WITH COMMUNITY

MAY/JUNE 2011

IN TOUCH

An Experience of Spiritual Growth -Karlee Philp

Easter Day was truly a day of spiritual growth in my life. As many of you know, Scott and I gave our testimony during the Easter service at the CHS auditorium. Scott has spoken publicly several times, but this was a first for me. When Chip asked us to share several weeks before, I thought he was kidding. It turns out that he wasn’t, and neither was the Holy Spirit, so we agreed. We initially decided to create a video for part of our testimony. That meant I wouldn’t be speaking in front of people for very long, so I wasn’t all that nervous at first.

As the weeks went by, we hadn’t figured out how we would make a video or what we were going to say. This meant that I was going to be speaking in front of hundreds of people with nothing to hide behind. I pictured myself standing on stage, my voice shaking, and my mind going blank. We needed to be extremely prepared for me to be confident enough to pull this off. The only problem was that Scott and I work very differently, and we needed to work together. I like to get things done so I don’t need to worry about them. Scott doesn’t find it necessary to do things until the last possible minute.

As the days went by and my anxiety levels rose, Scott reassured me that everything would be fine. I didn’t share that kind of peace, not at all. Let’s just say things got pretty intense as we were finishing up our notes the day before Easter. I don’t think I have prayed as much in my life as I did that week. I thanked God for all the wonderful things He had done in my life and for all that He had given me. I prayed that He would help me to know what I needed to say, the words to say it with, and strength and courage to go through with sharing our testimony.

I knew that God has asked us to do this and that He doesn’t give you more than you can handle, but I was still picturing myself falling apart on stage. Could I really rely on God?

As I was standing backstage beforehand, I closed my eyes and repeated over and over again, “Lord I love you. Give me the courage and the confidence that I need. Relieve my fear and anxiety, calm my nerves and give me the words to speak. I trust that you will.” AND HE DID! When I was up on stage, I started to feel the anxiety travel through my body and my voice start to quiver, I said a prayer and it disappeared. I did that a few times and it honestly worked.

Theme: Tell of a spiritual experience that has brought about spiritual growth.

(Continued on page 4)

PAGE 2 IN TOUCH

A LIFE-ALTERING DAY -Bruce Murray

November 8, 1968, was a life-altering day for me. Up until that time, I had led a normal Christian life, or so I thought.

I was raised by two Christ-loving parents and went to the Community Church of God. My father led me to Christ when I was 10 and, growing up, I spent my life being a part of that church. Also, I met my wonderful wife Wanda there.

Wanda and I were married in 1966. She was a teacher in Petoskey and I was employed at East Jordan Tool and Die, earning my journeyman card in tool and die making. We were a happy couple starting our lives together. But something was not quite right. I could feel it. I was not living the Christian life I should have been, not going to church as much as I once was. Life was not as the Lord intended, and I was out of fellowship with Him. I chose my way and not God’s way.

Then came that day—November 8, 1968, 7:40 a.m. at East Jordan Tool and Die. My world came apart. In 1/30 of one second, my left hand was no more. A 2” punch went through my left hand at the wrist, leaving a pile of mush hanging at the end of my forearm. I did not realize what had happened at first until I looked down and saw “hamburger” hanging where my left hand had been. Elmer Grody, a co-worker, took me to Charlevoix Area Hospital. On the way I told Elmer, “I’ve lost my left hand; how am I going to do anything now?” (I was left-handed.)

From the time the press struck and shock was setting in, I felt a strange calmness; I knew eve-rything was going to be all right. I had no pain; I was fairly calm (not even sweating) and did not feel faint. I knew, at that time, the Lord Jesus was in control.

When I woke up in my hospital room after surgery, I looked at my wife, mom and dad and smiled as peace washed over me. They knew that all was well with me.

I spent a week in the hospital, so I had time to talk to Jesus and listen to His plan for me. It was time to put my life in order. I asked the Lord to transform me and to be first place in my heart. My new verse became: “…as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

The Lord has truly blessed our lives since that day in 1968, opening so many doors for us along the way. With Jesus’ help, I was able to return to work, doing a bet-ter job than before. Later, when I was laid off, the Lord said, “I will provide,” and He did. Wanda was teaching at the time, so I was able to take mechanical drafting at NCMC and learned to write with my right hand. Then I got a job at Petoskey High School in a special program. On Nov. 19, 1970, God gave Wanda and me beautiful twin daughters, Kimberly Ann and Kristen Lynn.

God also had other plans for us. I packed up the whole family, attended Ferris State University and had my BS in trade tech education in just 18 months. I knew God’s hand was in this all the way. After working 30 years at the Lapeer Co. Tech. Center, I

(Continued on page 3)

“…as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord”

PAGE 3

Continued from page 2 (A Life-Altering Day) retired in 2004 and we came home to Charlevoix.

The Lord has been good and He continues to lead us through life’s ups and downs. I shudder to think where I would be if it had not been for God’s leading. I owe it all to the Lord Jesus Christ. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

A Book Review: THE CALLIGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER (by Eugenia Kim)

The Calligrapher’s Daughter takes place during the Japanese occupation of Korea through the

end of WWII. The author tells the story of a young Korean girl, Najin Han, the daughter of an ex-tremely traditional father and a somewhat progressive Christian mother. Najin, who is intelligent and a bit rebellious, continually questions those traditions including that of arranged marriages. An ongoing theme of the story is how Najin wrestles with her mother’s Christian beliefs and with adopt-ing them as her own. Although not officially “arranged,” she eventually meets the young seminary-educated man she will marry at a meeting set up by her mother. Their marriage stands the test of time as they become separated by the war.

Although the story is fiction, it gives a lot of insight into Korean history and culture and just how brutal life was for many people during the wars.

--Recommended by Carol Schroeck

The Communication team welcomes readers to submit book reviews to be published in future In Touch newsletters. Please email submissions to dice13dice@yahoo.com or call Candice Wiers at 237-4362.

PAGE 4 IN TOUCH

Continued from page 1 (An Experience of Spiritual Growth)

Scott and I may never know if we helped anyone come closer to Christ that day, but I sure feel like I witnessed my own miracle. I now have stronger faith than I ever had before. I asked and I received. I know that God was with me every single moment that Easter Sunday, and I now know that I can trust him to give me what I need and to get me through things that the devil is telling me I can’t complete. This was truly an incredible experience in my life.

CONSISTORY NEWS

Consistory spent the majority of their time together in April discussing the role of accountability in each other’s lives. It was a fruitful and encouraging discussion about what it means to follow Jesus with others. Please be in prayer for the members of consistory and staff as we seek to let others into our lives, and especially into our journeys of faith.

Swaziland News—also look on page 6 for another way to help the Swaziland Team raise funds

The Swaziland Breakfast will be May 22nd at 9:30 with pancakes and sausage and an oatmeal bar (see how many things you can put in your oatmeal). The next breakfast is scheduled for June 26th (watch for details in the weekly bulletins).

The Communication Team is looking for new members and WE are looking for You. The team is in charge of the newsletter, In Touch, that is mailed every other month. Serving on this team does not require a big time commit-ment, as we meet bimonthly and share the responsibility for securing articles and news items. We welcome all talent—writers, editors, thinkers, etc. Currently, Mary Seaman, Tanya Whitley, and Candice Wiers serve on the team. If interested, please contact Candice by e-mail <dice13dice @yahoo.com> or by phone (237-4362). We also welcome seekers to attend our meetings before deciding whether they want to join this team.

PAGE 5

Local Outreach at Community Reformed Church March 2011

Local outreach has been defined at Community Reformed Church (CRC) as what we do as a church and as individuals to impact those in need within Michigan. We believe that it is easier to im-pact and respond to needs that exist closer to home, but this does not limit our outreach to the city of Charlevoix. The challenge is that the greater the distance the more commitment is needed to address a need.

The Local Outreach Committee exists to coordinate the efforts at CRC to address the needs that exist in our community, our region, and our state. We acknowledge that the Lord has gener-ously blessed CRC members with skills and interests to be used for the sake of serving God’s people. CRC has made it a priority to reach out to “the least of these,” and we affirm that each individual, family, small group, or organization within the church will feel God’s leading to use the skills and resources to address human needs that He has laid upon one’s heart.

Local outreach can consist of a broad range of services. On an individual basis, it can be as simple and focused as bringing a meal to a neighbor or as broad as donating blood at a blood drive. It is only limited by your imagination and your desire to respond to a need. Groups of individuals at CRC may address needs as well: serving monthly at a soup kitchen, conducting worship at Sunny-bank, or preparing meals for a homeless shelter. As a church family, we may also decide to contribute on some level to a local ministry. Collections for the community food pantry, the Nehemiah Project, and the Community Christmas Basket program are some examples.

As a group of CRC members committed to local outreach, it is our goal to:

• Demonstrate Christ’s love and our individual response to that love

• Encourage CRC members to be aware of needs in the community and region and be in prayer about how they might facilitate resources to meet those needs

• Encourage others to become involved in existing ministries

• Facilitate involvement of church members in outreach endeavors where and when this is needed and appropriate For an individual, a family or a group, the process might look somewhat like this:

• Respond with thanks to God’s gift of grace

• Have a passion for an individual or a group of people who are in need

• Be in prayer about how God would have them meet that need

• Respond with a plan to spend time and resources to help alleviate that need

• Determine the cost: Will this passion that I (we) have require that I (we) ask others to get in-volved? (Continued on page 9)

PAGE 6 IN TOUCH

Sunday, May 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Do you have talent? It’s not too late to show it off at “CRC’s Got Talent” night on May 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Call Jon Eakes at 675-0743 or Lynda in the church office at 547-9482 if you are interested in participating.

Don’t have a talent to share? That’s ok, come see the talents of others, the show begins at 6:00 p.m. Bring your friends and family, it’s sure to be a fun family night.

This event is a fundraiser, sponsored by the Global Outreach Team to help off-set the cost of the young adults trip to Swaziland Africa in August 2011.

SO, LET’S PACK THE HOUSE!

The young adults have been working hard to raise their own funds, but they only have a couple of months left to raise the remainder needed.

The young adults are so thankful for the people of the church who have helped them in so many ways.

Thank you for sending them!

C.R.C.’sC.R.C.’s Talent got

PAGE 7

Congratulations and Blessings to:

• Claudia (Ricks) and Todd Zarotney on the birth of a baby girl, Caroline Ruth Proud grandparents are Jeff and Pat Ricks.

• Rhonda (Williams) and T.J. Carey on the birth of a baby boy, Trey. Proud grandparents are Ron and Theda Williams.

• Trevor Kenneth Aenis and his parents, Mike and Jen Aenis, on Trevor’s bap-tism.

• Scott and Karlee Philp on the baptism of their daughter, Chelsea.

Sympathy and Prayers to:

• Jeanette Boss and family on the passing of Jeanette’s husband Lawrence

• Shelly (Kay) Roth and family on the sudden passing of her husband, Rob Roth

• Deb Nuttall and family on the loss of Deb’s sister-in-law, Cheryl Monteith

Upcoming Sermons

Works of Faith

May 15 Mt. 18:15-20 Conflict Resolution 101

May 22 (guest preacher)

May 29 - Communion Mt. 18:21-35 Forgiveness

Encouraging One Another

June 5 I Tim. 1:3-11 False Teachers

June 12 - Pentecost I Tim. 1:12-20 Mercy Given to the Glory of God

June 19 - Father’s Day I Tim. 2:1-15 Lifting Up Holy Hands

June 26 - Communion I Tim. 4:6-16 A Good Servant of Jesus

PAGE 8 IN TOUCH

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Submitted by Mary Seaman

Mike and Jen Aenis are the proud parents of Brenden (4) and Trevor (10 months). They both grew up in northern Michigan; Mike, in Central Lake; Jen, in Ellsworth. Since they like the area and their families are here, Mike and Jen returned to the North following college graduation. They lived in Atwood 10 years but recently moved to East Jordan. The move to a new home and the birth of Trevor two months later made this past year a full and exciting one.

Mike holds a master’s degree in physical therapy from Grand Valley and Jen has a B.S. in in-terior design from Western. Jen has been self-employed for 11 years, operating her business, Inner Structure. Mike works for Jordan Valley Rehabilitation.

Jen’s occupation in interior design doubles as a hobby, but she and Mike both enjoy all sports and spending time with family. They both play on a softball team; in addition, Mike is a trainer for the East Jordan football team.

Looking for a church with a good, children’s Christian education program and also opportu-nities for personal growth brought Mike and Jen to CRC. They decided to become members because the church “felt like a good fit,” and being part of a small group “feels like family.” They were for-merly members of the Kewadin United Methodist Church.

*******

Scott and Karlee Philp were married in 2007 and now have the added blessing of their nine-month old daughter, Chelsea. Karlee grew up in Charlevoix, lived in Florida, moved around for a while, and returned home to Charlevoix after forming a relationship with Scott. Charlevoix was al-ready like home to Scott who grew up in Flint but had vacationed here for years with his parents.

After Karlee graduated from Charlevoix High School, she earned a medical assistant diploma. Scott holds a degree in landscape architecture from Michigan State. He owns and operates his own business, Landscape Logic; Karlee works for her husband.

Away from work, Scott and Karlee enjoy the water, boating, and eating out. Karlee skis whereas Scott snowboards. At home Scott can be found working on his jeep.

While growing a business and having their first baby are big events in Scott and Karlee’s lives, Karlee states that accepting Jesus as her savior a year ago tops everything that has happened. She and Scott have discovered new friends and a whole new life within the church. The warm friendly people at CRC and Chip’s messages prompted their decision to call Community Reformed “home.”

******* (Continued on page 9)

PAGE 9

Continued from page 8 (Welcome New Members)

Tom and Luan Jackson come to CRC as semi-retirees, transferring from Calvary Bible Church in Lapeer, their other home. Presently, they are living what their friends call a “crazy life”—working in Lapeer Monday through Wednesday and retiring in Charlevoix the rest of the week. The Jacksons had always wanted to retire up North where they love winter skiing, as well as boating and golfing in the summer.

Luan’s family members were founding fathers in Lapeer where she grew up. After high school, she earned a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Michigan. She began her career as an RN but, later, became a family therapist, a job she still practices today at Abundant Life Counseling. Tom has been a dentist in Lapeer for 40 years, having done undergraduate work at U of M followed by a degree in den-tistry from the University of Detroit.

The Jacksons have a married daughter Tricia (Matt) Hammett, who lives with her husband and two children in Valparaiso, Indiana. The family is looking forward to the birth of Tricia and Matt’s third child. The Jacksons also have a son, Brent, who is currently enrolled in the University of Detroit dental school.

After Tom and Luan moved to Charlevoix, they decided to find a church. Living just off Mer-cer made CRC the closest, therefore, first choice. Friendly faces and Chip’s sermons encouraged them to return. Nate Boss had welcomed them on their first Sunday; a few Sundays later, Nate called them by name as he offered the elements during Holy Communion. That personal touch made Tom and Luan feel as though they were already a part of the CRC family.

Besides retiring up North, Luan shares the details of some amazing blessings. Three years ago she became paralyzed with Guillain Barre autoimmune disease. With treatment, therapy, and God’s help, she has moved from a wheel chair to 95% recovery. In addition to this blessing, God had guided the Jacksons to purchase the perfect house just two months before the diagnosis of Luan’s illness. Their new house is completely handicapped accessible, so Luan was able to recover at home rather than in a

Continued from page 5 (Local Outreach) • Should this response be expanded to include a broader participation of 1) CRC members or 2) the

Charlevoix community (or beyond)?

We encourage members, as individuals and as groups committed to serving God together, to look around for examples of people and organizations that have caught the vision of outreach have ac-cepted the challenge to serve the “least of these.” If God leads an individual to serve, we would like to hear about this so that we as a church body can pray for their efforts and encourage them.

Please welcome new Group Leader, Emmy Glass. Doug Bouwense is becoming a “member-at-large after serving on this committee for a number of years—thanks Doug! Other members include: Sandy Malewitz, Rebecca Berg, and Jackie Rozema.

PAGE 10 IN TOUCH

Summer Programs for Kids

Kids Own Worship – A Summer Sunday School Program For kids ages 4 to 2nd grade During the 9:30 service Leader teaching packets are available at the NEW INFORMATION CENTER Sign-up for ONE Sunday June 5 to August 28 Weave Faith into young lives.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL A Community one week summer program for kids ages 5 -6th grade Location: Baptist Church on M-66 Theme: Mega Sports Times: 6:30 to 8:30 Dates: June 20 -24

Christy Cloud is the VBS coordinator for Community Reformed Church. Let her know that you are available to help, her email address is: ccloud@charemisd.org. Or call her @ 906-748-0364.

What is a frog’s favorite spring flower? A croak-us

PAGE 11

PLEASE REMEMBER our MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN

• Jonathan Boyko-PSC482 Box 2826, FPO, AP 96362 (serving in Okinawa, Japan)

• PVT2 Jeffery Buckner RN134, Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 54th Infan-try Regiment—8775 Albanese Drive, Ft. Benning, Georgia 31905

• Kelsey Dulaney (U.S. Army) Ft. Sill, 2409 NW Norman Street, Lawton, OK 73505

• CMCR- Mariah Miller-NMCB 74, Unit 60253, FPO—AA34099—5021

• Garrett Miller II—USS DOYLE (FFG-39) - BMCS (SW) GARRETT C. MILLER II—OPS DEPT. LCPO—FPO AA 34090-1494

• Logan Nuttall—SR Nuttall, Logan D. (0106) - Recruit Training Command Ship 02 Div 910—3600 Ohio Street—Great Lakes, IL. 60088-3119

Please call the church office with contact information for your loved one serving in the military.

Announcements

»Parents of graduating seniors - you should have received a request for photos of your graduate and information regarding their accomplishments and future plans. Please be sure to get this information to the church ASAP.

»We request that people do not park on the grass surrounding the Servants’ Quarters. The Oak

Street lot is reserved for handicap vehicles and those unloading/loading items. We should respect the need of those who need the spaces as well as the maintenance required to keep our lawns looking their best. Thank you.

»Spring clean-up is scheduled for May 21st at 9:00 a.m. Most of this year’s needs are for the

outside. Although, we are looking for a crew that is willing to work in the Servants’ Quarters doing a thorough cleaning and scrubbing and painting the kitchen cabinets.

»Young Life is hosting an informational time and fundraiser with special guest, Ken Medema,

on Saturday, May 21st at 6:30pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Petoskey. If interested in host-ing a table or attending, please call Luan Jackson at (810) 252-1315.

Non-Profit O

rg.

US Po

stage

PAID

Perm

it No. 81

Charlevoix, M

I 49720

COMMUNITY R

EFORMED C

HURCH

100 Oak St.

Charlevoix, M

I 497

20

Contacts at CRC:

Chip Sauer, Pastor

Jan Bo

ss, D

irector of Spiritual Formation

Ted Polleys, M

inister of Y

outh

Mary Lo

u Sm

ith, D

irector of Children’s M

inistries

Lynda Stolt, O

ffice Adm

inistrator

Leslie Nitchm

an, O

ffice Assistant

Theda W

illiams, W

orship Director

Cindy M

ansen, Choir Director

Michael Brown, M

aintenance Engineer

Amy Spegele, DivorceCare Facilitator

Dianne Coolm

an, K

itchen Manager

COMMUNITY REFORMED

CHURCH

Phone: 231-547-9482 Fax: 231-547-9598

Email: crcoffice@communityreformed.net www.communityreformed.net

Join us for Worship:

Sunday, 8:30, 10:45 a.m. Nursery: 8:30, 9:45, and 10:45 a.m. Sunday School: Sunday, 9:45 a.m.

Prayer:

Sunday, 7:15 a.m. Monday - Friday, 6:15 a.m.

Wednesday (2nd floor City Hall), 12 p.m. Wednesday, 5:00 pm Saturday, 7:15 a.m.

Our Mission:

To engage, encourage and equip people to be fully devoted followers of Christ

Got Free Time? W

ays to get involved:

•

Call the fo

llowing places to

ask if you

can help:

>Fo

od pantries, Rainb

ow Shopp

e, Friend of th

e Cou

rt or the

offices of o

ur ju

dges, the jail (volun

teer to

lead a Bible study or

offer to visit inmates), Nehem

iah Hou

se, C

ommission

on Aging

•

Write a note of encou

ragement to peop

le in

you

r life

•

Pray fo

r those in need

•

Have your neighbo

rs over for dinn

er

•

Visit those who live at B

oulder Park, Grand

vue , o

r Sunn

y-bank

•

Do anon

ymou

s acts of k

indn

ess to th

ose in need

•

Go through your closet and

give aw

ay what y

ou are not us-

ing