Announcements for 10-19-25

Our packing party is next Sunday! We encourage you to bring letters and photos to include in the boxes we pack on Sunday. And, as always, don't forget the most important element - praying for the children who will receive our gifts. Pray that their ears are attentive to the Gospel message that will be shared with them, and that their hearts are ready to receive to Good News.

*Family Devotional books that follow our Sunday School lessons are available on the table in the Gathering Space. These are available to anyone who is interested.

~REGISTER FOR A HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! Tri-State Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is accepting applications for the upcoming weekend at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, Iowa. TEC is an interdenominational three-day Christian retreat designed to help high schoolers learn more about their faith and their community. The next TEC is November 21-23, 2025. If you would like to learn more about TEC or register, please visit www.TriStateTEC.org or email TriStateTEC@gmail.com. The cost is $50 and includes a t-shirt & other special gifts. Scholarships are available upon request.

Bethel Women’s Conference 2025

Discover the beauty of letting go and embracing who you were truly made to be - it's a journey worth taking.

Date and time:

Saturday, October 25 · 9am - 12:30pm CDT. Doors at 8:15am 

Location:

Bethel Reformed Church, 2314 Iowa 9 Lester, IA 51242             

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-beauty-of-a-surrendered-life-created-in-his-image-for-his-glory-tickets-1474982645799?aff=ebdssbdestsearch                                

The October Bridge Newsletter is now available in the clear boxes next to the mailboxes it will no longer be available on online, so please visit the church to pick up a copy.

Secretary’s office hours: ~ Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9-1                                                     

**Bulletin announcements are due on Fridays at 9am. Thanks** 

Club 512 Volunteers for 10-22-25

Games:     

          1^st & 2^nd                                               3^rd&4^th                                            5^th&6^th 

 Maddie Van Der Weerd                        Jonathon Kock                                  Leo Groen

      Rhya Kelderman                          Lincoln Klosterbuer                           Connor Altman

       Mali Kellenberger                             Brody Buntjer                              Liam VanderZee

Club 512 Snack helpers:  Debbie Crane & Doris Schneiderman 

Midweek Meal Helpers: Audra Klinkenborg, ReNae Leuthold, Kellie Menning, Kay Wynia, & Cindy Bosch

Nursing Home Chaperone: 

Oaks Club Gathering (anyone over the age of 50)

This Thursday we will be having lunch at The Grain House-Hull, followed by visit to Pumpkins on Garfield  (leaving the church at 10:45) Contact Amy Ryals if you have questions

~The Sanctuary will be open for Prayer on Wednesday from 12-2

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself”- Romans 13:9b

Our prayer concerns….                                                                                                                                      

Jeff Hrdicka (radiation & chemo treatments)                       

Merlin Groen

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                       

Rod Grooters                                                                                           

Alice Feikema  (Hospice)                                                  

JoAnn Douglas

Karen Flier                                                                     

Twilla Hoekstra (Fellowship Village-Inwood)

Janice Den Besten                                                           

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)

Ron & Cathy Birkeland                                                         

Todd Altman (Jack & Esther Altman’s son)            

Kathy Van Olst                                                                      

Bill Saeger (Jackie Groen’s brother) 

Mandie Sprock (Marilyn Mammenga’s daughter)                       

Russ Carver (Rachelle Johnsen’s dad)

Patty Van Aartsen (Cindy Bosch’s sister-in-law)                           

Kathleen Jacobsma (Brenda Vanden Top & Barb Tilstra’s mom)

-Our sympathies to Cindy Bosch & family (Ruth Van Aartsen) as her sister-in-law, Patty Van Aartsen passed away

-Our sympathies to Debbie & Steve Crane as her mom, Ruby Wineman passed away

Birthday & Anniversary List (if you’d like a copy, please see church office)

Remembering our Nursing Home, Assisted Living & Senior Living Residents:

Pearl Folkens                              Wilma DeRoo                                     JoEllen Sorgdrager 

Ruth Van Aartsen                       Joyce Mellema                                   Darlene Brinkhuis

Harriet Hoff                                 Alice Feikema                                       Donna Kwikkel                                    

Addresses available upon request at church office

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 October 19, 2025 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “King Of Kings”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Children’s Message

Praise Service: 

“Mighty To Save”

“My Victory”

Congregational Prayer

Offering Hymn “Good Ground”

(offering plates will be passed)

“Doxology” #625

(Children & Worship may be dismissed)

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

Sermon: The Parable of the Soil

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “Come Thou Fount”

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “Come Thou Fount”

(6^th Grade and below may be excused for Sunday School)

Mission statement: “TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS!”

Serving us today 10-19-25

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Judy Netten & Merlin DeBoer (S) Wayne & Geneva Grooters (SE) Marlene Bowers & Julius Damstra

NURSERY- Wendy & Caitlin Huisman

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Men’s Ministry (Monkey Bread for free will donation)

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Men’s Ministry

CHILDREN & WORSHIP:  Leader: Ashley Rypkema          Greeter: Taylor Rypkema

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Dwayne Postma

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Julia Bryngelson

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Lindsey Anderson

SOUND SYSTEM- Sawyer Hrdlicka

VIDEO TAPING- Breyden Dieren

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Elise Kahl

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kristi Metzger

VAN DRIVER- Mike Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

 Serving us next week 10-26-25

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Todd & Stacy Dieren (S) Cody & Jen Hoefert (SE) Roger & Carol Oliver

NURSERY- Elliet Kelderman & Jersie Klarenbeek

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Brad & Ashley Rypkema

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)-  Gary & Karen Van Wyhe

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Fred Tilstra

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Lesa Hommes

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- No SS (OCC packing party)

SOUND SYSTEM- Dustin Bosch

VIDEO TAPING- Jonathan Kock

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Thane Jansma

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Jean Fick

VAN DRIVER- Paul Van Wyhe

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

ELDERS

Chris Wright, Clerk-2023-25

Sharon Postma, VP-2023-25

Nate Schulte -2024-26

Randy Bosch-2024-26

Joel Vis- 2025-27

Rodney Vanden Top- 2025-27

DEACONS

Rob Van Hofwegen, Property Chair-2023-25

Justin Groen -2023-25 

Mark Boender-2023-25

Shawn Van Wyhe, Benevolent Treas. -2024-26

Jordan Menning, Chair of Deacons -2024-26

Evan Metzger, General Treas./ Personnel chair-2024-26

Kade Griesse, Clerk of Deacons- 2025-27

Brad Rypkema-2025-27

Jerry Mulder- 2025-27

                                            FINANCIALS as of 10-12-2025   

                                 Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                     YTD Budget

General Fund:         $11,235.00                           $445,964.85                         $540,539.90

Benevolent Fund:  $1,035.00                               $181,321.20                         $158,432.20

Sunday School 10-12-25

                         Last Year’s Attendance: 110                           Last Week’s Attendance: 98

                         Last Year’s Offering: $77.25                            Last Week’s Offering: $77.00

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 10-19-25:

Sunday School Lesson: Lesson 36: Covenant with Abraham 

11:45am-2pm New Member Retreat (David Room)

5pm Women’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

MONDAY 10-20-25:

12pm Quarterback Club (Fellowship Hall)

4:45pm Cookie Club (Kitchen)

6:30pm Bethesda Meeting (Martha Room)

6:30pm Deacon/Elder Meeting

7:30pm Consistory Meeting (David Room)

TUESDAY 10-21-25: 

6:30pm Grace Circle

WEDNESDAY 10-22-25:

6am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

12-2pm Prayer time in the Sanctuary 

2:30pm-5pm Club 512 

5pm-6:15pm Midweek Meal *Pork Loin*

No Youth Group tonight due to VB game

THURSDAY 10-23-25: 

10:45am Oaks Club Gathering 

FRIDAY 10-24-25:   

8am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

SATURDAY 10-25-25:                                                                                       

SUNDAY 10-26-25:     

Sunday School Lesson: No Sunday School (OCC packing party)

5pm Women’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

10/19/2025                                  Parable of the Soils              Matt. 13:1-9, 18-23 

Intro: Becoming Like Jesus…How?

1. Symbols of the Parable of the Soils
1. Farmer = God

1. Seed = Word of God

1. Soil? 

1. 4 Types of Soil
1. Path = Hardened Heart
1. Pride
2. Unforgiveness
3. Strained Relationships

1. Rocky Soil = Mountain Top Faith
1. Receive the word of God with Joy
2. Private vs Personal Faith (No local church)
1. College Student
2. Solo Christian
3. When the Trials come, they quickly fall away.

1. Weedy Soil = Unfruitful lives
1. Common Christian Experience
1. Business of life, worries of the world, stresses of money
1. Things, Schedules, poor decisions
2. Understand the word of God, but fail to put it into practice

1. Good Soil = Transformed
1. Ready to Receive the word of God.
1. Being Honest and Humble
2. Open to Correction
3. Open to Direction
2. Understand the word of God and put it into practice.