October 5, 2008

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Sunday, October 5

9:00am:  Missions Prayer Time

9:00am: Sunday school for students in grades 3 - 12.

10:00am:  Morning Worship and Children's Church for children ages 3-preK and K-gr.2

Monday:

4:45pm: Worship Planning Meeting

Tuesday:

7:00pm: Elders Meeting

Wednesday:

6:30pm: GEMS at First CRC

7:00pm: SRYG at the Rock on 8th for 9th - 12th Grade

7:00pm: Men's Jail Ministry

9:00pm: Worship Team Practice

Sunday, October 12

9:00am:  Sunday School for students in grades 3 - 12.

10:00am:  Morning Worship and Children's Church for children ages 3-preK and K-gr.2

6:30pm: Prayer & Praise Service

Unity Church Announcements

Prayer Ministry

At the conclusion of our worship time each week people will be available to pray with you about any item of concern to you.

Announcements

Community Announcements are available on a bright green paper in the information rack located on the wall in the fellowship hall

Announcements are also available on our website at www.unitycrc.org  

Prayer Corner and Ministry Information is online at members.unitycrc.org   

Schedules will no longer be in the bulletin. You will find a new schedule for October & November in your mailboxes today. There will be a new schedule in your mailboxes on the last Sunday of each month, along with a monthly birthday and anniversary calendar.

Thank you

I want to thank everyone for their prayers, cards and concerns following my recent heart attack. There is no surgery for this type of condition, only medications, diet and limit my activities. God Bless all. Irene Bonnema

Fair Trade Coffee

Unity has been serving Fair Trade coffee purchased through Equal Exchange since June. To learn more about this exciting way our church is being a good steward of its' consumer dollars, go to  www.equalexchange.com.

Angel Food

The October Angel Food menu is now available. Angel Food ministries is a  program that seeks to stretch the food buying power of your dollar by purchasing quality goods in large quantity, and passing the savings on to local communities. Both regular and senior boxes are now available as well as special purchases when a standard box is ordered. Orders can be taken Monday - Friday from 9:00am - 4:00pm from April in the church office. You can order now till Thursday, October 9th. (other times and dates for ordering are available directly from Harvest Community Church in Willmar). The pick up date has now been moved closer to the ordering end date and will be Saturday, October 25th at Harvest Community Church. For more information about this ministry you can contact Christina Vander Pol.

SRYG Schedule!

Wednesday, October 8th - 9-12th grades at the Rock 7-9p.m. Topic: Spiritual Warfare

Wednesday, October 15th - 7-12th grades time to be determined Activity: Go to Willmar Public High School Football Game

Saturday, October 18th-19th - 9-12th grade Activity: Spiritual Retreat--day long, possibly overnight

Solid Rock Snack Schedule

We are in need of some volunteers to fill up our snack schedule. Would you be willing to bring a snack, provide the drink or both? There are lots of open spots to fill. If you need some ideas, there are some great ones on the top of the sign up sheet. Please sign up today. Sign up sheets are hanging on the information bulletin board in the back of church.

Nursery Toy Drive

The unity nursery is looking for some new and much needed toys.  If you would like to donate a new toy, please drop them off at the church office by September 30th. Some of the toys we are looking for include:  Little people sets, large legos, train track set, soft balls, hot wheels cars, dolls, strollers, doll accessories, small riding toys, and trucks.

Pastor Appreciation Month

Let's give thanks this month for those that minister full time among us. Remember Jeff, Steve and Kirk and their families. Please pray for them and let them know how much they are appreciated!

Community Announcements

Volunteers Wanted!

The New-2-You Thrift store would really appreciate it if each area church would find volunteers for one Saturday a month to help pick up large donated items (furniture) and deliver them to the store. If you would be willing to be on a volunteer list please call the church office and let April know.

CMCS Service Project

Need your leaves raked, windows washed, or yard cleaned up?  The 7th-12th grade students from CMCS will be offering their services as part of a service day for school.  The project will take place some time in mid to late October depending on the weather. If you would like a hand, please contact the school at 978-8700 and let us know.  We are limited to one day, so we will take names on a first-call basis. Once a final date has been set, we will put it on the website.

GEMS

The Prinsburg GEMS will be collecting donations for the Willmar Area Food Shelf on Wednesday, October 8.   Donations should be non-perishable food items. Cash donations are also welcome. If you do not live in Prinsburg or will not be available for us to stop by, please bring your donations to the Fellowship hall by October 8th. Any questions, please contact Barb Ahrenholz.

REMINDER!

All those that ordered Papa Murphy's Pizza's from the GEMS, pick up is THIS Friday, October 10th from 4:30pm - 6:30pm at First CRC.

CTI Music Ministries 

Do You Have a Heart for Missions? Do You Enjoy Talking to People?
CTI Music Ministries has a position open in the Recruiting Department and
will soon have a position open in the Booking Department.  We are looking
for someone who enjoys talking to people and who is organized and self-motivated.  Skills needed:  Good communication skills, keyboarding & the ability to learn computer software programs, good telephone & email communication.  We will consider either a full-time or part-time position.  Hours are flexible.  Contact CTI Music Ministries at 320-235-0155.

Exciting Banquet Opportunity

Community Christian School in Willmar will be hosting their Annual Dessert Banquet on Thursday, November 13th at 7:00pm at the E-Free Church in Willmar. The speaker this year is Rick Larson, a professor of Law at the University of Texas. He became fascinated with astronomy a number of years back and some of the discoveries he has turned up in his quest are nothing but 'mind boggling'.  He has made some amazing discoveries of the Star of Bethlehem. Contact Tracy Borstad for ticket information if you are interested in attending this banquet. 

Annual Celebration of Life Banquet

Hope Pregnancy center announces Lysa Terkeurst, author and founder of Proverbs 31 ministries as the speaker for the banquet. Thursday, October 9th at 6:00pm. Lysa is a nationally known speaker who will share with you her testimony of the pain of her abortion and the healing that God has brought to her life. The Finsaas String Trio, a client testimony, a Beurenger Doll Silent Auction and a wonderful meal will also be a part of the event. A free-will offering will be taken. For more information about this banquet please contact Hope Pregnancy Center at 235-7619

Emden's Second Annual "Dinner & A Show"

Wednesday, November 5.  Dinner from 5:30 to 7:00 with the show to follow. Proceeds from this event will benefit the building fund. Featured entertainers will be the "Chord Ayres" men's ensemble from Southwestern Minnesota. A variety of musical numbers will be performed including patriotic, sacred, as well as secular selections. A featured group will include a quartet named "Four on The Floor". Plan on attending this evening of fun, food, and fellowship. It will prove to be a great time!

YATEC

Need a little encouragement?  Escape from life...for a weekend. Minnesota's 3rd YATEC (Young Adults Together Encounter Christ) will be held October 17-19 at the First Baptist Church in Willmar.  It is a great opportunity to take in the unconditional love of God and experience true Christian community. Ages post-high to mid-life crisis are invited!  Applications and brochures are found in the back. For more information check out  www.yatecmn.org or call 320-905-0345.

What is YATE CMN?

The invitation is open to anyone to come to the closing service of the retreat weekend.  The YATEC teams and candidates will come together to share experiences and stories of renewed faith or a new life in Christ.  The service will be Sunday, October 19 at 4:30 at the First Baptist Church (1000 6th St. SE Willmar). Please be there by 4:15. Refreshments will be served after the service.

West Central Christian Singles

October Events

Sunday, October 12:  A hayride through a Minnesota River Valley county park.  Come enjoy God's handiwork in the colorful leaves and beautiful nature.  Enjoy good Christian fellowship in a safe environment.  Dress appropriately for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes.  Bring a bag lunch and beverage.  If it rains, we will cancel.  Call Steve or Jim for further updates.  Meet at E Free church in Willmar in the parking lot at 1 pm to carpool or Harry's Corner, the junction of Hwy 7 and 71, at 1:30 pm to carpool to Jim's place by 2 pm.  He will be our guide through the park

Friday, October 24, 7 pm Join us at E Free in Willmar for a game night.  Bring a snack to share.  Beverages and paper products will be provided.  Practice your drawing skills as we play team Pictionary, maybe even Guys against the Gals.  We will debate the actual teams on that day.  Other games are welcome.  Just a good opportunity for clean Christian fellowship, laughing at the silly answers we all come up with.

Friendship Ministries

9th Annual Spiritual Retreat will be Saturday, October 18th at the E-Free Church in Willmar from 9:00am - 2:00pm. We are looking for helpers for table activities, games, lunch servers, or making bars. If you are able to help out part of the day, call Helene Dykstra or Clara DeRonde.

Helping Hands Return to Mississippi!

Duane Bonnema is organizing a group of adult volunteers from area churches to lend a helping hand in Mississippi this fall.  This group will be leaving early on Saturday, November 15, and returning in the evening of Saturday, November 22, 2008.  While there, we plan to pour cement footings and a foundation for the Mount Buria Missionary Baptist Church's new building.  Their current church building is very old and is falling apart.  They have enough money to purchase the materials, and we are planning to come alongside these fellow believers to help them pour their floor.  We are welcoming additional volunteers at this time.  Please pray for us as we prepare to return to Mississippi.  If you have any questions or can help in any way, please contact Duane Bonnema or Andy Ypma.

Iowa Flood Volunteers Needed
October 26-November 2

CRWRC Disaster Response Services is partnering with other Christian relief organizations in a home repair blitz in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area, where 5000+ homes were damaged by June floods, for "8 Days of Hope." The colder weather that will soon be here makes this appeal urgent!  Skilled and unskilled volunteers are needed, but especially plumbers, electricians, and HVAC people.  Housing and meals provided, with transportation your only expense.  Help for 2 days or more to bring hope to a hurting community--registration requested by October 13.  Visit www.crwrc.org/drs  or www.eightdaysofhope.org  for more information or to volunteer.