Lent, March 12, 2023
This Week:
This Sunday marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time. Please remember to “Spring Forward” by setting your clocks ahead one hour prior to Sunday morning.
On this third Sunday of Lent, Rev. Andrew Mead will preach from 1 Samuel 15:6-13 and 1 Corinthians 4:1-7 in the larger worship service. Rev. Karen Campbell will preach in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4.
Sunday, March 12, we will celebrate God’s faithfulness as Aiden Rozema publicly profess his faith in Jesus Christ; we rejoice with him in this important decision and milestone in his life; and we welcome him as a professing member of the Church.
Following the worship services, we invite you to stay for Sunday school for all ages. Our adult education class, God’s People Seeking, concludes its series on “Racism and Policing in America.” This session examines the structural context of policing in Grand Rapids specifically. GPS meets in Room 3.
The 10 am large sanctuary service will also be broadcast via Zoom. Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.
Children’s Ministry News:
The Winter/Spring season dates for Wednesday Night activities are March 15, and April 12 and 19. Families with children in 2nd-6th grade, please plan to stay to watch your kids race their pinewood derby cars on April 19!
Church News:
Current Giving for the Month of March (includes monthly ach): $30,274
March 2022 Giving: $86,662
Monthly budgeted General Fund Giving is: $118,873
We’re still hoping for a few more donors to join us at our blood drive this Monday, March 13, 2-7pm. Blood donation provides that which cannot be manufactured: human blood. Will you be a lifesaver? Sign up online at https://donate.michigan.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/144937 We’d love to have some first-time donors too; if that’s you, and you have questions, please contact Ruth Huisman. The process takes about an hour, and saves lives! Thank you!
Are you curious about microchurches? Excited about how they could be part of your church’s missional vision? Join the GR Church Planting Collaborative (affiliated with our classis) as we explore what microchurches are, how they are developing throughout North America and the CRCNA, and as we imagine together how microchurches might be part of our missional vision. Tuesday, March 14; 8:30 continental breakfast, 9:30-1:00 speakers, forums, conversation groups; at the West Michigan Friendship Center (3665 29th St SE #1811, Kentwood, MI 49512); lunch included. Event is free, but does require RSVP to aschenkel@crcna.org. Any questions, ask Pastor Andrew.
Meijer Simply Give: COS has been awarded another campaign to support our in-house Food Pantry. The next double-match day will be March 25. This is where your $10.00 purchase of the Simply Give gift card will give COS $30.00 in Meijer gift cards to be used to purchase food items from Meijer for our pantry. For those who want Ellen Westrate, Food Coordinator, to purchase the Simply Give cards at the Cascade Meijer only on those days, please give your money or a check to COS in an envelope to Ellen Westrate labeled “Simply Give.”
The Prisoners in Christ Restorative Justice team invites newcomers to our monthly suppertime conversation at Church of the Servant to learn more about the impact of crime and punishment on our families and communities, and what we together can do to make things better. The next meeting will be on Monday, March 13, at 5:30 p.m. and includes free supper. For more information, or to sign up, email info@prisonersinchrist.org or call (616) 724-6772.
Save The Date – The annual Spring Workday is scheduled for Saturday, April 15 from 9:00am-1:00pm, with lunch provided. Everyone is welcome to attend. There will be tasks for all skill levels, both indoor and outdoor. A specific list will be published early April. Thank you for caring for our campus!
The March/April show in the Artery will be photographs by Bob and Kris Brown. They both enjoy taking an ordinary photo and turning it into something amazing. The show will be up on March 12 and will hang until April 27. A meet and greet for Bob and Kris will be held on March 19.
The March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Auction & Dance Fundraiser is almost here! This event will raise money to send high school and college students from COS on two summer trips: Peacemaking in N. Ireland and outdoor adventures and worship in Colorado. There are 2 ways you can help make this St. Patrick’s Day event a success:
- Come! And invite your friends and family to join you for a fun night of delicious food, unique auction items, entertainment, and Irish dancing! RSVP’s not required but encouraged. RSVP via email (Annette.ediger@coscrc.org) or by filling out an RSVP ticket near the memorial wall in the large worship space. Doors open at 5:15pm, dinner at 6pm. Our evening will end with dessert and Irish Dancing from 8-8:45pm.
- Donate something! We’ve already received some great donations (weekend at a cottage on Lake Michigan, artwork by Paul Stoub, Wietze Adema, Steve Huyser-Honig, and Mariah West, water skiing and a sunset boat ride in Muskegon, books, handmade note cards, jewelry, horseback riding outing, a camper for a weekend outing, rustic B&B on a private pond, homemade apple pies, live plants, and more!). What can you donate? We need little items (Schuil’s gift cards, baked goods, boxes of candy, …) medium items (fireworks, themed gift basket, kids toys, yard tools, …) and big items (a round of golf, 2 nights at the family cottage, a meal for 6-8 people, …) Contact Annette by Sun., Mar. 12 with a description of your auction item. Donations must be dropped off at church no later than Wed., Mar. 15.
Callery Pears: Did you know we have 6 of these trees in our parking lot? The Creation Care Team has wanted to cut these trees down for several years. This spring it will happen on either Monday, March 27th or Monday. April 3rd weather permitting. See this article for more information on these trees. The team welcomes anyone experienced with chainsaws and has one to help with this process. Also needed are persons willing to move the brush to the side of the yard. Contact Hope Bradley to get on the list of contacts.
2023 Holy Week Worship Services
Palm Sunday, April 2, 10 am
Large Sanctuary and 10 am All Nations Worship, Room 4
The Palm Sunday worship service begins with a palm processional, after which we turn our focus toward Holy Week with a reading of the Passion narrative. We will intersperse the reading with hymns. If you want to participate in the palm processional, please meet in the café prior to the 10 am worship services.
Maundy Thursday, April 6, 7 pm
Maundy Thursday is a worship service remembering the upper room. We gather around tables in the fellowship space to hear the words of Christ and to break bread.
Good Friday, April 7, 12:15 and 12:30 pm
Our Good Friday service will be an outdoor prayer walk reflecting on the stations of the cross. Groups will follow the COS nature trail beginning at 12:15 and 12:30 pm. Liturgies will also be available on Good Friday for those who would like to follow the service at another time. Those unable to take part in the prayer walk are invited to follow along with our service video, linked here.
Easter Sunday morning, April 9, 10 am in the large worship space
Morning worship begins with a procession of flowers to dress the communion table. It is our custom at COS to bring potted plants and flowers from our homes to process in and “dress” the communion table. We will then gather the flowers to brighten the Easter Brunch tables (12 pm) in the fellowship space. You are invited to participate in this tradition. Parents: Children’s Worship and Little Lambs will not be offered Easter morning to allow children and our volunteers to celebrate Easter with their families in the sanctuary.
Easter Sunday evening, 6 pm
Evening worship will center on individual testimonies and reflections on the resurrection.