This Week:
On this Pentecost Season Sunday, Rev. Karen Campbell will preach from 2 Chronicles 7:12-18 and Matthew 11:25-30 in the Standard English Service in the large worship space. Rev. Andrew mead will preach from Matthew 11:25-30 in the All nations Worship Service in Room 4.
Tonight, you’re invited to return to COS at 5 pm for the Synodical Service of Prayer and Praise.
The 10 am SES service will also be broadcast via Zoom. Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.
Children’s Ministry News, from Jolanda Howe:
Child Blessing in the Communion Circle. Beginning this Sunday, we’re going to simplify our blessing practice by offering a blessing only to babes in arms. All children are still welcome in the communion circle whether or not they partake in the Lord’s Supper, but from now on only children held by a parent will be blessed. We hope that will increase clarity and comfort for both the blessers and the blessed. Read more for the entire announcement.
When and How are Children Invited to Participate in the Lord’s Supper at COS? We offer children at the Lord’s Supper classes 2-4 times a year depending on interest. Many children take the class with a parent during 2nd grade, before they graduate from Children’s Worship, so they are ready to participate in communion when they remain in the service. Some families prefer to wait until children are older and desire to participate. Others want their preschoolers or kindergarteners to take the class and participate. These are all good options. We plan to begin offering classes aimed at middle and high schoolers, because many families come to COS when children are past the age of 2nd grade but have not yet participated, or are participating in the Lord’s Supper but would benefit from deepening their knowledge of the sacrament. If you’d like to participate with your child or teen in the next available class, please send an email to Jolanda Howe or Annette Ediger. Read the full announcement here.
June 11: Programming for Children Ages 3 through Graduated 1st Graders. Beginning June 11th the newly graduated 2nd graders will remain in the sanctuary for corporate worship while children ages 3 through graduated 1st graders will be blessed and dismissed to continue worship in the children’s wing. If your child is 2.5 and they’ve already been attending Little Lambs they are welcome to continue through the summer. If your child is not yet 3, please wait until the beginning of the new ministry season. All children will remain in their current classrooms until late August, when we will advance children in our LL and CW rooms up to the next grade level.
Church News:
May 2022 Giving: $117,161
April 2023 Giving: $83,854
Monthly budgeted General Fund Giving: $120,551
COS Finance update from executive committee: The general fund continues to run in the red (to the tune of $20+K monthly vs expenditures). In the initial months of 2023 giving has lagged. The proposed new budget for next year involves additional decreases to align with receipts. Many good ministries at COS and excellent associated staff continue at this point, but there will be challenges ahead to prioritize. We challenge all to assess giving practices, and we commit to use the funds carefully at COS. Thank you. COS executive committee, for the Council.
The new Giving Envelopes have arrived. Instead of contributor specific as they have been in previous years, these are generic. Giving boxes holding the envelopes are on the same tables as the liturgies. Envelopes can be used during offering time or placed in the giving box. If you would like some put in your mailbox, contact the church office.
Meijer Simply Give: we’re participating in another campaign. Your support through greatly benefits our food pantry. Our double match day is June 17. This means every $10 Simply Give card purchased on at Cascade Meijer on June 17 results in $30 for the COS Food Pantry. You may also give checks to Ellen Westrate who can purchase gift cards on your behalf on the Double Match day.
COS Island Weeding Pop-up: Saturday, June 17 from 9:00a-11:00a, we will meet to weed the parking lot islands. Weeds are an ongoing summer project. All ages and weeding skill levels welcome – onsite training. Prizes given to the best Hawaiian “island” weeding outfits!
ESL and your Second Mountain: David Brooks has written: our “second mountain” is the one we climb for meaning and engagement, after the first mountain: professional status and financial security.” Tutoring ESL is all about the Second Mountain. Yet, Second Mountaineers may honestly say, “I’m not trained to teach immigrants English. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
That’s why, at Friendship ESL@COS, all new tutors are given tutor-mentors, coaching for the first weeks/months, help building lessons from our near-literal mountain of resource material, and follow-up. If you like hanging out with internationals (that’s the start), we can help you get to the top of the ESL mountain.
-Mark Fackler, coordinator
Medical Supplies: Did you know COS has some medical supplies (crutches, wheelchairs, scooters, lift chair, commodes) we loan out to members? Contact the church office if you would like to borrow one of these items. If in good condition and you are finished with an item similar to this list and would like to donate it to COS for others to use, contact the church office.
A group of 24 travelers is making their way from COS to Colorado for a week of outdoor adventures and nightly worship with other high school students from around the US. Pray for safety as they are traveling, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, rock climbing, and mountain biking; and pray that each of these students will fall more in love with the Creator and grow in their desire to serve him. Pray for these COS students and leaders: Paula Adela, Mireille Banza, William Biango, Espe Bitendano, Martha Emil, Grace Kuot, Issa Medard, Julianna Morales, Victoria Morales, Gilbert Musimba, Sebastien Ngongo, Victor Pewee, Asha Salumu, Zawadi Sungura, Daniella Tshibangu, Khan Gai, Addison VanPoolen, Xander Zuidema, Pieter Kooyer, Tayvarie Heard, Annette Ediger, Dan Voetberg, Brian Leahy, Sherri Leahy
From COS Anti Racism Team: There is an excellent opportunity to deepen our understanding of systemic racism to be found at the Grand Rapids Public Museum this summer. From June 3 to September 3 the GRPM is hosting an exhibit called Overcoming Hateful Things: Stories from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery. The Jim Crow Museum of Racism Imagery, housed at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, was begun by Dr. David Pilgrim, a sociology professor at FSU, who collected Jim Crow artifacts for decades. Over the years a museum has developed and now traveling exhibits have been created. This collection is very thoughtfully presented and will help deepen our understanding of racial injustice and consider ways to stop. The exhibit explores the Jim Crow era and the legacies of the Jim Crow era that remain today. It also cultivates understanding and empathy for victims of racial intolerance. The Antiracism Team is grateful this exhibit has come to Grand Rapids and encourages our congregation to attend. https://www.grpm.org/jimcrow/ We also encourage you to visit https://www.experiencegr.com/articles/post/juneteenth/ for a list of Juneteenth events and celebrations in our area.
Job Openings:
Position: Sunday Facilities Coordinator
Hours: 5-6 hours a week
Position Objective: The Sunday Facilities Coordinator has primary responsibility for opening/closing the facilities and preparing the facility for Sunday worship.
Schedule: Work schedule is normally 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each Sunday. On the Sundays when a meal is served, the schedule may go until 2:00 p.m. Opportunities for occasional Sundays off will be provided.
Pay rate: $17 per hour based on experience.
Inquiries and Resumes to Church Administrator: monica.smith@coscrc.org
Read the full job description here
Position: Facilities Coordinator
Hours: 15 hours a week
Position Objective: The Facility Coordinator is responsible for preparation of the COS facility so that it is a ready and reliable resource for the programs, ministries, staff, and members of the church thereby helping to ensure the fulfillment the church’s vision and mission.
Schedule: Work schedule is negotiable with hours normally completed on weekdays. The candidate should be on-site for weekday congregation activities including Wednesday evening activities and meals.
Pay rate: $17 per hour based on experience.
Inquiries and Resumes to Church Administrator: monica.smith@coscrc.org