Happening This Sunday
Sunday, December 29, there will be no Children’s Worship during the worship hour. Children are invited to stay and worship with their families. After our morning worship services today, we will express our thanks for the faithful years of service of Kenny & Heather Westrate through their work at COS with a cake reception in the café area. You are invited to place cards and tokens of appreciation in the basket on the café counter.
Next Sunday
Next Sunday, January 5 at 9am we’ll have Intergenerational Sunday School. Then our worship time will be a Prism service with SES and BES brothers and sisters in the large sanctuary. There will be NO noon meal that day.
Youth
Have a wonderful Christmas Break! See you at COS on Sat. Jan. 4, 10am-noon for our 1st Serve First of 2020! We will be playing games with BES kids as a fun way to help them learn English.
Church News
During the month of January, GPS will explore issues of disability and the church. On January 12, Dr. Tom Hoeksema, retired professor of education at Calvin University, will join us to share thoughts about the biblical issues related to disability. Prof. Hoeksema pioneered the field of special education at Calvin and has deep passion for addressing the needs of those with both physical and intellectual disabilities. On January 19, Dr. Kevin Timpe, COS member and professor of philosophy at Calvin University, will present on theological issues related to disability and community. Finally on, January 26, Kevin will lead a panel of other COS members in a discussion of this topic, including any questions that have arisen during this series.
Friends of New Americans, let’s celebrate our fellowship and family in Christ through a New Years’ Eve party on Tuesday evening, Dec.31, from 6 to 9 pm in the Cafe at COS. We expect to enjoy international foods and a time of singing and sharing stories. All ages are invited, and there should be games and activities for kids! Our BES members and other international friends as well as North American folks are welcome to participate. You will need to bring a dish to pass (usually a sweet or savory holiday treat) and will be asked to help clean up afterwards. Please contact Troy Bierma at troy.bierma@coscrc.org if you have questions.
January Gallery Opening Event with Featured Artist Matt Plescher
Mark your calendars for Monday, Jan. 13 @ 7pm for our next gallery opening event featuring COS member, painter, and lettering artist Matt Plescher. His new series—”Codex”—explores the mystery of ancient scripture hand-lettered onto canvas, layered over by paint, and lettered over again. The resulting layers of texture and text combine to create both an ancient and contemporary feel. The event is free with a suggested donation of $5/person. The evening will feature a conversation with the artist, live music, and a chance to peruse the gallery over appetizers. RSVPs on our COS facebook event page are appreciated!
Please consider signing up for Wednesday night set-up, serving, and clean-up. If you are willing/able to help on any one or more of the supper/club nights in January or February, please sign up in the café area or email Lori Wiersma lori.wiersma@coscrc.org or the church office diane.jonker@coscrc.org The dates are January 8, 15, & 22, and February 4, 11, & 18.
Giving in December. We are grateful for the generous giving we have seen in the past couple of weeks! Continuing this strong trend throughout December will help ensure we can move forward with confidence in our ministries and also be faithful to our denomination in terms of ministry share payments. In January, council will begin serious discussions about how to make a budget that accurately reflects our ability to pay, and what we do in December will be a factor in that discussion. We dearly want to continue all ministries and even expand in some areas, but we also need to be responsible and not promise what we cannot deliver. We ask for your continued support in making COS a place of deep generosity and gratitude.
Financial Update: Last week’s offering and online giving was $36,293.49. Our total giving for the month of December is $143,447.30 (with one Sunday left). Our monthly General Fund budget is $119,028.
If you would have not yet submitted your 2020 pledge form and would like to do so, you may place it in the box in the café area.
Beginning Thursday morning, January 9, the ESL Women’s Bible study will host six weekly sessions on marriage. Our last meeting will be Feb. 13. All women of the church are invited, but especially Basic English Service women, as we will try to have a global view of this important subject. We will use the Timothy and Kathy Keller “The Meaning of Marriage” DVDs and study guide. We’ll meet from 10am to 11:30am. Child care is provided.
Our next hat, scarf, mitten and sock distribution will be at the Mobile Food Pantry this coming Saturday, January 4. There is a basket for these items on the Café counter. Thank you to those who have already contributed!