Northeast Community News – July 3, 2017

Dear Friends and Family!
    Happy Independence Day… well, I guess! What you say? Am I ungrateful for the freedoms we won as we broke free from English Imperial Rule? No, of course not! I love the United States of America and feel uniquely blessed to be an American! Among our rights, is the right to express our faith freely! Praise God! Amen? Amen! But, I fear, if we aren’t careful, we may just worship independence instead of the God who brought Americans independence so they might be free to yield their lives to Him unencumbered by human rule. So, please do celebrate Independence Day (and be careful with any fireworks)! But, do so acknowledging our independence was won by God for a reason! That we may fully express our worship and dependence on Him!
    This week we continued our series on Discipleship Essentials. If you want to live a victorious life, you must yield yourself fully to God and embrace essential disciplines. In the next few months we will examine these disciplines, the core beliefs that ground them, and how to live them out.
    This week we examined one of the hardest disciplines for Americans in Psalm 1… Quiet Time! It is almost as if American’s think it sinful to stop production and rest. But God has created us not as machines, but as human beings who need to sleep, daily time in communion with Him, and to embrace the ultimate time out….the weekly Sabbath rest! Interestingly, medical science has come to the same conclusion as exhaustion, stress, and emotional fatigue imposes their tolls.
    In Psalm 1:2 we read: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). The truth is, God created you to need downtime and part of that down time needs to be spent communing with Him! As you read, reflect, and meditate on God’s Living Word, the Spirit of Christ will saturate your mind, emotions, and will with biblical truths.
The word meditation in the original language is a word used to describe a lion appraising or contemplating its prey. With an intense gaze, their body remains perfectly still as their eyes and mind consider every movement, no matter how small. Any and all distractions are set aside. Only the prey is important. Which explains why they are such successful hunters!
Oh, that our quiet time with Jesus would be so intense! Oh that we might shut out the whole world (including our cell phones) for 10-30 minutes each day and focus on what the Word and Holy Spirit are saying to us. Oh that we may be successful hunters of God’s will!
I am convinced any disciple that follows a regular pattern of quiet time including meditation on God’s Word, communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will discover a significant source to the peace, joy, and direction they are seeking for their life!
    What about you? Are you ready to commit to this discipline for 30 days? Are you ready to start the journey of intimacy into the very heart of the Father? Don’t wait another day! Turn off your phone, pick up your Bible and turn to the book of John and read c. 1. Then, stay quiet for 10-30 minutes and ask the Spirit to speak into your heart, mind and soul. Tomorrow, do the same with c. 2 and so on… You will be blessed! I promise!                    Blessings, Pastor Dan
                                                            NEWS AND EVENTS
    SUMMER CAMP @ INDIAN LAKE
Indian Lake Nazarene Camp has a wonderful summer camp for students of all ages. At
camp kids learn to feel good about themselves, gain self-confidence, self-esteem, learn leadership skills, make friends, and learn about God’s love for them! You can learn more by going to this link: http://www.nazcamp.org/summer-camp
Discovery Camp        Completed K – 2nd grade      Jul. 05-07
Adventure Camp       Completed 2nd – 4th grade    Jul. 24-28
Voyager Camp           Completed 4th – 6th grade     Jul. 31-Aug. 04
Mid. School Camp      Completed 6th – 8th grade     Jul. 10-14
High School Camp     Completed 9th – 12th grade  Jun. 26-30
Note: All camps are $ 285 (except for Discovery Camp which is $ 135)
    OTHER INDIAN LAKE EVENTS:
Family Camp – July 16 to July 23 with speakers Dr. Daniels, Rev. Hancock, and Rev. Seaman; District Assembly – July 16 & July 17 with speakers Dr. Cocker, Dr. Gardner, and Dr. Bowling; NMI/SDMI/NYI Conventions – July 22 with Missionary Dany Gomis from Africa’s West Field speaking.
    WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY is at the church – 6:30 PM
We are now meeting at the church for Bible Study and fellowship.  We hope to see you there!
I    NTERESTED IN CHURCH MEMBERSHIP?
A series of membership classes will be starting soon.  If you are interested in learning more about the Church of the Nazarene, or becoming a member of our church, please let Pastor Dan know by contacting him at: 616-204-1153 or hathdan@me.com.
    A NEW BIBLE STUDY IS COMING SOON!
Beginning in September, Mary W. will begin a study titled, “Remembering the Forgotten God”.  This will be held Tuesdays at 10 AM for 7 weeks, beginning Sept. 5th.  Sign up on the sheet in the church annex so she knows how many books to order.
    ONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH TEACHER IS STILL NEEDED!
Pray about becoming a children’s church teacher this September.  You only need prepare a lesson once a month.   Also, a helper will be there alongside you
    SOUND BOOTH PERSON NEEDED:
The church is looking for someone who is interested in being a sound booth technician.  You will need to be able to attend music practices Sunday morning at 9 AM.  Let Janie know if you are interested at 616-204-2499 or hathjan@icloud.com.
    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!
    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:
July 5            Wednesday Service @ 6:30 PM at the church
July 16 & 17        District Assembly
July 16-23        Family Camp
July 20        Third Thursday Chinese Lunch at Hibachi Grill @ 11:30 AM
July 22        NMI/SDMI/NYI Convention
July 29        Women’s Rendezvous at the church – 10:30 AM