The lamplighter Volume 64, Issue 12

December, 2015

Pastor’s Ponderings 2

NECM Needs 3

Silver Seniors 4 Veggie Van 4

Coming Events 8

Educational Opportunities

10

VCI Update 11

Altar Prayer Team 13

Inside this issue:

Special points of interest: Christmas Eve Open

House for Emergency Personnel

Financial Peace Univ. Building & Equipment

Use Policy

Advent “Preparing for Christ’s Coming”

Worship Focus: Sent

The carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” has this line “Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.” Christ calls us to a faith constantly being born and reborn in our lives. At the same time Christ sends us out into the world to be agent for others to be born & reborn in Christ. Jesus prays in a prayer to his Father, God, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) Jesus was sent to us in order that we are sent to make the love of God visible in our own time. Come worship during Advent that you would be reborn in Christ and be sent as an agent of Christ for others to be reborn in Christ.

Sunday Nov 29th Luke 1:5-25 Jesus Reconciles Luke 2:8-10 Luke 2:16-18 Sunday Dec. 6th Psalm 146 Jesus Sets Us Free Luke 4:16-19 Sunday Dec. 13th Ezekiel 36:26-27 Jesus Is God With Us Matthew 1:23 Matthew 5:14:16 Sunday Dec. 20th Ezekiel 37:1-10 Jesus Brings New Luke 2:4-7 Life Thursday Dec. 24th Psalm 36:5-9 Jesus Changes Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:1-7 Everything 9:00 p.m. John 7:37-38 John 1:1-5, 10-14

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Pastor’s Pondering

Rescued God brings me out into a spacious place;

God rescues me because God delights in me. Psalm 18:19

When my life feels lost, hard, without hope, or trapped is when I feel the most disconnected from God in Christ. The days seem long - like trudging through wet cement. For me it is spiritual claustrophobia - I feel like life has enslaved me so that I have no space to breath, God is nowhere to be found. Then I read Psalm 18:19! The Hebrew word translated as “spacious place” is translated as “sets me free” in other places in the Old Testament. Because God delights in me, God rescues me by bringing me out into a spacious place - I am set free. It is an inner spaciousness that transcends, overrides and sets me free even when all that is happening on the outside of me is overwhelming. For me, spending time walking the prairie of South Dakota is a continual visual reminder of the spaciousness of God’s love. The vast, open grasslands that seemingly go on forever are a constant reminder of the overwhelming freedom which God’s unmeasurable love in Jesus Christ rescues me into, over and over again. What area of your life are you experiencing spiritual claustrophobia? Where is your life feeling lost, hard, or trapped? Where are you in need of Christ rescuing you into open spaces? As we journey through Advent, a time of preparing for Christ’s coming, will you open yourself up to experience Jesus coming into your life to rescue you: Jesus who reconciles, Jesus who sets free, Jesus who is God with us, Jesus who brings new life, and Jesus who changes everything. May your Advent be filled with Christ coming into your life rescuing you. May Christ be born in you over and over this Advent season.

Grace, Pastor Tim

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Canned Meats Snack Items: Granola Bars, Crackers, Chips, etc. Beans Mac & Cheese Pasta Fruit Juice Cereal Condiments Personal Care Items Rice Beans

Vital Church Initiative Team Members Sharron Myler Alan Claybaugh June Swanson Hilda Russell Leslie Martin-Good Sharon Longstreth Darla Kilgore Chris Longstreth Emmie Yen Sharon Sumner Jeff Yen Phil VanHammen Pat Whyatt Tracy Scheud Pastor Tim

NECM Monthly Needs

“Worship as Mission It’s an intersection where God’s grace and human anxiety meet. The experience may be a rendezvous with destiny or a collision with unstoppable love. The result may be an improved journey or a sharp turn. Worship is the purest form of God’s mission, and God expects our collaboration to make it happen.”

Excerpt from “Worship Ways For The People Within Your Reach” by Thomas G. Bandy with Lucinda S. Holmes

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The Importance of Church Greeters

“Greeters are the Ambassadors of the Door. They are the gatekeepers in the House of the Lord; the envoy of the Lord of the House. It is estimated that one out of every seven people come to church with a heavy burden...be a faith lifter.” Dr. Nelson L. Price

Veggie Van Holiday Schedule The YMCA Veggie Van will be on holiday break on Nov. 26, Dec. 23, and Dec. 30. On all other Wednesdays you can find this mobile farmers market at Northlawn from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., just inside the main entrance. Fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheese, honey, maple syrup, and more - all top quality, at wholesale and reduced prices, with many locally produced choices. Everyone is welcome. Come “get your fresh on” with this healthy community outreach program in partnership with the YMCA.

Sign up to provide a Christmas Food Basket for an Individual or Family in Need Can you spare a bag or two of groceries and a little time to help another person forget about their tough situation and better enjoy the holiday this Christmas? Each year Northlawn sponsors 20-25 families and individuals by providing holiday food baskets to those in need that signed up through North East Community Outreach Ministry (NECM). More than filling bellies, your act of kindness is a demonstration of God’s and our love and care for each recipient. Sign up to help at the tables in the back of the church or contact Linda Hamilton, 616-874-9106. If you can’t shop or deliver, let us know and we have people who can help. Please pray that all of the needs will be met.

WHO? SILVER SENIORS WHAT: DECMBER LUNCH WHEN? THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 AT NOON (note date change

from Wednesday to THURSDAY, December 3rd!!!)

WHERE? The CULINARY CAFÉ at Kent Career Technical Center Please sign up ASAP at Connection Corner. We will meet at noon for Lunch. We MAY be able to pre-order from the lunch menu. Details are still being finalized. Same with ordering bread. I am working with a new teacher and communication is slow. Will let you know more detains soon.

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OCTOBER CLATTER OFFERING

Our Clatter offering for the Veterans amounted to $466.00. I called for a "wish list" and went shopping for the following items

5 SONY DVDs 10 SYLVANIA CLOCK RADIO'S 4 NORELCO SHAVERS 12 PAIR DIABETIC SOX 5 BOTTLES SHAMPOO 10 BARS OF SOAP 5 TOOTHPASTES 5 TOOTHBRUSHES 4 LARGE PACKS AA AND AAA BATTERIES 4 LARGE BAGS OF HARD CANDIES Thank you all for your support. Ruth VanValkenburg

Thank you Thank you, Northlawn Family, for all the cards, calls, hugs, food, kind words, and donations in Greg’s name, along with the outpouring of love and support you have given to my family in our time of sorrow. Sue Cleveland & Family WON (Women of Northlawn) Circle is a group of woman who gather once a month for fun, fellowship and missions. We gather for refreshments at 6:30 p.m. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., with a mission project following. A few examples of mission projects would be sending cards to “shut-ins,” collecting items needed for womens’ centers, and learning about what Grand Rapids has to offer the needy. We do “money making” projects, i.e., bake goods sales, a fall auction, and our big project, the Grapevine Harvest Craft Show. We also are in charge of a monthly “clatter” offering which goes to different local missions. All women of Northlawn and friends are welcome and encouraged to join us.

Help Earn Money for the Church! If you use the internet for any type of search you can use GoodSearch and a donation will be made to the church for every search and purchase you make over the internet. The last check Northlawn received was for over $140. All proceeds go toward the mortgage principle. Here's all you need to do; Go to http://www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/northlawn-united-methodist-

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December Volunteer List & Birthdays

6 Sharon Applegarth 13 Doris Black 20 Ruth VanValkenburg & Dawne Ball 27 _____________________

6 Emmanuel & Anna Joshua 13 Don & Linda Hamilton 20 __________________________ 27 __________________________ If you would like to be a greeter, please sign up at Connection Corner.

6 Barb Jeltema 13 Barb Jeltema 20 Barb Jeltema 27 ________________ If you would like to serve at Con-nection Corner, please sign up at Connection Corner.

6 Paula Wright 13 Emmanuel Joshua 20 Christine Wright 27 _________________

1 Terry Rowe 4 Bertha Parker 7 David Renkema 11 Christine Wright 12 Patrick Black 17 Katie VanHammen 20 Chad Weidenfeller 23 Jeanne Schuel 28 Pamela Williams

LITURGIST

11 Jerry & June Swanson 15 Emmanuel & Anna Joshua

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

10 am Bible Study

12 Noon Native

American Elders Meal

7 pm Bible Study

2

6 pm Bell Choir

7 pm Choir 7 pm

Yashana Lodge

3

12 Noon Native

American Elders Meal

6 pm Outreach 6:30 pm

Yarn w/a Purpose

4 5 9-2 pm

VCI

6 7

7 pm Worship Team

8

10 am

Bible Study 12 Noon

N.A. Elders Meal 6 pm

Trustees 7 pm

Bible Study

9

6 pm Bell Choir

7 pm Choir 7 pm

Yashana Lodge

10

12 Noon Native

American Elders Meal

6:30 pm Yarn w/a Purpose

11 12

11 am - 4 pm

Fellowship Hall in Use

(Cathy Renkema)

13

Christmas Caroling

3 pm Vista Springs

14

6:30 WON Circle

15

10 am

Bible Study 12 Noon

N.A. Elders Meal 7 pm

Bible Study

16

6 pm Bell Choir

7 pm Choir 7 pm

Yashana Lodge

17

12 Noon Native

American Elders Meal

6:30 pm Yarn w/a Purpose

18 19

20 21 22

12 Noon N.A. Elders

Meal

23

6 pm Bell Choir

7 pm Choir 7 pm

Yashana Lodge

24

9 pm Christmas Eve

Service 7-9 pm

Emergency Personnel

Dinner

25 26

27

3-6:00 pm Jerry Sellick Christmas gathering

Fellowship

28 29

12 Noon N.A. Elders

Meal

30

7 pm Yashana

Lodge

31

12 Noon Native

American Elders Meal

December 2015

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Caring & Sharing Northlawn has one full time employee, Pastor Tim. We operate on volunteer power and we need YOU! We have opportunities to care and serve in all these areas: Worship Volunteers, Hospitality, Congregational Care, Music, Environment, Community Outreach. Sign up at Connection Corner.

COMING EVENTS

Sunday, December 13 Christmas Caroling Friday, January 29 Free Community Movie Night Inside Out 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) Sunday, January 31, 11:35 am All Church 5th Sunday Pot Luck Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve Emergency Worker Dinner Holiday Food Basket North End Community Ministry screens and coordinates delivery of holiday food baskets to over 1000 families. Individuals and families from Northlawn provide and deliver at least 20 food baskets. Sign up to receive one by calling 454-1097 before the deadline. Sign up to provide an individual or family with a food basket at the Connection Corner. PaWaTing/Native American Elders In November, the Admin Team approved the PaWaTing/Native American Elders program use of Northlawn United Methodist Church. PaWaTing MeGedWin KiKaajik, the Native American Elders Program, meets every Tuesday and Thursday at Northlawn UM Church, with lunch served at 11:30 p.m. Besides meals, PaWaTing/NAEP provides access to other vital community services, including health screenings, information on housing and jobs, and pastoral care. To find out more about PaWaTing, go to northlawnumc.org under Resources.

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Deadline for The Lamplighter Newsletter is ALWAYS the 17th of the previous month. ALL articles must be received by this date or they will not be included. Sorry, no exceptions. You may email your articles to: sharon@northlawnumc.org or leave them in the secretary’s mail slot.

NORTHLAWN BUILDING & EQUIPMENT USE POLICY Northlawn United Methodist Church is always happy to make the building available for community functions. The Northlawn Building & Equipment Use Policy form must be filled out and approved before using the building or equipment. The completed form must be given to the secretary. This form outlines the guidelines that must be followed for building/equipment use.

Only folding chairs and tables designated for loan may be borrowed and must be signed out with the date of pick up and the date of return. All kitchen equipment and supplies must be used only on church property.

INTERESTED IN PLAYING HANDBELLS?

The Bell Choir has three openings for ringers. All you need is a good sense of rhythm and some experience, either singing in choir or playing an instrument, or a basic knowledge of the keyboard. We meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. We do a variety of music, both traditional and contemporary. We would love to have you join us! Please pray about it and contact Sharon Sumner at 616-635-0441 or ssumner61@gmail.com if interested. Thanks!

“God’s Power Changes Life! A suffering woman stretches her hand to touch the hem of Jesus’s garment as he passes. Immediately Jesus senses that power has flowed out and fixes upon the woman with his compassionate eyes. In an instant she falls to her knees and the whole trust of her life is revealed. And Jesus says, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace!’ Incarnation is any moment when God’s power flows into your lifestyle and changes everything.” Excerpt from Worship Ways For The People Within Your Reach by Thomas G. Bandy with Lucinda S. Holmes