Dear Friends and Family!
Yes, we had another wonderful day in the Lord, yesterday! On Saturday night we had the grandkids over and we raked some leaves into the night. As we continued to rake Johnathan looked at me and said, “Aren’t we supposed to be inside? It’s dark out here?” Funny how kids inherently know they need to move out of darkness and seek light. It made me wonder why we often forget this as adults? Are you walking in the darkness? It’s dark out there! Why not come into the light and warmth of Jesus! It’s light in here!
God’s message this week came from Ps. 127:1-5 and was titled, “Life Worth Living.” In an era of adultery, divorce, and alternative family construction, we need to ask again, ‘What makes a home?’ Is it the size of the house or what holds it together?
I’ve met many folks with big houses and incomes that were virtually ‘homeless’ but I’ve also met those without a place to live with wonderful home lives and lives worth living. What makes a life or home worth living? Ps. 127:1 declares, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1). What makes a house a home is Christ at its center.
Without Christ at the center, you can build a 6,000 square foot mansion and still lack joy, hope, peace, and contentedness in your soul. You see, if you the LORD isn’t at the center anchoring and directing your life, your efforts will produce nothing of lasting value; they will lack ultimate fulfillment and meaning; they will be in vain.
In v. 2 we discover only fools trust themselves more than God! “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (127:2). Before their fall into captivity Israel fell into this trap. They were foolishly trusting in their own human effort to defend themselves, rule themselves, and in their spiritual lives instead of trusting in God. If they just worked a little harder they could get ahead! Let’s be careful we don’t fall into this trap, too! A life worth living trusts wholly on God!
Finally, in vv. 3-5 the Psalmist reminds the Israelites children are a gift to be stewarded, not an achievement to be lorded over or ignored. Ask Jesus to set the agenda, priorities, and expectations for your life. Ask Jesus to examine your life and point out what needs to change! I pray you have courage to make those changes! Blessings, Pastor Dan
NEWS AND EVENTS
MEALS, SMILES, AND LOVE FOR ANNA!
On a regular Sunday, I greet Anna B. in the parking lot and she always has a big smile on her face! While she still has that big smile on her face, if you want to see it you’ll need to visit her as she recovers from open-heart surgery and her driving restrictions are lifted. In the meantime, would you consider taking a meal to Anna? Janie is coordinating meals for Anna and it would be a wonderful way to show your love for her!
VETERAN’S DAY IS THIS WEDNESDAY! TELL THEM THANK-YOU!
Veteran’s Day is the official holiday honoring people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans Day coincides with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are celebrated in many countries on the anniversary of the end of WWI on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany was signed. The U.S. also observed Armistice Day, but it evolved into Veterans Day in 1954. We are grateful as a nation and a church for veterans! Tell a veteran thank you this Wednesday!
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 brought another amazing gift in our collection of coats and blankets! Sharon Benton, a former member who now lives in PA. read about our need and sent money so we could buy blankets! Her financial gift allowed us to purchase 7 more blankets and put us over the top! And then, 7 more came in this week to give us 59! 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 = 59
DON’T FORGET! CANTATA PRACTICE IS THIS SAT. AT 10AM!
We are looking forward to singing a Christmas Cantata this year and we need your help! Please come and sing with us this Sat. at 10am for our first practice! Questions? See or contact Beverly Shepherd (616) 822.8975 or email her at bevshprd@aol.com
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
Nov. 11 Veterans Day
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. 05 Ladies Rendezvous (cookie exchange) at 10:30am
Dec. 13 Northeast Community Potluck
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