23680 Front Avenue · P.O. Box 98 · Mattawan, MI 49071 The Conservative Congregational Christian Conference · Office Hours 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Monday-Friday

Phone (269) 668-3263 · Fax (269) 668-4569 · E-Mail: mattawancommunitychurch@gmail.com On the Web: www.mattawancc.com

Rev. Jonathan Lam, Pastor · Paul Knapp, Youth Leader · Polly Blowers, Office Secretary

Dry and windy. This is how I would describe our late spring/early summer weather. After a time of mowing the thick lush green lawn weekly, we haven’t needed to mow for three weeks now. Many of us try to water our parched lawns but many have also given up. Instead, we concen-trate on our flowers and gardens. And, of course, farmers are all the more concerned over the lack of rain after al-ready suffering much crop loss due to frosts. I have no-ticed that a few “water holes,” where rain run-off collects, are now dry. Ducks and geese have moved on. Even the deer are forced to search for water elsewhere. Water is necessary for life. We have an inborn desire to quench our thirst with fresh, clean, preferably cool water. Water is life. The experience of this dry weather reminds me of Psalm 42. “As the deer pants for streams of water…” Fortunate-ly, Michigan offers many streams, rivers and lakes for wildlife to refresh themselves unlike the desert regions in which David lived while being pursued by Saul. Feeling distant from God, David expresses his thirst for the Lord. I dare say that David indeed observed deer panting in the desert’s dry river beds for water. Searching, pawing at the river stones, panting with a dry tongue…the deer longs for life-giving water. David goes on: “…so my soul pants for You, O God.” What an image. “My soul thirsts for God…” We all know what physical thirst is. Do we spiritually thirst? I have per-sonally bemoaned to others that it seems like so few peo-ple thirst for God in our nation today. Many thirst for more government handouts, laziness, pleasure and on and on. But where’s the spiritual thirst? In John 4, we read of a woman who went to a well for water. This was likely a daily ritual for her and many others. She wasn’t physically panting due to thirst; she was simply going about her daily routine of needed chores to be

done. After striking up a conversation with the woman, Jesus revealed to her that she was indeed thirsty. Jesus invited her to drink His water, identifying her need as spir-itual, not physical. At first she misunderstood Jesus’ words. “Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). Wow! Had she discovered the “fountain of youth?” Well, yes and no. After showing her how she was trying to quench her life’s thirst through pleasures, he offers her a new way of life, a new way of looking at herself, a new sense of self-respect, a new purpose for living. Jesus shows us how to approach those who seem to be fulfilled. He did it with care, compassion and love, not judgmentally. Whether people know it or not, many like the woman at the well are panting for relief, searching everywhere to quench their thirsting soul. Only one can provide for the need---Jesus Christ alone. David continues in Psalm 42 with expressions of loneli-ness, sorrow and even depression. Then he closes the psalm with these beautiful words: “Why are you down-cast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” Dear friends, thirst no more. Be rich, full and lush in Jesus Christ.

Blessings, Pastor Jonathan

Quenching the Thirst

July 2012 The Calling

Serving in July July 1 July 8 July 15 July 22 July 29

Fellowship Hosts

Judy Britten & Donna Coles

Margot Sackett & Donna

Coles

Margot Sackett

Pat Mahood

John & Sherryl Bosker

Greeters Greeters are needed for the summer months; please sign up!

Nursery Krista Cramer Needed Needed Needed Krista Cramer

Preschool-2nd Grade

Worship Riann Thorpe Angela Lam Krista Cramer NEEDED Angela Lam

3rd-5th Grade Worship

Ryan Cramer Marty

Korteway Steven Lam Ryan Cramer Becky Slager

Sunday, August 12 Begins at 10:30 AM

Pig roast, potluck, games and prizes!

Church will provide meat, hot potatoes, beverages and

tableware. Please bring: your friends and family, a dish to

pass (sign up in the Fellowship Hall) and your lawn chairs.

Church Picnic

Outdoor

Worship

All games are played at South Westnedge Park in Portage. See Steve Lam with any questions.

Date Time Teams Field

7/13 6:15 PM 7:30 PM

MCC vs. St. Michael’s MCC vs. VFC team #1

Field 3 (both games)

7/20 6:15 PM MCC vs. Southridge Reformed Church

Field 4

7/27 7:30 PM MCC vs. Oakwood Bible Church team #2

Field 4

8/3 7:30 PM MCC vs. Berean Baptist Church

Field 4

From Pastor Jonathan— “I preached the four Sundays of May and attended all the WOW sessions. We ended WOW with a piz-za party/game night in the park. With Polly's help, the National Day of Prayer went well although we met in the church due to threatening weather. I also attended the Christian Education meeting. On Sunday, May 20 I met with Mildred Slatinsky's family at St. Mary Cemetery in Paw Paw and performed a committal service. I've continued pre-marital counseling for two weddings in June, both for nieces (Heidi Lam/Shawn Winkler and Chelsea Stommen/Zachariah (Ed) Rieger). It was also my privilege to again give the Memorial Day address this year at the Mattawan Memorial Day tribute in the park.” Elder / Council Meeting Update—No meetings were held in June. Elders, Deacons and Council are next scheduled to meet after the worship service on July 8.

From the Christian Education Team—Bair Lake Bible Camp Day Camp week has been designated as July 16-20. If you’d like to take part in carpooling to day camp, this is your week!

Correction—Graduation Party Time Please note that the time of Jessy Korteway’s graduation party on July 14 at Pioneer Point Campground is planned from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, rather than beginning at 2:00 PM as announced in May’s newsletter.

Meeting Notes/Announcements

Hello Everybody!

I want to first say thank you to everyone who supported

Allie and I over the past two years, and everyone who continued to

pray for us throughout our journey in Mattawan. We learned so

much and we were so blessed to be a part of a growing and thriving

ministry in Mattawan High School. Mattawan Community Church was

a huge part of the growth and development of Young Life in this

area, and Allie and I are both so appreciative to have partnered

with MCC in this process.

This month is a busy one for us. Kalamazoo Young Life leaves

for Timberwolf Lake on July 12th and our goals leading up to that

day is merely to do everything we can to give kids the best experience possible. Right now Mattawan Young Life

has 18 students and 5 leaders signed up and we think that there may be up to 30 students from the Kalamazoo

area going to camp this year. Here is a list of the students going to camp from Mattawan. Please pray that God

will work in their lives.

Thanks you again for all of your love, support, and prayers over the past two years.

It has been an amazing adventure.

Paul Knapp, YoungLife Leader Paulknapp07@yahoo.com 231-735-3378

Students:

Chris Evans

Tyler Pathoumthong

Kyle Hedden

Al McLaughlin

Caleb Phillip

Ben Weathers

Eliseo Perez

Kody Goff

Tyler Sinotte

Chris Koenigsknecht

Cody Wolff

Josh Croy

Taryn Kannally

Lexi Holben

Rachel Doerr

Sarah Musson

Ashley Wiggins

Leaders:

Adam Hofman

Amy Goble

Kallee Flannery

Allie Knapp

Paul Knapp

The Mission Team meets on the first Monday of each month at 6:30 PM. (Taking July and August

off.) Everyone is invited to attend.

The Mission Team Jeff Rebenstorf, Tim and Mary Molnar, Beth Molnar, Dan and Barb Moyle, Pat Mahood, Judy Britten, Christine Ruedger, Ben Reece, Sherida Janecke, John and Sherryl Bosker, Noreen Miller, Jerry Bowler, Larry and Joyce Grant

Emergency Aid Update In conjunction with United Christian Services, one emergency aid request was filled from our Emergency Aid fund in May.

Operation Christmas Child Collection Focus July’s OCC collection focus is on age appropriate toys. See www.samaritanspurse.org for suggestions. A collection box is located in the Fellowship Hall for your donations. Thank you!

Wings of God First Annual Golf Fundraiser!

Please join us with your foursome on Monday, September 10, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. at Heritage Glen Golf Club, Paw Paw, MI. Contact us at (269) 415-0777 or obtain a downloadable form on our web page at WingsofGodinc.org. Our email address is info@wingsofGodinc.org. Volunteers for planning and working the event are also needed. Please join us in our mission to con-tinue sharing the love of Christ with our residents.

July’s Mission Focus is on Operation Christmas Child/Alaska

Last year Heather Dodge worked with her Juvenile Justice Ministry Team and the kids in the pro-gram to fill 12 Christmas shoebox gifts. MCC is

partnering to provide funds for this effort to both buy ma-terials for boxes and for box shipping costs ($7/box). The goal for OCC/Alaska with MCC support this year is 24 boxes. See Jeff Rebenstorf with ideas or questions.

Our Missionaries to Alaska Rich and Heather Dodge, along with their children, Alys-sa and Harry, are serving with Alaska Youth For Christ. The Mission Team supports the Dodge’s mission work with $100 per month out of the Mission Fund. Please pray for the Dodge family and their ministry.

2012 Mission Giving Schedule

Month Organization Donations to Date Contact

January Mattawan Area Pantry (MAP) $310.99 Barb Moyle

February MCC Christian Camp Fund $278.72 Judy Britten

March Compassion International $532.00 Christine Ruedger

April CROP Walk $960.00 Tim Molnar

May Emergency Aid Mary Molnar

June MCC Church Picnic Jerry Bowler

July Operation Christmas Child—Alaska Jeff Rebenstorf

August Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Dan Moyle

September International Aid Jerry Bowler

October Operation Christmas Child—Mattawan Jeff Rebenstorf

November MAP Christmas Basket Distribution Barb Moyle, Judy Britten, Mary Molnar

December Hat and Mitten Tree Beth Molnar

MAP Board of Directors Rob Viland (United Bay Community Credit Union) Chair Barb Moyle (MCC) - Co-Chair Laura Ott (MPI Research/Kiwanis) - Treasurer Beth Griffin (St. John Bosco Parish) - Secretary Mike Hartwigsen (United Bay Community Credit Union) Rev. Don Filcek (ReCast Church) Rev. Laura Osborne Barbara Manzon (Mattawan Elementary Schools)

About the Pantry Mattawan Area Pantry is open to all church members and those in need residing in the Mattawan school system. The Pantry Distribution Days are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10:00 AM to Noon. (The annual Christmas Basket Distribution is held on the 2nd Saturday in December.) On June 2, MAP assisted 42 households with food and 45 households received food on June 16.

Pantry Needs Volunteers—Board member; Volunteers interested in fundraising, marketing, communications, inventory management Food—hamburger helper boxed meals, soup, spaghetti, cereal and ramen noodles Non-food—Personal care items, tissues, egg cartons

Mattawan Area Pantry P.O. Box 242 Phone: 348-5596

mattawanareapantry@gmail.com

Pastor’s Summer Schedule

Although Pastor Jonathan does not hold Wednesday evening hours at church dur-ing the summer months, he is still very much available to anyone needing time with him. Simply give him a call and he’ll be glad to set up a time to meet!

Deadlines The August Newsletter Deadline is 10:00 AM on Monday, July 23. Deadlines for the Sunday bulletins are on Thursdays at 10:30 AM. All articles and information should be turned in to the office by those deadlines to guarantee inclusion in the newsletter and bulletins.

Severe Weather Policy Except for a “Tornado Warning” we will always try our best to hold church ser-vices. A “Tornado Warning” is an auto-matic “seek shelter—everything is can-celed” situation. For all other situations tune into local media. We will not be call-ing everyone; please call Pastor Jonathan or Marty Korteway with questions.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Minute on Missions

2 3 6:00 to 8:00 PM—ABS

4 Independ-ence Day (office closed)

5 12:30 PM—Pantry Stocking

6 No softball game tonight.

7 10:00 AM to Noon—MAP distribution; our

day to serve

8 12:00—Council meeting

9 10 6:00 to 8:00 PM—ABS

11 12 13 6:15 PM—Softball game 7:30 PM—Softball game

14

15 16 17 6:00 to 8:00 PM—ABS

18 19 12:30 PM—Pantry Stock-ing

20 6:15 PM—Softball game

21 10:00 AM to Noon—MAP distribution

22 Communion Sunday

23 August Newsletter Deadline

24 6:00 to 8:00 PM—ABS

25 26 27 7:30 PM—Softball game

28

29 30 31 6:00 to 8:00 PM—ABS

July’s Mission Focus is on Operation Christmas

Child/Alaska

EVENT NOTES Adult Bible Study (ABS) meets at Creekside Manor Apartments MAP—Mattawan Area Pantry Softball—South Westnedge Park. See schedule on p. 3 for times and field locations Each Sunday (unless otherwise noted:) 8:30 AM—Bell Choir prac-tice; 10:30 AM—Worship Service; Children’s worship for preschool-5th grade. Nursery provided for infants and toddlers.