I recently heard someone lamenting the fact that there are something like 10,000 Christian denominations in the world today. The person saw this as a dreadful sign of disunity in the Christian faith. Basically, their solution was that all Christians should become “unified,” and by that they meant that all Christians should align with their particular “tribe” of Christianity and then we would all be unified. 

Jesus prayed for our unity in John seventeen. 

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21)

Is unity the same as uniformity? Can we still be unified and be very diverse and even disagree in areas of theology? What kind of unity does Jesus have in mind for us? 

A few weeks ago, my two sisters and I talked about how we could get our families together for my mother’s eightieth birthday celebration. We made plans to meet in Ohio at my youngest sister’s house and surprise our mom.  We came from Michigan and Illinois and met with the Ohio clans, and we gathered together.  I thought of how different we three kids were and how our families all had different values and personalities, resources and world-views.  I thought about how our kids and grandkids had taken various paths and pursuits in their lives too.  And then the big “surprise” came, and during our time together we had “unity” of mind and purpose.  We wanted to celebrate and honor mom (grandma and great-grandma).  We were there with one thing in mind, and in that, we had no divergent thoughts as we celebrated with joy and grace for everyone there. 

I think that gives me a little clue into the kind on unity that our Lord has in mind for his family.  It’s a kind of unity where we can all agree that we have one goal and one mind.  I want to talk with you more about that this Lord’s Day. 

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Rich

Ladies: Join us in the Fellowship Hall Thursday, April 27th at 1:00 pm for a time of fellowship and getting to know each other!

Our current giving platform (faithlife.com) will no longer work after March 31st. Our new online giving site is called Subsplash and is active now. Use the QR code above, click on the image or use the link in the text/email that was sent out this week to get to our new site.

https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/2GDPMW/

You will be able to do all the same things you could do with Faithlife by setting up an account (set up automatic/recurring gifts, give one time, give to multiple different funds, view your online giving history, give using a debit/credit card or a bank account, etc.)

Please note: if you will be giving by setting up your bank account and routing number (ACH), it will take a couple of days for the new system to verify your account using micro-deposits.

Let Corinne know if you need help with any part of this change. Call/text 517-899-3098 or email cedgecomb@glnaz.com.

Thank you!

HALF-MILLION MOBILIZATION 2023

“God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.”

- John Wesley

Praying The Spirit's Vision to Pentecost

Join your church family across Canada and the United States in a prayer journey from Easter Sunday, April 9, until Pentecost Sunday, May 28.

Be inspired by a special section within the Holiness Today Mar/Apr issue devoted to prayer. Participate in the journey of prayer following a daily prayer journal called From Mission to Vision to Mobilization.

If you would like an electronic copy of the prayer journal, you can paste this link in your browser.

https://resources.nazarene.org/index.php/s/4bpiAGiknHLwzjL

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! (Richelle, Darlene, Amanda & Kara)

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

Join us in the Fellowship Hall for a new 4 week video series Life Group featuring "All In" by Mark Batterson.

Sunday, April 30th @ 12:00pm for lunch and the first session

Sunday, May 7th @ 5:00pm for dinner and 2nd session

Sunday, May 14th @ 5:00pm for dinner and 3rd session

Sunday, May 21st @ 5:00pm for dinner and 4th session

“When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. The will of God is not an insurance plan; it’s a daring plan. It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of your life is to arrive safely at death.

All In, a four-session video-based Bible study by New York Times bestselling author Mark Batterson, challenges participants to resolutely follow God wherever he leads by pointing out that if Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all.

Most people think they are following Jesus. They may think they are following Jesus, but the reality is, they’ve invited Jesus to follow them. They call him Savior, but they’ve never surrendered to him as Lord. Are you following Jesus? Or have you invited Jesus to follow you?

Click image above to view the trailer for this video series

See John Harris for more info

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

RISE & SHINE: A 5-WEEK SERIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT ON EASTER

SERIES OVERVIEW:

On a farm, life has a daily rhythm (for plants, animals, and people, too). “Life” is what this series is all about, because we’re talking about Easter and Jesus’ triumph over death! In this five-week series, kids will explore the stories leading up to and following Easter Sunday. Together, they’ll discover we can stick with Jesus even when our days are dark, and that because Jesus is alive, we can spend our days meeting with him, trusting he’s there for us, and sharing his love — not just today, but every day!

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

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.

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

14.*Tuesday, May 16

* 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

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://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/2GDPMW/ute_CZ6DhcGn0QtmJ5zirscH-ck4h4Aq8e3qEl0Us2cxB28rplvrMGKrKpEpRHw_h9ltxcq4HBgXXZghNKIN6xLHvXDeBvBY_3-0eHRtf8_Q4iCG0wK0y-hazgAFdjAoczkfNFUTuI_W4rp4l63wbFv3Lii6cBrMZLaWjvbZKVI

If you have any questions, see Kara Purves

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!

April - Shampoo (12 - 18 oz bottles)

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

NMI is sponsoring a  Run/Walk/Bike 5K to help raise money for the 2023 Mission Project.  Monies raised will go toward the District Work & Witness Trip to the Nazarene Church Plant in South Texas.

Join us on Saturday, May 27th at Indian Lake Nazarene Camp.  

Bike Ride begins at 10:00 AM

Race begins at 10:30 AM

Registration cost - $35 per person

Register by May 5th to assure you receive a T-shirt.

Box Lunch is available at Noon - please prepay when you register.

Lunch - $12 each

https://michigandistrict.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/134/responses/new

Get your kids registered today!

http://www.indianlake.camp/summercamp.html