Northeast Community News – July 18, 2017

   Dear Friends and Family! 

    Greetings from Indian Lake Nazarene Camp! Our plates as delegates to District Assembly and worshippers to our Living God and Savior Jesus Christ have been rich and full! What a joy it is to know that whether we worship in Grand Rapids and Vicksburg, or Guyana and Vanuatu, or as a body of 35 or 3,500 our God can encounter, encourage, and challenge us all equally! Surely, it was wonderful to worship with 20,000 in Indianapolis at General Assembly last month, and worship in Vicksburg with 3,500 at District Assembly and Family Camp, but was also just as wonderful to worship at Northeast Community Church in Grand Rapids with 35. God is good! All the time! 

    Last Sunday we continued our series on Discipleship Essentials. If you want to live a victorious life, you must choose the right path! At salvation, you are given a choice: return to the road you once travelled that leads to sin and destruction or travel the narrow road that leads to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). No decision is a decision! Sadly, I’ve watched too many gloriously saved from sin only to return to sin and misery months later because they were reluctant to embrace a life of discipleship! If you want to ‘stop the madness’ you need to learn and embrace essential beliefs and practices. 

    This week we examined a key discipleship practice: prayer. As we turn to Luke 11 and read Jesus’ teaching on prayer, we are reminded by scholars when the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray (v. 1) this is the first time the disciples had asked Jesus for anything! So, if you want to learn to pray, you must first understand it must be learned! Ask Jesus! He’ll help you!

    Jesus did offer the disciples some lessons in Luke 11:1-11 we ought to consider, too! First, in vv. 2-4 Jesus provides them a pattern. Much like Matthew’s recollection in Matthew 6, Jesus instructs the disciples to begin with Our Father. Christians don’t pray to some ‘greater power’ they pray to their Heavenly Father in whom they are in relationship with through Jesus Christ! We aren’t just creations, we are His children! Amen? Amen! 

    Jesus quickly moves this outline for prayer by teaching when we pray we ought to honor God’s name and hallow it; that is, to witness His holiness through the holy lives we live. Jesus also teaches prayer ought to include seeking God’s will on earth (and in our lives) and ask Him to provide our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, too. Since we have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) our prayer ought to include confession for ourselves and in our relationships with others, too. Finally, Jesus teaches we ought to ask for help in overcoming temptation. 

    Then, in verses 5-8, Jesus uses a story to teach them about boldness and persistence in their prayer. In verse 9, Jesus concludes: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9). 

    Are you praying? Does your prayer and life hallow God’s name? Do you seek God’s will on earth as it is in heaven? Do you confess and pray for your needs and others? Are you persistently asking, seeking, and knocking? It’s a discipleship essential! Let’s be a people of prayer!                      Blessings! Pastor Dan

NEWS AND EVENTS

NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY this week!!!

3^RD THURSDAY CHINESE LUNCH @ HIBACHI GRILL   - July 20

It is time again for us to meet, eat, and enjoy time together as we eat from a Chinese food buffet restaurant.  Meet us at Hibachi Grill off Alpine at 11:30 AM.  See you there!  

                                            DISTRICT SUMMER EVENTS AT INDIAN LAKE NAZARENE CAMP!

It’s that time again when we all gather at Indian Lake Nazarene Camp for rest, renewal, and spiritual nourishment called Camp Meeting! It is also the time when our District has assemblies and conventions for missions, youth, discipleship and we come together as a district for District Assembly (our District policy and governance organization). 

Jul. 18-21              Morning Service – 9:00AM, Study 10:30AM, Evening Service – 7:00PM

Jul. 22                    NMI, SDMI, and NYI Conventions – 9:00AM, Fireside Cookout – 7:00PM

Jul. 23                    Study – 9:00AM, Worship 10:30AM, Evening Service – 4:00PM

Pastor Dan spends the week at ‘camp’ in a small cabin at 7959 Victory St. Vicksburg, MI and would love to have you stop by! Need more information? See Pastor Dan or Janie! 

                            RICK EVANS TO FILL THE PULPIT -  JULY 23

On July 23, while Pastor Dan and Janie finish their week at District Camp, your church board has asked Rick to fill the pulpit. What a joy it is to watch obedience in action! Be in prayer for Rick as he discerns, along with your church board, God’s plans for his life!

                        SPECIAL WED. MOVIE NIGHT, PIZZA, AND DISCUSSION ON JULY 26 AT 6:30PM

To follow up on his July 23^rd message, Rick is showing “A Man Called Norman” (produced by Focus on the Family) and leading a discussion to follow. His plan is to meet at 6:30 for pizza and prayer – start the 45-minute video at 7:00 with ice cream and discussion to follow. Grab a friend and come! Rick has said this video changed his life! Maybe, it will change yours! 

WOMEN’S RENDEZVOUS TIME AGAIN – JULY 29^TH

Meet us at the church for a time of food, fun, and fellowship.   Call Cherry if you have any questions at 616-916-7595.

                                    SUNDAY AFTERNOON BIKE RIDES ANYONE? 

Some of us like to take a ‘Nazarene Nap’ Sun. afternoons and others like to go out and ride their bikes and enjoy each other’s company! I say do both! If you can eat a quick lunch and grab a short power nap you’ll still have time to join us for a relaxing Sun. afternoon bike ride down a safe trail! Nobody’s getting left behind! But, we may stop for ice cream and laugh a lot! Let Pastor Dan know if you’re interested or have questions. This would be a great event to invite a friend! 

What: Weekly Bike Rides

Time: 2:00pm until aprox. 4:00pm

Where: From Rogue River Park in Belmont to Rockford on the White Pine Trail. Rogue River Park is located at 6300 Belmont Ave NE – Belmont, MI 49306

Cost: Free! (unless you plan to buy ice cream!)

SUMMER CAMP @ INDIAN LAKE

Indian Lake Nazarene Camp has a wonderful summer camp for students of all ages. At 

camp kids learn to feel good about themselves, gain self-confidence, self-esteem, learn leadership skills, make friends, and learn about God’s love for them! You can learn more by going to this link: http://www.nazcamp.org/summer-camp

Adventure Camp       Completed 2^nd – 4^th grade    Jul. 24-28

Voyager Camp           Completed 4^th – 6^th grade     Jul. 31-Aug. 04

Note: All camps are $ 285 

INTERESTED IN CHURCH MEMBERSHIP?

A series of membership classes will be starting soon.  If you are interested in learning more about the Church of the Nazarene, or becoming a member of our church, please let Pastor Dan know by contacting him at: 616-204-1153 or hathdan@me.com.

A NEW BIBLE STUDY IS COMING SOON!

Beginning in September, Mary W. will begin a study titled, “Remembering the Forgotten God”.  This will be held Tuesdays at 10 AM for 7 weeks, beginning Sept. 5^th.  Sign up on the sheet in the church annex so she knows how many books to order.

ONE CHILDREN’S CHURCH TEACHER IS STILL NEEDED!

Pray about becoming a children’s church teacher this September.  You only need prepare a lesson once a month.   Also, a helper will be there alongside you.

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.

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

July 19                                    NO Wednesday Night Bible Study!!

July 16-23                  Family Camp

July 20                        Third Thursday Chinese Lunch at Hibachi Grill @ 11:30 AM

July 22                        NMI/SDMI/NYI Convention

July 23                        Rick speaking @ church

July 26                        Movie & Pizza Night @ 6:30 (“A Man Called Norman”)

July 29                        Women’s Rendezvous at the church – 10:30 AM

July 30                        Missions Night @ church – 5 PM

August 13                   Church Potluck