Sunday, December 15 at COS:

Before worship, you can attend the 9:00am Hour in the church living room. Sunday, December 1’s meeting is Contemplate with Harry Plantinga. Each Contemplate gathering will help us discover the profound wisdom of Julian of Norwich’s “Revelations of Divine Love”. Learn more about the 9:00am Hour at COS.

On this third Sunday in Advent season Sunday, Rev. Len Vander Zee will preach in the Tree of Life service in the large sanctuary from Zephaniah 3:14-20. Rev. Andrew Mead will preach from Zephaniah 3:14-20 in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4.

Following worship, participate in the rehearsal for God’s Big Story or Sunday School. Adult-ed GPS meets in Room 5 for a discussion with Lew Klatt, one of our COS poets, who will be sharing some advent reflections as we prepare our hearts for Christ’s arrival. 

The 10 am Tree of Life service will also be broadcast via Zoom. Sign up for our Newsletter to receive the Zoom links.

Worship:

Preaching Schedule
December 22    Prism – Intergenerational Christmas Story – God’s Big Story
December 29   ANWS – Rev. Ruth Lemmen, TOL – Seminarian Lucy Gitau
January 5    ANWS – Rev. Andrew Mead, TOL – Rev. Len Vander Zee
January 12 ANWS – Rev. Ruth Lemmen, TOL – Rev. Andrew Mead

Upcoming services and opportunities to participate:

  • Advent 3 – Sunday December 15, 10:00am
  • O Antiphons Evening Advent Service – Sunday, December 15, 6:00pm
    In addition to visual art and music for each antiphon, we will have a short reflection on each antiphon.
  • Advent 4/Prism Service – Sunday, December 22, 10:00am
    • Adults and kids of all ages are invited to participate in the telling of God’s Big Story. There are speaking roles and non-speaking roles. Rehearsals will take place Sunday, December 15 from 11:30am – 12:45pm. If you are interested in participating, contact Jolanda Howe (jo.howe@coscrc.org). 
    • The Joyful Noise Orchestra will lead music for this service. Rehearsal will be Sunday, December 22 at 9:00am. Those involved in the telling of God’s Big Story can also participate in JNO if desired. Sign up by emailing Maria Stapert Vander Berg (maria.stapert@coscrc.org).
  • Christmas Eve Service – Tuesday, December 24, 7:00pm – including communion and candlelight, Rev. Andrew Mead preaching
  • Christmas Day Caroling – Wednesday, December 25, 10:00am – including Christmas Prelude music presented by children of the congregation, and hot chocolate (or coffee/tea), and cookies
  • New Year’s Eve Prayer Service & Meal – Tuesday, December 31 from 5:00-8:00pm in the Cafe. Bring some food to share.

    2024 New Psalm Contest: Church of the Servant is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 New Psalm Contest:
  • First Place goes to “My Heart, O God, Is Steadfast” (Psalm 108) by Elizabeth Busch Lerourneau
  • Second Place goes to “Lift Up Your Eyes” (Psalm 121) by Ephrem Feeley & Alan Hommerding
  • Read more here.

Faith Formation:

Sunday, December 15: Rehearsal for the Sunday, December 22 God’s Big Story Service 
During the Sunday School Hour (11:45am-12:30pm) in the Tree of Life space. Bring your children to the Tree of Life space after church for the God’s Big Story Service and run through the program and music together. Please reach out to Jo if you have any questions at 616-238-1324, or jo.howe@coscrc.org. 

Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day Carol Sing & Children’s Musical Prelude, 9:45am
Children and teens are invited to play or sing a Christmas song on Christmas day. This invitation is open to those with experience as well as new musicians who are just learning how to play. Duets and quartets between a parent and child, siblings, or friends are welcome! Please let Maria Stapert Vander Berg know if your child or teen is interested in playing, and plan to arrive at church at 9:40am on Christmas morning.

Advent Devotional Resources for Families
Select resources will be available in the café to purchase at a discounted rate through Sunday, December 15
Look for these new resources in the Café, along with a few favorites from years past:

  • Praying the Advent Names of God by Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ and Joan Mitchell, CSJ
    Vibrant, detailed illustrations, paired with Scripture, prayers, and poetry make this little book a rich resource. The Advent names of God in this book are the same names highlighted in our O Antiphons Advent Service on Sunday, December 15 at 6:00pm! 
  • Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany By Malcolm Guite
    This book of poetry is aimed at adults and teens. This book also includes O Antiphons poetry among the many other poems focused on Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany.
  • All Creation Waits, Children’s Edition by Gayle Boss, Illustrated by Sharon Spitz
    If you’ve loved the book All Creation Waits, you’ll delight in sharing this book with your children or grandchildren! Beautiful illustrations and lyrical prose highlight the hibernation practice of one animal each day. Animal facts plus the Advent themes of waiting, longing, and trust are sure to spark wonder and faith-filled conversation!   
  • The Wonder of the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
    This resource appears to be a book, but it actually opens into a three-dimensional paper Jesse Tree, with numbered advent-calendar style doors that open to reveal each day’s ornament to hang on the tree! Paired with the ornaments are daily readings highlighting prophecies and stories leading up to the birth of Christ. If treated gently this could be a keepsake to use each year.    
  • Year-Round Devotional Options:
    Along with Advent devotionals, I also have Teach Us to Pray: Scripture Center Family Worship Through the Year by Laura A. Copley and Elizabeth Vander Hagaan and God’s Big Story Cards by Karen DeBoer and Carol Reinsma. Both are excellent resources for elementary-school-aged and older children.

Outreach & Congregational Life:

New Members: Sunday, December 8, we welcomed New Members to COS. Revised bios here.

Saturday prayer meetings are postponed for December and will resume in January at 10am on Saturdays in the library. All are welcome!

Christmas Brunch – December 22: Christmas Brunch following our Prism combined worship service. Contact Jill Frazee-Eitman if you have questions or would like to help.
Last names beginning:
A – E something “brunchy” —egg dish, deviled eggs, etc.
F – K bread, muffins, bars or cookies
L – R veggies
S – Z fruit

Collecting Pajamas – Prisoners in Christ is partnering with 70X7 Life Recovery and the Kent County Sheriff’s office to collect pajamas for children with an incarcerated parent. Deadline is Sunday, December 15. For more information, see the flyer on the cafe table or contact Carol Rienstra carolrienstra@gmail.com 616-724-6772 or Cheryl  Wyma. cherylw@70x7liferecovery.org 616-454-4925

Communications Task Force:

In the seats of both worshipping spaces, you will find a survey from the newly formed Communications Task Force. The purpose of this survey is to see how you receive information about the services, programs, ministries, and work of COS. Complete a paper copy when you are on campus or print and return a copy to the church office.

Creation Care:

But what do I do with these old Christmas lights that no longer work?
You can recycle them! And the Creation Care Team is here to help you. In fact, COS is now partnering locally with Comprenew to collect and recycle certain types of e-waste, beginning with Christmas lights. Now through January 12, you can bring old light sets to church and put them in our “Christmas Lights Recycling” bucket located in the cafe. Read more here.

Deacons:

Stewardship Team: To live into our overall vision statement and recently adopted “Our Calling: a Community of Belonging” statement, COS leadership has chosen “fellowship” as a guiding theme. When we support Church of the Servant’s mission with our time, treasure, and talent, we are responding to God’s invitation. God calls us to be a community “rooted in Christ, nurtured by the Spirit, to grow in God’s grace to share gifts of refuge, fellowship, and hope.”

The Stewardship team is inviting each of us to make a pledge of our finances as we live out our commitment to “share gifts of refuge, fellowship, and hope.” Both in our year-end giving, and in the pledges for the 2025 General Fund that we make in December, we are showing ourselves to be people of fellowship. Pledge forms will be available next to the liturgies on Sunday morning, or you can use the fillable form on the COS website: https://www.churchoftheservantcrc.org/giving/

Current Pledge Results: 29 pledges totaling $200,520 (average pledge $6,914). Goal: $915,394.

Finance Team:

Passed a Milestone: At the end of November, COS held a General Fund balance of $107,714. This is the first time in several years that we have passed the $100,000 mark, an amount close to our average monthly spending. Our giving was high in November, at almost $117,000, while our expenses were low at $88,880.  In the coming months, we can expect higher costs, but for now we stand in a healthy financial position.  The Finance Committee is grateful for the congregation’s generosity.

Missions:

Missionaries Of The Week – Our prayer focus this week is on the work of Tony and Allison Westrate who partner with Wycliffe USA and Resonate Global Mission to support Bible translation and other ministries in Cameroon. Read more here.

Office & Facilities:

Inclement Weather Cancellations – In communication, the members of the Executive Team will monitor weather, other cancellations in the area, and conditions around the COS building. Final determination of cancellation will be made by 7:00am on Sundays and 12:00pm on Wednesdays. If it is determined that services and events will be cancelled, the following steps are taken to ensure prompt communication to the congregation: posts will be made on social media, email will be sent, and post will be made on WOODTV8.

Doors A-G Update – The doors and card access system have been updated. If you have an event on campus, contact the church office for door to be scheduled unlocked. Please do not prop doors open.

Café Wreaths: Christmas wreaths are a beautiful symbol of unity, and just as each wreath is unique in design, so too are the people who gather together at COS. Some wreaths may be adorned with bows, while others are embellished with natural pinecones, or berries, reflecting the creativity and personal expression of those who attend COS. Some may feature traditional colors of green and red, while others embrace the traditional Advent color of purple. Just as these wreaths come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each person in the congregation brings their own story, background, and gifts, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of faith and fellowship. Together, they form a collective beauty, much like the diverse wreaths that decorate the Café, each one unique, yet all united in a fellowship of believers. Enjoy this celebration of our diversity on display this winter.

Prayer & Church Family News:

Wednesday, December 18, Nancy Knol will have thyroid surgery. She and John and Jane, Andrew, Wendell, and Amby Zwart would appreciate your prayers for a good outcome.

We express our sympathy to the family of Dan Grinwis, former member of COS. Read obituary here.

Community and Requested Announcements:

The King’s Choraliers invite you to celebrate the birth of our Savior by joining them at their annual Christmas concert, “Jesus, ‘Brightest and Best,’” Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 7:30 PM at LaGrave Ave. CRC, 107 LaGrave Ave., in Grand Rapids. Their guest vocal group will be the Unity Christian High School Choral Ensemble. Additional guest instrumentalists will also be featured as well as a carol sing. A free will offering will be received.

Weekly Calendar: December 15 – December 22

Sunday, December 15

  • 9:00am – Harry Plantinga’s Class – Contemplate
  • 10:00am – All Nations Worship Service in Room 4
  • 10:00am – Tree Of Life Service in the Large Sanctuary
  • 11:45 am – December 22 Rehearsal and GPS
  • 4:00pm – Choir Rehearsal
  • 6:00pm – O Antiphons Advent Service

Monday, December 16

  • 10:30am–12:30pm – Food Pantry

Tuesday, December 17

  • 9:30am – Friendship ESL
  • 10:00am – Tuesday Morning Prayer Group – at Beacon Hill
  • 6:00pm – Friendship ESL

Wednesday, December 18

  • 9:30am – Friendship ESL
  • 11:30am–1:30pm – Food Pantry

Thursday, December 19

  • 8:30am – Bulletin announcement deadline – office@coscrc.org
  • 9:30am – Thursday Bible Study
  • 10:00am – ESL Bible Study fellowship
  • 6:00pm – Friendship ESL

Friday, December 20

  • 3:30pm – Friday Newsletter and Bulletin sent Sign up here

Saturday, December 21

Sunday, December 22

  • 9:00am – Joyful Noise Orchestra Rehearsal
  • 10:00am – Prism Combined Service: God’s Big Story
  • 12:00pm – Christmas Brunch