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Prayer is the glue which holds any ministry together. (Luke 11:1-13) Jesus’ gave his disciples a model for prayer after they heard that John the Baptist taught his disciples to talk to the God of the Most High. Everyone knew the Priests and prophets were given responsibility to speak to the First Cause and act as intermediary between The Holy One and the people. And until now Jesus’ disciples had been content to allow Jesus to pray and may have never considered that they too may relate to the Creator in this way. It is not recorded just how the disciples learned that John’s disciples were now “pray-ers. But we do have the sense they all wanted in on it. Looking back it is easy to dismiss their desire to be taught how to pray as of little importance. Perhaps we think personal prayer is a frivolous activity and cannot get excited that the disciples wanted to learn how to do it. How does prayer fit in your life? Do you rely on others to act as intermediary? Do you believe that an every where and always present Being has the time to hear from you or actually cares about you? If you haven’t be encouraged to begin a conversation with the One who knows you best and loves you most. Prayer power grows by exercise. Begin by speaking to the Spirit within, and then pray (speak) whenever there is opportunity, i.e. for family and friends. Since it is necessary to re-invent the Prayer Line, please sign up today as a “pray-er” by email or phone. What a GREAT opportunity to grow your gift and positively affect lives! Another important opportunity is to pray for continued creative ideas from God to move us forward in united prayer for the wider Grand Rapids area. If you feel called to represent Free Spirit in prayer, please let me know and RSVP for the next meeting of The Gathering Grand Rapids Prayer Team. They will gather July 9 at the Stockbridge Boiler Room, 713 Fifth St. NW. The prayer meeting is from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Please RSVP to
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Please come at 11:00 for a fellowship brunch. Look and listen for the answers to your prayers.
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Spiritual Connections
Wednesdays, 7:00 pm
Please read :
Hosea 11:1-11
Colossians 3:1-11
Luke 12:13-21
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Personal Boot Camp
Four-week sessions - 1 1/2 hour each
Thursdays, 5:30 pm
Contact David Adams, Sr
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CROP WORLD SERVICE
Help stop violence against women and girls worldwide!
Urge Congress to pass the
International Violence Against Women Act of 2010
Alert issued: June 3, 2010
Please contact your Senators and Representative urging them to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act of 2010 (H.R. 4594 in the House and S. 2982 in the Senate).
Background If enacted by Congress, the International Violence Against Women Act would help millions of girls and women around the world escape violence and poverty. Currently, one in every three women and girls worldwide is physically, sexually or otherwise abused during her lifetime. In some countries two in every three girls and women are abused. From domestic violence to rape, acid burnings, dowry deaths, and so-called honor killings, violence against women and girls is an extreme human rights violation, a public health epidemic, and a barrier to solving global challenges such as extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS and conflict. Violence often keeps women and girls from getting an education, working, and earning the income they need to lift their families out of poverty.
Provisions The International Violence Against Women Act would:
- Establish an Office for Global Women's Issues in the Department of State, headed by an Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, and an office for Women's Global Development in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
- Require the State Department and USAID to develop a comprehensive international strategy to reduce and prevent violence against women and girls.
- Provide for assistance to reduce international violence against women and girls.
- Enhance U.S. training of foreign military and police forces and judicial officials on preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.
- Address violence against women and girls in humanitarian relief, peacekeeping, conflict, and post-conflict operations.
Faith reflection A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” John 4:7-9 In this exchange and in many other ways Jesus’ treatment of women alters a cultural norm and recognizes women as fully worthy of respect and dignified treatment. Violence against women is an assault on the image of God borne by all persons. By helping end violence against women and girls, we share in the mission of Jesus and act decisively to uphold human dignity.
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Thank You to Breana Brendsel
for her photography of our
new logo, the Door!
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Myth-Busting Campaign
The Michigan Department of Human Services has launched a campaign to dispel some current myths regarding the many Michigan residents that received assistance from a state welfare program this past year. Here are a couple of examples:
Myth #1: Welfare recipients are a drain on the system
Fact: The average family receiving assistance is a single parent with two children who typically receive help for less than two years. The parent probably works part-time earning minimum wage. The family may live on $700 - $800 a month between part-time income and benefits. This places the family at about 50% of the federal poverty income guideline, which is $1,474 a month for a family of three.
Myth #2: Welfare is full of fraud and no one's doing anything about it
Fact: The federal Government Accountability Office estimates that for every $1 in food stamps, about 1 cent is obtained fraudulently. The Michigan DHS' Office of Inspector General expanded the department's fraud prevention efforts. They were able to recoup $4.90 for every $1 spent on investigating fraud and were recognized by the US Dept. of Agriculture as first in the Midwest region for new fraud claims, claims recouped and total disqualifications.
One fourth of Michigan residents received assistance from a state welfare program in 2009. It is likely nearly all of us know of a friend, neighbor or family member who may be are among that number. We are grateful for these safety net programs that are providing essential services for so many of our neighbors in this difficult economic time.
Source: FRAC News Digest; April 20, 2010 reprinted in The ACCESS Communicator, July 1020
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Meijer Community Rewards is on going.
Sign Up slips are at church or at all Meijer service desks.
A Meijer’s credit card will earn us 1% per dollar spent at any Meijer’s or C-stop gas stations.
Our organization’s number is 660364.
Our top shoppers are Noralyn Gilllette, Margie Knoll, Cecile Sparta and Marian Wagner.
Many thanks!
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Weekly Memo 
