coffee, cookies, and conversation!commch.com › files › september 2017 crossroads.pdf1 coffee,...

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Coffee, Cookies, and Conversation!

A weekly informal social get-

together will start on Monday,

September 25 at 10 a.m. It will

be a weekly time for fellowship

that will include coffee, cookies,

and conversation. Invite a friend and enjoy a

relaxed time together.

Dean and Debbie Lundberg with Youth With A

Mission (YWAM Tyler, Texas)

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://ywam.org/wp/

Support: YWAM Tyler, PO Box 3000, Garden Valley,

TX 75771. Attach a note that support is for Dean and

Debbie Lundberg (do not write in the memo field)

In June Debbie was asked to provide a week of

orality and Bible storying training at YWAM

Kona for a staff development course focused on

preparing YWAMers to do Jesus film projects

(in partnership with Campus Crusade), among

other things. There were 18 participants from 5

continents, all the way from a former Wycliffe

Bible translator to recent YWAM training

graduates, all with an interest in contributing to

the effort to end Bible poverty.

Dean had the privilege of assisting several

visiting field workers who work in Central Asia

and North Africa to connect, share their stories,

receive prayer, and enjoy a meal. Most recently

they hosted a couple on their way to Germany

to work with Afghan refugees, 7 years after they

had to flee a ministry based in Afghanistan.

Praise! Debbie was finally been granted her

Brazilian visa. She can now travel to support

their team in Brazil.

One of the missionary couples

that Community Church

partners with is:

The Lundbergs will be in our area from August 25

- September 4, visiting supporting churches.

Debbie and Dean taught a course in West Virginia

for the YWAM team on implementing community

development strategies to address rural poverty

and spiritual needs in an area that is economically

depressed.

The Community Church will

host the Community Table

ministry on Tuesday,

September 26, 2017 at 4:30

p.m. We need volunteer s to

set-up, cook, serve, and clean up after the dinner.

If you are willing to participate in this event,

please contact Ed or Donna Hallin at 757-3360.

Choir and Handbell Practice

begins on Thursday, August 31,

6:30 pm for Bells and 7:30 p.m.

for Vocal Choir.

Ringers needed! Can

you count to 4? If so,

you can ring a bell

and make a joyful

noise.

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Crossroads September 2017

The Church as Family…

Some of you might be familiar with the writings of Phillip Yancey. He is a

Christian writer who tends to meet us where we are; seeking to help us find

answers to some of our questions. Recently I read his book, “Church: Why

Bother?” and his discussion on Family as the makeup God intends for the

church. He states, “The focus has shifted from families to institutions. Yet

the New Testament stubbornly presents the church as being more like a family

that an institution.” As I thought about this book I was forced to examine the

question and now I am asking you to do that; is Community Church more like a family or an institution?

Institutions operate largely on status and rank. The military is an institution; it operates on status and

rank as do corporations. Title, Salary, and Perks signify your status in the company and the higher up you

go the more valuable you are perceived to be. Status is derived from performance. Families work a bit

differently though. Your status is determined by birth and underperforming children are not kicked out of

the family. In fact, the more needy children tend to receive more attention than more independent

siblings. As a member of God’s family, we receive God’s attention even though we do not deserve it

according to our performance and productivity. We undeservedly receive God’s grace and God’s blessing

despite our failures. Who did Jesus focus most of His time on?

One way to answer the question above is to ask, who gets the attention of this church? Is it those who

have attained rank in the church or is it those who need our attention the most (namely our children, our

newest members, our sick and our shut-ins)? Do we value the spiritual gifts of some more highly that

another? (Paul warns us sternly not to do that – please read 1 Corinthians 12:21-26). Each part of the

body must have equal concern for the other. One part suffers, all suffer; one part rejoices, all rejoice with

them. Every family contains success stories and struggles; just like all of our churches have success

stories and struggles. A healthy family, like a healthy church; builds up the weak without tearing down

the strong.

Finally, family is one place where they have to take you. There are no choices, your family is chosen for

you; that decision is set forth from birth. My brother Kurt gave me a framed saying a few years ago; it

said, “I smile because you’re my brother. I laugh because there is nothing you can do about it!” He is my

brother through thick and through thin. When we choose Christ, we also become part of a family, Christ’s

family. We don’t pick and choose which Christians make up our family and our community; Christ

makes that choice for us. Henri Nouwen once wrote about community saying, “a place where the person

you least want to live with always lives.” I suppose that describes well the family that gathers at

Thanksgiving and Christmas and the family that gathers on Sunday morning to worship.

I suspect most churches resemble both a family and an institution in many ways. The more a church

resembles a family though, the easier it will be for Christ to work in us through his Holy Spirit. Let’s all

be searching for how we can be more like family here and less like and institution.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brett

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9/3/17 “A Servant’s Faith”

John 9:1-3 2 Kings 5:1-19

9/10/17 – Pastor on Vacation

9/17/17 “By Faith: Gideon Leads”

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Judges 7:1-8

9/24/17 “Love and Stewardship” 1 Peter 4:7-11

Luke 10:25-37

September 3 1st Sunday of the Month Intinction

October 1 World Communion Intinction

November 5 All Saint’s Sunday Pews

November 26 Christ the King Sunday Pews

December 3 1st Sunday of the Month Intinction

December 24 Christmas Eve Pews

Gregg Shaw 09/10

Ann Miller 09/11

Ilene Johnson 09/12

Stephanie Thomsen 09/16

Gary Miller 09/18

Dottie Schroeder 09/25

Betty Hodges 09/26

Hilda Parker 09/29

Laurie Young 09/30

Ric & Carol Cooper 09/02

Les & Marie Mortensen 09/05

Tom & Jackie Lane 09/07

Fred & Elsie Schroeder 09/09

Ron & Betty Hodges 09/14

Bill & Barbara Wolf 09/16

Dave & Dar Carpenter 09/22

Sermon Titles and Scripture for

September, 2017

2017 COMMUNION SCHEDULE

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Council of Ministry Meeting Highlights

August 16, 2017

From the worship

committee: New name

tags are being

considered. Ushers are

always needed. Sign-

up often! Pastor Brett’s

installation is scheduled for September 24. He

will preach on stewardship.

During the month of October, many activities

are planned around the celebration of 500

years since Martin Luther nailed his 95

Theses on the door of All Saint’s Church in

Wittenburg, Germany. This is the beginning

of the Protestant Reformation. The Noisy

Coin collection on July 30 took in $403.90.

Bigger buckets are needed!

From the Treasurer: Our current year-to-date

giving is $107, 501.75 compared to the

previous year’s giving of $89,458.57. YTD

expenses are $100,604.91 and the previous

year’s were $99,338.36. The Treasurer is a

“happy camper.” Budget preparation is

underway. A stewardship letter will be sent

the end of September in preparation for

dedication of pledges during worship on

October 8.

The O.A.K.S. picnic at Sutton’s Landing was

well-attended. The food was outstanding and

the weather was perfect!

From the Membership, Outreach &

Evangelism/Christian Education committee:

A Bible Study will begin meeting weekly on

Wednesdays, at 7:00, beginning Wednesday,

September 27. The first study topic will focus

on the Reformation. An informal social get-

together is planned for Monday, September 25

at 10 a.m. It will be a time for fellowship that

will include coffee, cookies and conversation.

From Communications: the church Facebook

(FB) page is updated weekly to include the

Sermon focus and special music. There seems

to be a fair amount of activity on the FB page.

So, check it out!

A new study will begin September 27th and follow each

Wednesday at 7 pm. Together we will explore and discuss

topics based always on the foundation of Scripture.

Through the month of October we will focus on the Reformation. 2017 marks the 500th

anniversary of the Reformation (marked by the 95 Theses written by Martin Luther).

Together we will discuss and explore what shaped

the reformation and the impact it has had on the

Christian Church universal. More details will

follow in the bulletin in the two weeks prior to

our study beginning.

Wednesday Bible Study

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Council and Committee Meetings—September 2017

Christian Women’s Fellowship Monday, September 11, 9 am, Room 11

Finance and Personnel Committee Wednesday, September 6, 6:00 pm, Room 20a

O.A.K.S. Committee Wednesday, September 6, 6:30 pm, Room 10

Worship Committee Wednesday, September 6, 7:00 pm, Room 20a

Missions Committee TBA

Christian Education Committee

Membership/Outreach/Evangelism Committee

(M.O.E.), Communications Committee

Tuesday, September 12, 6:00 pm, Room 10

Building Use and Maintenance Committee Tuesday, September 12, 6:30 pm, Room 20a

Council of Ministries Wednesday, September 20, 7:00 pm, Room 11

Long Range Planning Committee No meeting scheduled at this time

Date Attendance

Count

General Fund

Collection

July 30 70 $1,701.00

August 6 104 $4,661.00

August 13 63 $2,308.00

August 20 71 $3,196.00

August 27 78 $2,758.79

September

Update

Installation of Pastor Brett Spalding is scheduled for

Sunday, September 24, at the 9:30 am worship service.

Plan to attend this special service!

Crossroads Folding: October 25

Please submit articles to Lisa in the

church office, or email to

[email protected]

Thank you!

Crossroads Deadline: October 18

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PRAYER NEEDS OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

IMMEDIATE PRAYER CONCERNS

Terry Krystiniak, health concerns, encouragement and suppor t

Fred Fleetwood, health concerns

Family of Doug Anderson

OUR MISSIONARIES Daryl and Leshia Beltz

Jim and Yuri Cerminaro

Tony and Connie Johnson

Dean and Debbie Lundberg

ON-GOING Laurie Hamilton, healing

Al Carlson, health issues

Dale Guenthardt, health issues

Jeanne Rabe, health concerns, godmother of Kathy Bromley

Judy d’Anton, recover ing at home, Dave Swathwood’s Sister

Tim Ryon, health issues, Sue Sabin’s son

Florence Beerman, health concerns

Barbara Peters, multiple sclerosis, Bob and Lynn Olmstead’s Daughter

Chuck Oleniczak, health concerns

Harold Figgins, health concerns

Daniel Williams, health concerns, Sandi Steckel’s cousin

Sherrie Sanders, health concerns

Joe Newton, cancer

Eric Lund, possible limb transplants

NURSING HOME RESIDENTS Autumn Winds - Marylyn Brown

Willowbrook - Thelma Bowden

Oakview - Gary Miller, Barbara Johnson, Mary Carlson, Terry Krystiniak

Ludington Woods - Don Swier

Village Haus - Hilda Parker

All persons placed on the prayer list will remain there for a period of two weeks. After

two weeks, the name will be dropped from the list unless Janet VanEpps or the office are

notified that the prayer need is on-going. If you have a prayer need that you would like to

have the members of the prayer chain pray for, please activate the prayer chain by calling

Janet VanEpps at 843-3122.

Crossroads Prayer Concerns September 2017

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M ay 2 014

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat August 29

Ladies Bible 9:30am

Quilters 9am-6pm

Community Table 4:30-6pm

Cub Scouts 4pm Boy Scouts 7pm

August 30

August 31

Bulletin Folding 10am

Bell Choir 6:30pm Vocal Choir 7:30pm

1

2

3

Worship with Communion 9:30am

4

Labor Day Church office closed

5

Ladies Bible 9:30am

Quilters 9am-6pm



6

Finance/Personnel 6pm OAKS 6:30pm

Worship Committee 7pm

7


Bell Choir 6:30pm

Vocal Choir 7:30pm

8

9

10

Worship 9:30am

11

Christian Women’s Fellowship 9am

Cub Scouts 7pm

12

Ladies Bible 9:30am

Quilters 9am-6pm


CE/MOE/COMM 6pm B.U.M. 6:30 pm


13

14



15

16

17

Worship 9:30am

18

Cub Scouts 7pm

19

Ladies Bible 9:30am

Quilters 9am-6pm



20

CROSSROADS

DEADLINE

Council Meeting 7pm

21



22

23

24

Worship 9:30am Pastor Installation

Sunday

25

All-Church Social Time 10 am

Cub Scouts 7pm

26

Ladies Bible 9:30am

Quilters 9am-6pm


WE SERVE


27

Bible Study 7 pm

28

CROSSROADS FOLDING 9:30 am


Bell Choir 6:30pm

Vocal Choir 7:30pm

29 30

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CROSSROADS

September 2017

Community Church

109 N. Harrison St.

Ludington, MI 49431

Phone: 231-843-9275

[email protected]

www.commch.com

Traditionally

CONGREGATIONAL /PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH STAFF

Pastor

Rev. Brett Spalding

Music Director

W. John Clement

Membership/Financial Secretary Lisa Dains

Custodian

Cheri Welch

Office Hours: Monday through Thursday

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Check out Community Church’s Facebook page! Go to Facebook and type

“Community Church of Ludington” in the search box. Scroll down and check out to

see what is posted.

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