May Brings Spring Flowers! May 1 - May 7

We all remember the saying we learned when we were younger, "April showers bring Spring May flowers." Well, I for one am so ready for those flowers. I am ready for warm sunny days and the smell of Spring.

We are gearing up for another great summer of outreach and family times here at Prayer and Praise. Keep watching and reading for the events coming up during the months of June, July and August. There will be lots of opportunity to bring your family and friends together.

Wasn't the coffee great last week? Well, strong but great! I think we have the formula down so you can enjoy another wonderful cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. We still have plenty of packages left for you to purchase. This coffee helps to support the City of Refuge Children's Home. It's $10/package. 

Did you see all those beautiful pink dresses last Sunday. As Sherry Motcheck stated on facebook, "look at the fluff." The kids did an awesome job last Sunday worshipping with flags and dancing before the Lord. They learned what Resurrection Sunday was about and served us communion. What a blessing each and everyone of these precious children are!

This Sunday, Tim Alley will be teaching us about the Name of God "tsidkenu" - The Lord is My Righteousness. First, I hope he teaches us how to pronounce it!

Senior Moments this Sunday has been cancelled. Daniel Cerminaro is preparing a 75th Birthday celebration for his grandma Suzy, following the church service. Come enjoy some cake and ice cream and give Suzy a big birthday hug!

Thursday, May 5th @ 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. A new LifeGroup called "Overflow" will begin. In this group we are going to begin to step out of the ordinary and move into our community to reach those who can't see beyond the impossible. Everyone is welcome. For more information contact Tim or Debbie Alley.

Looking Ahead: Mark your calendars for these events that will be happening during the month of May in our community.

Thursday - May 12 from 4:30 - 6pm Covenant Christian School will be having an Open House/Re-enrollment night. This is a great time to come out and meet the teachers, get acquainted with the school. They are planning on starting the upcoming school year at the new building. The Open House will be held at the current location 243 N. Stiles Rd.

Sunday, May 22 - West Shore Pregnancy Care Center's annual Walk for Life. Registration will begin @ 1 pm and the walk @ 1:30. Following the walk @ 2:15 will be a Celebration Picnic. Pledge sheets are available at the Welcome Center.

It's Spring At Prayer & Praise - April 24th - April 30th

Well, it may not feel much like Spring outside, but inside the church it is beginning to blossom. We have lilies, tulips and even sunshine!

This Sunday we'll be celebrating the Resurrection of  Jesus. As we were talking with our grandson, almost 4 year old Shane last night on skype, he was telling us about the story of Easter. Nathan and Jess told us that he wants them to read it to him every night twice, because he just didn't understand why Jesus had to die. Last night when we asked him why Jesus had to die, he answered "because He wants to save us all"! I think he's getting it. Take some time this week and read the story of Jesus' life, death and Resurrection so when we come in on Resurrection Sunday, we can say, "I get it!"

Saturday, April 23rd - There will be NO Harp and Bowl this week.

Sunday as you enter the church building, you will not only smell the beautiful flowers of Spring, but you will also be smelling the wonderful aroma of Jamaican coffee. Our new coffee station will be featuring 100% pure Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee. It is from the City of Refuge Children's Home and Coffee Farm that was established in Jamaica by AG Missionaries Steve and Kim Puffpaff in July 2002. This home helps nurture abandoned and needy children of Jamaica. This coffee is also available for purchase at $10/pkg. When you purchase this coffee you are enabling a Jamaican child to live and learn the ways of a loving and nurturing family environment.

Pastor Henrik will be presenting the life, the death and the Resurrection of Jesus in three parts, The children will be involved throughout the service. This is also Buddy Barrel/BGMC Sunday. So bring your barrels, dollars and change to help missionaries receive supplies for their children's ministries.

Speaking of Sunday services, hasn't it been great learning about the Names of God? You can now purchase the first set of 4 CD's. They are available in the book/CD cabinet located in the lobby. Sunday, May 1 - Tim Alley will be teaching us about the Name of God "Tsidkenu" The Lord is My Righteousness. Personally speaking, I'm not missing this one!

Monday, April 25th Mountain Movers will be meeting @7pm in the church office area. Everyone is welcome. This is a great opportunity to come and learn how to move those "mountains" in your life through spiritual warfare. Need more information contact Jim or Suze Snyder 231-723-2893.

Men's Group meets every Tuesday @ 7pm. We meet in the Upper Room at the church. All men invited.

Next Women's Ministry is Sunday, May 15th. We will be meeting @ Debbie Alley's. Watch for more information.

Senior Moments will be held on Sunday, May 1st, following the service. Everyone 60 and older are invited for potluck lunch and fellowship. Contact Lynn or Christian Thompson @ 843-4695 for more details.

Thursday, May 5th @ 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Overflow LifeGroup will begin. "God has called you to SEE the invisible and DO the impossible. God has not called you to do the things you can do, He's called you to do the things you'll never be able in a million years. But He's called you to live in His faithfulness, that He will come through you and do all things that need to be done. "Graham Cooke"

In this group we are going to begin to step out of the ordinary and move into our community to reach those can't see beyond the impossible. Everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Tim or Debbie Alley 231-480-0049. 

Looking Ahead: Mark your calendars for these events that will be happening during the month of May in our community.

Thursday - May 12 from 4:30 - 6pm Covenant Christian School will be having an Open House/Re-enrollment night. This is a great time to come out and meet the teachers, get acquainted with the school. They are planning on starting the upcoming school year at the new building. The Open House will be held at the current location 243 N. Stiles Rd.

Sunday, May 22 - West Shore Pregnancy Care Center's annual Walk for Life. Registration will begin @ 1 pm and the walk @ 1:30. Following the walk @ 2:15 will be a Celebration Picnic. Pledge sheets are available at the Welcome Center.

Keeping Connected! April 17th - 24th

Good morning from IHOP in Charleston, SC. Yup, that's right, Tim and I are enjoying a wonderful breakfast at the International House of Pancakes. A late one at that! We have had a wonderful warm and relaxing week. How many of you knew that this week if the 150th Anniversary of the first shot fired of the Civil War?

We are looking forward to coming back and continue with the great things God has in store for us all at Prayer and Praise this Spring and Summer. Make sure you are getting connected, you won't want to miss out!

This Sunday is Women's Ministries at Jaynie Manier's home at 5 - 7 pm. All ladies are invited. Come enjoy some soup, fellowship and time of building relationships.

The Come and See group is taking the week off and will resuume on the 27th. Come and join us as we explore the questionas and answers that will draw you closer to God.

The Good Friday service is at the Methodist Church this year. Between 1-3 pm diffrent pastors and churches in the area will be coming together, this year Pastor Henrik and Tim Martin will be speaking. 
also, Abbie Cook and her friends will be singing.

Next week is Resurrection Sunday, come and celebrate as we raise the greatest of all banners: The Empty Cross. 

National day of prayer May 5th, Breakfast at Prayer and Praise, noon event at the court house. More information to follow so keep connecting.

Some of you have had a difficult time connecting through the email. You should just be able to click on the blue link in your message. If not, you can always connect through the website pandp.org, click on the picture at the top that says "weekly announcements." It should get you there.  Feel free to contact me next week if you need further help.

Have a blessed week! Debbie

What An Amazing God We Serve. April 10-16

I woke up early this morning just thinking about what an amazing God we serve! I am so thankful for my husband and children and how God has kept His promises of watching, guiding and protecting them. But I am also thankful for growth of ministries that are happening in the church. God Is Amazing!

Last Sunday, Sherry Motcheck's sermon on Jehovah Shalom brought us all to a place to knowing where our peace is. Are we depending on God for our peace, or on ourselves? If we depend on ourselves, then that brings us to separation with God. This coming Sunday, Pastor Henrik will be presenting another name of God, "Jehovah Nissi", God is our Banner. I have really enjoyed learning these names and am looking forward to listening to it live from the website as we are traveling to SC for vacation. If you have missed any of the weeks, you can also listen to it from our website.

On the second and fourth Monday (April 11 & April 25), Jim and Suze Snyder have been leading a Life Group (as we are now calling them) entitled "Mountain Movers." They meet at 7:00 pm in the church office area. Do you have "mountains" in your life that you are struggling to climb, pass through or even move out of the way? This class will help you to fight those spiritual battles that keep you from moving forward.

In the last 26 years since we have been attending Prayer and Praise, I have never seen a movement of God touching the lives of men like we are seeing now. Ladies, when your husband comes home excited for the things of God because a group of men are gathering once a week to pray for each other, fast with each other and are encouraging each other to become better husbands, fathers and leaders, that what brings a new environment of growth in our families and our church. Keep your eyes open, I believe we are going to see our men of God become bold and strong warriors. The Men's Ministry meets every Tuesday night at the church at 7:00 pm. All men are invited.

On Wednesday evenings @ 7pm,  let's "Come and See!" Lynn & Christine Thompson will leading this Life Group. For eight weeks you will be presented with one question and discover the answer to that question. The group is open to everyone and you can join in at anytime. This is a great stepping stone to getting connected with our church. Not connected yet? Get connected by joining a of the Life Groups. You can pick up a Life Groups brochure at the Welcome Center.

Are you a women looking for a way to "get connected" with other ladies of the church? In our busy lives as wives, mothers, volunteers, taxi drivers and executive administrators of our homes, we have a hard time finding time to connect. We are now meeting once a month on different Sunday evenings for a time of fellowship and growing together in the Lord. Women's Ministry will meet from 5pm - 7pm on April 17th @ Jaynie Manier's home (1824 S. Pere Marquette Hwy.) for soup and relationship building. Invite a friend to come along. If you'd like to bring a soup, bread or dessert, call Dawn 843-3470.

This week is about discovering our amazing God! Every Saturday evening at 7:00pm - 8:30pm you can come and encounter God through prayer and worship at Harp & Bowl. Each week we have a different prayer focus.

Looking for some prayer focus this week? Remember Emma Bob from Romania? She is now on the road to India with a DTS team from the Cluj YWAM base. Let's pray for protection, God's grace in their travels and for the leading of the Holy Spirit as they minister over the next few weeks. I will keep you updated as I receive emails. Let's continue to lift up Myrna Weaver for the manifestation of healing and for their grandson Jacob as he is currently going through physical therapy at Mary Free Bed to become stronger before they begin chemo. Jacob is nine years old, so it would great to involve your children in praying for him.

I am praying you all to have an awesome and amazing week with God. Feel free to post a comment on what God has done "amazing" in your life this week. 

Jehovah Sholom, Debbie