The Open Door is published monthly by the First Congregational Church

of Stanton

Beverly Bailey, Editor

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June 2015

The

Open Door

A Privileged Participant. . . (part 3 of 3) By Bob Brundage

… Fast forward to today: Several people have taken notice that some health shifts started taking place in my life beginning back in 2012. And, by 2013, some people took note that a wheelchair was missing and a few months later a walker was missing, as well. I have been asked “what am I doing differently” and my answer is “nothing really.” I have continued fol-lowing the alternative health mindset that I turned to back in 1997 when I

said goodbye to doctors. The only answer I have to give concerning my improving health is “God.” A couple years back I sensed God pushing me to try walking again. It was one of those “inner voice” feelings that I’ve come to recognize as God’s Holy Spirit. I don’t always recognize that voice perfectly, but there are times when I recognize it unmistakably. One such night was a couple years ago in the Meijer parking lot in Ionia at 1 a.m. I was returning from a poker game in Grand Ledge and stopped off to do a little late night shopping. When I got out of my car I was deeply impressed that God wanted me to walk into the store, but to do so without my walker. It was a very slow and cautious walk, but I made it safely inside without assistance. Once in, I used a grocery cart to stabilize me as I shopped. This was the beginning. As God gave me little victories, I kept trusting in him and pressing forward in faith. Eventually, I started roller skating and even participated in the Run For God Bible study here at FCC last summer (I rolled). With each passing month I could see how God was adding to my physical abilities. Of course, no one can see their future here on this earth, nor will I attempt to interpret His past workings in my life. I’m just deeply grateful for what God is doing apart from my plans. This personal war of mine began in 1990 and ended in 2003 when I finally raised a white flag of surrender. And yes, ever since this white flag has been raised, plenty of bullets have continued flying my way. A few have struck hard and drawn blood. However, by God’s Grace I have simp-ly chosen to stop fighting with my confusion. Instead, I rest my confidence in God and the claims of Scripture. God is demonstrating these claims are true and reliable. Any challenges I might face are overseen by the wisdom of our good and loving God; and, I can trust this fact even if I can’t understand the plan. Writing to the Romans, the Apostle Paul sums up life this way: “If we live we live to the Lord, if we die we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die we belong to the Lord” (14:8). My story of facing some undesirable circumstance for over a third of my life is just that, my story. I have no idea why God allowed MS into my life, but I’m so very thankful He did! I have no idea why God has now removed a wheelchair from my life, but I’m so very thankful He did! I have no idea what my personal circumstance may hold for me tomorrow, but I’m so very thankful for this indescribable gift of faith. By it I have a clear understanding that everything is all about God not me! I’m discovering more clearly than ever that I am just a privileged participant in his unfolding story.

Each month we feature something God is doing in the life of somebody from our congregation. If God is moving in your life in a meaningful way and you’d like to celebrate that with the FCC family, please contact Pastor Jamey at jnichols@fccstanton.org .

From the desk of Pastor Jamey The Race To The White House Has Officially Begun

It’s 17 months away, and already we’ve been hearing about who wants to be the next president of the United States. Since voting is a precious privilege in America, we Christians must ask ourselves not how do I want to vote but rather, how would God want me to vote? Like many citizens, I rarely find a candidate who reflects me precisely, and I wind up voting vote for the candidates I dislike the least. This is particularly true for the presidential race which is already gearing up for 2016. After reading all I can and prayerfully weighing the candidate’s values over against those of the Bible, I cast my vote in faith and wink toward heaven. Romans 8:28 is a fairly popular passage among Christians. It tells us that God caus-es all things to work together for good for those who love Him. Because of this promise, folks who face a near death experience often say something like, “God’s not finished with me yet. He must still have a purpose for my life.” Some call it fate; others, destiny. I call it God’s providence in human affairs. I like to say that God is, in some divine and mysterious way, pulling strings which connect our free wills with his perfect will. According to the Bible, we can see that God is continuously involved in the affairs of mankind. He did not make us then turn his back and leave us to our own devices. Neither does he control us as if we were his puppets. He made us, provides for us, and invites us to respond to his loving overtures. Like it says in the beautiful 23rd Psalm--he leads us in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. As our lives unfold year in and year out, those of us trying to live by faith begin to notice more and more how God is working and acting accord-ing to his good purposes. In most cases we can look back to the time before we began fol-lowing Him and recognize how God was using people and circumstances to point us in the right directions. Forgive me if it seems I’m being overly simplistic. I know the philosophical question of man’s free will and God’s sovereignty is a discussion much larger than this article will allow. What I am trying to make clear is that, regardless of its complexity, those who love God are able trace His hand in their lives. Now, to politics. Every presidential election cycle we have people on both sides of the aisle who are convinced their views are best. Also, in every election, there are people on both sides who are praying for their candidates to win. Once the ballots are counted, does the outcome prove who prayed the hardest? Does it prove which candidate is more spiritual? I don’t think so. I think the results prove to us which candidate God thought would be best for America at a particular time. I believe that God works with our democratic process to bring about his purposes. I believe this because I know that our country is full of people who love Him, and He’s causing all things to work together for their good.

Continued . . .

Our Church at Work . . .

JJune’s Operation Christmas Child item is:

bandannas!

Items may be placed in the marked box on the table in the Fellowship Hallway.

Thanks for your help and support!!!

From the Moderator . . .

Happy June, FCC!!!

This month is generally quite busy for people—kids are finish-ing school; graduates are having open houses; wedding bells may be ringing for some. And that’s all on top of some of our first glimpses of truly warm and beautiful weather which inspires many outdoor projects. We even have an FCC camping trip coming up at the end of this month! (There’s still room if you wish to join up with us!) And in the middle of it all is Father’s Day. A day that doesn’t seem to have nearly the same notoriety as Mother’s Day. Did you know it took the United States four additional years to commemorate a national Father’s Day after instituting Mother’s Day? The Fa-ther’s Day card selection alone is about half of what’s available for Mothers Day, alt-hough that might have something to do with the level of excitement that is attributed to cards by each gender. Whatever level of excitement your family attributes to this holiday, I would encourage you to remember fathers in prayer in recognition of God’s design for a family and the burden He has asked them to bear. Genesis 18:19—”For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Now I know many of us may not have had fathers that emulated God, but I would again encourage us all that rather than dwell on the shortcomings of those in our past, to turn from our hurts and help inspire those who are in the midst of fatherhood in all its states now. May we lift up the fathers of our congregation and community to seek the Father of us all for their strength, guidance, and perseverance in the days ahead. In His service,

Stephanie Herzog, Moderator

Catch a ballgame with the West Michigan Whitecaps!!!

Here’s an opportunity to

catch a game with the West Michigan

Whitecaps on Tuesday, June 30,

2015, at 7 p.m. A special ticket

price of $9 will get a ticket to the

game. Ten-cent hot dogs will be availa-

ble at the concession stands, or, for

an additional $15.25 an all-you-can-eat

buffet (hamburgers, hot dogs, brats,

potato salad, chips, cookie, and pop)

may be purchased.

Seats will be reserved and accommoda-

tions may be made for special seating

requirements. Margaret Cook is coor-

dinating the event. Call her at

231.679.0598 or e-mail her at:

margvwcook@hotmail.com.

Make your reservation with

Margaret by June 5.

The event is for adults and children—

a great family night out. Car pools will

be arranged—volunteers are needed

for the car pools.

Many thanks to the choir

for their dedication and

contributions to our wor-

ship services during the

past year. We look forward to their re-

turn to the loft in September.

Love to Eat, Hate to Eat . . .

By Elyse Fitzpatrick has been selected for a twelve-week book study which will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at FCC. Books are available for less than $10 through Amazon. The study will be led by Stephanie Herzog. Contact Stepha-nie for more information and a reading schedule.

Mealtime Prayer Thank God that He has a plan and purpose for your life. Ask Him to use you

according to His will.

Appetizer Place a carton of eggs on the table. Talk about the different ways that eggs

can be used. How do you like your eggs prepared? If you were an egg, how

would you like to be used?

Main Course Eggs look very similar, but they can be used for many different purposes. How

are Christians like eggs? How does God use Christians in different ways? If God

can do anything, why does He use Christians? What would happen if all Chris-

tians were used in the same way?

Table Talk How do you think God decides who He is going to use and how He will use

them?

What do we need to do in order for God to use us?

What special job do you think God has planned for you?

Vitamins and Mineral

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds

of service, but the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:4–5).

Love Talk Starters Helping get the

conversation flowing 1. What one area of your

marriage would you most like to see improve over the next year?

2. How does each of you bring

humor into the marriage? Be specific (and, nice).

3. If your spouse were a

“professor of marriage” which lecture might be the most popular?

From “Love Talk Starters” By Les & Leslie Parrott

“A happy marriage is

the union of two good

forgivers.”

“Love doesn’t make the world

go round. Love is what makes

the ride worthwhile.”

“A long-lasting

marriage is

built by two

people who

believe in -

and live by-

the solemn

promise they

made.”

“The first to apolo-

gize is the bravest.

The first to forgive is

the strongest. The

first to forget is the

happiest.”

“Happy is the

man who

finds a true

friend, and

far happier is

he who finds

that true

friend in his

wife.”

More Family Mealtime Devotions available at

Focus On the Family.org

“thirst. Indeed,the water I give

him will become in him a

Sunday Morning Sermon Series

10 a.m.

Deep Faith * Hard Work * God’s Word * Passion for Christ

Continued from p. 2

. . . Furthermore in the Scriptures, God makes it clear that any human authori-ty in this world has been established by Him (Romans 13). Even Jesus rein-forced this when he told Pontius Pilate that it was God who had allowed him to become governor. The providential influence of God in the world is the very reason I wink when I cast my ballot. I know that God may or may not choose to use my vote to accomplish His purposes. Either way, I completely trust Him. You see, I cast my vote in this earthly kingdom, but I’m living my life for the kingdom Jesus spoke about. When I wake up on Wednesday following the election, my future isn’t good or bad based on the outcome of the presidential race. I know my long-term future is as bright as it’s always been. Ultimately, it makes little difference who my president is—Jesus is my King. So, then, who is God’s choice for the next President of the United States? I can only guess right now but I should be able tell you for sure by sunrise on November 4. Whichever candidates win, whether I supported them or not, God is at work behind the scenes accomplishing His divine purposes for America and the world. Do you trust him enough to believe that? If so, make your choice by prayer and conscience then wink with me towards heaven. God is there and will certainly be working out His good purposes (Isaiah 46:10). In that great truth, I relax and trust.

Whatsoever ye do, . . . do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Col. iii. 17.

Do little things as if they were great, because of the majesty of the Lord

Jesus Christ, who dwells in thee; and do great things as if they were little

and easy, because of His omnipotence.—Pascal.

Thoughts for the Quiet Hour

D. L. Moody, ed. (1900)

Old people think this video is really funny.

The Middle aged find it cute.

Young people don’t entirely appreciate it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

First Congregational Church of Stanton

Worship Service: 10 a.m.

Phone: 989.831.5240

Email address: beverlyb@fccstanton.org

Website: www.fccstanton.org

NOISY CHANGE COLLECTION

June 2015

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

God wants a whole heart but will accept a broken one.

1

2

6:30 p.m. Book Study

3

4 5

6

7

10 am - Morning Worship

8

Sanctuary Reserved

9

6:30 p.m. Book Study

10

6 pm

Diaconate Meeting

11

12

9 am

Chit Chat and Coffee at FCC

13

14

10 am - Morning Worship

15

16

6:30 p.m. Book Study

17

18

19

20

21

10 am - Morning Worship

22

OPEN DOOR DEADLINE

7 pm

OFD Meeting

23

6:30 p.m.

Book Study

24 25 26

27

28

10 am - Morning Worship 11:30 am - Board of Trustees Mtg

29

30

6:30 p.m. Book Study

7 p.m.

Whitecap Game

A bachelor is lucky—

He can make a mistake and never know it.

—The Complete Book of Zingers/Croft M. Pentz

04 Pat Buchholz 04 Ann-Marie Rolfe 06 Jeremiah Bowyer 06 Bree Muilenburg 08 Dorothy Gurecki 08 Stephanie Herzog 08 Fritz Strautz 10 Pat Miller (lake) 12 Sharon Wellman 14 Dooder Ritter 15 Maria Davis 18 Adam Hoffman 20 Brittany Bowyer 20 Maddison Long 22 Donald Wilson 24 Tom Koepke 25 Hyacinth Chavez

Anniversaries

05 Allen/Irene Hardy (69 yrs) 07 Jack/Donna Jorgensen 09 Josh/Stephanie Herzog 10 Gordon/Amy Cannon 12 Kevin/Dawn Wadle 14 Wayne/Carol Korf 16 Damon/Maria Davis 16 David/Barbara Engler 22 Clif/Laura Sage 24 Ed/Sally McDonald 28 Al/Amy Laper 28 Todd/Kylie Wells 29 Woody/Mary Lou Ely

Happy Father’s Day!

FCC GRADS continued . . .

Gabriel Nichols, graduating from Central Montcalm High School, planning to

attend MCC next year—his field of study is undecided. His parents are

Jamey and Michelle Nichols, and he is the grandson of Jerry and Beverly

Nichols and Paul and Marilyn DeYoung.

Monica Paige Peterson, graduating from Rockford High School, plans to

work and travel for a year before continuing her studies. Her parents are

Amanda Woltz and Mark Peterson, granddaughter of Paul and Amy Simmons,

great-granddaughter of William J. Simmons and great-niece to Jane Simmons

Needham.

Laerke Roos, graduating from Carson City-Crystal High School. She is an ex-

change student from Denmark. She will return to Denmark to finish three

more years of high school, then go to college to study law. Her host parents

are Steve Lacy and Jennifer Lacy, and host grandparents are Bill and Phyllis

Lacy.

Rebecca J. Steidl, graduate of Michigan State University with a Ph.D. in mi-

crobiology. She is the daughter of Barbara Steidl and granddaughter of Allen

and Irene Hardy.

Todd Switzer, graduating from Central Montcalm High School, has enlisted

in the U. S. Navy and leaves for boot camp October 1, 2015. His parents are

Andy and Roxanne Switzer. He’s the grandson of Twilah Flint, and Earl and

Charlene Switzer, and a brother to Paige and Jenna Switzer.

Heidi Terry, gradating from Greenville High School. Her plans are to go to

MCC and MSU to study equine sciences. This will eventually help her to have a

horse farm for breeding horses that can provide healing for persons with

disabilities. Her parents are Mark and Julie Terry, and she’s a sister to TJ as

well.

First Congregational

Church of Stanton

Honors

2015 Graduates

Kevin Albert, graduating from Central Montcalm High School, planning to con-

tinue studies at Montcalm Community College and then on to Ferris State Uni-

versity to study diesel mechanics. He is the son of Leo and Nancy Albert and a

step-brother to Pastor Tara Doolittle.

Katelyn Bailey, graduate of Grand Valley State University, with a doctorate de-

gree as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She is the wife of Joe Bailey, daughter of

Jane and Dave Nelson, and granddaughter of Cy and Mary Jo Hansen.

Joseph Baldwin, graduating from Central Montcalm High School, planning to

continue studies at Montcalm Community College and then on to a larger school,

possibly Ferris University. His parents are Robert and Janet Baldwin, grandpar-

ents are Gene and Wilma Baldwin, Jim and Donna Butler, and he’s a nephew to

Jody Butler and Patty Rockafellow.

Mason Joseph Barnwell, graduating from Central Montcalm High School, plans

to attend Montcalm Community College in the fall to begin studies for a career

in conservation/natural resources. He’s hoping to work for the DNR. His parents

are Mike and Mindy Barnwell.

Benjamin J. Blovits, graduate of Western Michigan University with a bachelor

of science degree in aviation flight science. He is the son of Ann and Jay Blovits

and grandson of Allen and Irene Hardy.

Sarah E. Blovits, graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor of sci-

ence degree in veterinary science tech. She is the daughter of Ann and Jay

Blovits and granddaughter of Allen and Irene Hardy.

Keegan Bussell, graduating from Grand Rapids Catholic Central, plan-

ning to serve in the Navy Reserves while studying criminal justice at

Northern Michigan University. His parents are Paul and Lisa Bussell, grandpar-

ents are John and Linda Bussell, and his great-grandmother is Norma Bussell.

Becky Buxton, graduating from Ferris State University Magna Cum Laude,

with a bachelor of science in elementary education. She is the daughter of Clif

and Laura Sage and sister to Ryan Bowyer.

Lisa M. Cook, graduated from Ave Maria Law School in Naples, FL. She plans

to take her bar exam and start interviewing for a job. Her parents are Randy

and Margaret Cook.

Danielle (Ellie) Harmon, graduate of Camdenton High School, Camdenton, MO.

Elle plans to attend Berry College in Atlanta, GA, and plans to go on an overseas

mission trip this summer. She is the daughter of Robert and Terri Harmon (FCC

sponsored missionaries), granddaughter of Ray and Pat Crouse, and grandniece

of Sally McDonald.

Katie Harmon, graduate of Wofford College. Katie plans to be a teaching fel-

low in an inner city school for the next three years. She is the daughter of Rob-

ert and Terri Harmon (FCC sponsored missionaries), granddaughter of Ray and

Pat Crouse, and grandniece of Sally McDonald.

Brianna Miller, graduating from Frankfort High School, planning to attend Fer-

ris State University for pre-pharmacy studies. Her parents are Scott and Bar-

bara Miller. She is the granddaughter of Pat Miller and the late Jerry Miller.

FCC Family and Friends