Sharing with Steve
This year we are focused on the book, Believe, editor Randy Frazee. This is a follow-up to his book, The Story. The book covers three areas: thinking, acting, and being like Jesus. We have just finished the first ten chapters. It has been an interesting journey so far. We have been challenged in our thinking. We have been challenged to understand what we believe and why we believe.
We will soon be starting the next section of the book. This section of ten chapters deals with “What Should I do?” These chapters look at actions involved in our Christian life. We will be looking at worship and prayer. We will be examining Bible study and single-mindedness. We will talk about total surrender and the Biblical community. We will examine spiritual gifts and the offering of our time in service. We will conclude by looking at the use of our resources and sharing our faith. We will be starting this section of the book on Sunday, May 6. We still have a few book available for $5 in the office. And continue to keep this effort in your prayers.
The last three Sundays in April we will be focusing on our faith promise program. We will have a guest speaker on Sunday, April 22. Matt Love from Lake James Christian Camp will be here to share about the camp during the Sunday School hour and then preach during the morning service. Meadowbrook has a unique missions program. We fund missions two different ways. Part of our annual church budget goes to missions. We also have a yearly faith promise rally where we seek yearly pledges. This pledge is to be above and beyond your normal giving. When you add the faith promise giving and the general fund, missions Meadowbrook gives over twenty percent of its total giving to missions. God has blessed us and our people have been faithful to return part of these blessings to help support missions all over the world. I want to thank our missions committee for their good work and also the people for their faithfulness.
Meadowbrook Missions – Lake James Christian Camp and Retreat Center
The mission focus for our annual Faith Promise Rally is Lake James Christian Camp and Retreat Center.
Lake James Christian Camp and Retreat Center is a ministry that, for over 75 years, has sought to glorify God through Christian camping.
The camp is located in Angola, Indiana, about a 3½ hour drive from Meadowbrook. It sits on the southern shore of Lake James, a beautiful setting in all seasons. The site of the camp has a very interesting history. In the early 1900s, a large resort with a reputation for partying occupied the area. In 1928, a group of Christian men from a local church purchased the property. Youth camp activities were first held in 1930.
Besides the summer youth program, the camp offers many other programs for youth, adults and families. The facilities are used twelve months a year. From September through May two retreat facilities are available for church groups to schedule their own programs.
Matt Love is the Executive Director at LJCA. Matt grew up as the son of a camp director, and he has served in full-time camp ministry for 16 years. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been married for 19 years, and have 6 children. Matt and his family will be visiting with us on Sunday, April 22nd. During the Bible School hour, Matt will have a presentation about Lake James, and he will be bringing the message during Morning Worship.
The project for this year’s Faith Promise Rally is raising funds to help renovate the Fireplace Room at Lake James. More details about this project will be shared in the coming weeks.
Faith Promise Missions Rally 2018 Coming in April
Focus on Lake James Christian Camp and Retreat Center
Here’s what’s happening:
Sunday, April 15 Worship Service
“What is Faith Promise,” Cindy Gerstenlauer, Chair Missions Committee, will explain our Faith Promise Missions Program. Detailed brochures will be handed out. Mike Tingley will introduce Lake James Christian Camp & Retreat Center & explain the mission project for this year.
Sunday, April 22
Sunday School Hour: Matt Love, Executive Director, Lake James Christian Camp & Retreat Center will present information about the work of the camp in the Auditorium. Sunday school classes from youth to adult will meet in the Auditorium,
Worship Service Matt Love will bring the sermon message.
Sunday, April 29
Worship Service: Steve Martin will present a mission-focused sermon.
Potluck following Worship Service. A sign-up sheet is posted in the foyer just to let us know how many to expect. Everyone please bring a main dish and if your last name begins with A-M, also a salad or vegetable; N-Z a dessert. You don’t need to identify what you’re bringing. Singles only need to bring one dish.
Sunday, May 6
Faith Promise Commitment Cards due. Please drop your card into the offering plate.
Mission Project
Renovation of fireplace room in dining hall. Needed is a new ceiling, flooring and lighting. Sixty-two, 5×5 grid ceiling tiles with rails at $25 each are needed. Eight light fixtures at $55 are needed. This comes close to a total of $2000. It would be wonderful if our congregation would be able to help out the camp in this way!
FAITH PROMISE MISSIONS RALLY POTLUCK
On April 29th, we will have a potluck following Worship Service as part of our Faith Promise Missions Rally . A sign-up sheet is posted in the foyer just to let us know how many to expect. Everyone please bring a main dish and if your last name begins with A-M, also a salad or vegetable; N-Z a dessert. You don’t need to identify what you’re bringing. Singles only need to bring one dish.
NEW LIFE GROUP
LIFE Groups at Meadowbrook are small groups that meet at a member’s home every other week to study from God’s Word, pray together, and enjoy rich fellowship (and food). The small group setting allows for a more informal time of learning about God and His Word. If you are interested in joining a LIFE Group, please add your name to the list in the foyer and indicate the day(s) that you would be available. If you have any questions about LIFE Groups, please talk to Steve or one of the elders, or talk to a current LIFE Group member. They will be glad to share what LIFE Group means to them!
LAWNMOWERS NEEDED
Spring is in the air, and it is not too early to begin planning to help with the lawn mowing at Meadowbrook Christian Church. We need men and women to volunteer to help our mowing teams. We need at least four teams of three to four people each. Four teams will mean that you only will mow once a month during the cutting months. If you can help or need more information please see Dan Bright. Thank you in advance for helping out this way and keeping our church in great shape.
Sister in Service’s last meeting of the season is in April
SIS will be meeting on Monday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. (That’s the 4th Monday in April). The ladies will start with a Salad Supper pot luck. Afterwards President Lynn Ross will review the 2017-18 season and open the floor for discussion to plan the next season. All ladies are invited to attend for good food, devotion and fellowship.
Annual Ladies Luncheon Coming in May
Put May 19 on your calendar, ladies, for our annual luncheon at Rivercrest Banquet Center in Rochester Hills beginning at 11:30 a.m. Guest speaker, Nelle Cooper, will entertain us with a story about:
Your Value, Your Offering, Your Legacy = Your Best.
The cost is $23.00 per person and can be paid to Cathy Podvin along with a reservation form. Checks should be made payable to Meadowbrook Christian Church. Contact Cathy at 248-884-3279 or cathypodvin28@gmail.com if you have questions. Please make your reservation by May 6.
Donate Peanut Butter to God’s Helping Hands
In our continued partnership with God’s Helping Hands to help the needy, we will once again be collecting peanut butter during the month of April. They indicated that last year’s peanut butter drive was extremely helpful and would appreciate the same this year. Over the next month, please bring jars of peanut butter for collection to give to God’s Helping Hands. Please put your donation of peanut butter on the designated table in the foyer.
“God blesses us so that we might bless others.”
SPIRITUAL GIFTS REMINDER
Our spiritual gifts link is up and running. We want to encourage you to take the test if you have not taken it yet. We would like all members and faithful attenders to take this test. This is a measure of those areas where you are best suited for service in God’s Kingdom. Though this is a man-made test, it gives a reliable scale to look at and see where your giftedness is. Please go to our website at www.mccrochester.org and click on the adult ministry page. Click on the spiritual test link and follow the instructions. Your results will be sent to the Meadowbrook’s results page. The leadership will then use this information to help and encourage the ministry at Meadowbrook. If you have any questions please see Steve or one of the elders.
CYCLE THE CAMPUS
The annual Cycle the Campus fund raiser will take place on Saturday, June 2, at Midland. Registration is now open by going to www.cyclethecampus.org. There is a 25-mile ride and a 50-mile ride. Team Meadowbrook will, again, be a part of this effort. The goal is to raise $60,000 for His House Christian Fellowship. Meadowbrook has raised over $4,000 each of the past several years. If you have any questions please see Steve Martin, Tom Schwartzenberger, or Ron Meegan.
Jack Reese – April 3
Laura Hoover – April 9
Theresa Meegan – April 12
Denis Couture – April 14
Ed Parrett – April 16
Sylus Cox – April 17
Traci Thomas – April 22
Ruth Lindhagen – April 25
Brian Hoover – April 26
Laura Urteaga – April 28
Bill & Patti Bradford (Ann.) – April 28
Nicholas Kapusta – April 30
Norm & Kathi Tope (Ann.) – April 30
