Worship Preview, Sunday Oct. 31, 2010

This election year we see, perhaps more than ever, a great and often contentious divide between opinions about what "social righteousness" means.  Democrats, Republicans, Tea Partiers, and political pundits of every stripe all have their own version of what a "righteous" society looks like.  On Tuesday, we'll be asked vote for the version we like best. Our Presbyterian denomination has stated that one of the six Great Ends of the Church is "The Promotion of Social Righteousness." We believe God has given us a mandate to help advance His vision of what a righteous and just society should be.  But within the church, as it is in politics, there is often disagreement about what that means. On Sunday we'll take a look at another conflict of opinions regarding social righteousness. This one is not between politicians, but between God and his people. In preparation for worship, please read John 8:1-11 and Isaiah 58:1-11 and ponder the following questions. What comes to mind when you hear the term "social righteousness?" Is there a difference between "promoting social righteousness" and acting as "morality police"? Where do you see the need for the church today to promote social righteousness? How might God be asking you to be part of that call?

This Week at Geneva

Mission Opportunities

• Quilts for the Homeless – New Quilting Schedule! Starting Monday Sept 20th 6:30-8:30PM, we will be assembling and tying quilts! It's EASY. RELAXING, and great FELLOWSHIP! Please join us even if you only have a half hour to spare. Sewers are still needed at home or church. Sheets are needed for backing the quilts. See Charlene Jones (981-3053) or Cheryl Caldwell for questions.
• CROP Hunger Walk – The 2010 Plymouth/Canton CROP Hunger Walk will take place on Sunday, October 17 with registration starting at 1:30 pm and the walk at 2:00 pm. The walk will begin at St. John's Episcopal Church, 574 S. Sheldon Rd. in Plymouth. We will be recruiting walkers and donors in the Gathering Space on Sept. 19, 26, Oct. 3 and 10. This is a family event. Strollers and wagons are welcome for young children.
• Intergenerational Mission Day – Join us as we serve dinner and host a harvest celebration at The Wayne County Family Center on Oct. 23, 4:30-7:30.  This shelter serves families from Wayne County who need short-term housing and does not provide meals on weekends for residents.  Assistance is needed for cooking, serving, clean-up, pumpkin carving, games, crafts, and hospitality.  All ages are welcome to volunteer!  Please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.
• Habitat for Humanity Fundraiser – Habitat for Humanity of Western Wayne County is holding its annual Gala dinner, dance and silent auction fundraiser, on Saturday, October 30, 2010, at Schoolcraft College, VisTaTech Culinary Arts Center. The event is black tie optional and begins at 6:00p.m.  Tickets are $100 per person or $150 per couple. Please contact Christine Bodie at (248) 760-0365 for more information. 
•  Habitat for Humanity still needs volunteer support to finish up minor tasks on October 12, 14 and 16 at the two houses in Westland. Build days last from 9:30am to 2:30pm. Volunteers are asked to be at the site no later than9:15am to complete all  waivers (if you are bringing someone that does not have one on file). Please call the Habitat office at (734) 459-7744 or email the volunteer coordinator at   habitatwwcvolunteer@yahoo.com as soon as possible for more information or to confirm the date that you can volunteer.

Lunch Bunch Luncheon

The Lunch Bunch will be meeting at noon on Wednesday, October 13 at Max & Erma’s restaurant, 2240 North Canton Center Road, Canton. Come, bring a friend, enjoy good food and lively conversation. Anyone needing transportation call Buddy or Linda Stover at 734-722-6086.

Trick or Trunk is a Halloween costume event for children and families. It will be held on Saturday, October 30th from 4-6. The children will have fun and games and then trick or treat in the church parking lot. Adults are invited to pass out candy from the trunk of their car! You can even decorate your car. If you know you’ll be attended please sign up, so we make sure we have plenty of goodies!

Women’s Bible Study

The Women’s Bible Study will begin its 2010-2011 year on Thursday, October 28 at 7:00pm. We will start the year using Don Postema’s Space for God. Books cost $15 each. If you have any questions, please contact facilitators Sandy Stoecklein at 734-595-9911 or Mary Stuart at 734-416-8964.

Worship Preview, Sunday Oct 10,2010

Dear Saints,

It’s important to know the purpose of a thing. Try to hammer a nail with an alarm clock and it won’t work very well. Try to paint a portrait with a hammer and you’ll soon discover that their purpose is very different. As human beings we learn from the Westminster Catechism that the primary purpose of humankind is to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.”

It’s important to know the purpose of clocks, hammers and especially our own lives. But what about the Church? What exactly is the Church here for? We know we are Christ’s body on earth, but how are we to live that out? Our denomination has identified six primary purposes that it calls “The Six Great Ends of the Church.”   Over the next six weeks we will be taking a closer look at each of these purposes one at a time. This Sunday’s “Great End” will be “The Proclamation of the Gospel for the Salvation of Humankind.”

In preparation for worship this Sunday, please read Matthew 8:26-39. Spend some time reflecting on the following questions.

·         How is your life different because Christ has intervened on your behalf?

·         How is that difference manifest in your life? How does it “show”?

·         Are there people in your life right now who need to see that difference and hear your story?

We will also be dedicating six beautiful new banners on Sunday, which were hand made by Grace Morgan and Bevis Richardson. Each of these banners depicts one of the Great Ends of the Church. Please be sure to join us for this special occasion.

The apostle Paul once said asked for the prayers of the Ephesian church saying, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador” (Ephesians 6:19). As we focus this Sunday on the Proclamation of the Gospel, let that be our our prayer for one another.


-- Bryan

Worship Preview, Sunday Oct.3

Dear Saints,

This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. Churches across the globe will celebrate the unity we have been given in Christ by sharing in the Lord’s Supper. It is also a special Sunday for us as we welcome The Rev. Ashraf Beshay, a Presbyterian pastor from Cairo, Egypt, who will be spending four weeks with us. I look forward this next month to being blessed and enriched as Ashraf shares with us  about the joys and challenges of our sisters and brothers who live in the Middle East.

 The unity Christ purchased for us at the cross is a poignant reality when we consider the world we live in. Not a day goes by without headline after headline reporting conflicts along national, ideological, religious, political, racial, economic, social and just about any other line you can fathom.  Jesus lived in a world very different from ours, but one that was no less divided and had much to say about how he intended for his followers to live in such a world.   

In preparation for worship, please read Luke 9:51-56 and Luke 10:25-37 and ponder the following questions.

What are some of the deepest divisions between you and other people in your life?

How do you respond to the idea that Jesus calls us to be a neighbor to these very people?

What would it look like for you to take one step toward neighborliness?

-- Bryan