Dear Friends and Family!
We had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday, but for me worship began Saturday at 10:30am! What you say? What was possibly going on Saturday morning? Why, Beverly S. was leading us in practice for our Easter Cantata, “This We Believe.” In an excerpt of the narration read just before a soloist sings about Mary’s faith and how she cries we hear in Mary’s voice:
From the beginning, I treasured everything He ever said or did. My heart is a living scrapbook of all the seasons of His life….I see Him in the manger, tiny and helpless and I remember the day the angel appeared and told me I was chosen…I see Him suffering on the cross and this mother’s heart is broken. I watch Him die. But I know written long ago that this day would come….I see the morning of third day. The moment He appeared and said that all had been accomplished…The One who was alive in me for nine months, would now be alive in my forever. This I believe!
Wow, with tears rolling down my cheeks I realized once more how awesome it was when the Son of God took on human form, suffered and died on a cross, and was resurrected for my sin! For your sin! For the worlds sin! Thank you Jesus! Want to take part in this Easter’s Cantata with me? It’s not too late to join us! The next practice is this Saturday at 12PM. Come worship!
God’s message this week came from Matthew 5:12-20and was titled, “This Little Light.” Last week we studied the beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. We learned Jesus took the former Jewish understanding of what it meant to be blessed, and turned it upside down! Jesus taught us to be blessed, in part, necessitated us being meek, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, being pure in heart, and being merciful, peacemakers, and then rejoice for being persecuted.
It could be easy to assume Jesus was calling his followers to live a set apart monastic life far away from a sinful culture. But in Matthew 5:13-20 Jesus proclaims just the opposite. Instead of being separated from the culture, you are to permeate the culture as agents of redemption.
That’s right! We are not to separate ourselves from sinners, but have a positive influence on them! How? Jesus offers two metaphors: ‘the salt of the earth’ (v. 13) and ‘light of the world’ (vv. 14-16). When you are indeed the merciful, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and pure in heart people Jesus calls His followers to be, you’re being the salt and light changing and influencing the way the culture lives and responds around you!
So does the sinful world around you taste, smell, and look different when the salt and light within you walks into the room? Does the language at the party change when you show up? Do people stop telling certain jokes when you join the group? If you said yes, you’re indeed being the salt and light of Jesus! Praise God! If not, you may need to ask the Lord to help you become salty again! We may not be able to change the world for Christ, but we can make a difference one person at a time when we become authentic followers of Jesus! Blessings, Pastor Dan
NEWS AND EVENTS
COLLECTION OF ITEMS FOR CRISIS CARE KITS:
We will be collecting the following items for crisis care kits. These will need to be ready to go by March 18th.
Each Crisis Care Kit includes the following new items in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag:
- 1 medium size bottle of shampoo (12-18 oz) [Please tape the flip-tops closed]
- 2 bars of soap (bath-size or larger)
- 1 medium toothpaste (4.0-6.4 oz)
- 3 toothbrushes (in original packaging)
- 1 box of Band-Aids (30 or more)
- 1 fingernail clipper
- 1 sturdy hair comb
- 2 hand towels
- 4 pocket-size packages of facial tissue
- 1 Beanie Baby-size stuffed toyWANTED: SINGERS FOR THE EASTER CANTATAOn Saturday, February 25th, at 12 PM, join us at the church to practice the Easter cantata, This We Believe, we will be doing. Come praise the Lord and make a joyful noise!FEBRUARY IS ALABASTER MONTH!
WED. NIGHT BIBLE STUDY! COME BE A PART! (ASH WED. IS MAR. 01)
Remember! We are currently meeting at the parsonage! Regardless of your experience, background, or age, Wed. night is a great time of singing, prayer, and Bible study. Come and be blessed! On Wed., Mar. 01 we will have ashes mixed with anointing oil available for those who would like to receive them. It is certainly optional, but many request this annual tradition placing an ‘ash cross’ on their forehead at the beginning of Lent. Come, join our fellowship and as always we will end our night with ice cream!
LADIES RENDEZVOUS 2/25:
Join in the fun and fellowship with other ladies from our church. We will be meeting Saturday, February 25th, at 10:30AM at the church. We will be discussing this group providing a meal at the Renucci Hospitality House (where people stay when their loved one has to stay at Spectrum downtown). Call/text Cherry for rides or information @616-916-7595. See you there!!!
NEXT THIRD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH @ HIBACHI GRILL ON ALPINE AVE:
Meet us there and enjoy the food and fellowship on March 16th. Meet at the restaurant at 11:30 AM.
STILL NEEDED: ONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH TEACHER
Please contact Mary W. to help with this need. While most of the weeks have a teacher and a helper, one more teacher is still needed. Is God calling you to do this?
SOUND BOOTH PERSON NEEDED:
The church is looking for someone who is interested in being a sound booth technician. You will need to be able to attend music practices Sunday morning at 9 AM. Let Janie know if you are interested at 616-204-2499 or hathjan@icloud.com.
TEAM Day 2017 IS COMING TO Perry Michigan again on March 18, 2017. We are looking forward to a full day of inspiration, motivation, rekindling friendships, networking with others, and soaking up the possibilities for ministry in your local community. Our goal every year is that people will make connections with ministries, and to be encouraged to look for the possibilities for ministry in their community. TEAM Day is about letting you meet and talk to other people from around our three Michigan Districts and our Educational Region, and see the opportunities for ministry that are in our communities. We have workshops on many topics that are vital in the church (leadership, worship, discipleship, missions, children, youth). We will have an enlightening worship service to start the day. Lunch is included on the campus of the school. There are ministry vendors that will be available throughout the day to discuss specific ministries that you may want to participate Some of you may say “But I am already so busy, I am tired…”; this is a chance to recharge your batteries. This is a chance to see others who are also busy, and to encourage each other. You are not serving on an island, we need to support and encourage each other. TEAM Day is one way that we can help do that. Mark your calendars (Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Perry Michigan from 8 am to 4 pm). Visit the website www.minaz.org/teamday, download the brochure, and register yourself and several from your church to attend. The cost is $30 before February 15, and $40 after February 15 and before March 1st. We hope to see you there!PO Box 678 , Perry, MI 48872
email: teamday@tds.net or 517-675-7442 (evenings or leave a message please)
email: teamday@tds.net or 517-675-7442 (evenings or leave a message please)
****************************************************************************************************The Michigan District Church of the Nazarene presents: A MOMENT IN TIME
At the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island on May 28 – May 30, 2017
A Moment in Time is open to all ages of families and individuals. The cost is only $345 per person. Children ages 12-17 are $185 and children birth to age 11 are free.
Price includes:
· Two nights lodging at the historic Grand Hotel
· Two delectable five course dinners
· Two scrumptious breakfasts (choice of menu/breakfast buffet or continental)
· Adult round-trip ferry ride (ages 5-11 are $12)
· All baggage handling
The first non-refundable deposit of $50 is due by March 27th. The balance is due April 22nd. Please see the attached brochure for all of the details!
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2017 WORK & WITNESS PROJECT:
I'm writing to invite you and any members of your church to be a part of the largest Nazarene Work & Witness project called, One Heart - Many Hands Indianapolis 2017! This week-long service project will take place June 18-23. In a recent conversation with Dr. David Downs, the District Superintendent of the West Texas District, it came to my attention that many pastors are under the impression that One Heart - Many Hands (OHMH) projects are just for youth groups. In actuality, OHMH is a Work & Witness project geared for the entire church to participate in. Many churches bring multi generational groups who work on the project and learn from each other. In past General assembly years we have averaged 2000 Nazarenes serving together with OHMH to leave the fingerprints of God all over the General Assembly host city. I'm sure you receive hundreds of emails each year encouraging you and your church to be a part of something… OHMH is a unique Work & Witness project that not only affords your group the opportunity to be involved in missions together but also to experience the Global Church of the Nazarene in a very visible and tangible way as team members participate in the General Assembly services. Would you prayerfully consider encouraging your church to take advantage of this opportunity to serve alongside thousands of Nazarenes this summer in Indianapolis? For more information about this service project please contact our office at office@oneheartmanyhands.com or visit our website at www.oneheartmanyhands.com. Thank you, George Sisler
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.
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.
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!
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:
Feb. 25 Ladies Rendezvous at the church @ 10:30 AM
Feb. 26 Alabaster Offering taken
Feb. 26 Missions Sunday @ 5 PM
March 1 Ash Wednesday
March 16 Third Thursday Chinese Lunch at Hibachi Grill @ 11:30 AM
Now – March 18 Collection of items for Crisis Care Kits
March 25 Next Ladies Rendezvous at Church @ 10:30 AM
May 28 A Moment in Time at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island
