PASTOR’S PARAGRAPH:
Dear Friends and Family!
We had another wonderful day in the Lord, Sunday! Yes, I was blessed with the Sunday school hour and our worship time together, but this week I was struck again with your love for God and love for others, including Janie and I. You have called, texted, and sent cards of sympathy and encouragement. You have spoken words of comfort, made cookies, and prayed. Perhaps most moving were your heartfelt hugs and wordless smiles and tears. You really have been a loving family and the hands and feet of Jesus during our grief. Words cannot express our love for you and our feelings of thankfulness! God is indeed good! All the time! Amen!
God’s message this week came from John 1:1-18 and was titled, “Grace and Truth.” While God’s previous messages on this passage looked at how Jesus, the Word, explained the unexplainable creative principles that created and sustained the world; and how Jesus’ is Creator and Light in vv. 3-5 and everyone’s need to believe on Him and be saved in vv. 10-13, God wanted us to take some time to focus on vv. 14-17 today, specifically v. 14:
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
First, we need to notice the ‘Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.’ A little more than 2000 years ago God the Son stepped out of heaven and onto our earth, and then dwelled, that is literally ‘pitched His tent’ and camped in the middle of us all. Emmanuel! God with us! But unlike most of my camping trips to get away, Jesus came in the fullness of ‘grace and truth.’
While Jesus camped in the middle of the Jews, nobody was eating s’mores around the campfire. While Jesus came to them with the fullness of God’s love and grace, the defiant Jews rejected Him and crucified Him on the Cross! And yet, after His resurrection Jesus still comes with love and grace! How about you? Jesus is here! Do you accept His love or do you remain rebellious?
The good news is His grace is still available to every one of us today, too. There is no sin, no defiance, and no rebellion so great that His grace can’t forgive it! It really is Amazing Grace!
But, v. 14 reminds us Jesus was also the fullness of truth! Sadly, our culture wants unlimited grace and relative truth. This is the deception offered by the Evil One. You see, to believe a lie or a half-truth results in bondage which leads to death. Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” [John 8:32]. If you want to be free you must embrace the truth!
We ended our worship service imagining Jesus sitting around the campfire and asking, ‘Where does Jesus need to extend you grace? Where does Jesus want to tell you the truth? May Jesus speak to each of us this week with the fullness of grace and truth! Amen! Blessings, Pastor Dan
NEWS AND EVENTS
WED. NIGHT HAS MOVED TO THE PARSONAGE!
Our Wed. night Bible study for all ages will meet at the parsonage across the parking lot (883 Fuller Ave NE). By doing this, we are being good stewards by not spending the money needed to heat the church over the winter. The Study will still be from 6:30-7:30 and we will still eat ice cream! Invite a friend and come over!
NEXT THIRD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH @ HIBACHI GRILL ON ALPINE AVE:
Meet us there and enjoy the food and fellowship on February 16th. Meet at the restaurant at 11:30 AM.
CHURCH POTLUCK – 2/12/17
Come enjoy the worship service and stay for lunch! There is always plenty of food and good fellowship with others1
NEXT LADIES RENDEZVOUS:
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. Bring along your own craft to work on, or assist with another craft (making cards for Tracy to send to church people), or just sit and enjoy the conversation! Call/text Cherry for rides or information @ 616-916-7595. See you there!!!
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)
ITEMS NEEDED FOR THE HOMELESS BAGS (to February 12):
- Socks, 2) combs, 3) hand sanitizer, 4) toothbrush, 5) toothpaste, 6) dental floss,
7)Kleenex, 8) Band-aids, 9) crackers (or other non-perishable food items), 10) $5-10 gift cards at fast food restaurants, 11) bottle of water, 12) mints, 13) words of encouragement, 14) feminine hygiene products (for female bags only), 15) black permanent marker
Ladies, and men, if you have any canvas tote bags or bigger purses, please bring these to the church as we would like to put the items for the homeless in a nice bag/purse if possible. Look deep into those closets!
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:
Now to Feb. 12 Collection of Items for the Homeless
Feb. 12 Church Potluck
Feb. 16 Third Thursday Chinese Lunch @ Hibachi Grill-Alpine @ 11:30 AM
Feb. 25 Ladies Rendezvous at the church @ 10:30 AM
Feb. 26 Missions Sunday @ 5 PM
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