Excerpts from the COS Bulletin. For the full bulletin, please visit the Members and Friends portal.

Happening This Sunday

Living Water Flows Through Us: This week is our second one in time of reflection together. Our theme tells us that what we have is what God wants us to pass on, to direct to his purposes. It flows through us.

The 1st Sunday of each month we host a church-wide dinner after church and all are welcome. If you are new to COS join us at your own specially marked table! Hosts there will help us all get acquainted with each other. See you there!

Next Sunday

Adult Ed: The Justice Class – Sundays, 8:55 am starting Oct. 14. Our Fall theme will be “Considering Public Justice”. We’ll review two series of essays found in The Public Justice Review, published by the Center for Public Justice:

https://www.cpjustice.org/public/page/content/public_justice_review.

We’ll consider two short essays per week –starting with Vol. 8, Issue 2, 2018: “What Is Public Justice?” Oct. 14 –essays 1 & 2, Oct. 21 –essays 3 & 4, Oct. 28 –essays 5 & 6.

Church News

If you are 70½ years old or older this calendar year, you can take advantage of a simple way to benefit COS and receive tax benefits in return. You can give up to $100,000 from your IRA directly to qualified charities such as our church without having to pay income taxes on the money. Look for “Qualified Charitable Distribution” in your online account, or ask your advisor about this option.

Why Consider This Gift?

  • Your gift will be used today, allowing you to see the difference your donation is making.
  • You pay no income taxes on the gift. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions.
  • If you have not yet taken your required min. distribution for the year, your IRA charitable rollover gift can satisfy all/part of that requirement.

(Still) Desperately Needed: Kids Club Coordinator(s) for our Wednesday Night Kids Club (for ages 4 years old – 1st grade) and more Sunday school teachers to join our Pre-school and K/1 teaching teams!  Interested?! Kids Club will not be available until this position is filled. Talk to Annette or Andrea.

The Thursday Bible Study has resumed and will meet again on Thursday, October 11, from 9:30-11 am. Together we will study the book of Colossians. Everyone is welcome to join; childcare will be provided. Join us this week as we discuss: Colossians 1:1-14.

Aging Matters – Pondering your late-life calling? Consider this book discussion group to unravel these issues. Weekly meetings begin in mid-October, extending for eight weeks. Sign up in the café by Thurs. Oct. 11, to indicate interest and preferred meeting time. Questions? Contact Jeanette Sprik,

Interested in becoming a NEW MEMBER at COS? If so, there are classes scheduled for Oct. 29, Nov. 4, 11 and 18. Meet the staff and committee chairs and learn the history of COS and how you can get involved. There is a sign-up sheet on the welcome counter in the café.Contact Chris Klein, Minister of Congregational Life, chris.klein@coscrc.org 956-7611, with questions or concerns. And, there will, of course, be coffee and tea, fruit and pastries. Plan to meet in the church living room at 9am. Nursery is available.

Knitters’ Night Out – Saturday, 13 October at 7:30pm. After a prolonged break, we are restarting Knitters’ Night Out with a new location and new day of month (second Saturdays). Knitters (and other needle crafters) are welcome to join us at Deanna vandijk’s home

The COS Book Club will begin this Wed. Oct. 10 at 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome. We will begin with a brief discussion of Turning Points, the book we read last year. Contact Mert Smits with questions. We hope to see you there. We have great discussions and fellowship. 

The GIRLS CLUB Campout is coming soon! All 2nd-6th grade girls are invited to join us at the beautiful Waltman Lake Retreat Center on October 13-14. Look for a permission slip in your church mailbox, and contact Julie Tatko if you plan to attend. We need some moms to join us as well!

The Joyful Noise Orchestra will lead the music in the SES on Sunday, October 21.  If you play a band or orchestra instrument, you are invited to play with this group.  The music is available this Sunday in the music room.  We will rehearse on Wednesday, October 17 at 6:30pm and again on Sunday, October 21 at 9:00am.  Please sign up in the music room or by emailing Maria Stapert (maria.stapert@coscrc.org).

COS’s Food Ministries has a great opportunity for service:  Two Mobile Food Pantry Coordinator positions will be available in January.  The positions require a commitment to coordinate the MFP for 4 hours the first Saturday of the month, 4 months of the year.  Anyone with organizational skills and looking for a wonderful opportunity to serve the community is encouraged to contact Jon Klynstra.

New Show in the Artery – For the next several months, we’re excited to showcase the work of local artist, Wietze Adema. In a quote recorded on his website (wietzeadema.com), Weitze stated, “…The creative process and intuitive impulses that drive us are mysterious and unique for each artist. In my search for clarity, from the chaos around me, I usually turn to landscape or urbanscape as metaphor, using photos, sketches, or memory. My hope is to give a personal expression that is both powerful and revealing.” And so, we encourage you to grab a friend and cup of coffee and take a stroll down to the Artery to experience his thoughtful paintings!

Being in a HOUSEHOLD at COS is a way of getting to know others more closely and warmly. Each household has 10-20 individuals, and activities range from meals to Bible studies, hikes to attending plays—it’s up to each group and most meet monthly. Sign up on the sheet in the café. Contact Chris Klein, our Minister of Congregational Life, at chris.klein@coscrc.org or 956-7611.

Assistant Treasurer Needed: COS is looking for a 5 hour week staff person to work on Mondays or Tuesdays, posting and reporting the revenues to the church for the Finance team and treasurer. Please find the position description here. Resumes will be received through Oct. 17, 2018 and emailed to Lori Wiersma, church administrator. The start date will be Nov. 1.

Trauma Healing Discovery Meeting, Oct 17, 6:30-8:30pm: you are invited to an introduction to the American Bible Society’s Bible-based trauma healing program on Wed. Oct 17.  Learn about this program to see if you’d like to participate in the future, as a member of a healing group or as the facilitator of a group.  All are welcome to this discovery meeting, including friends from other churches or organizations.

Feeding America matching gift until Oct. 9.  COS pays Feeding America each month to process/deliver the food for COS’s Mobile Food Pantry.  You can support both the COS Mobile Food Pantry and Feeding America by donating online through COS’s web site and follow the instructions on the page.  Make sure to designate “Church of the Servant, Account 718” in the Agency Name and Account Number box. COS’s Mobile Food Pantry will be credited for the amount you give; Feeding America will receive the Weingartz match.  You can also donate by phoning Feeding America at (616) 784-3250 specifying COS, account 718 as the recipient.

The Thursday Bible study has begun!  If you missed the intro to Colossians, come this Thursday October 11, 9:30 – 11:00, for Col. 1:1-14 in the café area, childcare provided.  EVERYONE is welcome!

We need volunteers to work with BES families as tutors. We have some middle/high school students who require assistance with homework, especially in areas of English and math. Are you able to spend a minimum of two hours a week tutoring a student?  Prior experience working with young people in these subjects is important, as is patience, good humor and the ability to encourage and mentor. 

Hats, Gloves, Scarves and Socks Drive! It’s the time of year to collect NEW, hand-made or purchased hats, gloves, scarves and socks for our Camelot Neighbors (children and adults) and Ridge Park students. Our Camelot Partner churches will also be collecting these items. There is a big basket on the Café counter for you to donate to this drive. These items will be distributed at our Mobile Food Truck on Nov. 3 and Dec. 1. Thank you for helping to keep our Camelot neighbors warm and comfortable this winter!

An update regarding financials for month end included the following activity:

August 2018          Actual                 

Receipts                $87,482

Expenditures       111,449

Income (Loss)   $ (23,967)

2017-18 Budgeted monthly receipts were expected to average $117,814. We were under budget for monthly receipts by approx. $30, 332. Please prayerfully discern how you can best give your first-fruits and tithe to our church family. For 2018 the ministry share per member is $397.86 and 2019 is $407.76. God has truly blessed COS….let’s respond with grateful hearts!