s mailboxes towards the beginning of each month.

Many interesting things happen in our church, especially in our small groups such as GEMS, Cadets and Youth Group. God has blessed us with a diverse, creative and entertain-ing church family, so we might as well document that aspect of ourselves.

If you think you may be interested in being part of the team, or have suggestions for next year’s newsletters, please talk to Pastor Kevin, Angel Kamper or Amy Hoeksema. Your contributions and commitment will be greatly appreciated!

mission saleAda BreugemOur Zion Annual Mission Sale is less than four months away! How good it is that we can empty the garage and closets, and maybe take out unneces-sary kitchen items and furniture.

We’d love to let you know that our Mission Committee is ready to assist you and help you wherever we can. Sept. 5 and 6 will be the days of the church sale. We need helping hands as much as possible to make the workload light.

Mr. Ted VanDyken (924-8040) is our right-hand man. He is willing to pick

up your donated items and deliver them to Dave Wallace’s warehouse (972 Dexter, behind SaveMart). If you’d like to deliver your own items, first call Dave to find out if he is in the warehouse (866-939-5588 ext. 3).

Most of all we need your prayers. May the Lord bless this event and may the church in Turkey and high school in Tepeyak receive the needed funds. May we reach out to the people around us and farther away. May we be shining lights here in Zion! To God be the glory, great things He has done and will do!

If you have questions you may call Ada (982-6865) or Wilma (599-9399).

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Jake and Ada Breugem made a stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the home of Neil Garay and his parents. Neil knows that the Lord has work to do for him in his new church. He takes classes for Special Education and likes the study very much. Neil loves to hear

Breugems visit neil garay in nm

liBrary neWsAdult Corner New Adult Books

Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman

Children are at church for the same reason as their parents: for the privilege of worshiping God. Worship, Castleman writes, is

“the most important thing you can ever train your child to do.” So with infectious passion, nitty-gritty advice and a touch of humor, she shows you how to help your children (from toddlers to teenagers) enter into worship.

Clothespins! by Sandra S. Field

Finding clothespins in a saddlery in Mexico? In a pharmacy in Chile? At the post office on the Isle of

Man? And whoever heard of a round yo-yo clothespin, a crocodile clothespin or one from Swarovski Crystal? How about sixteen wooden clothespins glued into a perfect cross that you could easily make! All this and much more appears full-size and in full color in Clothespins from around the World paired with Bible verses.

Everyone’s a Theologian by R.C. Sproul

Any time we think about a teaching of the Bible and strive to understand it, we are engaging in theology. Therefore, it is important that we put the

Bible’s varied teachings together in a systematic fashion, using proper, time-tested methods of interpretation so as to arrive at a theology that is founded on truth. That is precisely what Dr. Sproul does in Everyone’s a Theologian: An Introduction to Systematic Theology. Dr. Sproul, demonstrating his trademark ability to make complex subjects

how the Zion URC family is doing. His parents are very happy having their son around. We had wonderful conversations and a delicious dinner! Thank you so much dear friends for your hospitality. May the Lord bless you and keep you in His tender care.

easy to understand, surveys the basic truths of the Christian faith, reminding us once more of what God is like and of what He has done for His people in this world and the next.

Kiddy CornerThe Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers

I Wonder Who Stretched the Giraffe’s Neck

Ben Finds a Friend

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congratulations, graDuates!

Emma Cormier 8th Grade

Lauren Van Till High School

Vanessa Vander Helm 8th Grade

Jackie Harms High School

Kayla Vander Helm High School

Esther Enas Bachelor of Science, Nursing

Harriet Leensvaart (90)Gery De Boer (90)

haPPy BirthDay, nonagenarians! MAY CROSSWORD SOLUTION

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ACROSS1 that prophet, or that dreamer of ____, shall be put to death (Deut 13:5)6 Perhaps I will stay with you ____, or even spend the winter (1 Cor 16:6) (NIV)12 For thou, Lord, art good, and ____ to forgive (Ps 86:5)13 ____ the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ (Matt 25:6) (NIV)14 abbr. for advertisement15 in the first year of Darius the M___ (partial word)(Daniel 11:1)17 having seven heads and ____ horns (Rev 12:3)18 Behold, I stand ___ the door, and knock (Rev 3:20)19 when he had ____, his spirit came again to him (1 Sam 30:12)21 whose trust shall be a spider’s w___. (partial word)(Job 8:14)23 give me also ____ of water (Joshua 15:19)25 If we confess our sins, ___ is faithful and just to forgive (1 John 1:9)26 Tabitha, which by interpretation is called ____ (Acts 9:36)28 She is a tree of life ___ ___ that lay hold upon her(two words)(Prov 3:18)

30 to know, and to ____ch, and to seek out wisdom (partial word)(Eccles 7:25)31 a certain centurion’s servant, who was ____ unto him (Luke 7:2)32 but was in all ____ tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Heb 4:15)34 Which are a ____ of things to come (Col 2:17)36 I ___ he that liveth, and was dead (Rev 1:18)37 a cake of barley bread ____ into the host of Midian (Judges 7:13)39 abbr. for the 34th book of the Old Testament40 Herod, arrayed in ____ apparel, sat upon his throne (Acts 12:21)41 this __n was the greatest of all the men of the east (partial word) (Job 1:3)43 Then ___hro, Moses’ father in law (partial word) (Exodus 18:2)44 the Midianites sold him into Eg___ unto Potiphar (partial word) (Gen 37:36)46 that he should offer ___ with the prayers of all saints (Rev 8:3)47 _____n elders in every city, as I had appointed thee (partial word) (Titus 1:5)49 In the beginning God created the heaven and the ____ (Gen 1:1)

51 shall tribulation, or di____, or persecution (partial word) (Romans 8:35)52 How do ye ____ that I may answer this people? (IKing 12:6)

DOWN1 covered or wrapped with clothes2 By faith they passed through the ____ sea as by dry land (Heb 11:29)3 abbr. for each4 thou art God, which hast m___ heaven, and earth (partial word) (Acts 4:24)5 the time of ____ ____ ____ at hand (three words)(2 Tim 4:6)7 ___ ___ ___ the Levites that bare the ark (three words)(1 Chr 15:26)8 as a ___ doth gather her brood under her wings (Luke 13:34)9 furnished Solomon with cedar trees and f___ trees (partial word)(1 King 9:11)10 he loved also Rachel more than ___h (partial word) (Gen 29:30)11 let each ____ other better than themselves (Phil 2:3)16 Speak now in the ____ of the people (Exodus 11:2)17 he had pitched a ____ for it at Jerusalem (2 Chr 1:4)20 abbr. for the 17th book of the New Testament22 by the angels into Abraham’s ____ (Luke 16:22)23 the ____ measure that is abominable? (Micah 6:10)24 we pray you in Christ’s ____, be ye reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20)25 midst of her by the sword upon ___ ___ every side (two words)(Ezek 28:23)27 Solomon thy son shall ___gn after me (partial word) (1 King 1:17)29 And he ____ in his right hand seven stars (Rev 1:16)32 was in the isle that is called ____, for the word of God (Rev 1:9)33 And they ____e him on the head with a reed (partial word) (Mark 15:19)34 and some of them they shall ____ and persecute (Luke 11:49)35 for in his days ___ ___ earth divided (two words)(Gen 10:25)38 my brethren, swear not, neither ___ heaven (James 5:12)42 What is man, that thou ____ mindful of him? (Ps 8:4)43 Then ___l Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent (partial word)(Judges 4:21)45 last letter of the Hebrew alphabet46 That which groweth of ___ own accord (Lev 25:5)48 title for medical person (abbr.)50 I will __d evil beasts out of the land (partial word) (Lev 26:6)

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