October 12, 2008

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Sunday, October 12

9:00 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

Monday:

4:45pm: Worship Planning Meeting

Wednesday:

6:30pm: Cadets at First CRC

7:00pm Solid Rock Youth at Rock on 8th - 9-12th grade

7:00pm: Men's Jail Ministry

9:00pm: Worship Team Practice

Sunday, October 19

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

10:00am:  Morning Worship "Reaching Our Community through Unity" from John 17:20-23 - Pastor Mike Menning and Children's Church for children ages 3-preK and K-gr.2

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.

Guest Preacher Next Week

Next Sunday we have the privilege of welcoming Mike (Marion) Menning to our worship service.  Mike is currently serving with Christian Reformed Home Missions in Salt Lake City, UT.  He is the former pastor of Mountain Springs Community(CRC) Church, previously worked with CRWRC for 15 yrs, and is a former Minnesota State Senator.  He was also one of the leaders in Utah where our youth group went last July on their mission trip.  His message from John 17 will also include helpful insights into the religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also referred to as Mormonism.

Q&A Following Worship

After the morning worship service, you are invited to join Pastor Mike Menning in the sanctuary for a time of dialogue about the beliefs and practices of Mormons, as well as the ministry that he is doing in Utah.  Grab your coffee and cookies and join us for this informative time.

Announcements

Community Announcements (bright blue paper) are available 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. 

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!

Missionary Christmas Cards

Due October 26! 

Please place your Christmas cards for our missionaries in the gift boxes in the Fellowship Hall by Sunday morning, October 26.  Thank-you, the Missions Team

Staffing Update

Pastor Jeff informed the council that he and Wendy are making final deliberations about going to Kathmandu, Nepal from January to May, where Jeff has been invited to teach at Evangelical Presbyterian Theological Seminary and help minister at Cross-Way Church - a church plant by a Nepali CRC pastor.  Please pray for them as they follow God's calling and raise the necessary funds to go.  Further details can be found in the Council minutes available in the information rack.

Council minutes

September and October minutes are available in the media rack in the fellowship hall.

Friendship Class

Friendship Class, Monday October 13th, 7pm at the Willmar CRC. Lesson Two.
Lunch Nancy and Gret. Also needed are helpers and bars for the Friendship  Spiritual Retreat on October 18. Call Helene Dykstra or Clara DeRonde

Lost and Found!

There are several items in the lost and found and due to the lack of space all items must be claimed by the end of October or they will be donated to the New 2 You thrift store. Thank you!

SRYG Schedule!

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

Wednesday, October 22nd - 9-12th grades at Rock 7-9p.m.

Topic: Follow up on retreat-Holiness

Saturday, October 25th Community Barn Dance (7p.m. start?)

Put on by Tim & Melody Williams at their apple orchard--18461 County Rd. 5 SW

Wednesday, October 29th 7-12th grades at Rock 7-9p.m.

Topic: Trigger Video--Perry Breems--(9-12th)

Topic: Kirk Vander Pol speaking (7-8)

Friday night, October 31st - 7-12th grades meet at 7p.m. at Rock

Activity: Costume Party and bowling to follow (combined with other youth groups)

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 idea's, 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.

Interested in Apples?

The youth group has access to an unmaintained apple orchard. If you would like some apples please contact a youth group leader.

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 October 12th. Some of the toys we are looking for include: Little people sets, large legos, train track set, soft balls, hot wheels cars, doll, strollers, doll accessories, small riding toys, and trucks.

Community Announcements

Raymond Cadets

The Raymond Cadets will have their first meeting on Monday, October 13th at 7:00pm at the Raymond CRC. Lunch will be Ryan Greenwalt and Levi Post.

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 at for ticket information if you are interested in attending this banquet. 

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 YATEC MN?

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

~ TONIGHT 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

It 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 on 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.

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 donated large 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.