Dear Friends and Family!
Yes, we had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday! As I stood outside this week, I couldn’t help notice the beauty of the leaves (and of course those who had completed their journey by falling to the earth!). The life cycle of a leaf is less than a year! Ours is generally quite a bit longer. But as I held our newest grandchild and reflected on my aging parents, I realized all of us are part of a larger cycle, too! Unlike leaves, our lives in Christ will thankfully never be bagged up and hauled away! To die in Christ is to live for eternity! As you consider His creation this week, give thanks for His provision, too!
God’s message this week came from Ps. 126:1-16 and was titled, “Dare to Dream.” While most of us have a testimony to God’s grace, that is, we have a salvation story, some of us worked a bit longer and harder building their testimony than others!
The good news is God hears and answers prayers, Jesus saves, and we are delivered! In Ps. 126 we see a pattern of response for such an awesome God and our salvation! First, we need to realize our sinfulness has consequences. In v. 1 we read, “When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed” (Ps. 126:1).
The people of Judah had repeatedly mocked God, His message, and His messengers (see II Ch. 36:15-16). As a result, God permitted the Babylonians to capture Judah and take them into captivity for 70 years. Perhaps you have never mocked God, but Romans 3:23 reminds us “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” All of us deserved what we had coming to us. If you are still mocking, knock it off, turn to Christ and be saved!
But, when God allowed the Persians (pagans) to come and conquer the Babylonians and return the Jewish people to the Promised Land, they were overwhelmed! In v. 2 we find their mouths filled with laughter and tongues singing joyfully! It was testimony night in the land and everyone was singing, shouting, clapping, and praising the Lord!
Their neighbors noticed (see 126:2b) and so did they! They didn’t give credit to luck, their government, their wise thinking or to their work ethic…nope, they knew where they’d been and who saved them! “The LORD has done great things for us…” (Ps. 126:3a).
Is your testimony such that people around you are talking? Have you lost the joy you felt when Jesus saved you and you were overwhelmed with gratitude? Maybe it’s time to praise and testify in a way that makes other’s talk! Amen! Blessings, Pastor Dan
NEWS AND EVENTS
LADIES RENDEZVOUS – TUE., OCT 27 and SAT., OCT 31
What could be better than one monthly rendezvous? Two of them of course! Cherry has heard from those who can’t come Sat. and added Tue. option! Praise the Lord! All ladies are invited to rendezvous on Tue., Oct. 27 or Sat., Oct. 31 from 10:30am - noon! Need a ride? Need more info than a guy can possibly give you? Call Cherry at (616) 916-7595.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS NOV. 01
The end is near! Well, at least it is for Daylight Savings Time! Don’t forget to ‘fall back’ 1 hour Sat. night because Sun. morning will be an hour later than last week! If you haven’t come in awhile, why not take the opportunity to come to Sunday school this week? You won’t miss any sleep and you might just receive a blessing instead!
IT’S GETTING DOWNRIGHT BERMY OUTSIDE! PRAISE GOD!
While the weather outside is anything but ‘balmy,’ the yard around the parsonage has become downright ‘bermy.’ Come take a look at our newest landscaping. And no, Pastor Dan and Janie didn’t do it! It was a gift and it’s a secret, but it’s beautiful. Come and see!
WORK DAY BLESSINGS!
Larry B. called an ‘Official Work Day’ for last Sat. and I am delighted to say 3 came on Sat. (2 others worked Fri.) to rake a few leaves, take the window air conditioners out, trim foliage, roll up hoses, spread bark, and a bunch of other things! Bless everyone who came to work! As my dad used to say, “Many hands make the load light!”
PASTOR (AND WIFE) APPRECIATE YOUR PASTOR (AND WIFE) APPRECIATION!
On behalf of Janie and I, thank you for your continued acts of appreciation. You’ll never know how much your affirmations mean to both of us! Thank you for appreciating us! We love and appreciate you, too!! Together, we are the church! Pastor Dan and Jane
GIVING THANKS! WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR?
Okay, this might just show my age, but do you remember as a kid making thanksgiving turkeys by tracing your hand on brown construction paper and cutting them out? I do and the point was to remember thanksgiving and always give thanks! Well, next week we are taking you back to your childhood by asking you to fill out the ‘Giving Thanks’ insert in the Sun. program. My plan is to fill a bulletin board with our thanksgiving!
THANKSGIVING OFFERING FOR WORLD EVANGELISM IS NOV. 22 - GOAL $350
The World Evangelism Fund (W.E.F.) is the primary way Nazarene’s fund God’s Mission to bring the good news of Jesus to the world. W.E.F. supports nearly 400 missionaries and the needed administrative support staff. While many give to W.E.F. through Faith Promise all year (bless you!), Thanksgiving and Easter has traditionally been a time for all of us to give something extra. Our local Missionary Council has set a $350 goal for this year’s Thanksgiving offering! Please be in prayer as we seek God’s direction!
5th ANNUAL BLANKET (COAT) DRIVE FOR MEL TROTTER!
Even after 5 years of collecting coats and blankets for Mel Trotter, the need remains. Perhaps you’ve been waiting for the cold weather! Well, I saw some snowflakes Thu. Surely that’s cold enough! (smile) Bless you for all you do to love ‘the least of these!’
GOAL = 50 TO DATE = 21
CHURCH POSTCARDS ARE AVAILABLE! (POSTAGE IS .35)
Have you been missing someone, want to invite someone church, or want to encourage? Great! Grab some church postcards and send them out! A handwritten note is getting pretty rare these days, but they always bless! Find them on the table in the Annex.
MISSIONARY BOOKS ARE IN GREAT DEMAND!
Sherry reported readership is up dramatically! As of last Sun. (Oct. 25) we had read 95 books! P.T.L. If you’ve got one, read and return it so others can read them, too! Not read one yet? See Sherry J. on Wed. or Sun. and start this week! God is on the move! Amen!
EAT SOUP AND 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. and Sherry J.
EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS MEETS HERE ON TUESDAY’S AT 7:00PM
Do you often feel nervous, tense, or bored…have trouble sleeping or sleep too much… experience mood swings or feel useless? You’re not alone. At an EA meeting you’ll find others who’ve been where you are and experienced many of the same feelings, but, they found help at an Emotions Anonymous Meeting! Need more info? Look for literature rack in the ‘Community Room’ or call Helen W. (leader) at 616-363-7347.
DAILY DEVOTIONS – REFLECTING GOD IS AVAILABLE!
“Reflecting God” is a daily devotional guide our church makes available FREE to anyone interested in spending a daily time with God. The devotions provide a brief reading and truth from the Bible for every day. It also has a schedule if you’d like to read the Bible in a year and/or pray for our missionaries! You’ll find them located outside the sanctuary!
NEXT THIRD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH IS NOV. 19 AT 11:30AM
Our next Third Thursday Chinese Lunch is Nov. 19 at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine Ave. (behind Target). It’s more than food! It’s a time to share joys, concerns and even laugh! So grab a friend and come to Hibachi at 11:30! 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
October 5th Annual Blanket (Coat) Drive for Mel Trotter
Oct. 27/31 Ladies Rendezvous at 10:30am
Nov. 01 Daylight Savings Time ends (fall back 1 hour)
Nov. 19 Third Thur. Lunch at Hibachi Grill on Alpine
Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Offering for World Evangelism Fund
Nov. 26 Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 13 Northeast Community Potluck
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