Purpose, Vision & Mission

Our Purpose

The purposes of this congregation shall be to:

Seek to know and trust God more fully.

Grow as disciples and ambassadors of Christ.

Be transformed by the Holy Spirit to live, worship, nurture faith and serve so that God’s healing and hope flow through us to the world.

 

Our Vision Statement

As a community seeking to know and trust God more fully, we are called to grow as disciples and ambassadors of Christ.  By God’s grace and power we are transformed by the Holy Spirit to live, worship, and serve so that God’s healing and hope flow through us to the world.

 

Our Mission Statement

At Zion Mennonite Church we follow Jesus as we worship God, nurture faith, minister love, and share hope with neighbors near and far.


 

Zion's 12 Scriptures

Mennonite Church USA designated 2013 as the “Year of the Bible.” Congregations were encouraged to engage in what is called the “12 Scripture Project” through which congregations would explore the Bible and find the scriptures that reflect who they are as a worshipping community, and also shape generations yet to come. Zion Mennonite Church participated in the process of finding and discovering key texts that have been formative for both individuals and the entire congregation in the spring of 2013. Those texts were the basis for that summer’s sermon series.

Genesis 1:1-2:3

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.”  And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day. ...Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.  By the seventh day God had finished the work he ad been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and make it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

II Chronicles 7:14

…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and  seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 40: 28-31

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Matthew 5, 6, 7  The Sermon on the Mount

The Beatitudes – Salt and Light – The Fulfillment of the Law – Murder – Adultery – Divorce – Oaths – An Eye for an Eye – Love for Enemies – Giving to the Needy – Prayer – Fasting – Treasures in Heaven – Do not Worry – Judging others – Ask, Seek, Knock – The Narrow and Wide Gates – A Tree and its Fruit – The Wise and Foolish Builders

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I Corinthians 3:11

For now one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearth through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Philippians 4:4-13

Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever I noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.  I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.  Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Revelation 21:1-5, 22:1-7

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”  Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be any curse.  The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city and his servants will serve him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.  The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true.  The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.  “Behold, I am coming soon!  Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”