August 2005 Archives

9:30 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Lead Worshiper: Bryan DeGroot and the Unity Praise Team
Prayer for the Church and the World
Giving of our Firstfruits: Unity Ministries
Teaching Pastor: Henry Wildeboer
Closing and Benediction

5:00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Offering: Cross Roads
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:19-39
Message: “Fear of God vs. Afraid of God” (Pastor Steve)

7:30 P.M. NIGHT VISION COMMUNITY YOUTH WORSHIP

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to Unity Church today! We are delighted to have with us this morning, Dr. Henry Wildeboer. We pray that Henry's passion and excitement for the Lord will bless each one of you this day. May we together experience the love and grace of our great God.

This evening's message will explore what it means to have the fear of the Lord without being afraid of the Lord. Is there ever a time and place we should be afraid of God, even as Christians? Should fear even be in the vocabulary of a Christian? Come tonight to explore God's word together and discover anew what the fear of the Lord is for each of us.

The Old Testament Challenge: The Old Testament Challenge is drawing near. The booth in the fellowship hall is there for you to explore more about the OTC, order copies of the reading guide and discussion guides, take the Biblical Literacy Test, and turn in your OTC response cards. Stop by and see what all the hype is about! Are you ready to take the challenge? [Note: More materials have been ordered, but some of the books are back-ordered.]

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

A HUGE thank you to Roger & Linda Ulferts and Bev Mulder for sprucing up the outside of the church by trimming bushes and weeding the flowerbeds! What a great difference it makes! Also, thank you to the Ammermans for planting all the flowers this year and keeping them watered and beautiful!

Pastor Wendy has a new cell phone number: 520-403-5442. Please use this number when trying to contact her. Thank you!

Thank You: We want to thank all those who attended our garden tour and for the donations for Bob and his work with YWAM. We also want to thank those for their willing spirit in helping with the open house garden tour and fundraiser. The cookies, drinks and ladies who sat at the welcoming table were so much appreciated! Your generosity is much appreciated. Bill, Helene and Bob Dykstra.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT UNITY

Church Clean-Up! Wednesday evening, September 7. Please save the date! More details are in your church mailbox.

Youth Group: Kick-off on Sept 14th. Grades 7-12 7:00 pm at the Rock on 8th in Willmar. If anyone needs a ride please call Jill.


Christmas Program: Anyone interested in auditioning for the “Return of the Christmas Kid” please meet after the morning service in the church sanctuary to receive a script. We especially want to see Grades 7th– 12th and an adult male for a primary part. If you have any questions please contact Gina Ohden, Rachel Marcus or Bev Mulder.

Needed: FRIENDSHIP MENTORS
Qualifications: A "need" to serve and being a friend. Time commitment: Minimal time for preparation, and one hour every other Monday evening. Starting September 19, 2005. Call: Helene Dykstra.

Bulletin Board Update Needed: The missions bulletin board in the back of the fellowship hall could use some sprucing up with new background paper, border, and pictures of our missionaries. The church office has the pictures available. If you are willing to help brighten our fellowship hall in this way, please contact the church office.

Ladies in Jail need to hear God's Word: For the past ten months, a team of ladies from our church has been leading Bible studies on Tuesday evenings with the female inmates at the Kandiyohi County Jail. It is a fascinating ministry, and one which strengthens the faith of the Bible study leaders, even as it encourages the incarcerated ladies. We are looking for substitute leaders to come in on days when we are ill, out of town, or on maternity leave! We always lead in teams, so you will be there as moral support, not leading the Bible Study. If you are willing to help, contact the church office or Pastor Wendy.

Women of Faith Conference: Call your friends, family, & co-workers to make plans to attend the October 21-22 Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul. Tickets are $45.00/person. This event is always sold out. Contact Angela Zwart TODAY for tickets.

Promise Keepers 2005 “The Awakening”
Men of all ages come to Promise Keepers 2005 for “The Awakening.” Promise Keepers invites you to an Unpredictable Adventure you will never forget! September 9-10, 2005 St. Paul, MN. Call 1-800-888-7595 to reserve your place.

COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

2005 Minn-ia-kota Retreat Make plans now to ‘take a break’ from your normal routine to attend the Minn-ia-kota Retreat sponsored by Bible League Volunteers on September 13 & 14, 2005 at the Oaks Hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If you went last year, you probably received a mailing this week inviting you and a friend. You won’t want to miss this excellent time for spiritual renewal! Invite a friend or two to join you at this ‘retreat with a cause’! You will experience great music, inspiring speakers, a wonderful time of fellowship with other Christians, and while enjoying all of this, be able to help supply Bibles and study materials to our friends in the Philippines. Linda Evens Shepherd, our featured speaker, will share through her dramatic testimony how she turned the ‘pits of her life’ into stepping stones.

HEY MOMS!
Have kids ages birth through kindergarten? Join us at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)Childcare is provided. 1st Meeting, Wednesday, September 14th.
When: Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month
9:00am – 11:30am
Where: Bunde Christian Reformed Church
5086 140th Ave. SE, Clara City
2005/2006 Bunde MOPS Meeting Dates
September 14, 28; October 12, 26; November 9; December 14; January 11, 25; February 8, 22; March 8, 22; April 12, 26.

West Central Singers
The West Central Singers will begin rehearsals at Calvary on September 15th at 7pm. The group consists of twenty-eight adult singers, who presented four concerts last season. For further information on the group, please call Dr. Chet Sommers at 235-2384.

Bethany Christian Services Phon-a-thon 2005
On September 19th and 20th, Bethany Christian Services will conduct its upcoming 15th annual phon-a-thon, however, this is the third phon-a-thon done from the Willmar office. Any call you receive on these dates will be from a volunteer in Willmar. Your donations will be used to support the local Willmar office. And help to further Bethany’s mission: “to manifest the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting and enhancing the lives of children and families through quality social services.”

9:30 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Lead Worshiper: Gar Jasper
Prayer for the Church and the World
Giving of our Firstfruits: Unity Ministries
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40:10-31 (Reader: Larry Groen)
Message: “How Great is Our God” (Mike Pluimer)
Special Music
Closing and Benediction

5:00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Offering: Hope Pregnancy Center
Scripture Reading: John 1:1-14
Message: “We Know the Answer, But What was the Question?” (Pastor Wendy)

7:30 P.M. NIGHT VISION COMMUNITY YOUTH WORSHIP

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to worship at Unity Church! We have gathered together to celebrate and experience an authentic encounter with God. No matter where you are from, or what has happened this past week, God invites you to seek Him and enjoy His presence today.

This Morning: All creation testifies to the greatness and glory of God, from the vast expanse of the universe to the tiniest imperceivable detail of the atoms and particles that make up everything we see. God is the loving creator who designed it all for us. Mike Pluimer leads us this morning through an exploration of the immensity and detail of the universe, where we realize how small we really are, and how amazing it is that God did it all in his pursuit to be in relationship with us.

Tonight: “God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made…” does this seem redundant to you? It didn’t to a group of early church leaders who had survived persecution and found themselves at the very first church council held in Nicea in 325. These war-torn individuals saw these phrases as essential and produced the only creed still professed by both the eastern and the western church. Today we hold firmly to the results of their work, the Nicene Creed, but do we know the issues that led to it? Do we know what it says and why it says what it does? Come tonight to discuss what was at stake, and what remains at stake if we do not hold to the truth of the gospel. In this day of both global Christianity and watered-down Christianity, it is crucial that we understand and profess what unites us and what defines us as true believers.

Leadership Conference: Unity is hosting a leadership conference on Saturday, August 27th called, “Leading for Renewal and Revival in the Church.” Everyone is welcome to join us for the opening worship service on Friday, August 26th at 7:00pm. For more information, please visit www.unitycrc.org/leadership.

St. Cloud Prison: A team of Unity members is leading the chapel service at the St. Cloud Prison this morning. This prison typically houses 900-1100 men. Only 50 of them are permitted to attend chapel. Pray for the Holy Spirit to bless the chapel leaders and the men who attend, and pray that the men will have the courage to carry the message of salvation back to their cell blocks.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT UNITY

The Old Testament Challenge: The Old Testament booth is set up for you to explore more about the OTC, order copies of the reading guide and discussion guides, take the Biblical Literacy Test, and turn in your OTC response cards. Stop by and see what all the hype is about! Are you ready to take the challenge?

Bulletin Board Update Needed: The missions bulletin board in the back of the fellowship hall could use some sprucing up with new background paper, border, and pictures of our missionaries. The church office has the pictures available. If you are willing to help brighten our fellowship hall in this way, please contact the church office.

Ladies in Jail need to hear God's Word: For the past ten months, a team of ladies from our church has been leading Bible studies on Tuesday evenings with the female inmates at the Kandiyohi County Jail. It is a fascinating ministry, and one which strengthens the faith of the Bible study leaders, even as it encourages the incarcerated ladies. We are looking for substitute leaders to come in on days when we are ill, out of town, or on maternity leave! We always lead in teams, so you will be there as moral support, not leading the Bible Study. If you are willing to help, contact the church office.

Women of Faith Conference: Call your friends, family, & co-workers to make plans to attend the October 21-22 Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul. Tickets are $45.00/person. This event is always sold out. Contact Angela Zwart TODAY for tickets.

Extra Laptop? Ruth Veltkamp, our missionary in Nigeria, is seeking donations of good, used laptop computers. If you have one available, please contact the church office.

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

Congratulations to Andi Ruplinger and Steve Rime who were united in marriage last week Saturday. Their new address is: 110 15th Street Court #202, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379.

Please keep Rita Ninneman in your prayers as she returns next Sunday to Colorado for several weeks of re-evaluation. Rita’s mom, Gladys Springer, and her sister Raye will be traveling with her. We ask for God’s blessing over their travel, their learning and Rita’s healing. Thank you to all the participants and those who supported our team for Relay for Life. We were able to raise $3,607.80 in the effort of fighting cancer.

COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Promise Keepers 2005 “The Awakening”
Men of all ages come to Promise Keepers 2005 for “The Awakening.” Promise Keepers invites you to an Unpredictable Adventure you will never forget! September 9-10, 2005 in St. Paul, MN. Call 1-800-888-7595 to reserve your place.


2005 Minn-ia-kota Retreat
Make plans now to ‘take a break’ from your normal routine to attend the Minn-ia-kota Retreat sponsored by Bible League Volunteers on September 13 & 14, 2005 at the Oaks Hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If you went last year, you probably received a mailing this week inviting you and a friend. You won’t want to miss this excellent time for spiritual renewal! Invite a friend or two to join you at this ‘retreat with a cause’! You will experience great music, inspiring speakers, a wonderful time of fellowship with other Christians, and while enjoying all of this, be able to help supply Bibles and study materials to our friends in the Philippines. Linda Evens Shepherd, our featured speaker, will share through her dramatic testimony how she turned the ‘pits of her life’ into stepping stones.


HEY MOMS!
Have kids ages birth through kindergarten? Join us at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers)Childcare is provided. 1st Meeting, Wednesday, September 14th.
When: Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month 9:00am – 11:30am
Where: Bunde Christian Reformed Church 5086 140th Ave. SE, Clara City

2005/2006 Bunde MOPS Meeting Dates
September 14, 28; October 12, 26; November 9; December 14; January 11, 25; February 8, 22; March 8, 22; April 12, 26.

West Central Singers
The West Central Singers will begin rehearsals at Calvary on September 15th at 7pm. The group consists of twenty-eight adult singers, who presented four concerts last season. For further information on the group, please call Dr. Chet Sommers.

Needed: FRIENDSHIP MENTORS
Qualifications: A "need" to serve and being a friend. Time commitment: Minimal time for preparation, and one hour every other Monday evening. Starting September 19, 2005. Call: Helene Dykstra.

9:30 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Lead Worshiper: Bryan DeGroot and Unity Praise Team
Prayer for the Church and the World
Scripture Readings: Psalm 16, Luke 10:38-42 (Reader: Val Duininck)
Message: “Staying Plugged In To the Source” (Pastor Jeff)
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Giving of our Firstfruits: Unity Ministries
Closing and Benediction

5:00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Offering: Unity Childcare
Scripture Reading: Readings from Proverbs
Message: The Power of Heritage (Pastor Steve)

7:00 P.M. NIGHT VISION COMMUNITY YOUTH WORSHIP

NOTE: Night Vision is at Hope Presbyterian in Spicer this week at 7pm!!

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to Unity Church today! We are delighted that you have joined us for worship, but more importantly God is delighted that you have chosen to worship Him this day. It is our heart’s desire that Jesus Christ would be praised, honored, and celebrated in this place. There is nothing better in the entire universe than being in the presence of Jesus. May you truly and powerfully experience that today as we gather together to worship Him.

This Morning: One of the hardest parts of being a whole-hearted follower of Jesus Christ is that there are so many good things that pull us away from really spending time with him. In the event that we look at this morning, Mary and Martha are confronted with this struggle. Mary chose the “one thing necessary,” while Martha is distracted, worried, and upset about many things - things that needed to be done. Why is one applauded for what she does and the other told she’s doing it all wrong? As we study this passage together, we will see what Jesus is telling us we need to do, and discover what distracts us from doing it.

This evening we will be reflecting on our heritage as a church and confessing community. Positively, heritage is foundational for the next generation and the opportunity to release blessing from the older generation. Negatively, heritage can be viewed as hostile by those who are young and be a tool to hold the church hostage by those who are older. How do we exercise the power of heritage the right way in order to build a great foundation from our past for today and bless the next generation? We will be taking our cues from the teachings of Proverbs tonight to discover some of the keys to heritage. We look forward to seeing you tonight for this teaching and discussion time.

NIGHT VISION: Tonight it will be held at Hope Presbyterian Church in Spicer (7730 North Shore Dr.) as part of an area-wide worship event. Our Night Vision worship team will be leading. It’s a great privilege to be asked to lead this and your attendance and/or prayer support is appreciated this evening! It starts at 7:00pm.

Leadership Conference: Unity is hosting a leadership conference on Saturday, August 27th called, “Leading for Renewal and Revival in the Church.” For more information, please visit www.unitycrc.org/leadership. Also, if you are interested in helping to provide bars for after the service please contact Pastor Wendy.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT UNITY

Upcoming Sundays: We are exited to bring you three gifted leaders/teachers/preachers over the next three weeks here at Unity. Next Sunday we will be led by Mike Pluimer of our congregation. He will be teaching on the beauty, power, and design of creation that reveals just how great our God is and how awesome his handiwork is throughout the universe. On the 28th, we will be led in the word by Rev. Henry Wildeboer, a retired pastor in the CRC who will be here for our Leadership Conference. He has been preaching and teaching on revival and renewal in the church for the last 40 years and has a wealth of insight to share. Finally, on Labor Day weekend, we will welcome Rev. Keith Kerstetter, Senior Pastor at the Assembly of God in Willmar. This is part of a pulpit exchange that Sunday, with Pastor Steve preaching at the AOG in Willmar. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the oneness of the body of Christ. Come celebrate the breadth and depth of the gifts of the body of Christ these next three weeks here at Unity!

The Old Testament Challenge: Grand Opening TODAY!! The Old Testament booth is set up for you to explore more about the OTC, pick up copies of the reading guide and discussion guides, take the Biblical Literacy Test, and turn in your OTC response cards. Stop by and see what all the hype is about! Are you ready to take the challenge?

Bulletin Board Update Needed: The missions bulletin board in the back of the fellowship hall could use some sprucing up with new background paper, border, and pictures of our missionaries. The church office has the pictures available. If you are willing to help brighten our fellowship hall in this way, please contact the church office.

Garden Tour Help: Please sign up to bring cookies and/or help serve them for the garden tour on August 19 & 20th. There is a sign up sheet in the back of church on the information table. Thank you so much for your willingness to help.

Women of Faith Conference: Call your friends, family, & co-workers to make plans to attend the October 21-22 Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul. Tickets are $45.00/person. This event is always sold out. Contact Angela Zwart TODAY for tickets.

Christmas Program: It’s time to start planning the Christmas program. This year, the worship planning team has chosen to do a Christmas drama for a wonderful addition to our Christmas season. We are looking for people 12 years of age and older to participate. We also need people to help with lights, sound, costumes, make-up, and of course help with the set. If you are interested in any of this please contact Gina Ohden this week.

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

Open House Bridal Shower: Please join us for an Open House Bridal Shower for Mandy Layman Saturday, August 20th at 10am at Unity.

Youth Group: The Unity youth leaders have been in discussion with leaders from Willmar CRC about the opportunity of meeting together with the Reformed and Christian Reformed churches’ youth groups in Willmar this coming year. Parents, you should find a letter about this in your mail slots today.

Extra Laptop? Ruth Veltkamp, our missionary in Nigeria, is seeking donations of good, used laptop computers. If you have one available, please contact the church office.

ANTS: A wonder in God’s creation and a nuisance in a church building. Please continue to keep all food and drink the fellowship area! Thank you!

COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thank you! Thank you for your “July Love Gift” of $160.00 for the Bible League. The total amount of gifts from the churches in the West Central Minnesota League was $1,650.00. This gift was used for supplying Bibles for the Philippines. ~ Sandy Wubben

Senior Citizens - The Senior Citizens will meet at the community center on Tuesday, August 16th. We will have a pot-luck dinner at 11:30. A - H bring a dessert, I - R bring a casserole, S - Z bring a salad. Cards and games will be played later.

Garden Tour: Open House Garden Tour at the Bill Dykstra residence, August 19 and 20 from 9:30 a.m. until dark. Free will donation for Bob Dykstra and his work with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). If anyone would prefer a small group tour at another date call 978-8622.

Promise Keepers 2005 “The Awakening” - Men of all ages come to Promise Keepers 2005 for “The Awakening.” Promise Keepers invites you to an Unpredictable Adventure you will never forget! September 9-10, 2005 St. Paul, MN. Call 1-800-888-7595 to reserve your place.

2005 Minn-ia-kota Retreat: Make plans now to ‘take a break’ from your normal routine to attend the Minn-ia-kota Retreat sponsored by Bible League Volunteers on September 13 & 14, 2005 at the Oaks Hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If you went last year, you probably received a mailing this week inviting you and a friend. You won’t want to miss this excellent time for spiritual renewal! Invite a friend or two to join you at this ‘retreat with a cause’! You will experience great music, inspiring speakers, a wonderful time of fellowship with other Christians, and while enjoying all of this, be able to help supply Bibles and study materials to our friends in the Philippines. Linda Evens Shepherd, our featured speaker, will share through her dramatic testimony how she turned the ‘pits of her life’ into stepping stones.

About the Conference

The purpose of this conference is to reignite the purpose and passion of everyone in church leadership. The conference will consist of several lectures and dialouges on key issues in church leadership today.

Few would argue against the fact that ministry has become much more complicated and complex over the last few decades. There is an ever-increasing growth in programs, expectations of leaders, and ideas about what it means to be the church. And, inevitably, with this growing complexity comes higher levels of stress, burnout among paid staff and volunteers, and too often a lack of power and passion brought about by the Holy Spirit. The need for solid leadership is tremendous to ensure that the gospel of Jesus Christ is always at the center of all our ministry.

At the last regional meeting of pastors and elders in our denomination, we were blessed to have a guest speaker who spoke directly to this issue of leadership in the church, especially as it relates to the need and desire for revival in the church. In fact he did such an incredible job that many there commented that it would be great if their entire council could have heard what was said at the meeting rather than just the two representatives from their church. We took this suggestion to heart and decided to make an opportunity for that to happen - for all church leaders in our area.

We have invited Dr. Henry Wildeboer to conduct several sessions on the topic of leading for renewal and revival in the church at our Leadership Conference on Saturday, August 27 at Unity Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg, MN. This conference is for pastors, elders, deacons, board members, worship leaders, youth pastors, small group leaders, or anyone in the church who has leadership responsibilities or aspirations. The cost of the conference is $35 per person or $100 per church with no limit on how many leaders a church can bring. The conference begins at 9:00 a.m. Saturday morning and will conclude around 5:00 p.m. The schedule for the day is on the registration form on the reverse side. Lunch will be provided.

We are eager to share the insights, heart, and passion of Pastor Henry with the churches of this area so that together we may lead by the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father!

About the Speaker

Dr. Henry Wildeboer was born in the Netherlands and moved to Canada in 1950. He was ordained in 1965 as a pastor with the Christian Reformed Church, and prior to moving to Ontario, served as a pastor in Washington State and Calgary. He served at Zion Christian Reformed Church in Oshawa, ON from 1984 to 1998. Since 1984, Dr. Wildeboer has regularly taught the following courses at Tyndale Seminary: Leadership: A Lifelong Journey, Revitalizing the Established Church, and Advanced Preaching. He is currently a consultant to the Christian Reformed Church mainly in the area of church leadership development and renewal. He deals with many issues, including churches in decline or conflict. With 39 years of pastoral experience, he coaches and mentors a number of pastors regularly. He frequently leads and speaks at retreats, seminars, and conferences on various ministry and leadership issues.

Visit Sustaining Pastoral Excellence for an interesting article on the need for continuing education in church leadership.

9:30 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Lead Worshiper: Bryan DeGroot and Praise Team
Giving of our Firstfruits: Unity Ministries
Sermon Series: Building Bigger Hearts
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1-14 (Reader: Sue De Groot)
Message: The Heart Capacity to Celebrate (Pastor Steve)
Closing and Benediction

5:00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Offering: CRWRC
Scripture Reading: Exodus 18, Numbers 11:1-7, Luke 9:1-17
Message: “The Easiest Way to Wear Ourselves Out” (Pastor Jeff)

7:30 P.M. NIGHT VISION COMMUNITY YOUTH WORSHIP

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome! Welcome to Unity! May the peace and power of Christ renew your spirit today as you celebrate His love to you in His presence and for His glory!

This Morning: This morning we conclude our series of messages: Building Bigger Hearts. What’s your heart’s capacity for celebration? One of the joys of building a bigger heart is a greater capacity and desire to celebrate who God is and what He has done. Our capacity to celebrate correlates to our capacity to receive God’s grace and power in our lives and to allow His grace and power to work in us. The more grace and power in us, the greater our ability to celebrate. The less grace and power in us, the more we are prone to bitterness and frustration. May God give increase today to your desire and ability to celebrate!

This Evening: “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.” Wise words from a father-in-law. As the expectations and demands of what pastors should be doing increases, but the amount of time in a day remains the same, there is a growing trend of pastor burnout. Too often this burnout results in lack of passion, poor decision-making, and indifference that not only hurts the pastor, but the church as well. Moses’ father-in-law uses the plural, “You will all wear yourselves out.” Recently, our denomination has been facing the full effects of pastor overload, with all its negative effects. How do we cultivate realistic expectations in the church so that we don’t wear ourselves out? Bring your ideas to church tonight, please!

We received sad news this week of the sudden resignation of Dr. Calvin Bremer as both the head of the Back to God Hour and the newly appointed Executive Director of the Christian Reformed Church of North America. For more information, log on to the internet at: www.crcna.org. The denominational leaders have called on The Church to pray for the Bremers and the denomination during these difficult times. Please commit this to prayer this week.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT UNITY

Garden Tour Help: Please sign up to bring cookies and/or help serve them for the garden tour on August 19 & 20th (See Community Announcements). There is a sign up sheet in the back of church on the information table. Thank you so much for your willingness to help.

The Old Testament Challenge: The challenge begins Sept. 18. To find out more about the challenge, visit the OTC booth, which opens next week or go to www.unitycrc.org/otc.

Women of Faith Conference: A recipe for fun, blessing, and refreshment? Simple: A group of women attending a Women of Faith Conference! Call your friends, family, & co-workers to make plans to attend the October 21-22 Women of Faith Conference in St. Paul. Tickets are $45.00/person. Contact Angela Zwart for tickets or further information.

Christmas Program: It’s time to start planning the Christmas program. This year, the worship planning team has chosen to do a Christmas drama for a wonderful addition to our Christmas season. We are looking for people 12 years of age and older to participate. We also need people to help with lights, sound, costumes, make-up, and of course help with the set. If you are interested in any of this please contact Gina Ohden this week.

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

Thank you for all your prayers, phone calls, visits and flowers. Everything went really well; there is lots of healing and we thank God for everything He has done and is doing. Please continue to keep me in you prayers as I continue to heal. ~Rita Ninneman

Youth Group: The Unity youth leaders have been in discussion with leaders from Willmar CRC about the opportunity of meeting together with the Reformed and Christian Reformed churches’ youth groups in Willmar this coming year.

Council: The Unity Church Council meets tomorrow night at 7:00pm. Leadership Conference: Unity is hosting a leadership conference on Saturday, August 27th called, “Leading for Renewal and Revival in the Church.” For more information, please visit www.unitycrc.org/leadership.

ANTS: A wonder in God’s creation and a nuisance in a church building. Please keep all food and drink the fellowship area! Thank you!

OFFERING UPDATE

Through the first month of our new fiscal year, the giving received through our offerings is right on budget! We are very thankful for your generous giving!

COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Senior Citizens: The Senior Citizens will meet at the community center on Tuesday, August 16th. We will have a pot-luck dinner at 11:30. A - H bring a dessert, I - R bring a casserole, S - Z bring a salad. Cards and games will be played later.

Garden Tour: Open House Garden Tour at the Bill Dykstra residence, August 19 and 20 from 9:30 a.m. until dark. Free will donation for Bob Dykstra and his work with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). If anyone would prefer a small group tour at another date call the Dykstra's.

Promise Keepers 2005 “The Awakening” Men of all ages come to Promise Keepers 2005 for “The Awakening.” Promise Keepers invites you to an Unpredictable Adventure you will never forget! September 9-10, 2005 St. Paul, MN. Call 1-800-888-7595 to reserve your place.

2005 Minn-ia-kota Retreat Make plans now to ‘take a break’ from your normal routine to attend the Minn-ia-kota Retreat sponsored by Bible League Volunteers on September 13 & 14, 2005 at the Oaks Hotel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If you went last year, you probably received a mailing this week inviting you and a friend. You won’t want to miss this excellent time for spiritual renewal! Invite a friend or two to join you at this ‘retreat with a cause’! You will experience great music, inspiring speakers, a wonderful time of fellowship with other Christians, and while enjoying all of this, be able to help supply Bibles and study materials to our friends in the Philippines. Linda Evens Shepherd, our featured speaker, will share through her dramatic testimony how she turned the ‘pits of her life’ into stepping stones.