6 Things to Know This Week

The theologian Karl Barth was once asked by a student to summarize the most important points of all of his writings.  He said, "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so."  Of all the things that he could think of Barth points out the fact that knowing that Jesus loves him is the most important point that a person can glean from all of his theology books.  

It sounds so simple that we might dismiss it too quickly.  How unnatural is it that Jesus loves us despite knowing exactly who we really are?  Doesn't he have any taste?  Where are his standards?  In all of our brokenness, dysfunction, betrayal, and selfishness, Jesus says, "I still love you! Do you know that?  I-Love-You!"

May you grab hold of God's unimaginable grace that has grabbed hold of us. Remember that Jesus loves you.

1. Noteworthy Events

- FRIDAY - Pray for Muskegon - Take time on this Friday to lift up in prayer to our God the needs in our community, church, county, state, nation, and world.  Remember that your prayers matter!

- SUNDAY - The Next Steps Class meets at church after worship.  Get a clearer look at Celebration and what your next steps may be here.  We will have lunch first in the Oasis room.  Contact Pastor Matt if you would like to attend.

- SUNDAY, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM in the Nursery.  Join us as we journey through Corinth.

- SUNDAY - The Seekers Small Group meets in the Oasis Room after worship.

- May 3 - "Caring For Aging Parents" - Join us on Sunday at 9:00AM for this special Adult Sunday School class.
- May 9 - Saturday in the Park, Noon-5:00PM - This event in McGraft Park links together area churches and non-profit organizations with the goal of meeting the many needs of our community.  Our Praise Band will play and we will hand out ice cream and cookies!  Doesn't that sound awesome?

2.  Youth Ministries

- TONIGHT, Youth Ministries at Calvin Church, 6:30-8:00PM - (ages 4 years to 8th grade)  Little Peeps =  Lesson "Going Home"; GEMS = Lesson: "Change of Heart", Craft: Earth Day Craft!; Cadets = Oriole Bird Feeder; Middle School = Lesson "Is the Old Testament More Important than the New Testament?"; 

- SUNDAY, High School Youth Group at Calvin Church, 6:00-8:00PM.  Starts with dinner!

- May 15, Paintball at Grace Adventures.  Contact Brian Kingshot for more info.

3. Sunday - How many times have you read something that Jesus said only to respond with, "Wow, that is hard to do!  How am I ever going to follow that command?"  With that in mind, we start our next series on Sunday, "Things I Wish Jesus Never Said."  (Matthew 7:1-5)

4. Glenside Community News

- Dumpster Day - Saturday, May 16, 8am - 12 noon.  Dump your junk for free in the city dumpsters lined up near the entrance to McGraft Park. No yard waste or hazardous waste, please! Be prepared to show your driver's license as proof of residency.

- Glenside Yard Sale - Saturday, June 6.  Every year for the last 20 years, over 60 homes participate in this event that draws hundreds of shoppers to Glenside.  Contact Pastor Matt to see how you can help!  

5. BOOKS! - Sunday is the last day to pick up the extra library books off the table in the entryway.  Check out other books in our library too!

6. Prayers  

- Brian and Sue Vredevoogd asked for prayers for their friend Frank whose cancer has returned.  They ask for God's wisdom for Frank and his family as they deal the road ahead.

- Pray for friends who battle mental illness.

- Duane Gray continues to have tests done on his eye and thyroid gland.

- Congratulations to Cody and Morgan Evans at the birth of Michael Grady Evans on Saturday.  He is 6lbs,15 oz, 19.5 inches. 

- Pray for healing within family relationships, for some a little at a time.  We celebrate the baby steps towards renewal.

- Pray for those who are worn out and broken.  May God be their strength and also give them strength.

- Pray for wounded hearts that God would bring healing.

- Pray for the many people who have lost loved ones this year.  May the grief and pain not linger long and become less intense as the days go by.

- Pray for Jim Espinoza as he has hand surgery planned for April 27.

- Pray for Patti Lacy who has been cleared for knee surgery on May 5.

- Praise God for all of the blessings he gives you every day.  

- Pray for our guests the past few weeks.  May God help them along their journey to grow closer to him and to his people.

- Pray for Harold West's friend who has stage 2 pancreatic cancer
- Pray for the unspoken issues in our lives that we need God's guidance and direction to resolve.
- Pray for Celebration's construction project.

- Bob Jackson gives thanks to God for all of the ex-offenders who have been placed in jobs to start a new lease on life.

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