Announcements
August 31, 2008
Welcome!
We rejoice in your presence as we worship our God together. If you are a visitor and would like more information about us, please visit the welcome and information table at the back of the worship area or speak with the Pastor or any of the Board members.
Joining the COGS Fellowship
If you desire to affiliate with COGS, please fill out a yellow “Join the Fellowship” form, which you will find on the information table in the back of the worship room. You will be added to the COGS database and the e-mail list for Pastor Dan’s midweek note and special announcements.
The COGS Board
COGS members are encouraged to give a portion of their time by supporting the work of one of the standing committees. Please contact the chair with questions or for information.
Jim Gradoville, Chair (Jim.Gradoville@corphq.utc.com)
Bryan Henderson, Vice-Chair (bryan.henderson@cn.pwc.com)
Catherine McCaw, Secretary (Catherine.mccaw@dcbeijing.cn)
Annabelle Cleeve, Education (jacleeve@hotmail.com)
Peter Scheuer, Facilities (pjscheuer@yahoo.com)
Katherine Loevinger, Fellowship (k.loevinger@yahoo.com)
Gabi Carter, Finance (gabi.g.carter@gmail.com)
Hope Davis, Promotions (hopedavis@flash.net)
Liz Durkin, Service (liz_durkin@hotmail.com)
Kathi Suderman, Worship (sudermans@gmail.com)
Fellowship
COGS Bowling Sept. 7th after Worship:
Please join us next Sunday for some community bowling! We will make our way downstairs to the Capital Club's own lanes in the basement right after the service and coffee. We will also make arrangements for a pizza lunch so please RSVP if possible. Please contact Katherine Loevinger at k.loevinger@yahoo.com if you're interested in attending.
Education
New Teachers Needed for Sunday School:
The education committee hopes to offer Sunday School for children on Sunday mornings but help is needed! Many of our volunteers from last year have moved away from Beijing, and we need your help if we are to fill their shoes. If you can help with Sunday School, please contact Annabelle Cleeve (jacleeve@hotmail.com)
Fall Youth Program in Need of Leaders:
The education committee is hoping to provide a Sunday early evening youth program (4:30 to 6:30 p.m.) for 6 weeks beginning October 19 and ending on November 23. To make this happen we need new leaders for the program. If you have an interest in this ministry please contact Pastor Dan (COGS@fastmail.fm). Curriculum and training available!
Summer Schedule for Children:
The COGS Sunday School program for children is on break from now until September 14th. During this summer break, child care is provided for younger children in the AV room and older children (4 and older) are invited to stay with parents during worship. (Some weeks we may have a parent who has brought an appropriate video for the older kids in the AV room as well.)
Fall 2008 COGS Women’s Spiritual Disciplines Group & Start Up Retreat
A 6-week women’s small group is being formed this fall. The group will form and get organized at a start up retreat on Saturday, October 11, 2008 from 9:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Location TBA) The retreat and group is for women who are interested in building community with other women while practicing the spiritual discipline of prayer. During the retreat, three types of prayer will be introduced and practiced. The format and content of the small group meetings that will take place once a week for six weeks following the retreat will also be arranged. Women participating in the retreat should be willing to commit to attending at least four of the six subsequent small group gatherings.
The retreat will be led by Michelle Stabler-Havener. Michelle holds a Master of Divinity degree and is an ordained Mennonite minister. Michelle and her husband, James, were active in COGS a few years ago. Michelle and James currently work with Mennonite Partners in Chengdu, Sichuan. They have lived in China for six years. To sign up send an email to COGS Administrative Assistant, Stella Zhang, woodcarving@vip.163.com.
Bible Study Groups
Our Sunday “in-town” study group meets alternately at Sunday lunch following worship at a nearby restaurant and on Wednesday evenings. New members are welcome. Please contact Barbara Birmingham: barbjbirm@gmail.com or by phone (13621087931).
The "out-of-town" Bible study group has been suspended for the summer, but we will begin again in September and will continue with our study of the New Testament Book of Acts. Contact Annabelle Cleeve for details: jacleeve@hotmail.com or 13661118500.
Community Bible Study
The international organization Bible Study Fellowship is a global group that conducts a weekly community Bible study; in Beijing, a women’s group meets each Thursday morning. The course includes independent study by participants during the week. This year's study is focused on the life of Moses and begins on September 4th. For further information, see the website (www.bsfinternational.org) or write Barbara Birmingham (barbjbirm@gmail.com).
Promotions
Want to get more involved at church, but not sure how or where? Join the Promotions Committee to assist with the pictorial directory (easy!) or help the committee by attending a few newcomers’ meetings. The Promotions committee is looking for two volunteers. If you are interested, contact Hope Davis at hopedavis@flash.net.
Service
A Visit to Granny Han's School in September
Mark your calendars now for our visit to Granny Han’s School for the Mentally Handicapped on September 12. We will travel by train, leaving Beijing on 11 September and returning on the morning of 13 September. COGS has supported Granny Han's School for many years, and it will be exciting to see how the school has developed.
Collection of Toiletries
Are you wondering what to do with yet another mini-bottle of shampoo? Do you have too many “courtesy kits” from air travel? Throughout the summer we will be collecting airline toiletry kits, hotel toiletries, as well as full-sized, unopened containers of shampoo and toothpaste, and unused bars of soap. All these items will be most welcome at a nearby foundation that specializes in vocational training for young women from the countryside. Please contribute your extra toiletries to the collection basket at the back of the church.
Ongoing Opportunity
The Evergreen group in Shanxi province reports a particularly good year for the paper-cut card project, and they thank COGS members for buying their cards. Gershom Wu, who runs the project, says they praise God for being able to set aside funds to help pay for coal, flour, rice, and cooking oil for some of the paper cutters. About 40 women from 15 villages depend on this project to support their families. Some are widows or single parents; others have older people and handicapped relatives to care for. Evergreen continues to look for distribution channels for the cards. If you can help, see John Carter.
Worship
Prayer Guild
The Worship Committee has secured a number of people who are now engaged in praying for the prayer requests that members of the congregation submit on the green request forms. We are always open to receiving new volunteers for this important ministry. If you would like to participate in the prayer guild, please send an e-mail to Pastor Dan (cogs@fastmail.fm ).
COGS Worship Choir
Under the direction of Matt Gaines, our choir sings throughout the school year on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. New and regular choir members are invited to practice prior to the service on each of those scheduled Sundays, meeting at 9 a.m. in the worship room. The choir will resume practicing and singing on Sunday, Sept.14.
Please mark the date on your calendars, let your singing friends know, and be here to start the new school/choir year on a good note!
Miscellaneous
Taxi Reimbursement
If you live on the west side or far out and have to take a taxi to come to church, we are happy to reimburse you for the trip. Please present your taxi receipt(s) to a Finance Committee member after worship. (You can find us at the back of the worship room after the service.)
Future Announcements
If you wish to put an announcement in the bulletin, please send it before Wednesday evening to our church e-mail address: cogs@fastmail.fm.
|
