This Week:
On this Pentecost Season Sunday, Rev. Karen Campbell will preach from 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and Luke 1:46-52 in our standard English service in the large worship space. Makema Lwenge will preach from Luke 1:46-52 in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4. This Sunday will also include a commissioning for our youth who will be attending Colorado Challenge this coming week, and a presentation of Bibles to our graduating 2nd graders.
Following the services, we will hold a congregational meeting and vote on updates to our Articles of Incorporation and assignment of assets (read more below).
Sunday evening, you’re invited to return to COS at 6 pm for an informal service of prayer for Synod 2023.
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:
June 4: 2nd Grade Graduates Receive Bibles. On Sunday, June 4, our graduating 2nd graders will receive Bibles during the service in both services. After receiving Bibles, they will join the processional to the children’s wing one final time to explore their new Bibles with Ms. Sherri Leahy!
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:
The Council of Church of the Servant invites all voting members to an important congregational meeting on Sunday, June 4, 2023 in the SES worship space, after the morning services. Council has adopted a recommendation for congregational approval to do two things:
- Amend the Articles of Incorporation for Church of the Servant CRC.
- Approve the assignment of all assets of Church of the Servant to a new corporate entity.
Council makes these recommendations to be good stewards of the resources of COS and to update our governing documents. Learn more here.
Those who cannot attend the congregational meeting are welcome to use this online absentee ballot to submit their vote.
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. Denominational ministry contributions from COS ($8,300 monthly) have been held for many months, and other expenses have been cut. 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.
Council is asking the congregation for Elder and Deacon nominees for a three-year term on Council to begin in September of 2023. You may nominate yourself or another member of COS whom you feel has the gifts to serve our congregation on Council. We anticipate the need to fill five Elder and four Deacon roles this term. Prayerfully consider whether you or someone you know might be called to serve our congregation in this meaningful way. Send nominations via online submission or contact Chair of Elders, Karen Koetje. Please submit your nominations by June 5.
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.
Prayer for Synod – ‘Prayer is as necessary to the Christian as breathing is to the human body’. Jesus modelled a life of constant prayer: during his baptism, when choosing the disciples, he often retreated to the mountainside and spent whole nights in prayer. He prayed before the feeding of the 5000 and for the protection of his disciples and the unity of all believers. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus gave them the Lord’s prayer as a model which was a corporate rather than an individual prayer. If prayer is the oxygen of the church it should give us life and encourage a vibrant expression of our faith in Jesus as a corporate body. As Synod 2023 approaches, we want to encourage our church to join together in corporate prayer. There will be different opportunities to do this and we invite the congregation to participate as able.
- Sunday, 4th June • 6 pm an informal prayer service in the sanctuary
- Tuesday, 6th June • 7 pm in person in the living room of COS
2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”
Synod Worship: Over a year ago, the Council of Delegates asked and approved that Church of the Servant should be the host church for Synod 2023. This was to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of our congregation.
Some of you may wonder what this will entail and how you might be involved.
COS will lead the opening worship service in Calvin Chapel at 8:00am on Friday, June 9. This service is open for everyone to attend. Following this service, Synod will move into business and Pastor Karen will be the president pro-tem for this opening session.
On Sunday, June 11 at 5:00pm there will be a worship service and communion at COS. This is open to all to attend.
Classis update: Classis Grand Rapids East met on Thursday, May 18, and approved a response to the overture from Classis Zeeland. Classis Zeeland asked synod to redistrict the member churches of our classis and disband the classis. The response explains that a request to redistrict a church should be made through overtures from both the home classis of the affected church and the receiving classis. Church Order and past decisions of synod do not support this kind of request being imposed by an outside classis without the involvement or consent of the affected churches and classes. Classis Grand Rapids East also approved a revision to its articles of incorporation that clarify that a motion to revise the member churches of Classis Grand Rapids East can only be made upon the request of a member church and would require the subsequent approval of both our classis and synod.
In the latest newsletter from our classis Racial Justice Team, Cindy VanderKodde tells about her experiences with Story Tables during a worship service at First CRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can download the newsletter from the COS website here.
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!
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