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GREFC Monthly Newsletter
May 2019
Together in Christ, Making Him Known

What People Want From A Church - Part 1

Last Sunday marked the end of a 1.5-year journey of “Making Space for Change”.  There are a few more details to be figured out - some outside work needs to take place and some cleanup needs are still in order. But now that our building process is coming to a close there are a couple of questions that we must step toward intentionally. These are questions that every church has to address on an ongoing basis whether they have a building project or not.  

Question 1- What kind of a church do we want to become?

Question 2 - What does God want to accomplish through this group of people who meet at 34384 County Road 63?

And yes, both questions intersect deeply.

 

Both questions point to movement toward something that might involve change. Realize that both of those questions can be threatening to people who don’t like change. We tend to be creatures of habit that want our “security” - and might I also say “comfort”. Those are common traits for all of us and underscore the desire for stability. No one truly likes the feeling of instability in our lives. 

 

But here is where I want to go in the upcoming months in our newsletter.  What we want and what God wants for a church often are not in alignment. Over the next couple of months I will focus on different categories of churches and how they fit (or don't fit) into God’s plan for GREFC. 
 

A Nice Christian Church

The first kind of church that many people want is what I would describe as ‘A Nice Christian Church’. For some it means that they want to come to church and have a level of certainty that their needs are being met. They want acceptable music, a decent sermon and a few friends with people who will help meet their relational needs. (Realize all three can be defined differently in people’s minds.) This kind of church often adopts the desired feeling of ‘being comfortable’.  Here is the hard part. What if their desire for their personal comfort doesn’t line up with what God wants?

 

Now you might challenge me and ask, 'Ken is comfort really a bad word?'  My response is no, if comfort is defined in a biblical way.  Here is how comfort needs to fit within any church.  I would guarantee there are times where each of us needs to be comforted!  When we're discouraged and tipping toward despair, real comfort and hope comes when people minister to us through word and deed. That is biblical comfort that fulfills many of the ‘one another’s’ in scripture.

 

So yes, we want to be a church that is willing and able to give comfort to those whose need is comfort and hope.  We need to become a hospital church for the hurting that is meeting the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of people. And…and…at the same time not settle for becoming a comfortable church that pulls us toward being a consumer.  Think of that picture of a hospital, a staff that is committed to the well being of those walking through the front door and those coming through the emergency room. Our job is to minister and help them meet the “healer of healers – Jesus”!

Next month we'll visit a few more church types.

 

Till Next Time

Pastor Ken

April Highlights

April was a busy month for GREFC! We kicked off the month with a family bean bag tournament evening that was a blast for many guys and the kids in their lives. Our students traveled to Duluth for District Blitz, an energetic, spirit-filled conference for students in the Evangelical Covenant and Evangelical Free denominations. Then we filled our worship center two weekends in a row with Easter services and our Open House Celebration. 

Here are some photos from the events:

Bean Bag Tournament





District Blitz




Open House Celebration






We will be celebrating Graduation Sunday on Mother's Day, May 12 during our second service at 10:30 am. We have two seniors graduating this year. Their graduation party information is:

Noelle Grose
Sunday, May 2
2:00-5:00 pm
41478 Forsman Drive, Deer River, MN 56636

Tanner Hopkins
Saturday, June 1,
12:00-3:00 pm
17170 US Hwy. 169, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Congratulations Graduates!


Congratulations to Stepping Stones Preschool on the completion of their first year!

  
 

 
Landscaping This Spring

We are fortunate to have a group of avid gardeners heading up our landscape committee. As the weather warms up, the committee is looking to get some plants in the ground and could use your help. Here are some ways you can contribute:

1. Split plants - right now, the committee is looking for contributions from people's gardens of just two plants: Karl Forrester Grass and yellow daylilies. If you're splitting any of these plants and can spare some, they'd take them off your hands. Plants can be brought to the church between May 19 - 21 and left in the garden to the left of the main doors with roots covered to maintain moisture.

 

2. Help install landscape block around our sign - we're planning on having a half-circle of retaining blocks around the signs out front to have a space for flowers and to help make mowing around the signs easier. If you have experience in this area or like doing outside work, please contact the church office and let them know. The date for this hasn't been set yet but will be sometime in May.

3. Help with planting - the committee will have a planting work day on Tuesday, May 21 starting at 6:30 pm. If you like playing in the dirt, come join them!

Let us know if you can help with the landscape block installation or the planting work day!

May Events @ GREFC


Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Group: Every Friday
The Gathering: Fri., May 3
Grandparenting Ministry Videos: Sun., May 5 & 19
Facility Care Team: Tues., May 7
Young Adult Volleyball: Every Tuesday thru May 14
Last Day of Family Meal & Kidz ROC: Wed., May 8
Graduation Sunday: Sun., May 12
Men's Study- Restoring Manhood: Mon., May 13
Last Day of Preschool: Thurs., May 16
Thrivent Presents Tasha Schuh: Thurs., May 16
Young Adult Bowling & Applebees: Fri., May 17
Last Pathfinders & BRICK class: Sun., May 19
Taste of Community Groups: Sun.,  May 19
Ministry Appreciation Celebration: Sun., May 19
Landscape Planting Work Day: Tues, May 21
Young Adult Ultimate Frisbee Season Start-Up: Tues., May 21
The Gathering - RAP w/ Pastor Ken: Fri., May 31

Details on all the May events are on our Online Calendar
Or you can Register Now for any event/class.



Last Days of the School Year

May 8: Family Meal & Kidz ROC
May 12: BRICK Bible Instruction Class & Regular Pathfinders
May 15: Immerse & Infuse

Summer Pathfinders for PreK - Grade 1 will start on June 2.

Mark your calendars for Boy's Day & Girl's Day on June 29!
 


The young adults are switching from indoor volleyball on Tuesday nights to outdoor ultimate frisbee at Portage Park starting May 21. The evening is not just for young adults - grab a friend or two and get to know some young adults while working up a sweat. You'll be glad you did!
Copyright © 2019 Grand Rapids Evangelical Free Church, All rights reserved.


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