861 Fuller Ave NE - Grand Rapids, MI 49503 - PH # 616.459.2773
Northeast Community News – July 31, 2012
Dear Friends and Family,
What a wonderful day we had in the Lord! After Pat Parsaca brought us our announcements and Pastor Amy prayed an invocation and we had a time of greeting we sang ‘Mighty Is the Power of the Cross,’ a new song we have been singing for the last few weeks. The lyrics in part read:
What can take a dying man and raise him up to life again?
What can fill the emptiness, what can mend our brokenness?
What restores our faith in God, what reveals the Father’s love?
What can free the guilty ones, what can save and overcome?
The answer comes in the chorus!
Mighty, awesome, wonderful – is the holy cross –
Where the Lamb laid down His life, to lift us from the fall!
Yes! The answer to restoring dying, empty, broken, guilty folks to God so they can be saved from their sin and overcome is JESUS!
Why not tell someone today about the reason for your hope and what brought you back to life? Peter reminds us to always be prepared (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Beyond our worship music and prayer Janie also brought us our Missionary Moments this week. God has been moving in our church! Wow! Janie reports giving, praying, and educating to local, regional, and global missions has been very strong! We were blessed with three missionary awards this year including: Priority One, Award of Excellence, and Outstanding Achievement! God is Good!
God’s message this week was titled, ‘Feeble, Fatigued, and Fortified,’ came from Nehemiah 4:1-23, and had three points. First, the people of God need to expect opposition. In vv. 4:1-4 the Evil One uses Sanballat and Co. to mock, ridicule, and plant doubt in the minds of the workers to get them to question their leader and stop working to rebuild God’s Kingdom. Does Satan ever make you feel incapable so you will ‘stop the work’ of building or rebuilding? A trick of Satan is to use others to whisper doubt and fear into our lives to stop the work! Don’t listen!
Second, we find the people of God should expect fatigue and exhaustion when they are building or rebuilding their lives or God’s Kingdom. In vv. 4:8 Sanballat hatched a plot to stir up trouble and fight against the workers and later in v. 10 we find the plot and earlier doubt was beginning to find traction. The workers declared, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble we cannot build the wall” (Nehemiah 4:10). They were tired and defeated!
Can I remind you the Evil One is not a gentleman? He will kick you when you’re down and take advantage of you when you’re tired. How should we respond?
Nehemiah 4:9 declares, “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” What do the people of God do when they are opposed and exhausted? They pray and post! While fatigue leaves us susceptible to the Evil One’s schemes at home, at work, or at school, Nehemiah teaches us we need to stop – turn to God – and respond as He leads!
Finally, we are reminded the people of God can expect to be fortified by God Himself! We are not in this ‘battle’ alone! The last part of v. 20 declares, “Our God will fight for us.” While we can expect opposition and fatigue, we can also expect God to strengthen us; to fight for us!
Repeatedly Scripture reminds us the battle is God’s (ex. 2 Chron. 20:15), He strengthens us against giants (ex. 1 Sam. 17:46), and brings our enemies to their knees and helps us to stand firm (Ps. 27:2-3). We are not alone! Keep your countenance up and move forward with God!
This week’s Wednesday Night adult Bible study is titled ‘Worshipping God.’ Worship is the act of recognizing God for who He is! Worship is the human reaction to the glory, majesty, and power of God! Join us and learn to worship!
PASTOR AMY PREACHES THIS WEEK (AUG. 05)!
Most know Pastor Amy Orban accepted a call to fulltime Christian Ministry and is on the long journey towards ordination. In the Church of the Nazarene education must be accompanied by practical experience and regular examination. So, as she prepares to enroll in college and faces ongoing examination, she will also preach regularly and involve herself in all areas of pastoral ministry!
It is with great joy we announce Pastor Amy Orban will deliver her first sermon this week. Pray for her as we prepare to encounter God through the heart and life of our new pastor. I know she would join me in saying, ‘To God be the Glory!’
Blessings! Pastor Dan
Hello From Pastor Amy/Your Part-Time Church Secretary
My office hours will be on Tuesdays from 8am-5pm, but if you need to see me, you may want to call first. 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 3 weeks. Thank you!
Church Office:616-459-2773 My Contact Info: 616-514-9521 or amyorban@hotmail.com
NEWS & EVENTS
MEIJER COMMUNITY REWARDS IS HERE!
Jean Christoffersen recently told us of a program at Meijer’s that gives a small portion of money (.5%-1%) of most purchases back to non-profits like Northeast Community Church of the Nazarene! The Meijer website states:
Meijer Community Rewards was developed to meet our customers' growing desire to support k-12 schools and religious groups in ways that don't stretch their budget...or their time. Your k-12 school or religious organization can now raise group funds without administrative costs or sales of any kind!
So, after signing up Northeast Community Church of the Nazarene up and being approved we are pleased to announce you can now help us doing what many of us do already – shop at Meijer!
For those who have a Meijer Credit Card or choose to get one we receive 1% cash back. For those who use a Debit Card we receive .5% cash back. Unfortunately, we receive nothing for those of you who use a check or a non-Meijer Credit Card.
To participate you DO NOT need to attend our church! So, if you have friends or family members that want to help Northeast Community, well, that’s just great!
To sign up you need to go to the Meijer website (link below) and sign up. You will have several options. 1) sign up for a Meijer credit card, 2) sign up for a Meijer One card, or 3) if you already have a Meijer credit card you can ‘link it’ to our Church so you purchases will automatically be credited to us. Please know we aren’t ‘pushing’ credit cards! We just want you to know all of your options!
To complete your application online you will need our organization # 214242. No internet access? No problem! Paper applications can be found outside the sanctuary or inside any Meijer store. Simply ask for a ‘Community Rewards’ application from the Customer Service counter!
To find out more about Meijer Community Rewards click here: http://www.meijer.com/rewards/
To sign up for the program click here: (remember our code is 214242) http://www.meijer.com/mcr/choose_card.jsp
God bless you for participating! If you have any questions, call Pastor Dan at the church at 616-459-2773 or email him at: hathdan@me.com
School Pal-Paks Drive!
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, and sometimes siblings have to share supplies.
In response to this need, Nazarene Missions International partnered with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Inc to provide School Pal-Paks.
We will be collecting supplies through the end of August. Please use the shopping list provided in the bulletins this Sunday, or you can give money to Janie Hathaway or Irene Pratt who will shop for supplies. Shopping lists can also be found by the missions bulletin boards in the back of the annex. Thank you!
Ladies LIFT is Taking a Break!
What a blessing it has been to see up to 20 women of many backgrounds come together to share food, fun, crafts, and a message of hope twice a month. Thank you to everyone who came, participated, and shared life. Irene Pratt has led this wonderful ministry for almost a year, but now senses it is time to take a break. So, effective immediately the Ladies LIFT program is on break. Thank you Irene for all of your hard work! Join us in prayer as we seek God’s leadership!
Come to the Fire 2012
Olivet Nazarene University is hosting the 2012 Come to the Fire Women’s retreat from October 11-13. This is an amazing opportunity for women to fellowship and be spiritually nurtured in a powerful way. Check out the poster on the bulletin board, and there are also brochures on the table for more information. We want ALL WOMEN to know that we are already planning for hotels, food, etc! So if you are interested, please talk to Janie Hathaway or Pastor Amy.
Wednesday Night Dinners on Summer Break!
For the summer months, we will NOT be holding our once-a-month Wednesday Night Dinners. If you would like to be responsible for planning this dinner starting in the Fall, we would love to have someone creative make it their own! If you think this is for you, talk to Pastor Amy.
Would You Like Larger Print?
Several have approached me and asked me to send out our newsletter in LARGER font for easier reading. If you would like to be added to the list for a larger-font copy of this newsletter, please email me or let me know!
First Friday Chinese Lunch Location Change!
Just a reminder that on the first Friday of every month, several of us meet at 11:30am to enjoy fellowship and lunch. The location has changed! We are now meeting at the Hibachi Grill, which is located on Alpine behind the Target. The food is delicious as well as cheap, and no reservations are required. Just show up and enjoy! Talk to Tracy Tamm with any questions. Next Lunch Date: Friday August 3rd @ 11:30am
Northeast Community Potluck: Sunday August 12
We will be holding another one of our famous potlucks on Sunday, August 12 immediately following our morning worship service. Bring a dish to pass, and invite friends and family to visit – everyone is welcome! There is always a ton of delicious food and good conversation. See Cherry Pakiela to help set-up or tear-down.
Praise Team Singers Wanted!
Would you like to sing with Pastor Dan on Sunday morning? One commented they ‘didn’t know they could join me’ and she was surprised. Pastor Dan would love to see more folks use their gift of singing with him on Sundays. All he requires is a humble spirit, a willingness to attend practice on Wednesday night after bible study and Sunday morning at 9:00am, and a desire to worship God! Interested? Let Pastor Dan know!
No July Children’s Program!
In addition to other July cancellations, we will NOT be holding any Wednesday Night Program for children. The children’s program will pick up at it’s usual time on the first Wednesday in August at 6:30pm.
Children’s Program
In addition to the weekly Children’s Church we have added two new programs for our Children!
At 10:00am on Sundays during our Sunday School hour, we now have a Children’s Reading time. During this 45 minute period before church we will be reading about missionaries from the Church of the Nazarene. We have a series of 6 books that will be read. These books will be read aloud by adults from the church. Children who attend regularly and listen to all 6 books will be treated to lunch at Chuckie Cheese! We will complete the readings by the end of May.
On Wednesday nights @ 6:30pm Pat and Shannen Parsaca have started the Caravan program, which is a scouting, or kids’ club, type of program. All children grades K – 6 are welcome!
In Children’s Church we have started a “Children Helping Children” program. This will be part of the semi-annual Alabaster Offering. Each child will have a box of their own. Every week they attend Children’s Church a quarter will be added to their box. In addition they may bring an offering to put in the box. All Alabaster Offerings are used to buy property and build schools and churches on the mission field. The Children will be able to march with their boxes on Alabaster box Sundays. We hope to see your children on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you have any questions please ask Cherry Pakiela or Gerry Dawson!
Want to help, but not sure how?
If you are wondering where to plug in, but are not sure how, we have opportunities. Current opportunities include a soundboard worker, nursery helpers, childrens workers, potluck coordinators, visiting our shut-ins, greeters and ushers, visitor follow-ups, Sunday School teachers, music leaders, people willing to shovel snow in the winter, and much more. It doesn’t matter how long you have been attending our church, serving is a great way to honor God and get to know the people around you! If you sense a call to a specific area or need some ideas to pray about, please contact Amy Orban or Cherry Pakiela or Irene Pratt.
Upcoming Events
August 1 Wednesday Night Children’s program picks back up @ 6:30pm
August 3 First Friday Chinese Lunch @ 11:30am Empire Chinese Buffet
August 5 Communion/Family Church – NO Children’s Church
August 12 NE Community Potluck after morning worship service
Northeast Community Church of the Nazarene
Church - 616.459.2773
Parsonage - 616.459.0402
Pastor Dan Cell - 616.204.1153
Pastor Amy Orban – 616.514.9521
Other Contact Numbers:
Tracy Tamm First Friday Chinese Lunch 616-406-9602
Gerry Dawson Sunday School/Children’s Church 616-863-6808
Cherry Pakiela Sunday School/Children’s Church 616-916-7595
Pat & Shannen Parsaca Weds Night Children’s Program 616-272-6021
Theo Orban Weds Night Youth Group 616-890-4045
Larry Branagan Trustee 616-538-8765
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” -C. S. Lewis
August Worker Schedules
Nursery
August 05 SS –Janie Hathaway & Jean Christoffersen
Worship – Mary Danks & Alannah Parsaca
Counters
August 5 – Dick & Jerry
August 12—Terry & Larry
August 19—Pat & Dick
August 26—Terry & Jerry
Announcements
August 5 – Shannen Parsaca
August 12– Pat Parsaca
August 19 – Irene Pratt
August 26 – Joan Grinwis
Weekly thoughts, life-lessons, and reflections from a redeemed child of
God, a mother, a wife, a sinner under the Cross of Jesus Christ, and a
Pastor-in-training.
July
31, 2012
On the Undivided
Heart
My
son lives with a divided heart. He is two years old, after all, so it may
improve as he grows up, learns better communication skills, and develops a more
secure sense of himself. These things take time. Here is what it looks like
right now:
Every
night before bed, we let little Theo pick out a cartoon to watch while he winds
down. His favorites right now are Dumbo, and Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss. After dinner is the dunk in the bathtub, the
scrub-down, and the loud protesting. Pajamas are on, blankie is found, and we
open the small glass door on our tv stand which houses the special cartoons.
Theo
runs over as fast as his little feet will carry him, and before he gets all the
way there he is already shouting out his opinions with all the urgency of a
great crisis. Invariably I find myself saying, every night, “WAIT – back off –
relax!” or something of that nature. Then I take two options and ask him which
he prefers.
Me:
“Theo, would you like to watch Dumbo, or Horton?”
Theo: DUMBO! HORTON! DUMBO! DUMBO! DUMBO!
Me:
“Ok, Dumbo it is!”
We
start the movie, and once he realizes what has happened, he panics – “NO!
Horton! Horton! Horton!” I point out the fact that he picked Dumbo fair and
square, so that’s what he’s watching. He bursts into tears. The feet-stomping
begins, leading to the falling on the floor and kicking.
Previously,
puzzled and confused, I have switched movies for him, thinking perhaps I was
just mistaken about his communication. But this has led only to the same emotional
outbursts for the alternate option. So I’ve come to realize the truth is that
he simply just can’t make up his mind, and he’s suffering for it. At this
point, as his objective, reason-filled mother, I can clearly see what is best
for him – which is neither Dumbo nor Horton. What is needed is a pillow, a
blanket, a good-night prayer and a good night of sleep for my two year-old
after his long and busy day.
Oh
the lessons I learn from my children, I never fail to be amazed. The divided
heart will suffer for its division, and the solution is found in God, the Great
One Who Knows Best. Here is what Jesus says about the divided heart: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be
ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.” Luke 11:17
A
divided heart is torn between the things of God and the things of the world. A
divided heart can’t put God first, because it is distracted by all the other
things that clamor for attention. A divided heart knows that God should reign as the unchallenged center
of love in the heart from which all other things should flow, and may even claim
that it is so, but fails to reflect this God-centeredness in every day actions.
Have
you been there? Are you still there?
Today,
as I sit in the peaceful hum of the quiet church basement and write these
words, my heart is undivided. God’s absolute superiority is clear in my mind.
The sense of my own need and dependence upon Him is obvious. I can marvel at
what He has done in my life to bring me to this very point. I am not drawn to my
old lifestyle, nor am I suffering from any delusions about the possible success
of returning into a life of sin and chaos.
But alas, I don’t live in a vacuum. At some
point I will walk out the door and into the world where strife and doubt and temptation
are abundant. I will drive home, and the answer to every possible discomfort I
might have will be on every billboard on the highway, telling me that surely my
problems could be fixed with a whiter smile, a more cheerful bank to manage my
money for me, and a big greasy cheeseburger with a strawberry shake to top it
off.
The
nightly news will remind me that the world is full of garbage, the televised
Olympics will remind me how unimportant I am, and the fact that it’s the first
of the month tomorrow and rent is due will surely remind me how broke we are.
Phone calls will come that will remind me of other people’s struggles, and I am
likely to be frustrated by someone’s bad decisions for which they are suffering
the consequences. I probably won’t have the energy to cook dinner, so I’ll
order pizza instead and then feel guilty that I’m not the ultimate housewife
who can fulfill every need everywhere while simultaneously cooking the most amazing
meat and potato dinner ever.
And so life gets thrown at us like a cruel
game of spiritual dodge ball. The really great thing? At the end of the day, I
get to take a broom and a dustpan, and I get to sweep it all up, and I get to
leave it at the foot of the Cross. And as I go to fall asleep at night, if my
conscience accuses me of not being good enough or reminds me of the troublesome
nature of life, I can mentally point to that Cross and say “See- it’s done! It’s finished! Christ has died, Christ has risen,
Christ will come again. Now rest
already!” My heart is His, so the fight is over.
I
remember being in the place where I wanted God, but I also wanted myself to stay in control. Here’s how my thinking
went: I really want the peace of God, I
want a deeper relationship with Him, I want to know Him more, I want to be His.
These thoughts were followed by actions that were completely incompatible
with how God calls us to live in the Word. So I lived contrary to His Word, while
wondering why I was still miserable. I wanted God, without the Bible. I wanted peace
without truth. I wanted grace, without the cost, without repentance, without
change.
And
I suffered for it. God wants all of us. The Holy Spirit will make us
uncomfortable when something is challenging God’s place. If we really believe
in Him, then we cross the line, we are on His side, we no longer reach behind
us for the toys and goodies we left behind. We obey Him and stop trying to
re-make Him over into an image that asks less of us and our egos. Our actions
speak louder and witness deeper than mere lip-service.
So
my question today is, what divides your
heart? I’m convinced that God wants no less than our all. What is battling God
for the throne of greatness in your heart? Where there is division in the heart, there
can be no peace.
“Teach
me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11
With
love, Pastor Amy Orban
Phone:616-514-9521
Email: amyorban@hotmail.com
