Straits Talk

United Methodist and Presbyterian (USA)

The Church of the Straits

P.O. Box 430 * Mackinaw City, MI 49701

Return Service Requested

Straits Talk

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDMackinaw CityMichigan 49701

Permit No. 1

April 2016 Minister Pastor David Wallis Head Usher Cless Hurlburt Organist Loretta Martinek

Treasurer Janet SchaeferFinancial Secretary Jean HuntClerk Diane Robbins

Secretary Judy Churchill Office Phone: 231 436-8682

Pastor’s Home Phone: 231 436-5484E-mail – Pastor – norev@juno.com

Church office – office@churchofthestraits.comChurch website – www.thechurchofthestraits.com

OUR WORSHIP SCHEDULETraditional Worship 10:30 a.m.

Adult/Youth Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

The Mission of The Church of the StraitsTo worship God faithfully

To grow together spirituallyTo serve Jesus Christ and

our neighbor joyfully… in the power of God’s Spirit.

23rd Psalm – Lesson 15

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul;

He leads me in the path of righteousnessfor His name sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valleyof the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; for You are with me;Your rod and staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life;And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

The sheep is still talking to the shepherd.

†  The sheep knows she is in a privileged position.†  He will never forsake us (me).†  He will never abandon us (me).†  He is always there.

†  I John 4:19. “We love Him because He first loved us.”

†  I John 3:16. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

I need to begin each morning with thoughts of bright hope “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me” and trust that they will. Through prayer and faith, I should focus on something good that I

want to happen in my day and then make that thought a reality. ~Donna Keene

*Donna is a dear friend of mine, cancer survivor and the church secretary at St. Paul’s UMC in Cheboygan. ~Judy Churchill

April is Baby Bottle Blessings Month –baby bottles will be in aBassinet in Fellowship Hall. Pleaseprayerfully take a bottle home, fill itwith change and return it to the churchby May 1st. Money collected will be sent to the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Cheboygan.

The Shepherd’s Role While traveling in Iran, writer Eric Bishop asked

a villager about an earthen

enclosure topped with dry thorns. The man man said sheep stayed in the round space at night for safety. “What are the thorns for?” Bishop asked. “If a wolf tries to break in and attack the sheep,” the man replied, “he’ll knock against the thorns, and they’ll make a noise, and the shepherd will wake up

Operation Shoe Box Let’s keep the momentum going and continue gathering items each month. When you go shopping, perhaps you can pick up

an item or two and place them in the collection box in Fellowship Hall. In November we will have another ‘BIG’ packing party. Remember, the monthly item is only a suggestion – if you see something on sale that you think a child would love, that’s fine!

April is stuffed dolls/animals, balls, little carsand jump rope month.

Call if you have any questions. Also, donations of money are welcomed to help cover the shipping cost of the boxes. Thank you ~ Judy Churchill

and drive off the wolf.”  Pointing out the enclosure’s doorless entrance, Bishop asked why a wolf wouldn’t just enter there. Because, replied the villager, “that’s where the shepherd sleeps; the shepherd is the door.”  Suddenly Bishop understood why in John 10 Jesus calls himself first the door, or gate, for the sheep and then the Good Shepherd. Because Jesus is the shepherd, he’s also the door that keeps us, his sheep, safe within his care. 

If you can’t sleep – don’t count sheep –

Talk to the Shepherd! SPRING SHOWCASE Watercolor Paintings by

Students of Mary Lou Peters:

One day only free event Thursday, April 28, 2016

4 – 7 p.m. Church of the Straits

Greet the artists and enjoy their paintings!

D.B. Gillig Anne Hallcom Chris Harwick Susie Lint Elizabeth Molosky Diane MorandVirginia Roberts Teri Rounds

Deb Scallen Katy Stone

Once again, the Sanctuary wasdecorated on Easter with beautiful flowers in celebration of Christ’s Resurrection in loving memory of:

Hugh Murray by Marianne Murray Isabel Potter by David Potter Beverly Miller by David J. Miller Bob Raible by Sally RaibleMerritt Cole by Wife Marilyn Cole Robert & Kevin Bonter by Karen & Mike Krueger Linda Krueger and Mary LaCombe by Karen & Mike Kruger Hugh Murray by Bill & Karen Murray Hugh Murray by Patrick Murray & Suzanne KrugGrace Martinek, Ada Cassidy, John Martinek by Wes & Loretta Martinek

Crystal Jutson by Madison & Mackenzie Jutson Bonnie & Maynard Stone, Florence & Richard Sergeant by Bud & Katy Stone Lloyd & Louise Stanley, George & Elaine Russell by Greg &d Mary Stanley Cathy Farlee and Geofge Mikos by Julie Burnett John Kirk, Beverly Miller by Dutch & Deb MillerSophie & Norris Coffman, Elsie LaPointe, Linda Charboneau, Nita Bonter by Nelson & Rose LaPointe Tom Limberg by Elizabeth Limberg and family Jodi Boyce by Doug & Ramona Boyce

and in honor of:Jim & Judy Churchill by Greg & Mary Stanley Ann Kirk and David Miller by Dutch & Deb Miller Murray and Scanlon Families by Marianne Murray

Benjamin, Katharine & Paige Fouty by Doug & Ann Fouty Our Children & Grandkids by Dick & Jean Hunt Healing and CommunityIn [the] healing texts, Jesus does not just cure people’s diseases and cast out their demons and then say, “Mission accomplished.” He’s always after something more than that because the healing is never fully accomplished until there is a restoration to community. People are healed of disease, and then he tells the folks just standing around watching to go get them something to eat. The widow’s son is raised from the dead and then [Jesus] gives him back to his mother. And ... the man healed of demons is then told to stay with his people and speak of what God has done. In the Jesus business, community is always a part of healing. Even though community is never perfect.  ~Nadia Bolz-Weber, Accidental Saints 

Caring and Compassionate Volunteers NeededIf you are interested in helping your community and volunteering, we could be a perfect fit. Volunteers are needed to help our patients and their families at a difficult time. Volunteers are needed for: Patient Companionship Transportation Respite for Family Yard Work Reading to Patient Clerical Help Listening Music

Bereavement Mailings Graphic Design Shopping Fundraising Cooking Meals Light Housekeeping Advocating for Hospice Your Own TalentFor additional information or to find out details on an upcoming volunteer training session in your area, contact Pamela Morrison, VitalCare Hospice Volunteer Coordinator (800) 342-7111 ext. 2109 orpmorrison@vitalcare.org

Heavenly ShowersAll God’s blessings go together, like links in a golden chain. If he gives converting grace, he will also give comforting grace. He will send “showers of blessing.” Look up today, O parched plant, and open thy leaves and flowers for a heavenly watering.

~Charles H. Spurgeon

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2Wm's Bible Study 3pm Men's Brkfst 8am

Disciple IV - 2pmAA 3pm AA noon

Prayer Group 5pm Women's Retreat3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Communion Wm's Bible Study 3pmAA 3pm VBS Meeting 10am Disciple IV - 2pm

Prayer Group 5pm PPRC 6:00pmAA noon

10 11 12 13 14 15 16Kate's Kids Wm's Bible Study 3pm Men's Brkfst 8am

AA 3pmPrayer Group 5pm AA noon

17 18 19 20 21 22 23Wm's Bible Study 3pm

Mary Lou PetersAA 3pm BOG 7pm Art Show 4-7pm

Prayer Group 5pm AA noon24 25 26 27 28 29 30

BIRTHDAYS: ANNIVERSARIES:April 1 Katy Stone April 15 Charlie Heilman April 2 Tim & Sally WrightApril 2 Joey Orsini April 15 Kayelynn Vieau April 16 Merritt & Liz ColeApril 3 Jo Cooley April 17 Betsy Naumer April 30 Dennis & Kim FlemmingApril 4 Rob Strittmatter April 20 Karly GrantApril 6 Katrina Thompson April 22 Robert HeilmanApril 7 Duane Darrow April 22 Roxana StriebyApril 7 Hannah Hartman April 25 Lisa WallisApril 7 Maya Robertson April 26 Alexis SchaeferApril 8 Kathy Pietrowski April 26 Joan McGowan-NashApril 9 Chloe Cooley April 28 Deb Downing

April 10 Matthew Wallis April 28 Ron GwiltApril 12 Lowell Barnett April 28 Donna PtashnikApril 13 Ken Laninga April 29 Sandy DunnApril 14 Steve Plaunt

What makes me an American citizen? I guess there are only a few ways in which someone can claim to be an American citizen. Either you were born here, one or more of your parents is an American citizen, or you have become a citizen through the process the government has created to make you one. I think I have covered all the bases on this but if I haven’t someone can correct me.

What makes you a Christian? The same process for American citizenship doesn’t work for Christian citizenship. Being born to Christian parents doesn’t make you one. Being born in a Christian country does not make you one. Even knowing how to answer all the questions on a Christian citizenship test doesn’t make you one.

So what makes you a Christian? Many people claim to be a Christian but exclude the necessity of the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as a must for belief. Many claim to be a Christian based on their somewhat frequent attendance at a church. Some claim to be a Christian because they believe in a generic God and they are fairly moral people. Some claim to be a Christian because they live amongst Christians and know enough to talk the talk.

So what makes you a Christian? Perhaps a better way of identifying these peculiar people called Christians would be to call them followers of Jesus Christ. That is by definition what a “Christian” is. Since the bible clearly indicates that Jesus is the only way to God, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) A follower of Christ seeks to do what Jesus desires him/her to do.

To follow Jesus also means to “deny ourselves and take up our cross” (see Mt. 16:24). There is an undeniable connection to Jesus through the cross. We believe that Jesus’ death on the cross was more than an example of love. It was atonement (payment, redemption) for our sin. He paid for something that we could not pay for. His death had efficacy (an effect) upon us! We can’t be called Christians unless we accept that we are sinners and we need to confess and repent of our sin and ask that Jesus pay for us as we begin our journey of following Him. We accept his redeeming grace and become his child forever.

So now I know what it means to become a Christian, the next step is to start acting like the One we are following. He gives us all the help we need as he providentially gave us his Word and the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us into all truth. We need to start living for him because he died for us. Some are just starting this journey, some are stuck in this journey, some are making great progress in this journey and some are slipping in this journey, but we all are in this journey together. Join me as we continue to walk in the ways of Jesus

Love you dearly in Christ,

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2Wm's Bible Study 3pm Men's Brkfst 8am

Disciple IV - 2pmAA 3pm AA noon

Prayer Group 5pm Women's Retreat3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Communion Wm's Bible Study 3pmAA 3pm VBS Meeting 10am Disciple IV - 2pm

Prayer Group 5pm PPRC 6:00pmAA noon

10 11 12 13 14 15 16Kate's Kids Wm's Bible Study 3pm Men's Brkfst 8am

AA 3pmPrayer Group 5pm AA noon

17 18 19 20 21 22 23Wm's Bible Study 3pm

Mary Lou PetersAA 3pm BOG 7pm Art Show 4-7pm

Prayer Group 5pm AA noon24 25 26 27 28 29 30

BIRTHDAYS: ANNIVERSARIES:April 1 Katy Stone April 15 Charlie Heilman April 2 Tim & Sally WrightApril 2 Joey Orsini April 15 Kayelynn Vieau April 16 Merritt & Liz ColeApril 3 Jo Cooley April 17 Betsy Naumer April 30 Dennis & Kim FlemmingApril 4 Rob Strittmatter April 20 Karly GrantApril 6 Katrina Thompson April 22 Robert HeilmanApril 7 Duane Darrow April 22 Roxana StriebyApril 7 Hannah Hartman April 25 Lisa WallisApril 7 Maya Robertson April 26 Alexis SchaeferApril 8 Kathy Pietrowski April 26 Joan McGowan-NashApril 9 Chloe Cooley April 28 Deb Downing

April 10 Matthew Wallis April 28 Ron GwiltApril 12 Lowell Barnett April 28 Donna PtashnikApril 13 Ken Laninga April 29 Sandy DunnApril 14 Steve Plaunt

Pastor Dave