Family Ties - July 2008

July Birthdays

3	Jeanette Eisen Dennis Heath Cindy Lillibridge
10	Heather Dominguez
11	Lori Bruins
14	Jasmine Dominguez
16	Phil Metten
21	Michael Lillibridge

23	Ted deMaagd Laura McClellan Gideon Vander Kooi
25	Lisa Maycroft
29	Sue Meindertsma
30	Traci Berg

Pastor's Page
HEARD A POWERFUL SERMON LATELY?
     Over the years I have learned a few things about preaching. Maybe it is more accurate to say that I have learned a few things about what has been preached. Let me share a couple with you.
     One of the observations many who preach have made is that one cannot control how another will hear what is said. The life situations a listener brings always influences how they hear something or how they interpret what is being said. There have been a few occasions over the years where I preached a sermon on a specific topic—like grace—only to have someone say it was a great message on our need for confessing sin. While the two may be remotely linked, it was not at all what I had as the focus of my sermon nor was it anything that I had mentioned in that message. It was where God was working in the person's life at the time and they heard something in the message that triggered a thought and a response.
     Another observation is tied to the first and yet distinct. While one sermon may be particularly powerful for one person, that same sermon may be only average for another. Both people hear the message I intended to be heard (which is different from observation #1) and yet, because of what is happening in their lives (which is how it is tied to observation #1), one has a very powerful experience and another finds it to be an average message.
     There have been times when people say to me, "I felt like God was talking directly to me." Or, "That was a message I really needed to hear today." Or, "That is one of the messages I will never forget; it will go on my top five list of the best sermons I ever heard." When people share such comments with me, I am humbled that God would choose to use me in such a way.
     The sermon that is extremely powerful for everyone gathered on any given day is very rare. However, it is also the case that on any given day the sermon that is preached is powerful for someone.
     Have you had a sermon that was extremely powerful or moving for you lately? If so, give God thanks for speaking so intimately with you. If you haven't, wait. It is likely that very soon there will be a message that touches you right where you need it.

~~ Elder's Corner ~~
by Roger Luben

It is often said by those who go on mission trips that they receive much more than what they could ever give to the people they served. On the March mission trip to Nicaragua I became ill, was losing my appetite and my energy. I started taking Cipro, an antibiotic. But Marlena, our cook, Bernadette, a counselor, and Dr. Mir, our team leader, along with two other national women, asked me to come to the parsonage of the church in which we were staying for the week.

The five Nicaraguan women surrounded me, laid their hands on me, and prayed for healing. And they sang hymns. And they cried to God – loudly. The service lasted half an hour.

At noon the next day I was able to join the team to work in the pharmacy of the clinics. Was the cure by the Cipro – or the prayers? I think the question does not need an answer. The Bible is clear that we are to look to the Holy Spirit for healing. We are to bring our needs to God through prayer.

We are fortunate to have such an active Prayer Chain in our church. I hope that each of us continues to benefit from the prayers, whether we are the ones praying or the receivers of those prayers. And maybe we could learn to lay our hands on those who need healing.

~~ Deacon’s Corner ~~
by Cheryl Taylor

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (NIV) ⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." ¹⁰Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
     Prosperity: what is it? Money in the bank? Vacations? Clothes? Homes? Cars? God, in His abundant grace and mercy, can and may bless us in practical ways when we bless others. We don't "give to get" but He blesses us anyway.
     So what do I look for when I give? Stuff??? Life is more than material greed - it is monumental grace....and it's there for us when we follow God's commands. Grace in abundance, more than enough - always......we are RICH!
     Sometimes it seems there's just not enough of everything to go around, even grace. We find ourselves beyond the end of endurance and ask, "How much more! Lord, I can't take it!" Been there, done that? I have!
     Life can be difficult, and in the trials and tests of your own personal life, it may seem you have reached "the last mile of the way." That's when the Lord steps in--with MORE grace to sustain your tested soul. It's REALLY there. He knows what you are going through, and He promises to never leave nor forsake you. The grace that SAVED you is enough to KEEP you--in every situation. His grace is all-sufficient at all times of the day or night.
     Grace, grace and more grace - monumental grace - awaits you at the Master's Table today! Believe it, receive it, and you will have a God-filled, grace-filled, RICH day!

Please join me in giving thanks to those who served as elders and deacons for the past three years. Their time and their talents were of great value; they have been and are greatly appreciated. So, thank you Bud, Judy, Marty and Lee Ann for you prayers, thoughts and presence on consistory. Thank you for the time you spent serving God and God’s people. May you be blessed.
-Pastor Dave

Scrapbooking/Craft Nights for the summer are canceled. We will resume in September on Friday the 19th.

The Church Life Council will be providing soft pretzels and cotton candy during Fellowship on Sunday, July 13. You’re invited to join us for this sweet treat!

June Red Cross Blood Drive
The Red Cross would like to thank all who donated their time and blood to make our last drive here at Church of the Saviour a great success. We had 46 presenting donors and were able to obtain 40 units of much needed blood. The homemade cookies donated by the Thursday morning Bible study group were greatly appreciated. The next blood drive will be at the Coopersville United Methodist Church on Monday, August 4.
--Deb Smith

Buckle up for the ride of your life!
VBS 2008 runs Sunday, July 20th, through Thursday, July 24th, and we will be using the 3-2-1 B.I.B.L.E. Academy program. A family friendly dinner begins at 6PM, VBS is 6:30-8PM. Join COS and the Coopersville United Methodist Church for an exciting journey through space and make out-of-this-world discoveries that will help God change your heart so that you can be more like Jesus.

From the Thursday morning Bible Study:
Claim Truth wherever you find it.
     John 1:14 "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 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.'"
     From our study book Velvet Elvis author Rob Bell states that the apostle Paul affirms the truth wherever he finds it. But Paul takes is further in the book of Acts. In Acts 17 Paul is speaking at a place called Mars Hill [King James version] and trying to explain to a group of people who believe in hundreds of thousands of gods that there is really only one God who made everything and everybody. At one point he's talking about how God made us all, and he says to them, "As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" He quotes their own poets. And their poets don’t even believe in the God he's talking about. They were talking about some other god and how we are all the offspring of that god, and Paul takes their statement and makes it about his God. Amazing. Paul doesn't just affirm the truth here; he claims it for himself. He doesn’t care who said it or who they were even saying it about. He claims it as his own truth because of his belief that Christ Jesus is the truth.
     This affirming and claiming of truth wherever you find it is all through the writings of Paul. In 1 Corinthians, he tells his readers, "All things are yours ... and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." He essentially says to them, "It all belongs to God, and Christ is of God, and you are of Christ, so...it's all yours."
     Claim it.
     If it is true, if it is beautiful, if it is honorable, if it is right, then claim it. Because it is from God. And you belong to God.

Please remember these young people from our congregation in your prayers as they attend Camp Geneva the week of July 7th through the 11th:
     Day Camp               Logan Peters
     Geneva Shores      Jaimie Spoelman
                                        Mychala Spoelman
     Geneva Pines         Connor Tibbe
                                        Tristan Tibbe

Worship on the Waterfront will be held Sundays this summer at the waterfront stadium in Grand Haven 7:30-8:45PM rain or shine. There is no cost nor any tickets needed to attend W.O.W. Check out the website at www.worshiponthewaterfront.org or call 616/842-6600.
     July 6 Youth Musical: "Jailhouse Rock!"
     July 13 Geoff Moore
     July 20 Jeremy Simpson
     July 27 Ron & Gary Matthews

The Berlin Fair Association presents Sunday Night Hymn Sing, July 13, 8PM at the Berlin fairgrounds. Use the west parking lot, no parking or entry fee. In case of inclement weather the program will be held in the Coopersville Reformed Church.

Sea to Sea 2008 Bike Tour
A Massive Project to Combat a Massive Problem
A nine-week cycling adventure across the U.S. and Canada, June 28-August 30, raising awareness and funds to support CRC, RCA, and partner programs aimed at alleviating poverty. Your gift will help Sea to Sea partners provide health services for the sick and dying, education for children, training for community leaders, new jobs and business opportunities, and more. To donate call 1-888-272-BIKE or visit the website at www.seatosea.org. The bike tour will be making a stop in Grand Rapids on August 17 at Fifth Third Ballpark. Free general admission tickets are required for the celebration and can be ordered at 616/244-0761 or online at events.seatosea.org. Please pray for the cyclists as they travel from Seattle to Jersey City.



		This Labor Day, build something that LASTS. Camp Geneva invites your family to attend a special family camp, August 29 - September 1, which will inspire and motivate families to share their faith in God through the generations. Look forward to our fabulous speakers, Kevin and Jann Cobb; worshipful music with Paul and Julie Wesselink; and a relaxed schedule that will create memories for a lifetime. For more information, call Camp Geneva at (616) 399-3150 or check us out online at www.campgeneva.org.

Just for Laughs...

GOOD SAMARITAN: A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH? A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?"
"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms."

MOSES AND THE RED SEA: Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school.
"Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When He got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved."
"Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" his mother asked.
"Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER: During the minister's prayer one Sunday there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Sally's mother was horrified. She pinched her into silence and, after church, asked, "Sally, whatever made you do such a thing?"
Sally answered soberly, "I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He just then did!"

TIME TO PRAY: A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night.
"Yes, sir," the boy replied.
"And, do you always say them in the morning, too?" the pastor asked.
"No sir," the boy replied. "I ain't scared in the daytime."

July 6 ~ Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 or Zechariah 9:9-12
Psalm 145:8-14
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

July 13 – Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 25:19-34 or Isaiah 55:10-13
Psalm 119:105-112 or Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13
Romans 8:1-11
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

July 20 – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 28:10-19a or Isaiah 44:6-8
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 or Psalm 86:11-17
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

July 27 – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
Genesis 29:15-28 or 1 Kings 3:5-12
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or Psalm 128 or Psalm 119:129-136
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Serving Community
East Greeters:	July 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 3 August 10 August 17 August 24 August 31	Rick & Lonnie Lillibridge Phil Luben & Keeley Heath Roger & Jeanne Luben Jaime & Wendy Maxwell Jim & Laura McClellan Kyle & Rachael McClellan Sue Meindertsma Todd & Debbie Meindertsma Phil & Barb Metten
Coffee:	July 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 3 August 10 August 17 August 24 August 31	Joel & Dawn Barkel Steve & Lynne Bennink Chris & Traci Berg Marv & Betty Bergsma Cory & Lori Bruins Arlene Bubnik & Gert Veeneman Rodger & Theresa Cheadle Chuck & Connie Cook Angel & Heather Dominguez
Nursery:	July 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 3 August 10 August 17 August 24 August 31	Van Houten family Bob Veeneman family Glenn Veeneman family Veldman family Barkel family Bennink family Berg family & Traci Cheadle Bergsma & Vander Kooi families Bruins family
Sound System:	July 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 3 August 10 August 17 August 24 August 31	David Rosel Will Rosel Kyle McClellan Ray Tibbe Bob Veeneman David Rosel Will Rosel Kyle McClellan Ray Tibbe
Sunday School:	July August	Summer Break Summer Break
Communion Set Up:	July 6 August 3 September 7 October 5 November 2	Lois Adema David Rosel Marv Bergsma Denise Wiersma Molly Thiss

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