Central Park Church

PATH WAY2021

Central Park Reformed Church 614 Myrtle Ave. Holland, MI 49423 (616) 335-9462 centralparkchurch.org

A Congregation of the Reformed Church in America

Central Park Church 614 Myrtle Avenue Holland, MI 49423

The April 2021 “Good News” of Central Park Church Vol. 21 #4

(continued on page 4.)

Decisions facing the Leadership & Stewardship at CPC in 2021 (pg. 2)

Healing & Hope through Faith, Redemption, and Restoration of Our

Families & Friends (pg. 4)

OUR APRIL PATH

Pastor’s Corner

Worship This Month

Consistory Notes

Students Activity

Spiritual Life

Outreach & Mission

People & Places

Celebrating Easter...2021 Style (pg. 1)

God’s People serving together to Do Justice, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly (pg. 3)

Reaching Out in 2021now needed more than ever... (pg. 3)

Student Ministry @ CPC Connecting in 2021 (pg. 3)

Worshiping Together Streaming/Connecting (pg. 2)

Dont Forget Prayer!

April

Celebrating Easter... 2021 StyleI remember one of the conversations we had in my pastor’s network group at Easter time last year. All our churches were trying to figure out how to help our people worship from the safety of their homes and we felt badly about not being able to get everyone together for Easter.

A suggestion was made that maybe the first Sunday we were able to get back together would be a good time to celebrate Easter. But you know how the past year went. Worshiping together has been a mix of smaller groups and trying new things. We met for a while and then took a few more weeks off. Now we are back together with a crowd that is slowly growing. In the past twelve months, there has never been a great opportu-nity to get the whole body together and celebrate Easter.

Even this Easter we won’t have the whole body together. Although many people have been vaccinated, we still need to be cautious of spreading Covid-19. Especially in light of the fact that the latest reported numbers in Michigan — and now Ottawa County as of this publishing — are on the way up again. But, that won’t keep us from celebrating Easter with as much enthusiasm as possible this year. We are planning a service for Easter Sunday morning with as many of the favorite resurrection songs as possible, some with the accompaniment of the organ and others by the Worship Team.

One of the other things that can encourage each of us personally in the joy of Easter morning, is to walk with Jesus through the sorrow and pain of Holy Week. When we share in a celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples and then hear the accounts of Jesus’ abandonment by his disciples, trials before the Jew-ish leaders and Pilate, as well as his crucifixion, we are reminded of just how great his love is for us. Jesus was willing to climb Mount Calvary, bearing our sin, and dying in our place. He gave his life so that we can be forgiven. We have focused a lot on “rending” over the past few weeks, and now is the time to start the “mending.”

Jesus’ death and resurrection make that mending possible.

p.2

OurGift of Stewardship

❏ The General Income total for February 2021 ... $ 28,594.. (monthly/annual need: $26,311/$315,729) YTD: $ 45,433❏ Mission offering for February 2021*... $ 1,910... *Note: As part of the total budget need YTD: $ 3,605

❏ Expansion Fund giving in February 2021 ... $ 4,981(monthly/YTD need: $3,728/$44,736) YTD: $ 410,904 ARC Loan Praise! — The Mortgage Balance is down to $ 42,315 !

March Supervising Consistory & Shepherding Elders Leadership Meeting Notes...

❏ Supervising Consistory & Shepherding Elders met together to receive the nominations from the congregation and begin the pro-cess of asking nominees to allow their names on the ballot at the May 30, 2021 Congregational Meeting. Twelve nominees for each office are now considering their nomination.

❏ The full consistory decided to open up the ARC and Gather-ing Place for use by church families for gatherings as long as our Covid-19 Guidelines from October as well as current state guide-lines are followed.

❏ The full consistory approved contracting with Mike Gafa from the Regional Synod to lead us through the Church Unique Process as a part of re-energizing our God Dreams vision and helping us become more engaged in ministry in our community as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

❏ The Shepherding Elders reviewed their cluster lists and shared needs for care within the congregation.

❏ The Lord’s Supper will next be celebrated at the 7:00pm worship service on Maundy Thursday, April 1.

OUR FAITH-LED DECISIONS

OUR WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP

Worship Plans for April 2021

Choose in-personWorship or Online Services. Past Services are also available Online...

April 1 Maundy Thursday – 7:00pm

“Rending & Mending” Series “The Rending that Starts the Mending”

– Mark 15: 33-39 –Ruth Klassen and Max Blumer will accompany in worship

the Lord’s supper wiLL be CeLebrated

April 4Easter Sunrise Service

7:15am Livestream Music by Max Blumer,

“Willing to Believe” Meditation by Pastor Kevin – John 20: 1-10 –

Sanctuary will also be Open

Easter Sunday! “Rending & Mending” Series

“Resurrection Changes Everything” Pastor Kevin teaching – John 20: 11-18 –

Ruth Klassen, Max & the Worship Team will accompany in worship

April 11“Rending & Mending” Series

“Willing to Try Again” Pastor Kevin teaching– John 21: 15-23 –

Ruth Klassen will accompany in worship

April 18 “Rending & Mending” Series

“I was Wrong” – Acts 9: 1-22 –

Ruth Klassen, Max & the Worship Team will accompany in worship

April 25 “Rending & Mending” Series

“Open Heart, Open home ”Max Blumer teaching

– Acts 16: 13-15, 40 –Max & the Worship Team will lead in Worship

OUR LIFE & COMMITMENT

Outreach & Missions Update:

p.3

Student HappeningsCheck out our activities on the church website and put the dates into your calendar.

Sunday Night... Our Sunday night gathering breaks Easter Sunday night and April 11. We’ll be back at “The Good Life” on April 18 and the 25th as we walk through The Beatitudes found in Matthew Chapter 5.

Summertime on Tap... Our Week of Hope in Colorado pigs in the blanket fundraiser in March was a blast!

Check the Stats: ❏ Cinnamon Rolls: 600...❏ Pigs in the Blanket: 3,168❏ Vegetarian Pigs in the Blanket: 96. We had 6 workshops & 30 volun-teers. Almost all of the ingredients were donated along with someone donating money for the meat used for the pigs in the blanket!

The Students worked so hard and sold to family, friends and used Face-book to really boost sales! They made over $5,000!! Thank you for your continued prayer and support of our student ministry at Central Park.

More Events & Gatherings... Stay tuned on our website, Instagram, and with our weekly email.

Small Groups Continue to Meet this SpringWednesday Men’s Group – meets online on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm. Doing a Bible Study by Francis Chan on the Gospel of Mark on Rightnow Media as well as exploring ways to serve as a group. Call Jay Hescott (616-502-5077) to join the group.

Bible Study at the Bonfire – meets in the Cornerstone Room on Saturday evenings – studying a Rightnow Media series by Craig Gro-schel called “Wierd.” Call Scott or Jen Kramer (616-566-7724) with questions or to join this group.

Online Fellowship — Zoom In! Pastor Kevin is leading an online class on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm using a Rightnow Media series by Matt Chandler & Bryan Loritts called “Race and the Gospel.” Invitations are sent out by email every Wednesday. Call Pastor Kevin with questions (616-405-4432).

Saturday Women’s Group — meets on Saturday mornings at 11am in the Cornerstone Room and on Zoom – studying a Rightnow Media Devotional series by J.D. Greear called “Easter.” Contact Elizabeth Maynard (616-796-8772) for additional info.

All Rightnow Media resources can be previewed by getting on the Rightnow Media site and looking in the “Central Park Church” Library on the left side of the home page. Don’t have a Rightnow Media account? Email pastorkevin@centralparkchurch.org for an invitation

Our ongoing relationships and impact on the great missions we support here at Central Park Church... Impact Haiti... Holly Schut reports...In the past few weeks our partners in Haiti have been sending updates on how they have been blessing their community.

TiCarme spent $1,200 buying food for the elders of the village. Many of them gathered, while others had their rice, oil and soap delivered to their homes. They were very thankful for this “daily bread” that will sustain them for a few weeks.

There are about 50 widows and widowers who have no other source of support, except what the church can offer them.

It brings joy to Pastor An-toine and TiCarme to be able to help them through the gifts you send.

Another form of community relief involved going out to the sugar cane workers with food, drink and soap.

Many of these men are not members of the church, but one of the pastors shared with them the love of God, as evidenced by this food that was given to them. (cont.)

Max Rolls on! Students “blanket” Table with the Pigs

central parkstudents

Village Elders Food Distribution... God is being glorified, and people are being served because we have shared our blessings. The people of Haiti thank you so much for your generosity and care!

Returning to the Rosebud Mother Lauren Stanley and the Sicangu Lakota (Sioux) on the Rosebud have been fighting against Covid-19, lack of heat and food on the Rez this Winter.

Recent fires in South Dakota and the Black Hills — the Spiritual home of the Lakota Nation— are also challeng-ing their spirit and resolve.

Gary Visscher will venture out to work with Mother Lauren under the Group Missions Work Camps this summer as a site coach. Any assis-tance you could send his way from CPC for the Mission work of Mother Lauren to our Native American friends on the Rosebud would be greatly appreciated. Gary says “Wopila Tanka” to those of us who support this meaningful mission.

Gary Visscher returns to the Rosebud in 2021 Delivering Relief to the Sugar Cane fields

Gathering Back... At the recent Consistory meeting, it was decided to once again open the ARC & Gathering Place for use by church families for gath-erings. Everyone making reservations will need to sign our extra Covid-19 Guideline’s form and abide by other state guidelines for gatherings.

Keepin’ an eye on these dudes!

Prayer & Thanksgiving

Healing, Sympathies & Joys Let us remember these concerns and praises as we hold our church family in our prayers:

For Healing, Hope, and Praise...

We continue to ask that you take special precautions to protect yourself, your loved ones, to pray for our Holland neighbors, fellow Michiganders, and all who are suffering or have lost loved ones from Covid-19. We offer praise and thanksgiving that our Church and our world recovers; that our faith holds steadfast and that we might all feel safe about worshiping together again.

Please continue to “Pray without ceasing” for ...

— Pam Piers underwent hip replacement surgery at Holland Hos-pital and is now recovering well at home.

— Gregg Deters underwent surgery for Paget’s disease in early March. He received good reports from pathology and is recovering well.

— Leona Terpsma has been in and out of Holland Hospital with heart issues. She is now receiving care from Hospice.

— Charlie and Sandy VanHouten are facing a number of health issues. Charlie has undergone an MRI for continuing back pain and Sandi has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuroglia which is a chronic pain condition in a facial nerve. Their son Jim Oonk is in the process of having a brain tumor diagnosed.

— Faye Westrick, the 5-year-old granddaughter of Jeff & Kathy TenBrink, continues to make progress in her rehabilitation at home.

— Becca Dixon, the 4-year-old daughter of Brian and Sheila Dix-on, is home and rebounding well after a series of tests and an oral surgery procedure. Please keep Becca in your prayers.

— Dave & Marilyn VanWieren’s daughter, Kristi Hosta, was hospitalized with Covid-19, but has returned home to continue her recovery.

— John Windisch will undergo surgery at Holland Hospital on Thursday, April 1 and remain in the hospital for a few days afterwards. — John Westhuis continues to reside in the Janssen Cottage at Resthaven Care Center and receives extra care from Hospice.

— Linda Schut, (former missionary in Mescalero, NM) sends words of gratitude to Central Park Church for all of the prayers. She had a liver tumor treatment on February 8 which hopefully will kill the can-cer. She is grateful to be at home but tires very easily. Pray that God will stop the reappearance of more tumors and grant her healing.

In Sympathy & Concern... For those unnamed requests for prayer during challenging times ... Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God… I am going to prepare a place for you.” — John 14: 1-2— We express our sympathy in Christ to Jim & Marla Zeedyk. Daughter Katy Zeedyk passed away suddenly March 9. May God provide the comfort and peace they need at this time.

— We express our sympathy in Christ to Dennis & Mauren Scholten. Denny’s mother, Marian Scholten, passed away on March 9...

Keep Denny & Maureen in our prayers along with their kids Heather & Chris LePoire and Jason & Danielle Scholten. May God bring the comfort of His Spirit through the words and presence of His people.

— We extend our sympathy in Christ to Sandi & Charlie Van-Houten and their family. Sandi’s mother, Lois Wiersma, passed away on Tuesday, March 23 at Lakeside Vista. May God provide the comfort and grace they need in this time.

In Thankfulness...Thank You!!! ... for all of the prayers and cards during and after my hip surgery. They were greatly appreciated. — Pam PiersCentral Park Family, thank you all for the prayers and thoughts on our behalf for Gregg’s recent surgery. He is well on the way to recovery and cancer free! So great to be a part of this family of God! — Gregg & Nancy DetersThank you for all the prayers, cards, and calls of sympathy for the pass-ing of my brother Jim. — Marge Streur

Thank You to everyone who donated their time to help with the work-shops or gave ingredients for the pigs & cinnamon rolls!! We greatly appreciate all of the support as our students prepare for their mission trip to Colorado.

Summer Camp Codes... are available for anyone wanting to send their kids to summer camp at CranHill or Camp Geneva this summer. Email Jessica at secretary@centralparkchurch.org for the codes.

Our Sunday Morning Worship... Join us on Sunday mornings at 10am in the Sanctuary or stream the service on our YouTube Channel... just click on the livestream link at www.centralparkchurch.org at the top of our home page

You may also watch the Service after the livestream is completed each Sunday morning at www.centralparkchurch.org , click on that link at the top of the home page to watch that day’s service.

Also, click on the “Previous Teachings” box for past worship services.

Pastor's Corner... “Easter 2021 Style” ont. from p.1

At the Maundy Thursday service we will sing the old hymn, “When I Survey the Wonderous Cross.” The last verse of that hymn says this … “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Walking with Jesus trough the events of Holy Week stirs that kind of response in us. And when that is our attitude on Easter morning, it makes our worship deep and meaningful whether we can do it together in the sanctuary or online in our homes.

I encourage everyone to get together this Easter in a place and way that is safe for them and rejoice that Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed!

April Greetings for our Homebound Members Please “shower” April greetings on our Homebound Members. As the days brighten, let’s keep them close in our hearts, spirits, and prayers. Dropping them a line during these often lonely Covid-19 restricted days does lift their spirits!

OUR RESTORATION

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