Freedom Sunday

On Freedom Sunday, February 19th we join together as the people of God to stand against human trafficking. We join in prayer, in guided worship, and in giving. We join to say, “No more.”

Globally, human trafficking has made an estimated 40 million children, women, and men victims of slavery. Most are forced into labor, such as domestic work, construction, agriculture, or commercial sexual exploitation. Others are exploited through forced marriage.

Again and again, it is clear that God cares deeply for those who are vulnerable. The work of the Lord to bring restoration and transformation is a central calling of the Gospel. The prophesy in Isaiah 61:1-2, which Jesus read as he publicly announced his mission, calls us to join that restorative work.

Join us this coming Lord's Day to learn more about this important topic and to discover how we can respond in faithfulness and in alignment to the Lord's will.

Together, we share God’s good news of freedom.

Grace and Peace -

Kitchen Help:

We have an abundance of plastic silverware that we are looking for a few people who could help us wrap 'restaurant style' to keep in the pantry in preparation for future funeral dinners, potlucks, etc. If this is something you'd be able to help with, please let the Stewards know!

Transportation Help:

We are in need of help with getting Kevin Maxwell to and from church on Sunday mornings.

• Pick up at his house at 10:20am to get him to church for morning service
• Take him home after service

There are also appointments and other errands they need rides to. **A list and more details for the next few months are posted in our Helping Hands group found below.

If this is something you could do, please let Pastor Rich know.

NDI - To make Christlike Disciples in the Nations

See what the kids are up to!

• Check out the kids' wish list on Amazon by clicking the image above. Thank you for all the ways you help our kids!
• We are in need of kids volunteers for Sunday School and Children's Church. Can you spare a couple hours a month to serve on this team? See Kara Purves or John Harris for more info

HOW TO...: A 4-WEEK SERIES FROM MATTHEW ON JESUS' TEACHINGS

SERIES OVERVIEW:

The internet helps us learn how to do so many things! From new skate tricks and viral recipes to helpful hacks, there’s a “how-to” for almost everything. But is there a tutorial video for how to follow God? This four-week series is kind of like that — thanks to some tutorials from Jesus! Each week, we’ll focus on one of Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount as we learn "how to" make a difference, love our enemies, share with others, and pray.

See what the teens are up to!

• Click the image above to view the teens Amazon wish list
• The teens are also in need of some helpers for Sunday School and Youth Group on Sunday nights. If you could spare a couple hours to help lead our teens, see John Harris or Stephanie Dewey

One of our own teens is raising money to go to NYC this summer!

Hosted by the Church of the Nazarene, NYC is a powerful youth event that has been held in different locations over the past six decades. NYC takes place every four years and provides an opportunity for high school students from the USA and Canada to be united in a time of worship, teaching, and community service.

Thank you for supporting our teens!

Our Life Groups will join to form one large group for a special time to watch and study The Chosen - Season 2 together. Starting Sunday, January 29th, we will meet at 5:00pm in the Fellowship Hall to share a dinner together then watch one episode per week.

If you haven't joined a Life Group yet, this is a great time to start! You can RSVP on the event below.

If you would like a study book, please let Brenda know.

See you then!

All meetings are held from 6:30-8:30 PM at Grand Ledge Church of

the Nazarene in the overflow room off of the sanctuary. Meetings

are on Thursday unless otherwise indicated.

Cost of 13 sessions are free.

Book is $15 (If this is a hardship, scholarships are available.)

1. Thursday, February 16

2. Thursday, February 23

3. Thursday, March 2

4. Thursday, March 9

5. *Friday, March 17

6. Thursday, March 23

7. Thursday, March 30

8. Thursday, April 6

9. Thursday, April 13

10.*Tuesday, April 18

11.Thursday, April 27

12.Thursday, May 4

13.Thursday, May 11

* indicates a different day of the week than Thursday

See Richelle for more information or if you would like to join

Would you like to take control of your money? See John or Darlene Harris for a one-on-one FPU class or sign up for a group class with others. We have 8 spots available, so let us know before they are gone

Pick up a list of the titles and descriptions of the breakout sessions in the foyer. Don't forget to register soon!

Hey I Love My City Crew! Who's ready for our next project?

We are looking for more people to join our crew to help out at the St Patrick's Day parade. Last year, we helped the Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce by putting up barricades across the intersecting streets and then got to watch the parade and cleaned up trash on the sidewalks.

Come have fun with us loving our city! The parade starts at 2:00pm. See Corinne if you'd like to help out that day

We are excited to continue our partnership with Shared Pregnancy Women's Center. There are many ways we can give, donate, volunteer and pray for this ministry.

See the list below of items they can use. You can bring them in and drop them in the toy box in the kids hallway.

If you wish to donate money, you can drop change or bills in the baby bottle outside the kids room or give online at https://faithlife.com/glnaz/give and choose the "Shared Pregnancy Women's Center" Fund

If you have any questions, see Kara Purves

Join us this Sunday, February 19th for a special service during our morning worship.

On Freedom Sunday, we join together as the people of God to stand against human trafficking. We join in prayer, in guided worship, and in giving. We join to say, “No more.” Globally, human trafficking has made an estimated 40 million children, women, and men victims of slavery. Most are forced into labor, such as domestic work, construction, agriculture, or commercial sexual exploitation. Others are exploited through forced marriage. Again and again, it is clear that God cares deeply for those who are vulnerable. The work of the Lord to bring restoration and transformation is a central calling of the Gospel. The prophesy in Isaiah 61:1-2, which Jesus read as he publicly announced his mission, calls us to join that restorative work.

By giving to the Freedom Offering, you are choosing to support church-led ministries offering hope and freedom to survivors of human trafficking, as well as the prevention of trafficking of at-risk youth and children. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries currently supports ministries that include: 

FUELING HOPE AT A TEXAS SHELTER - In Texas, a new Nazarene-run emergency shelter provides a safe, hope-filled space for survivors of human trafficking. The shelter provides practical ministry through prayer, presence, food, clothing, planning, and more. 

ASSESSMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES - In the Philippines, a short-term, residential assessment center is providing a safe place for children who are rescued from online sexual exploitation. There, children receive counseling, support, and help finding a safe, permanent home.

CARE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO- A Nazarene listening center in the Democratic Republic of the Congo provides counseling and job skills training for survivors of human trafficking. It also prioritizes prevention through education, teaching people how to avoid being trafficked.

Learn more about anti-human trafficking efforts here:

• Nazarene Compassionate Ministries: ncm.org/trafficking

• Faith Alliance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAAST): faastinternational.org

• Alliance for Freedom, Restoration, and Justice (AFRJ): engagetogether.com/church

• Ending Human Trafficking podcast: endinghumantrafficking.org

We will collect our bi-annual Alabaster Offering on Sunday, March 5th during our morning worship service. Alabaster boxes are available at the Missions Corner at the back of the foyer. Be sure to grab an "Alabaster Love Offering Challenge" sheet from anyone on the NMI Council for more information on this offering. You can also give by marking your envelope "Alabaster" or by choosing the "Alabaster" fund on Faithlife.

Thank you for your generous giving to support the mission worldwide!

Crisis Care Kits are a way we can help others in emergency situations. Receiving simple items like toothpaste, a comb, or band-aids become very helpful in a natural disaster, war or other crisis. Crisis Care Kits (CCKs) are designed to provide people with some of the essentials they may not have due to those scenarios.

Our NMI Council has set a goal for Grand Ledge to collect 12 boxes (72 CCK's) by July 2023. Each month or so, we will feature an item to collect. (Although you can always give any of the items at any time!)

See below for this month's featured item and the details on the specifics. Thank you for helping us work toward reaching our goal!

February - Beanie Baby Sized Stuffed Animals

We will be collecting these at the Missions corner in the foyer. Here is an idea of how many we will need by July 2023:

1 per CCK

6 per box

72 for all 12 boxes