Northeast Community News – January 04, 2016
Happy New Year Friends and Family!
While we can do this anytime, many find the New Year a wonderful time to check the fluids under the hood! When I was a budding driver, dad would remind me to check the fluids every time I got gas (and it often at $2-5 at a time). As a former owner and lead mechanic at a gas station and garage, dad would say an engine (even a well worn one) would run a long time as long as you made sure it was kept full of oil and kept cool by keeping the radiator full. However, fail to keep the fluids full was a recipe for trouble!
The same principle applies to our faith, too! While some run through life without ever checking their spiritual ‘dipstick,’ New Year’s is a good time to slow down and check your fluids… Is your prayer life full? How about your levels of Bible reading, meditation, and worship? Do you need to add something? The truth is, nothing seizes or burns out your life faster than a bone-dry soul. Check your fluids before it’s too late! (smile)
It was another wonderful week in the Lord, Sunday! What a joy it was to learn from Gerry in Sunday school, bring Mary Warner into membership, hear the Word, and receive the elements of Communion! God is moving at Northeast Community! Amen!
God’s message this week came from Ps. 106:1-2 and was titled, “Giving Thanks to God” and is the first of 4 messages on stewardship. David wrote, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever” (Ps. 106:1). David assumes we already know God is the source of every blessing, but I’m not so sure. I fear many have forgotten. I hear way too much ‘luck talk’ and not nearly enough ‘blessed talk.’ Luck denies God is in charge. Luck denies God praise! Truth is, every blessing you have comes from God – Praise Him!
David also reminds us God’s love endures forever! God is not only good and worthy of our praise; His loves endures forever! God’s love for us is constant! While many in our lives have let us down or loved us conditionally, God’s love never ends! Even during the times when we were lost or chose to get lost again, He has never stopped loving us!
Stewardship begins with realizing everything good is a gift from a good and loving God! We’re all in debt to His goodness! The only reasonable response is to give Him thanks, honor, and praise in our thoughts, words, and deeds!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).
May it be so! Amen! Blessings, Pastor Dan
NEWS AND EVENTS
BREAKING NEWS>>>> NEW FRONT DOOR INSTALLED ON THE PASONAGE!
Thanks to your continued faithful giving and the strong leadership of Larry Branagan (our head trustee) and the rest of the church board, I am thrilled to announce the old rotted, untrimmed, and cold air-leaking front door on the parsonage was replaced Mon. with a new, highly efficient, and beautiful front door! Check it out! God is good! Amen!
INTERESTED IN MEMBERSHIP? CLASSES STARTING SUN., JAN. 17 @ 9:45AM
We’ve had several indicate an interest in the Church of the Nazarene and membership and so we’ve planned a series of 4 membership classes during our Sunday school hour! Attendees receive a small book providing the history and beliefs of the Church of the Nazarene and opportunity to examine their gifts! If you’re interested in learning more about Nazarenes and/or would like to become a member, please let Pastor Dan know!
2016 GIVING ENVELOPES ARE FOR EVERYONE!
Someone asked if you had to be a member to have a box of giving envelopes? Absolutely not! Everyone’s encouraged to ask Anna or Janie for a box of giving envelopes and give! With envelopes you will also receive an end of year giving statement, too! “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
TURN AND DON’T GIVE SOMEONE THE FLU!
It’s that wonderful season when we use hand sanitizer and give our best ‘fist bumps’ instead of hugs! Not sure what a fist bump is? It’s easy! Simply make a loose fist and gently reach out towards someone. They’ll reach their fist out and gently ‘bump’ yours! It’s fun and it is a good way to stop the spread of the cold and flu!
OUR NEXT MISSIONARY GATHERING IS JAN. 17 @ 4PM
Our missionary gathering will be Sun., Jan. 17! Come enjoy a brief study and learn what our missionaries are doing, how we can pray for them, how to be a missionary here, and how to support them financially! After Sherry J. leads our lesson, we eat snacks, laugh, and enjoy causal conversation! It’s really pretty interesting and a lot of fun! So bring a friend and a snack to pass and join us at 4pm! You’ll be glad you did!
NEXT THIRD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH IS THU., JAN. 21 AT 11:30AM
Our next Third Thursday Chinese Lunch is Jan. 21 at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine Ave. It’s a great time to eat, share joys, concerns and even laugh! Questions? See Tracy or Linda!
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! Not reading? See Sherry J. on Wed. or Sun. and get started! God is on the move! Read about it in the Missions books!
THANKSGIVING W.E.F. OFFERING GLOBAL NEWS!
What a joy to read the following news from the Church of the Nazarene after our own record $625 giving! Stewardship Ministries announced global participation in the 2015 Thanksgiving Offering for the World Evangelism Fund was “extremely generous."
Through the gifts and mission commitment of Nazarenes everywhere, God continues to bless ministries around the world. More than $433,000 has been received, and more gifts arrive daily. “A gift to the World Evangelism Fund is one of the best kinds of gifts,” said Mark Lail, director of Stewardship Ministries. “These donations allow the Church of the Nazarene to offer hope and the message of salvation to people everywhere. We believe that these gifts will make an eternal difference.” Wohoo! God is good! Amen!
NEXT NORTHEAST COMMUNITY POTLUCK IS SUN., FEB. 14
Do you like to eat? Do you like to laugh? Do you like to share your struggles and share your triumphs? If you said yes, you need to come to our next Northeast Community Church Potluck! It’s a great time to life. Not a single potluck goes by that I don’t discover something about one of you! So, invite a friend, bring something to share, and stay after our worship service for December’s potluck! If you would like to help set up or clean up, contact (call or text) Cherry P. (616) 916-7595or email her at pakielac@gmail.com
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
Jan. 22-23 District NYI Celebrate Life at Kuyper College
Feb. 10 Ash Wednesday (Lent begins)
Feb. 14 Northeast Community Potluck at 12:15pm
Feb. 14 Valentines Day
Mar. 13 Daylight Savings Time begins (Spring Forward)
Mar. 27 Easter Sunday
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