June 12, 2005

9:30 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Lead Worshiper: Praise Team
Professions of Faith - Michael Ammermann, Brittany Blom, Jason Groen, Rachelle Poppema, Jordan Zondervan
Baptism - Brittany Blom
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 16-17
Message: “Communing with Christ: The Spirit’s Role in the Lord’s Supper” (Pastor Jeff)
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Giving of our Firstfruits: General Fund (Next Week: Building Fund)
Closing and Benediction

5:00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Offering: Unity Childcare
Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:13-36
Message: “Trusting Jesus” (Pastor Wendy)

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

WORSHIP NOTES

Welcome to Unity Church on this Day of the Lord! It is our desire that every person in this place have an authentic encounter with God. He has invited us here to worship and he is seeking those who would worship him in spirit and truth. May you find life and joy and grace and love as you seek the presence of God in Christ today.

This Morning: As we engage in worship together each Sunday, it is our purpose and goal to experience the presence of God. In essence, what we desire is to commune with Christ. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper that is exactly what we are doing. The Holy Spirit takes this symbolic act of worship and makes it a true communion with Christ himself. This morning Pastor Jeff will share some of the insights about the role of the Holy Spirit in the Lord’s Supper that were included in his Master’s thesis, and that have led to the desire for (and practice of) more frequent celebration.

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper: Whether a guest or a member, you are invited to join us in receiving the bread and the cup at the Table of the Lord this morning. If you have committed your life to Jesus Christ as Lord, and recognized your need for him as Savior, and desire to connect with him in a deep personal way, then you are more than welcome to come forward to receive the elements through which God nourishes and sustains us, forgives us, and assures us that he will keep all his promises to us.

This Evening: Would you say that you are “walking on water” these days? What about during life’s storms what do you focus on, the wind or the Savior? Tonight we will learn a valuable lesson from Peter—a lesson about trusting Jesus in the middle of the night, in the middle of the storm, and even (or especially!) when you are doing what you thought was impossible. How did Peter learn this lesson? Through just a little faith in a huge God. Come tonight and ask God where he might be calling you to get out of the boat and to do more than you ever imagined.

Professions of Faith: Today we will hear the public professions of faith of Michael Ammerman, Jason Groen, Rachelle Poppema, Jordan Zondervan and Brittany Blom, who will also be baptized. We celebrate the seeds of faith that God planted in them and that have been nurtured in so many ways so that today they can say, “Yes, I believe in Jesus!” and we give unending thanks to God for each of these young people. Please continue to pray for them as they, with all of us, grow up into the fullness of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Name Tag Sundays: You will notice people wearing name tags today. Once a month we will have name tags available and encourage everyone to wear them to make our guests feel welcome and to help us connect with each other and get to know one another better.

Dordt Jubilee Sunday A special worship service commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dordt College has been scheduled for Sunday evening, June 26. It will be a combined service for area CRCs, and will be held in the First CRC sanctuary at 6:30pm . The message will be brought by Dr. Carl Zylstra, President of Dordt College, and the offering will be for Dordt.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT UNITY

Fall Kick-Off Planning Meeting: All those who are on the Education, Fellowship, and Worship Planning Ministry Teams will have a Joint-Session Meeting July 13th at 7:00pm at the church to brainstorm and start planning the Fall Kick-Off.

UNITY FAMILY CARES AND CONCERNS

Please pray for the leaders and students from our church who will be leaving for their 8-day mission trip on Saturday. The group will be traveling to Chicago and connecting up with members of the youth group from Roseland CRC. We pray for God to do amazing things in and through them!

Thank you to all who helped Wendy and me celebrate my graduation and the completion of my thesis and Master of Theology degree. Thanks also to Pastor Steve and Angela (and all those who hid their secret) for the surprise visit to support us in Grand Rapids. We have been very honored to be a part of this congregation and are grateful that the opportunity was made for me to do this. - Jeff and Wendy Fisher

The family of Dick F Marcus would like to thank everyone for helping us celebrate Dad's heavenly journey. The food and meals showed your kindness, the prayers and cards your love, the gifts your generosity. Dad and Mom loved your visits over the last 5 months. We experienced such a blessing being part of this family of God. We will never forget it.

Congregational Meeting Notes: The Unity Church congregation ratified the council’s decision to extend the current relationship with Pastors Jeff and Wendy for another year by an 82-20 vote. The 2005-2006 General Fund and Missions Budgets were also approved. The deacons explained changes to the way offerings will be collected and distributed. And there was discussion about the length of the morning worship services.

Christmas Program: Put it on your calendar now: December 18th at 7:00 pm will be the Unity Church Christmas program. More information will be coming soon.

COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Carpenter’s Tools International Music Ministries Presents CTI Music Ministries invites you to an evening of music and testimony. This is the year-end concert of our full-time missionaries who have served for one year. So, come and hear the music that has touched the lives of people all over the country and around the world. When: TONIGHT at 7:00pm, Where: The Evangelical Free Church of Willmar (1305 19th Ave. S.W., Willmar, MN) in the Worship Center; Cost: FREE!

Pork Roast: Come out for the 25th Annual Raymond Christian Education Society’s Pork Roast. Thursday, June 16 from 5pm-8pm at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church. Free-will donation. Carry-out is available. Everyone is welcome!!

Senior Citizens: For our June Meeting, I am asking that we meet at 1:00pm on Monday, June 20th at the community room. We hope to visit Don Bakker’s display of antiques, and his unique station he has built. After this Don has invited us to his lake cabin for pontoon rides and a luncheon at their home (however I will be furnishing the luncheon, so please remember there will be a small fee). Remember, that’s Monday, June 20th at 1:00pm.

Open House Bridal Shower: You are invited to an Open House Bridal Shower honoring Jenny Ledeboer, Bride-elect of Joe Ahrenholz, Saturday, June 25th at Prinsburg First CRC Fellowship Hall from 9:30am to 11:30am. They are registered at Target and Herbergers.

Dordt College’s 50th Anniversary: A 50th Anniversary Celebration will be held on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center on July 1-3. Everyone is invited to attend events throughout the weekend, including music and theater performances, youth and alumni intramural sports, socials, food, art, a parade, fireworks and more. Most events are free, but some require pre-registration or minimal fees. For additional details or to register, call for a brochure at 1-800-343-6738 (extension #3) or visit www.dordt.edu/events/jubilee/

Fourth of July Worship Celebration: Join us for our annual Fourth of July Community Worship Celebration, Monday July 4th at 10AM! Our speaker will be Tom Pritchard, President of the Minnesota Family Council. We hope to see you at First Church in Prinsburg on the 4th! Please call the Unity Church office with any questions: 320-978-4300.

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, Edgerton, MN 56128.

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.