WELCOME TO
Our Online Bulletin
Join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30am
HAPPENINGS is found any time on our website at www.s-heights.org/happenings.
Once per week HAPPENINGS will be emailed to everyone on our email list.
email us at shcrc1@gmail.com if you want to be on the email list.
Bible Trivia
What country/people did Goliath come from?
Scroll to the very bottom for the answer.
PASTOR TODD’S WEEKLY WORD
Dear Friends…
I was raised on a regular refrain of the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed…try, try again.” This served me well for growth experiences like learning to ride a bicycle or trying to swallow a bite of zucchini or steamed spinach. This strategy was even fairly handy for more complicated matters later in life, like resolving conflict with a friend, trying to make sense of Biblical Greek, or…trying to swallow a bite of spinach…served to me by my loving wife (for the record, I kinda like the stuff now…apparently I have grown up…but I digress!)
THE POINT IS…there are many tasks in this life that seem like, if we just try harder at them, they’ll work better. I often expect my spiritual life to fall into that category. I generally assume that if I just:
-pray often enough, for long enough…
-read the Bible enough…
-listen to enough sermons…
…then those things will kind of magically become more and more meaningful, I’ll get more and more out of them, I will FEEL closer and closer to God, and my faith will just kind of WORK. But you know what? There are mornings, nights, days – sometimes whole weeks, seasons, or even years – when I just feel disconnected from the Lord…like someone unplugged my charging cable. Every so often I’ll find myself praying because I know it’s a good habit, but just not feeling like my heart is in it. Or I’ll be reading the Bible or some devotional book out of habit, but just feel like not one word of it is really getting through to me. I’m never HOPING for this or TRYING to make it happen, and it’s a bit unnerving when it does. But it happens to me anyway.
Since I am fairly confident we’ve all experienced this, may I offer a couple reflections on such times?
1. When you’re trying to get close to God and it doesn’t FEEL TO YOU like it’s working, that doesn’t mean it GOD isn’t working. I think sometimes such pauses in the “movement” of our spiritual life and growth are God’s way of keeping us humble. Keep up the good habits, and keep expecting God to meet you in them…it’ll happen His way, in His perfect timing. Those are usually times when I’ve been doing my faith stuff all by myself…
2. On the other hand, when you’re feeling “stuck” in your walk with God in one area, but know that you’re trying not to be too open or honest with Him in some other area (because you’re pretending He doesn’t know or that it doesn’t matter…but deep down you kinda know it does), you probably won’t get unstuck without admitting you’ve been playing hide-and-seek with Him. That may mean just admitting this to HIM…or you may find it helpful to find a brother or sister in Christ to help hold you accountable. Either way, there’s life and healing for you on the other side of that confession EVERY TIME!
Friends, as much as I personally can fall into routines and ruts, I think we all know churches can struggle with that too. Praise Almighty God that the Southern Heights Church family does not seem to struggle with this! As a church family, we strive to support and encourage one another and anyone else who wants to encounter Jesus! And we have a great time doing it! You should come join us…Sunday morning at 10:30am at 4141 East Hillandale. I can’t wait to meet you! (…and I promise not to make you eat any spinach)
His…Pastor todd <><
Upcoming Events at Southern Heights
These are highlights only. CLICK HERE to see the calendar for a full listing.
February 9 – NO Middle School Ministry – (Super Bowl Sunday)
February 16 – NO Education Hour – Winter Break
February 16 – High School Ministry – 6pm (3rd Sunday)
February 19 – 1st & 3rd Wednesday Ministries
10am – Women’s Ministry
5:15pm – Pizza supper
6-7:30pm – Gems, Cadets, Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry
February 23 – Family Listening Meeting – after worship in FH
February 23 – Middle School – 6pm (4th Sunday)
March 2 – High School Ministry – 6pm (1st Sunday)
March 5 – Ash Wednesday
March 5 – 1st & 3rd Wednesday Ministries
March 9 – TIME CHANGE – Spring Forward
March 9 – Middle School – 6pm (2nd Sunday)
March 16 – High School – 6pm (3rd Sunday)
New Series by Pastor Todd Eckstein
This Sunday: The Antichrist
COLLEGE STUDENT CARE PACKAGES
A table will be set up in the lobby on Sundays for donations on February 9,16, and 23.
Our students love and appreciate your wonderful gifts.
Ideas:
Gift cards to Biggby or a similar shop
Granola bars
Candy, gum, suckers
Microwave popcorn, hot cocoa, crackers
Homemade food items
Any other small items
Encouraging notes and cards
Monetary donations to cover postage;
(these can be given to Donna Neevel or Erica Deubner)
Our 16 college students are Josie Carlisle, Sam Carlisle, Matthew Dunham, Haley Earles, Seth Eckstein, Vlad Garcez, Trevor Horobik, Mitchell Kleyn, Kyle Koning, Jude Lemmer, Taylor Magierka, Tucker Seelbinder, Evan Stacy, Alex Triemstra, Jacob Van Dyk, and Emily Voss.
Thank you!
CHURCH FAMILY LISTENING MEETING
February 23 – Sunday – CHURCH FAMILY LISTENING MEETING: Immediately after the worship gathering the Council will host a special church family listening meeting. This is a unique meeting where we want to listen to each other. What are your thoughts? Concerns? Praises? Dreams? Come and share what is on your heart and mind and hear the thoughts of others. We have found this to be a very meaningful family time.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, March 5
As we begin the season of Lent, if you wish to receive the imposition of ashes (sign of the cross on your forehead), Pastor Todd will be available to meet you (just walk-in) in our prayer room on Ash Wednesday from 7am to 6pm.
A Good Scripture to Memorize
SHawlers
If you love to knit or crochet you are invited to join the “SHawlers”. The SHawlers are a group from Southern Heights that make Prayer Shawls or lap blankets for those in our church family who need encouragement, comfort and healing. There are even patterns and yarn available to use. If you are interested, please contact Deb Bos, text or call @ 271-7700.
EDUCATION HOUR
** February 16 – There will be NO EDUCATION HOUR for Middle School, High School and Adults – for a Winter Break **
Education Hour is from 9-10am. This is for Middle School, High School and Adults. Come and participate in an in-depth Bible Study lesson for your specific group and learn and grow together in your faith.
High School & Middle School – Start in the Student Room…
Then Middle School will go to another room for class.
ADULT BIBLE STUDY – ACTS – By Francis Chan
Student Ministries
** NOTE ** – No Middle School the evening of Sunday, February 9 because of Superbowl.
Sunday evenings will be dedicated to our Students in High School and Middle School.
They will alternate Sundays with each other.
HIGH SCHOOL GROUP GATHERING [1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays] 6:00 – 8:00 pm
MIDDLE SCHOOL GROUP GATHERING [2nd, 4th & 5th Sundays] 6:00 – 8:00 pm
1st & 3rd Wednesday Ministries
10:00am – Women’s ministry meets in the conference room.
5:15pm – light supper of pizza and chips and cookies.
6pm we will have GEMS (1st -5th grade girls) and Cadets (1st to 5th grade boys), and Women’s Ministry (Same lesson as 10am) and Men’s Ministry. Bring your friends!
Your Offerings to God
as of February 2, 2025
If you have questions about your giving, want a copy of your statement, or for a reminder of what your First Fruits estimate is, please email our Treasurer, Jeff Baas at jmbaas1@gmail.com. He is happy to help you.
2024 YEAR END INFORMATION
The Council would like to share some very good news.
We have closed our 2024 books and have the following info to share…
2024 Budget was $421, 614.75
2024 Expenses = $439,688.43
(overage mainly due to Kitchen remodel)
2024 Contributions = $486,095.52
2024 Surplus = $46,407.09
Praise God for this wonderful news. Our attendance is up, our giving is increasing and now we have a surplus to carry into 2025 for ministry work in God’s kingdom. We have a long-standing practice of giving a tithe or 10% to our Outreach Ministries both locally and around the world. This was included in the original budget, and since we have exceeded that budget we will tithe 10% of the surplus as well. So, an additional $4,641 will go to the Outreach team above their original amount. They have decided to use half of the surplus for local missions and half of the surplus for international missions. Thanks be to God for His provision for the Southern Heights church family to do His work.
Thanks
The deacons want to say a special thank-you to everyone in our church family who donated food, purchased Angel Tree gifts, gave to our Thanksgiving causes and donated to the Love offerings for our staff. We asked alot of you from October through December and you were quick to respond and very generous. Many people were blessed by your gifts. Thank you!
Have a Praise or Prayer Request?
Click on this prayer prompter image or email deborahbos2@gmail.com and your prayer or praise will be included in our weekly Prayer Prompter, which is received and prayed over by many in our Southern Heights family. Tell us if your request is confidential and it will only be shared with elders and staff, who will confidentially pray for you.
Free & Confidential Counseling is Available
If you feel the need to talk to a professional counselor, we have a confidential Church Assistance Program (CAP) with Pine Rest Mental Health Services. To get started – or for more info – call 616.455.6210 or 800.442.0809 and mention our Southern Heights CAP membership when you do.
Answer to Bible Trivia
Goliath was a Philistine.
