Happening this Sunday
This Sunday, January 31, we will continue to worship using our zoom format, individually, but still as one body, united in Christ. Rev. Karen Campbell will bring us a message based on the scriptures of Prov. 8:12-21 & 1 Cor. 8:1-13.
Children’s Ministry
Preschool-6th Grade
Taste and See! A Lord’s Supper Class During Lent
At COS young children to come forward in the communion circle to receive a blessing. As children grow curious and interested in understanding and participating more fully, we encourage them to attend a class with a parent about what the Lord’s Supper is all about. The next Lord’s Supper class will happen in February during Lent, so please send me know if you’d like to be included! Jo.Howe@coscrc.org
We have a need for volunteers for the Feb 6 Mobile Food Pantry drive thru at the COS parking lot. Go to signup genius, where you can RSVP to help. The link is below https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CABA82FA2F4C52-cosmobile Hope to see a bunch of you there!
Church of the Servant Legacy Foundation Annual Report
In the summer of 2019, the COS Council approved the creation of the COS Legacy Foundation to lay a stronger financial foundation for COS into the future. During 2020, the Foundation Trustees were informed about six members who have included Church of the Servant and the COS Legacy Foundation in their will or estate plan. In addition, we received three gifts to the Foundation in 2020 –a total of $2,250. On December 31, 2020, the balance in the Foundation account at the Barnabas Foundation was $2,304.20.
The Foundation Trustees encourage all members to consider the Church of the Servant and its Foundation as you design or update wills or estate plans. More information about the Foundation can be found on the COS website ( https://www.churchoftheservantcrc.org/giving/cos-legacy-foundation/ ). A brochure about the Foundation will also be included with your annual giving statement from the church office.
Volunteers, sewers, and crafters needed to help refresh our children’s worship materials! In preparation for Lent and Easter I’d love to repair and refresh some of our gorgeous Children’s Worship Advent, Lent, and Easter materials and banners. This break from in-person meeting is a great time to give some TLC to the materials our leaders and children use to tell and retell our stories of faith. I’d love some help taking inventory of what needs care and repair, and ensuring the story sets that get the most use are in great shape for when we come back together. Please give me a call if you are interested! 616-238-1324 or jo.howe@coscrc.org
Keeping our congregation updated: To our brothers and sisters in Christ, CORR (Congregations Organizing for Racial Reconciliation) continues to offer Understanding Racism workshops in 2021, virtually. These workshops are open to everyone in our congregation. It is our hope and prayer that as COS people continue in this work of understanding racism, Church of the Servant will reveal what Godly antiracism looks like in the community. A Thursday/Friday morning workshop begins in February. Please prayerfully consider taking advantage of these opportunities. We long to meet in person again but for now, this is a wonderful format for all of us to continue to do the Lord’s work in antiracism. Register at CORRnow.org
Staff Retirement – Our hearts are saddened with the news of Diane Jonker’s retirement as of Feb 26, 2021. Diane has been a wonderful presence on our staff team for the past 5 years as Office Coordinator. Although she was not a member of COS, she quickly learned the names of volunteers and folks in the church and greeted everyone who called or came into the office with grace and hospitality.
She will be deeply missed; however, we wish Diane and her husband, Jim, who is also retiring, an enjoyable time with their 9 grandkids and biking, hiking and camping and with more time for her watercolor painting!
We will be posting the part time position opening and job description in the next few weeks. In the meantime, please send your notes of appreciation to Diane. On February 21 she will be with us after our Zoom service in the announcement time.
We still need Sunday morning scripture readers! If you would like to read scripture on Sunday morning, go to Signup Genius to sign up to read any Sunday. Click here to sign up for any Sunday, from January through the end of May.
Financial Update: Last week’s offering and online giving: $35,142.06
Current Giving for the month: $122,966.90
Monthly General Fund Budget: $112,926
Contribution statements were mailed out on Thursday so you should receive them early next week. Please review your contributions and let AJ Zahrt know if you have any questions.