Celebrating the Freedom God Gave!

I played this video twice today and both times my eyes filled with tears and my heart thanked God for giving me the privilege in live in a free country. A country where we have the freedom to worship the One and Only true God, a country where we can freely speak the name of Jesus in the streets. 
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 says, "As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For He says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
As we celebrate with our families and friends this weekend, let's remember that it's because of God's grace that we are able to stand on the streets and celebrate what He has done for us!


This week:

Senior Moments will not be meeting this Sunday.

Lamplighters will not be meeting Wednesday evening 7/6

Sunday, July 10 

No Morning Service

We will be meeting at the Waterfront Park at 6 pm. Bring blankets, chairs and your neighbors!

July 15, 22, 27-29 - Outreach Booth Opportunities. We will be at Friday Night Live and the West Michigan Fairgrounds. Come out and join!

Sunday, July 31 - Missionaries Nathan & Jess Alley from Youth With A Mission in Denver, CO will be sharing with us during the morning service.

Don't Miss the Moment!

When I was a little girl, I was so anxious for an event to happen and I stated to my grandma,  "I wish it would hurry up and get here!", she responded to me with "don't wish for time to come, the older you get the faster it goes"! Now that I am the age that she probably was when she told me that, I can totally understand what she was saying. Time goes too fast!


As we are going for "The Pursuit" this summer, you may think, "Wow, if I do all that my summer is gone!", but if we look at it through God's eyes, we can say "Look at the opportunities that I have to reach out to others in my community and how can I keep my eyes and heart focused so I won't miss the moment that God has placed me in? God wants to use our time, talents and treasures in every moment of every day of our life. Come with us and enjoy "Joining the Pursuit."

Thank you to all who helped with the Nuthouse for the Gus Macker Tournament from preparation to cleanup, we had an awesome time of serving our community and spending time with church family. It was a great start to our "Summer Pursuit."

This Sunday we continue with our "Join the Pursuit". Come and see what God has prepared for you! It's also Buddy Barrel/BGMC Sunday. Remember your barrels!

We Are Better Together! Thank You from Hospitality, INC.

 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.“Matthew 19:26       Praise God, Season #2 was a reality thanks to the help of the community and area churches opening their doors this past winter!  53 homeless friends of Mason County were blessed with a safe, warm shelter and an abundance of nourishment, thank you!  As we look forward to Season #3 we ask for your continued prayers as we seek God’s direction for the ministry.  Are we to continue rotating from church to church or is it time to try a permanent shelter?  Either way we will still depend on the outpouring of love through our churches and volunteers to provide the necessary manpower to make this shelter possible.

Thanking Him for planting us in a loving community!

Tam & Tim and the Hospitality Team

Looking Ahead!!!

Sunday, July 3rd - we will be celebrating Independence Day with a Patriotic Service. This is a great Sunday to bring along visiting family members and friends as we celebrate the freedom we have in our country and the freedom we have in Christ! Color theme: red, white & blue! 

Sunday, July 10th - NO MORNING SERVICE. We will be meeting at the Waterfront Park at 6 pm for our first outdoor service of the summer. 

July 15, 22, 27-29 - Outreach Booth Opportunities. We will be at Friday Night Live and the West Michigan Fairgrounds. Come out and join!

Sunday, July 31 - Missionaries Nathan & Jess Alley from Youth With A Mission in Denver, CO will be sharing with us during the morning service.

How Can We Serve You Today?

During one of my quiet times with God this week I was brought to the verse in Luke 22:25-27. Jesus is talking with his disciples at the last supper and they began disputing over who was considered the greatest among them. Here's how Jesus responded; "²⁵ Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 


As we "Join the Pursuit" beginning this Saturday and Sunday at the Gus Macker, ask yourself, "how can I serve my church, my family and my neighbors this week? Am I looking for leadership in what I do or am I seeking to serve? I want to make it a goal in my life that daily I remember to ask "How can I serve the Lord and how can I serve others?

During the construction this summer on Staffon St., watch for the signs  for the best roads to get to the church!

Men's Group meets every Tuesday evening beginning at 7 pm at the church. All men are invited for a time of fellowship and growing together in the Lord. 


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."

  Join us on Sunday, June 26th for the Pursuit!

Remember to bring your cards for Jacob's Well. Jacob is the grandson of Ron and Myrna Weaver. He is 9 years old and is battling cancer of the spine and going through chemo. Our goal is to give him 40 cards and letters each month. Have your children draw him pictures or send small gifts, or God may give you something to do special for him that will bring a smile to his face and know that we are praying for him. This will be ongoing until Jacob is feeling better. Make it a goal each month or week.

Under Construction!

Yup, Staffon St. is in for a summer of reconstruction. It has made us get out of our comfort zone for the way we drive and get into the church. It has given us a different perspective on flowers and pots we put out this year because of the dust and dirt. We have to make that extra effort to let everyone know how to get here. It will make us go just a little bit out of our way to do the everyday things.


Isn't that the way it is sometimes in our lives. We are comfortable in the every day routines that we do. Eating the same thing for breakfast while reading some scripture, because you decided to take 10 more minutes on the snooze, drive to work using the same route every day, doing what we need to do, for the most part, the same way every day.

Watch for the Signs!

This is actually a really good time to see the things around us that we don't really notice. Taking a different route and looking at the homes and people that you never noticed before (and they are only two blocks away) in the neighborhood and you ask yourself these questions; Why haven't I noticed before? How do I reach out to them? Wonder if they need prayer for anything? This is a great time for us as a church to reach out to our neighbors and show them that this isn't really an inconvenience, this is an opportunity. How do we show the love of Jesus to the construction workers, who are really just doing their job? How do we help the neighbors who, like us are getting blasted this summer with dirt and sand? Just some things to pray and think about. What opportunity does God have for you in the Prayer and Praise neighborhood?  


Next Week (June 18 & 19) is Macker!!! Volunteers are needed to cut veggies on Friday at the church from 9 am to around 11 am. Bring your own knife and cutting board. If you can't help at the booth, this is a great way to still be a part of the team. Sign up sheets for working both the booth and cutting veggies is at the Welcome Center.

Men's Group meets every Tuesday evening beginning at 7 pm at the church. All men are invited for a time of fellowship and growing together in the Lord. This weeks topic of discussion will include our summer schedule. 

Women's Fellowship Soup will be meeting this Sunday (6/12) at Christy Sniegowski's home, 6361 Serenity Court, from 5 pm- 7 pm. All women are invited to join us in a time of soup, fellowship and sharing. Directions are at the Welcome Center.

Remember to bring your cards for Jacob's Well. Jacob is the grandson of Ron and Myrna Weaver. He is 9 years old and is battling cancer of the spine and going through chemo. Our goal is to give him 40 cards and letters each month. Have your children draw him pictures or send small gifts, or God may give you something to do special for him that will bring a smile to his face and know that we are praying for him. This will be ongoing until Jacob is feeling better. Make it a goal each month or week.

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."

                                            Join us on Sunday, June 26th for the Pursuit!

How's Your Charge?

After a wonderful weekend away to Indianapolis, rested and anxious to start my week, I step into the Jeep, which seems to have a mind of it's own at times, and behold, it didn't want to start. Nothing but a little purr! So I quickly sent a text to Pastor Henrik to let him know I was waiting for my charge, not realizing I forgot to type what I was charging. He sends a reply back, "is that physical or spiritual'? My first thought was, "good point"!

With the summer months upon us and the anticipation of being outside enjoying the weather, family and friends, we need to remember to not only keep our physical bodies charged, but also our spiritual bodies. Take time to be still and let God fill you with His energy and His love and rest.

As we "Join in the Pursuit" this summer, let us step into our community as ones who are examples of how God is molding our lives to hear His voice and do as He directs. Not as a burden, but with excitement of what He has in store for that purpose and time.

 

Celebration of Our Graduates 

Sunday, June 5

10:00 am

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

Senior Moments will be meeting this Sunday 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."

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." 

Men's Group meets every Tuesday evening beginning at 7 pm at the church. All men are invited for a time of fellowship and growing together in the Lord.

Women's Fellowship Soup will be meeting at Christy Sniegowski's home, 6361 Serenity Court. on Sunday, June 12th from 5 pm- 7 pm. All women are invited to join us in a time of soup, fellowship and sharing. Directions at the Welcome Center.

Remember to bring your cards for Jacob's Well. Jacob is the grandson of Ron and Myrna Weaver. He is 9 years old and is battling cancer of the spine and going through chemo. Our goal is to give him 40 cards and letters each month. Have your children draw him pictures or send small gifts, or God may give you something to do special for him that will bring a smile to his face and know that we are praying for him. This will be ongoing until Jacob is feeling better. Make it a goal each month or week.