Welcome to
Our Online Bulletin
Join us for worship on Sundays at 10:30am
Find HAPPENINGS anytime at www.s-heights.org/happenings.
HAPPENINGS is sent weekly to everyone on our email list.
Contact us at shcrc1@gmail.com to be added to the list.
Question
A little Christmastime humor:
In what year does New Year’s Day come BEFORE Christmas?
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer)
PASTOR TODD’S WEEKLY WORD
Dear Friends…
On my drive to church each morning these days, I find myself passing hundreds of lonely, forlorn-looking snow stakes. They stand at attention marking the boundaries between lawns and streets, and driveways and landscaping. They are READY! They are WAITING! But they are there for when the snow comes…and right now there is no snow. And so right now, they just kinda hold their positions and wait. This is Michigan. The snow always comes.
Those little orange javelins aren’t the only things waiting. And I’m not just talking about “Let It Snow” or “Walking In a Winter Wonderland” or “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” either… We Jesus people are waiting for “Silent Night,” “O Holy Night, when Christ was born!” and “Joy To the World, the Lord Is Come! Let earth receive her King!” It seems like practically all of creation (the humans, the music, the menus, the news, advertising, the weather, our calendars, etc) are leaning toward CHRISTMAS at this point. But it isn’t quite Christmas yet. This is Advent, the season of waiting. But…let the excitement build, friends, because He is coming! He always comes :).
And since we’re all waiting, let’s wait together! Same time, same place this Sunday: 10:30am, 4141 East Hillandale. No special dress code. No singling anyone out or weird expectations. Just an open invitation to come worship the King of the Universe with us. We’ll save you a seat! See you Sunday!
His…Pastor todd <><
Upcoming Events at Southern Heights
These are highlights only. CLICK HERE to see the calendar for a full listing.
December 10 – Communion
December 10 – Congregational Budget Meeting after worship
December 17 – Christmas Program – 10:30am – NCIS Christmas
December 17 – Christmas Banquet Potluck – Noon
December 17 – Return Angel Tree gifts (unwrapped) and tags
December 20 – 1st and 3rd Wednesday Ministries
– Note -No Women’s Ministry (morning or evening)
– 5:15pm – Light Pizza supper
– 6-7:30pm – Gems (1st to 5th grade girls)
– 6-7:30pm – Cadets (1st to 5th grade boys)
– 6-7:45pm – Middle School
– 6-7:30pm – Men’s Ministry
December 24 – Christmas Worship Gathering – 10:30am
December 24 – Candlelight Service – 5:30 to 6:15pm
December 31 – Guest Speaker – Pastor Curt DeVries from Martin Reformed Church
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LUNCH BUNCH – Each Sunday after worship, Lunch Bunch gathers in the lobby and decides where to eat together. Everyone is welcome.
2024 Budget Meeting
Join us right after worship on Sunday, Dec 10, for a discussion and vote on our 2024 budget. If you have any questions before the meeting, feel free to reach out to our treasurer, Jeff Baas, jmbaas1@gmail.com or an elder. Voting will be for members 16 years and older. You can submit an absentee ballot by email before Sunday, Dec 10.
Our Christmas “Angel Tree”
Our Angel Tree – decorated with gift tags – is in our lobby from Sunday, Nov. 26 until Sunday morning, Dec. 17.
Each tag represents a gift or gift card that is truly needed by someone who is struggling this Christmas. Take one or more tags and buy the item on each tag. TYou may take as many tags as you wish but be sure to buy and return every item on every tag you take.
Return the gift(s) you’ve bought, unwrapped and with the original Angel Tree tag attached. Place them under the Angel Tree and put gift cards – with Angel Tree tags attached – in the bag on the tree.
All gifts must be under or on the tree no later than Sunday morning, December 17.
Join your deacons in praying that both the givers and recipients of these gifts will be touched by Jesus’ love.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 2023
We have a very special Christmas Program coming on December 17. Our very own NCIS (Nativity Christmas Investigation Service) will look at all the facts surrounding the Christmas account. Children, Teens, Young People, Adults all are getting together to find out the answers. Join us on this special day.
Christmas Banquet – 2023
After the December 17 Christmas Program, we will all go downstairs to the Fellowship Hall for a Christmas Banquet. The Council will provide meat, potatoes, water, and place settings. Everyone will be asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share (instructions below). This will be a nice way to share the joy of Christmas together.
We need your help to make this a true banquet. Please see the list below and, if you are able, bring the item assigned to your district (by last name). Thanks in advance.
This will be a great way to celebrate together (and share yummy food).
Alphabetical by last name…
District 1 – (A-D) – Salads
District 2 – (E-H) – Vegetables
District 3 – (I-McL) – Vegetables
District 4 – (McN-R) – Salads
District 5 – (S-Z) – Desserts
Candlelight Service
A special, quiet, reflective, candlelight worship service will be held on Sunday evening, December 24th from 5:30pm to 6:15pm. Let us remember the Silent Night when Jesus was born.
A Good Word
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. If your request is confidential, please let us know and it will only be shared with a small group of elders and staff who will be confidentially praying for you.
Education Hour
Sundays from 9-10am we have our Education Hour.
Adults meet in the conference room for their study,
High School will be digging into pillars of our faith,
Middle School will dive into questions that need good answers.
This is a great time to deepen our faith and knowledge and have a meaningful time with our church family.
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The Adult Group is going through a study on ADVENT.
(join any time)
The Christmas story, or Advent, is more than a sentimental myth or a quiet manger scene we use to decorate our living rooms. The Christmas story is the good news of God entering into our darkness. Join J.D. Greear in this four-session series as he takes a deeper look at Jesus as Emmanuel, our Wonderful Counselor, the Everlasting Father, and the great I Am. When you know Jesus, you will realize Christmas is more than a nice story—the arrival of Jesus changes everything.
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY!
Adult Fiction:
The Marriage Wish by Dee Henderson
Windy City Neighbor series
Grounded, Derailed, Penny Wise, Pound Foolish & Snowmageddon
by Neta Jackson and Dave Jackson
Adult Non-Fiction:
Delight in Creation edited by Deborah Haarsma & Scott Hoezee
Scientists Share Their Work with the Church
Try Softer by Aundi Kolber
A Fresh Approach to Move Us Out of Anxiety into a Life of Joy
Because of Bethlehem by Max Lucado
Surprised by Paradox by Jen Pollock Michel
The Promise of And in an Either-Or World
Radical by David Platt
Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Jesus Over Everything by Lisa Whittle
Uncomplicating the Daily Struggle to Put Jesus First
1st & 3rd Wednesdays
1st and 3rd Wednesdays there are a lot of people here in the building so bring the family and join in the festivities. Women’s Ministry starts out with a 10am study (the same as the evening study in case you can’t make one or the other). At 5:15 there will be a pizza supper served (donation accepted). Then from 6-7:30 there will be ministries for Gems and Cadets (1st to 5th grade girls and boys), Middle School, Women’s Ministry and Men’s Ministry. Learning, games, crafts, friendships, prayer, and Bible study all so that God is glorified. Come and be part of the energy!
Want to Join a Life Group?
Life is better…together. Life Groups are a wonderful way to build deeper relationships with other believers. They are where you can really share your struggles together and rejoice in the successes of life. If you want to know more or wish to join a group, click on this picture or contact Tami Koning at tamikoning@yahoo.com.
Your Offerings to God
as of December 3, 2023
END OF YEAR GIVING:
In order for your donation to be included in 2023 giving statements, please make sure your gift is received in the offering by Sunday, December 31 at 10:30am. That will ensure that it is counted and included in 2023.
Thank you.
If you have questions about your giving, if you want a statement sent to you, or if you would like a reminder of what your First Fruits estimate is, please email our Treasurer, Jeff Baas at jmbaas1@gmail.com. We are happy to help you.
THANKSGIVING OFFERING
Thank you for giving to the local, national and international causes for Thanksgiving.
World Renew $150
Gospel Ministries $605
Gathering Hearts $2,750
TEE Food $500
Grand Total $4,005
Free & Confidential Counseling is Available
If you feel the need to talk to a professional counselor, we have a Church Assistance Program (CAP) with Pine Rest Mental Health Services. To get started – or if you want more information – call 800.442.0809, press 1, and mention our Southern Heights CAP membership when you call.
Answer to the Question.
EVERY YEAR!
