It’s been a dry and hot September, so far, unlike these updates are hot, but never dry.
“Joining” Basics Class this Sunday
Our Basics Classes are the set of 5-6 classes that we are asking all members to take. These classes cover the basics of a life walking with Christ and will give our church a shared culture of discipleship. Our first class offered is “Joining”, which is about church membership. We want this class to be both informative and accessible for those who want to know more about First and are considering joining. Therefore, we are offering it as a one-session class running between 2-3 hours. This will allow us to cover First’s history, our place in the Reformed tradition, our vision and structure, and what expectations and benefits members have. The goal is to have attendees leave the class equipped to make a prayerful decision about whether to make First Reformed Church of Portage their permanent church home.
The first session of this class is this Sunday 9/22/24, 11:00 – 2:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Lunch will be provided. Please register so we can get a count for lunch and materials here: https://frcportage.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2501173.
“Hearing” Basics Class starting NEXT Sunday 9/29
“Hear, O Israel…” We serve a God Who communicates with us and the primary record of that communication is the Bible. But do you know how the book you have on your nightstand or pluck out of the pew back relates to God and His Word (Jesus) and words (scriptures)? Did God mail a manuscript to Zondervan? What about the critics who say can’t know the original words of the Bible? Why are there different versions, and how do we pick one? If we do trust the Bible as the Word of God, how do we read it, study it and obey it? Will God speak to me personally? Attend “Hearing” to explore answers to these important questions.
This class will be a combination of a video series called “Can I Trust the Bible?”, teaching from Kyle, and hands on activities to get you comfortable with your personal Bible. It will also talk about building a prayer life built on God’s Word. It’s open to all ages, Middle School and up.
“Hearing” will start Sunday, 9/29/24 and run for 6 weeks. It will meet in the Sunday School hour after morning worship (11:00-12:00 PM). Depending on the size of the class, we will meet either in the Fellowship Hall or in the Cry Room. You can sign up in Church Center under the Groups option or visit this link to submit a join request: https://frcportage.churchcenter.com/groups/basics-classes/basics-class-hearing.
Helping a family following a fire in Mattawan
A family that lives on Kyle’s street in Mattawan suffered a house fire in the middle of the night a few weeks ago. Thankfully, the full family got out (barely, as the roof collapsed moments after exiting). However, all their possessions were lost including their two cars. The family is in process of cleaning up the property and rebuilding the home, but one of the major challenges has been transportation. They purchased a used Toyota Sequoia but a few days after purchase, the care threw a check engine light. The dealer that diagnosed it said it was a blown head gasket and needed the engine replaced for around $10,000. The family loves the Lord and is praying through this additional challenge.
I’d like to throw this out to our church family to see if 1) anyone mechanically inclined would like to evaluate the car and/or see if we could replace the head gasket, or 2) if someone has a quality vehicle they could loan, sell cheaply, or donate to the family. If you or a connection you have is interested in more information, please contact Kyle.
MOMCo (formerly MOPS) could use some childcare help!
MOMCo is thriving and every other week 20-30 moms from our community gather in the Fellowship Hall for encouragement and sharing. Along with moms, come kids! I had the joy of holding some babies this week to help Pam and Joan who were comforting about 10 little ones in the Babies Room (and this was a lower attendance week). It would be best to have 3-4 helpers in this room. If you love little kiddos and want to serve the moms in our area, please reach out to Rachel Smith or Kyle to start the process to get cleared to help.
Cheering Section this week:
- 9/20 at 7:00 PM: Tim Kirby Vicksburg High School varsity football home game
- 9/21 at 9:00 AM: Henry Guy Rocket Football at Mattawan High School field
- 9/24 at 4:30 PM: Jacinda Fletcher Cross Country at Mattawan Middle School
- 9/25 at 5:30 PM: Charlotte Douglass JV Volleyball at Mattawan High School
