Northeast Community News – August 27, 2013
Dear Friends and Family,
We had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday! I often feel awed by God’s presence in our service and discipleship moments on Sunday. To realize the All Powerful, Holy, and Great Creator and Redeemer of the universe comes and dwells among His people here at Northeast Community Church of the Nazarene is incredible! God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit IS AWESOME and lives and dwells through and in us! Wow!
God’s message to us last Sunday came from Colossians 4:2-6 and was titled, “Guidelines for Christian Prayer.” Do you pray? Do you believe pray changes anything? How should a Christian pray? As the wise old evangelist nears the end of his life and ministry from a prison cell in Rome, he concludes his letter to the Colossians by giving them guidelines for prayer. Paul concludes that if Christ is Supreme, we are living in Christ, being rooted and built upon Christ and fully yielded, then our appetites will change and this includes a desire to share Jesus with others! Thankfully he provides guidelines!
First, he tells us if we want to share Jesus with others we ought to be devoted to prayer, watchful, and thankful (v. 2). The Greek word devoted means to endure, to wait, to be steadfast, in this case, prayer. Watchful means to arise and remain alert to the dangers and threats from the Evil One while remaining thankful for the greatest gift ever given! Jesus! If you want others to receive Jesus, then be devoted to prayer, watchful and thankful!
Second, Paul asks us to pray God opens doors and creates opportunities to share the good news in vv. 3-4, and when those opportunities come we proclaim Jesus clearly. It is important to remember God opens the doors! We do not make things happen! He does!
Third, in v. 5 Paul tells us to be wise in the way we respond to pre-Christians and make the most of every opportunity God gives us by living an authentic life of holiness. When we have a vibrant witness we are indeed making the most out of every opportunity!
Finally, in v. 6 Paul reminds us to let our conversations with pre-Christians be full of grace, tasty, and tailored to the individual. There is to be no “talking at people” about Jesus or “hurtful judgmental speech” or a “one size fits all” strategy in our sharing! We aren’t selling Jesus! We are sharing Jesus! And Jesus is good news for a world without hope, a world filled with hurt, and a world in need love, acceptance and forgiveness!
WED. NIGHT ADULT BIBLE STUDY AT 6:30PM
This week our Adult lesson will be on “confrontations and restorations” based on Matthew18:15-35. Come discover what Jesus has to say about confronting sin and how a community of faith restores a fallen brother or sister on Wed. at 6:30pm!
Healthy Living! It is a way of life as Holiness People!
This is the last lesson from the book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, written by Richard A. Swenson, M.D., a Christian doctor who sees exhausted, hurting people suffering from Marginless Living.
While we have examined areas lacking margin, Swenson suggests there are 4 areas that significantly contribute to margin. This week we examine how God can use pain to move us in the right direction! Swenson writes, “At times it appears as if the cumulative weight of suffering and sorrow will sink the entire world. People hurt, families hurt, friendships hurt, churches hurt, communities hurt, nations hurt…many have hurt for so long it seems as if the pain will never end” (p. 236). Ever been there? I sure have!
Before we continue, it is important to remember as Wesleyan Nazarene Holiness folk we believe God has given us free will and the ability to choose. We can live our lives as God intended or choose to live in rebellion to God’s plan in part or in full! The consequences of our free will can be dramatic! The good news is it’s never too late to change with Jesus! Experiencing pain right now? The doctor offers the following four insights:
1) First, let’s thank God for pain. Anything that redirects us to Him is of benefit!
2) Second, let’s repent. Not the “ineffectual, unfervent prayer of an unrighteous man,” kind of repentance, but the kind that means something and costs something. The kind of repentance where you conduct business with God and whereafter life has actually changed and you are headed in a different direction.
3) Third, let’s do surgery. There is pruning that needs to be done and abscesses that need draining. Let’s prune away the time cancers, amputate the energy tumors, and drain the debt. Don’t cringe – God is a great physician, and it is good to be pruned and drained…without surgery, margin and health won’t return.
4) Fourth, let’s cooperate with God. Our hope for the future is only valid because of one fact: God is still around, and what’s more, He’s still interested. (p. 236)
I trust you have benefited from reading these weekly outlines of the book Marginless Living written by Dr. Richard A. Swenson and have received insights on how to better live the Holy life. If you would like to borrow my book (filled with tons of highlights!) let me know! It was and is a foundational book in my Christian walk. As always, if you want to talk about any of these excerpts or about anything, give me a call, email, or text!
Blessings! Pastor Dan
Hello from Pastor Amy, your Associate Pastor/Administrative Secretary
My office hours will vary every Tuesday, and if you need to see me, just call! My responsibilities also include preparing our weekly program, so if you have an event that you would like to put in the program or newsletter, please feel free to contact me!
On Prayer Requests: If you have a specific praise or prayer request which you would like to appear in the program and/or newsletter, please make sure to fill out the tear-off sheet in the weekly program, or contact me at any time.
Please Update Me! We have a long, ongoing list of prayer requests. Please keep me
updated. Requests will be pulled from the newsletter & program after three weeks.
Church Office: 616-459-2773 My Contact Info: 616-514-9521 or aorban@nnu.edu
NEWS AND EVENTS
First Friday Chinese Lunch Continues – Friday September 06 @ 11:30am
Everyone is invited to a Chinese lunch on the First Friday of every month at 11:30am. The group meets at the Hibachi on Alpine located behind the Target. The food is cheap and delicious, and conversation is even better. You are welcome to bring a friend! Talk to Tracy Tamm with questions.
Wednesday Night Potluck Dinners Return in September!
We went on break for summer, but we will be continuing our Wednesday night dinners which will take place on the LAST Wednesday of every month beginning in September. Bring a dish to pass and join us for good food and fellowship! Regular Bible study follows at 6:30pm. Talk to Julie Orban to help setup or cleanup.
Next Dinner: Wednesday September @ 5:30pm
Fall Events at Indian Lake
Here are Fall Events coming soon at Indian Lake:
Evangelist Homecoming Meeting: The third annual evangelist homecoming meeting will take place over the weekend of August 31- September 2. Everyone is invited to this weekend of enrichment and fellowship, including preaching, teaching, equipping, and a song evangelist’s concert. More details can be found at www.nazcamp.org
Craft and Scrapbooking Weekend: This weekend is just for ladies and takes place fromNovember 1-3. The cost is $25 per day which includes a table, meals, games, prizes, snacks, and devotion time. Lodging costs vary. More details at www.nazcamp.org
TUESDAY MORNING PRAYER MEETINGS 9AM-10AM
Come pray with us on Tuesday mornings! Everyone is invited to join us for an hour of prayer. We all know many who need Jesus, and many who have other needs. We believe that prayer really does change things, and God really does love the world – especially those who don’t know Jesus yet! Who could you be praying for? See you Tuesday!
Nelson Vanderlugt from the Gideons is Coming to Visit! Sunday September 08
On September 08th during our morning worship service, we will once again be welcoming Nelson Vanderlugt from the Gideons. If you don’t know, the Gideons work to provide the Bibles which can be found in places like hotel rooms and prisons. Often, this provides a way for God’s Word to be available for people in desperate need. Nelson will give us a report from the work of the Gideons, and we will also be taking a love offering for the Gideons, so be prepared to give to this excellent cause!
Alabaster Offering – Sunday September 15th
Our Fall Alabaster Offering will be held during service on Sunday September 15th. If you don’t know, our Alabaster Offering comes from our Nazarene Missions International department, and is taken twice per year. Every penny we receive from this offering goes directly to the global mission field, to be used for the purchase of land and buildings. You can get your own Alabaster box off of the soundboard in the sanctuary. Fill it with loose change, and bring it on the 15th! Children can participate too!
Mission Mania & Missionary Visit – September 21-22
Everyone is invited to Mission Mania which is taking place in Grand Haven on Saturday September 21 from 5:30pm-8pm. Mission Mania is full of activities, as well as missionary speakers. But there’s more! These same missionaries, (Charlie, Carney, and daughter Alyssa) from Paraguay will be coming to our church the very next day on Sunday, September 22nd! Why not make it a Missions weekend, and attend Mission Mania and Sunday service with our missionaries? See details for Mission Mania on the bulletin boards or talk to Janie Hathaway. Please note we will also be taking a love offering for the missionaries when they visit us on Sunday the 22nd.
Tri-District Men’s Retreat – Friday September 20 thru Saturday September 21
Attention all men, you are invited to attend a tri-district men’s retreat being held at Lost Valley Bible Farm in Gaylord, MI. Activities will
include teaching, small groups, golf, trap shooting, rifle range, basketball, fishing, horseshoes, deer rifle sight-in and table tennis. The cost is only $55 per person, meals included. We would love to send a group of men from our church! Registration deadline is September 08th, talk to Pastor Dan!
Come to the Fire Women’s Conference – October 17-19
Attention all women, you are invited to the Come to the Fire annual women’s conference in October. The conference will be held Holland, MI. Last year, a group of us traveled to the conference, stayed in a hotel, and were blessed by it! It is a great weekend of worship, teaching, fellowship and renewal. There is no cost for registration, but we will be discussing how to pay for meals and lodging. If you are interested in attending this conference, please talk to Pastor Amy or Janie soon! For more information, you can also grab a pamphlet from the table outside of the sanctuary, or go to cometothefire.org.
August School Pal Packs! This is the last week to bring items!
It is time once again to collect items for School Pal-Paks as part of our Nazarene Missions International efforts. If you don’t know, the Church of the Nazarene operates numerous primary schools around the world, providing quality education for children. Unfortunately, children around the world often do not have the supplies needed for school. In countries with economic challenges, families cannot afford to purchase supplies, or siblings are often required to share the supplies. In response to the need, Nazarene Missions International partnered with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Inc. (NCM, Inc.) to provide School Pal-Paks. You can put purchased items under the sign on the Mission bulletin board in the annex. See Gerry Dawson with any questions. Make sure to get a shopping list before you shop, because the paks require very specific items!
Here is the information:
Shopping List:
• 2 composition notebooks (such as Mead brand), no larger than 93⁄4x71⁄2 inches
• 1 package of 10-12 #2 pencils
• 1 package of 10-12 black pens
• 2 pink erasers, 2-3 inches long
• 2 6-inch or 12-inch rulers (with metric measurements)
• 1 package of 12-15 colored pencils
• 1 pair blunt-nosed scissors
• 1 hand-held pencil sharpener (NOT electric or battery-powered)
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PLAY YOUR INSTRUMENT IN CHURCH!
Do you play an instrument or used to play an instrument and want to use your gift to bless others and glorify the Lord? Recently, the church purchased sheet music to the hymnal we use for flute/oboe and clarinet. Trombone is also available. We would love to have a few people play their instruments occasionally during the offering time! If you are interested or even think you might be interested see Pastor Dan.
Postcard Greetings Now Available
Don’t forget, we have NE Community postcards and they are available to anyone who would like to send them to invite, encourage, miss, or welcome someone to the church! Interested? See a Sunday school teacher or Pastor Amy or Dan.
Upcoming Events
September 01 Last Day for School Pal Pak items!
September 01 Family Church/Communion Sunday – NO Children’s Church
September 03 Prayer meeting 9am-10am in sanctuary
September 06 First Friday Chinese Lunch, 11:30am Hibachi Alpine
September 08 Gideon Visit during morning worship service
September 08 Registration for Tri-District Men’s Retreat due
September 15 Alabaster Offering
September 21 Mission Mania 5:30pm – 8pm Grand Haven, MI
September 22 Missionary visit!
September 25 Weds Night Dinner @ 5:30pm
October 17-19 Come to the Fire Women’s Conference in Holland
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