Happening This Sunday

Intergenerational Sunday School meets Sunday, April 7, at 9am. IGSS will feature a lively report from our Puerto Rico mission team, including a slideshow, testimonies, and singing.  After today’s Prism worship service, stay and enjoy an all-church meal and celebrate the BES 10th birthday party. Come and join us in sharing food, stories, singing, and yes…dancing!  Everyone is invited!

Next Sunday

Next Sunday’s Palm Sunday worship begins at 10am, with a service in the large Sanctuary and the Basic English Service in Room 4. The service will begin with a palm processional, after which we will turn our focus toward Holy Week with a reading of the Passion narrative. The reading will be interspersed with hymns.

Youth News

Today, April 7 – 9am – Intergenerational Sunday School

12noon – All church meal.  Plan to sit together at the tables reserved for High School Students and then stick around for BIG GROUP!

12:45PM – Big Group meets.  We will watch a slide show of our mission team’s trip to Puerto Rico accompanied by stories of what our team experienced on the trip. Done by 2pm.

Looking ahead… Small Groups should meet between April 14-21.

April 21 is Easter – which means 2 worship services to celebrate that Christ is risen, one at 8:30am and one at 11:00am, with the FAMOUS COS EASTER BRUNCH at 10am!

April 28 – Big Group meets after our 10am worship for lunch followed by our monthly “4 for 4” activities.

Middle School: WNL Class is this Wednesday, April 10 

Church News

Easter is almost here and it’s nearly time for our annual Easter Brunch! As is our tradition, the brunch will be held from 10-11am between the worship services and everyone is welcome! Please bring delicious food to share. Breads, muffins, veggies, fruit, egg dishes, or brownies, are all welcome.  Have things cut and ready to be served. Punch and coffee will be available.

The Thursday Bible study meets this week Thurs. April 11.  This week’s study: Esther 5-6, The Story Takes a Turn. We meet Thurs. 9:30–11am, in the café area.  Childcare provided.  ALL ARE WELCOME!

Lost & Found – If you lost an item while you were here at COS, we may have found it! Check the coat rack area near the office for insulated mugs, assorted hats, gloves, shirts, coats and books. You probably don’t realize you’ve lost it.  Whatever isn’t claimed after a couple of weeks will be donated.

Applications are being accepted for the Jack and Carol Roeda Refugee Higher Education Scholarship until April 15 for the 2019 – 2020 school year. To qualify, you must be a refugee, participate regularly in COS/BES, and plan to attend a college or university. This year five students who attend GRCC, Ferris State and Calvin have benefited from this scholarship.  For this we thank God and thank you for your generous giving to the scholarship fund.

Knitters’ Night Out – Saturday, April 13 at 7:30pm. Knitters (and other needle crafters) are welcome to join us at Deanna van Dijk’s home.

African Drumming – We hope to have a group of people to play the Djembes during our Easter Morning procession.  We will rehearse on Wednesday, April 17 from 6-6:30pm in the sanctuary.  Since we have 2 morning services on Easter, at 8:30am and 11am, we will need drummers for both services.  We will rehearse briefly before each service as well.  Please let Maria know if you are interested in playing (Maria.Stapert@coscrc.org). 

Holy Week Choir – We welcome new (and seasoned…) voices to join the choir during Holy Week.  The choir will participate in services on Palm Sunday (April 14), Good Friday (April 19), and Easter Sunday (April 21). We will rehearse on Wednesday evenings, April 10 and 17 from 6:30-8:00pm.  Please let Maria know if you are interested in participating (Maria.Stapert@coscrc.org). 

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF CHURCH OF THE SERVANT?  Please join us on Sunday, April 28, for a luncheon from 11:45-1:00.  No need to bring anything but we do ask that you sign up on the café welcome table or contact Chris Klein at chris.klein@coscrc.org. This will be an introduction to COS and a time of getting acquainted and then, if you are interested in joining, there will be 3 additional meetings on May 5, 12 and 19.

An update regarding financials for month end included the following activity:

February 2019      Actual 

Receipts              $  88,976

Expenditures        117,726

Income (Loss)    $ (28,750)

The general fund balance on February 28 was reported at 37,927.  2018-19 Monthly budgeted receipts were expected to be $119,028. This requires general fund giving to be $29,757 each week. Our February receipts were $88,976.  This was a weekly average of $22,244.

Lectio Divina continues during Lent – All are welcome to join us each Wednesday of Lent from 12:00 – 12:45 in the Living Room.

The COS Antiracism Team is putting together a COS list of those who have attended a 2.5 day Understanding Racism Workshop.  We would like to have occasional contact to invite you to relevant events.  One upcoming event will be Sunday, April 28 from noon to 2pm here at COS. We will have a meal, reflect on the impact of racism in our lives and a learning opportunity offered by Calvin Professor Joe Kuilema.  So, if you are a 2.5 day Understanding Racism Workshop alumni, and you have not yet heard from us, please let us know so we may add you to the list.

Surprises, challenges, changes ‘from doing to being’….all sound familiar, seniors? Consider joining a small group exploring these and other Aging Matters, beginning end of April. Watch for a sign-up sheet in the cafe.