OVESTA EWS

Published monthly by:

Novesta Church of Christ 2896 N. Cemetery Rd. Cass City, MI 48726

Phone: (989) 872-3658

novestachurch@yahoo.com

www.novestachurch.org

Brad Speirs, Senior Minister Daniel Knowlton, Family Minister

January Issue

VOL. XXXIX- - - No. 1

January 5, 2014

‘Crave’ - Sermon Series Lady Gaga lives for the applause, Taylor Swift knew that he was trouble and Miley Cyrus can’t stop. So what does that mean for us? Over the next few weeks we will be diving in to look at the culture in which we live and see that it really isn’t all that different from the culture of the Bible, and in the process of that discovery, we’ll see what our response as Christ followers should be in this area. Invite a friend to join us each week as we look at 1 John 2:15-17 and the ‘cravings’ of this world. January 12 - Applause January 19 - I Knew You Were Trouble January 26 - We Can’t Stop

Pictorial Directory

There’s just one more week to sign-up for our church pictorial direc-tory which is going to be taking place January 14th - 18th. We strongly en-courage you to sign-up to be a part of this directory so that we can be bet-ter connected as a church body. With so many new families, it can be diffi-cult to remember faces and names, and this directory will serve as a great ministry tool in keeping us connected and in touch with each other. You can sign-up online thru our website www.novestachurch.org or by calling

the church office at 872-3658.

(Financial Peace)

Classes begin February 2nd

SEE INSIDE FOR MORE INFO

S H I N E I N F O

SHINE for 7th grade thru Adults resumes

Sunday, Jan. 12 at 6:00 p.m.

AND

SHINE for 4 year olds thru 6th grade resumes

Wednesday, January 22 at 3:30 p.m.

Here we GROW again... We congratulate and are happy to welcome the following into our church family.

Tabitha Krueger was immersed November 24th following the morning service and her brother, Robert, Jr., on December 1st. Their parents are Rob & Mi-chelle, and their sisters are Samantha, & Savanna.

On November 24, Jacob Redmond having already been immersed, placed his membership with Novesta.

Taylor Beckrow was baptized Thursday evening, December 12. Taylor’s parents are Dave & Robin and her two sisters are Hailey & Madison.

Please pray for others that need to accept God’s great gift of Salvation.

Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

We want to express our most heartfelt sympathy to Irv & Carrie Gilley, Adam, Kate & Mark at the passing of Carrie’s mother, Aneita Denhoff, on Friday, December 27 following a long illness. Keep Carrie’s family and her siblings in prayer as they go thru this time of grieving.

GYM CEILING PROJECT We will be in the process of replacing our gym ceil-ing this month. This is something that has needed to be done for quite some time. The new ceiling will be stationary so it won’t require climbing the ladder every so often to straighten tiles like before. There will also be added insulation so that should help with heat.

OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE: The total cost is $14,500 and as of January 2nd we have received $10,950 in donations. PTL!!! (Be sure to put “gym ceiling” or “building” on your check if you are do-nating it to the ceiling expense). Watch the bulletin and the thermometer in the foyer each week for an update on the total received to date.

ATTENTION DEACONS & VOLUNTEERS:

On Sunday, January 12th, at 1:00 p.m. we will begin taking down the tiles. The contractor will begin work on Monday the 13th. The gym is reserved for the 11th so the 12th is our only chance to get the ceiling down.

PLEASE NOTE: The tiles we take down are FREE for the taking. If you want some, it would be best to be here and take your pick as they come down. Any that are left will be thrown away.

BRING your safety goggles, gloves, dust masks, old clothes, and anything else you think you might need.

LADIES … the men said it wouldn’t make them upset if you were to bring some cookies or goodies of any kind for when they have a break.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND that the gym will be closed for all activities until the ceiling is finished. So please be reminded to stay out of the gym.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday January 19, 2014

There will be a memorial service at the Caro Court-house steps at 3:30 p.m. on the 19th. Join us in re-membering the babies aborted last year in Tuscola County. Speaker is Mike Green. All are invited.

Bible Study Opportunities

LADIES BIBLE STUDY Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at church

MEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at church

MOM’S BIBLE STUDY Mondays January 13 & 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Brad & Kristy’s

Our next 5th Quarter party is this Friday, January 10. We can always use more volunteers to help encour- age the kids that come! We’d love to have you join

us. The parties start at 9 PM and end at 11:00. Hope to see you

there. We also have parties on February 7th & 14th.

5 th

It’s really very tempting to try to get the big, long icicles off the eaves but in order to reach them the shrubs are getting walked on. The snow has covered most of them and any walking on the shrubs can destroy them. Let’s do our best to protect them. In the kindest way remind the children to keep off that area. Thank you for your help.

Imagine Freedom What could the people of God, do for the Kingdom of God, if they were financially free? We’re going to seek to find that out as we embrace on a church wide project to experience financial peace. Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic during his ministry and the reason is sim-ple… we cannot serve two masters, and the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. We’re inviting our church family to join us as we meet for 10 weeks to learn and grow together. We’re asking that each family get a financial peace kit and that they commit to attending one of the classes each week to be a part of this movement. The class list is posted here below, and each week all of the class times will be covering the same chapter. The cost for the kits is $90, but there are full scholarships available by talking to Brad. To reg-ister, please fill-out one of the sign-up sheets with your name and circle the class time that you plan on attending. If there is a need for an additional class time we will try to accommodate those requests as well. On Sunday mornings, we will have coffee, doughnuts, & juice available starting at 8:30 throughout the program and we will have an ‘extended’ care time for your kids as well starting at 9:00 a.m. Imagine Freedom is going to be an incredi-ble blessing to the families that participate and we do strongly urge your family to be a part of this movement! Ephesians 3:20 says, ‘Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us’. Galatians 5:1 says, ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slav-ery.’ Our prayer is that we will trust God with our finances and IMAGINE the blessings that will follow, and that we will rejoice in the FREEDOM that God has waiting for us when we do!

Class List:

Sunday Mornings: 6 different classes all starting at 9 AM

Sunday nights:

1 class starting at 5:30 PM

Wednesday nights: 1 class starting at 7 PM

Saturday mornings:

1 class starting at 9 AM

CO-ED VOLLEYBALL Our adult co-ed volleyball league is starting this Thursday! The games will be at the Cass City elementary gym and will be at 8PM and 9PM. We have spots reserved for 2 teams, so we need to have at least 12 people total and 4 girls that are planning on playing. If you’re interested in joining the teams, please talk to Brad or call the church office. We’d LOVE to have you join us!

Basketball

Our basketball nights continue on Thursdays at 7PM. We invite every-one high school & up to come and join us for fellowship, exercise, and a good time. Due to the gym ceiling renovation, we will not be able to

play on January 16, 23, & 30, but we will re-sume playing in February.

LONG TERM

PRAYER LIST

**Member Lester O’Dell - Emphysema Quinton Simpson - in a coma (Dena Anderson's nephew) Carol Hartman - awaiting heart transplant (friend of Pat McIntosh) Diane Wojtaszke - cancer (Ann Hartel contact person) **Heather Roberts - continued healing of MS **Dena Anderson - extreme pain Steve Wilkinson - aneurysm Don Kruse - recovery (Michelle Speirs’ grandpa) **Larry Harper - Intestinal problems Allison Newbegin - tumor (Sharron Hartwick’s great niece) Nancy Gyomory - tumor (Doris Hendrick contact) Tonya Armstrong - cancer (Sharron Hartwick’s niece) Mark Pierson - (Zmierski’s cousin) Ted O’Dell - cancer (Duane’s brother) Debra Slanec - cancer (niece of Peggy Nordquist) Lauren Hood - (Betty Powell contact) **Leonard Hawkins - Extended Care in Lapeer **Deborah Miles - at Tendercare Brian Puterbaugh - recovery, head injury Rachael Maurer - recovery from auto accident **Phil Klaus - Graves disease Julie Patterson - recovery from surgery Les Auten III - Kidney disease Tom Sanborn - ALS (Doris Hendrick’s nephew) Gary DeHann - Cancer (Bev Auten’s brother -in-law) Elmer & Beatrice Micklash - Cancer (Nick Romzek’s grandparents) ATTENTION: If you know any of these on this list that are well and can be eliminated from it, please let the church office know.

The following is an update from the Honig family: Merry Christmas! It's been one year and eight days since we ar-rived in the States to begin our new roles with

PBT. Hard to believe! It's been a good, productive, and sometimes challenging year, and in all ways thoroughly blessed as we continue to walk the path with the One who goes before us, behind us, beside us, and even condescends to live inside us. That's the kind of God we are blessed to celebrate in a special way this season. So what's new with us? Shelby is excited to have the opportunity to take part in a PBT "Discover Intensive" the first full week of January at Ozark Chris-tian College in Joplin, Missouri. This is a big recruitment and edu-cational event for PBT, done once/twice per year at different Bible colleges around the country. In addition to the academic side of these events, it is really helpful for students who are considering working in translation or a related field to meet people who have real field experience, and Shelby certainly has plenty of that to share as she joins in teaching with other PBT missionaries. Please pray that the Lord would use her to reach those whom He's seeking for work overseas, for her travel to and from, and for her husband who will be desperately trying to keep up with their five kids... (!) Please also pray for my (Matt's) plans for a Siberia-Ukraine trip this April/May. 'Tis the season to get started on visa paperwork if they're going to let me back in to Russia. I'll be traveling to spend time with those continuing work on the Khanty project as well as accompanying a new PBT worker who intends to start out in Salek-hard after his training is complete. After our visit we'll travel down to Kherson, Ukraine where he will do his language and culture ac-quisition alongside another PBT family that's been there since mid-September. They may well be at the sanity breaking point by then (as we've experienced ourselves), so it works out well to visit them at that point too. Please pray for visas to get processed without any problems, good deals on airfare, and a safe and fulfilling trip as we make our plans. Last bit of news for this update: It appears that I am going to move into the Area Director's role from the Assistant Area Direc-tor's role for PBT Eurasia sooner than anticipated. Starting in January the current Director and I will change places with him staying on as my assistant and serving as West Asia Regional Di-rector under me for the sake of continuity. I've been working into the full Director's role the whole of this last year, but wasn't expect-ing this transition to come for another 6 months to a year. Please pray for me to have wisdom and for good counsel as I take on fuller responsibility for the lives and ministries of those serving the Bible-less peoples of Eurasia.

Thank you for taking us to the Lord in prayer, Matt and Family

BABY SHOWER for

(Gary & Dena’s son)

Where: Novesta Church of Christ When: January 12, 2014 (Sunday) Time: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Type: Open House/Dessert served (Come anytime between the time above) (Men & Women)

Registered at “Babies R Us” and “Target”

For more information see the invitation posted on the center hallway bulletin board.

OUR MILITARY

Scott Brownson - (Tom & Doris Stimpfel’s nephew) Justin Fischer - (Tom & Doris Stimpfel’s nephew) Toby Kilbourn - (Jim’s son) Ben Knoblet - (Tim’s nephew) Jamie Parrish - (Kristie Speirs’ brother, Betty Stilson’s grandson) - serving in Iraq Matthew Peck - (Mark’s son) Ryan Reid - (Jeff Hartel’s nephew) Julie Roche Griffith - Air Force - Japan Cody Ross - California Jason Spaulding - California Brandon Speirs - North Carolina Joe Vandecar - Washington, D.C. Jacques Weilbach - (Jacques & Marsha’s son) Marius Weilbach - (Jacques & Marsha’s son)

Valet Parking With the winter weather, comes slippery conditions. If you need or would like assistance for you and/or your passengers, please drive up to the carport at the main doors and someone will be there to assist you and park your car. They are eager to help you, so give them that opportunity. We don’t want anyone falling and getting hurt in our parking lot. (They will also get your car and bring it to the door after the service for you).

ELECTION RESULTS

(Listed below are all our church officers). The ones in Bold

type were newly elected or re-elected at the annual congregational meeting.

ELDERS: (4 year term) Joel Brandel Rob Hartwick Gib Kern Ken Peters DEACONS: (3 year term) Scott Hendrian Virgil Peters Craig Maurer Ron Speirs Ed Nizzola Larry Thick Duane O’Dell Stu Venema TRUSTEES: (3 year term) Larry Thick Garold Peasley Duane O’Dell CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: ( 1 yr. term) Gary Anderson CHURCH CLERK: (1 yr. term) Carol Hicks

January 8 ~ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Come join us! We have a great time getting quilts fin-ished and enjoying the fellowship while doing it.

NOTE: “Quilters for Hospice” will be January 22 at the same time as Comfort Ministry.

BIRTHDAYS &

ANNIVERSARIES 1/1 Dena Anderson 1/1 Mike Gaszczynski 1/3 Harold Little 1/4 Matthew Koepf 1/5 Emily Speirs 1/7 Doris Stimpfel 1/7 Shawna Kamrad 1/9 Kirstin Mika 1/10 Janie Kus 1/10 Chuck Peasley 1/12 Kristy Speirs 1/13 Michelle Hendrick 1/13 Tonya Ziehm 1/16 Katie Romzek 1/16 Keith Lowe 1/17 Deb Zmierski 1/17 Gib Kern 1/18 Jack Muska 1/18 Lilyon Roberts 1/19 Brian Hicks 1/19 Janet Wright 1/22 Dave Little 1/23 Kellie Speirs 1/24 Kennedy Brown 1/24 Devon Koning 1/24 (A) Barry & Kerry Brown 1/26 Emily Peters 1/27 JoEllen Bukoski 1/27 Shelli Herford 1/28 Caleb Blehm 1/28 Kirsten Janos 1/29 Ron Speirs 1/29 Patty Peters 1/30 Amber Laponsie

Dear Friends & Church family, Just a little line or two to bring my warm-est thanks to you! A big Thank you to everyone who came to visit me in the hospital and at home. Thank you for all the prayers and good wishes said for me. Also, for the flower basket from the church, all the cards, flowers, gifts and food brought to me. Our church family is the best ever. I appreciate each and every one of you.

With my heart full of Love and Thanks, Elfriede Englehart.

Our Church Family, We wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all of the generosity that has been shown to us all over the past year. We are truly blessed to be able to serve alongside of you here in the work at Novesta. We cannot thank you enough for your generous gifts that were re-ceived over the Christmas season. We are very humbled at the thoughtfulness of so many of you! As we move forward into the new year we look forward to all that God will allow us to do in His service and for His glory. We look for-ward to continuing to serve as your ministers for many years to come! May God richly bless you in the new year, thanks again,

Brad, Kristy, Emily, & Ethan Speirs Daniel, Tasha, & JoAnna Knowlton

Dear Friends at Novesta, Just can’t thank you enough! Thank you for your thoughtful Christmas gift and for your faithfulness to our family through the years. Praying for you and trusting in the Lord’s pres-ence among you this Christmas season,

Matt & Shelby Honig family

SAGINAW SOUP KITCHEN January 17 ~ 8:50 a.m.

Sign up in the middle hallway if you would like to join the group of volun-teers from Novesta that serve those in need of a good hot meal. We would love to have you join us.

YOUR ELDERS MEET

The next elders meeting is tomorrow night, January 6 at 7:00 p.m. If you have any praises or concerns, feel free to share them with any elder or minister.

THOSE SERVING IN JANUARY

COMMUNION MEDITATION: 1/5 Fred Hicks 1/12 Joel Brandel 1/19 Rob Hartwick 1/26 Ken Peters DEACONS: Duane O’Dell Ron Speirs Virgil Peters Larry Thick USHERS: Barry Brown Mark Peck Andy Gray Virgil Peters Greg Mika Mark Zmierski A.M. NURSERY: (1st Hour all month - Janie Kus) 1/5 10:30 Karen Speirs, Ann Roche, & Donella Peasley 1/12 10:30 Marilyn Lester, Andrea & Bailee Ross 1/19 10:30 Tasha Knowlton, Renee Nitz, & Linda Downing 1/26 10:30 Susie Hartwick, Amy & Emily Peters WORSHIP LEADERS: 1/5 Fred Hicks 1/12 Kim Gray 1/19 Kristy Speirs 1/26 Laruen Howard SOUND SYSTEM: 1/5 Dave Speirs 1/12 Duane O’Dell 1/19 Scott Hendrian 1/26 Ken Peters POWER POINT: 1/5 Collin Hartwick 1/12 Carol Hicks 1/19 Ron Kampo 1/26 JoEllen Bukoski VIDEO RECORDING: 1/5 Garrett Roberts 1/12 Nick Romzek 1/19 Tyler Brandel 1/26 Lauren Bukoski COMMUNION PREPARATION & CLEAN-UP: Kayla Zmierski

GREETERS: 1/5 9:30 (main) Doris Hendrick & Elfriede Englehart (center) Gib & Pam Kern 10:30 (main) Jean Schulz & Mary Lou Spencer (center) Phil & Cindy Klaus 1/12 9:30 (main) Barry & Kerry Brown (center) Lauren Howard & Janet Wright 10:30 (main) Keith Little & Ron Speirs (center) High School Class 1/19 9:30 (main) Chad & Cindy Pruitt (center) Dave & Karen Speirs 10:30 (main) Ryan & Shelli Herford (center) Harold & Joan Little 1/26 9:30 (main) Les & Bev Auten (center) Rob & Susie Hartwick 10:30 (main) Dave & Beckie Peruski (center) Duane & Kathy O’Dell 2/2 9:30 (main) Scott & Robin Hendrian (center) Ed & Marideth Nizzola 10:30 (main) Ken & Patty Peters (center) Virgil & Amy Peters JUNIOR CHURCH: Leaders: 2’s-3’s: Scott & Robin Hendrian 4’s-1st: Kerry & Tyler Brown 2nd-4th: Donna Little & Carolyn Mittlestat Song Leaders: 1/5 Sharron Hartwick 1/12 Lauren Bukoski 1/19 Beth Mellendorf 1/26 Bailee Ross Communion Meditation: 1/5 Gary Anderson 1/12 Dave Little 1/19 Tyler Brandel 1/26 Luke Koepf

FACTS & FIGURES

Average weekly attendance for the month of December:

Bible School … 102 A.M. Worship … 285

Offering average for December:

Sunday Offerings……….…$3,742.21 (Budget per Sunday: $4,135)

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

Beginner Bible Bowl at Novesta

5 6

Elders Meeting 7:00 p.m.

7

Ladies Bible Study - 10 a.m.

Men’s Bible

Study - 7 p.m.

8

Quilters Comfort Ministry

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

9

Mission Ministry Meeting - 7 p.m.

10

RSVD by Jodie Mika

12:30-3:30 p.m.

11

RSVD by Kelli Hendrick 12:30-3:00 p.m.

12 Gym Day - 1 p.m.

Baby Shower for Lance & Jessica Anderson in our Jr. Church Room 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Shine resumes

6:00 p.m.

13

Mom’s Bible Study - 7 p.m.

14

Ladies Bible Study - 10 a.m.

Men’s Bible

Study - 7 p.m.

15 16

AED Training Class - 6 p.m.

17 18

19

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Memorial Service 3:30 p.m. at Caro Courthouse Steps

20 21

Ladies Bible Study - 10 a.m.

Men’s Bible

Study - 7 p.m.

22

Quilters for Hospice

9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Shine resumes 3:30 p.m.

23 24

25

26 27

Elders Meeting 7:00 p.m.

Mom’s Bible Study - 7 p.m.

28

Ladies Bible Study - 10 a.m.

Men’s Bible

Study - 7 p.m.

29 30 31

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

9:30-10:20 a.m. - Bible School

10:30 a.m. - Worship

6:00 p.m. - SHINE (7th grade to Adult)

6:00 p.m. - Beginner Bible Bowl

LIFE TOUCH PICTORIAL DIRECTORY PICTURES TAKEN

PLEASE NOTE: The gym will not be available from January 12th to February 7th

while the construction of the new ceiling is

going on. Please remind the children to stay

out of the gym during this time.

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