This Week at Clyde Park

A Note from Pastor Ryan

Sunday’s Sermon was a lot. At least it felt like a lot for me to get through. This week I listened again to a lecture by Dr. Willie James Jennings and he points to a word which can be used to summarize God’s movement in the world. He points to how God moves to “joining” people. God creates out of love and joins people in the garden.  Humanity runs away, but God still joins them outside of the Garden. Eventually God joins humanity in Jesus who is Emmanuel- God with us. But the “joining” of God becomes most palpable on Pentecost. On Pentecost the law has been enjoined to our hearts through the gifting of the Spirit.

I realized that one aspect which I did not mention was the reason for all the different people being in Jerusalem at Pentecost. They were celebrating the Festival of Weeks also known as Shavuot. It happens on the 50th day after Passover because tradition held that this was when Moses was given the law. On Pentecost we see fulfilment of Jeremiah 31:33 which says, “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

This is wonderful news. The distance between God and God’s people has shrunk yet again. Instead of the law being external, it will move internal. And yet, as the Spirit moves into us, it also pushes us outward towards those who do not yet know God.  As soon as the indwelling spirit is present, they go out into the street. The people of God join those who speak a variety of languages. If we were to continue reading the book of acts- we would see that the movement of joining continues through the church.  They join together in deep community. As Acts says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…  All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” The joining includes time, energy, even property and wealth.  This may seem extreme, but they had been joined by God’s presence. God desires community and unity. My hope is that we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit writes God’s law on our hearts and that we seek to join God in Gods mission of redemption. May we be willing to join others as we invite them to join us.

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Community dinner:Spaghetti Dinner!! Help support our Youth and enjoy some spaghetti and friends too!

Cottage Prayer Meeting

Our Cottage Prayer Meetings are BACK! Our next meeting will be Tuesday, June 9,

at 7:00 p.m. We meet at

New Amsterdam Village

7905 Cottonwood

 Jenison, MI 49418.

Enjoy singing, a time of prayer and fellowship!

Hope to see you there!

See our poster in the foyer!

Prime Timers

Prime Time lunch is the first Tuesday of the month. Mark your calendar, June 2^nd, 12:00 Noon at Russ’, 2340 28^th St. Wyoming. Hope to see you there!

It's Kick Ball Time

Come and join the game or cheer on your favorite team 4:00 p.m. Sunday, May 31.

 Upcoming Youth Fundraisers

TONIGHT- spaghetti dinner

6/13 Pancake Breakfast

6/21-6/27 Mission Trip

VBS – 6/15/26 – 6/19/26

Winter Wonderland theme

 Make sure to let Pastor Chrissy know where you can help out! Please keep this week in your prayers!