This Week:

On this Pentecost Season Sunday, Rev. Karen Campbell will preach from Genesis 28:10-19a and Romans 8:12-25 in the standard English service in the large worship space. Rev. Andrew Mead will preach from Romans 8:12-25 in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4.

Following the services, you’re invited to join in Room 4 where participants in this summer’s Colorado Challenge and Northern Ireland Peacemaking trip will share their experiences.

The 10 am SES service will also be broadcast via Zoom. Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.  

Church News:

Current Giving for July: $61,044

July 2022 Giving: $80,723

The current General Fund deficit is ($19,516).

Giving statements were sent via email last week for the first half of the calendar year, if you do not have an email on file, you will find a paper copy in your cos mailbox next week. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact AJ Zahrt, Treasurer.

Camelot Block Party – Saturday, July 29 from 11:00a-1:30pm, we will join with other churches in our community and Ridge Park Charter School to host an annual Camelot Park Block Party. At this event, we give away backpacks to the students, along with food, music, and activities. If you are available to help with this event, contact the church office.

Prisoners in Christ: Since 2004, COS has sponsored a partnership with men incarcerated in the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) for the purpose of making and strengthening disciples of Christ on both sides of prison walls.  Woven throughout the almost 20-year history of Prisoners in Christ are accounts of God’s work through Troy Rienstra to generate the Life Change book group, Celebration Fellowship Prison congregation and the Calvin Prison Initiative.  Presently, dozens of COS members are engaged as volunteers or staff in these initiatives, as well as in Restorative Justice conversations, trainings and practices.  For more information about Prisoners in Christ, contact Arend Vander Pols, Carol Rienstra, or Lynette LaBine.

Neighbors need neighbors to make a difference. Give blood, save lives and strengthen our community. Be a donor at our blood drive 2-7pm, Monday, July 31, here at Church of the Servant. You can sign up for an appointment at https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/150132  You can literally save someone’s life, and who wouldn’t want to do that? If you have questions or need some encouragement to donate for the first time, contact Beth Karanicola or Ruth Huisman.

The COS Human Resources Team is looking for some additional members. The Team meets a few times a year to review policies, job descriptions, and review budgetary items which pertain to staff. If you are interested in participating on the HR Team, contact Corrie Vos, chair.

Mercy and Benevolence need-in Sierra Leone.  Kumba Sano Sesay is a long-time church servant working in Sierra Leone, where Paul and Mary Kortenhoven worked for several decades. Kumba will need surgery soon for a cerebral aneurysm, and the total cost will be $15,000.   She is a CRC member in a mission planted church that COS has supported for over 40 years, works tirelessly for the growth of the church, and is a living example of the good news of Christ. She is a leader of women in the CRC in Sierra Leone. She is a close friend of the Kortenhoven family, and the mother of Peter Kortenhoven. Peter and Aaron Kortenhoven visited her in Sierra Leone after her initial stroke many weeks ago. Any help from COS members is greatly appreciated. Label the check: Mercy and Benevolence – Kumba”  Contact Paul Kortenhoven for further information. Thank you for considering this need!

Job Openings:

Position: Sunday Facilities Coordinator

Hours: 5-6 hours a week

Position: Facilities Coordinator

Hours: 15 hours a week

Congregational Meeting Schedule

  • Sunday, July 30 following the service in the SES worship space, the Finance Team will host a 2023-24 Budget Q&A.
  • Sunday, August 6 following the service in the SES worship space, we will have the annual Congregational Meeting for voting on the 2023-24 Budget and Council Officer Bearers.
  • Sunday, August 13 – Council Officer Bearers Installation

On Monday, July 17, we shared the sudden news that the Campbell family will be following a calling to return to their home in Northern Ireland and finish their service here at Church of the Servant over the coming weeks. If you missed the email with this announcement, you may find it here. The COS Executive Team will keep the congregation informed through future communications as circumstances develop. We ask for you to continue to pray for our church community at this time of change and transition and that God’s will may be done in caring tenderly for our family of faith. See also this reflection from pastor Andrew Mead.

CORE: COS has embraced and led antiracism work for over 25 years. CORE (Communities Organizing for Racial Equity) is a non-profit that has emerged out of this continued effort. CORE is a group of Christ followers who work to empower and equip organizations, congregations, and communities to organize and disciple their members to become agents of institution and individual racial reconciliation.

CORE has two more workshops planned for 2023, both offered here at COS. The first one is a 2-day workshop on August 10 and 11 from 8:30am-5pm each day. The second one will be a traditional in-person 2.5-day workshop, November 2-4. (Thursday evening, all day Friday and Saturday). The longer one allows us to build a deeper working and listening relationship between the attendees.  

These Understanding Racism workshops welcome everyone in our congregation. Our Council has recently made a commitment to attend a workshop. As Christ followers, joining in the ongoing task of dismantling racism, we can do good work together. Registration costs are covered by our COS budget. Prayerfully consider attending or coming back for a refresher. Register at COREnow.org