Happening This Sunday

In our SES we welcome Reverend Katherine Lee Baker to the pulpit. Katherine is the Chaplain and Spiritual Care Coordinator at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, and a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America.

Youth News

High School:

Cedar Point Reminder: All spaces are filled—and there is a waiting list! If you signed up, your payment of $40 must be turned in to church by Aug. 1 or your spot will be given to someone on the waiting list!

Camping anyone?
If you would like to spend a couple nights camping on Lake Michigan (August 11-13), sign up on the sheet in the cafe SOON!  3 sites are reserved but a site or two will be cancelled if more campers don’t sign up. 

All Youth Volunteer Opportunity: New pollinator/rain garden at COS – Thanks to a grant from the National Wildlife Federation.  See announcement below for sign up information.

Church News

New pollinator/rain garden at COS – Thanks to a grant from the National Wildlife Federation (https://www.nwf.org/sacredgrounds), COS and a few other local congregations are installing new pollinator / rain gardens on their properties. With the help of the Plaster Creek Stewards, we plan to build ours this Tuesday, July 30th in the swale that collects run-off from our east parking lot. Volunteers are needed from 8:00-10:00, 10:00-noon, 12:30-2:30 pm, and 2:30-4:30 pm. You can sign up online (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4ba5a92aa3f58-cossacred) or in the cafe area. Tools and refreshments will be provided, but you may want to bring your own work gloves.  

Every Day more than 10,000 patients rely on the generosity of blood donors to survive. Will you be someone’s hero? Our summer blood drive is on Monday, August 26, 2-7pm. Please mark the date on your calendar and plan to give. A scheduling poster will be in the cafe area next week, or use this link to schedule online: https://donate.miblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/108867

Many thanks!!

Saturday, August 10, 9-11am “Healing Wounds of the Heart”  Bible story-based gatherings for ”our sisters” impacted by violence, abuse and/or incarceration.  A series of 5 Saturday morning gatherings will take place at First Christian Reformed Church, 651 Franklin St., SE. 

As COS continues to deepen our discernment about sexuality and life together in Christ, please join us on Sunday Aug. 11 from 8:30 – 9:50am in room 3 off the café. Two RCA pastors currently writing a book on marriage and celibacy will share their work :Two Ways of the Cross: Rediscovering Marriage and Celibacy in Light of the Contemporary Sexuality Debate. How do the two vocations of marriage and celibacy witness in their own unique, complementary ways to the gospel? In what ways do they witness to the cross, and the new creation? Steven Rodriguez and Kevin Slusher, two pastors committed to spiritual friendship, one married with children, one gay and committed to a life of celibacy, each bring a unique perspective to these questions. Breakfast foods and coffee will be on hand! Please contact Pastor Andrew with any questions.

Two opportunities to learn more about how (and why) Christians can (and should) effectively engage in organizing for change:
1. Monday, July 29, 8-9:30 am  at COS – informal conversation and coffee to discuss Chapter 8, “The Authority to Lead” from Blessed Are the Organized: Grassroots Democracy in America by J. Stout.  

2. Tuesday, August 6, 7-8:30 pm at Unison Church (2010 Kalamazoo Ave.,) – Broad-based Organizing for Social Change with Paul Turner, Regional Supervisor and long-time Lead Organizer with the IAF.  Also, from 6-7 p.m. a light supper will be available at no cost to those who sign up in advance.

Library News: Check out these new titles in the library: In This World of Wonders by Nicholas Wolterstorff; The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by New York Times’ columnist David Brooks; The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy by Timothy Keller; and My Dearest Dietrich: A Novel of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Lost Love by Amanda Barratt.

Gender and Sexuality Acceptance Group – Sunday, August 18:

Sunday Evening Book Club – Little and Lion, Brandy Colbert (2017) (336 pages)

The Gender and Sexuality Acceptance Group is open to everyone interested in joining our discussions and programs on gender and sexuality. All are welcome. Our events are safe spaces, planned with the goal of the full inclusion and participation of people who identify as LGBTQ+ and their families.

COS is looking for a Basic English Service Music Coordinator to help and lead in the planning of the BES worship services that welcome and utilize the creative and spiritual expression of congregants’ gifts.  This is a part time position (12 hours a week for an initial period of one year).  For further details consult the church’s website at coscrc.org/jobs  Closing date for application is 16th August. 

Giving Update: Our giving for the week of Sunday July 21 totaled $23,479.11 (including weekly online giving). Our current giving for the month of July is $78,103.92.