Outreach

Through Hand2Hand, Sparta Naz is partnering with Ridgeview Elementary School to confidentially pack and distribute weekend backpacks of nutritious food to identified low income families during

the school-year. If you’d like to help in this ministry, please sign up at spartanaz.org or at the Welcome Center.

The following canned food item donations are needed during the month of December to feed 100 children. (No expired dates, please)

Regular serving sizes: Instant Potatoes Canned Pasta (spaghetti o’s, ravioli) Individual Snacks

Children's Ministries

Christmas Food Boxes In coordination with the Gleaners, Sparta Naz will be

collecting non-perishable food items to distribute to 15

families within our community. You will find collection boxes

in each classroom from November 4 thru December 9. We

will then pack and distribute the boxes following the

morning service on December 9. We trust you will be a part

of this opportunity to serve our community in this way.

Thank you for taking a tag from our

Tree of Hope (North Kent Connect). We

need your help to provide toys, pajamas,

outerwear, bedding, and other household

items for families in northern Kent

County this Christmas season. Please

bring your gifts unwrapped to the Tree

of Hope, in the foyer, no later than

Sunday December 9. Up Coming Events Friday , December 14th—Holiday Dinner and Family game time

Sunday, January 20th — Games & Grub—between

morning worship and youth group January 25-26,2019 - District Celebrate Life at Kuyper

College in Grand Rapids MI Saturday, February 16th– 6:00 pm Fundraiser Event for

the Congregation. Details to follow

Christ Cove kids – Have been challenged to bring

100 non-perishable food items

for the Gleaners by Dec. 9th

to win a fun breakfast with

Miss Libby!

Reminder there will be no Sunday School or K-

6th Children’s church on December 23 or 30. There

will be Lighthouse Bay for all children birth—PreK

during the worship hour for the month of December.

Family Christmas Party Wednesday December 5, 2018

6:45—8:15 pm

Come enjoy time with your family! You will leave with fun Christmas tree decorations, a tummy full of cookies, and won-derful new memories!

Please Note: All children must be accompanied by an adult

for the Christmas Party! This is a family event, therefore there are no individual leaders or regular Awana activities. There will be no Awana on December 19 or 26.

THRIVE Student Ministries

The vision of Nazarene Neighbor is to fulfill our church mission by noticing the needs of those around us and reacting with compassion in real, tangible ways.

Suggestions for the month of December: Take hot cocoa, a latte, or another delicious drink to a Salvation Army bell ringer, construction

worker, crossing guard, school car pool line worker, or any other person who works outside.

Drop off a food gift to a shut in, elderly neighbor, or another person who may be lonely this time of

year. Offer to help them with any of their holiday tasks such as wrapping presents, addressing their

Christmas cards, or Christmas gift shopping.

Make the mail carrier’s day! Leave a treat or small gift in the mailbox for them along with a note of

thanks for faithfully delivering the mail all year long.

Seasons A Monthly Publication of

Volume 17 Number 12 December 2018

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Men’s Prayer Breakfast All men, youth through senior adults, are encouraged to

come to the Men’s Prayer Breakfast here at the church on

Saturday, January 5 at 8:00 a.m. Please sign up on online

at www.spartanaz.org or at the Welcome Center.

Is a story set in Israel

where soon-to-be

grandparents are

vacationing while

awaiting news of their

first grandchild’s arrival

back home. During a

time of crisis, this family relies on their faith as they

look to the child in the manger for their assurances.

Begin now to invite those that need to seek the

Savior in the midst of the chaos in their lives. This

Christmas musical will be preformed by our

Sanctuary Choir and the Drama cast on

Sunday, December 16, at 10:45 a.m. Invitations

are available at the Welcome Center for your use.

Our children's Christmas program, "The

Christmas Cross," will be performed at

10:45am on Sunday, December 2. This fun and

engaging program includes drama, music and

dance performance, with a beautiful message

reminding us of God's greatest gift, our eternal

salvation in Christ. Please plan to attend the

program and invite others to join you!

** Dress Rehearsal Saturday December 1,

3 pm—5pm in the sanctuary.

‘The Christmas Cross’ Musical

Church Family

Christmas Cards

During the month of December, the

Missions Council will help you

‘deliver’ Christmas cards to your church family. Please

use the baskets in the foyer for your greetings. Please

donate postage saved in the gift box provided to help

fund Nazarene Missions.

Candlelight Service Sunday, December 23 at 10:45 a.m.

This service is always a meaningful time as we usher in

Christ’s birth by proclaiming, through narration and song,

the Hope, Love, Joy and Peace that only He can bring into

our lives. Sunday School classes will be lifted. Nursery

available for newborns through PreK.

‘Good News

From Home’

Senior Adult Ministries

All Senior Adults Breakfast! When: Tuesday, December 4, at 9:00 a.m.

Where: Russ’ on Alpine (3531 Alpine Ave. NW)

Invite a friend or neighbor to join you for this time

of food and fellowship! All senior adults are welcome!

Mark Your Calendar ...

12/1 Men’s Prayer Breakfast 8:00 am

Children’s Program Rehearsal 3:00pm—5:00pm

NYI Fundraiser Child Care 5:00 pm –10:00 pm

For Holiday shopping

12/2 Children's Christmas Program 10:45 am

‘The Christmas Cross’

12/4 Sr. Adult Breakfast at Russ’ 9:00 am

12/6 Church Board & Ministry Leaders

Christmas Dinner at Braan’s 6:00 pm

Women’s Bible Study 7:00 pm

12/8 Senior Adult Christmas Party 11:00 am

12/9 Gleaners Food Box Packing 12:15pm

Choir Rehearsal 4:30pm

12/11 Shower for Hollie Stout 7:00pm

12/12 Choir Dress Rehearsal 6:45 pm

Awana Family Christmas Party 6:45pm

12/13 Women’s Bible Study 7:00 pm

12/14 Thrive Holiday Dinner

& Family game time 6:45 pm

12/15 NYI Fundraiser Childcare

for Holiday shopping 5:00 pm—10:00 pm

12/16 Christmas Musical

‘Good News From Home’ 10:45 am

12/19 No Activities

12/23 No Sunday School

Candlelight Service 10:45 am

12/26 No Activities

12/27 Thrive Ministries Christmas Break

Fun Day

12/31 Bridge Builders NYE Party 7:00pm

Senior Adult Christmas Party Saturday December 8th at 11:00 a.m.

at the Rich Friendship Center

Join us for a potluck. Please see Beverly

Vickery or Dorothy Hill to sign up for

the type of dish to bring and don't forget

to sign up at the Welcome Center.

The gift theme is “something in a box”.

$5 -$10. Men bring a men's gift and women bring a women’s gift.

We are pleased to have Merle and JoAnne Emery coordinating

and leading next year’s Work & Witness trip to San Juan, San

Juan, Dominican Republic, which will take place on August 3-11,

2019. This will be an exciting trip with many avenues of ministry

available to those who join the team from Sparta Naz. To learn

more about the details of the trip, talk with Merle and JoAnne.

They will be happy to answer your questions as you consider

ministering in the Dominic Republic. To register for the trip,

please give the Emerys your $500 trip deposit by January 1. These

funds will be processed by the church and used toward your

airfare. The balance of the funds needed for this trip is approxi-

mately $900, which will be needed closer to the date of the trip.

The funds fort this trip will cover your airfare to the

Dominican Republic and return, as well as your housing, food

and transportation while in the Dominican Republic.

Work & Witness

To: Pastor Sherri

Wishing you many

blessings in the year to come. We are blessed to

have you on our staff!

Tuesday, December 4

Holiday Shopping Childcare

NYI Fundraiser - Will provide childcare on

Saturday December 1, and Saturday

December 15 from 5p.m. - 10 p.m., ages infant

to the 5th grade. Get out and do some

shopping and leave your children in capable

hands here at the church. Not only will you

enjoy your time , but the children will have

fun, and you will be helping our teens with their

fundraising efforts. You may sign up at the

Welcome Center or online. Sign up is

recommended but not required. For those who purchased Poinsettias, you may take the flowers home following the 10:45 a.m. Candlelight Service on Sunday the 23rd. PRESORTED

STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

SPARTA, MI

Permit No. 67

665 13 Mile Road

Sparta, MI 49345

(616) 887-1169 www.SpartaNaz.org *Address Service Requested*

Service Schedule

Sunday………………….. 9:15 am Sunday School for all ages

10:45 am Morning Worship

5:45 pm Thrive Student Youth Group

( 7th—12th grades) beginning

Wednesday……………. 6:45 pm Awana (Toddler—6th grade)

7:00 pm adult bible study

March for Life in

Washington, DC

Friday, January 18

Go to the 2019 March

for Life and be a part

of the largest pro-life

event in the world.

This peaceful

demonstration, on the

somber anniver-

sary of the U.S.

Supreme Court decisions that legalized abortion–on-

demand through all nine months of pregnancy, is a

witness to the truth concerning the greatest human

rights violation of our time. Grand Rapids Right to Life

is hosting a bus trips to Washington, DC, for the 46th

annual March for Life on January 18,2019. Travel

options vary by dates, prices, and hotel locations. To

view travel options visit www.grrtl.org/march or

contact Betty at 616-516-0082.

To My Church Family, Thank you for your continuous support and prayers during this difficult time. We have 2 major life altering situations unfolding and appreciate all the uplifting support that has been given. Thank you for the gift basket that I received while I was in the hospital and especially Pastor Tim’s visits and prayers. Thank you, Bill Hayes

We thank God for His love a, faithfulness and

healing power. And, we thank our Sparta Naz

Family for your generous acts of kindness

during our “double whammy” of recent health issues. Special

thanks to Pastor Tim for his hospital visits and phone calls, to

Pastor Sherri for coordinating meals, and to those wonderful

cooks who furnished food for us.

Sincerely, Jerry and Connie Jolly

December 2018

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