Pentecost Season, July 24, 2022

This Sunday:

This Sunday, July 24, Rev. Karen Campbell will preach from Genesis 18:20-32 and Colossians 2:6-15 in the large service. Rev. Andrew Mead will preach in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4.

The 10 am large service will be streamed via Zoom.

Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.

Church News:

Current Giving for the month of July: $65,306.28
Giving for the month of June: $80,926
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.

Congregational Meeting – Aug. 7. There will be a congregational meeting after the worship service 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 of 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 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, Adam Hollemans, Carol Rienstra, Jon Vandervelde.

Council met on July 21 and continues to work toward an action plan in response to synodical decisions of 2022. We meet again as a full council on August 11 and COS members are welcome to attend and observe. Here is a helpful FAQ link from the new CRCNA General Secretary, Zachary King, https://www.crcna.org/synod/hsr-faq

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.

Summer Schedule for Social Seniors: We are meeting every other Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM over the summer, via Zoom. Meeting dates are July 26, August 9, August 23, and September 13. All persons interested in casual visiting, sharing spiritual encouragement, and praying for one another and for our church are welcome. For more information, contact Corrie Vos.

Meeting Link

Meeting ID: 832 6366 9013

Passcode: COS

Job Opening: All Nations Worship Coordinator. Position summary: To cultivate, empower, and sustain a multicultural, multilingual worshipping community. The All Nations Worship Coordinator will work as part of a team consisting of Co-Pastor Andrew, Co-Pastor Karen, All Nations music teams, the All Nations Music Assistant, and the SES Worship Coordinator. A key component for cultivating multicultural worship will be building relationships across a variety of cultures. Find the full job description and information on applying here.

Saved a life lately? That’s what blood donation does…saves lives! And that’s why ordinary people like you donate blood. It’s not because they love to get poked with a needle…not because they have more time than they know what to do with…not because they get paid big bucks. It’s because blood cannot be manufactured, and it’s a gift of life from one person to those that need it. We are hosting a blood drive here in the church on Monday, August 1, from 2-7pm. Consider joining with those that share life. You can sign up for an appointment:  https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/139718  Any questions? Contact Ruth Huisman. Thank you, thank you!

Artery: Plan to meet the current Artery artist Ellie Harold on Sunday July 31 after the morning worship service is over. She will speak briefly about her artwork and answer questions. Ellie will also be available in the Artery afterwards for conversations about her art. Light refreshments will be served in the artery space. If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to walk down the Artery and enjoy each one.

Position Opening – Church Administrator

Compensation:​ 30 hours/week starting at $26/hour with benefits

Reports to:​ Executive Team of Council

Summary of Position:

The church administrator coordinates the key administrative functions of the Church of the Servant (COS). Accountable to the COS executive team, supported by the spiritual disciplines of reading the Bible and prayer, and with a collaborative spirit, the Church Administrator assures the timely coordination of the key operational functions of the church toward the fulfillment of the church’s vision and mission. Find the complete job description on the COS website.

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.

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