August 7, 2005

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.