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MARCH 2020 A NOTE FROM PASTOR
A
During fearful times like these, it is important to remember that God is active in the midst of fear. At this moment in our shared experience many people are afraid. The Covid-19 virus is gaining a grip on almost every aspect of life as it makes its way person to person through our communities. We’ve seen evidence of fear in the way people are buying staple items like toilet paper and bread. We’ve seen fear in the way people are avoiding physical contact with anyone especially strangers. We’ve heard fear in the voices of friends, relatives and even the news media. Fear, in this case, isn’t unfounded or irrational. It isn’t a response that our bodies are having even though we’re safe. Buying all the bread and TP is ridiculous but distancing ourselves to slow the spread isn’t. But we cannot forget that God is not afraid. Moses was afraid of Pharaoh. David was afraid of Goliath. Jesus sweat blood in the face of crucifixion. But in every instance, God was working. We have no need to fear when we remember God’s sovereignty, his providence, and the fact that Christ has eternity covered. Fear in spite of God’s power, is the untrusting response of humanness. We can take precautions, slow the spread of this virus, but we cannot allow our fear of getting sick or even dying to stand between us and the God who sacrificed everything for our eternal future. In the midst of Advent, we banish fear knowing that the grave is empty, knowing that Christ is risen. Hold tight to the that truth. Engage scripture, pray without ceasing, and do not be afraid because our help comes from the Lord, Marker of heaven and earth. Until we gather again as a church family may the peace of Christ be with you. And please, share that peace you have with Christ! ~ Jamie
CONTACT INFORMATION 616.669.6684 4276 Baldwin Street Hudsonville, MI. 49426 TogetherInGrace.org Jamie DeVries Lead Pastor [email protected]
Sonya Archer Ministry Assistant [email protected] Kevin Manning Worship Director [email protected] Howard Huisingh Facilities Coordinator [email protected] Joyce Ploeg Kids Hope Coordinator [email protected] Mary Beth Gernaat Youth Group Leader [email protected] Tammy Huisingh Marketing & Website Coordinator [email protected]
We can banish our fear knowing that the grave is empty and that Christ is risen!
ThankyousomuchforallofyourprayersfortheteamandformewhileweinGuatemala!Godmovedinincredibleways,boththroughandinus,andyourprayerswereahugepartofthat.Itwasanabsolutepleasuretoservewiththisteam.ThestatsIlistedabovewerethestatsfromourdaysdistributingcleanwaterfilters.WeweretrainedininstallingthewaterfilterstheeveningwearrivedinGuatemala,andthenspentthreedaysofourweekdistributingtheminthecommunityofElAstillero.
ElAstilleroisabouta15-minutedrivefromFeVivaWorldMissions,whichiswherewewerestaying,andisincrediblyimpoverished.Nearlyallofthefamilieswespenttimewithwereexperiencingsicknessbecauseoftheirwater,andtheyhadnoabilityontheirowntochangethat.The71filtersweinstalledwillbeabletoprovidewaterfortheirfamiliesforthenext10years.However,distributingfilterswasnotouronlygoalthisweek.Ourgroupswereencouragedtotaketimewitheachofthefamilieswewenttoandtogettoknowthem.Wewereabletolearnabouttheirfamilies,theirpassions,andtheirdreams.ThecountryofGuatemalawasbeautiful,butfarmorebeautifulwerethepeoplewemetandtherelationshipsthatwewereabletobuildwiththem.Iwanttothankyouagainforyourpartnershipinthisministry.It'sonlythroughyouandyourprayersthatthisispossible.YouarealldirectlyandintentionallyimpactingtheKalamazooandGuatemalaforChristthroughyourpartnershipinthisministry,andI'msothankfulforyou!TilltheWholeWorldHears,Jordan
March 2020 ● Covenant Newsletter ● TogetherInGrace.org ● (616) 669-6684 Page 2 32233
COVID -19 UPDATE Thankyouforyourprayers,patience,andflexibility.WetrulyappreciateyourencouragementandwillingnesstoadaptaswedowhatwecanasachurchtobestloveandcareforourchurchfamilyandneighborsbypreventingthespreadofCOVID-19.Tohelpkeepeveryoneconnected,hearamessageandworshipopportunities,checkoutourwebsite:www.togetheringrace.org.WehavealsohadsomeliveeventsonourFacebookpage,https://www.facebook.com/ccchudsonvillethathadover40participantsandjustshyof200engagements!Therehasbeenalotofchangeatafastpace,butweknowoneveryimportantthingthathasn’tchanged:thefaithfulnessofGod.Forupdates,pleasestayconnectedtooursocialmediaplatformsaswellasourwebsite.Togiveonlinegoto:http://ccchudsonville.org/give. MISSIONS
Servethoseclosesttoyouinmoredirectways.Whetheritbecheckingonelderlyneighbors,caringforthechildrenoffriendswhoareunabletoworkfromhome,orbringinggroceriestosomeoneunabletoleavetheirhomeduringthistime,weencourageyoutosharetheloveofJesusbyhelpingothers.AndPray!CheckourFBpagehttps://www.facebook.com/ccchudsonville,websiteathttp://ccchudsonville.org/messagesandemailstostayconnectedandupdated.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
March 2020 ● Covenant Newsletter ● TogetherInGrace.org ● (616) 669-6684 Page 3 32233
Thereareseveralwaystohelpsupportouryouthwhohavestartedworkingtowardtheir2020summermissiontripwheretheywillbeservingatVictoryBibleCampinAlaska.
2ndHandSale Saturday,May2nd–8:00a-1:30p
Script(seeSybilVelhof([email protected]) -Feedthepapergator
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
RighttoLife–GolfOuting–June1st@Pilgrims’RunGolfClub$125/pp–includes18holesofgolf,games&lunch.Email:info@grrtl.orgor616.532.2300ortalktoKenandDianeKooistraatkkoistra5960@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY TABLE
BreadtheEasyWay
Maybeyourememberarestaurantthatservedalittlewarmbreadbeforethemeal.Notthesteakhouserollsnow,butthesmallloaves.Thisrecipeissimpleandquickandwillgiveyouafewsmallloavesthattastealmostjustlikethatrestaurant.Ingredients:1-1/2cupswarmwater(110degrees)1packetofyeast(rapidrise)3-1/4cupsofflour2tspofsalt(moreorlessdependingonyourtaste)Bloomtheyeastinthewarmwater.Inotherwords,dumpthepacketinandwait10minutesuntilitlooksallbubblyandhasthatfreshbreadsmell.Mixtogether3cupsoftheflourandthesaltinalargemixingbowl.Createawellinthemixturebypilingituponthesidesofthebowlsothereissomewheretopouryourwaterandyeast.Addthewaterandyeast,stiruntilalltheflouriswetandthedoughstartstocometogether.Ifit’stoowetaddtheextra¼cupofflouralittleatatimeuntilthedoughforms.Ifnot,ifthedoughwillstaytogetherbutalsocomeoutofthebowl,spreadsomeoftheextraflouronyourcounterandturnthedoughout.Don’tkneedit,justmakesurethatitwillholdtogetheranddivideitinto3or4equalparts.Formthosepartsintofootballshapedloavesandplacethemonawell-greasedsheetpanoronapizzastonewithsomeflourspreadacrossthesurface.Coverwithadamptowelandletriseuntiltwicethesize.Bakeat375degreesforabout12minutesoruntilthebottomthumpswhenyoutaponit.Formorecolor,brushthetopoftheloaveswithalittlemilkbeforebaking.Thesaltisakeyingredienttoprovideflavor.Ifyouneedtowatchyoursaltintakeconsideraddingasubstitutelikepepperorgarlicpowder.Thelastthingyouwantisblandbread!
March 2020 ● Covenant Newsletter ● TogetherInGrace.org ● (616) 669-6684 Page 4 33
Foryourconvenienceduringthistimeofsocialdistancing,wehaveanonlineopportunityforgivingtotheministriesofCovenant.ItisthroughfaithfulfamilieslikeyouthatGodenablesthechurchtocontinuetogrowinChristandshareHislovewithothers.Goto:http://ccchudsonville.org/give.
Checkscanalsobemailedtothechurch:4276BaldwinSt.,Hudsonville,MI.49426
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