Pentecost Season, August 7, 2022

This Sunday:

This Sunday, August 7, Rev. Karen Campbell will preach from Genesis 15:1-6 and Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 in the large service. Ben Videtich will preach in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4. Following the services, stick around for a Congregational Meeting to vote on the 2022-2023 budget and new council slate.

The 10 am large service will be streamed via Zoom.

Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.

Congregational Meeting – This Sunday. There will be a congregational meeting after the worship services on Sunday, August 7 to vote on the COS 2022-23 budget and the slate of council nominees. Time will be reserved at the start of the meeting for discussion about the budget. The nominees for elder are Elizabeth Boelens, Ann Dieleman, Claire Elgersma, Len Vander Zee, Jolene Vos-Camy and Klaas Walhout and nominees for deacon are Hope Bradley, Joan Huyser-Honig, Janice McWhertor, Marty Monsma, Arend Vander Pols and Eric Walstra. Here is a link to nominee bios. Continuing council members are elders Kim Benedict, Bill Harris, Gretchen Borst, Dale Cooper, Karen Koetje and Beena Philip and deacons Marc Beversluis,  Chair of Deacons, Pam Bratt, Eve Clayton, Adam Hollemans, and Bob Hoeksema. Retiring elders are Rhonda Mejeur, Margaret Mwenda, Nancy Pranger, Duane Heeringa and Bill Vriesema and retiring deacons are Stacy Steen, Chair of Council, Marji Voetberg, Clerk of Council, Carol Rienstra, Jon Vandervelde.

Those unable to attend the congregational meeting on August 7 are welcome to use this online form to cast their absentee ballot. The online absentee ballot will be open until 11:30 am on August 7.

Church News:

Current Giving for the month of August: 22,032

Estimated Giving for the month of July: $77,998

2021 Giving for the month of July: $83,974

Monthly budgeted General Fund Giving is:  $118,873

From Pastor Andrew: I will be taking a mini-sabbatical from ministry July 25 – Aug. 22. I am eager to spend more time with my family, to retreat, to play, and to pay attention to the Lord’s leading for the ministry year ahead. I am deeply grateful for this time away and I welcome your prayers for rest, renewal, and vision.

Science Night this Wednesday, 6:30-8:00pm for Girls and Boys Club

Back by popular demand, Professor Chad Tatko will lead an explosive night of club ministries! You won’t want to miss it! 

Naji Umran and Anne Zaki will join our August 17 dinner for a time of fellowship, sharing, and prayer. This will be our opportunity to welcome them, catch up on their ministry over these last couple of years, hear more about how God is at work, and find out where they are in need of prayer.

Social Seniors Zoom meetings have ended. With most people able to attend worship services and other church events in person now, the need for our meetings has passed. Thank you to all who participated. You helped make it a supportive, spiritually encouraging and overall delightful experience for all of us.

We did it again…another successful Blood Drive! Warm thanks to all who participated – 30 people signed in, and we collected 26 units of blood. Versiti and our community thank you – you’ve given a priceless gift! Our next drive is on Monday, November 7. Please mark it on your calendar.

Spiritual Trauma Healing Group: As a community of believers, we lament the reality of spiritual trauma. Certain texts in Scripture can be twisted to cause harm, and a victim’s connection to God can be compromised. If you would benefit from a small, therapist-led group, there are two ways to take a step toward healing: 1. call or email Josh Baron, the therapist who will lead the group this Fall or 2. get in touch with Ben Videtich for further details. Going straight to Josh allows for total anonymity, as he is removed from the COS community. Touching base with Ben, if you’re comfortable with it, allows for more information before a screening email and call with Josh. We leave it to you to decide which feels right. Josh is a warm and welcoming person who holds an authentic faith, and has facilitated healing groups over his 16 years of experience as a therapist. The group will meet six Tuesdays in a row at 6-7:30pm beginning October 4th, ending November 8th, at Josh’s office – near Burton and East Beltline. 

It is time to begin thinking about 2023 giving envelopes. We ask that you fill out a form which you can find in your COS mailbox (or this online form) if you would like to continue/begin receiving giving envelopes in 2023. Please plan to mail the form to COS or drop off to COS office by September 20th. If you have any questions, please contact Angelica Zahrt, Treasurer by email aj.zahrt@coscrc.org or by phone 616-956-7611 ext 29.

We’re delighted to welcome Monica Smith to our staff at Church of the Servant in the role of Church Administrator. Monica brings many years of administrative and supervisory experience, most recently serving as Church Administrator at First Cutlerville CRC. Throughout the interview process, Monica conveyed her dedication to ministry and service, and clearly showed her leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational talents. We’re thankful to Monica for taking on this important position, and thankful to the interview team for leading this process so well. Please keep Monica and her family in your prayers as they adjust to Monica’s new role. Please also pray for First Cutlerville CRC as they respond to this change as well. Monica begins her role at COS on August 15, and looks forward to getting to know more of the congregation over the coming months.

2022 marks the thirteenth year of the New Psalm Contest at Church of the Servant, but the history of encouraging new songwriters is as old as the church, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We look forward to continuing the tradition of encouraging new songs for the church through this contest. We have enjoyed the quality and diversity of entries over the past twelve years, and we would be delighted if you would take part or spread the news to those who might have a new Psalm to share for this year’s contest.

The first place winner will receive a $500 award; the second place winner will receive a $200 award. There is no entry fee and the contest is open to all. Submissions must be emailed or postmarked by October 1, 2022. The winning songs will be premiered in worship on February 12, 2023. Learn more on the COS website.

For those with hearing aids: The large worship space includes an inductive loop system which provides a magnetic, wireless signal that is picked up by hearing devices with telecoils. If you use a hearing device with telecoil, you may use the inductive loop system by sitting in the center-portion of the worship space (there are maps posted on the I-beams near the back of the space). While in that space, switch your device to “T-Coil” using your accompanying smart-phone app or on the device itself.

50th anniversary Celebration. This year, Church of the Servant is blessed to celebrate its 50-year anniversary. In anticipation of this milestone, we encourage you to save Sept. 17-18 for our anniversary celebration. We will hold a celebration on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 4:30-8 pm at COS. The evening will include dinner as well as programming that looks back at our 50 years as a congregation and looks forward to God’s future of the church.

On Sunday, Sept. 18, we will gather for worship at 10 am followed by an all-church meal outside. More details and formal invitations will follow. For now, we encourage you to save the dates as we look forward to celebrating with our COS friends. Learn more at coscrc.org/fiftyyears

Understanding Racism Workshop. To our brothers and sisters in Christ, CORE (Community Organizing for Racial Equity) announces two workshops: August 11 and 12 and November 10 (evening), 11 and 12. These Understanding Racism workshops are open to everyone in our congregation.  It is our hope and prayer that COS people continue in this work of understanding racism, becoming an ever brighter light in the community as to what God-led antiracism looks like. Our times are always fraught with racial tension. By attending a workshop and joining in the ongoing task of dismantling racism as a Christ follower, we can do good work together. These workshops will be held at Church of the Servant. Registration costs are covered by our COS budget. Please prayerfully consider attending. Register at COREnow.org