“So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.” The Message, Romans 12: 5-9

It is a consistent struggle to measure and communicate the value of HNCP, because HNCP is not your typical church ministry. We do not provide direct services, there is rarely an opportunity to volunteer, and progress is difficult to quantify. Yet still, HNCP is serving a distinct purpose in the Heartside Neighborhood among the many non-profits.

At least once a week I hear the same phrase, “I didn’t know you guys were here,” which is followed by, “this is a great space.” In the coming weeks there will be at least three different trainings for non-profits in the Heartside community.  One of these trainings will bring in over sixty people. Bethlehem Church is filling a need. We are here. We are hospitable and this is possible because of you.

So, we do what we are called to do without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other (or other churches), or trying to be something we aren’t. So let us be who we were created to be: striving to be grace-filled people who focus on worship, music and social justice with a goal of growing together in faith and action.

On the docket for next year:

The Fauxgrass Quartet
Knock on Wood, featuring Andrew Fritz, percussionist
Karisa Wilson
Diane Penning and friends
Charlie Honey and the Honeytones
Chain of Lakes
Jenny Walvoord and Andrew Le

Be sure to check Facebook and our website, www.majicingr.org for updates as the series develops!

(Above image courtesy of aopsan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

The staff of Hill Child Development Center believes in the developmental individuality of all children, each achieving milestones in their own time. The teachers believe children should be allowed enough materials and child directed activities that challenge them to grow without forcing the child to achieve far beyond his developmental capabilities, thus encouraging success and a sense of achievement. We believe in nurturing each child. We strive to provide an atmosphere as homelike as possible without attempting to replace or alter the awesome responsibility of the parent. The staff at Hill works with parents to assist children in achieving the necessary milestones. We believe that children learn through play. A child’s play encourages growth in all areas of development: physical, social, emotional and intellectual. The environment of the center encourages children to make choices and to have positive peer and adult interactions within the play areas to promote the child’s sense of self-direction and growth.

Hill CDC admits children of any race, color, national and ethnic origins to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies and school administered programs.

Hill CDC is licensed by the State of Michigan Department of Human Services to serve as a day care center for children between the ages of birth and 12 years old. Hill CDC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

For more information, please call 616-456-7509 or email hillcdc@bethlehemchurchgr.org for more information or to schedule a tour. We welcome all of your questions, comments and suggestions.
Feel free to contact us via any of the methods below:

Sue Davidson,
Director
 at Hill Child Development Center
250 Commerce S.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
hillcdc@bethlehemchurchgr.org
P: 616-456-7509

MAJIC (Musical Arts for Justice in the Community) is a ministry of Bethlehem Church, begun in 2007, to support high quality arts programming using area artists, and helping the economically disadvantaged in the Heartside neighborhood of Grand Rapids. All concerts are underwritten in advance so that 100% of the door receipts can be donated to local social-justice organizations. The Concert series also showcases visual art by area artists, which is displayed in the lobby of the church throughout the month following the concert. MAJIC draws a diverse audience through varied programming, and to date has generated more than $25,000 in concert donations, which have been donated to the Heartside Fund, Hill Music Together, and the Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness.

HNCP is a ministry of Bethlehem Church which seeks to facilitate the possibilities for increased collaboration between ministries, agencies, neighbors, governmental agencies and others who have a stake in the Heartside neighborhood.

The mission of HNCP is to increase collaboration in the Heartside Neighborhood in order to maximize resources, minimize service duplication and help neighbors to move from dependency on charity to independence and productivity to whatever extent that is possible for each individual.

HNCP does not do this work itself; rather it is its role to bring people together to best determine how they can accomplish these goals.  This requires trust, courage and a willingness to take risk on the part of all involved. HNCP nurtures and facilitates ongoing communication between neighborhood stakeholders (neighbors, business owners, government and governmental agencies, and agencies/ministries/service providers).  Successful collaboration requires the crafting of win/win situations.

Check us out at: http://www.hillchildcare.org

For the 2012-2013 series, we will feature:

October:  Participants in ArtPrize
November: Paul Petersen
December: Alma Suarez
January: Annica VanderLinde, substituting for the previously-booked Joel Howell
February: Bill Byers
March: The Kids of Hill CDC
April: Marjorie Arnett

Artist information:

Paul Petersen.  Paul is a photographer from Western Michigan.  This exhibit showcases nature photography taken in our beautiful state, and reflects his love for the out of doors.  Paul is a “Pure Michigan” Award winning photographer, and last year was selected as the Artist in Residence for the National Park Service in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Northern Upper Peninsula.  Paul sells his work at galleries throughout the midwest and at numerous art fairs during the year.  In addition to his nature work, he provides architectural, portrait and general photography services.

Alma Suarez.  Alma was born in Mexico City and currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From a very young age Alma felt her calling was in the fine arts. During her early education, Alma took courses and was involved in activities that promoted her artistic and creative skills. She began experimenting with drawing, painting and paper maché. She pursued art studies  at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. With her current works, Alma returns to her roots, this time with a cause in mind, to advocate against domestic violence, and mental and physical abuse toward women, by giving them a voice through her work.

Annica VanderLinde is a Grand Rapids native who does work in photography and painting as well as being an active chef and blogger. Annica has a BA in Fine and Studio Arts from Calvin College, and also works at the Inner City Christian Federation as a Housing Assistant.

Bill Byers. Retirement means Bill can now seriously pursue his love of painting. Totally self-taught, Bill’s talent and passion comes from a deep-seated family tradition.

Bill’s work is characterized by the use of deep, rich color. Many of his paintings are commissions of show dogs and pets. In addition, he also enjoys painting various animals and landscapes.

His paintings and prints can be found in many private collections around the United States and in Germany. He works in oil, acrylic, prisma pencil, pastel, and does wood-carving.

Marjorie Arnett.

Marjorie Arnett has worked as Assistant Dean, Associate and Acting Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Indiana University of Pennsylvania during her professional career as an artist. She recently retired and has settled into her new home studio in Saugatuck, having moved there recently from Leetsdale, Pennsylvania. Marjorie was selected for an artist’s residency in a small village in Italy where she lived and painted for over a year. Recently she exhibited her paintings and taught a workshop at the Academy of Art in Zagreb, Croatia.

Originally from Michigan, Marjorie works in the medium of oil, acrylic, water color and mixed media. She is an interdisciplinary artist who is also a published playwright, and poet. Her works are represented in many private and corporate collections and has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe.

Pastor Jay wrote in his preceding article about how you may have noticed numerous articles regarding the business development, which is expanding the downtown area into the Heartside neighborhood.

Gentrification, which is the restoration of run-down urban areas by the middle class usually resulting in the displacement of low-income residents, usually carries a negative connotation.  In fact, it is seldom mentioned when talking about redevelopment of urban areas – that is how volatile the term itself has come to be.

It was refreshing when Pastor Jay met with Kris Larson, the new Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority, and surprisingly, Mr. Larson did not shy away from talking about gentrification.  He suggested it is not a question of when Heartside will be gentrified but how.  The real questions are: How can Heartside and Grand Rapids be a positive example of inclusivity?  How will gentrification affect residents, specifically those with mentally or physical disabilities, and those who struggle with addiction and/or homelessness?

Gentrification is happening; soon there will be new restaurants, shops and living space in Heartside.  The cranes all around the neighborhood and the construction fence around the block to the south of us are visible reminders.  It is yet to be determined how this will play out for the Heartside Neighborhood.  For now, the Heartside Neighborhood Collaboration Project continues to ask these questions: How can Heartside be a place where all are welcome?  How can attitudes be changed so that poor is no longer misunderstood to mean dangerous?  How can we be catalysts to help Grand Rapids and Heartside be positive examples of development done well?

Bethlehem Church has already showed our hand.  We took a long vacant building and redeveloped it into a place where all are welcome.  We are here, and committed to supporting the people and this neighborhood – all the people of our neighborhood.

“To go fast, go alone; to go far, go together.” Ancient Chinese Proverb