What Marks the Beginning of Summer for You?

Memorial Day Weekend , for some, is the perfect time for friends and family to honor loved ones who have served their country. For others, the national holiday is the unofficial start of summer and the time to pull out the grill or plant the gardens. Whether you want to honor the memory of a veteran or you take this time to remember those in your life who are no longer with you, Memorial Day Weekend is a time for remembrance and thanksgiving for the people in our lives and history that has touched  in us so many different ways.

 

This summer at Prayer and Praise we are "Joining the Pursuit" in our church and in our community. Throughout the summer months we will be coming together to go out into our community to show and demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ. There will be opportunities for all ages, so get your sneakers on and come with us and "Join the Pursuit."

This Sunday:  We will be having a missionary speaker. Because of the sensitivity of the information, we will not be broadcasting the message on UStream and we will not be recording the message.

 Celebration of Our Graduates 

Sunday, June 5

10:00 am

Join us following the service for cake and beverages in the Upper Room.

Graduation Open House announcements are posted on the bulletin board across from the nursery. Check it out! You won't want to miss any!

Senior Moments will be meeting at Lynn and Christine Thompson's for a potluck and fellowship following the cake time. Everyone 60 years and older are invited.

Gus Macker - June 18th and 19th. We will have the Nuthouse up and running. Much help is needed from cutting onions to serving lemonade. Contact Pastor Henrik at henrikpandp@gmail.com if you would like to "Join in the Pursuit."

Don't Ya Just Love May?

Well, usually May brings us warm breezes with the anticipation of enjoying the outside of our homes instead of inside. I love May for other reasons too, not to mention every May I get to celebrate my birthday, which is today! Every year on my birthday the one thing I remember is the smell of lilacs. That smell always tells me that Spring has come. When we lived on Rowe St., our neighbor, Erma, had bushes of lilacs and she gave us permission to cut them which, in the long run, makes for a healthier more blossoming bush.


That's what it is with our relationship with Christ too. Even though we have beautiful healthy blossoms, He is still pruning us so that we can continue to grow to be healthier.

Sunday

We are moving Buddy Barrels to next Sunday, May 29th.  We will be having a missionary with us from Northern Asia region, so we will be doing our missions emphasis on that day. 

Cary Pugh will be sharing with us. He will be bringing our last teaching on the Names of God series. His teaching focus is on Jesus, the Name above all names. 

You can purchase the first four teachings in the series in the bookstore cabinet. The cost is $5. The second four will be available soon.

There are several opportunities to serve our community this Sunday.

West Shore Pregnancy Care Center's Annual Walk for Life event begins at 1 pm at the Waterfront Park with a Celebration picnic @ 2:15 pm. Bring the family for a family event that supports life in our community.

The Nursing Home Ministry begins at 2:00 pm at Tendercare, Ludington Woods at 3:00 and then onto Oakview at 3:45 pm. Pastor Henrik is looking for someone who would like to lead this time. If you are interested in sharing your testimony, a special scripture or devotional please contact him.

Another opportunity to serve in our community is through H.E.L.P.S (Hands Extended Loving People). They are in the process of organizing a Follow-up Ministry. In this ministry clients are given the opportunity to request a Bible, Jesus video, prayer and more information on how to have a relationship with God. If you are interested in helping, there are application forms at the Welcome Center. They need them returned by June 3rd. For more information on H.E.L.P.S. Ministry you can go to their website help@help-ministry.org

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.

Are ya smellin' the coffee? Some of us are even enjoying the coffee! Every Sunday our new coffee station is 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. If you enjoy coffee every day, I know you are going to need to get replenished in your cupboard, so why not pick some up on Sunday

June is right around the corner and that means Gus Macker Basketball! Each year we set-up our "Nuthouse" fundraising booth. This is a great opportunity to reach out into our community and it enables us to raise funds to help with supporting missionaries, special outreach events, youth and children's ministries. It takes us all working together from planning, cutting vegetables to working the event to make it a success. If you're interested in helping for this event email Debbie at the church office. (pandpoffice@gmail.com)

Sending Blessing, Debbie

Windows of Communication - May 15 through May 21

This is the time of year when you open your blinds or curtains in the morning to let in the wonderful site of sun and blue skies in.  All you see is this haze of dirt that has accumulated over the winter months making it difficult to see clearly the beautiful sun and sky that the Lord has given you to begin your day.

I, for one, do not like to wash windows, but I love the results that I get when I do. I can see out clearly and others can see in without having to wipe a spot clean first. Not that any of us would do that!

This made me think about the times when I am walking through a spiritual season of winter. During this time, some dust and dirt can collect and it makes it difficult to see through the season. But God loves to clean windows! As we spend time each day with Him in worship and praise, He begins to clean away the accumulation of winter and brings a new season of Spring which allows the Son to shine in.

This Sunday 

Pastor Henrik will be teaching us on the final banner of the Names of God series,  "Jehovah Shammah", The Lord is Present. The end of Ezekiel 48:35 says, "The Lord is there." Let's be "Present" at Prayer and Praise this Sunday and together we will experience the presence of the Lord.

Women's Ministry - Friendship Soup will be meeting at 5:00 pm at Debbie Alley's home. 2758 N. Island Dr. in Tamarac Village. We will have balloons marking the way in the park. Debbie's home number is 480-0049 if you need directions. Invite a friend or neighbor to join you. We will be enjoying soup, fellowship and some awesome testimonies.

Wednesday, May 18th - Youth Group will not be meeting.

Next Sunday

May 22nd is a filled with lots of opportunity to serve our community. West Shore Pregnancy Care Center's Annual Walk for Life event begins at 1 pm at the Waterfront Park with a Celebration picnic @ 2:15 pm. Bring the family for a family event that supports life in our community.

Our church is doing the Nursing Home Ministry that begins at 2:00 pm at Tendercare, Ludington Woods at 3:00 and then onto Oakview at 3:45 pm. Pastor Henrik is looking for someone who would like to lead this time. If you are interested in sharing your testimony, a special scripture or devotional please contact him.

Another opportunity to serve in our community is through H.E.L.P.S (Hands Extended Loving People). They are in the process of organizing a Follow-up Ministry. In this ministry clients are given the opportunity to request a Bible, Jesus video, prayer and more information on how to have a relationship with God. If you are interested in helping, there are application forms at the Welcome Center. They need them returned by June 3rd. For more information on H.E.L.P.S. Ministry you can go to their website help@help-ministry.org

June is right around the corner and that means Gus Macker Basketball! Each year we set-up our "Nuthouse" fundraising booth. This is a great opportunity to reach out into our community and it enables us to raise funds to help with supporting missionaries, special outreach events, youth and children's ministries. It takes us all working together from planning, cutting vegetables to working the event to make it a success. If you're interested in helping for this event email Debbie at the church office. (pandpoffice@gmail.com)

"May" be Busy!

The month of May can start you head spinning with the Graduation's, Open Houses, School programs, sports, yard work, Spring cleaning. Then there's Mother's Day, birthdays, Anniversaries, Memorial Day, is your head spinning yet?

It doesn't matter what age we are, May becomes a busy month. This week in my quiet time the Lord gave me this verse:
                    Psalms 36:7-9
                                  How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!

                                  People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

                                             They feast on the abundance of your house;

                                  you give them drink from your river of delights.

                                             For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

So as you are beginning this busy month of May, take a few moments each day and let His fountain of life bring light into your busy world!

This Sunday is Mother's Day. What a great time to invite mom to church. It will be a special day just for her! It's a great way to say thank-you for all she does.Why not pick up mom a package of our Jamaican Coffee? It's only $10 and also helps to support the Children's Orphanage in Jamaica.

Sunday - May 22nd we will be ministering at the Nursing Homes. We will begin at 2:00 pm at Tendercare, then Ludington Woods at 3:00 and then onto Oakview at 3:45 pm. If you interested in sharing your testimony, a special scripture or devotional at the Nursing Homes, please email the office @ pandpoffice@gmail.com

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.

June is right around the corner and that means Gus Macker Basketball! Each year we set-up our "Nuthouse" fundraising booth. This is a great opportunity to reach out into our community and it enables us to raise funds to help with supporting missionaries, special outreach events and youth and children's ministries. It takes us all working together from planning, cutting vegetables to working the event to make it a success. If you're interested in helping for this event email Debbie at the church office. (pandpoffice@gmail.com)