MOUNT ZION CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

N-Lighten, N-Spire, N-Courage

THE POWER OF CHANGE

Yet another year the Lord has allowed us to see. It is often during times like this that we recollect and celebrate the many journey’s we’ve made to get here. The hardships, the trials, the triumphs, the victo-ries, friends lost and gained, new life, and often times, the loss of one—oh the many changes we’ve gone through just to get to see this day. Change is some-thing that we are faced with regularly.

Wishing those celebrating a birthday in January, February and

March a very Happy Birthday! May God continue to richly bless

you and show his grace and favor upon you.

JANUARY

Pamela Grisby (1/2) Edward “EJ” Mitchell (1/18)

Adieline Davis (1/4) Cleo Miller (1/18)

Walter Sales (1/8) Dorothy Warner (1/18)

Andre Williamson (1/8) Sonia Johnson (1/19)

Collier G. Moore (1/11) Michael Lockett (1/21)

Dorothy Jefferson (1/15) Egbert Peebles (1/24)

Sandra Thatch (1/16) Franshavia Coleman (1/25)

Tamya & Tamia Thatch (1/17) Dea. Jim Donald (1/27)

FEBRUARY Tania Garrett (2/1) Roosevelt Verge (2/9)

D J Holden (2/3) Angela Lamb (2/11)

Cheryl Parker (2/3) Deone’ Miller (2/11)

Candice B. Lloyd (2/4) C Bryan Moore (2/12)

Min. Phillip Lloyd (2/4) Brionna Brooks (2/14)

Clifford Curry (2/6) Cedric Scales (2/21)

Lillian Grace Lockett (2/6) Dymon Lockett (2/24)

MARCH DeOntae Miles (3/1) Mother Joyce White (3/14)

JW Love (3/1) Ellis Bradley (3/20)

Classie Peebles (3/2) Miranda Johnson (3/20)

Eld. Essie Hammonds (3/5) Tyler Sales (3/21)

Jeffrey Hammonds (3/5) Dea. Henry Warner (3/21)

Jazmine Melton (3/5) Rev. John Thatch (3/22)

Tkia Mitchell (3/6) Chase Brandon (3/23)

Mo. Willie Bell Stinson (3/8) Vincent Garner (3/23)

Rev Ronald Thatch (3/8) Mo. Mamie Sandifer (3/26)

Shaneqa Winn (3/10) Mary Stovall-Cochran (3/26)

Allen Brooks (3/10) First Lady Robinson (3/30)

CJ Moore Jr. (3/11) Marilyn Walker (3/31)

The Zion News Spring Issue 2016

“BY WISDOM A HOUSE IS BUILT” - PROV 24:3A

THIS ISSUE

The Power of Change

Season In Review

Committee News

Web Review

In Case Your Missed it:

Membership Meeting Recap

Every First Wednesday is FAMILY NIGHT

EVERY WEDNESDAY 6:00 PRAYER SERVICE

6:30 BIBLE STUDY

Not seeing your story in the newslet-

ter? Know of interesting events hap-

pening in the lives of our members? Let

us know! We want to know what ’s hap-

pening on The Mount.

If you would like to submit news and

information for print in The Zion News,

please send your information to

TheZionNews@gmail.com

or see a member of the Newsletter Ministry.

All submissions are due by the 15th of

each month and are subject to editing.

What’s Happening?

New Year Edition

2016

MOUNT ZION IS NLINE

@ mtzioncpca

@ mountzioncpca

TZN Thought of the Month:

If we are honest about it, we know that change is never easy. It’s uncomfortable and often times inconvenient. It leaves us feeling out of control. The truth is, God uses change to bring about a deeper faith and understanding of His will for us. God has been working with us and dealing with us, tweaking and refining, purging those things from our lives that fail to bring Him glory. Change is not only for your good, but it is also a way of being a bold witness of the work of God in your life. In the book of Isaiah, God's people had witnessed the greatness of God. If only Israel would remember the great things God had done among them, they would see each wonderful work of His as a witness to the truth that He is the only true God. "You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you; therefore you are My witnesses," says the LORD, "that I am God. Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?" Change is something we tend to fear and become anxious about because we do not feel in control of life. The good news is that God has a plan for your life to hope, future, and to prosper. If we trust in God and allow the change to grow us to become more like Jesus Christ in how we respond and act, then we are promised that all things will work together for good for those who love Him and keep His commandments!

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Our church website has been beat! That’s right, our online presence has undergone a major facelift

over the last year. Subscribe to the website and be the first to access news and updates, to link to so-

cial media, sermon manuscripts, and lesson plans. Browse photos, watch videos, listen to audio and

much more.

Coming Soon: Periscope Broadcasting

Digital Newsletter (email)

Online Tithing & Benevolence

In Case You Missed It E N D O F T H E Y E A R M E M B E R S H I P M E E T I N G

In case you missed it, there are a few changes happening on The Mount this year in an effort to better fa-

cilitate and enhance the growth and knowledge of the membership. As you know, we have a dynamic

Children's Church Ministry, with great instructors. In order to provide the youth a more progressive learn-

ing experience on Sunday afternoons, Children’s Church will now be conducted in the fellowship hall.

Youth up to age 13 will be escorted from the sanctuary into the fellowship hall after the collection has

been taken, and will return to the sanctuary after the sermon has concluded. Reverend Love, Mother Mil-

ler and Mother Stinson will continue their roles as Children’s Church educators. Youth Sunday will be

the only exception to this new protocol, as the youth are in charge of the service.

Another important change happening on The Mount is the combining of the yearly choir anniversaries.

The church will observe one Choir Day, in the stead, which will take place each year on the first Sunday

in August. The choir leadership will work together to organize and plan the event each year, selecting a

chairperson to manage the details and overall execution of the grand event.

Additional parameters with regard to benevolence and facility usage was also discussed. For additional

details regarding this particular area of the meeting, please see a member of the session for a copy of the

detailed agenda.

We thank our session for the work that they do on behalf of the Mt. Zion church congregation.

Send in Your Prayer Requests

Learn More about Mt. Zion, Our

Faith and our Founding Doctrines

In Other News...

Bible Study reconvenes in January, kicking the year off with Family Night. The Evening Movie

starts at 6:00 PM. So, don’t be late!

MARCH MADNESS: Zion Kids are Awesome! That’s why the month of March has been ded-

icated to kids that are MAD—MAKING A DIFFERENCE! Send in your Kids List of Awe-

someness for a feature in next quarters news print.

OUR HISTORY IS YOUR HISTORY: February is a great month to celebrate our rich Herit-

age here at Mount Zion. Read more about The History of Mount Zion the church website at

mtzioncpca.org

The Young Adult Coalition will meet on the First and Third Sunday following Morning ser-

vices.

All Choir presidents are asked to meet immediately following worship service on the first Sun-

day in January to discuss upcoming Choir Day plans.

2016

M A R C H

M a r c h 6

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Y o u t h Da y

M a r c h 1 3

9 :0 0 a .m .

H o l y C o m m u n i o n

S e n i o r C h o i r

M a r c h 2 0

1 1 :0 0 a . m .

M a l e C h o r u s

M a r c h 2 7

1 1 :0 0 a . m .

U n i t y C h o i r

March is “National Kite

Month.” It stands to reason

that this might be the only

acceptable month to tell

someone to go fly a kite. I

wouldn’t recommend it

during any other month.

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SUNDAY Contemporary Choir 1st Sunday

Missionary Society 1st Sunday

Women's Unity Group 2nd Sunday

Program Committee 3rd Sunday

Christian Board of Ed. 3rd Sunday

Men's Unity Group 3rd Sunday

Mother Board 3rd Sunday

SATURDAY

Holy Ghost Girls

2:00 p.m. Before 1st Sunday

2:00 p.m. Before 3rd Sunday

Male Chorus

12:30 p.m. Before 3rd Sunday

Senior Choir

10:00 a.m. Before 2nd Sunday

Unity Choir

10:30 a.m. Before 3rd Sunday

11:00 a.m. Before 4th Sunday

Usher Board

10:00 a.m. 4th Saturday

Youth Choir

12:30 p.m. Before 1st Sunday

Our goal here at Mount Zion is to create pro-

grams and ministries that address both the spir-

itual and physical needs of our congregation and

community. In order to be effective in the work

we do, we need souls willing and able to do the

work. We have organizations and committees

that use a diverse number of talents to bring this

mission to fruition. Our hope is that you will take

the time to use your talents and gifts to help us

further our reach and increase the aid that we

are able to provide to Gods people.

There’s so much to be done this year and we’d

like to add you to our roster. See a committee

member today to join the work.

It takes many hands to manage the publicity of the church. That is why the Newsletter Team is still

looking for assistance with social media and publicity management. Areas of assistance include

creative writing and publishing, website management, graphic design and social media manage-

ment. We are willing to train. Contact a TZN member today.

Mount Zion has established the BEREAVEMENT COMMITTIEE responsible for support and service to members of the church who have suffered loss of life. The committee members are

Pastor James Robinson Elder Charles Bradley Elder Essie Hammonds Elder John Miller Elder Craig White

OTHER COMMITTEE NEWS

Look what we Found...

One of our members brought it to our attention that one of our members was featured in

an article about his time in the war. So we went scouring, and lo and behold, an article

from July 2015—a full expose’ on our very own Egbert “Bud” Peebles. In the article,

written by Eric Schultz of The Huntsville times, Bud talks about his dealings with racism

during the way, and in his own home city of Limestone. "They always wanted to keep the

black man in the back," Peebles said. "I hate to say it, but the white man wanted to win

the war without the black man. The white man wanted to keep the black man from hav-

ing any kind of record of having anything to do with the United States, but it didn't work.

He couldn't win it by himself," he explains.

According to Peebles, the war changed black soldiers and made them less tolerant of rac-

ism and more willing to act against it.

"When the black soldiers returned from overseas, they essentially said we are not going to

take it anymore," Walker said. "We put our lives on the line for the country and we aren't

going to take this discrimination. The black soldiers fought back."

Peebles was one of those soldiers. An incident outside a theater in Athens in 1946 sparked

racial unrest. Two white males accosted a black soldier who recently had returned from

the war.

The black soldier fought and beat the two white men and escaped. The aftermath drew a

violent response from some whites in Athens, who beat any black person they found on

the streets. Blacks marched in protest of the treatment.

"We marched in Athens. Right here in Athens was the biggest race riot there was," Pee-

bles said. "We told them we wasn't going to be separated no more. We were going to be

treated like a man."

To read more of Egberts Peebles fascinating story, go to http://www.al.com/news/

index.ssf/2015/07/alabama_veteran_faced_japanese.html.

Photo Cred: Eric Shultz / Huntsville Times

B L A C K H I S T O R Y I N O U R C O M M U N I T Y

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2016

J A N U A R Y

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Y o u t h Da y

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H o l y C o m m u n i o n

S e n i o r C h o i r

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M a l e C h o r u s

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U n i t y C h o i r

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Y o u t h C h o i r

S p e a k e r : R e v . C u r r y

January is “National

Oatmeal Month.” Not

sure how much observ-

ing I will be doing.

2016

F E B R U A R Y

F e b r u a r y 7

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Y o u t h Da y

F e b r u a r y 1 4

9 :0 0 a .m .

H o l y C o m m u n i o n

S e n i o r C h o i r

F e b r u a r y 2 1

1 1 :0 0 a . m .

M a l e C h o r u s

F e b r u a r y 2 8

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U n i t y C h o i r

February is “Plant the

Seeds of Greatness

Month.” Hopefully we

are doing this all year

round.

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CONGREGATI ONA L CARE COMMITTEES

JANUARY: Elder Bradley, Elder Caudle, Deacon Warner, Deacon Sales, Deacon Caudle and Deacon Brooks, Sis. Brooks FEBRUARY: Elder Garth, Elder Hammond, Deacon Freeman, Deacon Winston, Mother Scales and Deacon Thatch

MARCH: Elder Miller, Elder Stinson, Elder Verge, Deacon Miles and Deacon Pitts

Debuting On The Mount Mount Zion welcomes these sweet little faces to the family!

Madam Aubrie Jade Rodgers Born To Tatyana Rodgers On October 29th, 2015 Weight: 7lbs, 1oz

Master Quantez Lamar Robertson, Jr. Born To Quantez & Sherrell (Hobbs) Robertson On December 8th, 2015 Weight: 9lbs, 7 oz

Master Tysan D. Love Born Mario and Tamara Love On On November 12th, 2015 Weight: 7lbs, 5oz; 20 inch long

Lo ok who’s Capturing Moments from the Mount Zion Mortgage Burning Ceremony

To describe this day would take

pages upon pages to describe the

sheer jubilation experienced on the

day that Mount Zion officially set

fire to the mortgage, for the second

time. The new edifice, erected un-

der the leadership of Rev. James

Robinson, , would be the second of

mortgages fixed on the church.

Thanks for frugal and meticulous

finance management , and effective

leadership (from both the origi-

nating and current session, the

church was paid off, and paid off

early.

While the day offered a great deal

of reflection on the struggle, the

gains and the losses, including the

loss of our dear friend Elder Larry

Chisolm, former Church Clerk, the

day was also met with praise and

thanksgiving. It was an even greater

pleasure to have shared this day

with our friends from The General

Assembly (Rev. Leon Cole), The Ala-

bama Synod (Rev. Barbara

Clemons), The Huntsville Presbytery

(Rev. Terrance Haley), Madkins

Chapel (Rev. Endia Scruggs) and

other area churches.

The bible says that “dishonest mon-

ey dwindles away, but he who gath-

ers money little by little makes it

grow” (Prov 13:11). Our Elders and

Deacons have done well in gather-

ing what resources we have to

make it grow. They have sown good

seed into fertile ground and from it,

have drawn forth a good harvest.

Madam Krimson Rain Born To Shelby (Sharika) Jackson On December 23rd, 2015