June 5, 2005 Newsletter

Issue #374

Bonhoeffer- Prayer is not a free-will offering to God;
it is an obligatory service.

Elder's Report
Pulpit supply: June 19, Marv Beelen for morning worship and Jeff Boersma for
evening worship. June 26, Rich Rienstra for both morning and evening worship.

Council Report:
A committee to propose Guidelines for children during worship was formed.
Additional $1,500 was approved for funding the Summer Youth Program.

Next meetings:
Administrative will not meet this month due to lack of Quorum.
Council will meet Thurs., June 23, @ 7:00 PM.

Special Thank You
I would like to express a Special Thank you to Ethel Brown for here diligent
work the last 3 or so years with Howard Sieplinga's help to combine and
organize the archives in the locked room #24.
~Ken Sherwood, Clerk.

Thanks Bethany!
Thanks Bethany for cards and prayers. They are really appreciated. Please
continue to pray for me. ~ Ben Kukulka

Summer Cookie Fellowship
Beginning today, we will be having cookie fellowship outside through August
(weather permitting). THANK YOU to all who signed up to make cookies! We have
enough volunteers to serve homemade cookies for the first half of the summer.
Please check your boxes for the schedule. If you can help out again,?or if you
forgot to sign up, please call Paula at 744-5767 or sign up in the Fellowship
Hall. Happy Summer!

Women's Softball News
Bethany women?s Softball team will have their first game Monday, June 6. All
games are at Beukema at 7:00 PM. Monday they will challenge Ferrysburg
Community on Field #3. Join our faithful softball enthusiasts for some good fun
and show our ladies our support this year. Any questions, call Pat Miller
(777-1715).

Church Library News
The library is looking for a laptop. If someone is willing to donate or loan a
laptop, please contact the church office.

Bethany Family
Carol Burnet needs prayers for pain relief.
Bob Medema asks for prayers following medical treatment last week. Sharon also
asks for prayers as she suffers from shingles; pray for the Medema?s as they
travel to Colorado and California to visit family.
* If you have a prayer request you would like to put in this newsletter, please
give copy to Laurie in the office by Wednesday noon, or fill out a request card
and place it in the Prayer Request Box on the Literature Table in the foyer.

Gleaners Food Mobile
The Gleaners Food Mobile will be coming for the food give away on Saturday,
June 11, at 1:00 PM. We will need volunteers to fill two shifts: 12:00 - 1:30
PM and 1:30 - 3:00 PM. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall for the shift that
is most convenient for you. Your help in this ministry is appreciated!

June Collection Schedule
June 12 Gen. Fund/Missions
June 19 Gen. Fund/BCES
June 26 Gen. Fund/Property Improvements

Ministry Opportunities for June 12
Greeters: Barb Rocha, Doris Brondsema, Dan & Marva Spitters
Ushers: Dick Miller, Keith Sipe, Dan Westra, Jamey Foreman
Coffee Fellowship: Howard and Leah Sieplinga
Transparency: Matthew Spitters
Reader: Tom Holtrop Sr.
Lectionary: Exod. 19:2-8a; Ps. 100; Rom. 5:1-8; Matt. 9:35-10:8 [9-23]
Offering Opportunities: General Fund and Missions
Nursery Today: Betty Heykoop, Ev Christenson, Benjamin Klemm
Nursery June 12: Melissa Deans, Jan Koon, Kayla Deans

Birthdays This Week
June 5 Marcia Rottman
Mike Hepler
June 7 James Goorman
Andrew Buthker
June 8 Pat Miller
Betty Workman
June 9 Bill Buthker
Katie Sytsema
June 10 Linda Rottman
June 11 Ken VanHemert Jr.

Birthdays Next Week
June 12 James Sytsema
June 13 Jonathan Gould
June 15 Gerben Kuyers
June 16 Marguerite Cope
June 17 Betty Achterhoff
Dan Christenson
Marietta Hasper
June 18 Marvin Brown

The birthdays listed are from the information we currently have in our
" membership list". Should your birthday be recorded incorrectly or not appear,
please contact the office @725-7325. Should you wish to send cards but do not
have current addresses, please call the office as well.

Class of 2005
We are pleased to announce Trevor Leutscher graduated this year from the
University of Michigan with a PhD in Education. We are very proud of your many
accomplishments and wish you the best!

Special Birthday Honors for Those 80 and Over
Betty Workman will be celebrating her 83rd birthday on June 8, 2005. Gerben
Kuyers will celebrate his 86th birthday on June 15, 2005. Marguerite Cope will
also celebrate her 86th birthday on June 16, 2005. Betty Achterhoff will
celebrate her 82nd birthday on June 17, 2005. Marietta Hasper turns 80 on June
17, 2005. Marvin Brown turns 81 on June 18, 2005. Let's help make their days
extra special. Addresses for the Marguerite Cope and Betty Achterhoff are:
Marguerite Cope
Brookhaven Medical Care Facility
1890 E. Apple
Muskegon, MI 49442

Betty Achterhoff
1883 Forest Park Rd.
Muskegon, MI 49441

Eliminate Debt With Us
Together, we can eliminate the MCS operating debt by August 2005!?With only
$40,000 to go, the end of our operating debt is within our reach! The Lord has
blessed us greatly in reducing this debt in the last 2 years. We want to move
forward with renovation plans once it is eliminated this Fall! You may direct
your gift to MCS Debt Reduction at 1220 Eastgate St., Muskegon, MI? 49442.?

Prayers Coveted
Summer has arrived! Although our students are taking a break from their
studies, MCS works through the summer to provide day care and to prepare for
fall classes. We covet your prayers and support during the next months as we
end our fiscal year. Consider sending your year-end gift to MCS at 1220
Eastgate St., Muskegon, MI? 49442

Artists & Crafters Needed
Artists and crafters are needed for the first annual Christmas Arts & Crafts
Show at Western Michigan Christian High on Sat., Dec. 3. This is a chance to
operate a booth for your favorite charity or for yourself. For more
information, please call Susan Poel evenings at (616) 850-3919 or email at
poel123@michonline.net.

Day Camp Info
Muskegon Christian School is offering two sessions of Day Camp this summer.
They will run from June 13-17 and August 1-5.?See flyers in church or contact
MCS to have one sent to you.?Childcare is also available other weeks. Contact
MCS Daycare at 231-773-3221, ext. 250 to sign up.

Loyalty Drive Successful
The Bethany Christian Education Society wants to thank the congregation for
$4,755.77 donated to the BCES. We praise God for one new student who has been
enrolled for the 2005 - 2006 school year.

Want to Get Involved?
Want to become involved in the lives of hurting people? Love INC needs your
help to do assessments for people in need. We need help on Wednesday
afternoons, 12:30 to 4:00 PM. We will train you. Call 773-3448.

Mission Minded?
For mission minded people or anyone with the following items no longer used,
Love INC needs household goods such as bedding, towels, pots and pans. Items
may be delivered to the Love INC building at 2525 Hall Rd. or call 773-3448 and
we will get them to the pantries.

Budget Counseling Needs
Praise God for the families that are attending the Love Budget Counseling!
Rising cost of utilities and other necessities strains many family budgets.
Would you or your youth group provide child care on Thursday nights so parents
may attend the Budget class? Perhaps you or your group could adopt a Thursday
night for six months from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This is a great mission?s project
that will help families who struggle with finances. Call 773-3448.

Household Needs Pantry
Calvin Christian Ref. Church operates as a Love INC sponsored Household Needs
Pantry at the church on 973 West Norton. We are in short supply of towels,
sheets, blankets, silverware and dishes. If you are spring cleaning your
closets or enjoy visiting garage sales, we would be most happy to accept your
donations. We are open twice a month and serve six to eight needy families each
time. Donations may be dropped off in the narthex at Calvin Church Monday -
Friday between 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

Strawberry Festival
Pig Roast
Friday, June 17
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Grace Christian Ref. Church
Enjoy pork sandwiches, baked beans, potato chips - $4.50
Strawberry Shortcake & Ice Cream - $2.50. Don?t miss it!

Summer Reading Club
Hage's Christian Supplies, as a member of the Parable Christian Stores, is
pleased to announce an exciting Summer Reading Club that will benefit both your
church and your church children! Based on the C.S.Lewis favorite: The
Chronicles of Narnia, the Narnia Adventure is designed to help kids grow in
Christ and become fans of faith-based literature. Members of the Narnia
Adventure Reading Club are eligible for lots of cool prizes and exciting
activities. They also receive a 10% discount on children?s books they purchase
and an additional 10% of their purchase price will be given to your church! As
a church you will be involved in encouraging your children to read good books
as well as encouraging them to tithe!
Hage's is also hosting a Narnia Story Time every Wednesday beginning June 9.
Smaller children can participate in age appropriate books and activities
starting at 10:30 AM. The Chronicles of Narnia beginning June 9 with The Lion,
the Witch and the Wardrobe will be read to children of all ages at 11:15 AM.
Children do not have to be members of the Summer Reading Club to enjoy the
Narnia Story Time.

Concerts By the Park
Concerts By the Park will take place on Saturday, July 2 at St. Paul's
Episcopal Church, at the corner of Third and Clay Avenues in downtown Muskegon.
This year, the following organists will be providing 20-minute performances on
the hour and half hour.These concerts are sponsored by the Muskegon-Lakeshore
Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and are free and open to the public.
Come and enjoy the music of the King of Instruments as part of Summer
Celebration and Art in the Park! For more information, call 755-1953. Ext. 232.

Interested in Our Nation's True History?
Every Monday night at 7:00 PM during the month of June, Muskegon?s local TV
station, WMKG, will be airing a video from David Barton's WallBuilders Series.
These insightful videos will certainly educate viewers about our nations? GODLY
heritage. UHF Channel 38, Comcast Cable Channel 98
June 7: Spiritual Heritage of the US Capitol
June 14: America's Godly Heritage
June 21: Keys to Good Government
June 28: Four Centuries of American Education

College and Careers Ministry Staff Person
Here's an exciting opportunity to make a huge impact in the lives of college
age young adults. We are looking for a 10 hour a week part-time staff person to
join our team and build relationships and connect with our young adults and
their peers. Ivanrest Church has a desire to make a difference and is ready to
do what needs to be done to see the needs of this important age group met,
while challenging them to grow in their passion for God. To learn more, contact
Kevin Van Wyhe for a job description and details at Ivanrest Christian Reformed
Church, 3777 Ivanrest Ave., Grandville MI 49418; 616-534-3114.