July 2016.pub

July 2016
Covenant
Connection
Newsletter of the
EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
OF WHITEHALL
Serving Christ for over 130 years
900 South Warner, Whitehall, MI 49461
(231) 894894-4271
www.eccwhitehall.org
Sunday Services: 9:00 & 10:45am
Our Vision:
Vision:
Reaching, Encouraging, Equipping … One life at a time.
To become devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Reach Others Encourage Spiritual Growth
Equip To Minister
Children’s Ministries
Happy Summer!
Things are a little crazy right now as we splash our
way toward VBS. We will begin our sail of the
high seas on Sunday, July 10, less than two weeks
away. If you can sea your way toward joining us, we have room for more
crew leaders. If you eel like this could be a good fit for you, now is the
time to dive in and let us know you’re planning to swim with us. Keep
watching the donation board. New treasures will be added for you to
donate. If you captured a donation starfish, please, release the fish and the
item to us as soon as possible. Now is the time to register your little
minnows! Preregistration makes it easier for your little fishies to be assigned
to schools (crews)! Look for registration forms in the bulletin, at the Guest
Services desk or online at www.eccwhitehall.org.
Oh, in case you didn’t notice, our VBS is
called Deep Sea Discovery. July 1010-14,
6:006:00-8:30PM. See you there!
Terri Means, Children’s Ministries Director
[email protected] or 894-4271
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Children’s Ministries Team
NURSERY
Darci Christensen
Autumn Johnson
Terri Means
Marcy Miller
Margie Nelson
Infants- age 2
We offer a safe, loving environment!
Pagers are available.
Please be mindful that we are not
equipped to have children over 2 years of
age in the nursery.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Youth Events
Junior High League
Grades 6-8
July Events:
July 6—1:30pm
Tubing Trip—$15
July 13—12PM—5PM
Craig’s Cruisers—Cost TBA
Grades 9-12
SUMMER SUNDAY NIGHTS
is back! Sundays, 6pm
Transportation leaves ECC at 5:45pm.
July 10
July 20—NO MEETING
Craig’s Cruiser’s—Silver Lake
July 27—5:30-7:30pm
July 17
Pre-wedding celebration for Chuck &
Courtney!
“I Am They” Concert—Grand Haven
Small Groups have started!
Guys—Tuesdays—9-10:30am
Thursdays—4:30-6pm
Gals—Thursdays—7-8:30pm
Questions? Contact Chuck Connell
at 894-4271 or 215-5814.
Watch “Jr. High League on
Facebook for any
updates or changes
and details to come…..
Reminder…..
Craig Smith is on sabbatical
from June 1—August 31.
Any questions regarding the youth
programming are directed to Chuck
Connell at 894-4271 or 215-5814 or
[email protected].
July 24
Kayaking—Muskegon
*Departure time—TBA
July 31
Coast Guard Festival—Grand Haven
Small Groups are underway!
Guys—Tuesdays, 10:30am-12pm
Thursdays, 6-7:30pm
Gals—Tuesdays, 7-8:30pm
Watch for updates/changes
on Facebook:
“World’s Best Youth Group”
Questions on any of these youth
events? Contact Chuck Connell at
894-4271 or 215-5814
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Missions Task Force
GUATEMALA MISSION TRIPS!
Whitehall Evangelical Covenant Church has
taken four mission trips to Patzicía, Guatemala,
over the last twelve years. Ask anyone who
has gone on these trips and they will tell you
what a wonderful blessing and experience it
was to be among the Guatemalan Christians
and to serve in their unique community. The
landscape is one of volcanoes in the
distance…very picturesque…and fields full of
gigantic vegetables like carrots, corn, onions,
and radishes that grow so big due to the
volcanic soil and fertilization. Look at some of
the veggies you buy; they may have a sticker that says “Guatemala” on them.
Our people do not stay in hotels while there. There are none! Instead, we stay with the
families of the church and become quite attached to these families. Patzicía is a
village of narrow roads, many unpaved, in which walk the residents with perhaps some
cows and farming hand tools in a wheel barrel that they take to their field on the
outside of the village for the day. Most men dress as ours do (no shorts, however), but
the women and girls wear beautifully embroidered blouses and skirts in designs that
have been woven for hundreds of years. It’s like stepping back in time. There are some
vehicles on the city streets, but mostly there are tuk tuks, motorcycles with a canvas
compartment that has a seat big enough for 2-3 people. These are the cheap cabs the
people and we Americans use.
What do we do in Patzicia? We work on the huge church building the people have
been building for years now and are also using as their place of worship. Together the
Guatemalans & our teams built the church to attract others to Christ. They have
already had large evangelistic meetings and concerts at the church. It is at the church
where the Whitehall team has its meals, prepared by the ladies of the church in their
sparse kitchen facility. The team also does a Club Samuel program with children in the
afternoon…games and Bible stories, often in the form of a drama. In 2016 the team is
doing some small construction projects in the homes of widows and orphans, too. At
the end of the week, all the host families and the team board a bus for a beautiful ride
through the countryside to Lake Atitlan. Google that and you will be amazed! Antigua
is usually on the agenda, too, either after landing or before returning to the USA.
Plan ahead! In another three years there will probably be another mission trip to
Guatemala.
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MTF Supported Ministries
These are the missionaries and ministries selected by the MTF to support financially and in
prayer for 2016. Watch for Mission Moments from some of these folks in 2016!
Jared & Hannah Baker—France*
Randy Bevis—Thailand*
Nick & Chelsea Dombrowski—Intervarsity
Jochy & Tammi Hernandez—Dominican Rep.*
Pra%m & Vanita Masih—India
Jeff & Abbie Nelson—Guatemala*
Bob & Suzanne Sco-—South Africa
Dave & Daphne Smith—India
Alex & Amanda Velasco—Merge*
Bridge to Life
Congo Jesus Film Project
Covenant Merge Ministries*
LoveINC—Muskegon
M.A.D. House Ministries/Muskegon
Patzicia Church in Guatemala
Muskegon Pregnancy Services
Muskegon Rescue Mission
Western Michigan Teen Challenge
*Covenant Missionaries
Michigan Missions Update w/Dombrowskis!
Michigan Missions Update
Nick & Chelsea Dombrowski
Wednesday, July 6 –7:00pm here at ECC
Nick, a Whitehall, MI native, has worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for
11 years now and Chelsea for 5, helping college students know how to follow Jesus.
A year ago they transitioned from the U.S./Mexico border to work at the University
of Minnesota. Come share some coffee and dessert while hearing a brief update on
their transition, their thoughts on youth and current culture, as well as learn some
discipleship tools to help us better understand how to help others follow Jesus.
If you are going to college or have children going to college please come for the Q&A
to know how best to not just survive, but thrive spiritually during this season.
"For some of my Michigan friends that I haven't seen in a long time, I'd love to connect
with you afterward and hear about what's going on in your life. I hope you can come!"
~Nick
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ECC Calendar of Events
July 2016
Mon
Sun
Tue
Wed
Thu
1
3
9:00 & 10:45am
Worship
NO SUMMER
SUNDAY NIGHTS.
10
9:00 & 10:45am
Worship
4
ECC Office Closed!
White Lake Parade!
Meet @ City Hall at
9:30am.
5
Men’s Golf—6pm
@ Grandview GC
6
JHL
Tubing Trip
1:30pm—6:00pm
Fri
Sat
1
2
7
8
9
14
15
16
21
22
23
28
29
30
Dombrowskis @
ECC 7:00pm
1
12
13
ECC Golf-1pm
Everyone welcome!
Hickory Knoll
Covenant Quilters II
5-9pm @ Lifehouse
JHL
Craig’s Cruisers
12pm—5pm
Men’s Golf—6pm
@ Grandview
Summer Sunday Nights
Hi-League—6pm
VBS—JULY 10-14, 6-8:30pm!
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9:00 & 10:45am
Worship
ECC Baptism-5:00pm
Location TBA)
18
19
20
Men’s Golf—6pm
@ White Lake GC
NO JHL EVENTS…
26
27
ECC Golf-1pm
Everyone welcome!
Hickory Knoll
Summer Sunday Nights
Hi-Leabgue-6pm
24
9:00 & 10:45am
Worship
Summer Sunday Nights
Hi-League—6pm
31
9:00 & 10:45am
Worship
Summer Sunday Nights
Hi-League—6pm
6
25
ECC Golf-1pm
Everyone welcome!
Hickory Knoll
Men’s Golf—6pm
@ TBA
JHL
Pre-wedding
celebration with
Chuck & Courtney!!
5:30-7:30pm
Prayer Needs
Prayer Requests
for these affected by cancer
Phillip Sahutske
“Smitty” Smith
Cindy Wright
Leesa Piszczek
Richard Dresden
Pam Kring
Christal Jackson
Cheryl Roper
Are you
interested in
being a part
of our prayer ministry?
Contact Sonia Gilbert at
[email protected].
PRAY FOR JAMES BOEREMA―
BOEREMA―entering US Army!
James Boerema is hard to miss! He’s the 6’7” quiet young man that
chose ECC as his home church for the last five years. In May, he
enlisted in the Army for the next six years, flying to Fort Sill, OK on
Tuesday, June 28 for Basic Training. Immediately following BT, he’ll
fly to Fort Huachuca (pronounced Wah-choo-cah), Arizona, for
Advanced Individual Training, being awarded one of a very few
global positions in Unmanned Aircraft Systems Repair.
For those of you who wouldn’t know, James’ family (Ed, Shar, and older siblings Jen, Ben,
Rachel and Aubrey) were part of ECC when James was young. Though they ministered in
different churches before moving to Spring Lake recently, he chose to make ECC his home
church, during High School, and beyond. James hopes to be at ECC for a visit at Christmas
time. We’ll keep you informed and encourage your correspondence when we have his address.
Following are a few of James’ own thoughts as to why he felt called to serve:
I recently decided that I had to do something life-changing as… I'm not
pushing myself to do hard things. I have been thinking a lot lately that I
want to make something more of myself than just another American man
who stayed a boy. I think this country is losing its direction in part to
people not understanding the freedoms that they have, and where those
freedoms originated. So many people have an opinion today, as a direct
result of the efforts of men and women who have given so much for us. I
want to be a part of the team who keeps America safe… I look forward to
representing my family, my church families, and my community as a
soldier in the Army. I want people to keep in touch with me and call me to
ask questions and to pray with me as I move forward into a more
disciplined future, scared but confident.”
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Life Groups
Life groups are starting to wrap up for the summer. Please watch your bulletin or
newsletter for summer small group opportunities or studies.
DAY
TIME
CONTACT
PHONE
Sermon
Study
Tuesday
7:00pm
Steve Green
Men’s Study
286-6280
X
Bible
Study
Topic
Study
Connections Life Group Serving
JULY 3
JULY 10
JULY 17
JULY 24
JULY 31
1ST SERVICE
2ND SERVICE
BAKER/BREUKER
BROWER
BEEGHLY
POTTER
JENSEN
KENNEDY
YOUTH
YOUTH
The highlighted areas indicate additional opportunities to serve! If you are not part of a life group
and would like to serve in this ministry, there are definitely opportunities for you!
Questions? Contact Jodi Stratton at 578-6478 or [email protected].
ECC Golf Fellowship
Mondays, 1:00pm
Hickory Knoll Golf Course
(Weather permitting)
All are welcome!
Questions?
Contact Clarence (894-6084)
Tuesday Evenings,
Men’s Golf—6:00pm
July 5 & 12 @ Grandview GC
July 19 @ White Lake GC
(Informal—play when you can!)
There is an e-mail distribution list to notify players
of location, so contact Breck to be added!
[email protected] (766-2592).
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ECC Summer Baptisms
aptisms
ECC SUMMER BAPTISMS!
(locations TBA)
Sunday, July 17—
17—5:00pm
Sunday, August 7—
7—5:00pm
Are you ready to take the next step in your faith journey?
This is a great opportunity to come together as the church and be a part of
encouraging one another in our faith. We hope to see you there!
If you are interested in being baptized, please sign up on your
communication card and one of our pastors will be in contact with you.
Questions? Contact Pastor Tom!
2016 Leadership & Ministry Teams
2016 LEADERSHIP TEAM
2016 MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS
Paul Christensen, Chairman—894-4629
Bill Price, Vice Chairman—616-401-1128
Brent Brower, Secretary—616-607-6084
John Rupert, Treasurer—893-4071
Pastor Tom Beeghly, Member—215-3802
David Holly, Member—329-9911
Todd Jensen, Member—312-203-9247
Brian Rood, Member—766-9137
Dick Smith, Member—894-9363
Questions? Please don’t hesitate to contact
one of our Leadership Team members.
Adult Ministries—Justin Porath—894-4271
Bldg. & Grounds—Brent Johnson—894-9257
Children’s Ministries—Terri Means—894-6531
Cong. Care—Justin Porath—894-4271
Connections—Justin Porath—894-4271
Finance & Stewardship—John Rupert—893-4071
Missions—Lee Dickinson—894-2572
Ministry Care Team—Bill Price—616-401-1128
Technology—Brian Rood—766-9137
Worship—Craig Smith—On sabbatical until 8/31
Youth — Craig Smith— on sabbatical until 8/31
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Covenant Quilters II
Covenant Quilters II
CQII IS CONTINUING THROUGH July and August.
Please
note the CHANGE IN LOCATION: we will be meeting at the
Wood home, 7020 Durham the second Tuesdays of each
month so please mark your calendars for July 12 and
August 9, at our usual time of 5:00 - 9:00 pm. You don't need to bring
anything and you do not need any great sewing skills to participate.
If you can’t make these times but would like to help CQI & II, would you
work on a quilt top at home?
There are quilt kits almost ready to be sewn. Watch next week’s bulletin
for details.
Contact person is Linda Wood. Phone number 231-292-1143 or email
[email protected].
Helping Others…..
Others ..
RECYCLE FOR SIGHT!
DO YOU HAVE
GENTLY USED
EYEGLASSES THAT YOU
ARE ABLE TO donate?
The Lions Club has a program to recycle
eyeglasses for the needy! Volunteers
prepare the glasses for their new owner.
Please drop off your donated glasses to
the bin under the Guest Services
cabinet.
Thank you for making a difference!
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WHITE
LAKE FOOD
PANTRY
We continue to collect non-perishable
food items for the Lebanon Lutheran
Food Pantry. Please drop your
donations off at Guest Services,
marked “food pantry”, or you can
drop them off right at Lebanon
Lutheran Church.
Thank you for giving to others!
Portage Lake Campers—
Campers—July
Junior High—July 17-23
Cole Brower
Lily Brower
Chloe Christensen
Dayton Cole
Rebekah Cook
Bethany Elliott
Matthew Goodrich
Greta Hosticka
Mackenzie Johnson
Christian Johnston
Lainey Morin
Alex Pruett
Julian Pruett
Brett Schlaff
Lauren Schneider
Allison TenBrink
Isaac TenBrink
Leah VanAntwerp
Ellie VanTongeren
Worship On The Waterfront—
Waterfront—Grand Haven
Worship On the Waterfront (WOW) is a free outdoor summer worship series held every year on
the shores of Lake Michigan in Grand Haven, MI. Drawing on gifted worship artists from the
community as well as from the regional and national level, WOW is an unique experience that
blends the music and passion of worship with the overwhelming beauty of God’s creation.
Sponsored by the First Reformed Church of Grand Haven, WOW is celebrating 70 years of
ministry this summer!
WOW is held on Sunday evenings from 7:007:00-8:30 at the Waterfront Stadium.
Gates open at 6:15pm. This year’s schedule runs from June 26-August 28.
July 3: Building 429
August 7: 7th Time Down
July 10: NewWorldSon
August 14: Jason Crabb
July 17: I Am They
August 21: Jason Gray
July 24: David & The Giants
August 28: Mark Schultz
July 31: Blanca
Visit www.worshiponthewaterfront.org
for more information.
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White Lake Area July 4 Parade!
We are once again participating in the WL Area July 4th Parade! We will be meeting
behind Whitehall City Hall at 9:30am. The Morins are graciously allowing us to use
their ice cream truck! We need lots of hands to bless our community with freeze pops
and postcards with our upcoming events. Even if you haven’t signed up, just show up!
Serving Opportunities
Looking for a place to serve here at ECC?
We have a lot of opportunities available through our 10 ministry teams:
Adult Ministries
Building & Grounds
Care
Children’s Ministry
Connections
Evangelism
Finance & Stewardship
Missions
Student Ministry
Worship Ministry
Let us know on your communication card or call the office for
more information about any of these teams!
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