Announcements for 11-2-25

~The following have been nominated for the positions of Elder and Deacon for 2026  

Elder nominees: Matt Kock, Bob Tilstra, JD Hommes, & Ken Leuthold

Deacon nominees: Dustin Bosch, Eric Hartter, Lucas Bouwman, Mike Pulscher, Kyle Grooters, Braeden Schulte & Kris Krull

*If anyone has evidence of any Biblical grounds that any of these persons should not be on Consistory, please inform one of the Elders.

~Thank you to everyone who donated items to our Packing Party, and to everyone who helped pack boxes. We packed a record number – 200 boxes! That means 200 children will hear the Good News! And…many of those children will accept an invitation to go through the discipleship program, The Greatest Journey, where they will learn to share the Gospel with their friends and family. Continue to pray for the hearts and minds of these children. If you want to pack another box or two on your own, there are empty boxes in the Gathering Space. Deadline is November 23. Also, we are already planning for our packing party next year! Donations will be taken all year long and stored here at church. A basket is in the Gathering Space for your items.

The November 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** 

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         “Cast your cares on Him because He cares for you.”- 1 Peter 5:7

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)

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

Our sympathies to the family of Mary Ann Van Aartsen, who passed away last week

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                                  Donna Kwikkel            Harriet Hoff                                   Alice Feikema                                                   

Addresses available upon request at church office

~Surviving the Holidays (a one-night grief seminar)

November 24^th @ 6:30pm- everyone is welcome

(if you have any questions, please contact Amy Ryals)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: On November 16, 2025 we will be hosting our annual Volunteer Fair. Prayerfully consider where you will serve in 2026! See the list and descriptions of volunteers needed in the November edition of “THE BRIDGE”. Registration time: November 16-23 in the gathering space.

~2025 General and benevolent budgets have been placed in mailboxes and sent out. Copies of the budget are available at the church office if you didn’t receive one. We will hold a budget meeting on November 16^th from 10:45am-11:45am in the sanctuary. Thanks ~FRC Deacons

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

Club 512 Volunteers for 11-5-25

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

                   Maddie Van Der Weerd                        Jonathon Kock                                      Leo Groen

                          Anika Springer                             Lincoln Klosterbuer                            Connor Altman

                             Lily Jurrens                                   Brody Buntjer                                       Jayden Daale

                         Rhya Kelderman                                                                                              Liam VanderZee

Club 512 Snack helpers:  Jan Spyksma & Peggy Metzger 

Midweek Meal Helpers: Audra Klinkenborg, Rachel Eckenrod, Jean Fick, Jill Jansma & Amy Sieperda

Nursing Home Chaperone: Ruben Fick 

Church and area happenings:

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 November 2, 2025 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “Abide”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Ministry of Music: Cherub Choir

Mission Minute: JFA and Ukraine

Praise Service:

“Our God”

“Good Ground”

Congregational Prayer

Offering Hymn “Hymn Of Heaven”

(offering plates will be passed)

“Doxology” #625

(Children & Worship may be dismissed)

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Luke 18: 9-14

Sermon: Praying

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “Jesus Paid It All”

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “Jesus Paid It All”

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

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

Serving us today 11-2-25

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Dave & Heather Springer (S) Steve & Jessica Harman (SE) Roger & Carol Oliver

NURSERY- Brody & Gable Hartter & Whitney Van Veldhuizen

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Lonn & Jammie Kellenberger

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- George & Doris Schneidermann

CHILDREN & WORSHIP:  Leader: Brenda Van Hofwegen         Greeter: Mali Kellenberger

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Dwayne Postma

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Ashley Kruse

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Sara Hrdlicka

SOUND SYSTEM- Matt Kock

VIDEO TAPING- Randy Bosch

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Caitlin Huisman

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- April DeWit

VAN DRIVER- Dale Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

Serving us next week 11-9-25

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Chris & Jen Lincecum (S) Greg & Sherri DeJong (SE) Dalton & Kenzie Skidmore

NURSERY- Nathan & Ashley Kruse

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Girls League (Cinnamon Rolls for free will donation)

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)-  Girls League

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Fred Tilstra

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Chelsea Hunt

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Dayna Altman

SOUND SYSTEM- Brad Rypkema

VIDEO TAPING- Justin Groen

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Mali Kellenberger

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kiya Griesse

VAN DRIVER- Ruben Fick

*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 10-26-2025                                                                                

                                Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                     YTD Budget

General Fund:         $20554.65                            $473,265.44                         $566,907.70

Benevolent Fund:  $280.00                                 $185,843.20                         $166,160.60

                                       *Online donations are now added to designated funds*                

Sunday School 10-26-25                          

 Last Year’s Attendance:                                   Last Week’s Attendance: No SS

    Last Year’s Offering:                                         Last Week’s Offering: No SS

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 11-2-25:

Sunday School Lesson: Lesson 37: Issac: Child of Promise

5pm Women’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

5pm-8pm Romans & Christians Event (Borman Forster Fields)

MONDAY 11-3-25:

TUESDAY 11-4-25: 

7pm Faith Circle (Martha Room)

WEDNESDAY 11-5-25:

6am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

9-11am Mom Co. (Fellowship Hall)

12-2pm Prayer Time (Sanctuary)

2:30pm-5pm Club 512 

5pm-6:15pm Midweek Meal *BBQ Beef Sand.* (Everyone is welcome)

6:15pm Jr. High Youth Group (Youth Room)

8pm Sr. High Youth Group (Youth Room)

THURSDAY 11-6-25: 

FRIDAY 11-7-25:   

8am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

7-9pm Young Adult Game Night (Fellowship Hall)

SATURDAY 11-8-25:      

5:30-8pm Puzzle, Pizza, Pop Night Monaco Fundraiser (Fellowship Hall)                                                                              

SUNDAY 11-9-25:     

Sunday School Lesson: Lesson 38: Abraham’s Test

5pm Women’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

11-1pm Ukraine Dorp off sight (South church parking lot)

11/2/2025                                     Parable of Praying                  Luke 18:9-14 

Intro: Why Should God let you into Heaven?

1. Parable understood in Context
1. Who was Jesus telling this parable to? VS. 9
1. Crowd: Disciples, Pharisees, Tax Collectors, etc.

1. Pharisee
1. Church Member, Elder/Deacon, Generous, Caring about Community, Knowledgeable about the Bible
2. Religious life is known to all.

1. Tax Collector
1. Crook, Collaborator, Rich from the enemy by selling out his own people, Can’t be trusted, Family Shamed, (Zacchaeus) 
2. Sinful life is known to all

1. Prayers Reflect the Condition of the Heart before God
1. Pharisee: Stood in a place of Honor(Pride)
1. Negative Obedience
2. Legalistic Obedience
3. Comparative Obedience
1. Blind to sin, filled with pride, and prayed to justify himself.

1. Tax Collector: Stood at a distance (Humble)
1. Posture: unable to look up, beating his chest, undignified and honest emotion.
2. Confession of Sin
3. Profession of Faith
4. Surrender to God
1. Aware of sin, humble, and prayed for God to justify him.  

1. Salvation is a condition of the Heart, not outward appearance. 
1. Tax Collector, not the Pharisee went home justified before God. 
1. Salvation = Justification and Sanctification
1. God declares us forgiven, and righteous before God, 
2. God begins to transform us from the inside, out. 

1. Do your prayers reflect the heart of the Pharisee or Tax Collector?