For I Know the Plans I Have for You

Transcription

1 For I Know the Plans I Have for You One of the verses that I have so greatly appreciated, and memorized long ago is Jeremiah 29:11, words that came to the exiled Israelites in Babylon: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Admittedly, for years I failed to look at the verse that followed: Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. So often we want to claim God has a plan for us, but really do not want to diligently seek Him with our whole heart to discover what that plan or perspective is. Our Healing the Heart of Your Church discernment process is a key opportunity to gain the perspective of the Lord of the Church. I am simply a facilitator of this process, but it is not my role to tell Westlake what the Lord is saying. Our loving Lord who died for us desperately desires to uniquely speak to WPC, and most certainly will, if WPC seeks Him with all its heart. It is His Church; He understands its history and situation completely. Will Westlake passionately seek Him, humbly submit to His Lordship, and have ears to hear what he desires to share? I encourage you to prayerfully reread the letter I sent out in preparation of our Historical Weekend. (If you for some reason did not get it or have misplaced it, contact me and I will give you another copy). Understand your role: PRAY. PREPARE. PARTICIPATE. While it is best if you can attend the entire weekend, so you can experience the fullness of the process, I know there are some who may have to work; others have commitments that they are unable to change, or have health issues that may prevent being there the whole time. Please come and participate for as much as you possible can. Our Historical Retreat: Friday July 21, pm Saturday July 22, am-5pm Covenant Hope Church Youth Center 1021 Wagner Drive Battle Creek, MI Sign up so we know you are coming. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Roger

2 Golden Nugget Many thanks for the kind expressions of sympathy on the death of my step-father, George Lash. They were truly appreciated. Love, Sharon Hungerford I most humbly invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom and firmness to execute the high and responsible duties (of the President) in such a manner as to restore harmony and ancient friendship among the people of several States and to preserve our free institutions throughout many generations. James Buchanan CURRENT DEACONS Class of 2017 Sharon Hungerford Marty Simmons Sara Simmons Class of 2018 Kerri Comai Karen Patterson Ceci Porter Class of 2019 Kathy Powell Larry White A note FROM THE DEACONS We are anticipating sponsoring the Super Safe Place donation drive and Kick-Off Potluck in September. Please be praying and anticipating how you will support these two wonderful endeavors. Love, Kerri With Sympathy May the love, peace, and strength of Almighty God be with the family of Amy White, who passed away July 1. CURRENT ELDERS Jody Owens (Clerk) Class of 2017: Nancy Chapin Paul Yunker Madalyn Trumblee Class of 2018: Frank Crookes Tara Dolbee Class of 2019 Charles Eppright Orman Trumblee Truman Smyth

3 The Naomi- Ruth Circle is growing! It is a joy to welcome Charlotte Flickema, Ceci Porter, and to welcome back (from Florida) Vivian Sanderson. Our Circle continues to explore the life of Jesus as seen through the lens of the apostle, Paul. To personalize our lesson, each member will be asked to bring either an object, i.e. a cross/ piece of jewelry/ poem/ Bible/ photograph that represents how their own lens views their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. These precious tokens encircle the Christ Candle and help us to share a glimmer into the faith of our Sisters in Christ. We take 3 small offerings, as we meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. (March- November). We each, as we are able, offer a dollar to Lake Michigan Presbytery for the mission work it does (FAITH GOALS). Secondly, we offer the least coin of our monetary system (penny, nickel, dime; whatever is in our change purses that day). We also ask that each woman give 50 cents to support our group. If you are a woman seeking a group within which to learn more about THE WORD, please join in. You are most welcome. Meeting Time: 12:45 pm Place: Church Parlor July Circle Date: JULY 19 Hope to have you among us Amy K. White, Moderator (Submitted prior to her death) The Ties That Bind The Strongest Were never made of rope Free men are held together by The sturdy hemp of Hope. The silver braid of brotherhood A people wear with pride, Is not embroidered on the sleeve, But on the heart inside. Are of the finest thread Upon the spool of Faith, by which A nation gets ahead. It takes a special kind of love And loyalty to make A patriot, whose back may bend, But spirit never break! Are those we cannot see, The birthright of a nation that Believes in Liberty! The hearth and home where mothers teach Their little ones to pray, A father s love that makes the boy The man he is today. Are those that fill a need With all a fellow faces, He has to have a creed! And ours the precious heritage Where once the pilgrims trod, As long as we remember we re ONE NATION UNDER GOD! Grace E. Easley

4 July Celebrations Birthdays 4 Paul Yunker 5 Sarah Blanchard 7 Will Comai 13 Alex Comai 14 Susan Gregory 15 Arlene Hanson 20 Carol Reid 22 Bill Comai 26 Frank Crookes 27 Nicole Kincaid James Gerber 30 Donna Lang Anniversaries 8 Bill and Denise Martin 10 Bill and Ceci Porter 18 Paul and Martha Yunker 20 Louis and Diane Grochoske WESTLAKE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH FINANCIAL SUMMARY May 31, 2017 OPERATING BUDGET MONTH YTD BUDGET INCOME 11,773 89, ,121 EXPENSES 12,936 69, ,195 INCOME VS (1,162) 19,661 EXPENSES Please remember the following members of the congregation in your daily prayers: Jack Hungerford, Marian Jewett, Don Korten, Art and Pat Wickert, Richard Phillips, Susan Gregory, Grace Taylor, Bill Lang, Carol Reid, Paul Yunker, Kerri Comai, Frank Crookes, Ann Maddox, Tom Lightbody, Gordon Dyer, Larry White, and Jill Grandia.

5 It takes everyone in the church to make our PW programs work and PW hopes every woman will consider taking a leadership part in our ongoing projects. Our next board meeting is September 20 at 2:30 p.m. Our mission project during July is the card ministry to our service personnel. We thank you for your participation and even though we don t know who they are going to, the service personnel appreciate the thoughts from us very much. The Tri-Church Salad Supper was a big success. Lots of good salads to eat and wonderful fellowship with our sisters in Christ. Our program was presented by Thelma Vaughn who gave us a history of Church Women United. This organization is very involved in the needs of women and children around the world. Everyone is invited to attend the celebrations which occur 4 times a year (March, May, September & November). We give special thanks to the men in our church who are always willing to help PW in any way they can. Our Ladies Day at the Gull Lake Ministries was wonderful. The weather was beautiful, the music was uplifting, and the presentation Keeping It All Together was very encouraging. Our hope is that more of our church women will attend in the future. Mark the date for next year JUNE 7, DON T FORGET our blanket ministry for the Early Childhood Development and our pillowcase dresses and santi-pants continues throughout the year. If you have any questions, please contact Shirlee Burlingame.