Bi-Weekly Newsletter April 8, 2014

Can you believe I have served as your pastor now for 3 months? It has been an exciting 3 months getting to know you and this wonderful church. You have been so kind to me in many respects, and I am most grateful. When we think of Easter, we think of new life. As Jesus was raised from the dead after three days in the tomb, new life was introduced to the disciples and the world. New life seems to be what we are experiencing here at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church. There is a new sense of excitement in the Narthex after our worship services. There is new life with our music teams and choirs. There is new life in our session meetings with ideas and new teams arising. Can you believe our session meetings last approximately one hour? We have restructured them to get the most out of our time Continued on page 2...

Forest Hills Presbyterian Church

4.9 Wednesday Lenten Supper-6:15 PM Wednesday Lenten Service-7:00 PM 4.13 Palm Sunday Service – 9:30 AM Baptism, Reception of New Members 4.17 Maundy Thursday Service – 7:00 PM 4.19 Annual Easter Egg Hunt-3:00 PM 4.20 Easter Service – 9:30 AM

Mark Your Calendar

3 Months and Counting

“3 Months and Counting” Continued … together and it is progressing wonderfully. Our new hospitality and outreach team is moving at record speed in making sure we are a welcoming church and exploring ways to reach our community. Are you doing your part to offer radical hospitality? Our new Email BLAST is being sent out every Thursday with upcoming church news for the week. If you would like to receive that weekly email, please call the church office with your email address. We are looking into new small groups for the fall and a new prayer group that will meet regularly. New life is alive and well at our church. If you have not worshiped with us for awhile, please stop by and say hi. See if you experience a new attitude here at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church. God bless, and Happy Easter. Pastor Jim

“I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity, but because there were people willing to be nuts and bolts.” - Rich Mullins

Prayer Concerns In Medical Facilities Michelle (friend of Deb McDermott) in hospital on extended bed rest, expecting her first child. Don Breckenridge (Heartland Health Care, 2320 East Beltline, GR 49546, room 604) Recovering at Home Bev Ayres Denise Neason Jim Tschantz Harriet Nise (mother of Vern Nise) Evelyn Kruse Linda Westveld Lois Hale Renee Donovan In Retirement Facilities Jo Ann Strayhorn (Sunrise Assisted Living) Dottie Siebers (Clark on Keller Lake) Barbara Sjoerdsma (Clark Retirement) Eleanor Vollwiler (Maple Creek) Other Kathy Sullivan’s sister, Jean Warner, injured in a car accident, March 12. Christina Hindley (friend of Anita Brocker), inoperable cancer. Kathy Cullens father, Jerry Winters, severe heart condition. Gabbi, granddaughter of Larry and Renee Donovan. (Gabbi suffers from Congenital Ullrich Muscular Dystrophy.)

MISSIONS

Kids’ Food Basket: A group of 10 volunteers is needed to help pack Sack Suppers at Kids’ Food Basket on the second Monday of each month from 1 to 2 PM. The next date is April 14. Please sign-up on the Missions Slat Wall in the Narthex. Mobile Food Truck: Upcoming dates are Saturdays, April 19 and June 21, 8:15 – 10 AM, at Cesar Chavez Elementary, 1205 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids.

Our Church is participating in Compassion Sunday on May 4. This is a national event that helps us grow in our understanding of God’s very special love for the poor. It’s also an opportunity for each of us to intervene in the life of at least one child in poverty. We have a special Sunday planned with stories of God’s faithfulness and how members of our Congregation are involved in releasing children from poverty in Jesus name!

Special Note for current sponsors: Please email Anita Charles the most recent photo of your sponsored child.

Please prayerfully consider making a difference in the life of a child.

Mother’s Day Pampering Kits Collection – until April 13. Once again we will be selling pampering kits for the mothers who come to the Mobile Food Truck on Saturday, April 19. Each kit will sell for $2 with the hope that the children who are in line for food may be able to buy a pampering kit for their mothers.

We are planning to bag the items at church, so please don’t worry about wrapping them. We want to try to make the kits as similar as possible.

Possible items to include:

Body Lotion – 3 to 8 oz. Moisturizer – 3 to 8 oz. Nail Polish & Polish Remover Shampoo & Conditioner – 6 – 11 oz. Body Mist – 3 to 8 oz. Hand Creams – 3 to 8 oz. Lip Gloss & Lipsticks

Thank you for making this possible and for sharing love with mothers who are not able to pamper themselves.

ANNOUNCEMENTS et

A Community Good Friday Service will be held on April 18, 12 PM, at Thornapple Community Church, 3260 Thornapple River Drive. Child care provided. Reception after the service. Sponsored by the Forest Hills Ministerial Association. International Night. Come and enjoy fellowship and delicious food prepared by excellent cooks from our congregation at International Night, Sunday, April 27, 5:30 – 7:00 PM, in Fellowship Hall. If you are planning on attending, please sign up at in the Narthex, or call Peggy Ross. Are you Spirited? Do you remember the Spirits group from days gone by? Even if you don’t and you are single or a couple with kids (or almost with kids, or kids just out of the house), please join us for a fun evening of fellowship…and be Spirited once again! Come to Jim and Barb Weaver’s house on April 27 at 7:30 PM. Bring an appetizer if you’d like. Hope to see you there! A Deacons Communion Service Class will be held on Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30 PM. Please meet in the Narthex. Senior Spring Luncheon: Please mark your calendar now for the Senior Spring Luncheon on Saturday, May 3, in Fellowship Hall. Gather at 11:30 AM for punch and fellowship and at 12:00 PM for lunch and entertainment. Invitations will arrive soon!

Attention Prayer Warriors! If you are comfortable and would be willing to pray with someone who desires prayer, would you please see Pastor Jim. We are putting together a team of Prayer Partners so we can uplift one another in prayer when the need arises. Thank you. Midweek Services: The final Wednesday service will be April 9, at 7 PM in the Sanctuary, with supper served at 6:15 PM in Fellowship Hall. Our midweek service during Holy Week will be Maundy Thursday, April 17 at 7 PM. Communion will be served by intinction at this service.

Tuesday, April 8 7:00 PM Tai Chi / Fellowship Hall Wednesday, April 9 11:30 AM Finance & Stewardship / Oasis 6:15 PM Lenten Supper / Fellowship Hall 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Cancelled 7:00 PM Lenten Service / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Cancelled 7:30 PM worshipBand / Sanctuary 7:45 PM Hidden Hills Neighborhood Assoc. / Lounge Thursday, April 10 11:00 AM Pieceful Gathering Quilters / Fellowship Hall 6:15 PM worshipBand Rehearsal / Cancelled Friday, April 11 Saturday, April 12 Sunday, April 13 – Palm Sunday 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary Pre-K – 5th Grade dismissed to TRU Worship 10:30 AM Fellowship Time / Lounge 10:45 AM Education Hour / Lower Level Assembly Area 10:45 AM Praise Kids (K-5th Music) / Lower Level 4:00 PM Jr. High Youth Group / Core 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Group / Core Monday, April 14 9:00 AM Preschool 10:00 AM Program Staff Meeting / Lounge 1:00 PM Kids’ Food Basket / 2055 Oak Industrial Dr. 7:00 PM Congregational Life / Lounge Tuesday, April 15 9:00 AM Preschool 7:00 PM Board of Deacons / Room 26 7:00 PM Tai Chi / Cancelled Wednesday, April 16 7:45 AM Men’s Breakfast / The Gathering Place 9:00 AM Preschool 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, April 17 9:00 AM Preschool 6:15 PM worshipBand Rehearsal / Sanctuary 7:00 PM Maundy Thursday Service / Sanctuary Communion served by intinction Friday, April 18 9:00 AM Preschool 12:00 PM Community Good Friday Service / Thornapple Community Church Saturday, April 19 3:00 PM Annual Egg Hunt/Fellowship Hall & Grounds

CALENDAR

Sunday, April 20 - Easter 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary No TRU worship 10:30 AM Fellowship Time / Lounge 10:45 AM Education Hour / Cancelled 10:45 AM Praise Kids / Cancelled 4:00 PM Jr. High Youth Group / Cancelled 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Group / Cancelled Monday, April 21 9:00 AM Preschool 10:00 AM Program Staff Meeting / Lounge 11:00 AM All Staff Meeting / Lounge 6:30 PM Worship Committee / Lounge Tuesday, April 22 9:00 AM Preschool 5:00 PM Missions Committee / Lounge 7:00 PM Tai Chi / Fellowship Hall Wednesday, April 23 9:00 AM Preschool 11:30 AM Finance and Stewardship / Oasis 6:30 PM Preschool Visitation 6:30 PM Jubilation Bells / Sanctuary 7:30 PM Sanctuary Choir / Choir Room Thursday, April 24 9:00 AM Preschool 6:00 PM Boy Scout Troop 345 / Fellowship Hall 6:15 PM worshipBand Rehearsal / Sanctuary Friday, April 25 9:00 AM Preschool Saturday, April 26 Sunday, April 27 9:30 AM Celebration Worship Service / Sanctuary Children, Pre-K-5th, are dismissed TRU Worship 10:30 AM Fellowship Time / Lounge 10:45 AM Education Hour / Lower Level Classrooms 10:45 AM Confirmation Class / Room 26 10:45 AM Praise Kids (K-5th Music) / Sanctuary 4:00 PM Jr. High Youth Group / Core 5:30 PM International Night / Fellowship Hall 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Group / Core 7:00 PM Quarnstrom’s Bible Study / Lounge Monday, April 28 9:00 AM Preschool 10:00 AM Program Staff Meeting / Lounge Tuesday, April 29 9:00 AM Preschool 7:00 PM Tai Chi / Fellowship Hall