Friday, December 27, 2013

NE NEWS - December 27, 2013

Northeast Community News – December 27, 2013
Dear friends and family,
What wonderful Christmas and Christmas Eve Services we had this week! I know some of you are already back to work while others are busily enjoying the last few days of their Christmas break! This week we begin to look forward to the New Year! But first, let us reflect on the wonders of Christmas!     
THANK YOU – THANK YOU – THANK YOU!
It takes a small army of people to have a wonderful Christmas Eve Service! While I will most likely miss someone(s), we can thank:
·       Naretta, Kamrie, Kathyrn, Morgan, Alannah, and Shannen for their help with making all of the Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer props!
·       Theo for making the small crosses by hand and helping hang them, lead the luminary building efforts, and being our regular Christmas Eve ‘greeter at large.’
·       Theo, Gary, Shannen, Pastor Amy, Pat, and Julie for making and setting out the luminaries and then cleaning them up!
·       Pastor Amy for ‘rallying the troops,’ assigning and coordinating helpers, ordering pizza, and running and managing the nursery on Christmas Eve!
·       Gail, Naretta, Alannah, and Jeni for reading, Jean for playing the piano, Shannen for carrying the large wooden cross forward and inviting people via Facebook and Tara for playing her guitar and singing ‘Love Came Down’ when it came time to respond!
·       Irene and Pastor Amy for preparing, serving, and cleaning up our light refreshments after the Christmas Eve Service! (yum!)
·       But especially I want to thank ‘Jane his wife’ (think the Jetson’s if you’re old enough) for all she does behind the scenes to love Jesus, support this church, and provide the physical and emotional support needed when God stretches us beyond our comfort zones and abilities! Janie is a tireless worker who’s always there…period!
Please forgive me if I forgot you! I really didn’t mean it! But God showed up, we were all blessed, and He was glorified! Amen!
                   
                                                                              Love and blessings, Pastor Dan
Hello friends!
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas! As you know, we had to cancel what would have been our Christmas Sunday service on Dec. 22nd because the weather was just awful. I was able to record the Christmas message and it is still available on YouTube at this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Ex9Id-wDk/. Below is also a summary.
Our Christmas message came out of Luke 2:1-21. While there are many angles from which we can look at and marvel upon Christmas, we will look at just a few of them.
First, Christmas is the ultimate demonstration of God’s faithfulness to a dark and sinful world. Like the stinky manger that our Savior was born into, our hearts are rotten with sin. On Christmas, Jesus comes to the world to meet our real need. He doesn’t come to the version of us wrapped in ribbons and bows, the version of us with a great PR campaign, or the version of us which is all Hallmark smiles and fluff.
No, Jesus comes to the real us, the us that knows for certain we are part of the “all” when Paul says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans3:23).  Jesus comes not in spite of our sin, but because of it. He knows that we need to be delivered from the power of sin and death, and He knows that only He can meet that need. And so He comes.
Second, Jesus’ humble birth and life of servant hood show us a lot about the all-inclusiveness of God’s kingdom. God reveals the news of the birth of the Savior to Shepherds, who at that time were among the last on the social ladder. They were rough, dirty, uneducated, ceremonially unclean people. But these are who God chose first, and it shows that in Jesus God is doing something new. The first are last, and the last are first.
The angels who speak to the shepherds refer to good news for ALL PEOPLE. Jesus comes to set ALL PEOPLE who believe in Him free from the power of sin and death. It is good news for the shepherds, for the woman at the well, for the sinner who died on the Cross next to Jesus. For you and for me. Good news for ALL sinners without exception.
Last, Christmas confronts us with Jesus, and asks us how we will respond to this grace of God which is reaching out to our hearts in this baby born in Bethlehem. It is hard to be neutral about Jesus during this season, because He is kind of in your face.
The angel speaks of ALL PEOPLE, but to the Shepherds, the angel says “This will be a sign….to you” (Luke 2:10-12) God pours out grace equally to ALL PEOPLE, but at the same time calls us to individual response from the depths of our individual hearts. The response of the Shepherds after encountering the angels and the baby Jesus, was to return to their normal lives, and “praise and glorify God” (Luke 2:20).
When we are glorifying God, we are living in such a way that it is evident to those around us that our lives are yielded to God entirely. The focus is not on what we are or are not doing, but it is on God what He has done for us through Christ.
In Philippians 3:7-11 (please read!), Paul says that the best of the best of himself, those things which he could be most proud of, those things which won him approval in the eyes of others, those things were rubbish compared to the “surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus” (v8). He then says that our approval from God is not based in any way on our own works, but on what Christ has done for us (v9). The best of me and the best of what I can do is total rubbish compared to knowing Christ as Lord who has saved me!!
Friends, this is why Jesus was born. He saw our need, and He met our need. When He went to the Cross, He died for us, giving us His righteousness as our own. We receive the gift of His righteousness and total acceptance from God, and in exchange we give Him our sin, darkness, pain, blackness, and death. We are approved by God not because of what we do, but because of what Christ has already done for us. The work has already been finished by Him, and we are loved and accepted fully by God because of it. What an unshakable foundation! What love, to come down to us!
Christmas, then, is not about trying harder to be good people. It is not a moral pep talk, nor is it a call to work harder to be approved by God. Rather, it is about receiving the gift of love coming down to free us from the power of sin and death. And then when we receive this gift, we can go back to our lives, along with the Shepherds, and praise and glorify God for all that He has done for us. Merry Christmas!
With love, Pastor Amy

REMEMBER! NO WED. NIGHT PRAYER AND STUDY NEXT WEEK!
We will not be meeting next week on New Years Day, but will restart our weekly studies on January 8th Hope you can join us then!

Hello from Pastor Amy, your Associate Pastor/Administrative Secretary
My office hours vary on Tuesdays, and you can always call! My responsibilities include preparing our weekly program, so if you have an event or prayer request to publish, please contact me! Also, we have a long, ongoing list of prayer requests. Please keep me updated. Requests will be pulled from the newsletter & program after three weeks.
My Contact Info: 616-514-9521 or aorban@nnu.edu

NEWS AND EVENTS

Jesus if Lord of All begins at the New Year!
To start the new year, we are going to be taking the church through a teaching and preaching series titled “Jesus is Lord of All.” For anyone who is interested, books are available for individual purchase. This is a great way to dig a little deeper into your personal discipleship, and we encourage EVERYONE to get a book. Scholarships are available if cost is an issue. See sign-up sheets on the table at the back of the sanctuary or talk to Pastor Dan. We are ordering soon!

Christmas Sunday Tithes and Offerings
While we had to cancel our Christmas Sunday service on December 22nd due to terrible weather, the cost to run our building and the rest of our finances were not likewise cancelled. This is just a reminder that you can still give your tithes and offerings from December 22nd during our offering this Sunday. Thank you for all who give and give generously to help support the many needs of this church!

Jonathan is going to Africa! Pray for him!
Jonathan Gingrich is one of our college students who attends Calvin College. He is leaving to visit Africa on January 6th at 12pm, and will be returning to Grand Rapids on January 27th at 6:30pm. Jonathan has a missionary heart with a passion to find ways to make sanitary water accessible in places around the world where it is not. His trip includes a visit to Mt. Kenya, Nairobi, Sedai, Samburu National Park, and more. Pray for safety in Johnathan’s travels, and that God would use this time for His glory! If you want to pray more specifically, see me for a copy of his schedule while there!

ALL CHILDREN Invited to Sunday School
We have started a new Sunday school class 15th for children ages 4 years old up to 5thgrade. There will be lessons, crafts, snacks, songs, and lots of fun with Pastor Dan and Pastor Amy. The truth is, it will be more of a party than a class! Don’t forget, we have nursery, teens, and two adult classes as well! Class will meet downstairs in the children’s room at 10am. See you there!

Note to Nursery Staff
Dear nursery workers, please note that the new nursery schedule for the months of January and February will be out next week. I will print and email to each of you when it is complete. Love, Pastor Amy
First Friday Chinese Lunch – January 3
On the first Friday of every month, everyone is invited to attend a Chinese lunch at11:30am at the Hibachi on Alpine located behind the Target. The food is cheap and delicious, and the fellowship is even better. Feel free to bring family or a friend. Talk to Tracy Tamm with questions. See you there.

Snow Shoveling – Volunteers Wanted!
We could use some help sharing the responsibility of shoveling our walks this winter. If you live close and want to help, we usually shovel the walks at the following times:Tuesday AM and PMWednesday PM, and Sunday AM. Talk to Pastor Dan or the trustees to help, or just show up with a shovel anytime you are available!

Upcoming Events
January 01              No Wednesday Night Bible Study – Happy New Year!
January 03              First Friday Chinese lunch, 11:30am Hibachi Alpine
January 05              Family Church/Communion Sunday – No Children’s Church
January 05              Jesus is Lord series begins!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

NE NEWS - December 17, 2013

Northeast Community News – December 17, 2013


Dear friends and family,
Are you ready for Christmas? I must confess that while I am ready for Jesus’ second coming, with all of the preparations we are making for our Christmas Eve Service, I’m not quite ready yet, but I will be! This year we will be blessed to have Pastor Amy bring our Christmas message and I will bring our Christmas Eve message.
Our Christmas Eve message is titled, “A Misfit Christmas” and takes a look at the 1964 children’s classic Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer through the eyes of faith! Do you know someone who feels like they just don’t fit in? Great! Make sure to invite them to our Christmas Eve Service where we will discover that in Christ, elves who are dentists, reindeer with red noses, and even snow monsters have a place in God’s Kingdom!
Like all of our previous Christmas Eve services there will be time to light a memorial candle, sing Christmas carols, and finish the service by lighting a candle and singing Silent Night followed by light refreshments. But, we have a special hand-made gift for everyone this year and hope all of you will come and invite two or three others!
God’s message this week came from Matthew 1:18-25 and was titled, “Celebrate Advent: Be Amazed.” In this passage, Matthew describes a God who is not only amazing, but does amazing things Himself and through others! Jesus is born through the Holy Spirit and a willing devout teenage girl to “save his people from their sins” (v. 21) thus fulfilling the prophecy “the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, ‘God with us’” (vv. 22-23).
God is amazing and doing amazing things, but in this passage we discover Joseph and Mary really believe it! Mary responds to the angel “let it be done unto me”(Luke 1:38) and Joseph trusts God by marrying her, having no relations with her, and giving the baby boy the name of Jesus. As Christians, we need to not only believe God is amazing and can do amazing things; we need to believe He could do amazing things through us!
Second, as the Body of Christ, we need to tell others God can do amazing things in their lives, too! Through Jesus, we not only receive salvation, but life to the full (John 10:10).  As Christian disciples at Christmastime, we are to joyfully proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ who saves us, sanctifies us, and prepares us for His return one day!
Finally, we are reminded “God is with us” (v. 23). God is not just with Nazarenes or even all Christians, but with everyone! Through the miracle of Christmas, God is with ALL OF US regardless of our past, present, or future! As the body of Christ we need to let “those people” know “God is with you.” As His disciples we want to help all people understand through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God is with them – speaking to them – and offering an abundant life through His Son, Jesus!

WED. NIGHT PRAYER MEETING AND ADULT BIBLE STUDY AT6:30PM
Remember, while we still examine God’s Word, we are now singing and praying first to give us enough time to pray! This week we will examine “gentleness” in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 as we near the end of our study on the Fruit of the Spirit. Hope to see you there!

Blessings! Pastor Dan
Hello from Pastor Amy, your Associate Pastor/Administrative Secretary
My office hours vary on Tuesdays, and you can always call! My responsibilities include preparing our weekly program, so if you have an event or prayer request to publish, please contact me! Also, we have a long, ongoing list of prayer requests. Please keep me updated. Requests will be pulled from the newsletter & program after three weeks.
My Contact Info: 616-514-9521 or aorban@nnu.edu


NEWS AND EVENTS

December Wednesday Night Potluck Dinner – THIS Wednesday Dec 18th
Our Wednesday night potlucks usually take place on the last Wednesday of the month, but due to Christmas, we are pushing our dinner back a week for December. The dinner will be held on Weds, December 18 @ 5:30pm with regular Bible study to follow. Bring a dish to pass and join us for good food and fellowship. Talk to Julie Orban to help!

Jonathan is going to Africa! Pray for him!
Jonathan Gingrich is one of our college students who attends Calvin College. He is leaving to visit Africa on January 6th at 12pm, and will be returning to Grand Rapids on January 27th at 6:30pm. Jonathan has a missionary heart with a passion to find ways to make sanitary water accessible in places around the world where it is not. His trip includes a visit to Mt. Kenya, Nairobi, Sedai, Samburu National Park, and more. Pray for safety in Johnathan’s travels, and that God would use this time for His glory! If you want to pray more specifically, see me for a copy of his schedule while there!

Jesus if Lord of All begins at the New Year!
To start the new year, we are going to be taking the church through a teaching and preaching series titled “Jesus is Lord of All.” For anyone who is interested, books are available for individual purchase. This is a great way to dig a little deeper into your personal discipleship, and we encourage EVERYONE to get a book. Scholarships are available if cost is an issue. See sign-up sheets on the table at the back of the sanctuary or talk to Pastor Dan. We are ordering soon!

ALL CHILDREN Invited to Sunday School
We have started a new Sunday school class 15th for children ages 4 years old up to 5th grade. There will be lessons, crafts, snacks, songs, and lots of fun with Pastor Dan and Pastor Amy. The truth is, it will be more of a party than a class! Don’t forget, we have nursery, teens, and two adult classes as well! Class will meet downstairs in the children’s room at 10am. See you there!

Christmas Eve Service – December 24 @ 6:00pm
This is a very special service and is a great time to invite someone who normally does not come to church. This year’s theme is “A Misfit 
Christmas.”  We still need plenty of workers to help decorate, light candles, do various readings, work in the nursery, clean up, and prepare cookies and coffee for the afterglow following the service. Want to help? Talk to Pastor Dan.

Christmas and New Year’s Wednesday Night Cancellations
Please note that we will NOT be holding our regular Wednesday night Bible study on Wednesday December 25, nor on January 1st. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Snow Shoveling – Volunteers Wanted!
We could use some help sharing the responsibility of shoveling our walks this winter. If you live close and want to help, we usually shovel the walks at the following times: Tuesday AM and PM, Wednesday PM, and Sunday AM. Talk to Pastor Dan or the trustees to help, or just show up with a shovel anytime you are available!

Upcoming Events

December 18          Wednesday Night Potluck Dinner @ 5:30pm, Bible study follows
December 24          Christmas Eve Service @ 6pm
December 25          No Wednesday Night Bible Study – Merry Christmas!
January 01              No Wednesday Night Bible Study – Happy New Year!
January 03              First Friday Chinese lunch, 11:30am Hibachi Alpine
January 05              Family Church/Communion Sunday – No Children’s Church

Thursday, December 12, 2013

NE NEWS - December 10, 2013

Northeast Community News – December 10, 2013

Dear friends and family,
Well, last week I said it’s beginning to look like Christmas, but this week it’s beginning to look like the North Pole on a snowy day! I pray all of you are somewhere warm as the weather drops into the single digits this week. Regardless of the snow and wind outside, it has been wonderful each week as we bask in the warmth of the Savior on the inside!
God’s message this week came from Matthew 24:36-44 and was titled, “Celebrate Advent: Be Ready.” In this passage Jesus is in the middle of a longer discourse responding to the disciples’ questions about His Second Coming. Even before His death on The Cross, and His burial, resurrection, ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost, Jesus was preparing them and us for His return.
Earlier, Jesus tells them they will know it is nearing the time when they see signs that include false prophets and false Christs rising and leading people astray, anarchy and war, apathy among Christians when many will grow cold in the faith, times of affliction when believers will be hated, betrayed, and martyred, and a time to witness and preach the good news! (Matthew 24:4-14). He follows these ‘signs’ by telling them His return won’t be hidden (far from it)! He will return through clouds with trumpets, power, and great glory to bring home those who are ready to heaven! (Matthew 24:30-31)
In Matthew 24:36-44, then, we find Jesus in the middle of His conversation making several points to His disciples (then and now) about the day He returns. First, in v. 36 He tells us ‘no one knows the hour or day’ of His return except the Father. So, while Christians have speculated about when He is returning for 2000 years, nobody knows!
Second, in vv. 40-41 we discover that the time to be prepared for His return is now!  While the “Left Behind” series of books and movies presents a time that will come after Jesus’ return for people “left behind” to get ready to go to heaven, these two verses and later in c. 25 present a case that there are no second chances. Either you are trusting in Christ for your salvation when He returns for you or you’re not.
The use of fieldwork and grinding grain in these verses only suggests by Jesus that gender, occupation, and location don’t matter! What matters is whether you have prayed to receive Christ or not? (see John 3:16-18).
Finally, in vv. 42-44 we discover the day of His return will be a surprise. Jesus indicates that it will be just another regular, ordinary day. While churches were filled after 9/11, Jesus seems to indicate His return could easily be on a sunny day in June or snowy day in December, or an ordinary Sunday afternoon in March. Jesus is suggesting we will have no warning or clue it is about to happen which is all the more reason to be ready!
As we prepare to celebrate Jesus first coming, are you ready for Jesus’ second coming? Remember, your good acts of kindness don’t earn your salvation nor does attending church! The only way to ‘be ready’ for Jesus return is to be ‘born again’ by admitting you are a sinner in need of grace, accept Jesus as the only way to the Father, believe on Jesus to be your Savior through His sacrificial blood on The Cross, confess your sins and ask Him to forgive you be the Lord of your life! Are you ready? Pray to receive Christ and you will be! If you do, please contact me so I can send you a Bible study for new Christians! Start the journey to wholeness this Advent! God ahead and pray! Amen!

WED. NIGHT PRAYER MEETING AND ADULT BIBLE STUDY AT 6:30PM
Remember, while we still examine God’s Word, we are now singing and praying first to give us enough time to pray! Sometimes we need two weeks to finish a lesson and that’s ok! This week we will continue to examine “faithfulness” in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 as we work through our Fruit of the Spirit study. Hope to see you there!

DICK MORSE: A CELEBRATION OF FAITHFULNESS!
Last Sunday after our worship service over 50 people gathered for a special Christmas meal and potluck to celebrate a life of faithfulness. Dick and Emily became members in 1952 and Dick served as our treasurer from 1954 until 2013, a remarkable 59 years of continuous service! Irene blessed us with roasted turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy (she arrived at 6:00am to put the turkeys in!) and our church gave Dick and Emily $50 each in gift cards to Panera, Olive Garden, and Russ’, but we know these are just tokens of appreciation! We can’t give Dick and Emily what they deserve, but then again, Dick didn’t serve to win an award or anything else – he simply served God with a humble heart, and as Dr. John Seaman wrote in his tribute, “he looked a lot like Jesus.”

THANK YOU DICK FOR A LIFETIME OF SERVICE TO THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM!!
Thank you for showing us Jesus in the way you served, the way you gave, the way you quietly and humbly served the church, your pastors, and Jesus! We are surely blessed! May God richly bless you in the coming years as you retire, finally! Amen!                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Blessings, Pastor Dan

Hello from Pastor Amy, your Associate Pastor/Administrative Secretary
My office hours vary on Tuesdays, and you can always call! My responsibilities include preparing our weekly program, so if you have an event or prayer request to publish, please contact me! Also, we have a long, ongoing list of prayer requests. Please keep me updated. Requests will be pulled from the newsletter & program after three weeks.
My Contact Info: 616-514-9521 or aorban@nnu.edu

NEWS AND EVENTS

Ladies Cookie Exchange and Lunch – Saturday December 14 @ 12:00pm
Irene Pratt is planning a cookie exchange and lunch for any ladies who would like to join. Please bring at least one dozen cookies to exchange. Lunch will be provided, and it will all take place at Irene’s house: 2453 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Please talk to Irene with questions! 616.432.9160

ALL CHILDREN Invited to Sunday School
We are starting up a new Sunday school class beginning THIS SUNDAY the 15th for children ages 4 years old up to 5th grade. There will be lessons, crafts, snacks, songs, and lots of fun with Pastor Dan and Pastor Amy. The truth is, it will be more of a party than a class! Don’t forget, we have nursery, teens, and two adult classes as well! Class will meet downstairs in the children’s room at10am. See you there!

Poinsettia Orders due December 15th
Every year, we give you the opportunity to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas by purchasing poinsettias. The last day to order is December 15th. The plants will be delivered and will decorate the sanctuary on Christmas Sunday, December 22nd. Then, you can take them home to enjoy! Order forms can be found in the program on Sunday, or at the very bottom of this newsletter for you to print and bring in. Please include payment with order. Talk to Gerry Dawson with any questions.

Snow Shoveling – Volunteers Wanted!
We could use some help sharing the responsibility of shoveling our walks this winter. If you live close and want to help, we usually shovel the walks at the following times: Tuesday AM and PMWednesday PM, and Sunday AM. Talk to Pastor Dan or the trustees to help, or just show up with a shovel anytime you are available!

Advent Readings and Lighting of the Wreath
Our tradition is to light candles on our Advent Wreath in the sanctuary as we anticipate Christmas and the birth of our Savior, and His future return. During Advent, we reflect on the already-but-not-yet Kingdom of God, and the God who promised Christ in the Old Testament, sent Christ in the incarnation and his Holy Spirit to dwell with us today, and tells us in His Word that Christ will come again in final victory! Our Adult Alternative Sunday school class will be studying an Advent devotional for these weeks leading up to Christmas, please join us and be enriched in your faith during this wonderful season!

Tuesday Morning Prayer Meeting – Holiday Break
During the month of December, we are breaking from our formal Tuesdaymorning prayer meeting. We encourage everyone to continue praying from home, and to join us for our other time of community prayer on Wednesday nights.

Helping College Student Revival at Calvin – The Send
In an effort to support Jonathan Gingrich and fellow Calvin College students who are gathering weekly for prayer, planning, and revival, we are asking if you would be willing to bake a treat or snack for their weekly meetings. They are meeting on Sunday nights, so we want to send them off with snacks for the meeting. Talk to Irene Pratt or bring something beginning on Sundays to send!

December Wednesday Night Potluck Dinner Date Change
Our Wednesday night potlucks usually take place on the last Wednesday of the month, but due to Christmas, we are pushing our dinner back a week for December. The dinner will be held on Weds, December 18 @ 5:30pm with regular Bible study to follow. Bring a dish to pass and join us for good food and fellowship. Talk to Julie Orban to help!

Christmas Eve Service – December 24 @ 6:00pm
We are once again beginning to plan our Christmas Eve Service. This is a very special service and is a great time to invite someone who normally does not come to church. We need plenty of workers to help decorate, light candles, do various readings, work in the nursery, clean up, and prepare cookies and coffee for the afterglow following the service. Want to help or have any other ideas? Talk to Pastor Dan.

Christmas and New Year’s Wednesday Night Cancellations
Please note that we will NOT be holding our regular Wednesday night Bible study on Wednesday December 25, nor on January 1st. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Upcoming Events
December 14          Cookie Exchange and Lunch @ Noon – Irene Pratt home
December 15          Poinsettia orders and payment due
December 15          New Children’s Sunday school begins @ 10am
December 18          Wednesday Night Potluck Dinner @ 5:30pm, Bible study follows
December 24          Christmas Eve Service @ 6pm
December 25          No Wednesday Night Bible Study – Merry Christmas!
January 01              No Wednesday Night Bible Study – Happy New Year!
January 03              First Friday Chinese lunch, 11:30am Hibachi Alpine
January 05              Family Church/Communion Sunday – No Children’s Church