ovesta novesta church of christ 2896 n. cemetery...
TRANSCRIPT
OVESTA EWS
Published monthly by: Novesta Church of Christ
2896 N. Cemetery Rd. Cass City, MI 48726
Phone: (989) 872-3658 or 872-1195
www.novestachurch.org
Brad Gniewek, Minister Brad Speirs, Minister
August Issue
VOL. XXXVI - - - No. 8 July 31, 2011
Campfire Service August 21 ~ 6:00 p.m.
There will be a Campfire Service at the fire pit by our pavilion here at church at 6:00 p.m. We will have singing around the campfire, a devotion by Gib Kern, and lots of fellowship and food. Bring your
lawn chairs and a dish to pass for the hot dog roast that follows.
We want to thank the Willing Workers Class for hosting this campfire service.
LOOKING TO GET MORE CONNECTED
One of the best ways to get to know those you worship with on Sunday mornings is to join a Sunday school class and grow in God’s Word together. Below is a list of opportunities we have for JR. High thru all adults. If you have any
questions on where to go or how to join a class please see one of the Brads. Rooms start next to main office. RM 100 - Donella Peasley leads a class for ladies of all ages. In August she will be leading a study called “We Need a God Who Is…” Part of the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength, so with that goal in mind they are studying 17 different traits God has revealed about Himself. RM 101 – In August, Ron Speir’s class will be continuing with their look at The Purpose Driven Church by Rick War-ren. This study focuses on 5 purposes for the church laid out by Jesus in the New Testament: Warmer through Fellow-ship, Deeper Through Discipleship, Stronger through Worship, Broader through Ministry, Larger through Evangelism. RM 102 – Keith Little leads our group of “Seasoned Saints.” In the month of August, he will continue to guide them through Standard’s Lesson Quarterly; studying and growing through the books of Judges and Ruth. College RM – Dave Speirs has recently come on board as the College Age class leader. In August he will continue to guide them in their spiritual and personal growth as the up and coming leaders of this country. RM 103 – Skip Speirs leads a diverse group of men and women of all ages. He will be taking them on a journey to new discoveries in regards to “The Apostles;” a chronological study from their first calling to their spiritual growth after the resurrection. “Comfy RM” – Known for its couches and rocking chairs, Russ Speirs leads another adult class at the end of the youth hallway. He will continue his in-depth look at various books of the Bible by diving into the book of 2 Timothy in Au-gust. Upstairs - The Jr./Sr. High Class has been spending the summer talking about the major concepts of the Bible and de-fining 'who' God is, and 'what' God has said and done. We'll be concluding this month by covering the following les-sons, God Saves, God Sends, God Transforms, and God Gives. They meet in the upper room and they'd love to have you join them.
THOSE SERVING IN AUGUST
COMMUNION MEDITATION: 8/7 Russ Speirs 8/14 Rob Hartwick 8/21 Ray Peasley 8/28 Fred Hicks DEACONS: Craig Maurer Larry Thick Ed Nizzola Bernie Wutzke Duane O’Dell USHERS: Andy Gray Dave Peruski Leonard Hawkins Dillon Peruski Michael Howard Tom Stimpfel A.M. NURSERY: 8/7 9:30 Marilyn Lester & Becky Klinkman 10:30 Susie Hartwick & Robin Hendrian 8/14 9:30 Amy & Emily Peters 10:30 Janie Kus & Karissa Schrader 8/21 9:30 Carrie Luana & Ashley Patrick 10:30 Amy & Emily Peters 8/28 9:30 Janie Kus & Linda Downing 10:30 Rachael & Kayla Koepf 9/4 9:30 Marilyn Lester & Janie Kus 10:30 Karen Speirs WORSHIP LEADERS: 8/7 Samantha Corrion 8/14 Lauren Howard 8/21 Fred Hicks 8/28 Kristy Speirs SOUND SYSTEM: 8/7 Dave Speirs 8/14 Duane O’Dell 8/21 Scott Hendrian 8/28 Ken Peters POWER POINT: 8/7 Lyle Severance 8/14 Carol Hicks 8/21 Ron Kampo 8/28 JoEllen Bukoski COMMUNION PREPARATION & CLEAN UP: Judy Britt
GREETERS: 8/7 9:30 (main) Harold & Joan Little (center) Duane & Kathy O’Dell 10:30 (main) Chuck & Kelli Hendrick (center) Vonda Kolb & Bernie Wutzke 8/14 9:30 (main) Lyle & Heather Severance (center) Doris Stimpfel & Janet Wright 10:30 (main) Deb Deering & Ann Hartel (center) Chris & Kim Summersett 8/21 9:30 (main) Jim & Wanda Lonsberry (center) Irene Nicol & Bernie Wutzke 10:30 (main) Janice Winter & Mary Helen Pratt (center) Grace Nellett & Doris Hendrick 8/28 9:30 (main) Les & Bev Auten (center) Garold & Jamie Peasley 10:30 (main) Andy & Kim Gray (center) Tommy Mittlestat & Eddie Vogel 9/4 9:30 (main) Chad & Cindy Pruitt (center) Scott & Robin Hendrian 10:30 (main) Bill & Judy Britt (center) Ed & Marideth Nizzola JUNIOR CHURCH: 8/7 Leaders: Shelli & Ryan Helper: Laura Songs Sharron 8/14 Leaders: Shelli & Ryan Helper: Marideth Songs: Lauren 8/21 Leaders: Shelli & Ryan Helper: Laura Songs: Beth 8/28 Leaders: Dawn & Marideth Helper: Songs: Sharron 9/4 Leaders: Dawn & Karen S. Helper: Songs: Sharron
Updates For Your Directory Whenever we have any changes in address, phone,
email, etc. we will put it in the Newsletter for you to ADD TO YOUR DIRECTORY .
Larry & Sherry Thick and Eddie
(no more landline … use same cell phone numbers and same e-mail address as before)
Larry 989-550-1342 Sherry 989-551-1342
Eddie 325-2200 [email protected]
Bernie Wutzke (new phone number)
872-2426
CARDS & NOTESCARDS & NOTESCARDS & NOTESCARDS & NOTES
Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
It was an honor & a joy being
amongst you last week and serving the chil-
dren of the community together in the VBS!
Children are such a blessing! Thank you also
for the opportunity to share, on Sunday morn-
ing, about the ministry in Southeast Asia that
we have been partners together in for many
years now. I’m excited to see what reports I’ll
be able to send back soon as the work contin-
ues. Thank you for your outpouring of love
and encouragement while I was with you - I’ll
take it back to the field with me!☺ Thank you
for your partnership—you are invaluable!
In Christ,
Janelle☺
Dear Friends & Church Family,
I would like to thank everyone for the
many prayers & get well wishes said for my
great grand daughter, Lilah. She’s doing
much better, and recovering very well. She
still needs more prayers and we are very grate-
ful for all of them. We have been very blessed.
God has been with us. Many thank you’s to
each and everyone of you.
My love to All of you.
Sincerely,
Elfriede Englehart
Congratulations!! ...to Joe & Samantha on the birth of their daughter, Cheyenne Jae Corrion Barker, on June 29. She weighed 9½ lbs. and was 22 inches.
YOUR ELDERS MEET
The next elders meeting will be August 31. If you
have any praises or concerns, feel free to share
them with any elder or minister.
BIRTHDAYS &
ANNIVERSARIES
8/1 Logan Severance 8/2 (A) Ron & Kristen Kampo 8/3 Eddie Vogel 8/3 Austin Deering 8/3 (A) Tom & Doris Stimpfel 8/4 Ryan Koepf 8/5 Daniel Mittlestat 8/6 Jordan Kus 8/6 Chad Pruitt 8/7 (A) Steve & Andrea Ross 8/8 Nick Romzek 8/8 (A) Joel & Janice Brandel 8/10 Hailey Beckrow 8/11 Austin Keller 8/11 (A) R.J. & Katie Klaus 8/12 Carol Janos 8/12 (A) Larry & Sherry Thick 8/13 Kyla Hendrick 8/14 Skip Speirs 8/14 (A) Jeff & Ann Hartel 8/14 (A) Steven & Jennifer Steely 8/15 Tim Knoblet 8/16 John Luana 8/16 Jane Luana 8/16 Carrie Gilley 8/17 Landon Schenk 8/17 (A) Jeff & Cathy Healy 8/18 Jennifer Blehm 8/18 (A) Skip & Ellen Speirs 8/19 Logan Schenk 8/20 (A) Ken & Patty Peters 8/21 Marilyn Rosenberger 8/22 Savannah Childers 8/22 Amanda Marshall 8/22 Julia Maurer 8/23 Cindy Klaus 8/29 Dave Storey 8/30 Clem Koepf, Sr. 8/30 (A) Dave & Kathy Storey 8/31 Grace Nellett 8/31 (A) Garold & Jamie Peasley 5th Quarter Parties
Are you ready for some football? It won’t be long and there will be Friday night lights and we’ll be back hosting 5th Quarters for the 7th – 12th grade students of Cass City! We’ll be on the lookout for snacks and vol-unteers to help make these parties all that they can be. If you’re interested in helping or curious as to what these are, just talk to Brad Speirs for more info.
Veggie Box …
If you would like to share any of the produce from your garden, just bring it on Sunday and put it in the Veggie Box located in the entry. Anything placed there is open for anyone to take so help your- self and let’s try to make sure everything is used.
FACTS & FIGURES
Average weekly attendance for the month of July 2011 (to date):
Bible School … 93 A.M. Worship … 149
New Members in 2011: 13
Offering averages for July (to date):
Sunday Offerings……….…$2,680.88 (Budget per Sunday: $3,846)
BRICK Fund:
Balance: $44,099.71 ( Payment per month $1,206.75 )
Received this month for payments:
$1,235.00
OUR
MILITARY
Scott Brownson - (Tom & Doris Stimpfel’s nephew) Andrew Caig - (Terry’s son) - in Iraq Justin Fischer - (Tom & Doris Stimpfel’s nephew) - in Japan Blain Gniewek - Brad’s brother Brad Hartel - (Jeff & Ann’s son) John Kiehl - (Brenda Miller’s brother) Toby Kilbourn - (Jim’s son) Ben Knoblet - (Tim Knoblet's nephew) Tom Kolb - (Vonda’s son) Tommy Kolb - (Vonda’s grandson) Lester Maurer - (Gloria Maurer's son) Jamie Parrish - (Kristie Speirs’ brother, Betty Stilson’s grandson) - serving in Iraq Matt Peck - Mark’s son Ashleigh Rabideau - (Robin Beckrow’s niece) Ryan Reid - (Jeff Hartel’s nephew) Julie Roche - Air Force (Doctor in Residency) Chris Skiles - North Carolina Karl Stuckey - (Mittlestat’s nephew) Jacques Weilbach - (Jacques & Marsha’s son) Marius Weilbach - (Jacques & Marsha’s son)
A Mystery …
Who Could It Be Who could it be? When you think
you’ve figured out who the mystery per-
son is, ask them if you’re right.
Our last Mystery Person was
BRAD GNIEWEK
Here are the clues for this month’s mystery
person:
• I’ve lived in Cass City my whole life.
• I married my best friend and high school
sweetheart.
• My favorite past time is spending time
with my family and walking the woods in
the dark.
Who Do You Think I Am???
SWAP DAYS OCTOBER 3 - 7
In case you were wondering,
the Swap Days has been
scheduled for October 3-7. So
when you’re cleaning out those closets,
drawers, cupboards, attics, basements, garages,
etc. just set your stuff aside and keep
the date for Swap Days in mind. It’s
coming soon, time sure does fly
by. There will be more info on
this in the…..
September Newsletter.
OFFICE SCHEDULES You can plan to find one of us in the offices from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day Monday thru Friday OR feel free to call our cell phones (Brad Gniewek 989-553-0021; Brad Speirs 989-550-3940). Mary Helen has Mondays off, Brad & Kristy Speirs have Thursdays, and Brad Gniewek has Fridays. Be-low are listed additional days out of the office. Brad “Nev” Gniewek will be out of the office July 30 thru August 6. Brad & Kristy will be out of the office August 7-13. Mary Helen will be gone the 1st & 3rd weeks of Au-gust.
Lunch Bunch Outing August 23 - 8:45 am.
On August 23, our Lunch Bunch will be traveling to Elsie to visit Amy (& Chuck) Emmert. Amy said this would be a good time for her before school starts. We plan to be there about 11:00 a.m. (which means we’ll be leaving the church at 8:45 a.m.). For lunch we will be going to the “Red Rooster” and have a great time of fellowship as we enjoy our lunch and time together. We’ll be taking the church van so you can just sit back and relax and chat (or sing!) Mark this date on your calendar and join us.
Bible Reading Update
So far this year, as a church, we have opened God’s Word and read 627 books – that’s com-pletely reading through the Bible cover to cover 9.5 times. That’s a GREAT start for the first half of the year!
Now, let’s make it our goal to more than dou-ble that by December - my goal for us as a church is reading through the Bible 25 times. If we come together and continue to read God’s Word every-day:
1) We’ll be spiritually stronger, 2) We’ll be more united as the body of Christ, 3) We’ll be drawn closer to God.
Thank you in advance for stepping up and stepping out in faith to do your part for God’s kingdom!
Note of Thanks
As a team, we would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to each of you who contrib-uted to our opportunity to be God’s hands, feet, and face in Haiti! Thank you to those of you who prayed for us, gave financially, donated needed supplies and food, and encouraged us these past several months as we planned. With-out your support we would’ve had a much harder time getting there and being able to do what God had planned for us. Our lives have been changed for God’s glory and you were a part of that, so again, we say THANK YOU!
~ 2011 Haiti Mission Team
SUMMER WATERPARK TRIP
It’s hard to believe, but the summer is already
winding down and that means it’s almost time for
the summer waterpark trip. Our trip this year is
going to be August 27th and 8
kids have already qualified.
Many more are very close, so
keep working hard on learning
your verses and remember to
bring your Bible to church
with you. Our waterpark trip
is always a highlight of sum-
Michigan’s Adventure Trip August 18 ~ Jr. Highers
We’re taking another trip to that great place
that is ‘two parks for the price of one’. The
cost for the trip is $45 and that includes food
and gas money! There is a
sign-up on Brad’s door and
the deadline to sign-up is
August 14th. If you have
any questions, please talk to
Brad to Garold or Jamie.
SAGINAW SOUP KITCHEN August 19 ~ 8:50 a.m.
Sign up on the bulletin board in the middle hallway if you’d like to help. There are various jobs they have us do in preparation and serv-ing of the meals. Whatever the job, it is rewarding.
PRAYER
MINISTRY
SPEAKS “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your
hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunken-
ness and cares of this life, and so that day come
upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34 KJ
Spend time in prayer and please make these your prayer requests for August 2011:
• Pray...for us to keep in mind that to begin to care for a
man spiritually is to pray for him. Ephesians 1:16-17
• Pray...for us to always look for the need of our brothers and sisters for God loves all. Mark 2:17
• Pray...for us to keep material things of the world behind us for we have so much more in life everafter. Mark 8:36
• Pray...for us to keep God’s willingness in a covenant or testament which draws us closer to Him, the moment we exercise faith. James 4:8
• Pray...for us to be so thankful knowing our Father deliv-ers the godly out of temptation. II Peter 2:9
• Pray...for us to keep in mind who do we love more, is this a family member or God. Start each day with this in mind and to be our focus. John 21:15
• Pray...for us not to bring into thought, “What shall we eat or what shall we drink? Or clothed?” Matthew 6:31-32
Remember,
Guardian Angels, This is our church family, we should all pray
every day for all of God’s children,
be faithful in your prayers.
Community Prayer Topic: Pray that our community is aware of the deceptions of false christs, and false prophets. They will be able to show great signs and wonders, insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. This truly is a given word of God for us all to be aware for this will truly happen.
A special note from me to you: Every day shout out to the Father, “You are my refuge, my fortress. I trust in You as my God forever. My heart is open only to You. Make Yourself at home, show me where I need to clean house. Fill me up with your plan, Your way of doing everything.
Smile, Jesus Loves You and So Do ISmile, Jesus Loves You and So Do ISmile, Jesus Loves You and So Do ISmile, Jesus Loves You and So Do I Bernie Wutzke
LONG TERM
PRAYER LIST
**Member ** Lee Nicol - (Irene's son) ** Roy Evans - heart issues Heather Fisher - seizures (Eric & Wendy’s daughter) Chris Klco - (Amy Peters' brother) Quinton Simpson - in a coma (Dena Anderson's nephew) Carol Hartman - awaiting heart transplant (friend of Pat McIntosh) Shirley Zellar - (Pat McIntosh’s mother) Lester O’Dell - Emphazema Don Buehrly - Tendercare Wally Wojtaszke - cancer (Ann Hartel contact person) Lynn Fish - (Carolyn Mittlestat’s father) Katherine Groulx - cancer (Grace Nellett’s sister-in- law) **Tim Blehm - hearing loss Wendy Lester - cancer Harland Lounsbury - stroke (Pat McIntosh contact) Lisa Starr - brain tumor (Nev’s cousin) Jean Densmore - (Grace Nellett & Ruth Ann Kitchin’s aunt) Garrett Roberts’ mother & brother - cancer Ashley Patrick’s mother Aneita Denhoff - (Carrie Gilley’s mother) Elmer Louis - (Doris Hendrick’s brother) Harland Tuckey - (Doris Hendrick contact person) Anthony Opiola - chronic asthma Les Auten, III - on dialysis **Heather Roberts - continued healing of MS **Marilyn Rosenberger - needs knee surgery but cardiologist won’t okay the surgery **Dena Anderson - constant pain **Wanda Leboida-Klauka - constant pain Caleb Blehm - cist on brain Kassie LaPonsie - continual healing from her accident Families in our church & community without work 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.
Outdoor Gospel Concerts ~ August 13 & 14Outdoor Gospel Concerts ~ August 13 & 14Outdoor Gospel Concerts ~ August 13 & 14Outdoor Gospel Concerts ~ August 13 & 14 Jim & Sheri Kilbourn, who attended Novesta until they moved to Tawas, own and operate the Northern Bear Paw R.V. Park. They have scheduled Outdoor Gospel Concerts to be held at the park on Saturday, Au-
gust 13 at 7:00 p.m. and then again on Sunday, August 14 at 10:00 a.m. (There will also be a Pot Luck dinner
following the Sunday 10 a.m. service - please bring a dish to pass). You will also want to bring your own lawn
chairs. The featured Gospel group is “Not Ashamed”.
The park is located at 4793 M-55 (11 miles west of Tawas City). To make reservations to camp at the
park, call 989-362-8000.
Jim & Sheri would appreciate your prayers that lives will be touched and God will be praised.
PIONEER BIBLE TRANSLATORS (Honigs)
Matt & Shelby and the kids are back at the Arctic Circle. The kids are enjoying time off from
school and Matt is fully engaged in his translation work. Matt is hoping the Gospel of Luke will be
ready to be published by the end of 2011. They are also planning on doing an Audio recording of
Luke this fall/winter so it can be released in conjunction with the book. They have also begun on the
2012 Khanty Scripture Calendar with the help of a young Khanty believer. Matt has also asked us to pray for the
possibility of using the finished text of Luke to produce a Khanty version of the “Jesus Film”. This project would
be pretty involved. The earliest this would be possible is next Spring, but a lot of groundwork has to be done first.
Matt has someone lined up to translate Acts and was hoping that would have been started while they were in the
States but that did not happen. This work has been started now.
Shelby is very excited about Betty Gorrell (a retired teacher) coming mid-August for three months to help teach
their kids. Matt has asked for prayer for him and a group of Khanty who are traveling to Moscow Sept. 10-19 so
Matt’s co-workers can undergo some training hosted by IBT. POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES
As you may or may not be aware, an anti-pregnancy center bill, House Bill 4814, was recently introduced in the
Michigan State Legislature. Please pray for Positive Alternatives and the many other pregnancy centers across
our state who will be negatively affected if this bill passes. You can learn more about this bill, the sponsors, and
what changes they desire to bring by gong to ww.michiganpolicy.com, and searching for House Bill 4814. Please
pray for pregnancy centers protection, for truth to be spoken, and for the work of pregnancy centers to be cast in a
positive light. Pray for our legislators as they ponder this bill, and for them to make a wise Godly decision. MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN CAMPUS MINISTRIES
This note from Gary Hawes shows how Campus Ministries is reaching students even in other countries:
“Students from all over the world come to this country to study and we have a great opportunity to influence them
for Christ. Less than two months ago, I was sitting in a His House meeting on the campus of Michigan Tech Uni-
versity. When we were divided into small prayer groups for a part of the meeting, I met Muhammed for the first
time. He said he was a graduate student from Libya and was visiting the meeting to see how Christians lived. His
country was in the beginning of civil revolution and all outside communication to his home and family in Tripoli ad
been cut off. As the president of the Muslim student association at MTU, he said he couldn’t pray with us or sing
or worship, but he had a keen interest in what we did and how we lived. I asked him if I could pray for his family
in Libya. He eagerly said ‘yes’ and then began to weep. We had a great prayer meeting that night. I have contin-
ued to regularly pray for Muhammed’s family in Tripoli and ask you to do the same.” WOODBURN CHRISTIAN CHILDREN’S HOME
This is how their July Newsletter started: “The note said, ‘Thanks again for opening up your homes to us! We
enjoyed so very much getting to know your ministry, the families, kids and parents :) You have a great ministry!
Keep up the amazing work and hopefully we’ll be back to ‘work’ again in the near future!’ It was from a group of
adults from the Novesta Church of Christ (Cass City, MI) who came down last weekend to repair a roof and build
new shelves for our pantry. So...now I’d like to add, “Thanks, everyone! You did a great job! We hope you will
come back soon. We love to have visitors at the Woodburn Christian Children’s Home.”
Also Woodburn has these three main fund raisers coming up. Sept. 17 - Annual Golf Tournament; Sept. 25 -
Annual Meeting and Challenge Offering; Oct. 15 - Annual Benefit Auction. You can go to www.wcchonline.org for
more info. Lee did share they are hoping the challenge offering will be $30,000 again this year. The Challenge
offering helps provide a home to children who, otherwise, have to ability to pay. Churches and camps and VBS
programs have raised or promised $15,000. They are asking supporting churches and individuals to give a special
offering in response to the challenge so they can reach the $30,000 mark.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Prayer Time 10:00 a.m.
Board Meeting
7:00 p.m.
2
Men’s Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
3 4 5 6
Jr. Church room reserved
Noon-3:00 p.m.
7
Pavilion & Gym reserved for
McIntosh Reunion
8
Prayer Time 10:00 a.m.
9
Men’s Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
10 11
Mission Ministry Meeting 7:00 p.m.
12 13
Gym reserved for a shower
14
Food Pantry Sunday
Pavilion & Gym
reserved by McConnell family
15
Prayer Time 10:00 a.m.
16
Men’s Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
17 18
MI Adventure Jr. High Outing
19
Saginaw Soup Kitchen
8:50 a.m.
20
Jr. Church room reserved for Old Settler’s
Reunion Noon—?
21
All Church Campfire @
church 6:00 p.m.
22
Prayer Time 10:00 a.m.
23
Lunch Bunch Outing—8:45 am
Men’s Bible Study
7:00 p.m.
24 25 26 27
Kids Reward Day Water Park Outing
Fellowship area
reserved by Janie Kus
28 29
Prayer Time 10:00 a.m.
30
Men’s Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
31
Elders Meeting 7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
9:30-10:15 a.m.
Bible School
10:30 a.m. Worship
Northmen & Northwomen
MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
The Men’s Prayer Breakfast that meets at Gil-ligan’s every Wednesday morning has changed their time of meeting to 7:00 a.m. Maybe this will make it easier for some and hopefully more men will join in.