Thumb Church Directory - September 2020

THUMB CHURCH DIRECTORY Your guide to local places of worship.

September 19, 2020

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WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

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A Sense of Divinity T

Ancient wisdom for modern life Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Ephesians 4:19 (KJV)

“For in him we live and move and have our being.”

Acts 17:28 NIV

he Protestant reformer John Calvin used the Latin phrase “Sensus Divinitatus” to name a hypothetical sense that he believed we all have for the divine. That is, he believed that there is something innate in us that gives us knowledge of God. As he put it, “That there exists in the human mind and indeed by natural instinct, some sense of Deity [sensus divinitatis], we hold to be beyond dispute, since God himself, to prevent any man from pretending ignorance, has endued all men with some idea of his Godhead.” Calvin had given a new name to an old idea. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 we are told that God “has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Thus, while this innate sense doesn’t give us complete knowledge, it does allow us to sense God’s presence.

Saint Anselm, when introducing his famous argument for the existence of God, quotes Psalm 14, saying that the fool has said in

St. Paul Lutheran Church - LCMS 7292 Kilmanagh Rd. Pigeon, MI 48755

(989) 453-2271 Rev. Christopher Suggitt

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his heart “there is no God.” But the fool is blinded by sin, and his belief that there is no God is in reality wishful thinking. Atheists often claim that theists are engaging in wishful thinking by hoping that they will spend eternity in paradise, but it might just as plausibly be argued that since all have sinned and wish to avoid our just desserts, some might wish that there is neither God nor an afterlife in which to reap our just desserts. Being open to the presence of God is often all we need to experience His presence.

– Christopher Simon

Caseville United Methodist Church Please join us Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. 6495 Main St. Caseville, MI 48725 (989) 856-4009 Check us out on Facebook! https://casevilleumc.org

Me. Me. Me. Know someone whose whole world revolves around them and only them?

Believers know better.

They know exactly what happens when they let their ego take over. They lose sight of God and succumb to evils like lust and greed. Don’t let it happen to you. Take care of yourself but don’t forget about God. Keep Him #1!

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Blind Spots “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.

Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.”

Proverbs 15:31-32 NIV

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e all have our blind spots—literal or figurative things that we can’t see or realize about ourselves— and we can’t see them, because they are, by definition, hidden from us.

Therefore we need people who will tell us our faults and point out the things that we just can’t see or accept. Societies and cultures have blind spots too. Think of how long many Americans, and most of “civilization,” defended slavery as an institution. What our current societal blind spots are is something that only history will bear out, but what our personal blind spots are is something which we can have some control over. Instead of reacting defensively to criticism—as most of us do— we should be quick to accept it, or at least to reflect on it honestly, and try to ferret out the kernel of truth that is usually there in even the harshest criticism. It’s not always wise to be the one delivering the criticism; most people don’t accept it without some hard feelings. Unless we’re perfect, we’re going to be on the receiving end of criticism, and it is sometimes the job of people to deliver it, such as teachers, coaches, and managers. So instead of reacting defensively, thank the person, and consider how you might amend your life.

–Christopher Simon

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CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH OF CASEVILLE SERVICE SCHEDULE

SUNDAYS

Sunday School 10 am Morning Service 11 am Evening Service 6 pm Youth Group 6 pm

WEDNESDAYS

Adult Bible 6 pm King’s Kids K-6th grade 6 pm Check us out on Facebook!

On WCTP Radio 88.5 FM 6 pm on Tuesdays

Pastor Mike Goforth | Cell 989-551-6718 6718 Prospect Street, Caseville | 989-856-2145 | www.cbcofcaseville.org

Holy Name of Mary Parish Our Lady of Lake Huron Church 405 S. First Street, Harbor Beach, MI 48441 St. Anthony of Padua Church 8239 Helena Road, Harbor Beach, MI 48441 Fr. George Amos, Pastor Office: 989-479-3393 - Rectory: 989-479-9531 Weekend Masses: Saturday 4:30 pm at OLLH Sunday 8:30 am at OLLH, 10:30 am at St. Anthony

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WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

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Getting Over It “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Isaiah 43:18 NIV

S St. Hubert Parish Weekend Mass Times: (masks and social distancing required)

St. Joseph in Rapson: 7:00 p.m. Saturday | 8:15 a.m. Sunday

Sacred Heart in Bad Axe: 4:30 p.m. Saturday | 10:00 a.m. Sunday Masses in Bad Axe will be broadcast to the church parking lot. Tune to 87.7 FM

Religious Education Classes are being scheduled for both face-to-face and digital learning.

Call the Education office for details: 989-269-6691 Parish Office: 989-269-7729 www.sthubertbadaxe.org

ometimes our reaction to bad events, and our inability to “get over” the event exacerbates the problem. We all have losses that hit us hard, whether the loss is something material, such as money, or something more personal, like a loved one. We should learn from our material losses so as not to repeat them, for instance, learning that it’s not wise to panic when the stock market is down and sell your stocks at a loss. And when the loss is something more serious, like losing a family member, we need to take time to grieve and process our feelings.

Failing to do so may keep us from ever really getting over it. Sometimes the things we need to get over are things which caused us to get angry or resentful. We can harbor feelings of bitterness or desires for revenge for years, or even decades, which can be incapacitating and inhibit us from getting on with our lives. We may not be able to forget the harm that was done to us, but forgiving the person who we believe wronged us is usually a good thing to do for our own emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Asking God to help us forgive the other person is often the only way to get over our bitterness. Life will go on whether we get over the bad experience or not. The real question is the quality of our life, and that may depend on our getting over it sooner rather than later.

– Christopher Simon

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WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

YOU’RE INVITED! At Calvary, we’re passionate about Jesus and the exciting new life He gives.

Consider joining us this Sunday to experience uplifting music, a friendly atmosphere, and preaching that is relevant to your life.

Childcare will be provided, refreshments will be served, and the service will last about an hour.

LET’S CONNECT SUNDAYS AT 10:00 AM

989.963.9391

301 N. CHANNEL DRIVE, PORT AUSTIN, MI

CBCPORTAUSTIN.ORG

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CALVARY PORT AUSTIN

Ancient wisdom for modern life The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 40:8 (KJV)

220 N. Main Street

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Elkton, MI

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989-375-2597

Sunday School

Beginning September 13 9:45 a.m. - classes for all ages

Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.

Grass dies. Flowers die. People die. God remains. His Word has stood the test of time, and you should put your faith in Him, not in money, not in things, not in people, but in Him. For He will be there always and will not forsake you no matter what the season or circumstance. Repent of your sins, profess your faith in God and follow His word always, and you shall receive eternal life.

Awana Kids Program Sunday Nights: 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Ladies Prayer Meeting

Thursdays: 10:00 a.m.

We will offer a men’s group starting on the first Saturday of October.

Youth Group Thursday Night 6:00 p.m.

Service Livestream

10:45 a.m. service live streamed on our Facebook and Youtube channel

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WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

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When the World Is Too Much “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

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orldwide, thousands of people commit suicide every day, which is testimony to the fact that life is just too much for many people to handle. We’ve all had days, or perhaps weeks or even months, where we understand the bitter pessimism and suffering of people who long for death.

But when things get that bad, we really must turn things over to God and say “Dear Lord, I just can’t handle this by myself.” And that is also when we should not just be asking God for help, but also our friends and family, and if you don’t have family or friends that can help, you should try asking a complete stranger, or calling a crisis hotline.

Especially in these times of social isolation

Bad Axe First United Methodist Church Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

216 East Woodworth • Bad Axe, MI 48413 • Phone: (989) 269-7671

SUNDAY SCHEDULE Worship: 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Services Sunday School: 9:00 a.m. (4-year old thru 8th grade classes) Youth Group: 5:00 p.m. – 7 p.m. (9th thru 12th grade)

we can feel very alone in the world and we should not feel bad about reaching out to others, even perfect strangers.

You might be surprised how willing others are to help. The real tragedy when people commit suicide is that there were probably family and friends who were willing to help, if only they knew how badly the person was feeling. And even when there aren’t close friends or family to help, there are crisis hotlines available at the touch of a button (or the dialing of a phone, as it were). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255 (800273-TALK). Finally, God is always there to help, if only we can be humble enough to get down on our knees and ask for it.

– Christopher Simon

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - LCMS 7899 Crescent Beach Rd., Pigeon, MI 48744

(989) 856-4850

Follow us on Facebook. www.badaxefumc.org We are on the radio every Sunday on WLEW 1340 AM for the 10:00 service.

Pastor Phil Tousley, pastorphil@live.com

Rev. Christopher Suggitt

Kinde First Presbyterian Church

Novesta ChurCh of Christ

Worship services Sunday 9am Chandler-Sunday 11am

Services held at: 4965 Diem St. • Kinde

All Are Welcome!

2896 Cemetary Road Cass City, MI 48726 Brad Speirs, Minister

The sting of death is sin; ... but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore,... be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,...

- 1 Corinthians 5:56-58 (KJV)

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WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

You are cordially invited to come and visit our Church Family at

Victory in Christ Community Church (A BAck to tHE BiBlE cHurcH)

Rev. Stewart Justin

sEnior pAstor • 989-945-8150

Rev. Alberta Justin AssociAtE pAstor

Bruce Hereim

cArE pAstor • 361-765-2843

sErvicE sundAy 10am and tHursdAy 6:30pm 716 E. Huron AvE • BAd AxE, MicHigAn 48413 Ancient wisdom for modern life

You’re welcome at Pigeon River!

But whoso … his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3:17 (KJV)

Sunday:

Ever see someone truly in need and turned a blind eye? Perhaps it was a hungry child on TV. Perhaps it was a beggar on the street.

Perhaps it was a friend down on their luck.

Whomever it was, God urges believers not to turn their backs on the needy. If you come across someone truly in need and you can assist them, do so. Show God’s love by giving when and where you can.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked... nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

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9:30 am in person worship

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11 am Youth Sunday School (grades 6-12) *We also have online options for Sunday worship through our Facebook page and YouTube channel starting @ 9:30 am.

Wednesday: •

7 pm Prayer and Fellowship

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7 pm Youth activities (grades 6-12)

Pastor Dave Maurer Bill Eberly, Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries

2:14-15 (KJV) Phone:Phillipians 989-453-2081

Website: www.pigeonriverchurch.com ebook: www.facebook.com/PigeonRiverChurch

7120 Geiger Rd. Pigeon MI 48755 www.pigeonriverchurch.com | 989-453-2081

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WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 19, 2020

Pigeon First United Methodist Church Worship: 10 am

Outdoors through Sept. 27th Indoors starting Oct. 4th

Online Worship: 11:30 am Sunday School: TBA ••• Special Events Coming Soon

Happy Trick-or-Treat Trail, Oct. 31, 5:30-7 pm Youth Essay Contest: “Celebrating the True Spirit of Christmas in Uncertain Times.”

Registration begins Sept. 28; deadline for essays, Nov. 9.

7102 E. Michigan Ave., PO Box 377 • Pigeon, MI 48755

989-453-2475 •••

Email: pigeonfirstumc@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/pigeonfirst • Website: firstumcpigeon.org

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Pastor: Fr. Robert J Pare

(989) 856-4933

www.ourladyofperpetualhelpparish.com 3 Locations - one PaRish • St Roch Church, Caseville • St Francis Borgia Church, Pigeon • St Felix Church, Pinnebog Weekend Mass scheduLe saturday - 5:00 PM at St Roch Church in Caseville (Summer) 4:00 PM at St Roch Church in Caseville (Winter) sunday - 8:30 aM at St Roch Church in Caseville 10:30 aM at St Francis Borgia Church in Pigeon

Rcia

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish invites anyone interested in entering the church through the “Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults” to call the Parish Office.

A period of Inquiry will begin in our Parish in October.

There Are No Accidents

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“Accidents exist only in our heads, in our limited perceptions. They are the reflections of the limits of our knowledge.”

-Franz Kafka

ranz Kafka, the existential-surrealist writer, worked for an insurance company. His stories often have the feel of something from a bureaucratic nightmare in a totalitarian state, people being arrested and brought before a judge but never told what they are charged with. Or consider the story “The Metamorphosis,” where the main character wakes up to find out he has turned into an insect, something resembling a beetle that is stuck on its back and can’t turn itself over. Kafka had a vivid imagination, but his day job was more prosaic: he was essentially the person at the insurance company who figured out what people should be paid for their injuries. And thus, the force of the quote above; accidents are not truly accidental, but the result of actions and events which we sometimes don’t see.

The insurance agent asks a lot of questions because a multitude of factors go into figuring out your likelihood of having an accident, everything from your zip code to your age and occupation, your gender, and whether you’re married or not. From a spiritual perspective, we should realize how little we actually know.

God sees the whole picture; we never do. The actuary knows the right questions to ask to figure out your premium, but even that is something more akin to an estimate than true knowledge.

If we knew everything, as God does, we’d have no use for the word “accident,” because we’d see that nothing is truly accidental, but rather everything is part of the Big Plan.

– Christopher Simon