KNAPP NOTES has changed its name to "At the Crossroads"
Excerpts from the Fall 2009 edition:
"Let's Freshen Up a Bit"
This is a time of transition for Knapp Church. Our Pastor Search Committee is narrowing down the prospects on a new pastor; Sunday School, Walkout Worship, and Kids Hope mentoring are once again in full swing; Consistory is starting to think about Consistorial Reports to Classis and the November Congregational Meeting which are signs the year is beginning to draw to a close. As editor of the Knapp newsletter, Knapp Notes, I see this as an opportune time to give the newsletter a facelift. Let’s freshen it up with a new look, a new name, but remain true to the intent of the newsletter. Because of time constraints, the masthead (title area) design is not finished yet.
ï– The new title, “At the Crossroads,” obviously reflects our geography here at Knapp and Maguire. A crossroad is a point where a decision or adjustment of direction can be made, and then, of course, there’s the spiritual element of the cross.
ï– The purpose of our newsletter is to engage, inspire, equip, and inform our membership for participation in God’s kingdom plans. This purpose statement, by the way, is not far off from our church’s mission statement (see inset to the left). This was not by accident, but done on purpose— pun intended.
ï– If you would like to write and submit an article for publication, the guidelines are given in the section at the bottom of the back page. Original material only please so as not to be in violation of copyright law.
ï– How about frequency? We’ve been coming out with a monthly issue; however, that will not necessarily be the case anymore. The newsletter will be published whenever deemed appropriate by leadership/ staff. In other words, do we have something worth saying at this particular time that should be said in newsletter fashion? So every issue will be definitely worth ‘the read.’
I hope you like the change.
Cindy Hubble
MENTORING MUSINGS
By Tammi Shymanski
God's timing is perfect. God's timing is perfect. God's timing is perfect.
I thought maybe if I put the emphasis on a different word each time, I would feel reassured. I was feeling anything but sure this past month as Shianne waited for her new mentor. The people I had in mind seemed to have other things on their plate that would prevent them from mentoring. God and I were having several discussions a day, which wasn't a bad thing, except for the notes of panic that kept creeping in (from my perspective of course). So, I waited to see how this would resolve.
I received a phone call from Joanne Wallace that inspired me to chat again with God, this time with praise and thanksgiving. She wanted to mentor Shianne – hallelujah! That next week as I was mentoring Delaney, Shianne came up to me in the school cafeteria and wanted to know (looking up at me with huge blue eyes) “When was her KIDS HOPE mentor coming?” Thank you God that I could say, “we're working on next week for your new mentor!” She smiled beautifully and skipped away.
God's timing is perfect!
SUNDAY SCHOOL MAKING A DIFFERENCE
By Niki Finney
Members of our Sunday School gave $520.42 to Orphanage Outreach last school year. This helped an orphanage in the Dominican Republic add a much-needed second story to their building.
This year’s offering will support Kids Food Basket, providing sack suppers to Grand Rapids inner city students whose parents are having difficulty providing nutritious evening meals. Kids Food Basket is one of Knapp’s ongoing mission projects, so watch for additional upcoming opportunities to support this vital ministry in our city.
BREUKER’S BITS…
by Karen Breuker
Isn’t it amazing how some things change so much and some things never change?
Nineteen years ago I graduated from college. Nineteen years ago I decide I should keep every textbook and every paper I wrote incase I would need them in my new career. You guessed it, I never opened them once. So now, 19 yrs. later, I decided it was time to purge these items from my basement, but not without reading each one first and smiling (or frowning) at my grades and how funny my thoughts were back then! Most papers went right to the recycling bag, but one paper stuck out special to me: “Self Awareness” by Karen Heerspink 1991. I wondered what I was like waaay back then so I curiously read about... myself. Here are a few excerpts from my very moving report!
• “I crave the desire to make others feel good by showing them someone cares about them”
• “I don’t want to miss out on anything life has to offer and I want to make sure other people aren’t either. I feel it is my responsibility to inform them if I know of something that could help them or that they would like”
• “My basic philosophy on life is to get involved and get busy!”
• “My second view is that everyone should find a cause and become an advocate”
• “I want everyone to become aware of the injustices and prejudices that are going on and start doing something about it.”
• “If everyone would mend one other person, the whole world would be mended."
I would love to say, after 19 years, I have really changed. But as I analyze my life and beliefs now, I realize nothing has changed. I still have those same desires to serve, help others serve and to get involved in as much as I can. What a nerd huh?! But I just can't help myself!! I have not just taken on this job (5 years ago already) for something to do or to nag everyone about doing more; it really is what I believe in.
Everyone is busy. I find that the busiest people are the ones who are still signing up to do more and are so willing to help out. If you make yourself available, God will help you figure out how it will get all done. Regardless of age!! If you think a "job" is out of your comfort zone, trust God. He would not have nudged you do something that he wasn't going to be there to see you through. No one expects you to do it on your own strength.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9) All you need to do is show up, He'll do the rest! It really is a matter of trust and faith in your Creator.
This fall’s calendar is no exception to the rule. There are tons of opportunities; I don't even pass them all on so as not to overwhelm you. But it saddens me so much that there is all this need out there and we can't respond to all of it, not to mention all the ideas floating around in my own head of ways to serve!!
Thank you so much for all of you who have stepped up in the past to serve in some way, whether it was big or small. God doesn't care about the size of the job. If you have decided now is the time you want to start doing more, please see me for ideas, or just simply add your name to lists on the bulletin board by my office.
On Oct. 25, our whole church will have the opportunity to put our Faith in Action in the community as we GO OUT to serve and make a difference. This outward expression of faith and unity as a body of believers shows our neighbors what our inward attitude and belief is: that God cares about them and so does Knapp Reformed Church. We don't want the building on the corner of Knapp and Maguire to be the only "church" that some people will ever see. We are the church and it goes wherever we go! Thus the saying, "Don't go to church, be the church. Don't go for a church service, do service"
In case you’re wondering, I got an A on my paper!!!