FAITHNews
The Newsletter of Faith United Church of God
www.faithunitedcog.org
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September 2015
Kids Hope USA
Youth News
Our children are returning to Alpine Elementary for the
2015-2016 school year and could use your help in the
following ways:
 As a Mentor-giving one hour per week to one
lonely child.
 As a Prayer Partner to support our Mentors.
 As a KH Projects person to help with Special
Events.
 As a KH Donor of school supplies, such as
paper, crayons, markers, pencils or any other
items that you can share.
For additional information, please contact your Kids
Hope Director, Judy Kerwin
Time: 10:30 - 11:00 AM
Ages: 4 thru completion of the 3rd grade
Children's Church will be offered at 10:30 AM on our
Lower Level on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays of each
month. Each week we will be doing hands-on worship
where kids encounter God, so we always encourage your
children to attend!
Children's Church Volunteers:
September 6 = No Children's Church
September 13 = Lisa McDaniel
September 20 = Carol Cutter
September 27 = Wendy Shick
SUNDAY NIGHT FUSION SEPTEMBER 13, 20 & 27
Attention Youth and Parents!
Sunday Night Fusion in September will be meeting at
Faith United Church of God from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.
Remember to bring your friends!
Due to Labor Day Weekend, we will NOT have
Sunday Night Fusion on Sunday, September 6th.
Questions? Please contact Pastor Miranda at (231)
349-4106, or fusionfamilyym@gmail.com.
Inter generational Sunday School, September 13
The kick-off for Fall Sunday School at Faith United will
be held on Sunday, September 13th. We are planning to
have an Inter generational Sunday School where
everyone is invited to the Fellowship Hall for
refreshments and a time of fun activities and good
fellowship! We would love for the whole family to get
involved! (more information can be found in the Rally
Day article).
School Supplies
With school starting this month, Alpine Elementary
would appreciate donated supplies, such as paper,
pencils, twistable crayons, magic markers, safety
scissors and anything else that you’d care to place in the
Narthex box marked “School Supplies”. Thank you for
your continued support!
Volunteers, if you are unable to be here on the date
that you are scheduled, please contact Lisa McDaniel.
Our Mission Statement
“Love God, Grow together in Christ, Serve others”
Feeding America, September 8
Please put the following dates on your calendar for
2015: September 8, October 13, November 10, and
December 8.
The Service Board has scheduled these dates for a
food truck to be at Faith United, and volunteers are
needed from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. If you are not able to
arrive at 4:00 pm, then come as soon as you can. The
truck arrives at 4:30 pm and customers are serviced from
5:00 to 6:00 pm or until the food is gone.
If you know of anyone who needs assistance with
food, please share with them the dates and times above.
A sign-up sheet will be available on the table in the
narthex.
Grief Support, September 19
On Saturday, September 19th, Faith United will host the
semi-annual “Growth Through Loss Seminar” from 9
am to 2 pm. This is a one day program sponsored by the
Widowed Persons Service of Greater Grand Rapids and
is designed for men or women who have been widowed
for less than 2 years, but also for any widowed person
who feels it will help in their grief journey. The cost is
$25 per person and includes lunch. If you would like
more information on this or any other grief issues,
please feel free to contact me in person, by phone or
email. –Your Parish Nurse, Judy Kerwin RN.
Hydration Station/Bike if You Like
Saturday, September 19
How would you like to enjoy a bicycle ride with your
family or friends? Or maybe you’re not a rider, but
would like to serve those who are. Your Service Board
is sponsoring this event where you can do either or both.
We will have a hydration station set up at the staging
area for the White Pine Trail in Belmont, for use by
anyone riding the trail. We’ll have cold or hot
beverages, depending on the weather. The staging area
is located just north of Rogue River Drive, where the
trail crosses Belmont Ave. We’ll set up at 11:00, and be
there until 2:00, or until the drinks run out. Please feel
free to bring your bikes and ride. Invite your friends to
join you, load the family in the car, or bike there if you
like! Or bring cold beverages to share with bikers
passing by.
Women's Day, September 20
Ladies, you are cordially invited to join New Covenant
Community Church of God in worship for our annual
Women's Day program on Sunday, September 20, 2015
beginning at 10:30 am. Our speaker will be Reverend
Sheila Granger of Joseph Campau Avenue Church of
God in Detroit. Our theme is: Lessons from Women in
the Lineage of Grace. Refreshments will be served
immediately following the worship service. If you plan
to attend, please RSVP to Mary Terry at 616-281-1780
by September 14, 2015.
New Covenant Community Church of God is located
at 5160 Breton Avenue SE, Kentwood, MI 49508.
Readers Anonymous, September 21
Faith United Ladies Readers Anonymous will be
meeting at the home of Erika Irving on Monday,
September 21, 2015 at 6:00 PM. Erika recently moved,
so please check for her new address in the newly
published church phone directory.
Next month’s meeting will be held on Monday,
October 19, 2015 at 6:00 PM at the same location.
You’re welcome to join us!
Northwest Food Pantry
For the month of September, we are collecting a variety
of canned meats, dish soap, laundry soap, and
toothpaste.
All personal items are needed as we will no longer
be purchasing these items.
Thank you for your support of the NWFP!
Thank you Notes!
Dear Church family,
Having all of you in my life to support me makes me
realize how incredibly blessed I am. Thank you all so
much for your gifts and love.
Andy Stevens
Dear Faith United Church family,
Thank you so much for your expressions of sympathy on
the loss of Keith's mother, Ruth Irving.
Your kind words, cards and beautiful peace plant are
very appreciated.
Keith & Mary Irving
To our friends and family at Faith United,
Your prayers, cards and kind expressions of sympathy
have been so helpful to us with the passing of our mom
and grandma, Ruth Irving.
The beautiful plant you sent to the service is a daily
reminder of your care and concern and we thank you for
ministering to us at this difficult time.
With Love, Jeff & Erika Irving & family
Opportunity!
Sunday School, Youth and Adult Classes
We are conducting a survey to find out how who in our
church family is certified in CPR. If you are not, but would
be interested in a possible training program to be
coordinated here at Faith United, please contact Terry or
Judy Kerwin at your earliest convenience. Thank you!
Volunteers Needed!
Do you enjoy a cup of coffee? We are in need of volunteers
to participate in a rotating monthly schedule. Job
description: to make coffee, setup items on the coffee cart,
etc., so it will be available in the narthex each Sunday
Morning. Coffee would need to be ready by 9:45 AM, and
cleanup would need to occur following Sunday School.
If you are interested in helping with the ministry, or if
you have questions, please contact Rhonda in the church
office. Thank you!
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CHILDREN
Infant (Newborn up to 2 year olds)
Teacher: Connie Evans
Toddlers (2 - 3 year olds)
Teachers: Erika Irving and Sue Athanon
Pre-K - 5th Grade (4 years - 5th grade)
Teachers: Carol Cutter, Lisa McDaniel
and Heather Bessinger
Class meets in room #2 on the lower level
YOUTH
Youth Class (6th - 12th grades)
Teacher: Miranda Turner
Class meets in room #4 on the lower level
ADULT
Infant
6 – Heather Bessinger & Janice Ertle
13 – Sue Athanon & Velvet Lerch
20 – Karen & Kayla Lovins
27 – Kathy Van Dyke & Mary Irving
Toddler
6 – Connie Evans & Jolie Stanton
13 – Brittany Lerch & Vicki Skutt
20 – Chad & Jenny Morris
27 – Rhonda Plants & Tonya Mashue
Please contact Velvet Lerch if you are unable to serve on
your scheduled Sunday.
Newsletter Deadline
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Deadline for articles to be turned into the church office for
the October 2015 edition of FAITHNews is Tuesday,
September 15, 2015. Thank you!
Urgent Need!
Do you have a passion for serving youth with mild to
severe cognitive or physical impairments? Bethany
Christian Services is seeking loving foster homes for
international refugee youth who possess these
characteristics. By providing a foster home in the United
States to one of these youth, you will be ensuring that
each young person receives life-saving medical
treatment that is unavailable in his or her camp. In
addition, as a foster parent you will not be responsible for
the coverage of these medical costs. To learn more about
this fulfilling opportunity, please call Ana Jose at 616-9658027 or email ajose@bethany.org.
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Foundations Class
Teachers: Steve McDaniel, Steve Shick,
Subs: Ryan & Becki Simpson
Studying: The Life You’ve Always Wanted
by John Ortberg
Class meets in the Narthex
Adult Pulpit Class
Teachers: Marcia and Garrett Holleman
Studying: He Chose The Nails (What God Did To
Win Your Heart) by Max Lucado
Class meets on the Sanctuary Platform – (beginning
September 20)
Bridges Class
Teachers: Lou Van Dyke and Millard Knapp
Sub: Barb Bleiler
Studying: Adult Bridges Curriculum
Class meets in the west end of the Fellowship Hall
Elective Class I
Teachers: Mark Peterson and Gloria Weltevrede
Studying: Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by
Karen Armstrong
Class is meeting in the center of the Fellowship Hall
Elective Class II
Teacher: Michele Hickerty
Sub: Esther Hickerty
Studying: NIV Standard Lesson Commentary
2015-2016, edited by Ronald L. Nickelson
Class meets in the east end of the Fellowship Hall
Join your friends and family at Faith as we kick off a new year of
CHILDREN, YOUTH & ADULT CLASSES
This year our theme is from Ecclesiastes 3
"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens”
As summer winds down our thoughts turn to the crisp air and fresh
smells that autumn brings. Here at Faith we are gearing up for a
new year of Sunday classes and Rally Day is a great way to
celebrate the promise that a new season brings.
Following the morning service on September 13, everyone is
invited to the Fellowship Hall for refreshments and a time of
fun activities and good fellowship! There will be stations for
you to explore and fun things to do!
SUNDAY,
TH
SEPTEMBER 13
Plan now to attend!
Faith United Church of God
3290 Walker Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544-9431
Phone (616) 784-5060 / Fax 784-9141
Church Website: http://www.faithunitedcog.org
Church Staff
Pastor: Steve McDaniel (sdmcdaniel@faithunitedcog.org)
Youth Pastor: Miranda Turner (fusionfamilyym@gmail.com)
Office Secretary: Rhonda Plants (secretary@faithunitedcog.org)
Church Custodian: Karen Stevens
Kids Hope USA Director: Judy Hewett Kerwin (judyhewett@comcast.net)
Parish Nursing Program
Judy Hewett Kerwin, R.N. (judyhewett@comcast.net)
Living Link Missionaries
Neville & Anne Tan (Singapore)
Alfonso & Elizabeth Ayala (Belize)
Sundays
10:00 AM Celebration of Worship
11:15 AM Sunday School
6:00 PM
Sunday Night Fusion at Faith United (September 13, 20 & 27)
Check out our website!
www.faithunitedcog.org
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