“#FOR PEOPLE” I WEEK 3
Who are you for? Throughout Scripture, God’s people wrestled with this puzzling question. Our world is full of examples, news reels, memes, and blogs about who we should be against. However, Jesus actually challenges His people to love a different way. A path to reach out without compromise. A path to reconcile but not forget. A path to invest in others without neglecting your soul. This is the call to the Church in our day - to be for people again??? Join us as we journey to love people like Jesus. This Sunday 10 AM.
WEEKLY GIVING STATISTICS
(Fiscal Year Began June 1, 2020)
Last Week Weekly Need YTD
$3,351 $2,661 $27,321
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP IN PERSON OR ONLINE
AT OUR NEW LOCATION!!!
2149 84th Street SW Byron Center MI 49315
SUNDAY, APRIL 25 AT 10AM
VISIT centergr.com/live OR centergr.online.church.
GOOD TO KNOW:
Looking for resources to ‘dig deeper’?
Interested in leading a Bible study but not sure where to start, what to study ?
We can help! Just contact office@centergr.com and we can introduce and connect you to RightNow Media.
Check it out- it’s well worth your time.
OPPORTUNITIES:
Hand2Hand Ministry: UPDATE
SIGN-UP SHEETS ARE LOCATED AT THE BACK OF THE WORSHIP CENTER!
The Center Church is scheduled to provide and pack lunches for Hand2Hand once in April (4.26.) and twice in May (5.03. & 5.24.) this year, including special bags for the end of the school year.
We serve 140 kids each week!
Want to get your entire family involved? Help us collect the foods listed below.
WANTED:
Cans of Pasta (Ravioli, Spaghetti, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Spaghetti O’s, etc.)
Boxes of Macaroni & Cheese
Cans of fruit
Cans of veggies
In addition, the following items are always appreciated:
- Oatmeal packets
- Granola bars/protein bars
- Individual fruit cups
- Individual sized cereal boxes
- Microwave popcorn packets
- Trail mix
- Granola bars
- Fruit snacks
- Fruit cups
- Pudding cups
- Peanut butter/cheese cracker packets
- Meat sticks
- Any kind of small bagged snacks (Goldfish Crackers, Animal Crackers, etc)
Donations may be brought to church, but a socially distanced pick up can be arranged at Byron Community Ministries as well.
Thank you for your support!
Any questions? Please contact office@centergr.com for more info and we will get you connected.
HOPE UNEXPECTED:
* 1st Annual Hope Unexpected Golf Outing*
Fundraiser for one of our favorite ministries!
Join us Saturday, June 19 2021 at Briarwood Golf Club, 9am.
Need more info? Please contact hopeunexpected.org/golf-outing,
or chat with Charlie at church.
INFO:
SMALL GROUPS:
LOOKING TO GET CONNECTED? WE WILL HAVE MORE GROUPS FORMING THIS FALL!
PLEASE CHECK OUR ONLINE RESOURCES; SOME OF OUR SMALL GROUPS MAY BE MEETING DIGITALLY
DUE TO COVID-19.
Visit thecentergroups.churchcenter.com for more info.
CENTER STUDENTS MINISTRY:
Please stay tuned for updates and contact jon-michael@centergr.com for more details.
Interested in serving in our Center Students ministry?
He’d love to hear from you!
CENTER KIDS MINISTRY:
Look for important updates in your inbox, Dani loves to keep everyone up to date on what’s happening in our Center Kids ministry :)
Questions for Dani? She’d love to connect with you at dani@centergr.com .
JOHN GORVEATTE I LEAD PASTOR
“#For People” WEEK 3
KEY PASSAGES: Luke 15 NIV
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”