This Week:
On this Pentecost Season Sunday, Rev. Jack Roeda will preach from Isaiah 66:1-2, 10-14 and Philippians 2:1-11 in the Standard English Service in the large worship space. Rev. Karen Campbell will preach from Philippians 2:1-11 in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4. During worship this morning, we will also commission our youth and leaders as they travel to Northern Ireland this week.
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:
Summer Clubs Start June 21, 6:30-8:00pm! Our second year of summer clubs for kids begins this Wednesday, June 21 at 6:30pm! Kids clubs are for 2nd-6th graders, but unlike LL and CW, in the summer we welcome 1st graduates to start coming! We also allow 6th grade graduates to decide if they’d like to move on to Wednesday Night Live or stay in Girls or Boys Club for the summer. We hope the flexibility helps make starting in a new ministry more comfortable for everyone.
Summer clubs will meet on June 21 and 28, July 12*, 19, and 26, and August 9 and 16. Then we’ll take a break before the new ministry season begins.
No Wednesday Night Dinner or Nursery for Summer Clubs. Last summer we offered a meal before clubs, but most families dropped kids off rather than staying to eat. So please feed your kids before bringing them to church this summer because we’re skipping the meal. Currently, we don’t have any ministry volunteers who need nursery care for their children, so we won’t be offering nursery on Wednesday nights either. If you have younger kids and prefer to remain at church with them while your older kids are in programming you’re welcome to use the nursery or the play equipment outside. But please note, clubs may be using the patio space, nature trail, or church yard for activities.
Church News:
Current Giving for June (includes monthly ach): $46,221
May 2023 Giving: $88,582
May 2022 Giving: $117,161
Monthly budgeted General Fund Giving is: $120,551
Jubilee Medical Debt Donations: $10,177
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.
8-week volunteers — Friendship ESL at COS seeks 8-week enlistments for tutors beginning Sept 12 and running through Nov 2. Tutors teach one class per week, Tuesday or Thursday evenings, 6-8p. 8 weeks, 8 classes. Special assistance is ready for class preps. Expected of volunteers: show up, meet the people, greet the people, teach the language you speak pretty well, return home pleasantly fulfilled. – Mark Fackler, pmfackler@gmail, 616 285 9298.
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.
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.
From COS Executive Team: Our COS mission statement reads: Rooted in Christ and nurtured by the Spirit, we grow in God’s grace to share gifts of refuge, fellowship, and hope.
The Exec Team is deeply grieved by the actions of Synod 2023. We lament the pain the decisions will bring on so many, particularly our LGBTQIA+ families and friends. We remain resolutely committed to being rooted in Christ and nurtured by the Spirit: we can only grow in God’s grace as we share our gifts of refuge, fellowship, and hope together. This is a time when we need each other.
The Council will be meeting very soon to discuss the very serious implications Synod 2023 will bring. We need a lot of wisdom, and value your prayers. Most of all this week, please pray and uphold families and individuals who are in distress.
This Friday, a group of COS youth and leaders will travel to Northern Ireland to study peacemaking. Together, the group will learn from Northern Irish clergy, church members, community leaders, authors, and artists about the history of the troubles and the church’s role in fostering reconciliation and peace-building. As they learn and pray together, our COS group will reflect on the parallels of divisiveness in our own contexts and how we can be catalysts of renewal in God’s world. Please keep this group in your prayers as they travel and learn this week: Sophie Bartels, Callum Campbell, David Campbell, Duncan Campbell, Ian Campbell, Karen Campbell, Elise Harlow, Dave Hartwell, Henry Jackson, Molly Jackson, Celia Kort, Meg Voetberg, Kate Witvliet, Luke Witvliet, Madeline Witvliet, Sheila Witvliet.
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/
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