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© Phil Collins, Ph.D., 2014. This material was created in partnership with

the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement.

This is the 8th in the series on Scripture Engagement.

“However well translated and however widely distributed Bibles may be,

unless people engage with them (Bibles) in life-challenging ways we fail to bring God’s Word into the lived experience of people.” —Dr. Fergus Macdonald

THIS MONTH: Scripture Engagement through Visual Art

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 NIV

From the very first verse of Scripture, God reveals himself as the Creator, an Artist. Everything within the universe is a magnificent element of the Great Artist’s masterpiece. As works of art created in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27), people are endowed with the ability to create as well. We can choose to join the Master Artist by being artists ourselves.

Throughout history, many artists have acknowledged God’s sovereignty and position as the ultimate Creator depicting in their work the accounts and truths which God has

given to his people through the Bible. Virtually every biblical account has been visually portrayed at least once and usually many times throughout history and across cultures. In museums, galleries, churches, cathedrals, and homes around the world, such works of art are helping people gain a deeper understanding of the Scriptures.

Visual art, including stained glass, sculptures, and paintings, was incredibly important in Medieval times when most people were illiterate. The Bible was unavailable except to the very upper classes (who were more likely to be able to read), but by using the visual arts the biblical account was made available for everyone. Biblical art was known as biblia paupernum or “the Bible of the poor”.

Biblical images are not just for those who cannot read, however. Images connect with our emotions and can convey deep truths. Images can be powerful triggers to help us remember the stories and truths of the Bible. Jesus often used many varieties of figures of speech (e.g., parables, metaphors, and similes) to convey his message.

IN THIS ISSUE: Scripture Engagement – Visual Art 1

‘The Value of Authenticity’ 3

Calvin Institute Worship Grant 4

‘Stockyard Tour’ 5

An Opportunity for Giving 6

Mother’s Day 7

National Day of Prayer Service

W. Virginia Mission Trip-Thank you! 8

Armed Forces Medley 9

Michmerhuizen Mission Report 10

Stewardship Spotlight-Barnabas 12

Operation Blessing newsletter 14

Superfood Spotlight: Blueberries 15

Recipe Page 16

Birthdays / Anniversaries 17

Missionary Prayer Calendar 18

Serving God & Serving Others 19

Elder & deacon Districts 20

Fun Pages 21-22

Grace Church—Our Values 23

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A good piece of biblical art can help us see the truth of a passage as well as give us “fresh eyes” for famil-iar passages. The artist becomes our companion who points out details of a passage that we might have passed over in haste. Scripture engagement through art assists in our spiritual development by letting us share in the wealth of insights God has already given to others.

A Few Cautions

It is inappropriate to simply accept a piece of biblical art without discernment. All art portrays the artist’s faith and spirituality (because we are spiritual beings), so all art is in some way flawed (because humans are flawed). Though biblical art can help us to see more clearly what a passage is communi-cating, it is the Scriptures, as God’s Word, that are the ultimate authority.

Remember that biblical art, as a visual representation of the Bible, is not always rated “G”. The Bible is not a children’s tory, so some biblical art contains nudity or bloody depictions of violence. Not all things in the Bible are beautiful and calming: many times biblical stories are full of distortion and dissonance. As such, biblical artwork will tell the full Story of God that includes creation, fall, and redemption, with each of its harsh realities. As in all of life, the believer is called to be discerning.

Practice Tips

Find a good source of quality biblical artwork. This might be a book, a website, or even a museum. Look for art that intrigues you personally and helps you to gain a deeper understanding of the Scripture passages depicted.

Once you choose a specific piece on which to reflect, begin by familiarizing yourself with its corresponding Scripture passage. Art does not replace the Bible, but it can be used as a valuable tool.

Ask God through prayer to direct your experience with each art piece. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and discernment as you seek to discover new truths about him and how he works in the lives of his people.

As you reflect on the piece of artwork, ask yourself questions. How is God at work in this event? How do they react to what is going on? How do they relate to each other? Why do I connect with a particular figure?

Consider journaling about your experience as you practice this form of Scripture engagement.

Share what God teaches you through the piece of artwork with friends and discuss with the what they see in the piece. Engaging Scripture through art is inherently a meeting of hearts and intellects as the viewer connects with the artist through his or her work. Inviting others to experience art with you will further broaden your engagement with the Scriptures.

Lastly, consider making your own piece of biblical art! You will engage with a passage at a deeper level as you strive to visually represent a Bible passage.

Next month: An introduction to Scripture Engagement through Speaking Scripture

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The Value of Authenticity

God desires a relationship with “the real you.”

We will not grow significantly in our spiritual maturity when we are putting on an act. Rather, the

Bible shows us that being inauthentic before God hinders our relationship with him. Think of King

David hiding from God - or trying to - after the affair with Bathsheba and the big cover-up to hide her

pregnancy. But, after his encounter with Nathan the prophet, he says in Psalm 51: you desire truth

in the inmost being. I need to bring all of who I am to God - even the stuff I would rather hide.

As odd as it may seem, God is close to you when you are honest to God with your doubts and

questions and your fears. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17).

The Bible says: Love must be sincere (Romans 12:9).

The Greek word for “sincere” is based on a word that

means “play acting” and the word for "not." The Bible

is challenging us to not pretend in our relationships.

We might be tempted to hide behind a mask in the way

we relate. But Christ is calling us to an authentic life, a

sincere love, arising from his love at work in our heart.

Authenticity, bringing all of who you are to God, is

a gateway to transformation. For some people,

authenticity with God comes fairly easy. They know

that God knows everything about us - even the

skeletons in the closet. So why should I be afraid to

open that closet door with him?

But must I be authentic with my relationship with others? Being authentic with another makes us

uncomfortable and afraid. We fear being shamed and rejected. As we grow in confidence in God’s

forgiving grace, our relationship with God will flow into our relationship with others.

The opposite of authentic with one another is not safety; the opposite of authenticity is being alone.

If we are unwilling to reveal who we are to another person, we will not be known, and if we are not

known, we will find ourselves alone in a swarm of thin friendships. Like Adam, it is not good for us

to be alone. Being authentic with one another is something we desire; we were created to know

and be known. As we are open with one another and grow deeper in relationship, our life and our

love flourishes.

Consider this:

Jesus calls us to love our neighbor. God calls us to be ambassadors for Christ.

How might this mission be helped or hindered by our willingness to be authentic?

________________________________________________________________________________

Adapted from a series of articles by Pastor Scott Stephan, Fulton IL,

writing in Ridder Church Renewal, A Brief Introduction to the Core Content

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STOCKYARD TOUR by John Rosier I worked for Swift & Company for 45 years (counting my 3 1/2 years in the Military). When I started there in 1941, I was appalled that our Company conducted tours for elementary students of our fresh meats operation. School Teachers must not have had a wide variety of places to tour 76 years ago because these tours were absolutely brutal (especially the lamb kill). A semitrailer truck loaded with

lambs would pull up to an unloading ramp to discharge its load. There would be a well-named “Judas” goat waiting at the foot of this long ramp and the goat would automatically start walking on the ramp toward the Lamb Kill building. The lambs would follow without hesitation. It was something like the Bible describes as “the lamb led to the slaughter”. At any rate, the lambs would then be sheared and dispatched by a slit into the jugular artery and the carcass would be attached to a moving chain. There were various stations along the way where skilled butchers would dissect specific cuts of finished items (rack of lamb, chops, etc.), ready to be boxed and shipped to retail stores and meat mar-kets. The beef kill and the hog kill were set up in similar fashion. I don’t know who tipped off Henry Ford to take the tour of Swift’s operation, but he did and came up with the idea of automobile as-sembly lines. At any rate, these tours of young students involved the kids watching huge steers being whacked on the head with sledge hammers to render them unconscious so their carcasses could be hooked up to a moving chain while bleeding all over the place. The noise of loudly bleating pigs in the hog kill was deafening. The whole tour was such that many adults passed out. I’m sure others must have changed to vegetarian diets.

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Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother

of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal

bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is

celebrated on various days in many parts of the

world, most commonly in the months of March or

May. It complements similar celebrations honoring

family members, such as Father's Day, Siblings Day,

and Grandparents Day.

In the United States, celebration of Mother's Day

began in the early 20th century. It is not related to

the many celebrations of mothers and motherhood

that have occurred throughout the world

over thousands of years, such as the Greek cult to

Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or the Christian

Mothering Sunday celebration (originally a

commemoration of Mother Church, not motherhood).

However, in some countries, Mother's Day has

become synonymous with these older traditions.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE

MAY 4 - 7:00PM AT GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH

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Many Americans celebrate Armed Forces Day annually on the third Saturday of May. It is a day to pay tribute to men and women who serve in the United States’ armed forces.

Armed Forces Day is also part of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May.

May 20

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THE RECIPE PAGE

WHOLE WHEAT/BUCKWHEAT ZUCCHINI BREAD/MUFFINS

SUBMITTED BY DIANE RITZEMA

MAKES 18-24 MUFFINS OR 2 REGULAR SIZED LOAVES

2 C WHOLE WHEAT OR BUCKWHEAT FLOUR

1 1/2 C SUGAR

1 TSP. SALT

1/4 TSP. BAKING POWDER

2 TSP. BAKING SODA

3 TSP. CINNAMON

3 EGGS—BEATEN

3/4 C OIL OR UNSWEETENED APPLESAUCE

2 TSP. VANILLA

3 C GRATED ZUCCHINI

1/2-1 C CHOCOLATE CHIPS (OPTIONAL)

1/2 C COCONUT (OPTIONAL)

STIR TOGETHER THE FIRST 6 INGREDIENTS.

IN A SEPARATE BOWL, BEAT THE EGGS AND ADD THE OIL (OR APPLESAUCE) AND VANILLA.

STIR THE WET INGREDIENTS INTO THE DRY AND ADD THE ZUCCHINI.

FOR BREAD:

DIVIDE THE BATTER BETWEEN 4 SMALL, GREASED LOAF PANS (OR 2 REGULAR-SIZED).

SPRINKLE A ROW OF CHOCOLATE CHIPS DOWN THE CENTER OF EACH LOAF, PRESSING THE CHIPS INTO THE DOUGH A LITTLE.

SPRINKLE THE LOAVES WITH THE COCONUT (ALL OVER, NOT JUST THE CENTER).

BAKE THE LOAVES AT 375 DEGREES FOR 30-40 MINUTES FOR SMALL PANS, CLOSER TO AN HOUR FOR LARGER PANS.

COOL FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE RUNNING A KNIFE AROUND THE EDGE OF THE PANS AND INVERTING THE LOAVES ONTO A

COOLING RACK.

FOR MUFFINS:

GREASE MUFFIN TINS. DIVIDE BATTER INTO TINS, AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS ABOVE FOR ADDING THE CHOCOLATE

CHIPS AND COCONUT.

BAKE AT 375 DEGREES FOR 20-25 MINUTES.

FROM THE EDITOR: If you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share,

please put a copy in the newsletter mailbox and don’t forget to add your name!

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1 Brittany Beaver

2 Ruth Kuipers

8 Alice Flasman

10 Aiden Soucek

12 Evelyn Jonker

Ange Vloedman

13 Mary Huisenga

Carol DeVries

14 Maria Kialanda

Mert Schutt

15 Candice Livingston

21 Elton Ivy

Steve Livingston

Dave Phillips

22 Helen Noort

Chris Van Kuiken

24 Dorothy Beezhold

27 Grace DeRoos

31 Haven Brucken

8 Larry & LeAnn Kooyenga 9 Stephen & Nicole Brucken 12 Gerald & Carol DeHoog

17 Bernie & Lynne Wiegers

18 Rich & Cherene Kooyenga

19 Gary & Joan Schutt

23 Rich & Dorothy Schutt

24 Don & Mary Anderson

www.gccrc.org/online_giving

1 Ken & Carol Schutt

2 Jim & Barb Wassenaar

3 Rich & Marilyn

Vanden Bout

9 Warren & Ruth Kuipers

11 Bill & Phyllis Johnson

12 Greg & Suzanne Lisak

16 Byron & Carol Breems

19 Ed & Diane Ritzema

20 Dan & Marilyn Brucken

25 John & Laverne Yff

1 Brad McGinnis

4 Karen Buikema

Alyce DeBoer (Mrs.)

5 Stephanie Mulder

6 Larry Kooyenga

David Van Kuiken

7 Pedro Kialanda

10 Jean Kok

12 Gary Schutt

14 Georgia McGinnis

15 Suzanne Lisak

Dorothy Brink-Schutt

Laura Soucek

16 Pam Johnson

John Roos

19 Carol Den Besten

21 Catherine Solle

23 Tena Vander Muil

24 Alyce DeBoer (Ms.)

27 Lin Vander Meulen

29 Evelyn Van Dellen

May 14, 2017

May 5

MAY 29

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Accompanists

7 Bob Cooper & Eleanor Lamsma 14 Pedro Kialanda 21 Catherine Solle & Diane Ritzema 28 Bob Cooper & Pedro Kialanda

Childcare

7 Sarah Huisenga & Hannah Soucek

14 Mary Huisenga & Ann Sroka

21 Kaitlyn Van Kuiken & Dean Unger

28 Ruth Kuipers & Anna Huisenga

Church Opening/Closing

7 Dean Unger 14 Jim & Gloria Kamper 21 Ken & Carol Schutt 28 Gordon Vander Meulen

Congregational Prayer

7 Tom Huisenga 14 Eleanor Lamsma 21 Michael Kooy 28 Bob Cooper

Greeters 7 Catherine Solle & Annette James

14 Fred Veen & Jean Kok

21 Warren & Ruth Kuipers

28 Andy & Mert Schutt

Library Week 1 Evelyn Van Dellen Week 2 Clareen Sluis Week 3 Annette James Week 4 Evelyn Luchtenburg Week 5 Evelyn Van Dellen

Prayer Room

7 Jestine Ivy & Marilyn Brucken

14 Pastor Mike & Bob Cooper

21 Dan Brucken & Tom Huisenga 28 Gary Schutt & Ruth Kuipers

Ushers

7 George Voss - Ben Dykstra - Dean Unger 14 Tom Huisenga- Hank DeVries-Vince Sommer 21 Gary Schutt– Rich Mulder– Bonnie Mulder 28 Carol Den Besten- Phyllis Johnson- Rich Boersema

Projection Techs

7 Dave Phillips

14 Eleanor Lamsma

21 Ed Ritzema

28 Sarah Huisenga

Sound Techs

7 Jim Kamper 14 Ed Ritzema 21 Chris Van Kuiken 28 Jim Kamper

MAY 2017 Schedules

Thank you for your willingness to serve!

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Grace Community Christian Reformed Church

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This Newsletter is a

publication of Grace Community

Church.

This newsletter shall mainly serve to provide information about, and enhancement of, any and all ministries of the church. Contributions are welcome and will be considered for publication provided you include your name with the submission.

If you have any questions concerning this

newsletter, please contact

Barb Wassenaar

10415 S. Kedvale

Office: 708.636.2848

Fax: 708.636.2847

gracechurch@gccrc.org

www.gccrc.org

Grace

Community

Christian

Reformed

Church

Submissions for the JUNE 2017 issue are due

no later than May 14, 2017.

~ Distribution:

Sun., May 28, 2017