Tag: guest post

Sunny work day for Hesed Community Church

Guest post by
Matt Admiraal, AACRC Volunteer

This past Saturday, May 1, several members from our church had the opportunity to serve at the Hesed Community Church, which at first glance looks more like a house.  We divided into three work groups. One group worked on demolition projects at a house that Hesed purchased for ministry opportunities.  A second group worked on preparing raised garden beds for a community garden. The third group worked on cleaning up around the house of a neighbor who lives in the Brightmoor neighborhood and who is active with Hesed. All felt a sense of accomplishment as the day ended, and deeply valued the opportunities to connect with people in the Brightmoor community while reconnecting with members from our own congregation.  People of all ages from our church enjoyed serving together.

Though Hesed Community Church doesn’t have the appearance of what we think of as a church building, what I saw on Saturday was the active church in which individuals shared the love of Christ by loving our neighbors through service and spending enjoyable time together.   Praise God for such a wonderful opportunity!

A big thank you to all who served and to those who provided food and drink for those who served.

Hesed Church Christmas store

Guest post by
Matt Admiraal, AACRC Volunteer

On December 19, I had the opportunity to serve alongside members of Hesed Community Church in Detroit and Grace Church of Ann Arbor and Grace Church of Canton at the Hesed Community Church’s Pride for Parents’ Christmas Store.  This is the second year in which these churches have been active in helping individuals in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit in this amazing activity.  The Pride for Parents’ Christmas Store allows parents to purchase Christmas gifts for their children at a very reduced rate.  New items are purchased and donated by individuals from churches (some from members of Ann Arbor CRC as well as from members of Grace Church of Ann Arbor and Grace Church of Canton) and then sold at a “store” (in actuality at a church) for prices ranging from $.25 to $5.  Items that parents could shop for included toys, games, sports equipment, electronics, books, and clothing.  Parents were allowed to purchase two toys for each child in their family, one piece of sports equipment and one game per family, and one winter coat for each child in their family. Continue reading