Spring Calvin Caller 2024
I Just Need You…
I stink at prayer.
I do.
Sometimes I get distracted by a kid or a phone call or the dog or a text and forget to come back to it at all.
Sometimes I fall asleep.
Sometimes I’m not sure what to say, and I feel like I’m just going through the laundry list.
The ‘I’m grateful for’-s.
The ‘Forgive me for’-s.
The ‘I’m praying for’-s.
(followed by all the ideas I have for how things should go)
I don’t know why it’s so hard for me. I go regularly to church. I read Scripture. I read lots of faith-based books, too. But most of the time I still wonder if I’m doing it right. Is this the way???
As I’ve worked harder at my prayer life, I started doing this weird little imagery trick in my head.
I imagine as I pray that I’ve climbed onto Jesus’ lap. That He’s holding me there like a child. And as I stumble through the words, He keeps His arms wrapped around me and I rest my head on His shoulder. Somehow it makes me feel more connected even if I still struggle with what exactly to say.
Then a few years ago when my daughter was small, it came to me…
One night after her bath and jammies, she walked over with her arms held high. “Momma, I just need you.”
I think she was cold. So, I wrapped her in my arms and held her for a while on the rocker. No talking or songs or books. Just a mom holding her baby girl. Rocking and patting her back. Noticing the soft squishy warmness of her little body. Leaning in for a good long whiff of her freshly washed hair. Loving her down to the last little drop.
Because she needed me to.
And somewhere in that perfect moment it occurred to me…THIS is the phrase I’ve been looking for. Jesus, I just need you.
Because the truth is, He already knows. He knows ME. He knows every single detail. He knows about my joys and sorrows. He sees me in my sins. He already knows the desires of my heart. He loves me right down to the last little drop.
I don’t need to pray with fancy words or formal prayers or perfect posturing.
I simply need Him.
So, every time I stumble over the words or I’m too exhausted to keep my eyes open or I’m distracted by the crazy chaos of the day…
I can simply stop and say, Jesus, I just need you.
Taken from Servant Hearted Sisterhood FB page.
By Mikala Albertson, MD
Song Spotlight – “Near the Cross”
Jesus, keep me near the Cross,
there’s a precious fountain,
free to all a healing stream,
flows from Calvary’s mountain.
In the Cross, in the Cross,
be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river.
We’ve been ending services with Fanny Crosby’s beautiful hymn “Near the Cross” throughout Lent. Crosby was blind since infancy, yet her words paint vivid images of the hope and peace found at the cross (e.g. the “healing stream” (v1), to the “bright and morning star” (v2)). Crosby’s lyrics remind us of the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice at the cross and though an instrument of suffering, offers solace, forgiveness, and hope.
“Near the Cross” is a great example of Fanny Crosby’s signature style: simple language with deep theological meaning, a recipe for a great hymn (others you may know: “Blessed Assurance,” “To God Be the Glory”). I think this is why old hymns continue to resonate with us today.
As we reflect on the Lenten season, let “Near the Cross” remind us of the hope and comfort found in Christ’s sacrifice.
If you have a song suggestion, please reach out to me!
~ Craig Folger, Worship Director
From the Deacons…
As Deacons, one of our responsibilities include “encouraging church members to be stewards of God’s creation and to practice authentic stewardship with their time, talents, and money.” (This quote comes from the crcna.org website.) In connection with that responsibility, we prepare an Offering of the Day schedule to support ministries within our church, community & denomination. During our monthly meetings, we review the different funds and the Offering of the Day schedule to ensure that any needs are being met. Below are the various funds supported at Calvin. Included is the balance of each fund as of January 31, 2024, and the average gifts/offerings & expenses.
These images are available in the printed copies at church or in your email…
- The Christian Education Fund is not shown above as everything that we receive for that fund is paid to MCS & WMCHS quarterly and the amounts are reflected on the Monthly Giving Statements that the Finance Committee prepares & distributes.
- The Blessing Fund came into existence during the time of Covid. We received gifts to be used specifically to bless members of the congregation who may have felt lonely and isolated during that time or to bless those who were working diligently through a rough time. Now, it is used to bless those who work extra to support different ministry efforts.
- The Van & Sanctuary/Narthex Fund have specific purposes and do not show a 3-year average as those are not ongoing ministries that are included in the Offering of the Day schedule.
- Some funds do receive gifts and/or offerings throughout the year from individuals and members who want to support a specific ministry. Also, sometimes a memorial gift is received for a specific ministry.
- The Household Pantry Ministry has ongoing expenses as many in our community are struggling and the need is great.
- The Mobile Food Pantry Ministry has shifted/changed since Covid. We no longer provide breakfast to those coming for the food pantry and Feeding America offers financial assistance to ensure we can support twelve food trucks each year.
- The Safe Baby-Crib Ministry has gotten referrals from Love, INC in the past. Those referrals have decreased, and we are now also working with Muskegon Pregnancy Services, Family Promise on the Lakeshore, and the Muskegon Rescue Mission to support any crib needs within our community.
If anyone has any questions/concerns about any of the funds and how they are used, please contact any Deacon. If there is an organization that you would like us to consider for the Offering of the Day on Sunday mornings, we would love any suggestions. We ask that the organization be a registered non-profit Christian organization and have a need for additional funds. As always, the Deacons are thankful and grateful for your support to our various ministry needs here at Calvin Church. Thank you!
~ Barb Hoffman, Deacon Chair
Faithful Family Verse of the Month…
We use a designated verse(s) in some way during worship on a monthly basis. Our hope is that this verse(s) will go home with you and be in your heart and mind during each month. You will find our monthly verse used in various ways during the month. You can find this focus verse in the bulletin, on Facebook, and on our website. Let’s keep digging into God’s Word together.
Hearts & Hands…
God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessings. 1 Peter 4:10
We would like to thank all of you who provide financial support and who participate in helping us to carry out the various functions of the Hearts & Hands Ministry. Some of these include meals for those in need, prayer quilts, cards, baby baskets for newborns, gift baskets, and home visits. All these things could not be done without your help!
We are grateful for members of Hearts & Hands who have agreed to accept new positions of leadership in various areas of our ministry:
♥ Baby Basket Ministry: Mary Lane with the assistance of Courtney Kingshott
♥ Thankful for You Ministry: Ellen Rop
♥ Sandwich Platter Ministry: Ellen Rop with the assistance of Mary Lane and Jan VanHouten
♥ Newlywed Devotional Ministry: Jeanne Maycroft and Courtney Kingshott
A big thank you to Joyce Borgman for her many years of service with the Baby Basket Ministry. Her exceptional skill and creativity in putting together beautiful gift baskets for new babies has been much enjoyed and appreciated by many of our church families.
A special thank you also to Sherry Wilson who made a beautiful quilt which was given to Joyce in recognition and appreciation for her work in this ministry!
The following donations from the Pickleball Fund were approved in January and February:
♥ Calvin Household Pantry
♥ Muskegon Rescue Mission (Easter meals)
♥ Salvation Army (Easter meals)
Easter baskets for our Special Friends (homebound) are available in the narthex again this year. We hope that you will join with us in filling these baskets with goodies that will help bring joy to our Special Friends. They not only enjoy the treats, but they love being reminded that we remember and care about them
Hearts & Hands meets on the second Monday of the month. Our next meeting will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024 at 1:00 PM in the Fireside Room. We always welcome new members and hope that you will plan to join us.
~ Antje Waldo, Secretary
Friendship Ministry…
As of this writing, Friendship will have participated in the morning worship service. It is always so much fun to see the joy of the spirit in our friends. What a blessing this past year has been studying the Fruit of the Spirit. Our topic for study next year has not been determined, but we know God will bless us!
This year has been particularly challenging for us as we experienced the deaths of two of our participants that had been members of Friendship for many years. Both Scott and Ron A. were residents of the Joseph’s House, the adult foster care home associated with Forest Park Covenant Church. Their absence is felt greatly at their House, but in the empty chairs at our tables as well. We covet your prayers as we as a group mourn these two special men.
Friendship will be over for our season at the end of April and will resume in October after a summer picnic. If you are interested in joining us in a great ministry that will make your smile hurt, just let me know. You’ll find me in the directory!
~ Jan Weiden, Friendship Steering Committee Chair
The Church Library now has Puzzles…
There are many excellent books to borrow in our Church Library which you may like to take home and enjoy. The Church Library is located in the Fireside Room.
Puzzles have been added to the Church Library! Feel free to share and swap your puzzles. Check them out in the Fireside Room. There is also a puzzle started that you could help piece together.
~ Lois Veenstra, Library ~ Jeanne Maycroft, Puzzles
Family Promise
Family Promise continues to provide housing and life skills training to homeless families in our community. Recently, Family Promise was also awarded a “Prevention Grant” that is being used to cover emergency expenses such as medical or employment related costs that would otherwise cause a family to be unable to pay the rent and lose their housing. This “ounce of prevention” approach is a huge blessing as families can avoid disruption or possible homelessness.
John, Josie, and Kristy (not their real names) are a sibling group ranging in age from 12 years old to 15 years old. All of the children have expressed to staff how grateful they are that Family Promise makes it easy for them to participate in school and volunteer activities. This is a barrier at most shelters, as strict policies around curfews and bed availability make it difficult for children to be out after school, and for parents to be able to pick them up after their evening activities. They were all surprised that Family Promise allowed them to participate in evening activities, and even helped them arrange volunteer opportunities when they wanted to get more involved in the community.
♥ John is 15 and taking college prep classes in high school. His favorite subject is Geometry Construction, a class for which he is earning college credits while still in high school. John is a straight “A” student who enjoys being involved with his church’s youth group. He also actively volunteers with his church. He is planning to go to tech school after graduation and hopes to establish a career working on Computers.
♥ Josie is 13 and a straight “A” student that loves History. She is also studying Spanish and is in her 2nd year. She plans to continue to study Spanish all 4 years of high school. Josie is very active in her school’s Agriculture Club and is working with Hackley Library to establish a youth program at the library.
♥ Kristy is 12 and very interested in Art. Like her sister, Kristy is active in her school’s Agriculture Club. She also volunteers her time at the Muskegon Art Museum. Recently Kristy had 3 pieces of her art featured at the High School Art Show.
♥ Their parents have expressed their gratitude that Family Promise is structured in a way that allows their whole family to remain together and that their children have as little disruption to their lives as they do even while staying in a shelter. They feel this has allowed their children to continue to thrive in what is one of their families most stressful periods.
We are grateful for the support Calvin Church continues to provide for this vital ministry with both offerings and meals that are coordinated by our Church Coordinators, Jan VanHouten and Lucile Hackett. When Covid made it impossible for area churches to have families stay in churches overnight, families had to remain at the Day Center. This change has made it necessary for Family Promise to hire additional staff to work through the evening and night. If you are able to help with the cost of the additional staff, please send a check to Family Promise, 2160 Crozier Ave. Muskegon, MI 49441.
~ Bonnie and Carl Bergman, Family Promise Board Members
Directory Update…
- Have you updated your family photo recently? If your answer is yes, we would like to include it in our Online Directory! Please take a moment to email it to Vickie in the office at vickie.curtis@calvin-crc.org. I encourage you to see the directory as a living document, reflecting our congregation’s dynamic nature.
- The Online Church Directory is very user friendly! Call, text or send an email right from the app on your smartphone. All info is updated regularly. Download the app and get started today! Call the office or stop in if you need instructions.