Reflections of Grace

MAY 2019

N e w s f r o m G r a c e C o m m u n i t y C h r i s t i a n R e f o r m e d C h u r c h

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ARMED FORCES DAY

May 18

Armed Forces Day is a special holiday for people all over the world to come together and thank the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. First conceived by President Harry S. Truman, the holiday was established in 1949. The creation of a single day celebra-tion for all five branches of the United States military made sense due to its recent unification under the Department of Defense. Today, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of every May. Armed Forces Day is a special holiday for people all over the world to come together and thank the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. First conceived by President Harry S. Truman, the holiday was established in 1949. The creation of a single day celebra-tion for all five branches of the United States military made sense due to its recent unification under the Department of Defense. Today, Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of every May.

Why National Armed Forces Day is Important

A. The Armed Forces Deserve our Respect Joining the U.S. Armed Forces is an incredibly selfless act that deserves recognition. Soldiers and the military personnel risk their lives ever day to keep citizens safe. This holiday is an opportunity for the average person to show support for that sacrifice.

B. It Helps Spread Awareness and Understanding National Armed Forces Day is an opportunity to educate yourself or others. The holiday was originally designed to help citizens better understand the military and its role in our society. We can all do our part by spreading knowledge and understanding.

C. It is for all 5 Branches of the Military The military is made up of 5 branches—the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. This holiday is intended for members of all 5 branches. Originally it was meant to replace separate branch appreciation holidays, but these are also still celebrated today.

Copyright © 2017–2019 by National Today

In This Issue::

1 Armed Forces Day

2 Dept. of Health News Release

3 Measles Information

4 Ascension Day

5 Missions Calendar

6 Back to God Ministries News

7 Have a story for the newsletter?

How Can We Pray for You?

Safe Church

8 May Serving Schedule

9 Birthdays & Anniversaries

Fleece Blanket Making

10 Home Cooking—Recipe Page

11 Coloring Page

12 Hidden Pictures

13 Grace Church—Our Values

Newsletter Deadline

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H e a l t h

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The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ, also called Ascension Day, Ascension Thursday, or sometimes Holy Thursday, commemorates the Christian belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. It is one of the ecumenical (i.e., universally celebrated) feasts of Christian churches, ranking with the feasts of the Passion, of Easter, and Pentecost. Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day of Easter (following the accounts given in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51 and Acts 1:2), although some Christian denominations have moved the observance to the following Sunday.

The ascension of Jesus is the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God. The biblical narrative in Chapter 1 of the Acts of the Apostles takes place 40 days after the resurrection: Jesus is taken up from the disciples in their sight, a cloud hides him from view, and two men in white appear to tell them that he will return "in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." In the Christian tradition, reflected in the major

Christian creeds and confessional statements, the ascension is connected with the exaltation of Jesus, meaning that through his ascension, Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God: "He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty."

Christian theology

The common thread linking all the New Testament ascension references, reflected in the major Christian creeds and confessional statements, is the exaltation of Jesus, meaning that through his ascension Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God in Heaven: "He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty." (Apostles' Creed) It implies the human Jesus being taken into Heaven and marks the begin-ning of Christ's heavenly rule, and its hold on the Christian imagination is evidenced by its importance in Christian art through the centuries.

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6 MAY 2019

Dear Partners in Ministry, In 2014, I asked you to pray for God’s guidance as we re-launched French ministry in West Africa. With your help, we were looking to establish ministry in more Muslim majority countries and develop local voices. Since that time, I have felt overwhelmed by God’s timely answer and provision. Our shared ministry in Burkina Faso through the leadership of Rev. Marc Nabie has already had a profound impact on French speakers! Rev. Nabie has helped launch new programs that speak specifically to needs in West Africa as well as continue French programs that also reach Haiti and Niger. One of the newest programs is a program specifically for young people and it will help people like Miriam (name changed for privacy). As the young daughter of a pastor in Burkina Faso, Miriam has known God’s Word since she could first speak. Yet her faith in God was mostly defined by fear. “Miriam had always been taught to strictly obey the Word of God, otherwise she would lose her salvation,” says Rev. Nabie. Miriam’s fear-based faith brought on a flood of guilt when she became sexually active. At her lowest point, these feelings caused her to consider taking her own life. Thankfully, Miriam discovered God’s message of grace through our French radio program. Rev. Nabie was preaching on the story of the fall of Adam and Eve.

For the first time, Miriam understood that our God is a God of grace and that He was ready to forgive her. Miriam doesn’t live far from the broadcast center so, upon hearing this message, she visited BTGMI’s French ministry team to learn more about forgiveness. “She left joyously with the assurance of forgiveness,” shares Rev. Nabie. “Since then, Miriam has been joyful in her faith and often calls us with updates.” We praise God for working in Miriam’s life and for faithful supporters like you who make this ministry possible! Serving together,

Rev. Kurt Selles Director, Back to God Ministries International

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Anyone holding a meeting or event at the church is asked to please remember to monitor who is entering the building when doors are left unlocked for attendees to come in, and to close and lock all the doors of the church after everyone has arrived. Please do not leave the doors propped open. Also, if you are the last to leave, please make sure ALL doors are locked before you go.

If we all do our part, we can make our church

building a safe environment for everyone to enjoy.

How Can We Pray for YOU?

If you would like our Pray-er Team to be ‘prayer

warriors’ for you, for a need in your life, or the

life of a loved one or friend, visit our website at:

http://www.gccrc.org/prayers_for_u

You can also visit our Prayer Room

on Sunday morning after the service — on the south

side of the building.

www.gccrc.org/online_giving

MAY 5

FROM THE EDITOR: Do you have a story or memory about how your ancestors came

to America?

Memories of growing up in another time with different clothes,

music, food prices, etc.?

Why not submit a story to the newsletter

and share your memories with others?

Or maybe you’ve had a “God” moment in your life? When something

happened that can only be explained as having come from God.

We’d love to have you share your story with others.

Submit your story for the newsletter by placing it in the newsletter box

on the wall outside the office. And please include your name!

MAY 12

ACCOMPANIST

5 Bob Cooper / Pedro Kialanda

12 Catherine Solle / Eleanor Lamsma

19 Bob Cooper / Diane Ritzema

26 Pedro Kialanda

CHILDCARE

5 Darlene Huisenga / Ruth Kuipers

12 Anna Huisenga / Hannah Soucek

19 Maria Kialanda / Sarah Huisenga

26 Ann Sroka / Barb Wassenaar

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

5 Ed Ritzema

12 Pastor Kooy

19 Bob Cooper

26 Diane Ritzema

GREETERS

5 Vince & Nancy Sommer

12 Catherine Solle / Karen Buikema

19 Tom & Darlene Huisenga

26 Fred Veen / Jean Kok

LIBRARY

Week 1 Evelyn Van Dellen

Week 2 Clareen Sluis

Week 3 Gloria Kamper

Week 4 Evelyn Luchtenburg

Week 5 Gloria Kamper

PRAYER ROOM

5 Vince & Nancy Sommer

12 Catherine Solle / Karen Buikema

19 Tom & Darlene Huisenga

26 Fred Veen / Jean Kok

PROJECTION TECH

5 Ed Ritzema / Eleanor Lamsma

12 Sarah Huisenga

19 Dave Phillips

26 Dave Phillips

SOUND TECH

5 Chris Van Kuiken

12 Chris Van Kuiken

19 Jim Kamper

26 Jim Kamper

USHERS

5 Carol Den Besten

Phyllis Johnson

Dean Unger

12 George Voss

Hank De Vries

Rich Boersema

19 Gary Schutt

Rich Mulder

Bonnie Mulder

26 Tom Huisenga

Vince Sommer

George Voss

M A Y S E R V I N G S C H E D U L E

8 MAY 2019

B I R T H D A Y S A N N I V E R S A R I E S

MAY

2 Ruth Kuipers

10 Aiden Soucek

12 Evelyn Jonker

13 Mary Huisenga Carol DeVries

14 Maria Kialanda

Mert Schutt

15 Candice Livingston

Rachel Canfield

17 Terry Unger

21 Elton Ivy

Steve Livingston

Dave Phillips

22 Helen Noort

Chris Van Kuiken

MAY

8 Larry & LeAnn Kooyenga

17 Bernie & Lynne Wiegers

19 Gary & Joan Schutt

24 Don & Mary Anderson

9 MAY 2019

JUNE

2 Dan Brucken Sr.

4 Karen Buikema

Alyce De Boer (Mrs.)

6 Larry Kooyenga

David Van Kuiken

7 Pedro Kialanda

10 Jean Kok (91)

12 Gary Schutt

15 Dorothy Brink-Schutt

Laura Soucek

16 Pam Johnson

John Roos

19 Carol Den Besten

21 Catherine Solle

23 Tena Vander Muil

Fred Veen

24 Alyce De Boer (Ms.)

27 Lin Vander Meulen

29 Evelyn Van Dellen

JUNE

1 Ken & Carol Schutt

2 Jim & Barb Wassenaar

3 Rich & Marilyn Vanden Bout

9 Warren & Ruth Kuipers

11 Bill & Phyllis Johnson

19 Ed & Diane Ritzema

20 Dan & Marilyn Brucken

25 John & Laverne Yff

BOOK CLUB — MONDAY, MAY 13 — 7:00pm Discussing “Educated” by Tara Westover

An unforgettable memoir about a girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and eventually goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.

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THIS LIGHT, LEMONY DESSERT WOULD BE PERFECT FOR YOUR MOTHER’S DAY MENU!

NO-BAKE CLASSIC ‘WOOLWORTH’ CHEESECAKE 1 3OZ. LEMON JELL-O

1 CUP BOILING WATER

1 BOX GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS -OR- 3 CUPS CRUSHED GRAHAM CRACKERS (DIVIDED)

1 STICK MELTED BUTTER

1 8 OZ. CREAM CHEESE

1 CUP SUGAR

5 TBSP. LEMON JUICE

1 CAN EVAPORATED MILK, WELL CHILLED (OR 1 1/2 CUPS HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM) INSTRUCTIONS: 1. DISSOLVE THE JELL-O IN THE BOILING WATER. COOL UNTIL SLIGHTLY THICKENED.

2. MIX 3/4 OF THE GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS AND MELTED BUTTER UNTIL WELL BLENDED AND PRESS INTO A 9X13 PAN. SAVE THE REST OF THE CRUMBS TO SPRINKLE ON TOP.

3. BEAT THE EVAPORATED MILK (OR WHIPPING CREAM) UNTIL FLUFFY.

4. IN A SEPARATE BOWL, BEAT CREAM CHEESE, SUGAR AND LEMON JUICE WITH MIXER UNTIL SMOOTH.

5. ADD THE THICKENED JELL-O TO THE WHIPPED EVAPORATED MILK AND SLOWLY MIX IN.

6. SPREAD THE FILLING OVER THE CRUST AND SPRINKLE WITH RESERVED GRAHAM CRACKER CRUMBS.

7. CHILL AT LEAST 2 HOURS OR OVERNIGHT, STORE COVERED IN REFRIGERATOR.

SUBMITTED BY BARB WASSENAAR

If you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share, put

a copy in the newsletter mailbox next to the office

and we’ll print it. Don’t forget to put your name on

it, and where it came from if you know. Recipes

without names will not be printed.

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Copyrighted works included in this publication have been

reproduced with permission and may not be further

reproduced. The distribution, selling, reproduction in any

form, or any use other than that intended by this publication

are prohibited and constitute an infringement of Copyright

laws and are subject to fines.

Grace

Community

Christian

Reformed

Church

10415 S. Kedvale Avenue

Oak Lawn, IL 60453

Office: 708.636.2848

Fax: 708.636.2847

gracechurch@gccrc.org

www.gccrc.org

This Newsletter is a

publication of

Grace Community Church.

Contributions to the news-

letter are welcome and will

be considered for publica-

tion provided you include

your name with the submis-

sion.

If you have any

questions concerning this

newsletter, please

contact Barb Wassenaar

708.636.2848

gracechurch@gccrc.org

Submissions for the

June 2019 issue are due no

later than

May 20, 2019.

Distribution:

Sun., June 2, 2019.

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