OVESTA EWS

Published monthly by:

Novesta Church of Christ 2896 N. Cemetery Rd. Cass City, MI 48726

Phone: (989) 872-3658

novestachurch@yahoo.com

www.novestachurch.org

Brad Speirs, Senior Minister Josh Morford, Youth &

Family Minister

VOL. XXXX - - - No. 11

October 25, 2015

November Issue

Oh the rat race … we’ve all gotten caught up in it from time to time and we’ve all been worn out by it as well. But what if we could change the way we lived so that life wasn’t

just a rat race, but rather a road trip … one filled with beautiful moments, abundant grace, and Godly living? Join us on Sunday mornings at Novesta in November as we travel on a road trip of wisdom by studying the book of Proverbs. #roadtrip #wisdom #proverbs.

November 1st - Great Destinations November 15th - Garmins

November 8th - Good Roads November 22nd - Guardrails

Road Rally - November 7th @ 6:30PM Laughing, playing, eating, competing, & Jesus … I’m not sure that life gets any better than that. And that’s exactly what we will be doing on Saturday, November 7th. We invite everyone to grab a few friends and sign up to be a part of this fun evening. The Road Rally is similar to the ‘Amazing Race’ and will involve teams of 4 working together to solve clues, find clues, accomplish tasks, and basically just have a great time! There is a sign-up in the middle hallway and we’d love to have you join us! Talk to Becky Zmierski & Jane Luana for more information.

HARVEST FEST ~ OCTOBER 31 ~ 2 PM - 4 PM Our annual party for families is quickly approaching. We are getting ready for a great party with tons of games, lots of candy, and awesome prizes! We want to invite all families and their kids (up thru 6th grade) to join us for a fun-filled day that is sure to be a great family memory. As a church, we use Harvest Fest as a chance to reach out to the community as a blessing to young families and their kids. That means we are going to be needing lots of volunteers to help run the games, man the kitchen, and to set-up and take-down. There will be a sign-up in the middle hallway for the workers that are needed and you can also begin bringing in bags of individually wrapped candies and snack-type treats throughout the month of October. We’re looking forward to Harvest Fest 2015 being one of the best parties yet, and that can only happen with every-body doing their part! Please talk to Josh or Brad or Kristy Speirs for more information.

TIME CHANGE ~ FALL BACK ~ NOVEMBER 1

Welcome New Members ... Karen Anderson was baptized on Sunday, October 13 after the close of the morning worship. Karen is the mother of Charles & Richard Kester. Be sure to welcome Karen and get acquainted. Joanne Hopper having already been im-mersed placed membership with Novesta on Octo-ber 10th. We welcome Joanne and are already using her many talents. Be sure to keep others in prayer that need to make their decision to follow Christ .

Bible Bowl News First Competition is November 7th. We have a lot of youngsters that have

been busy working and studying the first part of the gospel of Luke. We currently have 6 Bible Bowlers and 17 Beginner Bible Bowlers. We ask that you pray for all of these young people as they commit God’s word to their hearts.

Community Thanksgiving Service

On Sunday night, November 22nd, @ 6:30 p.m. we will be gathering as a community at the Cass City Missionary Church for a town-wide Thanksgiving service. We invite you to join us.

Financial Peace Place How’s your budget doing? Are you still pursuing the dreams and desires that you set out for over a year ago? As the Christmas season approaches, let’s make sure to be careful not to overspend and wreck our plans. God’s ways of handling money work, so let’s live them out! Remember to live like no one else now, so that we can have the op-portunity to live and give like no one else later.

L.I.F.T. (Ladies In Fellowship Together)

All women of Novesta are invited to join us on Thurs-day, November 12, at 7:00 p.m. Patty Peters will be teaching us how to make a Deco Mesh Holiday Wreath. Wreath samples are on dis-play in the foyer. Pick up a supply list, purchase your items and join us for a fun evening. Refreshments will

be served.

Fantasy Football We’re getting into the thick of the sea-son and there’s a few teams that have emerged as the frontrunners … Bill Claerhout, Jason Speirs, & Lukas Schenk are the leaders at this point in the race, but there’s many of us waiting in the bushes to sneak ahead!

Service of Remembrance November 1st at 3:00 PM at Kranz Funeral Home.

Every fall, Kranz funeral home hosts a service of remembrance to celebrate and remember all those that have passed away this year. This service can be a special step in the healing and grieving proc-ess. All are welcome to attend and share in this time.

Mission Trip Meeting November 8th

All those interested in participating in a mission trip in 2016 are invited to join us after church on the 8th as we discuss possible destinations and as we seek to follow the Spirit’s leading for the trip(s) that we might want to pursue.

BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Ladies Bible Study—Tuesdays @ 10 am Men’s Bible Study—Tuesdays @ 7 pm

Mom’s Group—Nov. 2 & 16 @ 6:30 pm

LONG TERM PRAYER LIST

** Members Steve Wilkinson -aneurysm Quinton Simpson - coma (Dena Anderson's nephew) Diane Wojtaszke - cancer (Ann Hartel contact) **Heather Roberts - continued healing of MS Don Kruse - recovery (Michelle Speirs’ grandpa) **Larry Harper - Intestinal problems Mark Pierson - (Zmierski’s cousin) **Leonard Hawkins - Stonegate in Sandusky Rachael Maurer - recovery from auto accident **Phil Klaus - Graves disease Julie Patterson - chemotherapy Les Auten III - upcoming Kidney transplant Joyce Brown - (Taylor & Kennedy’s grandmother) Lee Nicol - ill health Judy Ferguson - Lupus/cancer (Zmierski’s aunt) Dorothy Pierson - nursing home (Zmierski’s aunt) Bob Hirn - ALS Lindsey Jensen - recovery from auto accident Muriel Wygant - cancer (Irene Nicol’s daughter) ATTENTION: If you know any of these on this list that are well and can be eliminated from it, please let the church office know.

YOUTH NEWS

Student Ministry: Student Ministry continues this month on Sunday Nights, from 6-8PM. In the month of November, we will be beginning a series that looks at some of the different attributes of God. Stu-dent Ministry is a fun and safe place for students to come and be accepted and encounter Jesus in a real and tangible way. SHINE: November is the last month for SHINE for the Fall Semester. Our final week of SHINE will oc-cur on November 18th. Thank you for letting us love on your children and teach them the story of Jesus. Kid’s Christmas Service: Our initial plan for our Kid’s Christmas Service, is that we will be participat-ing in the Adult Worship Service on December 20th at 10:30AM. Kids will be participating in all aspects of the service. If you are interested in helping us out with this program, contact Josh or Kristy. Information Sign-up: If you have a child that at-tends Novesta that is in 5th grade or lower, then we want you to fill out our online information sheet. We want to partner with you as a parent to reach our kids for Jesus. If you have not filled out this form yet, please contact Josh immediately. Emails will already begin being sent in October. Volunteers Needed: Novesta has been blessed with a continually growing Kids and Student Minis-try. We are always in need of new helpers in many different roles. We are looking for adults who would be interested in running the check-in station, assist-ing teachers, being a small group leader on Sunday Nights, Worship Leader on Sunday Morning, and many other roles. If you have a passion for kids or students and want to serve the Lord in this way, please contact Josh. Thanks: We want to take a few moments in this newsletter to thank the awesome volunteers that we have in all of our ministries. We have added a new class in Junior Church and have several new volun-teers who we appreciate, and a lot of volunteers who have already been serving for a while now. We love and appreciate you. Without you our Ministry would not be successful. You all rock! -Josh. Fifth Quarters: Thank you to all the volunteers who gave up their time to love on students and to show them that Novesta and our Lord care about them. We are proud of this ministry and will be let-ting you all know the dates of Winter Fifth Quarters when we know them.

Thanksgiving Baskets During the month we will be collecting food items to put to-gether food baskets for at least 4 needy families in our area. A sign up will be posted in the middle hallway. Please write your name by the item you intend to donate and then make a check mark by your name when you bring it. We need all items to be at the church by noon on Tuesday, November 24, for delivery that day. If you are willing to help either with filling or delivering the baskets, please let the office know. PLEASE NOTE: If you or anyone you know of, within the congregation, is in need of Thanks-giving and Christmas baskets, please let the church office know by November 8. We don’t want to overlook any of our own, so please help us.

FACTS & FIGURES

Average weekly attendance for the month of October (to date):

A.M. Worship … 248

Offering average for October (to date): Sunday Offerings……….…$4,548.66

(Budget per Sunday: $4,425)

OUR MILITARY

Scott Brownson - (Tom & Doris Stimpfel’s nephew) Jeremy Burns - (Sandra Yax’ nephew) Matthew Harris - Hawaii (Sandra Yax’ nephew) Ben Knoblet - (Tim’s nephew) Matthew Peck - (Mark’s son) Ryan Reid - (Jeff Hartel’s nephew) Julie Roche Griffith - Air Force Cody Ross - California Jeffery Soldan - (Sandra Yax’ nephew) Marius Weilbach - (Jacques & Marsha’s son)

Mystery Member Last Mystery Member was: Nicole Sanford Now see if you can guess who our mys- tery member is for this month. The clues given tells you a little bit about the person and helps us get to know each other a little better. 1. I am a mom and grandma 2. I am an Amateur Radio Operator 3. I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees

from SVSU and a Doctorate degree from CMU.

4. No grass grows under my feet. WHO AM I ?

NEW ADDRESS

Jeff & Carletta Swoish Amelia & Elizabeth

6619 Sohn Road ~ Vassar, MI 48768

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

11/1 Ann King 11/1 Cathy White 11/3 Ryan Radabaugh 11/4 Fred Hicks 11/5 David Nordquist 11/5 Tom Little 11/7 Jeff Swoish 11/8 Nicole Sanford 11/9 Madelyn Hicks 11/9 Laura Hiles 11/11 Cathy Healy 11/12 Marideth Nizzola 11/14 Thomas Mittlestat 11/14 Zachary Speirs 11/14 Evan Neff 11/15 Susie Hartwick 11/15 Ethan Healy 11/16 Marie Peasley 11/17 (A) Tom & Nora Jean Little 11/20 (A) Phil & Cindy Klaus 11/20 Mike Zmierski 11/23 (A) Mark & Julie Mozdzen 11/23 Robyn Murdoch 11/23 Marilyn Harris 11/24 Erica Louks 11/24 (A) Dan & Cindy Shaw 11/25 Gail Louks 11/26 Kristie Speirs 11/29 (A) Ralph & Pat Zinnecker 11/29 Patty Peck 11/29 Amber Powell 11/30 Carrie Luana

CONGRATULATIONS… ...to Mickey & Crystal Strickler at the birth of their son, Brandin Daniel, born on October 15th. He weighed 8 lbs. 13 ozs. and 22” long.

Congrats also to his siblings, Karissa & Avery, as well as his grandparents, Dan & Cindy Shaw and great-grandparents, Tom & Nora Jean Little, and many aunts, uncles, & cousins.

THOSE SERVING IN NOVEMBER

COMMUNION MEDITATION: 11/1 Gib Kern 11/8 Ken Peters 11/15 Joel Brandel 11/22 Gib Kern 11/29 Fred Hicks SERVICE COORDINATOR: 11/1 Duane O’Dell 11/8 Ken Peters 11/15 Gib Kern 11/22 Joel Brandel 11/29 Stuart Venema USHERS: Dave Beckrow Greg Mika Barry Brown Mark Peck Andy Gray Mark Zmierski A.M. NURSERY: 9:30 a.m. (all month) - Janie & McKenzie Kus 10:30 hour: 11/1 Donella Peasley, Jen Steely & Caitlyn Maurer 11/8 Andrea & Bailee Ross & Brittany Davidson 11/15 Kristie Speirs, Dave & Tosha Mellendorf 11/22 Cathy & Caitlyn Healy & Heather Walther 11/29 Heather Roberts, JoEllen Bukoski & Mary Helen Pratt 12/6 Shelli Herford, Kate Pohlod & Tasha Binder WORSHIP LEADER: 11/1 Lauren Howard 11/8 Fred Hicks 11/15 Kim Gray 11/22 Kristy Speirs 11/29 Fred Hicks SOUND SYSTEM: 11/1 Dave Speirs 11/8 Duane O’Dell 11/15 Scott Hendrian 11/22 Ken Peters 11/29 Brian Hicks POWER POINT: 11/1 Kevven Dorland 11/8 Carol Hicks 11/15 Ron Kampo 11/22 JoEllen Bukoski 11/29 Carol Hicks VIDEO RECORDING: 11/1 Garrett Roberts 11/8 Madison Beckrow 11/15 Joey Kampo 11/22 DJ Wheeler 11/29 Charles Kester

COMMUNION PREPARATION & CLEAN-UP: Janie Kus GREETERS: 11/1 9:30 (main) Barry & Kerry Brown (center) Rob & Susie Hartwick 10:30 (main) Duane & Kathy O’Dell (center) Paul & Tasha Binder 11/8 9:30 (main) Virgil & Amy Peters (center) Doris Hendrick & Elfriede Englehart 10:30 (main) Jeff & Ann Hartel (center) Ron & Ann Roche 11/15 9:30 (main) Les & Bev Auten (center) Doris Stimpfel & Janet Wright 10:30 (main) Ken & Patty Peters (center) Mary Lou Spencer & Jean Schulz 11/22 9:30 (main) Ed & Marideth Nizzola (center) Dave & Karen Speirs 10:30 (main) Melvin & Carolyn Mittlestat (center) Garrett & Heather Roberts 11/29 9:30 (main) Harold & Joan Little (center) Jordan Hendrian & Robert Gonzales 10:30 (main) Andy & Kim Gray (center) Janice Winter & Mary Helen Pratt 12/6 9:30 (main) Tommy Mittlestat (center) Larry & Sherry Thick 10:30 (main) Mark & Patty Peck (center) Ryan & Shelli Herford JUNIOR CHURCH: Leaders: 2’s-3’s: 11/1 Chris & Stacey Wilcox 11/8 Scott & Robin Hendrian & Amber Warju 11/15 Bill & Amy Claerhout 11/22 Jen Steely & Deb Zmierski 11/29 Donna Little 4’s-5’s: 11/1 Lauren Bukoski 11/8 Tami & Michael Daskam 11/15 Tasha & Paul Binder 11/22 Pam Kolacz 11/29 Katie Klaus K’s-2nd: 11/1 Sharron Hartwick 11/8 Kerry Brown 11/15 Janie Kus 11/22 Dave Little 11/29 Lauren Bukoski 3rd-5th: 11/1 Josh Morford 11/8 Josh Morford 11/15 Ryan & Shelli Herford 11/22 Josh Morford 11/29 Heather Roberts Song Leaders: 11/1 Sharron Hartwick 11/8 Lauren Bukoski 11/15 Beth Mellendorf 11/22 Sharron Hartwick 11/29 Sharron Hartwick

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

Bible School ~ 9:30-10:20 a.m. Worship ~ 10:30 a.m.

Student Ministry & FPU ~ 6 p.m. Christmas Choir Practice ~ 6 p.m. 2 0 1 5

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

TIME CHANGE (fall back)

Service of

Remembrance 3 pm @ Kranz

2

Mom’s Group 6:30-7:30 pm

3

Ladies Bible Study - 10 am

Men’s Bible Study - 7 pm

4

Quilting 9 am -3 pm

Shine - 3:30 pm

Bible Bowl - 3:30

BBB - 4:45 pm

5 6

RSVD by Jodie Mika

12:30-3:30 pm

7

Bible Bowl @ Country Christian

Road Rally

6:30 pm

8

Mission Trip Meeting

(after church)

9 10

Ladies Bible Study - 10 am

Men’s Bible Study - 7 pm

11

Quilting 9 am - 3 pm

Shine - 3:30 pm

Bible Bowl - 3:30

BBB - 4:45 pm

12

L.I.F.T. 7:00-8:30 pm

13 14

15 16

Mom’s Group 6:30-7:30 pm

17

Ladies Bible Study - 10 am

Men’s Bible Study - 7 pm

18

Shine - 3:30 pm (finale)

Bible Bowl - 3:30

BBB - 4:45 pm

19 20

Saginaw Soup Kitchen - 8:50 am

RSVD by

Jodie Mika 12:30-3:30 pm

21

22

Community Thanksgiving

Service 6:30 pm at

C.C. Missionary

23 24

Ladies Bible Study - 10 am

Men’s Bible Study - 7 pm

Deliver Thanks-giving Baskets

25

26

Thanksgiving Day

RSVD by

Speirs family

27 28

29 30

Elders Meeting 7:00 p.m.

ATTENTION QUILTERS

This month and next we will be meet-ing on the first two Wednesdays of the month (Nov. 4 & 11 and Dec. 2 & 9) So that we won’t be busy quilting near the holidays. Come join us!