Happening This Sunday
The new members’ class meets in the living room at 9am. We will meet again at 9am next Sunday, November 17 and on the 24th. Come to hear about the history of COS, meet some of the staff, and learn how you can be involved in the life of the church. If you have questions, email Chris Klein, Minister of Congregational Life, at christopher.klein@coscrc.org. Hope to see you there!
Youth
Small Groups should be meeting sometime between Nov. 10-17.
Our 9am Sunday School reading of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will continue next week. This month’s reader lineup includes Eric Kort (11/17), and Rich Van Houten (11/24).
Church News
Financial Update: Last week’s offering, including monthly ACH and online giving was $31,994.34. Our total giving for the month of November is currently $31,994.34 (with three Sundays left). Our monthly General Fund budget is $119,028.
The 2018-2019 Fiscal Year Report from the Finance Committee is posted on the member page of the COS website. There are also a limited number of paper copies on the cafe counter.
A directory of Parish Care Team members is available on the members and friends page of the Church of the Servant website. If you are uncertain of which Parish you are in, you can also find a Parish Care map on the website. Scroll down the page to the heading Ministry Teams to locate these two documents.
Prisms for God’s Light: Under this theme, the stewardship team invites you to consider your financial pledge to COS for the coming year. You should have received a flyer providing information last week, which is also available on the church web site. Please consider this carefully and journey with us for the next few weeks as we prepare our hearts to make our commitments for 2020.
Our blood drive is Monday, 11/11, 2-7pm. There is still time to sign up to share your gift of life! You will literally be a lifesaver – there is no synthetic substitute for human blood, and the need is so great! Make an appointment by calling 866-642-5663, or visit versiti.org, or sign up today on the poster in the café. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome and will be accommodated as possible. Hope to see you tomorrow! –Co-chairs Beth Karanicola and Ruth Huisman
Knitters’ Night Out – Monday, 11 November at 7:30pm. Knitters (and other needle crafters) are welcome to join us at Deanna van Dijk’s home.
Let’s help keep our Camelot neighbors warm outside this winter! It’s not too early to begin knitting hats, scarves for children, teens and adults. On Saturday, Dec 7 and Jan 4, these knitted winter items, along with newly bought items-including gloves and socks– will be distributed during the Mobile Food Truck time. COS will collect these winter clothing items in the basket on the Café counter. Thank you!
Thanksgiving Day Joyful Noise Orchestra – Anyone who plays a band or orchestral instrument is invited to play for our Thanksgiving Day service on Thursday, November 28 at 10:00am. We will rehearse on Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30pm and again on Thursday, November 28 at 9:00am before the service. We need experienced musicians too, but this service is an especially good service for beginners to get their feet wet, since the amount of music is less overwhelming than a regular Sunday service. If you have never played with the group before, I encourage you to give it a try! The music is ready to be picked up in the music room this week. Please sign up in the music room when you pick up your music or email Maria Stapert (maria.stapert@coscrc.org) so that we know to plan on you.
Thanksgiving Day Djembes – Anyone who would like to play djembe is invited to participate in the opening song in the Thanksgiving Day service. We will rehearse for about 15 minutes on Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30pm, and again on Thursday, November 28 at 9:45am, just before the service. Even if you have never played before, you are welcome to give it a try. Please either sign up in the music room or email Maria Stapert (maria.stapert@coscrc.org).
Facility Manager Opening: Church of the Servant is looking to hire a part time (up to 25 hrs /week) person to join our staff team and be responsible for our building’s operation and maintenance needs. Strong Facility Management experience preferred. Start date: December 16, 2019. See the position description at: www.coscrc.org/employment
Please send your letter of interest and resume to: lori.wiersma@coscrc.org by November 15.
Meijer Simply Give Double Match – We are pleasantly surprised and excited that COS Food Pantry was awarded another Campaign this year! Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 3, 2019 and Friday, December 13 to purchase your $10.00 Simply Give cards at the Cascade Meijer. On those days, for every 10.00 card purchase, Meijer will match this with 20.00, so the COS food pantry will benefit with a 30.00 gift! If you buy a 30.00 Meijer Simply Give card, it will turn into a 90.00 gift to the COS food pantry. Ellen Westrate will be taking monies from those who cannot easily go to the Cascade Meijer and will be purchasing these cards on your behalf on the Double Match days. Please give your name and money in an envelope to Ellen by Sunday, Dec 1 or Dec 8. It is our hope and goal this year to surpass the $25,000 COS received from Cascade Meijer for our food pantry which feeds over 100 families a month. Thank you for supporting COS’ partnership with Meijer!
Angel Tree is coming! Help the children of prisoners have a happy and Christ-filled Christmas this year. COS has been assigned 20 children ranging from ages 1 to 18. We would like 20 volunteers to contribute gifts requested by their parents for these children. The volunteers also get to come to the Angel Tree St. Nick Party (yes he really does come in full regalia) on December 7, here at church from 2 – 4 pm. We provide fun food, our Young People provide fun and games, St Nick gives out the presents, and the children are told the Christ story.
November Gallery Opening Event, hosted by the BES & the Mission Support Team, tomorrow Monday, Nov. 11 at 7PM. This show will showcase and support “People of Light”, shining their lights as missionaries around the world and as members of BES here in our community. The paintings and artwork in the show were created by BES attendees and friends, with Mariah West and Jan Carpenter sharing their own paintings of light. Jan & Mariah have generously offered a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their work to support COS’ Mission Support Fund. The event is free with a suggested donation of $5/person. The evening will feature a conversation with the collaborators, live music, appetizers and wine. RSVPs on our COS facebook event page are appreciated.