Northeast Community News – October 30, 2012
Dear Friends and Family,
What special days we have had in the Lord in recently! Every day the Triune God comes and blesses and challenges us, and this week was no exception! As we finish the 40-days in the Word together, I am reminded God not only comes to us individually but in community! What a joy to come together to worship Him in community each week! God is good and we praise Him!
But, as Christians, our community does not end at the boundaries of 861 Fuller Ave NE in Grand Rapids, Michigan! While this is the location where we gather each week, we are part of a larger community of believers around the world!
As we began a three message series on ‘what do Nazarenes believe?’ we conclude first and foremost they are a Christian people interconnected with all who trust in Christ for their salvation. We are not independent of each other! Our message this week was titled, “We are a Christian People” and examined Ephesians 4:1-6.
Paul declared, “There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, onebaptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-5).
While some Christians think they are independent and not interconnected with other Christians, Paul makes it clear there is only ONE body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism and God who is over and through and in ALL of us! The common thread that connects us is Jesus Himself!
Jesus declared, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
So, as we gather as Nazarenes each week we need to be reminded that there are many other ‘branches’ abiding in the One True Vine, that is Christ! While our views of tradition, experience, reason, and Scripture may differ slightly from other tribes and denominations, we need to remember we are all rooted in Christ!
Because we are indeed interconnected with other Christians and we know God is love (1 John 4:8) and Christ told us the essence of the Law is to love God and love neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40), we need to really love other Christians regardless of their music choices, what they wear, where they worship, or at what time, etc. Oh that the world might see Christians from all denominations love one another!
As Nazarenes, we join all Christians who affirm the Apostles and Nicene Creeds. These creeds starting with the apostles and refined in the first several centuries of Christianity form the basis of orthodox (or right or true) belief! These creeds keep us from heresy (wrong or perverse) belief that led some Christians astray.
What do Nazarenes believe? First, we are a Christian people! This week find another person or two from another faith and remind them we have much in common and then shake their hand. Remember, we are in ‘this thing’ together!
WEDNESDAY ADULT BIBLE STUDY
Dr. Frank Moore prepared three Bible study lessons to explain the three central values in the Church of the Nazarene: We are Christian, Holiness, and Missional. Join us this week at 6:30pm to take a deeper look at being a Christian. In the next two weeks we will examine what it means to be a holy and missional people, too!
Don’t Forget! Don’t Forget! Fall Back! Daylight Savings Ends November 4th
Don’t forget that daylight savings ends on November 4th. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour so that you aren’t late for church on Sunday! You wouldn’t want to miss the sermon!
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 three weeks. Thank you! Church Office: 616-459-2773 My Contact Info: 616-514-9521 or amyorban@hotmail.com
NEWS & EVENTS
Love Offering Thank You!
To everyone who gave to the love offering for Theo and I (Pastor Amy), we want to sincerely thank you. It is an incredible blessing to be in a church that loves us so much. It is also an incredible blessing to me to be surrounded by people who are encouraging and affirming my call into ministry. In addition to the love offering, I can’t help but be reminded of the ones who bring us dinners and the cards and love and hugs received from so many. And how could I forget the many, many women and girls who help care for our boys in the nursery every week? Thank you all for giving, not just of your money but of yourselves! Love Pastor Amy and Theo
Don’t Forget – No Wednesday Dinner this week!
We are not holding our Wednesday Night dinner this week, but our regular family night will go on as scheduled. Bring the whole family for Bible Study and Children’s Program, see you there!
First Friday Chinese Lunch – November 2 @ 11:30am
On the first Friday of every month, everyone is invited to a Chinese lunch at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine Ave. The food is cheap and delicious, and no reservations are required. Just show up at 11:30am for good food and fellowship. Feel free to bring friends or family members! Talk to Tracy Tamm with questions.
Family Church – Sunday, November 4th
On the first Sunday of every month, we keep our kids throughout the entire service so that they can participate in the sacrament of the Eucharist, also known as Communion or the Lord’s Supper. This also gives our adult workers a chance to be in service. Isn’t it a blessing to have our children participate in prayer and worship!
NAZARENE BIBLE COLLEGE
The Church of the Nazarene has many wonderful regional colleges and universities we are asked to support. In our region, we support Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) in Bourbonnais IL., Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) in Kansas City, MO., and Nazarene Bible College (NBC) in Colorado Springs, CO.
NBC is uniquely designed to equip ministers who come into ministry later in life. NBC offers courses on campus and on the Internet. Your faithful giving has allowed your church to give $50 to support NBC this year! When our gift is combined with the rest of the churches across the United States it really adds up! On behalf of your church board, ‘Thank you for your faithful giving!’
Vote Vote Vote! November 6th Presidential Elections
Our Nation’s Presidential Elections are being held on Tuesday, November 6. You have a responsibility to vote! Please consider being in prayer for our nation this day.
Veteran’s Day – November 11th
Most of us have friends and family members who have served our country. The sacrifice of these men and women is far beyond what most of us can imagine. Veterans Day in the United States also coincides with Remembrance Day and Armistice Day in other parts of the world which specifically remember the World War I and World War II Veterans. While Memorial Day honors those who have died in service, Veterans Day honors all those who have served in the US Military. One common tradition is for Veterans to hand out the fake Poppy flowers in exchange for a donation to Veterans. If you would like to be a bigger part of Veterans Day, this is a great resource: http://www1.va.gov/opa/
Olivet Nazarene Preaching Ambassador – November 18th
We are happy to welcome our third student from ONU’s Preaching Ambassador Program. On Sunday November 18th, Reed Sapp will be bringing the message during our morning worship service. Reed is a Youth Ministry major at ONU. We will be blessed to hear the heart of the next generation of church leaders! Please be in prayer for Reed as his visit draws near.
Sunday, November 4th, LAST DAY for Blankets!
We are holding our third annual blanket drive throughout the month of October. Bring your clean, new or used blankets which will go directly to Mel Trotter Mission for the homeless people who stay there in the cold of winter. There are eight more days left to give! Our goal this year is 75 blankets!
Blanket Total: 30
Birthdays and Anniversaries, Please!
Do we have your birthday and anniversaries? Please email them to Pastor Amy, or write them down and stick them in her mailbox located on the wall outside of the nursery, thank you!
Advent is Coming – Volunteers Needed!
Advent, our preparation period leading up to Christmas, begins on December 2nd. One of the special things we like to do during Advent is to have volunteers do special readings at the beginning of each Sunday service. The readings correlate with the lighting of the candles on our Advent Wreath. Would you be willing to read? Talk to Pastor Amy or Pastor Dan!
Girl Scouts Meeting in our Building! Next Meeting Monday November 12th at 6:00pm
We are thrilled to announce that beginning in October, the Girl Scouts program will be meeting in our building every other week on Monday nights @ 6pm. If you have a girl who is interested in joining, there is a $12 registration fee, and the group will tentatively be meeting every other Mondays of the month. Also, if parents of girls are interested in volunteering, they are also more than welcome to register to be a part of the program! Talk to Pastor Dan for registration forms!
Craft and Scrapbooking Weekend at Indian Lake: Nov 2-4
Chris Freed, Activity Director at Indian Lake Nazarene Camp (who is also Irene Pratt’s niece) announced a time for LADIES ONLY to bring their scrapbooking, quilting, sewing, and stamping, etc. to Indian Lake to enjoy a time of fun and relaxation for just $25 (and this includes meals). If you’re interested there are brochures on the table outside the sanctuary!
Northeast Community Walking/Jogging Club
Our walking club has begun to dwindle in size! Perhaps most of you don’t like to walk or lose a few pounds or make a few friends with some in your church family! Alas, I imagine it is probably more likely you are all busy doing other good things! But, if you would like to get a few laughs while getting a little exercise we will be walking 3.1 miles (5k) every Tuesday night at 6:00pm through November 20. If you are interested just show up! See Pastor Dan if you have any questions!
New Website! New Facebook Page!
Here is the link:www.necommunitynazgr.
Please send any input or ideas to Shannen Parsaca atslparsaca@gmail.com
Check us out on Facebook under “Northeast Community Church of the Nazarene”
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
Nov. 2 First Friday Chinese Lunch @ 11:30am
Nov. 2-4 Indian Lake Craft/Scrapbooking Weekend
Nov. 6 Election Day - VOTE
Nov. 11 International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Nov. 11 Veteran’s Day
Nov. 18 Preaching Ambassador Reed Sapp from ONU is coming
Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day
December 2 Advent Begins
Reflections from Pastor Amy
Weekly thoughts, life-lessons, and reflections from a redeemed child of God, a mother,
a wife, a student, a sinner under the Cross of Jesus Christ, and a Pastor-in-training.
October 30, 2012
This year for our October Pastor Appreciation month, the church board decided that we wanted to make it an extra-special, month-long event to show our love for Pastor Dan and Janie. We hope that by now, the feel loved and over-loved and smothered in love. Sunday marked our last Sunday of appreciation, and today will mark my last article dedication.
You already read the interview with Pastor Dan which discussed his love and appreciation for Janie, so this week you get to hear a little bit about the life of ministry through Janie’s eyes! You will see my questions in regular print, and Janie’s answers in bold. Enjoy.
When did you know you wanted to marry Pastor Dan?
That is a good question! I guess shortly after we met.
What was he like "back then"?
He was the ‘perfect’ gentleman. He generally brought me one cut rose every week, opened doors for me and he tried to be the ‘man’ which of course I rejected. He was a little wild when I met him - after all, he was a Harley rider….he tried to scare me away until he realized his parents would disown him!
What were your initial thoughts when he told you he felt called into ministry?
Amazingly, I was at peace with it because it was God’s will for him/us.
What have some of the biggest challenges been for you both in this process?
Dan was concerned about his call because he knew it would require moving away from the kids and the house/land I loved which had been the family home since 1986. Dan tried to say he couldn’t go into the ministry because he couldn’t take me away from our home. So, at times I was frustrated and kept telling him he could not use me as a scape-goat!
I think our education was also a big challenge.
As we look back, we clearly know that God was holding us up.
What are some of the biggest blessings?
The peace we have knowing that we are right where God wants us. All of the people at NE Community are a blessing. We have never been so loved and cared for.
What kind of unique issues do you see Pastor Dan having to deal with?
I think Pastor Amy taught him this saying – you are going to have to walk over some bodies; meaning, some people either cannot or will not get well in this life. He really wants to help everyone and wants everyone to be successful in giving up alcohol, drugs, or other issues. Unfortunately, that is just not reality.
Second, it is dealing with having to drop personal plans (which may be just sitting on the couch watching a football game) when someone calls and is in crisis.
He lives by this saying – the interruptions are ministry; ministry is not all of the planned things like writing a newsletter or sermon or calling on people.
Is there anything thing that you want us to know or wish people would realize about Pastor Dan?
While he can sound short at times, he deeply cares for everyone and wishes he could spend more time with each and every person. I think he gets frustrated that he cannot do everything (and perfectly!). He wants everyone to know Christ as their Savior.
What is the best way we can appreciate him? Tell him why you appreciate him!
Thank you Janie, for sharing your perspective with us! Aren’t you guys glad that this is your last week under the spotlight! You have a whole year before we will smother you again. Love you!
With Love, Pastor Amy
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