Celebration and Sorrow

Lori Houskamp

Yesterday we had a church-wide celebration service followed by a celebration luncheon. We are currently in the fifty days of Eastertide, which should rightly be marked by celebration. But then, I think of Mary crying outside of Jesus’ tomb, and conclude that tears can be appropriate during this season, too. I think of the women and Jesus’ disciples sitting in sadness. It hurt to no longer have Jesus with them. It hurts when we have loved ones who are no longer physically present. We know loved ones who have died now experience joy in God’s presence. Yes, joy wins. Yet, sometimes our sorrows like sea billows roll. As we learn to live without a sister or spouse, parent or child, family member or friend, we ache. In our sadness, we can turn to the God of all comfort. Psalm 56:8 (The Message) says, “You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.” We can take comfort in knowing that God is present in our pain. We have a shepherd who is with us when we walk through the darkest valley. And, at the end of the dark valley, we find hope. Hope finds a way to affirm the victory of Christ’s resurrection. We can profess with David the final words of Psalm 23 (NIV), “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” As Easter people, we can concurrently experience sorrow and proclaim celebration.

Looking For Resurrection

Nate Visker

Typically, we think of the resurrection as an event that happened 2,000 years ago.  It was a one-time occurrence that we can look back on and celebrate.  It does some very wonderful things for us, but it is a moment in history.  In Matthew’s account of the resurrection, he describes it as an earthquake.  And the truth is that it has never stopped quaking.  Since that day in Jerusalem, the tremors have been going on.  If we pay attention, we can still feel them.

We experience the rumble of resurrection when God answers a prayer.  We feel it when we forgive or are forgiven.  The tremors can be felt when we worship or take delight in the work of our hands.  Any time we experience joy or hope or sacrificial love, the earthquake is still happening.  All of these things have their roots in the resurrection of Jesus.  Yes, Jesus was raised to new life at a moment in history.  But the resurrection continues on in all of these ways.  If you keep your eyes and heart open, you will see and feel it all around you today.

The Next Six Weeks

Nate Visker

By the time you read this, I will be on my way to the monastery to begin my sabbatical.  I’ll be away for six weeks for a time of spiritual restoration and continuing education.  There is one thing I’m quite certain of.  These six weeks will fly by.  The next thing I know May will be gone and I will be getting ready to return.  This time will pass quickly for you too.  These six weeks include soccer games, Mothers’ Day, graduations, and Memorial Day.  By the time you hear someone say that Pastor Nate will be back next Sunday, you’ll think, “Wow. That went by fast!”

My next six weeks are designed to be a time of rest and growth.  It’s a time focused on renewal and learning.  Your next six weeks can be a time of growth and learning too.  You might not go to a prayer cabin or a monastery.  But God is present in your life.  He is always inviting you deeper into a relationship with him.  He’s in the business of changing lives like yours and mine, and he doesn’t need a spiritual retreat to do it.  So what do you say?  Let’s meet up in six weeks and see what God has done in our lives.  See you then!

The Whole Week

The Whole Week

Holy Week is bookended by two remarkable Sundays.  Yesterday was Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem to great fanfare.  Yesterday, it was a day of victory.  Palm Sunday was Jesus’ out-and-out claim to be the promised Messiah.  Next Sunday we will celebrate the greatest victory ever - Jesus’ resurrection from the grave.  The temptation is that we can simply hop from one joyous Sunday to the next.  It’s a temptation we must avoid.

The space in between these two Sundays is what makes them so joyous and great.  Jesus didn’t just conquer death.  He first bore the sins and sorrow of the whole world.  We can’t get to Easter without Good Friday.  Without death there is no resurrection.  So as we go through Holy Week, make sure you stay connected to the whole week, not just the Sundays on either end.  A great way to do this is at our Maundy Thursday service.  Another is to spend some time reflecting on Christ’s love and passion on your own.  Having connected to Jesus’ death makes Easter even sweeter. 

Our World (Still) Belongs to God

This powerful reminder is brought to us by the opening paragraphs of Our World Belongs to God, a contemporary testimony of what we believe.

As followers of Jesus Christ,

living in this world—

which some seek to control,

and others view with despair—

we declare with joy and trust:

Our world belongs to God!

From the beginning,

through all the crises of our times,

until the kingdom fully comes,

God keeps covenant forever:

Our world belongs to God!

God is King: Let the earth be glad!

Christ is victor: his rule has begun!

The Spirit is at work: creation is renewed!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Who Can Come to Church?

Who Can Come to Church?

As a church of all kinds of people, we welcome anybody to our worship services who is interested in becoming more like Jesus.  Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church put this welcome in their visitors’ bulletin.

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, yo no habla Ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or like our pastor who can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s Baptism.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too.  If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.

We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts … and you!

Welcome Deanna!

The administrative assistant position at FCC has been a real carousel for the past few years.  Going back to 2022, we’ve had five different people in that position since then!  The most recent edition of administrative assistant - and we hope the last for a long time - is Deanna VanderPloeg.  She will be answering your phone calls and emails and greeting you when you stop by church during the week.  Deanna has worked in church administration in the past and is excited to support ministry at FCC.  She and her husband are members of Calvin CRC in Norton Shores.  She has four grown children.  Outside of work, Deanna enjoys gardening, traveling, birding and baking.  Please welcome her warmly to FCC!

Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today through God's strength to pilot me;

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's hosts to save me

Afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today against wounding - 

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

The True Comparison

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

There’s a thing we do when we go through times of struggle, challenge, or suffering.  We remind ourselves that others have it even worse than we do.  Maybe you totaled your car, but someone else lost their job.  Maybe you lost your job, but someone else lost their spouse.  There’s always someone who has it worse.  I’m not sure comparing different kinds of suffering is a wise action.  Everyone experiences suffering in a different way.  The people and circumstances involved are never identical.  Each person’s suffering is unique to them - painful and productive in distinct ways.  

The true comparison is not between different kinds of suffering, but between our current suffering and the future glory that awaits us as God’s children.  Paul describes our present suffering as “light and momentary.”   That’s not to discount the deep pain and struggle you have experienced.  In no way do these words minimize the struggle you’re going through or the pain you feel.  Rather, Paul invites us to compare our suffering to the glory that will be ours.  He invites us to hold up our trials next to an eternity of perfect peace and complete joy.  That’s the true comparison.  And it’s true encouragement as well.  What awaits us in God’s presence far outweighs the heaviest trial you will ever face.

Excuse to Party and to Grow

Tomorrow is the day commonly known as “Fat Tuesday.”  It is a day marked by great excesses as one has one last hurrah before Lent.  One of the biggest and most famous celebrations of Fat Tuesday happens in New Orleans at Mardi Gras.  But throughout the world, it is a day of feasting, partying, and often, all kinds of excess and immortality.  What’s interesting is that, I suspect, most of those who heartily celebrate Fat Tuesday make few, if any, changes to their lives during the season of Lent.  Fat Tuesday has very little to do with Lent.  It’s simply an excuse to party.

It would be easy to look down on those who use this day as an excuse to party but fail to keep Lent.  But I also wonder if we can’t learn something from them.  We can criticize their desire to find an excuse to party.  But perhaps we need to grab this line and find our own set of excuses.  Not to party, but to grow.  What occasion or excuse is there for you to start investing more heavily in your relationship with God or your church family or your community through service?  The season of Lent provides one such “excuse.”  But anything will do.  Choose your birthday month and practice a new spiritual discipline.  Use summer as an excuse to read more Scripture or spend more time in prayer.  I’m always impressed at how easy it is for people to find an excuse to party.  What’s your excuse to grow?

No One Stands Alone

Note: This message is so important that I like to run it about once a year.  I think it’s a great reminder to our church family and worth repeating.

I want to issue our church family a challenge.  It’s called “No one stands alone.”  Generally speaking, we are a very friendly church.  Guests who worship with us typically report feeling very welcomed.  Every once in a while, someone slips through the cracks.  A guest exits the sanctuary, gets a cup of coffee, then stands by himself or herself for five minutes and leaves.  Ugh.  

So here’s the challenge.  Let’s work together to make sure that no one stands alone in our church.  Whether a first time guest or a member, let’s keep our eyes peeled for people or couples who are standing by themselves in our lobby before or after the service.  A simple handshake, a warm welcome, and a few questions to get to know that person will make all the difference.  In the family of God, no one should stand alone.  As an expression of God’s family at FCC, let’s come together to make sure it doesn’t happen here.

Needed: Administrative Assistant

At FCC, we’ve been blessed with a number of long-term staff members.  Some of us have served on staff for over a decade.  One area where we’ve struggled in the last few years is our administrative assistant.  We’ve come to see just how important this position is in representing the church, supporting staff, and keeping things moving forward.  

Once again, we are looking for a new administrative assistant.  In the meantime, Annika Hauser-Brydon is helping us out on a temporary basis (Thanks, Annika!).  It’s a half-time position that offers competitive pay, a great staff team, and some flexibility.  It also serves a wonderful community of people!  Here’s how you can help.  First, spread the word.  If you’re seeing this on Facebook or Instagram, share it.  If you’re getting this in our Connections email, forward it to anyone who might be interested.  Second, the most important thing you can do is pray.  Pray that God brings us the right person at the right time.  Click here to see the complete job description, qualifications, and expectations.

Super Bowl Religion

Each year it seems the Super Bowl gets bigger.  It has become more of an event than a football game.  And not just in New Orleans or whatever city it is played in.  There is a Super Bowl party in every tenth household.  For many people, this is the only football game they watch all year.  Except that they aren’t really watching the game.  Mostly, people are catching up with old friends or making new ones.  Perhaps the only time they bother to look at the TV is for the commercials and the halftime show.  More than a football game, it’s a chance to make the weekend last one more night.

I recognize that a life of faith can deteriorate into a Super Bowl Sunday.  Instead of making a relationship with Christ the main thing, we can get caught up in the fellowship, the music, or the positive environment.  In a free society like ours, there is a lot of icing on the cake of faith.  We are free to enjoy the fringe benefits.  But we must never mistake the commercials for the game.  The good parts of our faith can never replace the best part - the new life we have in Jesus and the abiding relationship we have with him. 

What Are You Praying For?

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

What are you praying for these days?  What is the request or requests that, when you go to God in prayer, you find yourself faithfully praying?  Perhaps you're praying for the salvation of a friend or family member?  Maybe you are praying for a relationship in your life that needs mending.  You might be praying for God to do something big for you - a new job, a relationship, a pregnancy, a breakthrough.

Here’s what I want to tell you about that: Don’t give up!  Keep praying!  Even if you’ve prayed for something hundreds of times, pray hundreds more.  God hears our prayers every time we pray.  He answers our prayers according to his divine timing and wisdom.  So keep praying.  And if you’ve given up on a petition or lost hope in a request you’ve made, why not pick it up again?  Tell God what you need.  Tell him what you want.  God always hears our prayers and he always answers with the greatest “YES” - even if that “yes” isn’t exactly what we are praying for.

Built on the Rock

It’s not immediately visible as you walk into our sanctuary.  But behind the communion table and the cross, there is a large concrete pier.  While the whole chancel (stage) is covered with brick, this pier was left as plain concrete in order to present as a rock.  This “rock” extends many feet below ground level, and for good reason.  All the weight of the sanctuary rests on this rock.  The ceiling beams are tied into a series of vertical beams that rest on this massive concrete pier.

It is a symbol that Ferrysburg Community Church is built on the Rock who is Jesus our Lord.  Our church isn’t built on the talent of musicians or preachers.  FCC is built on Jesus, nothing less than his blood and righteousness.  Every Sunday when we come to worship, we are standing on Christ the solid rock.  Anything other than him - all other ground - is sinking sand.

From MLK's Last Speech

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

And so I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!

Communion Vessels

On the third Sunday of every month, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper in our worship service.  People come forward and receive a cube of bread and a small cup of juice - the body and blood of Christ.  The vessels we use to celebrate communion have a unique backstory.  FCC member Bud Muyskens felt that the traditional silver communion trays and cups just didn’t fit in our sanctuary aesthetically.  He wanted something more earthy and fitting for our colors and architecture.  In the mid 1990s, Bud commissioned the creation of a new set of communion vessels.  These were designed and produced by Calvin University Art professor, Carl Huisman.

Each vessel is decorated with a cross.  If you look closely you can see the outline of a person on that cross.  It is almost as if we are looking at the cross of Christ from behind.  This reminds us that in communion, we are proclaiming the death of Christ until he returns.  We still use the plates each month in our communion service.  Since Covid, we no longer use the chalices for intinction, but have gone back to the small cups.  This unique pottery continues to facilitate our communion with Christ in his death and our communion with each other in celebration.

The Old Rugged Cross

Every Christian church has a cross in the sanctuary.  Our cross at FCC is unique.  You’ve probably never seen one like it in any church sanctuary you’ve visited.  Here’s the story… For years the church Christmas tree would be cut down on property owned by church members Arnie and Joan Pals.  One year, rather than disposing of the tree, someone got creative.  They trimmed off all the branches, cut it into two sections, and bolted it together in the shape of a cross.  The tree that reminds us of Jesus’ birth now also reminds us of his death.  Today the cross is decorated to reflect the liturgical season and is a key part of our sanctuary aesthetics.

Legend has it that when Rev. Al Hoksbergen visited FCC to decide whether to become our pastor, he saw the tree.  He exclaimed, “I belong in this church!  I’m a crooked stick, just like that cross.”  Our sanctuary cross reminds us that Jesus was born to us and died for us in all our crookedness and gnarliness.  Thanks be to God!

Wishing you a happy and safe New Year!

The Angels Candle

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:26-30)

Angels are God’s messengers.  Apparently they are a terrifying sight to behold.  The people to whom they appear are often filled with fear.  And so angels routinely begin their message with the words, “Do not be afraid.”  Angel activity stepped up around the time of Jesus’ birth.  Angels appeared to Mary and Joseph and even Zechariah.  But angels are never as important as the message they bring.  More significant than the angel Gabriel is the words he shares with Mary and Joseph and us.  Do not be afraid.  God is with you.  You have found favor with God.

That’s still the message of Christmas.  In a frightening world, in scary times, in sorrow, in uncertainty, in hurt, do not be afraid.  God is with you.  We have found favor with God.  No angels will be here to speak those words to you this Christmas.  But God’s Spirit speaks those words to us instead.  No angel intermediary required.  God’s Spirit testifies with our spirit.  Do not be afraid.  God is with us.  We have found favor with him.