Second Sunday of Epiphany Season: Rev. Ben Videtich continues the series on The Lord’s Prayer and will preach from Isaiah 63:7-19, Matthew 6:9, and Hebrews 4:14-16 in the Tree of Life service in the large sanctuary. Rev. Andrew Mead will preach from Isaiah 63:7-19 and Matthew 6:9 in the All Nations Worship Service in Room 4. 

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
January 26 ANWS – Rev. Albert Strydhorst, TOL – Rev. Andrew Mead
February 2 Prism – Rev. Andrew Mead
February 9 ANWS – Sem. Lucy Gitau, TOL – Rev. Len Vander Zee
February 16 ANWS – Rev. Ruth Lemmen, TOL – Rev. Len Vander Zee

Intercessory Prayer Workshops: At COS we value the variety of voices who lead us in worship, including those who lead us in Intercessory Prayer. The variety of voices adds to the richness of the worship, and to our understanding of God and his Kingdom. But the role of leading Intercessory Prayer is not an easy role. So for all who have led in this way in the past, and for anyone who is interested in leading in this role in the future, you are invited to attend one of the two Intercessory Prayer Workshops we will be hosting this month:

  • Wednesday, January 22, 6:00pm–8:00pm
  • Sunday, January 26, 11:45am–1:45pm

At both times, a soup lunch/supper will be provided. Come discuss with other prayer leaders the best practices and the pitfalls to avoid when preparing to lead in prayer. We will discuss the structure, the language, the theology…the what, when, where, how and why…of constructing public prayers. Please let Minister of Worship, Maria Stapert Vander Berg, know if you are able to attend (maria.stapert@coscrc.org). 

Faith Formation:

GPS (God’s People Seeking) – Sundays in Room 5 from 11:45-12:30am
Sunday, January 19: Dave Koetje presents “Eating Patterns For Personal & Planetary Health”
What if there was a way to eat healthier that is also better for the planet? Too good to be true? Think again. In this GPS presentation, Dave Koetje will offer some ecological and nutritional insights about eating patterns that are healthier for people and the planet. He will also offer some insights from Christian scholars that inspire people of faith to transition in this direction. And finally, he will share how his family began doing so years ago and the joy they discovered along the way.

Circle of Grace Safe Church Sunday School Lessons
Every year, we offer a grade-level appropriate lesson from Circle of Grace in our 4-year-old-1st-grade, 2nd-4th grade, and 5th-6th grade SS classes. This curriculum emphasizes God’s love and care for each child and seeks to empower children to act with love and respect form oneself and others. It helps kids recognize feelings as important signals to help kids assess the safety of a situation and encourages them to identify safe adults in their lives that can talk to if they feel uncomfortable. These lessons are part of our safe church plan to help ensure kids are safe at COS and know how to ask for help if needed.
Amy Heeringa, the COS Safe Church Coordinator, will join Jo Howe in teaching all the lessons. The first Circle of Grace lesson is Sunday, January 19 in the 4-year-old-1st-grade class. Parents will receive a handout after class with a follow-up activity for home. The 2nd-4th grade lesson is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, and the 5th-6th grade lesson is scheduled for Sunday, February 23. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jo at jo.howe@coscrc.org or call. 

Sign Up for “Soups On!” One Sunday a month, members of COS open up their homes to host a meal for a surprise guest list. We call these gatherings “Soups On!” and the hope is that these meals will be a space where friends and strangers can gather around a table and build fellowship while sharing a meal together. Sunday, January 19, Eric and Andrea Kort would like to invite people who consider themselves to be in the “College and Young Adult” category to join them for a meal. Ray & Ann Kapteyn are opening up their home for members of our “general population” to join them for a meal. Sign-up sheets (as well as host site addresses and planned menus) are located on a window in the café. Space is limited so sign up soon!

All Church Mulick Park Sledding Meet Up, Saturday February 8, 1:00pm-3:00pm Mark your calendar for an afternoon of fun with your church family! Bundle up and bring your own sled to enjoy the hill with friends from church. COS will have a hot chocolate and snack station set up at the bottom of the hill to warm up and chat. Friends are welcome! Please note this is a meetup, so children must be accompanied by a parent or older sibling. 

Congregational Life:

Parents of Children in K-12 who attend Christian Schools: If you need financial assistance, it’s time to apply for the tuition assistance program for the 2025-2026 school year. Updated step-by-step instructions can be found here: coscrc.org/education. Application is completed online; you will find the direct link to the COS FACTS page on the website. Don’t wait for your taxes; apply now using 2023 taxes and meet the earlier deadlines!
• Please submit your name using the online form by Wednesday, January 29 – This will help the team prepare for applications and track the process.
• Submit FACTS app and documentation by Monday, February 10.
• Mandatory meeting via Zoom will take place Wednesday, March 26 between 6:00-8:30pm. After your application has been received you will get an email to sign up for a meeting time.

The COS Women’s Winter Non-Retreat is fast approaching! We have rented a large house near Traverse City from Friday, February 7 – Sunday, February 9, 2025. (Visit https://t.vrbo.io/nXNL1ktRZPb or VRBO ID 2720018 if you want more details.) We will gather around the fireplace, in the indoor hot tub, or in the outdoor hot tub for good conversations, renewing old friendships and making new ones. Participants are welcome to pack cross country skis, snowshoes, or winter outerwear as this area is loaded with a wealth of outdoor options! And carpooling is available. Optional winter rafting trip available on Saturday afternoon for those interested (check out Jordan Valley Outfitters https://www.jvoutfitters.com/). This retreat is filling up fast but there is room for YOU. $25 deposit reserves your spot. Put cash or checks in Annette Ediger’s mailbox, or Venmo @churchoftheservant (located under “businesses” in Venmo). Suggested cost for lodging is $125 but pay what works for your budget – don’t let cost be a hindrance! Any amount you are able to contribute will be appreciated. Questions? Contact Deb Zondervan (616) 485-5728 or Annette Ediger (616) 308-0143.

The Blood Drive is only three weeks away! You have the power to give more than just blood—you have the power to give hope, save lives and create lasting memories for local families. You’re not just donating blood, you’re becoming part of an unstoppable force of hope. Every moment you share as a donor counts, and your decision to give blood could be the difference between life and death for someone in need. Make a difference at our next blood drive on Monday, February 10, 2-7pm, in our church cafe. Make an appointment online: https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/11599857  Questions? Contact Beth Karanicola or Ruth Huisman. Thank you!!

Creation Care:

Creation Care: Styrofoam collection is through Sunday, January 19. Please do not bring cups, food containers or packaging. There will  be a collection bin in the cafe. Volunteers will take the hard Styrofoam, such as coolers, mailing coolers for medications, shipping foam that fits the product’s shape to Michigan Foam on Grandville Avenue. 

Deacons:

January Series program on Monday, January 20 at 12:30pm is commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Register here. Jonathan Eig will discuss his most recent title, “King: A Life,” which earned him the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. He’ll explore Martin Luther King Jr. as a deep thinker, brilliant strategist, and committed leader of one of history’s greatest movements. Jonathan will also explain why King’s demands for justice remain as urgent today as they were in his lifetime.

A retreat with other Together West Michigan churches and institutions: COS Deacons and Antiracism Team invite you to ask our Together West Michigan core team – Carol Rienstra, Janice McWhertor, Joan Huyser-Honig, Bill DeVries, Natalie Drew, Jolanda Howe – about why they think broad-based organizing is so important, effective and enjoyable. Some of them will be attending a planning retreat geared toward core teams, church executives and clergy, and talented, interesting leaders of all ages on Saturday, January 25th 9-noon, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 47 Jefferson Ave. SE. RSVP here

Stewardship Team: 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, 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/
119 pledges totaling 717,788 for an average of $6031.83.

Finance Team: The Finance Committee is pleased to report that our general giving was $157,489 in December. This was about $10,000 more than December 2023, and much more than a typical month of around $90-100,000. Meanwhile our expenses were also lower than expected, with two staff positions not filled as budgeted. We ended 2024 with a balance of $167,760 in our General Fund, along with healthy balances in several of our large reserve funds. The committee appreciates that this surplus will stand us in good stead with the changes we expect in the coming year.  For a summary of our finances over the last fiscal year through August 2024, see the Annual Report available in print in the church and on our website.

Missions:

Missionaries Of The Week – Stuart & Peggy Milliken: We would really appreciate it if folks would pray for our granddaughter, who was recently hospitalized with mental health struggles. We are thankful for the caring and attentive staff in this hospital, and for the wholistic approach they are taking by considering various conditions together and how they could be interacting. Please pray for the whole family and especially for God’s Spirit to work in her heart, and for clarity of continuing treatment after her release. Please pray for our work checking and revising the draft of Ezekiel. It has been five years since we came back to the US from the rural overseas setting of our translation work, and working at a distance is quite challenging. In particular, for security reasons we cannot have contact with the churches and individuals using our translation, which is not only disappointing for us, but also means that we cannot supply “stories from the field” that a major supporting agency is requiring of us for promotional purposes. Please pray that this agency would be understanding concerning our constraints and would continue their support despite this lack of information.

James and Barbara Lee, one of the missionary families that we support, will be in Michigan from July 1 through August 28 for their ReConnect time of home service. While they are here, they need a vehicle. If you have a spare vehicle that the Lee family could use, email Amy Hackert from the Mission Support Team. abhackert@gmail.com

COS Missionary Hannah Kummer’s most recent Newsletter

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.

Facilities Job Openings:

  • The Facilities Coordinator (part-time, 15hr p/wk) is responsible for preparation of the COS facility so that it is a ready and reliable resource for the programs, ministries, staff, and members of the church thereby helping to ensure the fulfillment of the church’s vision and mission. Includes minor repairs and maintenance.
  • The Sunday Facilities Coordinator (part-time, 6hr p/wk) has primary responsibility for opening/closing the facilities and preparing the facility for Sunday worship. Ability to lift up to 40 lbs.

For a copy of the job descriptions, questions, or to apply, contact Monica Smith monica.smith@coscrc.org or call the church office.

Praise & Prayer Needs:

We mourn with Nicolette the passing of Eric Karloski after a long illness. They had been members at COS, and Nicolette was a liturgical dancer. Cards of sympathy can be sent to her at 4437 Carrick SE, Kentwood 49508. Obituary

Recently, Mahizer Mirzai, lost her father in Azerbaijan. Please remember Mahizer and her husband, Reza, in your prayers. 

We express our sympathy to Larry & Gretchen Borst and Dan & Amy Borst in the death of Larry and Dan’s mother, Jeanne Borst, Wednesday, January 15. Jeanne, along with their father, Larry Sr., have been attending COS recently. Services have not been scheduled yet.

ESL Coordinator, Mark Fackler’s brother, David Fackler, of Holland and Zeeland, MI where he he directed Youth For Christ until retiring to Kentucky, died in his home this week. A memorial service will be held in the spring.

Community Announcements:

CORE Workshops: Are you actively working on becoming antiracist? We sure hope so! One way to seek justice and grow as a compassionate, caring disciple of Jesus is to participate in a CORE workshop. You’ll learn about unjust systems and how we blindly perpetuate injustices affecting black, indigenous, and all people of color. Much of the content is heavy and painful, but amidst the difficulty you’ll learn how to engage in meaningful ways and how to examine and challenge narratives, cultures, and systems oppressing and marginalizing so many of God’s children. The next CORE Workshop is January 30 and 31 at Church of the Servant. And if you are a member at COS, the registration fee is covered by our Anti-Racism and Congregational Life Budget.  Find more detail in this link. Thank you for considering this great opportunity for discipleship. Please feel free to provide the link to your contacts and bring a friend.

Weekly Calendar: January 19 – January 26

Sunday, January 19

  • Last Day for Styrofoam collection
  • High School Retreat
  • 10:00am – All Nations Worship Service in Room 4
  • 10:00am – Tree Of Life Service in the Large Sanctuary
  • 11:45am – Sunday School and GPS
  • 1:00pm – Soups On

Monday, January 20

  • 10:30am – 12:30pm – Food Pantry

Tuesday, January 21

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

Wednesday, January 22

  • 9:30am – Friendship ESL
  • 11:30am – 1:30pm – Food Pantry
  • 6:00pm – Intercessory Prayer Leader Workshop
  • 7:00pm – AV Team Zoom

Thursday, January 23

  • 8:30am – Bulletin announcement deadline – office@coscrc.org
  • 9:30am – Thursday Bible Study
  • 10:00am – International Women’s Bible Study
  • 6:00pm – Friendship ESL
  • 7:00pm – Parish Care/Deacon/Elder Meetings

Friday, January 24

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

Saturday, January 25

  • 10:00am – All Nations Prayer Group

Sunday, January 26

  • 10:00am – All Nations Worship Service in Room 4
  • 10:00am – Tree Of Life Service in the Large Sanctuary
  • 11:45am – Sunday School and Congregational Disaffiliation Q&A
  • 11:45am – Intercessory Prayer Leader Workshop