Northeast Community News – August 29, 2016

Dear Friends and Family!

We had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday! This week we had another twofer! A twofer you ask? Yup, not only were we able to be discipled and worship Sunday morning, but we had an opportunity to worship and learnSunday night in our Missionary Gathering! What a joy it is to worship, be discipled, and grow in grace! God is good! In Sunday school we learned the theology of gifts and then took a Spiritual Gifts inventory. If you would like your own spiritual gifts inventory, let me know! We need everyone to not only know what their gifts are; we need them to put them to use for the Kingdom! 

God’s message this week came from John 3:1-18 and was titled, “Wrapped in Love.” In this familiar story we find Nicodemus, a member of the ruling Jewish Council in a conversation with Jesus at night. As an expert in the Law, his life had been saturated with the life and writings of Moses and the prophets. He had devoted his life to keeping God’s law, securing a respected position with influence, status, and respect, but his soul was awakened to a need! 

Nicodemus came seeking a better understanding of Jesus, but Jesus knew what he really needed. “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (v. 3). Unless Nicodemus underwent a radical, spiritual, rebirth, that required him to confess his sins, change his allegiances, receive the Holy Spirit, and follow Jesus, not only would he not understand the fullness of Jesus and the kingdom, but he wouldn’t even be part of it! 

After referring to an O.T. story from Numbers 21, that demonstrated God’s saving grace among a rebellious and ungrateful people, Jesus declares: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17). 

How did he respond? The Bible is silent, but we do see Nicodemus after Jesus is crucified: “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus…..With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.  He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds” (John 19:38a-39). 

Perhaps it was the fulfillment of Jesus prophesy (of hanging on the tree), but here we find Nicodemus risking career, reputation, and his way of life to demonstrate publically his love for Jesus. Nicodemus had crossed the line! Nicodemus had been born again!

So, what about you? Has your soul been awakened to a need by the Holy Spirit? Is it time for you to be born again? Perhaps you’ve been embarrassed to declare your allegiance to Christ publically fearing what others might say? If so, it’s time to realize how much God loves you, step out into the open, and cross the line! I pray you do! Blessings, Pastor Dan

NEWS AND EVENTS

MEIJER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM HAS ENDED

Meijer has ended their Meijer Community Rewards program (MCR), that donated 4% of Meijer purchases to non-profits like us, in part, because it was not being used. The letter we received does indicate Meijer remains committed to non-profits, giving on average 7% of their profits to charity, but will do so differently going forward. Bless each of you who purchased from Meijer and designated us as your charity. You made a difference! 

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE! NO MORE BULLYING! CALVIN COLLEGE MUSICAL!

Calvin College is offering a musical in an attempt to address the important issue of bullying and bullying prevention. It is designed for children between 5^thand 8^th grades. Written by Tricia Bayfield, it follows the story of Sticks (a student having a hard time fitting in), Pellagia (a refuge from Africa trying to find acceptance) and Diamond (who has created a tough exterior to mask her pain). Through songs and short scenes, the production shows the effects of bullying and how bystanders and friends can make a difference. The musical plays Fri., Sep. 23 and Sat., Sep. 24 at 7:30pm. Cost is $5 a ticket. Reservations can be made by calling the Calvin Box Office at (616) 526-6282.

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER WED. NIGHT BIBLE STUDY CONTINUES! 

Regardless of your experience, background, or age, our Dog Days of Summer Wed. night program is a great time of singing, prayer, and Bible study. Come join us and be blessed! Remember, we always end our Wed. Night study with ice cream! 

THE NEXT LADIES RENDEZVOUS IS SAT., SEP. 24 AT 10:30AM!

Cherry is planning the next Ladies Rendezvous for Sep. 24 and all ladies are invited! Please contact Cherry for more info or if you need a ride! Call or text (616) 916-7595.

SCHOOL PAL PAKS! BRING YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

The Church of the Nazarene operates many schools around the world, providing quality education for children. Unfortunately, many families can’t even afford basic supplies. To meet this need, our NMI department collects and ships ‘School Pal-Paks’ that are made available to kids around the world. Will you help? A list of the supplies needed for each School Pal-Pak will be in the bulletin this week or you can click here for a shopping list. http://nmi.nazarene.org/Stories/docs/Giving/Compassion/SPP_Shopping-List.pdf

ATTENTION CHILDREN/PARENTS! CHILDREN’S CHURCH RETURNS SEPT. 11

Children’s Church is a kids focused time of worship where kids through 5^th grade are dismissed before the morning message for their own age appropriate opportunity to learn about Jesus, work with their hands, and move from qualified and background checked adult leaders! Children’s Church begins Sep. 11^th and is offered every week except the first Sunday of the month when we celebrate communion together! Need more information or have questions? See or contact Mary W. at (616) 337-4549.

 OUR FALL ALABASTER OFFERING IS SEP. 18! LET’S MARCH!

Our twice a year Alabaster Offering is Sun., Sep. 18th. Every penny of this loose change offering goes directly to the mission field to purchase land and materials to construct buildings. Of course, cash, checks, and gold doubloons are welcome, too! Need an Alabaster box? See Sherry J. our Missionary President to get one! 

YOU’RE INVITED TO O.N.U.’S GRAND RAPIDS OPEN HOUSE SEP. 08 (4:00-7:00PM)

From their invite: Interested in going back to school? Attend an open house to learn more about ONU’s graduate and degree completion programs! Staff will be on hand to answer questions about admissions, financial aid, transferability and more. For those who attend the open house, we will waive the $50 application fee. Please R.S.V.P. to815.936.3944, email jlaardema@olivet.edu (or call) 877.965-4838. 

CHURCH POSTCARDS ARE AVAILABLE!

Is there someone missing or would like to invite to church? Why not grab a few church postcards and send them out? A simple hand written note blesses everyone! You will find them on the table under the missionary bulletin board in the Annex. 

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. or 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.  

COME TO THE FIRE 2016

We are excited about this year's theme for Come to the Fire: Restore the Joy. Isaiah 35 describes what happens when God restores His Church. The once barren landscape will suddenly burst with joy! We long for the day when God visits His people once again. He’ll come in response to our prayers, and many of you have been praying. I am grateful for each of you who have continued to pray. At the set time, He will come!

Recently I was reading some of the many amazing testimonies of transformed lives from previous conferences, and quietly said, "Jesus, You did that!" The Spirit whispered, "I can do even more." Our hearts' cry is for restoration to the body of Christ. Will you pray that the council will have guidance in planning an event in which God will send revival?"Shout, and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming," declares the LORD.              (Zechariah 2:10). Registration will be up soon at cometothefire.org.  Aletha Hinthorn

SAVE THE DATE! OUR NEXT NORTHEAST COMMUNITY POTLUCK IS OCT. 09

Make plans to attend our October Community Potluck after our worship service. Willing to help? Bless you! Please let Cherry P. know!  (call or text (616) 916-7595

DAILY DEVOTIONS – “REFLECTING GOD” IS AVAILABLE! FREE!!

“Reflecting God” is a daily devotional guide our church makes available free to anyone interested. The devotions provide a brief truth from the Bible every day. Reflecting God also has a section for reading the Bible in a year and praying for our missionaries! Feel free to take one! You’ll find them located on the table outside the sanctuary!

OUR NEXT 3^RD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH IS SEP. 15!

Our next Third Thursday Chinese Lunch is Sep. 15 at 11:30am at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine. The food is good, but the fellowship is even better! Come, enjoy a great time to eat, share joys, concerns and even laugh! If you have any 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

Aug.  29             Ladies Bible Study on Daniel @ 10am

Sep.  03              Ladies Bible Study on Daniel @ 12:30pm(alternative time)

Sep.  15              Third Thursday Chinese Lunch @ 11:30 (Hibachi Alpine)

Sep.  18              Fall Alabaster Offering

Sep.  18              Missionary Gathering at 5pm

Sep.  24              Ladies Rendezvous at 10:30am

Sep. 26/Nov. 13        Pastor Dan and Janie’s 7-week Sabbatical

Oct.  09              Northeast Community Potluck after our worship service

Nov. 10-12                Come to the Fire (Nashville, TN)

Northeast Community News - August 22, 2016

Dear Friends and Family!

We had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday! Did you know this summer we have been having ‘children’s moments’ during our services? That’s right! Each week just before the sermon I offer a child’s sized version of the message and a special bulletin the kids can use to fill in during the service. The number of kids varies week to week! Aurora came this week along with Aunt Savannah. What a joy to see this little on wiggle before the Lord! No, you might not bring your crayons and coloring pages to the altar as Aurora did, but it did make me wonder what I might bring to Jesus if I felt her level of freedom! Jesus, give us the freedom to worship you with the honesty and transparency of a child! Amen!

God’s message this week came from James 1:2-15 and titled, “Dealing with Temptation!” The first two words in James 1:13 say “When tempted.” You will note the brother of Jesus doesn’t say “If tempted,” but “When tempted.” Temptation to sin isn’t just a possibility, but a certainty! You aren’t in denial about temptation are you? 

James continues in vv. 13-14 declaring, “…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15).

Bottom line, you are weak and vulnerable somewhere and both God and the Devil know it! God has intimately created you and provides a way out, but the Devil has studied you and exploits your weakness! Let’s be clear! Satan doesn’t just want to disrupt and frustrate you, he wants to destroy you! While Christ is life and victory, the Devil is death and destruction!

How does the Devil do it? First, a tempting thought passes through your mind in hopes that it’ll stick. If we entertain the thought, then our imagination takes the thought and magnifies it in our mind through our imagination and our body responds. Our imagination can easily be deceived because it can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Once the line is blurred between fantasy and reality, temptation to sin moves beyond our minds and we begin entertaining action plans. It is at this point we may say, “It’s fantasy; I’d never really do it….” Really? I’ve seen what happens when desire is conceived and grows!

How can we effectively deal with temptation? 1) think on those healthy things that come from God! (See Phil. 4:8) 2) follow Jesus’ example and memorize the Bible. 3) like Joseph in Gen. 39 run from temptation as fast as you can! 4) remember in 1 Cor. 10:13God will make a way of escape available in the midst of temptation so look for it and take it immediately! 5) If you know temptation is just around the corner, go around a different corner; avoid it! Last, remember His Grace is Sufficient when you fail! Don’t let the Evil One convince you you’re unforgiveable!  Seek forgiveness, repent, and be restored! Blessings, Pastor Dan

NEWS AND EVENTS

CHANGE!!! OUR MISSIONARY GATHERING HAS CHANGED!

Due to Fran S. being in the hospital yesterday, we felt it best to postpone our Sunday Missionary Gathering until THIS WEEK (Aug. 28) at 5pm. So, bring somebody and come enjoy a brief lesson on missions! Afterwards, we eat snacks, laugh, and chat. Just bring a snack to pass and join us at 5pm! You’ll be glad you did! Questions? Contact Sherry J. via phone or text to (269) 932-8334.

WED. NIGHT RETURNS TO NORMAL THIS WEEK! (AUG. 24)

Yes, after a week when pastor was sick and Janie taught (Aug. 10) and last week’s travel to celebrate pastor and Janie’s anniversary and Mary taught and had fun (Aug. 17), this week we are returning to normal! (whatever that means!) Regardless of whatever that means we want you to come join us at 6:30pm and stay for ice cream! See you there!

THE NEXT LADIES RENDEZVOUS IS SAT., AUG. 27 AT 10:30AM!

Cherry is planning the next Ladies Rendezvous for Aug. 27 and all ladies are invited! Please contact Cherry for more info or if you need a ride! Call or text (616) 916-7595.

SCHOOL PAL PAKS! BRING YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

The Church of the Nazarene operates many schools around the world, providing quality education for children. Unfortunately, many families can’t even afford basic supplies. To meet this need, our NMI department collects and ships ‘School Pal-Paks’ that are made available to kids around the world. Will you help? A list of the supplies needed for each School Pal-Pak will be in the bulletin this week or you can click here for a shopping list. http://nmi.nazarene.org/Stories/docs/Giving/Compassion/SPP_Shopping-List.pdf

ATTENTION CHILDREN/PARENTS! CHILDREN’S CHURCH RETURNS SEPT. 11

Children’s Church is a kids focused time of worship where kids through 5^th grade are dismissed before the morning message for their own age appropriate opportunity to learn about Jesus, work with their hands, and move from qualified and background checked adult leaders! Children’s Church begins Sep. 11^th and is offered every week except the first Sunday of the month when we celebrate communion together! Need more information or have questions? See or contact Mary W. at (616) 337-4549.

CHURCH POSTCARDS ARE AVAILABLE!

Is there someone missing or would like to invite to church? Why not grab a few church postcards and send them out? A simple hand written note blesses everyone! You will find them on the table under the missionary bulletin board in the Annex. 

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. or Sherry J.

OUR FALL ALABASTER OFFERING IS SEP. 18! LET’S MARCH!

Our twice a year Alabaster Offering is Sun., Sep. 18th. Every penny of this loose change offering goes directly to the mission field to purchase land and materials to construct buildings. Of course, cash, checks, and gold doubloons are welcome, too! Need an Alabaster box? See Sherry J. our Missionary President to get one! 

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.  

COME TO THE FIRE 2016

We have received the following from the Michigan District! Please consider it:

We are excited about this year's theme for Come to the Fire: Restore the Joy

Isaiah 35 describes what will happen when God restores His Church. The once barren landscape will suddenly burst with joy! We long for the day when God visits His people once again. He’ll come in response to our prayers, and many of you have been praying. One dear lady said she has been praying and fasting daily since the last conference! I am grateful for each of you who have continued to pray. At the set time, He will come!

Recently I was reading some of the many amazing testimonies of transformed lives from previous conferences, and quietly said, "Jesus, You did that!" The Spirit whispered, "I can do even more." Our hearts' cry is for restoration to the body of Christ. Will you pray that the council will have guidance in planning an event in which God will send revival?"Shout, and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming," declares the LORD.              (Zechariah 2:10).

Registration will be up soon at cometothefire.org.  Aletha Hinthorn

SAVE THE DATE! OUR NEXT NORTHEAST COMMUNITY POTLUCK IS OCT. 09

Make plans to attend our October Community Potluck after our worship service. Willing to help? Bless you! Please let Cherry P. know!  (call or text (616) 916-7595

DAILY DEVOTIONS – “REFLECTING GOD” IS AVAILABLE! FREE!!

“Reflecting God” is a daily devotional guide our church makes available free to anyone interested. The devotions provide a brief truth from the Bible every day. Reflecting God also has a section for reading the Bible in a year and praying for our missionaries! Feel free to take one! You’ll find them located on the table outside the sanctuary!

OUR NEXT 3^RD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH IS SEP. 15!

Our next Third Thursday Chinese Lunch is Sep. 15 at 11:30am at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine. The food is good, but the fellowship is even better! Come, enjoy a great time to eat, share joys, concerns and even laugh! If you have any 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

Aug.  22             Ladies Bible Study on Daniel @ 10am

Aug.  27             Ladies Bible Study on Daniel @ 12:30pm(alternative time)

Aug.  27             Ladies Rendezvous at 10:30am

Aug.  28             Missionary Gathering at 5pm

Sep.  15              Third Thursday Chinese Lunch @ 11:30 (Hibachi Alpine)

Sep.  18              Fall Alabaster Offering

Sep. 26/Nov. 13        Pastor Dan and Janie’s 7-week Sabbatical

Oct.  09              Northeast Community Potluck after our worship service

Nov. 10-12                Come to the Fire (Nashville, TN)

Northeast Community News – August 15, 2016

Dear Friends and Family!

We had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday! Steve was back leading our music along with Sherry and they were anointed! Sadly, Larry B. wasn’t with us after he had ‘done too much’ at the church work day the day before. We were blessed with 5 dedicated folks, which gave us approximately 2.25 donuts each, but we could have used about 10 more. (stepping up on his soapbox) I know we all have things to do, but when our 80-year-old trustee feels it necessary to push himself beyond his physical limitations and gets hurt, something’s got to change! (stepping back down). Will you be part of the change? I hope so!

After our worship service we had a yummy potluck! Seriously, you find Jeffrey R. drooling over the food you know it’s got to be good (and it was). We had enough wonderful food for another 25 people! Mark your calendar for Oct. 09 and come to the next one! 

God’s message came to us from 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and was titled, “Our Roadmap for Life!” Much like a lifeguard, the Bible provides everything we need to keep us healthy and out of danger. In 6 weeks, I’ll be riding my bicycle down the length of Route 66. Can you imagine how catastrophic my trip might be (especially through the desert) if I winged it instead of buying and using maps? And yet, some have decided to ‘wing it’ when it comes to their walk with the Lord! Paul declares in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

From this verse we discover God’s Word comes directly from the Divine lungs of God. The same breath that brought life into man in Genesis 2:7 can teach us God’s unchanging truth (unlike 2 Tim. 4:3-4). God’s Living Word can also rebuke us (expose errors), correct us (restore misguided and disobedient believers), and train us in righteousness (that is moral training leading to righteous living). Finally, we discover God’s Word thoroughly equips us for serving (which is a lot more than head knowledge!) 

The psalmist writes:

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. 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. 119:9-11).

 You see, if you’re not spending time in the Word; if you aren’t consuming, reading, and hiding God’s Word in your heart, it should be no surprise you struggle with a life a holiness! The world is filled with many ways to be defeated! Stop winging it! Read God’s roadmap! Turn off the TV; stop playing hours of Candy Crush and let the Living Word speak to you!  

Blessings, Pastor Dan

NEWS AND EVENTS

WED. NIGHT IS ‘SWITCHING UP’ THIS WEEK! (AUG. 17)

This week is Pastor Dan and Janie’s 26^th anniversary and the Church Board approved giving Pastor off Wed. and Thu. so he could travel to Petoskey with Janie for business Wed. and then to South Haven to a wonderful resort Sherry J. used to work at (Thank you Church!) for their anniversary Thu. night! So, Mary W. is switching things up! How? Well, Sherry is going to lead more songs, Mary W. will lead in prayer, and then their will be a ‘Sword Drill,’ followed by ice cream! It should be a lot of fun! We will return to our regularly scheduled Bible study next week! 

OUR NEXT 3^RD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH IS THIS WEEK (AUG. 18) AT 11:30AM!

Our next Third Thursday Chinese Lunch is this week at the Hibachi Grill on Alpine. The food is good, but the fellowship is even better! Come, enjoy a great time to eat, share joys, concerns and even laugh! If you have any questions? See Tracy or Linda!

OUR NEXT MISSIONARY GATHERING IS THIS SUNDAY (AUG. 21) @ 5PM

Our missionary gathering is this Sunday at 5pm. Bring somebody and come enjoy a brief lesson on missions! After Sherry J. leads our lesson, we eat snacks, laugh, and chat (sometimes at the same time! :) So bring a snack to pass and join us at 5pm! You’ll be glad you did! Have questions? Contact Sherry J. She loves to text! (269) 932-8334

THE NEXT LADIES RENDEZVOUS IS SAT., AUG. 27 AT 10:30AM!

Cherry is planning the next Ladies Rendezvous for Aug. 27 and all ladies are invited! Please contact Cherry for more info or if you need a ride! Call or text (616) 916-7595.

SCHOOL PAL PAKS! BRING YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES!

The Church of the Nazarene operates many schools around the world, providing quality education for children. Unfortunately, many families can’t even afford basic supplies. To meet this need, our NMI department collects and ships ‘School Pal-Paks’ that are made available to kids around the world. Will you help? A list of the supplies needed for each School Pal-Pak will be in the bulletin this week or you can click here for a shopping list. http://nmi.nazarene.org/Stories/docs/Giving/Compassion/SPP_Shopping-List.pdf

CHURCH POSTCARDS ARE AVAILABLE!

Is there someone missing or would like to invite to church? Why not grab a few church postcards and send them out? A simple hand written note blesses everyone! You will find them on the table under the missionary bulletin board in the Annex. 

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.

OUR FALL ALABASTER OFFERING IS SEP. 18 DURING WORSHIP! LET’S MARCH!

Our twice a year Alabaster Offering is Sun., Sep. 18th. Every penny of this loose change offering goes directly to the mission field to purchase land and materials to construct buildings. Of course, cash, checks, and gold doubloons are welcome, too! Need an Alabaster box? See Sherry J. our Missionary President to get one! 

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.  

COME TO THE FIRE 2016

We have received the following from the Michigan District! Please consider it:

We are excited about this year's theme for Come to the Fire: Restore the Joy

Isaiah 35 describes what will happen when God restores His Church. The once barren landscape will suddenly burst with joy! We long for the day when God visits His people once again. He’ll come in response to our prayers, and many of you have been praying. One dear lady said she has been praying and fasting daily since the last conference! I am grateful for each of you who have continued to pray. At the set time, He will come!

Recently I was reading some of the many amazing testimonies of transformed lives from previous conferences, and quietly said, "Jesus, You did that!" The Spirit whispered, "I can do even more." Our hearts' cry is for restoration to the body of Christ. Will you pray that the council will have guidance in planning an event in which God will send revival?"Shout, and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming," declares the LORD.              (Zechariah 2:10).

Registration will be up soon at cometothefire.org.  Aletha Hinthorn

DAILY DEVOTIONS – “REFLECTING GOD” IS AVAILABLE! FREE!!

“Reflecting God” is a daily devotional guide our church makes available free to anyone interested. The devotions provide a brief truth from the Bible every day. Reflecting God also has a section for reading the Bible in a year and praying for our missionaries! Feel free to take one! You’ll find them located on the table outside the sanctuary!

OUR NEXT NORTHEAST COMMUNITY POTLUCK IS OCT. 09

Our next Northeast Community Potluck is Oct. 09 after our worship service. So, bring friends, a stranger, and a dish to pass and join us downstairs for a time of food, fun, and fellowship! Willing to help? Bless you! Please let Cherry P. know!  (616) 916-7595

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

Aug.  18             Third Thursday Chinese Lunch @ 11:30 (Hibachi Alpine)

Aug.  21             Missionary Gathering at 5pm

Aug.  22             Ladies Bible Study on Daniel @ 10am

Aug.  27             Ladies Bible Study on Daniel @ 12:30pm(alternative time)

Aug.  27             Ladies Rendezvous at 10:30am

Sep.  18              Fall Alabaster Offering

Sep. 26/Nov. 13        Pastor Dan and Janie’s 7-week Sabbatical

Oct.  09              Northeast Community Potluck after our worship service

Nov. 10-12                Come to the Fire (Nashville, TN)