Dear Friends and Family!
What a wonderful day we had in the Lord, Sunday! I must say when we have a fuller house your singing sounds so much bigger! How fun to praise God in the Word, music, and in prayer TOGETHER! Why, Janie and Gerry even reported there were 10 kids in children’s church! Praise God for our visitors, regulars, and everyone else! Without you, our worship service wouldn’t be the same! So, who are you going to invite this week?
God’s message this week came from Ps. 93:1-5 and was titled, “The Lord Reigns.” Ps. 93 can seem archaic and out of touch to modern hearers. This talk about the attributes of our Lord and King may seem foreign to people who live in a democracy. Why, America had a Revolution against the last human king we served! And many shoot off fireworks in the memory of our independence from the king we read in v. 1:
“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved” (Psalm 93:1).
While earthly kings and elected officials are clothed in suits, important titles, and surrounded by the secret service, the LORD is robed in majesty and girded with the power of the Holy Spirit. Further, by declaring the ‘world is firmly established,’ the Psalmist is reminding us God has ‘the whole world in His hands.’ Regardless of the lies offered by the powers of evil, the world only moves when God says it can! These are encouraging words in these times of darkness, ISIS, and seeming hopelessness!
Further, this points prophetically to the time of Christ’s first coming. The world, our world, is not only firmly established because God says so, but has victory over death and darkness through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection! Evil can make us suffer, but it will never win! Jesus has already overcome the world! (see John 16:33)
In v. 2 we discover God has always been and always will be! God is not subject to a fickle electorate! He is King! Always has been; always will be! In v. 3 we discover from the beginning humankind has feared the elements of nature, but in v. 4 we learn God is more powerful than any storm or any situation! We must trust Him, not some earthly elected substitute! With Jesus there is no bitter aftertaste! He is the real thing!
So, does Jesus reign in your life? Have you yielded control to His Lordship or are you trusting in someone else? Your eternal life hinges on your answer! Blessings, Pastor Dan
NEWS AND EVENTS
GIVING THANKS! WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR?
This is the last week to turn in your ‘giving thanks’ hands! Check out the thankfulness of your church by looking at them taped around the turkey on the glass! God is good!
THANKSGIVING OFFERING FOR W.E.F. IS THIS WEEK (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 their needed administrative support staff. While many give to W.E.F. through Faith Promise all year (bless you!), Thanksgiving and Easter are traditionally times when we all give something extra. Our local Missionary Council (NMI) has set a $350 goal for this year’s Thanksgiving offering! Please be in prayer as we all seek God’s direction!
NEXT THIRD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH IS THIS WEEK! (NOV. 19) AT 11:30AM
Our next Third Thursday Chinese Lunch is this week at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine Ave. It’s a time to eat, share joys, concerns and even laugh! Questions? See Tracy or Linda!
5th ANNUAL BLANKET (COAT) DRIVE FOR MEL TROTTER!
We finished our 5th annual blanket and coat drive last Sunday with a bang! You brought in another 31 coats/blankets this week! PTL!! Bless you for loving ‘the least of these!’
GOAL = 50 COLLECTED = 76
HONORING CHRIST’S BIRTHDAY BY LOVING THE HOMELESS!
Christ's birthday is fast approaching and to honor His special day, we want to give gifts to the least of these (see Matt. 25:31-46) in our community - the homeless. Steve H. has put together a list of items we're collecting through December 20th. You may purchase the items listed below or provide a financial gift by using a blue pew giving envelope, mark it 'homeless project,' place it in the offering plate, and we’ll shop for you!
ITEMS NEEDED (MUST BE NON-PERISHABLE)
· Small packages of crackers, granola bars, and/or chips
· Socks, knitted caps and mittens
· Chapstick, toothbrushes, dental floss
· Travel sized toothpaste, deodorant, tissues
· Combs, small hand sanitizer bottles, Band-Aids
· Bottled water, mints or gum, cough drops
· Small tissue packs, 2 gallon Ziploc bags
· Favorite Bible verses / encouraging words / Sm. New Testament Bibles
Bless you for bringing and giving a little CHRISTmas to those who may need it most! If you have any questions, see Steve H. or call or text him at: (616) 929-2195!
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.
LADIES RENDEZVOUS – SAT., DEC. 05 AT 10:30AM
Cherry is planning the next Ladies Rendezvous for Dec. 05and it will include a cookie exchange. 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.
MISSIONARY BOOKS ARE IN GREAT DEMAND!
Sherry reported readership is up dramatically! As of last Sun. (Nov. 15) we had read 101 books! WooHoo! If you’ve got one, read it and return it so others can read them! Not reading yet? See Sherry J. on Wed. or Sun. and get started! God is on the move!
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. 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. 19 Third Thur. Lunch at Hibachi Grill on Alpine
Nov. 21 Cantata practice at 10:00am – 12:00Noon
Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Offering for World Evangelism Fund
Nov. 26 Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 13 Northeast Community Potluck
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