Celebration Midweek - Jan. 21

I am looking forward to the movie "God's Not Dead!" that we hope to show on Friday night at 7:00PM. One huge reason is that many of us are just not equipped to share our faith to the skeptics around us. Most of us know what we know and can talk about it to other Christians. But when it comes to those who are resistant to the gospel, we quickly look for ways out of the conversation. I hope this movie will spur us on to be more bold in our witness and to dig deeper in our study so "the servant of God can be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:17)

1. Events
- TONIGHT, Youth Ministries at Calvin Church, 6:30-8:00PM - (ages 4 years to 8th grade) Little Peeps = Lesson "Let's Go", GEMS = Lesson and Craft, Cadets = Project Night , and Middle School = "Ruth: The Tenacious Outsider."
- Friday, Movie Night, "God's Not Dead!"
- Saturday, Pray For Muskegon, all day. Invest 1 hour to pray for Muskegon and the surrounding area.
- Sunday, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM in the Nursery. Join us as we journey through Corinth.
- Sunday, Worship Service, 10:30AM!
- Sunday, High School Youth Group at Calvin Church, 6:00-8:00PM. Starts with dinner!
- Sunday, Soup and Salad Lunch after Sunday worship.
- Sunday, County-Wide Prayer Event, 6:00PM in the Orchard View High School auditorium.
- Feb. 4, Book Club - Meet at 6:30PM at Panera Bread. The book this month is "Beautiful Ruins" by Jess Walter.
- Feb.. 6-8, Middle School Winter Retreat
- Feb. 7, Cadet Winter Derby

2. Weather Reminder – If a severe weather warning is issued, people should not come to church activities. If an official cancellation is necessary, we will post the cancellation on the WZZM web site. This will also be listed on channel 13 WZZM.

3. County-Wide Prayer Event, Sunday, January 25, 6:00PM in the Orchard View High School auditorium. This will be a non denominational gathering of the Body of Christ in the greater Muskegon area for worship, prayer, encouragement, testimonies, and more prayer!

4. Sunday - What do we do when facing skeptics to Christianity? Run away? Engage them? Invite a friend to worship as we consider this question in the last message in our present series "God's Not Dead!" (John 20:24-29)

5. Prayers
- Patti Lacy's uncle passed away on Monday morning!
- Ruth Hinajosa's sister Delores is doing well after her heart surgery. Pray for her continued healing as she will be in the hospital for a while longer.
- Ruth also has numbness in her hand from the repetitive motion of the job
- Linda Bergman's granddaughter is still experiencing seizures.
- Please pray for those who have lost loved ones this past year.
- Roger Doctor’s friend, Clint Ridley, has a brain tumor and is seeking treatment at Mayo Hospital.
- Pray for families with financial stress.
- Pray for those looking for a home church that God would lead them where they need to be.
- For the prison ministries around the country.
- For the conflicts within churches in the area.

--
Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
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(231) 571-4137

Almost Christmas!

How sad that this quote by Clyde Reid written in 1966 could very much be written about us today: "As we have seen, there is considerable evidence to suggest that Protestant churches in the mid-twentieth century are in serious trouble. By their obvious action and inaction, the organizations often belie their avowed purpose for existence. They tend to be self-centered, not centered on others. They tend to be more interested in programs and buildings and statistics than in persons. In the great social issues of the day, they are foot-draggers, often jumping on the bandwagon to share the glory after the battle has been won by some secular agency. They reject the spiritually sensitive person and fail to help the sinner. They are enmeshed in a massive appalling contradiction between what they claim to be and what they actually reveal themselves to be." 
May we as a church always fight against this!

1. Events
- Saturday, Oasis Christmas Play Practice, 10:00-11:00AM at church.
- Sunday, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM in the Nursery.
- Sunday, Worship Service, 10:30AM!
- Sunday, High School Youth Group at Calvin Church, 6:00-8:00PM. Starts with dinner!
- Wednesday, Dec. 24, Pray For Muskegon, all day. Sign up for your hour to pray for Muskegon.
- Wednesday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, 7:00PM. It is a wonderful way to enter into Christmas!
- Jan. 4, Seekers Small Group meets. Terry & Patti Lacy will lead the lesson.
- Jan. 7, Book Club - Meet at the Brew House (on Seminole @ Seaway) to discuss "Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale" by Lynda Rutledge. 

2. Small groups - We will have new groups starting in January! If you are interested in growing together with God and with others at Celebration, contact Brenda Swanson or Pastor Matt.

3. Mitten Tree - It is awesome to see that all of the tags from the mitten tree are spoken for! Please bring your gift(s) on Sunday. We'll deliver them on Monday!

4. Sunday - "There's a method to the madness!" This quote seems to fit when we talk about why Jesus was born in a manger. Join us Sunday as we continue our Advent series: "The Miracle of Christmas."

5. Prayers:
- Pray for those who still grieve after the loss of loved ones. May they seek even more after our Comforter during the holidays.
- That we may be filled with grace when we meet with those whom we disagree.
- Those dealing with loneliness and depression.
- Continue to pray for families who are separating or divorcing. Pray especially for the children who are always caught in the middle.
- For Brenda and Steve Swanson and her family at the loss of her granddaughter Isabella.
- Marilee Schut as she continues to heal from her foot surgery.
- Bill Essenberg as he is nearing the end of his cancer treatments.
- Those looking for employment and feel like they are not wanted or needed.
- The unspoken prayers of our hearts that only God knows.
- Brian and Sue Vredevoogd ask for prayers for their friend Frank who has had his cancer come back.


--
Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137

5 Things to Know This Week

Where is the line between words filled with loving grace and loving correction? I think we err on both sides too often. We remain silent when the other person is on a bad trajectory in life. Or we blast them with both barrels on how they need to change their ways. The big picture when speaking our words is that they must be loving. If the person does not know that we love and care for them, re-think saying your words of correction. But if you love and care about the other person, please don't withhold loving words of correction that might help them? So, when in doubt: speak words of love!

1. Events
- Wednesday, Dec. 3, Book Club, 6:30PM at Verdoni's. We're reading "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson.
- No Youth Ministries tonight at Calvin church.
- Saturday, Food Truck at Calvin Church, Saturday, 8:00-10:00AM. Help distribute food to those who need it.
- Sunday, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM in the Nursery.
- Sunday, Worship Service, 10:30AM!
- Sunday, Oasis Team Meeting, after worship in the Oasis room.
- Dec. 14, Annual Congregational Meeting, Sunday after worship. Copies of the proposed budget are available on the Information Table. Contact your elder if you have any questions.

2. T-Shirt Sale - The website extended our sale for one week! So, get a T-Shirt, Long Sleeve T, or Hooded sweatshirt for Christmas! The costs range from $16-$36. All proceeds go to the building fund. Go to: www.bonfirefunds.com/celebration-church-building-fund. As of today we need to sell 17 more shirts!

3. Sunday - You have probably heard it said, "Timing is everything." Have you ever thought of that when it comes to Christmas? Join us Sunday as we consider this idea in our Advent series "The Miracle of Christmas."

4. Community Survey - Remember to ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers, boss, etc. your 3 questions before Sunday! 1) What are the biggest needs in our community? 2) How are those needs presently addressed? 3) How could a church be helpful in addressing these needs? We will collect them on Sunday!

5. Prayer - Please send your prayer requests so that we may bring them before our God. The following requests are ones we know.
- For Brenda and Steve Swanson and her family at the loss of her granddaughter Isabella last week.
- That we may be filled with grace when we meet with those whom we disagree.
- Prayers for families that seem to be falling apart.
- Marilee Schut as she continues to heal from her foot surgery.
- Bill Essenberg as he is in the middle of his 2 month cancer treatments.
- Those looking for employment.
- The unspoken prayers of our hearts that only God knows.
- Those dealing with loneliness and depression.
- Continue to pray for families who are separating or divorcing. Pray especially for the children who are always caught in the middle.
- Brian and Sue Vredevoogd ask for prayers for their friend Frank who has had his cancer come back.
- Harold West gave prayers of thanks for Janet Sykes, his resident who fell and was in a coma after a lot of blood loss. She returned home this past week.
- Nate Meyer, son of Bob and Kathy, has improved enough to be moved to Mary Free Bed after his accident.
- Pray for those who still grieve after the loss of loved ones. May they seek even more after our Comforter during the holidays.
- Pray for Congregational meeting scheduled for Dec. 14. The budget will be presented and updates given on several ministries.

--
Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137

Events, Shirts, and Prayers

Does it seem odd to anyone else that we only have one day where we focus on being thankful? We set up gatherings and parties so that we can celebrate our thankfulness. We even prepare to be thankful. Maybe we have lost the big picture. It is difficult to remain thankful during the daily stress of life. Being thankful does take effort to make it a habit and Jesus hopes that we will make this habit. 1 Corinthians 5:18 says "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." May you prepare for a life filled with Thanksgiving each and every day!

1. Events
- Tonight, Youth Ministries at Calvin Church, CANCELLED due to the weather.
- Sunday, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM in the Nursery.
- Monday, Pray Muskegon! Pray for our city on the 24th!
- Tuesday, Iron Man Group, 6:30PM at church.
- Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve Service, Nov. 26 at 6:30PM.
- Dec. 1, Vision Team Meeting, 6:30PM at Ring's.
- Dec. 3, Book Club, 6:30PM at Verdoni's. We're reading "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson.

2. T-Shirt Sale - NOV 11- Dec 1 ONLY. Get a T-Shirt, Long Sleeve T, or Hooded sweatshirt for Christmas! The costs range from $16-$36. All proceeds go to the building fund. Go to:  www.bonfirefunds.com/celebration-church-building-fund. 
 As of today we have 9 shirts sold already!

3. Prayer - Take some time to pray for:
- Please pray for Jim Ring and his family with the passing of Jim's dad last week. The funeral will be held Saturday, November 22 at 10:30AM in Vicksburg, MI. The internment will be on Monday, November 24 at 1:00PM at Ever Rest Cemetery in Muskegon.
- For those dealing with unexpected money issues.
- Lakeside CRC in Ludington requests prayers as they celebrate the ordination of their Pastor Cynthia DeJong on Saturday, November 22.
- Those grieving from the loss of loved ones.
- Prayers for families that seem to be falling apart.
- Those looking for employment.
- Marilee Schut as she continues to heal from her foot surgery.
- Those dealing with loneliness and depression.
- Those feeling stressed out at work and in need of Gods hand of encouragement.
- Thanks for those who have difficulty in life but continue to say that God is good.
- Bill Essenberg as he is in the middle of his 2 months of cancer treatments.
- Celebration’s building project and closing the gap needed to begin.
- The unspoken prayers of our hearts that only God knows.


--
Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137

Celebration Midweek - Oct. 1

Here are some important items for this week:

1. Events -
- Youth Ministries, tonight, at 6:30PM at Calvin Church
- Church Classis Meeting at New Era CRC,  October 2

- Seekers Small Group, October 5, Noon

- Vision Team Meeting, October 6, 7PM
- Ironman Men's Group, October 14
- Annual Chili Cook-Off, October 26

2. Celebration Big Thanks -  WOW! Thank you all who helped in planning, set up, clean up, donations, interaction with the children, and serving in other areas. It was a great event and we look forward to next year!

3. Sunday - One of the most uncomfortable things to talk about in church is money yet Jesus spoke about money so often. What are your guardrails when it comes to your finances? (Matthew 6:33)

4. Prayers - Please take time to pray for:
- Judy Irish's Mom's surgery went fairly well Monday afternoon. They put a rod from her hip down to her knee and put in plates, pins and screws to fix her femur. There will be much therapy to follow.
- Thanks for Mitch Brink (Charlene Beck's brother) who is back to normal after he fell off a ladder and was kept overnight at the hospital last week.
- Lacey Kremmel's (Hentschel) husband who is still having serious back issues.
- Steve DuRose' mom, Joyce, who is not doing well. Her cancer is back and spreading.
- Bill Essenberg's prostate cancer has returned.
- Harold West's resident who is in a coma from falling in the kitchen, having seizures, and not being found for 3 hours. She has been upgraded to critical but it does not look good.
- Pray for all of the visitors at church Sunday. Pray that they will find a Church to call home and be involved, whether it be Celebration or someplace else.
- Duane and Paula Blohm ask for prayers for their friends: the dad is fighting substance abuse, the kids are in counseling, and the mom has filed for divorce.
- God bless Christians around the world being persecuted for living for Jesus.
- For the Classis meeting of area CRC churches on Thursday night.
- God bless Celebration and those who are impacted by it.

--
Pastor Matt Eenigenburg
Celebration Community Church
1260 W. Sherman Blvd.
Muskegon, MI 49441
www.celebrationmuskegon.org
Like us on Facebook!
(231) 571-4137