This Sunday:

This Sunday, September 11, Rev. Karen Campbell will preach from Job 28: 20-27 and Luke 8:22-25 in the large service. Rev. Andrew Mead will preach in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4. Those volunteering in Faith Formation ministries this year are invited to a volunteer training and lunch after the worship services.

The 10 am large service will be streamed via Zoom.

Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.

Church News:

Current Giving for the month of September: $13,764

Estimated Giving for the month of August: $99,328

Giving for August 2021: $85,229

Monthly budgeted General Fund Giving is:  $118,873

If you are planning to or considering serving as a volunteer leader or assistant in any of our COS ministries that are offered to children under the age of 18 (i.e. Little Lambs, Children’s Worship, WNL, HS small group leader, Girls Club, Boys Club, Sunday School, etc.), you are required to attend an annual training session where we review our Safe Church Policy. That training is taking place this Sunday, Sept. 11, from 11:45-1pm. (Lunch is provided). Training will begin in the front of the large worship space at 11:45.  If you cannot attend this training or have questions, contact Annette (Annette.ediger@coscrc.org) or Jo (Jo.howe@coscrc.org) to arrange a different training session.  Looking forward to another great year of ministry with you!

Bible Study – save the date! Thursday, September 22 Bible Study will begin again for the fall (9:30-11:00). We are going to be doing a study entitled: Questions Jesus Asks (Study Guides will be available on the 22nd). All are invited and welcome. Childcare will be provided. Hope to see you there!

If you have a 2021 Church Directory, you may notice it is outdated in many ways. Therefore, we are setting a goal to print a new Church Directory in January 2023. We need the help of everyone by sending an updated photo. Secondly, if you have moved, new phone number, email, etc., we would appreciate those updates as well. Send photos and updates to monica.smith@coscrc.org.

It is time to begin thinking about 2023 giving envelopes. We ask that you fill out a form which you can find in your COS mailbox (or this online form) if you would like to continue/begin receiving giving envelopes in 2023. Please plan to mail the form to COS or drop off to COS office by September 20th. If you have any questions, please contact Angelica Zahrt, Treasurer by email aj.zahrt@coscrc.org or by phone 616-956-7611 ext 29.

2022 marks the thirteenth year of the New Psalm Contest at Church of the Servant, but the history of encouraging new songwriters is as old as the church, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. We look forward to continuing the tradition of encouraging new songs for the church through this contest. We have enjoyed the quality and diversity of entries over the past twelve years, and we would be delighted if you would take part or spread the news to those who might have a new Psalm to share for this year’s contest. Submissions must be emailed or postmarked by October 1, 2022. The winning songs will be premiered in worship on February 12, 2023. Learn more on the COS website.

Position Opening – All Nations Worship Coordinator

Compensation:​ 20 hours/week starting at $18/hour

Reports to:​ Co-Pastor Andrew Mead

Summary of Position: To cultivate, empower, and sustain a multicultural, multilingual worshipping community. The All Nations Worship Coordinator will work as part of a team consisting of Co-Pastor Andrew, Co-Pastor Karen, All Nations music teams, the All Nations Music Assistant, and the SES Worship Coordinator. A key component for cultivating multicultural worship will be building relationships across a variety of cultures. In collaboration with the team listed above, the All Nations Worship Coordinator will find creative ways to gather songs and enable them to be sung as part of the worship services that ensures a colorful expression of kingdom worship across cultures. This requires creating space for the spiritual gifts of many congregants to be offered in the service. Overseeing the weekly administration of the service – from volunteer involvement to service planning – is also key to the success of this position. Find the complete job description here

50th anniversary Celebration. This year, Church of the Servant is blessed to celebrate its 50-year anniversary. In anticipation of this milestone, we encourage you to save Sept. 17-18 for our anniversary celebration. We will hold a celebration on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 4:30-8 pm at COS. The evening will include dinner as well as programming that looks back at our 50 years as a congregation and looks forward to God’s future of the church. Sign up to let us know you’re coming to the Sept. 17 program.

On Sunday, Sept. 18, we will gather for worship at 10 am followed by an all-church meal outside. More details and formal invitations will follow. For now, we encourage you to save the dates as we look forward to celebrating with our COS friends. Learn more at coscrc.org/fiftyyears

There is still time to enter a piece of artwork in the 50th Anniversary Celebration show at COS. The theme is Tree of Life. It can be any medium. If you have questions or have an unusual piece in mind like 3D or some such, please be in touch with Betsy Ratzsch. Deadline for delivery of the work is the week ending with Sept 9. All are welcome to enter a piece. Please plan to have it ready to hang. Call with questions: Betsy Ratzsch 616-682-9930. Thanks!

CCT Prayers: As we worship through the Creation Season, the Creation Care Team will have a daily prayer item on which to meditate. There are paper copies of the calendar available at the Welcome Desk. Each day, a post will be on the private Facebook Group as a reminder.

The Classis Grand Rapids East workday with Habitat for Humanity has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 8. The building permit has been granted and the hole dug on Diamond Street. The house will be a three-plex built with insulated concrete forms – i.e., styrofoam Lego blocks. We are looking for a small number of volunteers to represent COS.  If you would like to help, contact Jim Bradley (jimbradley1033@gmail.com).

Friendship ESL at COS opens for the fall term on September 13. Do you know neighbors who need language learning? Bring them. Nursery care at all sessions. Two morning sessions, Tu-Wd 930-1130a.  Two evenings, Tu-Th 6-8 pm. Evening staff worker needed, nursery. Paid position. Contact Mark Fackler.

The ESL Women’s Bible study begins on Thursday, September 22 at 10 a.m. We will be looking at the life of Jesus this year through Matthew and through a Psalm and another Old Testament passage that relate to that particular incident in Jesus’ life. We are calling our sessions this year “Two Books–One Jesus.” You are welcome to join us though we want to keep a balance between Americans and internationals. Perhaps you have an international friend you’d like to bring along to be with us? In any case, we do appreciate your prayers for our times together in Scripture. Questions? Contact Barbara Hampton.

Name tags help us know one another, whether you’re new to COS or not. Traditionally, one nametag kiosk has been at the Main Entrance outside the Worship Space and one by the ESL/Nursery Entrance inside the Worship Center. On Sunday, September 4, both nametag kiosks will be at the Main Entrance, each arranged alphabetically. For those who recently signed up to receive a nametag, we have added your nametag. If you don’t find your name tag and would like one, email office@coscrc.org. When services are complete, return your nametag to the kiosks. Sunday, September 11, the ESL/Nursery kiosk will return to its place inside the Worship Space. 

Also! If you wear your name tag for any of the next two Sundays, you will be eligible to win a tasty treat.

COS is resuming the First Sunday Meals in October. Everyone is invited to remain after worship to eat and fellowship in the Café. However, we are looking for volunteers who will stay after the meal and assist the kitchen staff with clean up. This may include wiping down tables, breaking down of tables and chairs, bussing tables, etc. If this is a ministry in which you would be willing to assist, contact the church office at 616.956.7611 or office@coscrc.org.