This Week:

On this Creation Season Sunday, Kyle Meyaard-Schaap will preach from Genesis 1:4b-15 and John 20:1-18 in our Tree of Life service in the large worship space. Lucy Gitau, one of our seminary interns, will preach in the All Nations Worship Service in room 4. Following worship, stick around for Sunday School at COS. Our Adult-ed Sunday School (GPS) will meet in Room 3. The Children at the Lord’s Supper class will meet in the Living Room.

The 10 am Standard English Service will also be broadcast via Zoom. Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.   

Children’s Ministry News:

Children at the Lord’s Supper Class: This Sunday, Sept. 24, During Sunday School Please reach out this week by text or email to let Jo know if you’ll be attending next week’s Children at the Lord’s Supper class with your child(ren). This class is for children who are interested in learning more about the Lord’s Supper, and participating in it, to attend with a parent. Please send a note to jo.howe@coscrc.org so she can send you further details and instructions for the class.

Makeup Safety Training for Children and Student Ministry Volunteers, Oct. 1. If you’re planning to serve in ministry this season as a leader or assistant in LL, CW, Sunday school, in a Wednesday night program, as a small group leader, or van driver, and missed last week’s training, an annual training is required to keep our kids safe! Please plan to attend the makeup session on October 1, during the all-church lunch. Grab a plate of food and bring it to the living room to fill the required forms and go over safety policies. All required forms will be emailed through MSP and will also be available on the counter in the hallway at the back of the Tree of Life sanctuary (behind the church mailboxes). You are welcome to pick them up and fill them out in advance of the training. If you have any questions, or won’t be available on Oct. 1 either, please send a note at jo.howe@coscrc.org.

Council Updates:

Dear Congregation, In the uneasy times following Synod 2023, we want to assure you of our commitment to the principles in our statement Our Calling: A Community of Belonging, recently approved by council. In a letter emailed to the congregation on Friday, September 22, we hope to demonstrate two of them – our commitment to unity in our shared identity in Christ, and our commitment to disciple, and be discipled by, Christ-followers from various cultures, communities, and perspectives. Read the full letter here.

From the Deacons: We give thanks to God for the congregation’s generous outpouring of donations this month ($13,000+ as of 9/19) in support of the COS Mercy & Benevolence fund. Your kindness will allow us to continue to respond as appropriate to requests for urgent financial assistance from people within our church family and in our neighborhood. Thank you!

Church News:

Current Giving for September: $63,937

General Fund Giving for August: 131,513

September 2022 Giving: $70,733

GPS Adult-Ed: COS has a rich history of deep and meaningful adult education opportunities. Our Sunday Morning Adult Ed Sunday School has included times of story and testimony, theological discussions, lectures, and opportunities to share with each other about what God is doing in our lives.

GPS sessions have three stated goals: Build community, Expand our view of God, and Grapple with faith. This Sunday, we’re delighted to welcome Kyle Meyaard-Schaap as he presents on Creation Care. Come to Room 3 after the service for God’s People Seeking. Visit the COS website for more information on upcoming GPS sessions.

COS HR Committee needs assistance from a member who has some HR experience. We meet about four times a year, that’s all. If you can serve in this way, please contact Corrie Vos (corrievos@gmail.com). We really need you.

Fire drill: Sunday, October 1 between the Prism service and the All-church Meal, we will have a fire drill.

  • Everyone must leave the building, and remain outside until the ALL CLEAR from Sunday Facilities Coordinator and Security Team
  • Once across any pavement, you must remain in the grass. This allows the emergency vehicles unobstructed access.
  • Children and students must stay with their teacher and class until the ALL CLEAR. If as a parent or guardian you want to stand with the class, you may do so. If this were a real fire, the Fire Department would require an accurate headcount of all minors.
  • For this Fire Drill only, those with mobility issues may meet in the designated area (see map). During an actual fire, everyone must cross the pavement to the grass.

To help prepare for this fire drill, please consult this building map showing COS exits and where to stand outside the building, and this diagram showing which doors to exit through from the large sanctuary and nursery wing. Following the drill, we’ll all come back inside for an all-church meal.

If you:

  • Like eating
  • Like conversation
  • Worship at COS

you have all the skills necessary to be a high school small group leader at COS. High School Small Group Leaders gather with a group of students from a particular grade once a month. These meetings are an opportunity for students to make connections with people outside of family and peers.* Since finding a time to meet is often the greatest obstacle, Annette has designated the first Sunday of the month as ‘Small Group Sunday,’ encouraging students and leaders to spend time getting life updates and praying for each other during the All-Church Meal. (Groups are welcome to meet at other times, if preferred, but should not meet on other Sundays after worship to avoid disrupting our HS Sunday school class meetings.) If you want to learn more about this important ministry, contact Annette Ediger (Annette.ediger@coscrc.org).

*Studies have shown that being known by other adults in a church community is one of the best predictors of whether or not a student will choose to stay in the church in adulthood. Small Groups create a space where this can happen.

The September issue of the Classis East Racial Justice Team Newsletter is available for download on the COS website. This issue has information about an October 23 Meet and Greet from 7-8:30 pm at Calvin CRC for people in the churches of Classis East to learn more about the Racial Justice Team as well as an article titled “The Victory Church Story” by Peter TeWinkle of Oakdale Park CRC.

COS is resuming the All-Church Sunday Meals and Wednesday Clubs Meals in October. On meal Sundays, everyone is invited to remain after worship to eat and fellowship in the Café. On Wednesday Club dates, everyone is invited to have a meal before Clubs begin. However, we are looking for additional 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.

The COS AntiRacism and the Prisoners in Christ Restorative Justice teams will discuss the book Reparations: A Christian Call for Repentance and Repair on Wednesday evenings October 11, 18, and November 1, 8 and 15.  For more information and to receive a free book, contact Jolanda Howe, Janice McWhertor, or Carol Rienstra.

Preaching Schedule

Sunday, October 1           Prism – Pastor Andrew Mead

Sunday, October 8           ANS – Pastor Andrew Mead, TOL – Pastor Jack Roeda

Sunday, October 15        ANS – Intern Lucy Gitau, TOL – Pastor Gary Burge

Sunday, October 22        ANS – Pastor Andrew Mead, TOL– Pastor Mary Hulst