Celebration Midweek - Dec. 29

Sorry this weekly email is late.  I took some family time early this week to visit my family in Illinois.   It was great to eat all the food from "back home", laugh about the silliest things, have fun in Chicago, and go ice skating again!  I was surprised this did not turn into a race with my older brother.  Maybe we were both scared of pulling a muscle or 5!  I pray your time between the holidays will be just as pleasing for you!

1.  EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Jan. 1, New Years Day Service!

Jan. 4, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/10:30AM.
Jan. 8, Adult Sunday School will resume, 9:00AM.
Jan. 9, Council/Vision Team Meeting, 6:30PM at church
Jan. 11, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave, 6:30PM.

Jan. 11, Book Club, 6:30PM.  Meet at the Grand Traverse Pie Co. as we discuss "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin.

Jan. 24, Pray for Muskegon

Jan. 29, Muskegon Area Praise and Prayer Event, 6:00-7:30PM, at Orchard View High School.

2. SUNDAY - “The Land Between.”   Our lives are quite similar to God’s people when they left Egypt for a promised home of paradise.  Life changes has led us away from our comfort zone, what we knew as "home."  Now we are in the middle between what we knew and a new destination, a new "home."  Invite a friend to join us as we hear what God has to say about our present reality in the Land Between!  Sunday: "Leaving Town" (Exodus 3:1-10)

3. PRAYERS

Pray for families who are tired and worn out after Christmas parties.

Pray for Jackie Knight's health and her preparations to be a new mom.

Pray for Lonnie (Thelma's neighbor) who was to have heart surgery on Tuesday.

Pray for a smooth and peaceful transition of the president.
Pray that evil hate speech will stop.
Pray for the president elect that God will guide him and he will be humble enough to take good advice from his advisers.
Pray for revival in the land!

Pray for Stephen in dealing with feelings with loneliness and his journey back to you.

-- 

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

4 Days Till Christmas!

4 Days Till Christmas!  It is amazing to think of Christmas being this close again!  For some people it can't be here and gone soon enough because Christmas has become over-hyped and the true meaning has been under-emphasized.  Buying gifts is more important than receiving Jesus as the ultimate gift.  Going to Christmas parties is more important than going to the Christmas worship service.  My list goes on and on.  The biggest thing for me is how the celebration of Jesus' birth is the gift which needs to be renewed each day.  It is the joy of the believer to know how God sent Jesus to bring us peace with him.  In believing what Jesus did for us on the cross, we have new life in Jesus all year long!  Enjoy!

1.  CHRISTMAS EVENTS

• SUNDAY - Christmas morning!  Invite a friend to our Songs of Advent series where we will sing Simeon's song: "The Song of Salvation" (Luke 2:25-35).
• MITTEN TREE - Thank you all who participated in the Mitten Tree outreach this year.  e delivered the gifts to our adopted family from LoveINC this week.  They were ecstatic!
• Advent Devotions - If you are on our weekly email list, you have received a daily 2-minute Advent email to help focus you on the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Has this been helpful for you?  Send us a note to tell us.

2. EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Dec. 21, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/10:30AM.
Dec. 24, Pray for Muskegon

Dec. 25, Christmas Day Service!

Jan. 8, Adult Sunday School will resume, 9:00AM.
Jan. 11, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave, 6:30PM.
Jan. 11, Book Club, 6:30PM.  Meet at the Grand Traverse Pie Co. as we discuss "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry" by Gabrielle Zevin.

3. PRAYERS

• Jill Bennett is at Knollview for a while while she gets more physical therapy. Pray for clarity for her future living location.
• Pray for comfort and joy for family and friends of Frank Rienstra who passed last week.
• Praise God for renewed involvement by some at Celebration.  Pray for those disheartened or frustrated as well.
• Pray for those who have sad feelings due to loss of family members during the past year.  Pray for all who are reminded during the holidays of loved ones who have passed.
• Pray for Paula Blohm as she continues to search for answers to her health issues.
• Pray for flickers of hope in marriages needing your continued intervention.
• Pray for family relationships which need your healing.
• Pray for Ivy who will go to California over break to visit family.
• Pray for those experiencing financial crisis. 
• Pray for those who have lost confidence in themselves and need God's renewal in their lives.
• Pray for our Snow Birds.
• Praise God for good friends who have moved out of town and found a home church.
• Pray for Walt Jones and family at the passing of his step-dad.
• Pray for those who are lonely and feeling down without friends.
• Pray for babies growing and expectant mothers.
• Praise God for a new coat of paint on the brick columns in the Fireside Room.
• Pray for our college students.  May they follow God to where he can use them best.
• Praise God for Lynn Pluger's positive treatments of her Lymphoma.
• Pray for those who are less than energized by their present employment.
• Pray for those who are silently struggling with medical issues unknown to others.
• Praise God for a successful surgery for Charles Serene.  Pray that the rehabilitation and healing will restore a good sense of mobility for him.
• Pray for those taking trips over the holidays.  May God keep them safe.

-- 

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

Christmas Story Meets Bohemian Rhapsody

Video of the Day: Creative people are such fun!  In the video link below, a creative person merged the story of Christmas together with the well-known song "Bohemian Rhapsody."  It is very well done!  As Reformed Christians, we should always be taking parts of our culture and re-forming them for Christ.  This is only one example for us to follow.  Enjoy!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxvMkSKRWOA

1.  CHRISTMAS EVENTS

• SUNDAY - Only 2 more weeks of our Songs of Advent series! Invite a friend to worship Sunday as we sing the Angel's song: "The Song of Peace" (Luke 2:14).
• MITTEN TREE - If you took a mitten off the tree in the Worship Center, bring your gift to church this Sunday.  We will deliver the gifts to our adopted family from LoveINC this week.  Thanks for helping to give this family a great Christmas!
• Advent Devotions - If you are on our weekly email list, you have received a daily 2-minute Advent email to help focus you on the reason we celebrate Christmas.  Has this been helpful for you?  Send us a note to tell us.

2. EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Dec. 18, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM, "The Star of Bethlehem"

Dec. 21, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/10:30AM.
Dec. 21, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave, 6:30PM.
Dec. 24, Pray for Muskegon

Dec. 25, Christmas Day Service!

3. PRAYERS

• Jill Bennett is at Knollview for a while while she gets more physical therapy. Pray for clarity for her future living location.
• Pray for comfort and joy for family and friends of Frank Rienstra who passed this past week.
• Praise God for renewed involvement by some at Celebration.  Pray for those disheartened or frustrated as well.
• Pray for those who have sad feelings due to loss of family members during the past year.  Pray for all who are reminded during the holidays of loved ones who have passed.
• Pray for Paula Blohm as she continues to search for answers to her health issues.
• Praise God for students who participated in leading worship on Sunday!  It was great!
• Pray for family relationships which need your healing.
• Pray for Ivy who will go to California over break to visit family.
• Pray for those experiencing financial crisis. 
• Pray for those who have lost confidence in themselves and need God's renewal in their lives.
• Pray for our Snow Birds.
• Praise God for good friends who have moved out of town and found a home church.
• Pray for Walt Jones and family at the passing of his step-dad.
• Pray for those who are lonely and feeling down without friends.
• Pray for babies growing and expectant mothers.
• Pray for our college students.  May they follow God to where he can use them best.
• Praise God for Lynn Pluger's positive treatments of her Lymphoma.
• Pray for those who are less than energized by their present employment.
• Pray for those who are silently struggling with medical issues unknown to others.
• Praise God for a successful surgery for Charles Serene.  Pray that the rehabilitation and healing will restore a good sense of mobility for him.
• Pray for those taking trips over the holidays.  May God keep them safe.

-- 

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 - Dec. 8

Quote For The Day:  “To what will you look for help if you will not look to that which is stronger than yourself?”  (C.S. Lewis)

1.  CHRISTMAS EVENTS

• SUNDAY - It is time to begin ramping up toward Christmas! In our new Sermon series we will look at 5 famous Christmas songs.  They didn't hit the top 40 countdown but they help us celebrate Christmas! Invite a friend to worship Sunday as we sing: "Songs of Advent."  This Sunday: "Mary: The Song of Faith" (Luke 1:46-56).
• MITTEN TREE - Take a mitten off the tree in the Worship Center and buy the item listed for our adopted family from LoveINC.  We want to make sure they have a great Christmas!  Gifts need to be brought to church by the 18th.
• Christmas Cookies Sign Up - Another tradition we have is for families to sign up to bring 2 dozen on Sunday morning for church.  Sign up at the info booth for your week!
• Advent Devotions - Sometimes we need help to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas.  The busyness of the season overwhelms us.  So, each day of Advent until Christmas we will send out a 2-minute email devotion from John Piper's book "Good News of Great Joy."  We hope this will benefit you and those around you!

2. EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Dec. 11, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM
Dec. 11, Celebration Family Meeting after Church

Dec. 14, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave, 6:30PM.
Dec. 18, Fellowship Team Meeting after Church.

Dec. 21, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/10:30AM.
Dec. 24, Pray for Muskegon, all day!

Dec. 25, Christmas Day Service!

3. PRAYERS

• Walt Jones' step-dad passed away last week.  Pray for peace and safe travel as they go out for the funeral on the 10th.
• Ivy Dudgeon asks for prayers for her cousin Sue who will have heart surgery soon.
• Pray for broken relationships with little chance of reconciliation.
• Pray for Freddie Rottman and her family at the passing of her husband Jack on Sunday. Visitation will be at the Sytsema Funeral Home on Sherman on Thursday from 4-7PM. The funeral will be at Bethany CRC at 11:00AM on Friday.
• Pray for those with hurt feelings which has led to unforgiveness in their life.
• Praise God for Charles Serene's surgery on his leg which went well today.  Pray for healing and patience as he recovers and begins physical therapy soon.
• Pray for Jill Bennett who continues to deal with some mobility issues..  She suffered a setback from her attack of Transverse Meylitus a few months ago.
• Pray for strained marriages.
• Pray for our Snow Birds who have flown south for the winter.  We miss them and hope they are doing well.
• Praise God for Paula Blohm's friend Carla who received good results from her recent biopsy!
• Pray for those who are seeking employment that God would place them where they can serve him well.
• Pray for Walt Jones at the passing of his Step Dad.  He and Marcia will attend the funeral in Illinois this week.
• Praise God for good resolutions to interpersonal conflicts!
• Praise God for gifts given to others because of a deep love for God and a desire to bless others as they have been blessed!
• Pray for the Congregational meeting on Sunday.

-- 

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

Post-Thanksgiving News

1. THANKS - A big thank you to all who helped make the Thanksgiving Eve Dinner and Service a success.  Great food!  Great worship!  Great message!  Rev. Tolbert said people from New Hope were still talking about it on Sunday!  We will do this again next year!

2. CHRISTMAS EVENTS

• SUNDAY - It is time to begin ramping up toward Christmas!  Among all of the festivities, we sing Christmas carols.  In our new Sermon series we will look at 5 famous Christmas songs.  They didn't hit the top 40 countdown but they help us celebrate Christmas! Invite a friend to worship Sunday as we sing: "Songs of Advent."  This Sunday: "Zechariah: The Song of Freedom" (Luke 1:67-75).
• MITTEN TREE - Take a mitten off the tree in the Worship Center and buy the item listed for our adopted family from LoveINC.  We want to make sure they have a great Christmas!
• Christmas Cookies Sign Up - Another tradition we have is for families to sign up to bring 2 dozen on Sunday morning for church.  Sign up at the info booth for your week!

3. ADVENT DEVOTIONS - Sometimes we need help to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas.  The busyness of the season overwhelms us.  So, each day of Advent until Christmas we will send out an email devotion from John Piper's book "Good News of Great Joy."  We hope this will benefit you and those around you!

4. EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Nov. 30, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave, 6:30PM.
Dec. 4, Adult Sunday School, 9:00AM

Dec. 5, Vision Team Meeting, 6:30PM.

Dec. 7, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/10:30AM.

Dec. 7, Book Club meets at Denny's at 6:30PM.  We're reading "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr.

Dec. 11, Youth Sunday - Grades 4 and up.  Let Ed know if you want to know more.

Dec. 25, Christmas Day Service!

5. PRAYERS

• Please pray for Walt Jones and his family as his Stepfather's health is deteriorating.
• Duane Gray will have surgery on Tuesday at 10:30AM at the Michigan Pain Association to relieve pain from his hernia surgery.
• Jill Bennett is at Hackley Hospital getting rehab after a set back in her mobility. She will most likely be there for another week.
• "Pray for peace for those feeling stress this Christmas season."
• Praise God for employment, even with the stress and headaches at times.  Praise God for family who also add stress and headaches at times.
• Pray for students under-achieving at school.
• Pray for marriage plans and lives to be joined together.
• Praise God for Matthew DuRose who earned Honorable Mention at statewide orchestra competition playing his viola!  We praise God for his talent and we are very proud of him.
• Amie Anderson's cousin in Kansas passed away recently.  Pray for comfort for her and the family members.
• Pray for loved ones who are already struggling with the upcoming holidays due to loved ones who have passed away. 
• Praise God for Chloe Alexandra, the new grandchild to Brian and Sue Vredevoogd.  She was born 11/22/16 at 7:54am. 6 lb 15 oz and 19 1/2 inches.  Cassie (the mother) and Chloe are doing well.
• Pray for the ministry of Brenda Lange and her team through Orphans Unlimited in Balama Mozambique.  May God continue to bless her ministry!
• Pray for mended family relationships after Thanksgiving dinner "dramas".
• Reyes Hinajosa praises God for his mother’s improved health.  She is home now and doing much better.
• Terry Lacy also asks for the safe return of their dog Candy who ran away recently and who has not returned.
• Pray for those in the middle of the adoption process.
• Pray for Carla (a friend of Paula Blohm) who fought throat cancer a few years ago but now has another spot in her throat.  She will have a biopsy this week. 
• Paula Blohm is having back pain which makes it very difficult to walk.

--

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

Pre-Thanksgiving News

Quote For the Day: “I have attended church regularly since I was less than a week old. I've listened to sermons about virtue, sermons against vice. I have heard about money, time management, tithing, abstinence, and generosity. I've listened to thousands of sermons. But I could count on one hand the number of sermons that were a simple proclamation of the gospel of Christ.” ― Rich Mullins  (Let's keep this season about Christ!)

1. THANKSGIVING EVE MEAL & SERVICE, TONIGHT - Help us welcome New Hope Baptist Church as our guests with a meal and worship tonight, Thanksgiving Eve.  The potluck dinner starts at 6:00PM and the experiential worship at 7:00PM.  Bring a main dish, salad, or dessert.  This will be a great event for children too!

2. SUNDAY - It is time to begin ramping up toward Christmas!  Among all of the festivities, we sing Christmas carols.  In our new Sermon series we will look at 5 famous Christmas songs.  They didn't hit the top 40 countdown but they help us celebrate Christmas! Invite a friend to worship Sunday as we sing "Songs of Advent."  This Sunday: "Isaiah: The Song of Return" (Isaiah 11:10-16; Luke 16:11-31)

3. ADVENT DEVOTIONS - Sometimes we need help to focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas.  The busyness of the season overwhelms us.  So, each day of Advent until Christmas we will send out an email devotion from John Piper's book "Good News of Great Joy."  We hope this will benefit you and those around you!

4. EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Nov. 23, Thanksgiving Eve Service, Dinner at 6:00PM, Service at 7:00PM.

Nov. 24, Pray for Muskegon  (Contact Pastor Matt for a Prayer Guide)

Nov. 27, No Adult Sunday School

Nov. 27, Advent Begins: "The Songs of Advent"

Nov. 30, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave, 6:30PM.

Dec. 7, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/11:00AM.

Dec. 7, Book Club meets at Denny's at 6:30PM.  We're reading "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr.

Dec. 11, Youth Sunday - Grades 4 and up.  Let Ed know if you want to know more.

Dec. 25, Christmas Day service!  (Hopefully this helps in your holiday planning.)

5. PRAYERS

• Remember to pray for Muskegon on Thursday the 24th.

• Amie Anderson's cousin in Kansas passed away this week.  Pray for comfort for her and the family members and safe travel.
• Pray for loved ones who are already struggling with the upcoming holidays due to loved ones who have passed away. 
• Praise God for Chloe Alexandra, the new grandchild to Brian and Sue Vredevoogd.  She was born 11/22/16 at 7:54am. 6 lb 15 oz and 19 1/2 inches.  Cassie (the mother) and Chloe are doing well.
• Pray for Jackie Knight in her move to Nevada on Wednesday.  Pray everything goes well with her pregnancy too.
• "Pray for loved ones to see the light in the darkness."
• Pray for those who feel lots of stress over the holidays.
• Praise God Reyes Hinajosa's mom was in ICU but was released the next morning!
• Pray for Duane Gray who will have outpatient surgery on Nov. 29.
• Pray for the Thanksgiving Eve event on Wednesday.  May we be gracious hosts and may God be praised in all we do.
• Pray for our outgoing and incoming governmental leaders.  Also pray for peace in our streets.
• Pray for those putting in long hours over the holidays.
• Pray for good get-togethers and holiday parties.
• Pray for those who are struggling to make ends meet.

--

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 - Nov. 16

1. THANKSGIVING EVE MEAL & SERVICE, Nov. 23 - Help us welcome New Hope Baptist Church as our guests with a meal and worship on Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve.  The potluck dinner starts at 6:00PM and the experiential worship at 7:00PM.  SIGN UP at PerfectPotluck.com to bring a main dish, salad, or dessert.  This helps us better coordinate the dinner.  http://www.perfectpotluck.com/meals.php?t=SELU3013

2. STUDENTS - Wednesday from 6:30-8:00PM at Calvin Church on Norton Ave!  Little Peeps (4yrs-1st grade) - Lesson:"God's Messenger--Jonah"; 

GEMS (Girls 2nd-5th grade) Lesson: "Chain Reaction! (John 13: 14-15) and Craft; 

Cadets (Boys 2nd-5th grade) - Lego Night; 

Middle school - Lesson: "The Truthfulness of God". 

High School students meets on Sunday from 6:00-8:30PM at Calvin Church.  Contact Pastor Matt for more info.

3. SUNDAY - Invite a friend to worship Sunday as we continue our Sermon series: "Things Jesus NEVER Said."  This Sunday: "Poor People Don't Count" (Mark 14:7; Deuteronomy 15:11)

4. EVENTS TO REMEMBER

Nov. 16, Baby Basics/Women's Bible Study, 10:00/11:00AM.

Nov. 16, Student Ministries at Calvin Church on Norton Ave.

Nov. 23, Thanksgiving Eve Service, Dinner at 6:00PM, Service at 7:00PM.

Nov. 24, Pray for Muskegon

Nov. 27, Advent Begins: "The Songs of Advent"

Dec. 7, Book Club meets at Denny's at 6:30PM.  We're reading "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr.

5. PRAYERS

We included a prayer guide which should be useful on Thursday the 24th, our day of praying for Muskegon.

• Praise God for renewed family relationships.
• Pray for the Thanksgiving Eve dinner and service.
• Pray for Brenda Doctor's cousin and family at the death of her cousin Debbie.  Funeral arrangements are still being set.
• Pray for those who care with loved ones in nursing homes.
• Deb Mart asks for prayers for her sisters neighbor and close friend. He had a kidney removed in early spring and they thought it was contained in the kidney. But there are now tumors where the kidney was. His wife is now legally blind from a degenerative disease and is even more scared because of this.
• Kim Rhodes is going back to work next week (and she is ready) after recuperating from her surgery!
• Thank God for our children. They are a blessing!
• Lilia DuRose reports that her mother, her niece Sasha and her children are doing well.  
• Lilia DuRose has lost her voice and we pray that she will be able to talk again soon.
• Reyes Hinajosa’s mother still needs prayers.  She is in good spirits though.  She has a doctor appointment on Wednesday.  
• Patti requests prayer for healing for a very hurtful situation.  
• Praise God for the LoveINC successful Play to Learn program.
• Pray for those who are angry about the outcome of the presidential election, and the families that are being torn apart because of it.
• Praise God for the progress Paula Blohm is making in physical therapy. "I thank God that I am able to walk better!"
• Duane Blohm is having surgery on his knee this Thursday.  Please pray for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
• Pray for the peaceful transition of power since the election.
• Pray for our leaders.  Commit to pray for them every day.
• Pray for Hal Hester, Eddie Anderson's son, at the loss of his father-in-law last week.
• Pray for our children who do not know Jesus.  
• Pray for the Forest Park Covenant Church community at the unexpected death of a member.  It was a difficult loss.
• Pray for Patti Lacy's friend Gerald who is scheduled for an amputation above his knee on Thursday to stem the spread of cancer in his leg.

--

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