Straits Talk

United Methodist and Presbyterian (USA)

The Church of the Straits

P.O. Box 430 * Mackinaw City, MI 49701

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Straits Talk

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDMackinaw CityMichigan 49701

Permit No. 1

February 2015Minister Pastor David WallisHead Usher Cless Hurlburt Organists Wayne Clemens

and Loretta MartinekChoir DirectorAccompanist Cidney RothTreasurer Janet SchaeferFinancial Secretary Jean HuntClerk Diane Robbins

Secretary Judy Churchill

Office Phone: 231 436-8682 * Pastor’s Home Phone: 231 436-5484E-mail – Pastor – norev@juno.com

Church office – office@churchofthestraits.comChurch website – www.thechurchofthestraits.com

OUR WORSHIP SCHEDULETraditional Worship 10:30 a.m.

Adult/Youth Sunday School 9:30 a.m.The Mission of The Church of the Straits

To worship God faithfullyTo grow together spiritually

To serve Jesus Christ andour neighbor joyfully

… in the power of God’s Spirit.

Bible Quiz Answer: D (See Joshua 2:3, 6.)

 He knows each one of his sheep personally – he knows each one of their markings. In fact he would often name his sheep (John 10:3”To him the door keeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out). A shepherd had to keep count of his sheep and give an account for any that were lost. The owner would demand to be paid for each one that was lost. (Matthew 18:12 “What do you think? If a man has a 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the 99 and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?”). When a price is attached to each sheep, a lost sheep is of value to the shepherd. As His sheep, we are of value to God. Sometimes prophets and pastors who points people to God are called shepherds. Jeremiah 17:16. “As for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd who follows You.” Our Shepherd is our Creator. I belong to Him because He deliberately has chosen me.David as a shepherd – I Samuel 16:10, 11Jesus the Good Shepherd – John 10:11Jesus the Great Shepherd – Hebrews 13:20, 21Jesus the Chief Shepherd – I Peter 5:4Verse one comes in 2 parts: Part 1 we learn the qualifications and the skills of a shepherd. Next month, in part two, we will learn fun and interesting facts about sheep. Both knowledge is needed as we continue through this Psalm.

Men’s Breakfast will meet 1st and 3rd Thursdays in February.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18 this year. Christians have observed this season of the church year since the fourth centruy. It’s traditionally a time of reflection, penitence and spiritual renewal before Easter. During Lent, some Christians give up something that hinders their relationship with God. Others do something extra for their spiritual growth or make a special sacrifice. The key is to make Lent a

memorable season of sincere spiritual growth – a time that can set the tone for the rest of the year!

Collectiom for this year!Each month, there will be a suggestion for the boxes and when you go shopping, perhaps you can pick up an item or two and place them in the collection box in Fellowship Hall. In

November we will have a ‘BIG’ packing party. Remember, the monthly item is only a suggestion – if you see something on sale that you think a child would love, that’s fine!

February is crayons, markers, pencils and erasers, month.

Call me if you have any questions. As always, donations of money are welcomed to help cover the cost of shipping for our boxes. Thank you and God bless. ~ Judy Churchill

As a side note: I received an email from Samaritan’s Purse that the shoe boxes sent from COS this year were sent to children in Uganda! Please keep the children who are receiving our shoeboxes in your prayers ♥

Craft Show and Bake SaleSaturday, February 28th from 10am – 3pm. Tables are $25.00 each. All proceeds go to benefit VBS. To sign up and reserve your table, call Kathy Pietrowski 231 436—5608.

A Service of Baptism was celebrated Sunday, January 11th for Lilian Jean and Lucas Allen Hunt, twins of Donna Hunt. The twins were born March 1, 2012, in Petoskey. They are the beloved

grandchildren of Jean and Dick Hunt.

The Church of the Straits holds weekly Prayer Meetings on Sunday nights at 5:00 pm. Everyone is

Lenten Living

welcome, anytime. Prayer requests are also welcome, contact Pastor Dave. God does listen!

23rd Psalm – Lesson 2

The Lord is my Shepherd;I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;He leads me in the path of righteousness for His

name sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death,I will fear no evil; for You are with me;

Your rod and staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of

mine enemies;You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

What we have here in this first line of verse 1 is a sheep talking. Imagine, if you will, a sheep standing up against the fence of her home ranch talking to the sheep “next door” of another pasture. She is saying “Hey, there neighbor, do you see what I have over here?” She’s bragging about her shepherd. She is saying “I am his. I belong to him.” She is happy and content. “When David wrote what he did, it was with a strong sense of pride. He was literally boasting, “Look who my Boss is. Look who my Manager is, my Owner is”. He said this because David understood that of all livestock, a sheep requires the most care. David knew from firsthand experience that the well being of the sheep depends on the type of man who owned him.” — John W. Ritenbaugh

 What do we know of shepherds? To maintain a large flock, the shepherd had to move the sheep from pasture to pasture. The duty of a shepherd was to keep their flock intact, protect them from predators and guide them to market in time for shearing. Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! says the Lord.” In ancient times the shepherds commonly milked their sheep, and made cheese with it. Some were wage earners, being paid to watch

sheep of others. They were called “hirelings.” When a predator showed up that was potentially threatening, a hireling would not endanger himself for them because his main concern is his pay (not sheep). In the parable of the Good Shepherd we read in John 10:12 KJV.  “He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth.” Shepherds typically lived nomadic, apart from society. Shepherding was mainly a job for solitary males without children. Shepherds were often younger sons of farming peasants who did not inherit any land. Shepherds recue sheep that became lodged between rocks and boulders, or have fallen down a steep embankment. A shepherd has to care for the wounded and sickly sheep. A shepherd needs a gentle touch and warm demeanor to make the sheep comfortable and receptive to their care. They need to know which pastures are most bountiful during different seasons. Knowledge of birthing procedures is a necessity. Sheep ready to give birth were kept near the shepherd so he could assist them when it came time to deliver their lambs. Shepherds were the first people to see the newborn Jesus Christ A good shepherd must be able to keep the whole flock together. A stray sheep could be at risk from attack by predators, or get lost, increasing its chances of dying to exposure or a lack of food and water. Shepherds had to protect the sheep from thieves who prowled the foothills. These thieves were looking for sheep to steal for money or to provide for their needs.  The shepherd speaks to his sheep. The sheep actually recognizes their own shepherd’s voice and won’t respond to another shepherd’s voice.  (John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”). In Bible times shepherds did not worry about mixing their flocks in a pasture where there were no fences. The shepherd only had to call, and all those sheep belonging to him would come to him. This was very important, especially when it came time to go home from the pasture. A sheep left alone in

the wilderness overnight without protection would likely end up as a meal for a hungry wolf or other wild animal.

SARM 2015 EventsSARM is open to all youthGrade 7 and higher. Join

them for fun and fellowship.

Questions, or for more information call Kristi Laninga at 231-597-0353.

Over the EdgeIn Iceland, a country filled with many spectacular waterfalls, Godafoss stands ut. Water plunges from 40 feet high, across a width of almost 100 feet.

The story behind that natural wonder’s name is impressive, as well. In the year 1000, a handful of Iceland’s leaders chose to follow Christianity rather than paganism, setting the course for the entire nation. When a former pagan priest converted to Christianity, he chucked his idols into the waterfall. Civil war was averted, and the waterfall came to be known as Godafoss, or “waterfall of the gods.”

SARM Annual Soup Supper will be Monday, February 16th from 5-6:30 pm. Bring your favorite pot of soup or just come and enjoy a few samples. Prizes will be awarded to the top “People’s Choice” winners. Sign-up to bring soup in Fellowship Hall. Cost of meal by donation. Proceeds to

benefit the SARM Mission Trip in June.

Ash Wednesday Services will be held at St. Anthony’s Church on

Wednesday, February 18th at 7 p.m.This is an ecumenical service for both churches.

Dear friends, We want to thank all those who helped with and attended our baby shower last Sunday! Thank you for thinking of our family and for putting together a wonderful party for our little girl! We are so thankful for the beautiful baby items we were gifted! We were also able to purchase items we still needed for our baby with the generous cash donations we were given at the shower! We are so grateful for the lovely shower and the blessings we received through our friends at

church for our sweet baby!! Thank you!!Love, Kate and Peter (Levi and Aiden)

Thank you for your generous support of our food pantry. Stop by anytime and see what we have. We try to concentrate on food items for our recipients. It has been a while since we were able to do a significant non-food give-away. Did you know that EBT (foodstamp) cards do not cover soaps, paper products, personal care items, diapers, etc? We are asking for extra donations this month of the following items: Shampoo Deodorant Dish soap Hand soap Laundry soap Tooth paste Feminine Hygiene productsItems can be dropped off by the fireplace, thanks.

February 7 – Come and get acquainted with SARM, 6:00 pm. Parents welcome for a ‘meet and greet’. Pizza and games.February 16 – Soup Supper Fundraiser, at COS, 5 – 6:30 pm. Youth needed to help serve and clean-up. Cost for the meal by donation.April 15 - The Annual Swiss Steak Dinner at Audie’s 5-6:30 pm. $10 per person. Youth needed to help serve and clean-up.April 24-26 – Acquire the Fire. Details to follow.June 7-13 – SARM Mission Trip – details to follow.

We extend our sympathy to the families of those who entered the Church Triumphant:Christopher Bovée (Laura Jackson’s father), who passed away January 16.Robert McConnachie, who passed away January 22.

“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with

another.” ~ Thomas MertonChurch of the Straits Community Dinner – Each year, the church hosts a community dinner for area seniors and shut-

ins. This year, instead of the dinner being delivered, the dinner will be held at the church! This gets people out for fellowship and they don’t have to eat alone. The dinner will be held Saturday, February 21st from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Dinner will be served at 5:00 pm. We will be serving meatloaf, baked potatoes, coleslaw, rolls and dessert. Anyone needing a ride, please call Rose LaPointe 436-5307, between 1:00-3:00 pm on February 11, 12 or 13 and leave a message.

The Annual Congregational Meeting was held following worship on January 25th

with theRev. Elbert Dulworth, District Superintendent for the Marquette District moderating. Presented and approved were new BOG members: Debby Downing, Rose LaPointe, and Janet Schaefer; along with new PPRC members: Karen Orsini and Andrea Sarto.

Dear Church Family, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all of the prayers being offered up for my grandson, Mason.  As his mom has said "I feel that every prayer has killed a cancer cell."  I would also like to say thank you for the monetary gifts to help with expenses as Mason is being treated at DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids.  There have been many challenges since Mason was diagnosed with leukemia on Oct. 21, 2014, but we have also experienced many blessings along the

way.  It has been and continues to be an overwhelming and humbling journey.  We have learned to take things day by day - "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24. Please continue to keep Mason in your prayers as he has 3 more years of treatment.With love and gratitude,Cathy Brey

Staying Fed “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, NRSV). Recently I was confronted with this question: If you fed yourself with food the way you feed yourself with God’s Word, would you still be alive? It gave me pause. Do I eat enough spiritually?– feast regularly enough on Scripture to keep up my energy and the health of my soul? Do I eat nutritiously? – take in a balanced meal of law and gospel, comfort and commandments, prophecy and promise? Do I pass up spiritual junk food? – set aside empty calories that lead to disease, in order to hunger for what truly gives live? Do I drink enough Living Water to avoid faith dehydration? And one in a while, do I splurge on dessert? – savor the sweetness and joy of belonging at God’s table? What abundance God sets before us. May we never skip a “meal!” ~Heidi Mann

COS and St. Anthony’s will be hosting a Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction for Mason Brey on Saturday March 14th, to be held at St. Anthony’s Parish Life Center. Proceeds will assist Jeff and Kelly with increasing expenses incurred during the treatment of Mason’s leukemia. Dinner specifics, time, etc will be announced at a later date. Donations for the silent auction would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at the COS church office. More information, contact Judy in the church office at 436.8682, M-F, 10am-2pm.

Let us not love with words, but with deeds.1 John 3:18

Bible QuizWhich Jericho woman hid the two Israelite spies, and where did she hide them?

A. Joanna, in her stable B. Bathsheba, at her

Which Jericho woman hid the two Israelite spies, and where did she hide them?

A. Joanna, in her stable B. Bathsheba, at her

CommunionInstallation of Officers Wms Bible Study 3pm Mens Brkfst 8am SARM - 6pmPrayer Meeting 5pm Disciple III 2pm Meet & Greet

Disciple I 6pm1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Wms Bible Study 3pm PPRC 5:45pmPrayer Meeting 5pm Disciple III 2pm

Disciple I 6pm8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Kate's KidsWms Bible Study 3pm Mens Brkfst 8am Annual Community

Prayer Meeting 5pm SARM Soup Disciple III 2pm Dinner 5 pm - COSDisciple I 6pm Supper 5-6:30 pm Service 7pm

15 16 17 19 20 21

Wms Bible Study 3pm BOG 7 pm Disciple III 2pm VBS BenefitPrayer Meeting 5pm Craft & Bake Sale

10am - 3pm22 23 24 25 26 27 28

BIRTHDAYS: ANNIVERSARIES:Feb 3 Jo Ann Rinehart Feb 21 Mya Curth Feb 10 Chad & Brenda RobertsonFeb 6 Joann Leal Feb 24 Betty Teysen Feb 15 Bud & Katy StoneFeb 7 Dennis Flemming Feb 24 Bill Marvin Feb 21 Robert & June HeilmanFeb 9 Cody Schaefer Feb 24 Connor Holland Feb 29 Charlie & Kathy Heilman

Feb 10 Rachel Hart Feb 25 Tyler KubeFeb 13 Merritt Cole Feb 26 Ken McGuireFeb 13 Marilyn Imeson Feb 27 Cles HurlburtFeb 16 Amelia House Feb 27 Dave McFarlandFeb 17 Mary Margaret CosensFeb 17 Wendy Orsini

at St. Anthonys 18

I started a sermon series on the Church a couple of Sundays ago and I started with my favorite church, Ephesus (by the way, you can always hear the messages by going to the website at www.thechurchofthestraits.com). It is my favorite because it emphasizes the most important thing of all, our love” relationship with Jesus Christ. The church was commended for sound doctrine and not giving in to evil but it was missing something it used to have. It forgot about its first love, Jesus Christ. (See Rev. 2:1-7)

As your pastor I want to make sure of two things as I lead this precious church. First, I want to make sure that I am always teaching you the truth. That means that I desire to be faithful to God’s Word as I teach you. The bible is the filter through which all truth is shared. Second, I want to make sure you understand that God desires a deep and passionate relationship with you and not just head knowledge about Him.

If your relationship with Jesus is somewhat akin to a husband and wife who just put up with each other than you are truly missing the joy of that relationship. The husband who is asked whether they ever tell their wife they love them is astounded when he is criticized for never telling her. He says, “She knows I love her!” Perhaps he does but I bet he used to tell her he loved her when they were dating and when they were on their honeymoon and early marriage.

I also bet there was electricity in their relationship early on and it was obvious to those around them that “love” was in the air. Why did it stop? This is what I believe the message to the church of Ephesus in Revelation was talking about. Why weren’t they passionate about Jesus anymore? Jesus continued to be passionate about them. He paid a huge price so that they could be in relationship to Him.

Verse five of the text tells the church to “remember”! Remember the lengths to which Jesus went to secure your salvation. Remember that you were lost and dead in your sins and he set you free to love and serve Him. Remember the guilt you lived with and he took it away. Remember you were in love with Him and loved by Him. Nothing should have changed.

He still loves us more than anything. I love Him more than anything and I hope you do to. I am asking God to instill in you a passion for Jesus. It is contagious. It is real. It is amazing. It is life sustaining and revitalizing. It is desired by many but only available to those who will say yes to Jesus. Tell Him you love Him!!!!

I can’t wait to spend eternity with Him. Actually, I am starting now!

I love you all with the love of Christ,

Pastor Dave

CommunionInstallation of Officers Wms Bible Study 3pm Mens Brkfst 8am SARM - 6pmPrayer Meeting 5pm Disciple III 2pm Meet & Greet

Disciple I 6pm1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Wms Bible Study 3pm PPRC 5:45pmPrayer Meeting 5pm Disciple III 2pm

Disciple I 6pm8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Kate's KidsWms Bible Study 3pm Mens Brkfst 8am Annual Community

Prayer Meeting 5pm SARM Soup Disciple III 2pm Dinner 5 pm - COSDisciple I 6pm Supper 5-6:30 pm Service 7pm

15 16 17 19 20 21

Wms Bible Study 3pm BOG 7 pm Disciple III 2pm VBS BenefitPrayer Meeting 5pm Craft & Bake Sale

10am - 3pm22 23 24 25 26 27 28

BIRTHDAYS: ANNIVERSARIES:Feb 3 Jo Ann Rinehart Feb 21 Mya Curth Feb 10 Chad & Brenda RobertsonFeb 6 Joann Leal Feb 24 Betty Teysen Feb 15 Bud & Katy StoneFeb 7 Dennis Flemming Feb 24 Bill Marvin Feb 21 Robert & June HeilmanFeb 9 Cody Schaefer Feb 24 Connor Holland Feb 29 Charlie & Kathy Heilman

Feb 10 Rachel Hart Feb 25 Tyler KubeFeb 13 Merritt Cole Feb 26 Ken McGuireFeb 13 Marilyn Imeson Feb 27 Cles HurlburtFeb 16 Amelia House Feb 27 Dave McFarlandFeb 17 Mary Margaret CosensFeb 17 Wendy Orsini

at St. Anthonys 18