Friday, September 30, 2016

Northeast Community News – September 27, 2016

Northeast Community News – September 27, 2016
Hello Friends and Family!
This is the first of 7 newsletters I will be writing while Pastor Dan and Janie are on sabbatical. I will try my best to keep you all informed during these weeks. Please be patient with me as I try to step into this job.  If I get anything wrong or leave something out, don’t hesitate to let me know.
Pastor Dan’s sermon on Sunday came from Psalm 119:7-11, “Keeping Pure God’s Way”. While it doesn’t take long to accumulate a whole lot of junk in a human soul, God has an answer to help us avoid the junk and pitfalls so common to human life. We don’t need to hide the dirt; we need to hide His Word.
How are we to live pure lives? First, by living according to His Word. And how are we to remember God’s Word? Second, by hiding it and treasuring it in our hearts, by memorizing it. But here we discover the central key: seek God with all of our hearts.
To help us live more and more like Jesus and avoid the junk and pitfalls that lie all around us, is to seek Him with an undivided heart and hide His Word, not the dirt. My prayer is that you will yield your life completely, ask the Father to Sanctify you, and continue to grow in grace.
That is the only way to keep pure God’s way!
 
NEWS AND EVENTS
WHERE’S WALDO… OOPS, I MEAN PASTOR DAN? 
On Monday Pastor Dan and Janie flew to Santa Monica, CA to begin a 7-week sabbatical. Pastor Dan is riding his bicycle down Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago. Janie is going for the first 2 weeks to make sure he doesn’t get lost in desert! 
While the church won’t be able to contact him while he’s away, you can find out where he’s at throughout each day by checking out his ‘Spot Tracking Website.’ While this isn’t a blog, it does provide a ‘real-time GPS spot location’ every 10 min. while he’s moving! 
Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/gv83kun. You can now find a ‘GPS spot’ for every 10 min. he is riding. As I write this newsletter at 3:00 PM on Tuesday September 27, he is near Cajon Junction California.  At the end of the day an ‘ok’ message will be sent to indicate he’s where he will spend the night. Note: there is also a U.S. map on the bulletin board in the church that will be updated for those who want to track Pastor Dan and don’t have the internet.
WHILE THE PASTOR IS GONE
I think we all are surprised by how much our Pastor does.  While he is on sabbatical, the members of the church board will be filling in. Below is an abbreviated list of who is doing what.  If you have any questions, just give one of us a call.
 
Preaching – Rev Ed Douglas
Wed. Bible Study – Mary Warner
Visitor follow up – Cherry and Tracy
Shut in calling – Mary W
Hospital calling – Cherry 
Order of Worship – Steve H
Program/Prayer insert – Deb Xia
Newsletter – Gerry D
Answering Machine – Gerry D
 
BLESS YOU FOR FAITHFUL GIVING! THE PARSONAGE IS BEING VINYL SIDED!
Because of your continued faithful giving, Larry B, our head trustee made the motion and your church board supported it and then voted unanimously to hire Phil Camp (who just happens to be Bill and Judy Camp’s son) to install siding on the parsonage! Phil was the low bidder by over $500! This means no more scrapping and painting days at the parsonage! Woohoo! Even better, the work will be done within 45 days! What a joy it’s been to watch one miracle after another as together, with God’s help, Northeast Community Church continued to invest in the future! Praise the Lord!
FALL ALABASTER OFFERING  
Last week we ‘marched’ forward to give our Alabaster Offerings!  Twice a year we give our coins, cash, checks, and gold doubloons knowing every penny goes directly to the mission field to purchase land and building materials! The Alabaster Church will be in the back of the church one more week for those who would still like to give! To date our offering is $400.71!
THE NEXT LADIES RENDEZVOUS IS SAT., Oct. 22 AT 10:30AM!
Cherry is planning the next Ladies Rendezvous for Oct 22 and all ladies are invited! Please contact Cherry for more info or if you need a ride! Call or text (616) 916-7595.
6th ANNUAL BLANKET AND COAT DRIVE FOR MEL TROTTER! 
What began with one person asking for a blanket donation 6 years ago became an annual event to provide warmth for the ‘least of these!’ After learning Mel Trotter is often without enough blankets to cover their beds we started collecting them and to date have given over 300 blankets, scarves, and coats to some who really need them! 
While the NMI intended to start the drive in mid-October, they’re already arriving! So join the fun and bring your new or gently used blankets and put them on the tables in the back of the sanctuaryOur goal is to collect 50 blankets! Questions? See Sherry! 
SCHOOL PAL PAKS! BRING YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
Thank you for donating. Sherry is putting the paks together and I will let you know how many we will be sending off.
GATHER BOX TOPS FOR NAZARENE INDIAN MISSIONS!
Thank you to everyone who is collecting Campbell Soup labels and General Mills box tops! While it seems small, the cash they generate really adds up! This program has provided PA equipment, computers, and even a 15-passenger van for Nazarene Sun Valley Indian School. Questions, labels and box tops should go to Fran S. or Sherry J.
CHURCH POSTCARDS ARE AVAILABLE!
Is there someone missing or would like to invite to church? Why not grab a few church postcards and send them out? A simple hand written note blesses everyone! You will find them on the table under the missionary bulletin board in the Annex. 
DAILY DEVOTIONS – “REFLECTING GOD” IS AVAILABLE! FREE!!
“Reflecting God” is a daily devotional guide our church makes available free to anyone interested. The devotions provide a brief truth from the Bible every day. Reflecting God also has a section for reading the Bible in a year and praying for our missionaries! Feel free to take one! You’ll find them located on the table outside the sanctuary!
OUR NEXT 3RD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH IS Oct 20!
Our next Third Thursday Chinese Lunch is Oct 20 at 11:30am at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine. The food is good, but the fellowship is even better! Come, enjoy a great time to eat, share joys, concerns and even laugh! If you have any questions? See Tracy or Linda!
GUIDELINES FOR PRAYER REQUESTS 
Remember, to keep our prayer lists current, we only place requests in the newsletter and bulletin for 3 weeks without an update. If you want to keep your prayer request in the bulletin or newsletter just keep filling out the tear off tabs and keep us informed! 
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sep. 26/Nov. 13       Pastor Dan and Janie’s 7-week Sabbatical
Now-Nov. 30             Blanket and Coat Drive for Mel Trotter Mission
Oct. 01                       Ladies Bile Study at 12:30 PM
Oct. 15                       Church Board Meeting at 10:00 AM
Oct. 20                       Third Thurs Chinese Lunch at 11:30 (Hibachi Grill)
Nov. 10-12                Come to the Fire (Nashville, TN)
Nov. 20                      Northeast Community Potluck (after worship)

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