July 24, 2005

9:30 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Lead Worshiper: Gar Jasper
Giving of our Firstfruits: Unity Ministries
Sermon Series: Building Bigger Hearts
Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-26 (Reader: Sarah Brouwer)
Message: Spirit-filled Love - Motivated Service! (Pastor Steve)
Testimony: Ruth Veltkamp
Closing and Benediction

5:00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Missions Testimony: Ruth Veltkamp
Offering: Teen Hope

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

WORSHIP NOTES

“You, my brothers, were called to be free … Serve one another in love. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:13 & 25

Welcome to Unity! May you find refreshment and joy for your soul as we gather together in the presence of God for worship today!

This morning we continue our series entitled: “Building Bigger Hearts”, a series of messages on relationships. Today we will give special attention to the element of SERVING in our relationships. Paul reveals the core of this element in Galatians 5: Spirit-filled love motivates service to one another. We will look at practical ways this plays out in our daily lives and how the more we engage in this effort, the greater our capacity to both love and serve those around us will become. At the conclusion of the message today, Ruth Veltkamp, our missionary to Nigeria will share a little of she serves with Spirit-filled love the peoples of Nigeria.

This evening, we are excited to have Ruth Veltkamp who will spend extended time sharing of her work with the Muslims as well as the opportunities all of us have to reach out to the Muslim community, not only through her but to those in West Central Minnesota. We look forward to seeing you this evening to hear her testimony and challenge.

You are invited to join us on Sunday July 31 at our evening worship time to hear Mike Pluimer share about his experience of preparing for and competing in the Ironman Triathlon. After hours of training, hard work, and discipline, Mike was able to complete the race and raise nearly $83,000 for the Tuition Assistance program at Central Minnesota Christian School. Come and be inspired by Mike’s testimony of how God’s grace helps us endure life’s challenges and finish strong.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT UNITY

THANK YOU to everyone who has already agreed to help out this fall teaching our children! To date, nearly every teaching need is filled already! Bless you for your willingness to engage in this great Kingdom effort!

Women of Faith Conference: A recipe for fun, blessing, & 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. Contact Angela Zwart for tickets or further information. Approximately 15 tickets remain.

Youth Group Valley Fair Trip! Youth Group grades 7-12 will be going to Valley Fair on August 6th. Please contact Jill at 967-4624 by July 31st if you can go and let her know if you are bringing a friend. Also please let the kids from our Youth Group who do not attend Unity know about this.

The Challenge begins this Fall: Coming September 18th. The OTC. Prepare now.

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!

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

Pastor Jeff & Wendy Fisher will continue to be out of the office until Friday, celebrating their first anniversary down in Florida (dodging hurricanes). April Swierenga, our Administrative Assistant in the office, will be out of the office until August 2. Please continue to contact the office for any needs you may have. Voicemail and e-mail will be monitored daily with follow-up on your needs as soon as we are able.

Offering next Sunday (July 31) will be for the Love fund. Gifts for other funds should be clearly designated in the memo of your check.

COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Donation Auction
Monday, July 25, 2005 at 6:00pm the Annual Donation Auction for New Life Treatment Center will be held at Woodstock, Minnesota. Donations of baked goods, new or good used items, farm supplies, etc. would be appreciated. Everyone is welcome to come and join in on the bidding. The proceeds have been designated for the Need for Life Fund. Barbecues, coffee, and kool-aid will be served.

2005 Summer Conference “Draw Near”
Community Bible Church is hosting the 2005 Summer Conference “Draw Near”. Wednesday - Sunday, July 27-31. Mornings at 10:00am and evenings at 7:00pm. There is no charge for this conference and childcare is provided. (1117 Benson Road, Montevideo 320-269-7500) Everyone is welcome.

Parachute Band
Come and see The Parachute Band in concert Friday, July 29 at 7:30pm. It will be held at the Evangelical Free Church of Willmar (1305 19th Ave S.W. Willmar) A Love offering will be taken for the Band. If you would like some further information on this event please call 320-235-4317.

Lake Geneva Christian Reformed Family Conference
Plan now to attend the 22nd annual Lake Geneva Christian Reformed Family Conference to be held August 8-11, 2005 in Alexandria, Minnesota. The first session will begin at 3pm on Monday afternoon. Registration blanks are available from your church office. Mail your registration to: Harriet Talsma, 730 Mechanic Street, Edgerton, MN 56128.

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

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.

Garden Tour
Open House Garden Tour at the Bill Dykstra residence, August 19 and 20th. 9:30 till 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.

Just thought you would like to know that…

ELECTRONIC MEDIA

In this age of great technological advances, we at Unity are looking at ways of communicating with the congregation and community through various media means, curbing our use of paper or other disposable resources. To that end, more and more of our communication to you and with you will come in the forms of E-MAIL (info@unitycrc.org), VIA OUR WEBSITE (www.unitycrc.org), POWERPOINT (for announcements and other notices), and other media venues as they become available. Our efforts will be to cut costs and keep people more informed. For those who do not have access to these elements, we will continue to inform you via your mailslots, the bulletin, and postal mail. Look for sign-ups, notices, and changes in the near future.

FYI: For the last six months, we have had a Worship Planning Team in place to provide review, insight, and direction to our worship services. Each week we meet to assess the previous Sunday’s services as well as plan for the upcoming Sunday, including future services, special services, and sermon series. If you have any input, ideas, or music suggestions (ministry of music, songs, etc.) please contact one of the team members: Pastor Steve, Pastor Jeff, Tom Bruin, Kerry Breems, Gina Ohden, Willis Wubben, and Sheri Pluimer.

FYI: Each week the staff meets to review pastoral care needs, plan and execute the work of administration, work on individual and team projects for the church, as well as for prayer and accountability. Each staff member has a job description and specific tasks they are responsible. These job descriptions are available online at: www.unitycrc.org. Each staff member has a cell phone, voicemail, and e-mail to provide you with ready assistance should you find yourself in need. Our staff consists of: Steve Zwart, Senior Pastor; Jeff Fisher, Pastor of Spiritual Formation; Wendy Fisher, Pastor of Congregational Life; and April Swierenga, Administrative Assistant.

FYI: Our Building and Grounds Team is organizing a list of items that need attention at the parsonage and our worship facility. The list is fairly long and your support and encouragement is needed. Would you bless them when they call on you for your assistance by saying: “Yes, what can I do to help?”

FYI: Did you know that over the last year, we have had nearly 50 different people participate in the worship service through prayer, Bible reading, worship leading, and playing of instruments?!! God has blessed us with a wide variety of talent in music! Please take a moment to thank some of these people today for their service in leading us in worship!