Dear Friends and Family!
We had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday! This week we were blessed to have Drs. John and Linda Seaman visit us. Dr. John serves as the District Superintendent for the Michigan District and it’s a special treat to welcome them! Both had served 27 years as missionaries in the Church of the Nazarene (10 years in Martinique plus 17 years in West Africa) when God called them to be our District Superintendent couple in 2003! It was fun to hear them describe you as a very warm and loving family! Praise God!
God’s message this week came from Ps. 119:1-8 and was titled, “God’s Word Changes Lives.” While Psalm 119 addresses many aspects of the Word of God, two aspects jump out at us after reading 176 verses. First, we should value God’s Word because it IS God’s Word! Even a casual glance provides proof it is God speaking through this Psalm.
We need to remember the Bible isn’t an ‘advice column’ filled with suggestions by wise human beings. No, our Bible is an instruction manual written by our loving Creator for our good! Bottom line: we value His Word because He authored it!
Second, we should value God’s Word because of what it does! While we would certainly declare the Bible has ‘everything needed to lead us to salvation through faith in Christ,’ Psalm 119 offers several other ways God’s Word benefits us.
First, in vv. 1-2 we see His Word brings happiness! While the Devil has convinced some God’s Word is a form of bondage, having lived the lawless life I can tell you that is a lie right out of the pit of hell! The world’ freedom only leads to hurt, shame, and pain. True happiness; true freedom is a result of learning and living out (doing) the Word of God!
Second, in vv. 9-11 we discover a steady diet of God’s Word will keep us pure. “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:10-11). The same Holy Spirit that inspired the original human writers lives in us! Let Him instruct you through the Word!
Finally, in v. 105 we find God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and path. We live in a dark, perplexing world offering us many alternative paths resulting in pain, misery, and ruin. The good news is it’s NEVER too late to turn to Jesus, read God’s Word, and let the Holy Spirit lead you back into the light; back into wholeness, life, joy, and peace. Ready for change? Dust the Bible off and get reading! It’ll change your life! Blessings, Pastor Dan
NEWS AND EVENTS
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? Well, the point was to remember thanksgiving and give thanks! Well, for the next 3 weeks we are taking you back to your childhood by asking you to grab a paid of hands out of the bulletin or on the table and tell us what you’re thankful for! If you can, cut them out and put them in the offering plate then we fill a window 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!
Last week was amazing in our collection of coats and blankets! You brought in 24 in a week! I was especially blessed to learn Linda K. walked door-to-door for Jesus! And way down in Battle Creek my own mother collected blankets for Mel Trotter! PTL!! If you’ve been waiting, it’s time with only a week to go! Bless you for loving ‘the least of these!’
GOAL = 50 TO DATE = 45
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.
THIS JUST IN….. LADIES RENDEZVOUS – SAT., DEC. 05 AT 10:30AM
According to an unnamed source that has been reliable in the past, Cherry is planning a combined Nov.-Dec. Ladies Rendezvous on Dec. 05 that will include a cookie exchange. If I have my facts right (you better check) all ladies are invited to bring 2-dozen cookies to exchange with other ladies! Yum! Need a ride? Please call Cherry at (616) 916-7595.
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.
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. It’s a time to eat, share joys, concerns and even laugh! Questions? See Tracy or Linda!
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!
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!
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
Nov. 14 Cantata practice
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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