WHAT’S NEW????? One of the biggest new things happening is the new sign out front! We now have everything we need to do the upgrade in-house. We are now waiting for the installation of the new dedicated power line to be installed (underground). The weather has slowed that process down, but we should be seeing the trenching being dug any day! Thank you to everyone that contributed and prayed for this to get done… Keep praying! We are organizing a date to paint rocks that can be placed on trails and various areas. Stay tuned for a date. MISSIONS: Missions are on the third Sunday of the month. We are all aware now that the Food Pantry was blessed by a major donation & right now is blessed with a full bank account! Praise Jesus! The CC Food Pantry is open to anyone who needs food. If you have a need, please contact Barry County Cares at (269) 948-9555. Please do NOT feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about calling Barry County Cares. People donate because they want to help. We all need a little help at some point in our lives. The food pantry is always in need of donations. If you have food, paper supplies, or new health and beauty aids you would like to donate, please leave them on the cart just through the side door of the Church. Monetary gifts are always a blessing. PASTOR’S CORNER: January is an amazing time of year in Michigan and at our church. Everyone is beginning to calm down from all the end-of-year festivities and special events. There is a little extra time to breathe, time to stop and make some mental & physical notes about the year to come. I have personally recommitted myself to journaling. My daughter Heidi gave me a very special gift of a leather-bound journal… guess what? It came empty… so, on our visit to Florida for Quorra’s birthday, I began filling it up! It really is a great way to think & pray more clearly and then be able to go back and remember what you were thinking about. Plus, the act of stopping to write the old-fashioned way forces you to feel a bit of quiet peace. We have begun a new Sermon Series about Spiritual Warfare. It’s quite intense and I would love to talk with you about your thoughts and questions that may come to you. Either write your questions on a bulletin or … in your new journal! We are committing to this Newsletter… Thank you to Becky and Suzanne. We are also going into the Website to make it more exciting and relevant. Your input is always appreciated. -Pastor Rick VOLUNTEER VOICE: Calling all volunteers………… We are in need of Sunday School Teachers for Children (ages 5-8) and the nursery (Birth to age 4). Please consider signing up to help. There are a handful of volunteers who rotate to fill these positions weekly. Our goal is to have enough volunteers so that no one person covers Sunday School more than once every 4-6 weeks. Barry Roubaix Bike Race: April 18, 2026 is the date for the Barry Roubaix Race. We need 10 volunteers to cover this race. Currently we have about 6 volunteers. Please consider helping with this fun event. Volunteers cover early morning through mid afternoon shifts that typically last 4-6 hours. Volunteers are needed as “corner marshals”, to help slow traffic and stop cars to ensure bikers are able to safely turn. Volunteers are also needed at the start and finish line. Please see Becky as soon as possible if you are able to help with this fun event. Country Chapel receives $40/volunteer. This money goes towards the playground fund. Mammoth March: Becky Webb and Suzanne Kidder are training for a “Mammoth March,” August 2027. This is a long distance hiking event in states across the United States. It’s a 20 mile hike completed in 8 hours. The date and exact location for this event in 2027 is TBA. If you would like to learn more about this event, visit the website at: Mammothmarch.com. Becky and Suzanne are planning to do this event as a 2027 fund raiser for the playground. We will be seeking sponsorships next year. Stay tuned for more information. DID YOU KNOW? Do you have a love for music?? Would you like to sing or play an instrument in the choir? Please talk to Suzanne Kidder. The choir is ALWAYS looking for people who would like to be a part of this fun group. Do you know someone who needs prayer? Country Chapel has a communication called the “Prayer Connection”. This awesome form of communication is organized by Brenda Morgan. Please contact Pastor Rick, he will see that your prayers are passed through to the “Country Chapel Connection” properly. Need help preparing your 2025 tax returns? If your household income is less than $67,000 annually, you qualify for free tax return assistance. Contact Southwest Michigan Tax Return: (269) 945-4010. Country Chapel has a Food Pantry. If you or someone you know needs food, please contact Barry County Cares: (269) 948-9555. EVERYONE needs help at some point. Please do NOT feel bad or embarrassed to call. The pantry is for EVERYONE! Blood Drive: We NEED YOU!!! If you or someone you know is able and willing to give blood, the Red Cross is always in need… The Red Cross will be at Country Chapel on the following dates: March 13, May 22, July 24, and November 6, 2026. Schedule an appointment at: redcrossblood.org, or feel free to walk in the day of the drive. Donors are eligible to give every 56 days. These dates take that into account. Please help us spread the word to make this a huge success. 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each one of us must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for GOD loves a cheerful giver”. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: We need help from you! One of the most important things a church can do is affect the lives of our young people. We put a lot of energy, resources and thought into every program. There are about 10-12 people right now doing all the work. Can you give to Country Chapel in this way? Your time is a very valuable resource. Pastor Rick talks about this kind of giving at the end of nearly every Worship Service. We will, of course, need to do a background check for everyone that desires to help our kids in this way. MARKET PLACE: Do you have some items that you would like to give away? Contact Suzanne Kidder or Becky Webb and we will list them here. Please provide an item description, a picture if you have it, and a way to contact you. Current items available: (2) duo tiered, adjustable platform sit to stand desks. Each desk also has a riser for a computer. Please see Suzanne if you are interested. These items are FREE. NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS: -Read the Bible from cover to cover -Pray -Offer to help someone -Volunteer to do something you enjoy MONTHLY BIBLE VERSE: 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” We All Need a Laugh: Philippians 2:1-11 If we are Honest ... Often ... When we are shopping, ...... we will look for name brands that we know. For brands ... that we ... trust. We often recognize those products ... by their trademarks ...... or by ... their ... logos. Companies spend millions of dollars on research ... in order that ... their trademarks ... and their logos ... will be recognized ......and associated...... with quality ... and with ... reliability. And trademarks can ... at times ... affect us ... in the most interesting ... ways. I read a story ... concerning a soldier ... who had been on guard duty ... throughout the night. Early the next morning, ......this soldier ... reported to his commanding officer ... as he did ... after every shift. Immediately the Commander ... Looked at him and asked, ... (Slow) "Did you sleep well ... while on duty last night?" "What made you think ... I fell asleep... sir?" asked the surprised soldier. "Private ... Look in the mirror behind the door," ... came the commander's reply. As the guard stood before the mirror ...he saw on his forehead ......the imprint ... of the Mercedes Benz logo ...... from the truck's steering wheel. The presence of that trademark ... revealed something about the soldier ... as a person. And ... In our reading from Philippians, ......Paul informs us ... that there should be ......a mark ... on us ... as well. And that mark ... that trademark ... is that ... of the one we call savior and Lord ... Jesus Christ ... the Righteous. And the trademark ... of the living Christ ... should be something ... that others ...... will clearly notice ... and readily recognize ... upon those ... that call themselves ... followers ... of the Christ. Beloved ... Our mark ... Our life ... Our attitude ... should mirror that of Jesus ... the one we call not only our Savior ... but our Lord. The Lord ... of our life Monthly Book Review: “So You’re Thinking About Becoming a Game Warden”. By our very own, John Webb This book is a compilation of John’s experience during his 26 years as a Delaware Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Agent. (Equivalent to Michigan’s Game Warden). The book is a series of cases that John handled during his career. The stories are both interesting and entertaining. It’s an easy and enjoyable read. Copies can be purchased on line through Thrift Books, Amazon, and other online stores. The book is available in print and via Kindle. Please see John if you purchase a book and you would like him to sign it. CHURCH LOAN BALANCE: 2025 Beginning balance was $145,397.06 Jan. 2026 beginning balance 84,078.45 Additional donation -50,000.00 Balance still owed 34,078.00 WHAT’S COMING UP??????? WEBSITE….. Countrychapel.church. We are updating the website and we will be making a concentrated effort to keep it current. These newsletters along with other Church information will be shared on the website. Please take the time to check out the website. The updated version of our website should be in place within a month. Thank you for your patience.