Northeast Community News – February 17, 2014
Hello Dear Ones! What a wonderful day we had in the Lord,Sunday! After a wonderful Sunday school hour we had an opportunity to ‘march’ forward with our Alabaster Boxes to give our collected ‘loose change’ (along with some cash and checks) to God to use in His mission field to purchase land and building materials around the world! When you add singing, praying, and preaching to the mix, well, it was a mighty wonderful worship service!
Our message this week came from I Kings 18:16-39 and titled, ‘Showdown at Mount Carmel.’ Throughout history, God’s people have had to guard against ‘foreign gods’ creeping into their lives. These ‘outlaw gods’ challenge God’s rightful place and in this passage we find a showdown of biblical proportions! Sadly Ahab, the current king of the Jewish people, married Jezebel, the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh, and allowed her to influence God’s people with Baal and Asherah, (false gods!)
Elijah, a prophet of God has been sent by God to tell the Jewish people it is time to leave behind their sinful worship of ‘false gods’ and return to Him! (Note: God did not leave them in their sin! He continued to call them out of their sin!)
In I Kings 18:16-39 Elijah calls for a showdown between their false gods and the Living God! Elijah creates a contest to see which ‘god’ can consume a bull with fire. All day long the 850 Baal and Asherah priests pray to their ‘god of fire.’ Nothing happens. Becoming desperate, they cut themselves with spears. Still nothing! After a day of prayer to a fire god on a dry day under the hot sun by 850 priests with the backing of the government, wealth, power, and opinion polls, we read “…there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention” (I Kings 18:29b). Then came Elijah’s turn!
After repairing the altar (v. 30), arranging the wood, and cutting the bull into pieces and laying it on the wood (v. 33) he did something nuts! He had 4 large jars of water poured until “The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench” (I Kings 18:35).
Then in a simple prayer, Elijah asked, O LORD, God of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, and Israel, let it be know today that you are God in Israel…so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again” (I Kgs 18:36-37).
You know what happens, right? God answered this one preacher’s simple prayer and the fire consumed everything! Remember, God answers prayers simply spoken! The power is not in your words, but in the God to whom you pray! But it’s also important to guard against ‘foreign gods!’ In a world where we are asked to accept every faith to be ‘politically correct,’ we need to declare boldly there is only One True God who has the power to do the extraordinary! May our response to God’s power be the same as those who witnessed it that day: “...they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The LORD – he is God! The LORD – he is God!” (I Kings 18:39). In Jesus alone we find strength, power, and hope!
NEWS AND EVENTS
MISSIONARY GATHERING EXPERIMENT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!
Janie, Tracy, Gerry, and Liz had a great idea! Let’s try a special missionary gathering at 4pm on Sunday at the parsonage and share, pray, and learn about missions for a full hour. In case you wondered if anyone would come, 15 people gathered, laughed, ate cookies, popcorn, sliders, (and let’s not forget about the amazing brownies), and learned a ton about missions! Will they do it again? I hope so! If you would like to give Janie feedback email her:allsmiles@comcast.net or call 204-2499!
ALABASTER OFFERING BLESSINGS!
Yesterday we received our Alabaster offering and what a blessing! Jeffrey told me ‘he was bringing his money to God’s church to use for God’s church.’ Jeffrey get’s it! What a blessings to see kids, teens, and adults line up and march forward to give!
Shannen thinks we’ll have over $350 when all the change is counted! Wow! Praise the Lord for all of the faithful givers! You are such a blessing! Our next Alabaster Offering is Sep. 21st so get your alabaster box now and start collecting your change!
THIS JUST IN! SPECIAL ELECTION CALLED FOR S.D.M.I. SUPERINTENDENT
On Mar. 02 we are having a special election to replace Pastor Amy as Sun. School and Discipleship Min. Superintendent. Your church board nominated one person: Gerry Dawson. Gerry has previously served many years as our Superintendent and is presently serving as Interim. Members will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a special ballot distributed before and after Sun. school on Mar. 02. God is good!
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS MAR. 09
For weeks I’ve been saying, ‘Spring is coming!’ While the snow may try to fool us, Spring really is around the corner so it’s just about time for daylight savings time again! So, don’t forget to ‘Spring forward’ one hour before you go bedSat., Mar. 08 or you just might just arrive late for Sundayschool or church!
THIS JUST IN! JANIE HATHAWAY APPOINTED NYI PRESIDENT
When Theo left to support of Pastor Amy’s call to Muskegon Breakwater we lost our Nazarene Youth International (NYI) President, but know what? God always supplies! Besides, He loves our teens more than we do! So, it is with joy and complete confidence under the guidance and leadership of your church board, I appointed Janie President of the NYI to lead our youth through the end of the 2013-2014 church year (May 31).
Janie loves teenagers (and I think often acts like one!) had served many years in youth ministry, and has already picked up where Theo left off by planning a new fund raiser to send our teens to camp, having them over for a Valentine’s Cookie baking day and asking the church board to support sending our teens to ‘One State – One Ticket’ a HUGE Christian Concert! God is good how often? All the time!! Please pray for our teens and Janie their new leader! Amen!
JONATHON’S AFRICAN MISSION REPORT (and Breakfast) MAR. 02 at 9:45AM
Last month, Jonathon Gingrich travelled with fellow students from Calvin College to Africa to examine (among other things) water purification needs and problems in rural Africa. Our missions & discipleship leaders have asked Jonathon to present his experiences and insightsMar. 02 during Sun. school (at 10:00am). They will also be cooking and serving breakfast at 9:45am! Come discover Africa first hand!
Jonathon Gingrich, a Nazarene from Columbus, Ohio is in his second year at Calvin College and is studying to be a chemical engineer in response to God’s call. Jonathon feels God wants him to use his life and skills to create low energy water purification systems in the mission field. While he is in Grand Rapids, he worships with us!
REMEMBER! CRISIS CARE KITS COLLECTION ENDS THIS WEEK (FEB 23)!
Bring your items to church (or make your financial contribution) no later than this Sunday so we can have everything purchased and packaged in time to take to the truck at Team Day! Bless you for helping show God’s love to hurting people!
INTERESTED IN O.N.U. LADIES DAY - APR. 26? LET US KNOW BY MAR. 09
Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) has a wonderful opportunity for ladies of all ages on Apr. 26. It is a special time of worship, renewal, and encouragement for thousands of ladies from around the Midwest. You will leave Friday afternoon, spend the night, attend the conference rested on Saturday and then travel home. If you think you would be interested, please let Janie know on or before Mar. 09!
WED. NIGHT PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY AT 6:30PM – JESUS IS LORD!
This week we will examine Jesus is Lord: Recycled Lords! Please read chapter 6 of “Jesus is Lord” to be prepared! Our youth and children will also be taking part in this study in Children’s Church and Youth Group! Hope to see you there!
THIS JUST IN! WED. NIGHT LOCATION CHANGESTARTING MAR. 05!
It has been a long winter filled with lots of snow, cold air, and shoveling! Perhaps this explains our Wed. Night Attendance drop! Perhaps, attendance will rebound in the Spring! But this one thing is clear: it seems like poor stewardship to heat the church for the 12 or so coming right now! So, beginning Mar. 05, babies, kids, teens, and adults are going to meet at the parsonage (across the parking lot) until it makes sense to go back! Hope to see you there in one of our comfy chairs! J
COMING SOON! ORDER EASTER FLOWERS AND REMEMBER!
We’re planning to decorate the church again for EasterSunday and you can help by ordering flowers in ‘honor’ or ‘memory’ of a loved one and then take them home on Easter Sunday! Look for more details and order form coming soon!
DO YOU WANT TO HELP BUT AREN’T SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT IT?
The Kingdom of God needs EVERYONE to get involved, but we often make it hard to figure out exactly how to get involved! We’re sorry about that! If you would like to serve contact Pastor Dan to see how we can plug you in! We really do need you!
NEXT ‘FIRST FRIDAY CHINESE LUNCH’ – MARCH 7th
Everyone is invited to Hibachi Grill on Alpine (behind Target) at 11:30am on the first Friday of every month! The food is inexpensive, delicious, and the fellowship is even better. Talk to Tracy Tamm if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Feb. 23 Crisis Care Kit collection ends
Mar. 02 Jonathon’s African Mission Report (10am) and Brkfst (9:45am)
Mar. 05 Ash Wednesday
Mar. 07 First Friday Chinese Lunch at Hibachi
Mar. 08 TEAM DAY in Perry, MI (must be pre-registered)
Mar. 09 Ladies Day ‘interest deadline’ to Janie
Mar. 16-Apr. 13 Keep ‘Em Covered Diaper Drive
Apr. 04-05 Mission Mania – details to come!
Apr. 20 Easter – He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Apr. 26 Ladies Day at Olivet Nazarene University!
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