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© Phil Collins, Ph.D., 2014. This material was created in partnership with

the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement.

This is the 7th in the series on Scripture Engagement.

“However well translated and however widely distributed Bibles may be,

unless people engage with them (Bibles) in life-challenging ways we fail to bring God’s Word into the lived experience of people.” —Dr. Fergus Macdonald

THIS MONTH: Journaling Scripture

Journaling through Scripture is distinct from journaling to record daily life. A Scripture

journal is not meant to be primarily a diary or a log of daily events. Though all journaling is

useful for general mental health and spiritual growth, journaling can become richer when

integrated with the study of Scripture. Journaling Scripture helps us to reflect on a passage,

focusing our minds and helping us concentrate. Writing often helps us clarify our thinking.

Most of us, when we take notes for a class or during a sermon, engage with the content at

a deeper level and remember it more completely and as a result the content has more

impact on our lives. This same principle holds true as we journal Scripture. Writing down

our thoughts about a passage helps us to engage the Bible more deeply.

A Scripture journal is a conversation with God. It is

meant to be a place where we can safely record and

reflect on our raw thoughts and feelings, ask

questions, search for patterns, and develop our own

thoughts with the Holy Spirit as our guide. Being

candid with both God and ourselves deeply enhances

spiritual growth. Confession to God results in an

open and honest relationship with God which allows

the Spirit to continue to shape and mold us into

Christ’s image.

One of the blessings of Scripture journaling is that

years later, when we reread our journals, we will be

able to see more clearly God’s work in our lives. We’ll

be able to rediscover a passage of Scripture that was

important to us. We’ll remember that God answered

a prayer that was prompted by Scripture we wrote in

our journal. We’ll realize that questions that weighed

on our heart for years have been answered by God.

Remembering all that God has done for us on our

spiritual journey is one important aspect of spiritual

growth. A Scripture journal can help us remember

God’s faithfulness.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Scripture Engagement-Journaling 1

Adult Serve Mission Trip-W.Virginia 3

‘What is Palm Sunday?’ 4

‘The Value of Integrity’ 5

‘What is “Maundy Thursday”?’ 6

‘Why is “Good” Friday….“Good”?’

Missionary Prayer Calendar 8

‘Easter’ 9

Easter Sunday Service

Recipe Page—BBQ Pulled Chicken 10

Birthdays & Anniversaries 11

Cedar Lake Spring Senior Day 12

Serving God-Serving Others 13

Elder & Deacon Districts 14

Operation Blessing Newsletter 15

Fun pages 16-18

Grace Church—Our Values 19

continued on next page

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(continued from previous page)

Another blessing of journaling is that we do not have to worry about what others think of our writing. In this

private space of self-expression we are free to say exactly what we mean and feel. In fact, John Wesley be-

lieved so strongly in the importance of keeping his journal private that he developed his own coded language

specifically for use in his journal. While perhaps this practice was somewhat extreme, it is wise to have a safe

place to keep your journal and to ensure that those around you are willing to be respectful of the privacy of

your journal. With the confidentiality of our journal secured, we are free to spill any insight, thought, emotion,

or question into its pages.

How do we journal Scripture? After reading a passage of Scripture, basic Scripture journaling could include

the following steps:

writing out verses that stood out to you

jotting sown questions about the passage

writing down a truth from the passage

writing down action steps for yourself based on your reading

writing a praise to God for a promise that was meaningful to you

writing out prayers for yourself or others that were prompted in the passage

writing out a confession because you’ve fallen short of an action in the passage

asking God for help in living out the passage

Methods for Scripture journaling are varied, and there is not one that is universally “correct.” Your method is

appropriate if you notice God using your journaling to develop spiritual growth in your life. While you may

choose a particular technique as you get started, your journaling style will become personal and unique,

which is exactly as it should be. The goal is not to follow a strict pattern, but rather to express ourselves, seek

clarity, and most importantly, to experience growth and new depth in our relationship with God.

Next month: An introduction to Scripture Engagement through Visual Art

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Final week crew

(volunteers from both

Grace Community CRC

and Orland Park CRC)

Mary Viola

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WHAT IS PALM SUNDAY?

Palm Sunday began with Jesus and His disciples traveling over the Mount of Olives. The Lord sent two disciples ahead into the village of Bethphage to find an animal to ride. They found the unbroken colt of a donkey, just as Jesus had said they would (Luke 19:29–30). When they untied the colt, the owners began to question them. The disciples responded with the answer Jesus had provided: “The Lord needs it” (Luke 19:31–34). Amazingly, the owners were satisfied with that answer and let the disciples go. “They brought the donkey to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it” (Luke 19:35).

As Jesus ascended toward Jerusalem, a large multitude gathered around Him. This crowd understood that Jesus was the Messiah; what they did not understand was that it wasn’t time to set up the kingdom yet—although Jesus had tried to tell them so (Luke 19:11–12). The crowd’s actions along the road give rise to the name “Palm Sunday”: “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road” (Matthew 21:8). In strewing their cloaks on the road, the people were giving Jesus the royal treatment—King Jehu was given similar honor at his coronation (2 Kings 9:13). John records the detail that the branches they cut were from palm trees (John 12:13).

On that first Palm Sunday, the people also honored Jesus verbally: “The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ / ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ / ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (Matthew 21:9). In their praise of Jesus, the Jewish crowds were quoting Psalm 118:25–26, an acknowledged prophecy of the Christ. The allusion to a Messianic psalm drew resentment from the religious leaders present: “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’” (Luke 19:39). However, Jesus saw no need to rebuke those who told the truth. He replied, “I tell you . . . if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40).

Some 450 to 500 years prior to Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the prophet Zechariah had prophesied the event we now call Palm Sunday: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! / Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! / See, your king comes to you, / righteous and victorious, / lowly and riding on a donkey, / on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). The prophecy was fulfilled in every particular, and it was indeed a time of rejoicing, as Jerusalem welcomed their King. Unfortunately, the celebration was not to last.

Even as the coatless multitudes waved the palm branches and shouted for joy, they missed the true reason for Jesus’ presence. They could neither see nor understand the cross. That’s why, “as [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies . . . will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you” (Luke 19:41–47). It is a tragic thing to see the Savior but not recognize Him for who He is. The crowds who were crying out “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday were crying out “Crucify Him!” later that week (Matthew 27:22–23).

There is coming a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10–11). The worship will be real then. Also, John records a scene in heaven that features the eternal celebration of the risen Lord: “There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9, emphasis added). These palm-bearing saints will shout, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (verse 10), and who can measure sum of their joy?

© Copyright 2002-2017 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved.

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continued on page 7

THE VALUE OF INTEGRITY

Our words are powerful. We might help a worker return to their job in renewed enthusiasm by saying

sincerely, “thank you for what you have done for me.” The Bible says “the tongue of the wise brings

healing” (Proverbs 12:18). When my plumber gives his word that he can fix your backed up drain, and

when he keeps his word with integrity, you feel glad and good about the job he has done and might

recommend him to others. Keeping your word is powerful.

Jesus said, “let your word 'yes’ be 'yes,' and your 'no’ be 'no.'” (Matthew 5:37, Holman). Be a person of

your word; do what you say you are going to do. Personal renewal and church renewal happens best

when we pay attention to our integrity. By integrity I mean that you do what you say you are going to do

when you said you were going to do it, in the way that it is meant to be done.

In integrity, I do what I say I am going to do. I may make a promise to help

you with a project, but as soon as you are done promising, you may have

second thoughts and not give the help in a timely way or in the way it was

intended. Scott tells of how he agreed to contact a local business to help

support his High School’s athletic program. But Scott knew he didn’t like

to ask for money and he was slow to get around to it. It wasn’t until the

athletic director called that he finally got into action. By then, it was too

late for the supporters to give the help they had in the past. Scott was out

of integrity because it didn’t do it when he said he would do it and the gift

was lost.

I suspect that many of the problems we face in life and in ministry can be traced to gaps in our integrity.

The integrity gaps create a “mess” in our relationships.

Messes are inevitable; we won’t live in perfect integrity this side of heaven. Yet, when we are aware of a

mess in our life, we can still honor our word even when we fail to keep our word. We can think of

“honoring our word” in four steps:

First, acknowledge your integrity gap. Despite feeling afraid and defensive once we identify a possible

failure, opening ourselves to those who are affected by what we do is healing. Begin honoring your word

by saying how you failed to keep your word.

Next, invite the person who was affected by the integrity gap to describe the impact of your failure on

them. When I consistently come home later than I say I will, I don’t want to know what that feels like to

my wife. But if I open myself to hearing her, I will better understand the hurt I caused and I will be moti-

vated to find a way to change. We honor our word by hearing how our failure to keep our word affected

those we failed.

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WHY IS GOOD FRIDAY REFERRED TO AS “GOOD”?

What the Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good

(see Matthew chapters 26-27). However, the results of

Christ’s death are very good! Romans 5:8, “But God

demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we

were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 1Peter 3:18 tells

us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous

for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put

to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

Christian churches may or may not gather on Good

Friday, usually for a subdued service, in the evening, in

which Christ’s death is remembered with solemn

hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, a message centered

on Christ’s suffering for us, and observance of the

Lord’s Supper.

The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another. Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17).

What is “Maundy” Thursday?

Maundy Thursday Service

April 13 @ 7pm

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continued from page 5 THE VALUE OF INTEGRITY

Finally, re-promise. Re-promising means that you give our word again – and you make whatever changes

are necessary so that we will more likely keep our word. For example, we might re-promise by saying:

When I tell you I am going to be home by 5:30, I will do what I can to make that happen, and if I can’t

make it, I will call you well in advance.”

From this process, you can see how paying attention to integrity gaps helps us grow – helping us better

be people of our word.

As I take this process of growing in integrity seriously, I will raise the bar on my integrity so that I live

more into the life Jesus intended for me. I grow in integrity when I live more fully into God’s design for

me. Consider a comparison: a bridge has integrity when it provides a safe way for cars and trucks and

trains to cross a river safely. Every so often, engineers test the structure of the bridge, test its metals and

concrete, so see if it can still do what it was intended to do. A bridge’s failure in integrity could be

disastrous. As the bridge handles more traffic, it may need reinforcement or retrofitting to continue to

be a helpful bridge. As I grow in integrity, I will make changes to help me live more fully into the design

God has for me in Christ.

God has a design and plans for you as a disciple of Jesus.

How are you living into that design God has for you?

This is the fourth in a series of articles on Renewal. Earlier articles deal with basic convictions about the process of

renewal and renewal’s “end game” of following Christ in mission. This was adapted from a series of articles by Pastor

Scott Stephan, Fulton IL, entitled: Ridder Church Renewal, A Brief Introduction to the Core Content

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On Easter Sunday, Christians cele-brate the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Christians believe, according to Scripture, that Jesus came back to life, and was raised from the dead three days after his death on the cross.

As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter.

Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

Join us on Easter Sunday!

April 16

8:30-9:30AM BREAKFAST (served by REACH Youth Group—

donations accepted for the REACH Mission Trip this summer)

10:00AM CELEBRATION SERVICE

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THE RECIPE PAGE

(served at GEMS Dinner last month)

from Barb Wassenaar

Yield: 8-10 sandwiches

2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

(you can also add a thigh or two or use only chicken

thighs—they’re a little juicier)

1 cup BBQ sauce (use your favorite - for the GEMS

dinner we used Sweet Baby Ray’s)

1/3 cup Italian dressing (any brand, regular, reduced fat, or fat –free)

2 tbsp. packed brown sugar

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp. cornstarch

2 tbsp. chicken broth

DIRECTIONS:

1) Put chicken in crock pot. In a medium bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, Italian dressing,

sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for

4 1/2 - 5 hours.

2) Remove the chicken to a sheet pan or cutting board. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and

chicken broth. Stir the mix into the sauce in the crock pot. Cook until the sauce is thickened

(10-15 minutes) stirring occasionally.

3) While sauce is thickening, use 2 forks to shred the chicken. Return the chicken to the crock pot.

4) At this point you can cover and keep warm until ready to serve. Add extra BBQ sauce if more is

needed or wanted.

* This recipe (or leftovers) can be frozen for future use. To freeze right away: After the chicken is

cooked, turn off to cool. When cool enough, package up as one meal, or more, and freeze. Thaw

and reheat.

FROM THE EDITOR: If you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share,

please put a copy in the newsletter mailbox and don’t forget to add your name!

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1 Adam Canfield

Ross Canfield

4 Kaitlyn Van Kuiken

6 Laverne Yff

10 Ray Ismail

Bonnie Mulder

11 LeAnn Kooyenga

12 Carol DeHoog

Walter Schuurman

17 Greg Lisak

22 Max Canfield

28 Edward Jongsma

Steven Lisak

30 George Voss

4 Robert & Carol Bruinius 8 Joe & Diana Cudecki 26 Jay & Helen Dorn

John & Barb Melton 30 Jim & Gloria Kamper

www.gccrc.org/online_giving

8 Larry & LeAnn Kooyenga 12 Gerald & Carol DeHoog

17 Bernie & Lynne Wiegers

18 Rich & Cherene Kooyenga

19 Gary & Joan Schutt

23 Rich & Dorothy Schutt

24 Don & Mary Anderson

1 Brittany Beaver

2 Ruth Kuipers

8 Alice Flasman

10 Aiden Soucek

12 Evelyn Jonker

Ange Vloedman

13 Mary Huisenga

Carol DeVries

14 Maria Kialanda

Mert Schutt

15 Candice Livingston

21 Elton Ivy

Steve Livingston

Dave Phillips

22 Helen Noort

Chris Van Kuiken

24 Dorothy Beezhold

27 Grace DeRoos

31 Haven Brucken

ARBOR DAY April 28

APRIL 1

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13

Accompanists

2 Bob Cooper & Diane Ritzema 9 Pedro Kialanda 13 Eleanor Lamsma & Diane Ritzema 16 Diane Ritzema & Eleanor Lamsma 23 Catherine Solle & Pedro Kialanda 30 Bob Cooper & Diane Ritzema

Childcare

2 Anna Huisenga & Maria Kialanda

9 Mary Huisenga & Hannah Soucek

13 Sarah Huisenga & Ann Sroka

16 Dean Unger & Anna Huisenga

23 Ruth Kuipers & Barb Wassenaar

30 Darlene Huisenga & Maria Kialanda

Church Opening/Closing

2 Dean Unger 9 Jim & Gloria Kamper 16 Ken & Carol Schutt 23 Gordon vander Meulen 30 Tom & Darlene Huisenga

Congregational Prayer

2 Bob Cooper 9 Jestine Ivy 16 Michael Kooy

23 Diane Ritzema 30 Ed Ritzema

Greeters 2 Andy & Mert Schutt

9 Vince & Nancy Sommer

16 Lorraine Foster & Patti Young

23 Tom & Darlene Huisenga

30 Carol DenBesten & Phyllis Johnson

Library Week 1 Evelyn Van Dellen Week 2 Clareen Sluis Week 3 Annette James Week 4 Evelyn Luchtenburg Week 5 Evelyn Van Dellen

Prayer Room

2 Bob Cooper & Ruth Kuipers

9 Pastor Mike & Dan Brucken

16 Ken Schutt & Larry Kooyenga 23 Tom Huisenga & Ruth Kuipers

30 —OPEN—

Ushers

2 Fred Veen- Dan Brucken- George Voss 9 George Voss - Ben Dykstra - Dean Unger 13 Tom Huisenga- Hank DeVries- Vince Sommer 16 Gary Schutt– Rich Mulder– Bonnie Mulder 23 Carol Den Besten- Phyllis Johnson-

Rich Boersema 30 Fred Veen– Dan Brucken– George Voss

Projection Techs

2 Dave Phillips

9 Eleanor Lamsma

13 Ed Ritzema

16 Sarah Huisenga

23 Ed Ritzema

30 Ed Ritzema

Sound Techs

2 Jim Kamper 9 Ed Ritzema 13 Jim Kamper 16 Chris Van Kuiken 23 Jim Kamper 30 Chris Van Kuiken

APRIL 2017 Schedules Thank you for your willingness to serve!

(April 13-Maundy Thursday / April 16-Easter Sunday)

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Grace Community Christian Reformed Church

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This Newsletter is a

publication of Grace Community

Church.

This newsletter shall mainly serve to provide information about, and enhancement of, any and all ministries of the church. Contributions are welcome and will be considered for publication provided you include your name with the submission.

If you have any questions concerning this

newsletter, please contact

Barb Wassenaar

10415 S. Kedvale

Office: 708.636.2848

Fax: 708.636.2847

gracechurch@gccrc.org

www.gccrc.org

Grace

Community

Christian

Reformed

Church

Submissions for the MAY 2017 issue are due

no later than April 16, 2017.

~ Distribution:

Sun., April 30, 2017