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The Messenger
June 9, 2022
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This Sunday, June 12 is FirstCov's 142nd Anniversary!
Check out the display in the church lobby.
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~IN THIS ISSUE~
Craig's weekly video
Financial Update
Annual Meeting-Your Input
Calendar of upcoming dates
Sermon Series- Putting it all together....in Christ
Thank you Karin Alferink
Scrip Order dates
Winn Reception June 12
Walk for Life at FirstCov June 12
Special Needs Workshop June 14
Zoom Event for Adult Caregivers
Mosaic Church Wish List
50/70 Anniversary Sunday June 26
Nursery Volunteers Needed
JOY Whitecaps Game June 29
One Epic Summer Day July 27
FirstCov Camp Retreat Aug 19-21
World Vision Marathon October 16
MOPS Launching Fall 2022
Can/Bottle Drive Fundraiser!
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Pastor Craig's Weekly Video
"Where is it written? Where is my book?"
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We will be posting the following Financial Update each week in the Messenger. If you have any questions, contact Roberta Wibalda at rwibalda@firstcovgr.org or Loretta Bezara at loretta.bezara@att.net. Here is the update for June 5, 2022.
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If you joined us for the Annual Meeting on May 22, we would like you to take a moment to complete a short survey (anonymous) about the meeting.
We appreciate your input. Please go to this link:
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Sunday, June 12 at 12pm - JOIN US
Pregnancy Resource Team FirstCov Walk for Life
We will have snacks & water - Walk as long as you want and we will have prayer stations set up for praying!
Donations accepted to the Pregnancy Resource Center
Sunday, June 12
Cake Reception at 10am for Jack & Paula Winn
Come early for the 10:30 service to celebrate the Winn's!
Sunday, June 26
50 & 70 year Anniversary Recognition
JOY Ministries White Caps Baseball Game
Wednesday, June 29
TIckets on Sale on Sundays through June 12
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Sunday, June 12
9:00am Traditional Service
Sanctuary
Reception between services for Jack & Paula Winn
Stay after the 9:00 service and come early for the 10:30 service to celebrate and thank the Winn's!
10:30am Contemporary Service
Family Life Center/Gym
Sermon: Bless the God who blesses us
Pastor Craig Swanson
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3- 14 (NIV)
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Today we rejoice and mourn. We rejoice in the goodness of God in giving us friends who become partners in ministry and leaders in the church. Such is our sister in Christ, Karin Alferink. For the last 6+ years she has been serving as our children's ministry coordinator, with special focus on our K through elementary students. We are thankful for her service to the Lord and his church and her labor of love for the youngest among us.
Karin has tendered her resignation and is stepping into full-time work in the world of public education. We celebrate that, but we mourn the ending of a chapter both in her life and ours.
Pray for church ministry leadership as we grapple with next steps in children's ministry.
Here is Karin's resignation communication:
Dear Staff, Leadership Team, and Congregation of First Covenant Church,
It has been a joy serving in the role of Children’s Ministries Coordinator for the last 6 plus years. I enjoyed getting to know the kids and families of this church and teaching them about the Gospel message. I am writing this letter to let you know that I have decided to close this chapter of my life and move onto a new adventure. I have accepted a full-time position at Coopersville Area Public Schools working in the ELL (English Language Learner) department. I will begin my role at Coopersville at the start of the 2022-2023 school year and will finish my employment at First Cov at the end of July. My family is not leaving First Cov. We love this church, and it is our home. We look forward to continuing to worship together with our First Cov family. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers throughout my time here. It has been a wonderful experience.
Thank you,
Karin Alferink
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The new dates for upcoming Scrip orders are:
Orders due noon on Tuesday, June 7, delivered by Sunday, June 12.
Orders due noon on Sunday June 26, delivered by Wednesday, June 29.
Questions please email Holly Rowley throwley83@gmail.com.
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Cake Reception for Jack & Paula Winn
THIS Sunday, June 12
Between services in the Fellowship Hall
The Winns have given an extraordinary amount of time over many years in a labor of love for the Lord and for our congregation. Join us on June 12 as we honor their service to FirstCov! Thankfully, they will continue to be involved in our worship life in various ways. We are so grateful for their friendship, their partnership in the gospel, and their sharing of their passion and love for worship and music with us!
If you would like to send cards of appreciation, their address is:
5306 Effingham Dr. SE
Kentwoord, MI 49508
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COME & WALK WITH US & PRAYER FOR LIFE!
The Pregnancy Resource Ministry team is hosting a WALK FOR LIFE for our church community. It is THIS Sunday, June 12th to begin at 12:00pm on the front lawn. Participants will walk around the church, and parking lot and stop at stations to pray for Life. How long or how far you walk is up to you! Any donations to go to the Pregnancy Resource Center. There will be snacks and water available. No need to sign up! Just come to Walk and Pray!
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King's Table Ministries invites you to attend a free workshop at FirstCovGR on Tuesday, June 14
10:30am to 12:00pm in Room 207.
"Special Needs: Caring for Loved Ones under Unique Circumstances"
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Caring for an Older Loved One?
Join us for a discussion with author Jennifer FitzPatrick!
presented by Covenant Living of the Great Lakes
"Get Beyond Burnout: What to do when you are barely haning on as a caregiver?"
Caring for an older loved one can be a stressful experience, especially in recent years! Join Covenant Living and Jennifer FitzPatrick, former psychotherapist, author, and gerontology instructor at Johns Hopkins, for this enlightening discussion on managing stressors, alleviating burnout, and improving your mental health—all while ensuring your loved one receives the best possible care. Jennifer FitzPatrick will join us via ZOOM to help you identify and manage your most pressing concerns, all while ensuring your loved one receives the best possible care. There are 3 dates to choose from:
June 14 at 10am
June 16 at 6pm
June 18 at 12pm
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Mosaic Church of Grand Rapids is a new church plant of the Evangelical Covenant denomination in our area. They have a summer kids program called "Summer Lights". Throughout the summer they invite the children in the neighborhood for pizza, outdoor sports, crafts, and the Gospel of Jesus. This ministry is a way to share the gospel to many kids and families who have never heard it before. It is held on Thursday evenings at Garfield Park.
They have an Amazon Wish list below that is for prizes that the kids can earn throughout the summer and is one of the main things that keeps them coming back. If you are willing to donate an item for this program, you can go to the link, order and the item will be shipped directly to them.
If you are interested in volunteering for this weekly kids program at Garfield Park, you can learn more at this link:
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We will be recognizing and honoring those in our congregation who are celebrating 50 or 70 years of marriage in 2022!!! We have notifed the couples we know of, but if this also includes you, please let us know by calling the office at 616-453-6346 or email office@firstcovgr.org. |
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Nursery Volunteers needed!
Do you like to rock babies? Read to a toddler? Or play legos? FirstCov attendees have the cutest kiddos! Just go to the link below to sign up for a Sunday this summer! Any questions, contact Amanda at aponstein@firstcovgr.org.
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Join JOY Ministries for a........
White Caps Baseball game on Wednesday, June 29
at 6:35 pm.
Tickets for Box Seat (on the shade side) are $20.00 each which includes hot dog & pop. Sign up/ticket sales on on Sundays through June 19. Payment due at the time of sign up. Meet at church at 5:30 if you want to carpool and share parking cost!
Please contact Mike Poggi or Chris Froman with questions.
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FirstCovGR Camp Retreat
August 19-21
Join us for a wonderful weekend of worship,
fellowship & fun with your FirstCov family at beautiful Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp!
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Starting in October, our MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers) Ministry will be launching at FirstCovGR! MOPS is an amazing ministry that serves moms of preschoolers from all walks of life, from our church and the community. To make this a reality, we need childcare workers for the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month. The meetings will be from 9:15am to 11:15 from October to May, workers being needed from 9:00 to 11:30. Workers will be paid. Having the little ones cared for by trusted adults is truly a blessing. Can you help?
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Join FIRSTCOVGR on this Epic Journey!
In Africa, there is a saying: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Join us and let's go farther together!
We are running/walking with Team World Vision to help provide life-changing clean water to children and communities in developing countries. But this is not just for runners. If you have ever wanted to do something about global poverty, say YES. You can do this!
If you decide you want to try the half or full marathon on October 16, Team World Vision provides everything you need to cross the finish line: training plans, weekly email encouragement, fundraising guides and incentives, and an incredible race weekend experience.
To learn more about the half/full marathon on October 16, please text FirstCovGR to 44-888.
The FirstCov team leader is Caiden Nemeck and you can email him at ajnemecek@gmail.com.
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FirstCov Bottle/Can Drive Fundraiser
Are you sick of empty bottles and cans piling up at your house? Here is your chance to get rid of them. Support our high school youth group students for their trip to UNITE NORTH (St. Paul, MN) on July 13-17. Please bring your can & bottle returnables (for deposit only) tied up and secured in garbage bags and drop them off INSIDE the first stall garage at church at your convenience.
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1933 Tremont Blvd. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
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