Family Ties - February 2009

February Birthdays

7	Bill Adema Marv Bergsma Lee Ann Rosel Gerrit Tibbe
15	Theresa Kary
20	JJ Ferwerda Melissa Veldman

21	Todd Meindertsma Angel Dominguez
22	Fonda Ward
27	Barb Veeneman Gert Veeneman
29	Bob F. Veeneman

Pastor's Page
QUICK TIPS
     Quick Tips...I suppose some of you are hoping for a great recipe on Beef Tips. Sorry. I like them, too, but I don't have a recipe for them. What I can offer are a few tips on getting through reading difficult parts of the Bible.
     For many who endeavor to read through the Bible, there are a couple of places that always seem to be tough: Leviticus, where the details of the Law are given, and the Genealogies (or as some call them, the Begats). It has been said that if it is in the Bible it is important. True. Yet it is sometime more helpful to get a sense of the flow and grasp the bigger picture. With that in mind, here are a couple of suggestions for reading through those difficult passages.
     The first suggestion is to read it in another version. We have different translations because the Hebrew (Old Testament) and the Greek (New Testament) cannot be put into English and exactly capture what was being said in the original language. I found it very enlightening to read Job in The Message translation. The way it was written really connected me with Job and helped me understand it better.
     Another suggestion is to move quickly through the genealogies. Maybe a name pops out at you, particularly in the genealogy of Jesus given in Matthew. Many won't. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the people or can't pronounce their names. Take note of the number of people God used in preparing for a specific task to be accomplished through a specific person. It was "in the fullness of time" (or when the time was just right) that Jesus came. It is the same for the other people God has used. Also, you could ask, "Where am I in this line?" Will your name someday be listed in the genealogy of someone God has used to accomplish something marvelous?
     Many times people get hung up in reading the Bible because there is a sense that every word needs to be understood. My suggestion is that you try reading the Bible as a story. You will still be blessed by the message that is there and likely be blessed in a way you haven't before.
     If you are having a really hard time getting through a particular part, move on to something else and try it at a later time. The Bible contains several different genres. One genre may be difficult for you to read while another will be easy and very enjoyable.
     Finally, if there is something that is really bothering you, ask someone. Call a pastor or a trusted spiritual leader. The conversation will be enlightening for both of you. I know I enjoy the opportunity to engage in discussion with others when questions arise. It leads in a time of discovery for me as well as the one asking the question.
     The most important thing to remember is to take time to read the bible. Be encouraged!

~~ Elder's Corner ~~
by Barb Veeneman

Dream Big and Dare to Fail
(continued)

     On January 5th, while trying to figure out what to write for this Family Ties article, I picked up my devotional "Jesus Calling" and read what was written for that day. It is written in the first person, as though Christ is speaking to you:
     "You can achieve the victorious life through living in deep dependence on Me. People usually associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about Me. It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness that you learn to rely on Me.
     "True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do. It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you. I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach. You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal. Thus begins your journey of profound reliance on Me. It is a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need. This is not a path of continual success but of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt, nourished by increased reliance on Me. Enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life, through the practice of dependence on Me."
     Whether we find revelation from a gravestone (January Family Ties), a devotional, or 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith not by sight," our Lord is revealing that our only hope, help, comfort and joy is to rely on Him.

~~ Deacon's Corner ~~

Our total income for 2008 was $157,085. $21,729 of that was from special gifts and the auction.

Total expenses were $148,488. We had $13,192 surplus from the previous year. We spent $90,000 on the new roof. This was paid for by the following: roof fund $10,500, Roof Fund CD $10,000, general fund CD $15,000, Congregational notes $30,000, 2008 church auction $6,000, 2008 special gifts $5,000, and general fund $5,000.

This leaves us with approximately $6,000 in the checking account currently.

We hope to pay back the congregational notes with monies from future church auctions. This year’s auction with be March 14. Silent auction starts at 5:30 pm, dinner 6:00 pm with live auction at 7:15 pm. Mark your calendars. Bring your friends and family.

The last thing I have to report on is the SCRIP program. We made approximately $2,100 in 2008. We have used this to pay off the projection system. The rest went to the general fund. This is a good source of additional income for the church and I encourage you to use this. It can be used for groceries, gas, restaurants, etc.

Thank you,
Cory Bruins
Treasurer

RCYF - If you’re interested in being a part of the senior high youth group this year please plan to meet at New Beginnings Restaurant in Coopersville at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 7. Contact Rachael McClellan with any questions at 723-2759.

L.I.F.T. Living In Faith Together
Thank you to the actors who performed for the audience during praise music time for January’s L.I.F.T.! Be sure to join us following worship on February 15th at 11AM for the next program. There will be praise music, Bible study, and a family-friendly meal for all.

The Scrapbooking/Craft Night for the month of February will be on Friday the 20th.

Join us during fellowship on Sunday, February 22, for Cinnamon Roll Sunday. There will be warm, fresh rolls for everyone to enjoy.

Congratulations to Cindy Shepard for being accepted into the RN program for nursing at Grand Rapids Community College. Great job, Cindy!

From the Thursday morning Bible Study:
Well, we finally made it through the book Velvet Elvis. There should be a copy in the library if you’re interested in reading it. It’s not hard to get through, but we just had so much discussion on almost every page! We strongly recommend it. Rob Bell writes in the epilogue about an experience he had as a high school youth. It was in a church, it was not a good experience, in fact his dad was with him at the time and he witnessed it too. He figured that would be it for young Rob, he would probably walk away from God and the church and faith forever. Well, we all know he didn’t. It got me to thinking; this could be so many of us. Don’t we all know someone that because of something or someone in a church, walked away from it all? People will always disappoint us, right?

Maybe some are just looking for an excuse to disengage from the whole organized religion thing. I could have, you could have, maybe in a way you already have. You have to make a choice. You can become bitter or maybe just apathetic. A lot of us have. Or, as Rob Bell puts it, “Or like you I can choose to reclaim my innocence. We can choose to reclaim our innocence together. We can insist that hope is real and that a group of people who love God and others really can change the world. We can reclaim our idealism and our belief and our confidence in the big ideas that stir us deep in our bones. We can commit all the more to being the kinds of people who are learning how to do what Jesus teaches us.”

Let’s do it, people!!!!!! It’s what Jesus had in mind for us all along.

Blood Drive
Coopersville United Methodist Church is sponsoring a blood drive! This drive will be held Monday, February 2, 12:30-6:15 PM. Everyone is encouraged to donate blood. The American Red Cross needs your donations to help provide the 2,000 blood products used in Michigan every day. Each pint can save up to four hospital patients. Donating blood is safe, it's simple, and it saves lives. To become a blood donor, you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health.

New Items in Library

Adult Miscellaneous
DVD – Stayin’ Alive...Laughing by Chonda Pierce
DVD – Four-Eyed Blonde by Chona Pierce

Christian Living
Velvet Elvis, Repainting the Christian Faith

Fiction Paperback
Brides #02, Daddy on the Way by Lois Richer
A Texas Thanksgiving by Margaret Daley
A Matter of the Heart by Patricia Davids
McKaslin #19, His Holiday Heart by Jillian Hart
God’s Gift by Dee Henderson
Family Treasures by Kathryn Springer
Somebody’s Santa by Annie Jones
Dry Creek #14, Snowbound in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad

Magazines
We have a shelf of magazines. Please take what you would like to read. If you have magazines to share, they can be put on the shelf.

Miscellaneous
VHS – On the Way Home by Bonneville Communications
12 Cassettes – The Bible, New Testament by Hosanna Bible Societies

Reference
AOL for Dummies, 5th Edition by John Kaufeld
Digital Photography for Dummies, 3rd Edition by Julie King
Hewlett-Packard Official Scanner Handbook by David Busch
First Field Guide to Insects by Christina Wilsdon

2009 Church Dinner and Auction
** Saturday, March 14 **
Now is the time to start gathering donations for the annual auction. Baskets of homemade goodies, gift cards, handmade items, an activity day or luncheon – all are great ideas.
Mark your calendars!

The Angel Community Church family, 446 Ada Avenue in Muskegon, invites you to celebrate Afro-American History Month on Sunday, February 22. The celebration will begin at 5PM with refreshments to follow. Contact the church office at 231/727-0567 for more information or to leave a message that you plan to attend.

Fifth Annual Outhouse 500 - February 28: Teams parade, then race their uniquely decorated outhouses down Main Street! The day will feature breakfast at the Farm Museum 8-11AM, dog sled demonstrations beginning at 10AM along Main Street, Outhouse 500 Parade and Races at 11AM, Rotary Chili Blast 12-4PM, free children’s activities, toilet seat voting and auction, Jaycee’s Beer Tent. Registration forms and an official Outhouse 500 Events Guide are available at www.coopersville.com - On Line Forms, or by contacting Candy at 837-6515 or

Just for Laughs...

When my daughter said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer she would say, “And all girls." As this soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this at the end, my curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, "Why do you always add the part about all girls?" Her response, "Because we always finish our prayers by saying 'All Men'!"

Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. "Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer," said his mother. "I don't have to," the boy replied. "Of course, you do," his mother insisted. "We say a prayer before eating at our house." "That's our house," Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house, and she knows how to cook!”

February 1 ~ Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

February 8 ~ Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:15-23- Mark 1:29-39

February 15 ~ Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30: 1Corinithans 9:24-27
Mark 1:40-45

February 22 ~ Last Sunday after the Epiphany
2 King 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-16
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9

Serving Community
East Greeters:	February 1 February 8 February 15 February 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29	Dan & Lynda Anderson Sue Allen Joel & Dawn Barkel Steve & Lynne Bennink Chris & Traci Berg Marv & Betty Bergsma Cory & Lori Bruins Arlene Bubnik Rodger & Theresa Cheadle
Coffee:	February 1 February 8 February 15 February 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29	Tom & Donna Muller Bruce & Amy Pitz John & Judy Prichard John & Marty Richardson Rich & Darlene Roper David & Ariana Rosel Dennis & Lee Ann Rosel Sue Smith & LVH Tim & Deb Smith
Nursery:	February 1 February 8 February 15 February 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29	Rosel family Sue Smith & Lori Bruins Smith family Snyder family Eric Spoelman family Joel Spoelman family Dick Taylor family Thiss family & LVH Tibbe family
Sound System:	February 1 February 8 February 15 February 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29	David Rosel Will Rosel Kyle McClellan Ray Tibbe Bob Veeneman David Rosel Will Rosel Kyle McClellan Ray Tibbe
Sunday School:	February 1 February 8 February 15 February 22 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29	Lisa Kingma & Kristin Mooney Lisa Kingma & Kristin Mooney Jaimie Spoelman & Samy Lempke with Kim Lempke Jaimie Spoelman & Samy Lempke with Kim Lempke JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman
Communion Set Up:	February 1 March 1 April 5 April 9	Mary Estrada Dave Rosel Denise Wiersma Molly Thiss (Maundy Thursday)

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