Announcements for 5-5-24 

~This morning will conclude our memory work with our 6^th grade class, who will recite Psalm 19.   Thank you to all the children, teachers and parents who worked hard on their memory work this year!  Next week, we will be presenting our 2^nd graders with their Bibles. Parents of 2^nd graders are asked to come up front with their children for the presentation.

Building on Faith Event

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated items (for the meal, silent auction, bingo prizes, homemade pies), who helped with grilling or serving the meal, the great attendance at the meal, those who placed bids and/or purchased silent auction items and pies, and for the fellowship and fun during Bingo and the pie auction last Sunday. A huge thank you to those who helped serve on the committee and for the deacons for their many hours they devoted towards this event. During the event, $26,872 was raised for the parking lot project. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  

If you missed the event and would like to donate funds for the parking lot project, please place your donation in the offering plate and designate it for the “parking lot project”

VBS Registration is open! Please visit https://rockrapidsvbs.myanswers.com/jungle-journey/ to get your

4 year-old – 6^th grader registered. VBS will be June 5-7, 2024. We are also looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please contact Amy Schulte at 712.470.4883. Thanks!

~Bible Reading Plan: You can grab a bible reading bookmark from the Welcome Center or sign up at the Welcome Center for a daily text with the scripture reading for the day! 

The 2024 church directory is now available in the church office. If you would like a copy, contact the church office and we will get one to you! 712-472-3729 or frchurch@premieronline.net. 

Please plan to attend Bible League's Spring Salad Luncheon with your friends on Monday, May 6 at Ireton Christian Reformed Church (301 Maple Street Ireton, IA). Please bring one salad for every four ladies in your group. The Luncheon begins at 11:30 AM; featured speaker is Lindsay Millard of Joie Floral Design in Orange City. She is a Master Gardener and will share ideas for growing your garden/plants. A freewill donation will be received for Bible League International; every $5 raised puts a bible in the hands of someone thirsty for God's Word!

                            The May Bridge is now available in the clear boxes next to the mailboxes.

                          Church office hours: ~ Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9-1 & Friday 9-12.

*Bulletin announcements need to be to the office by Thursday at 9am for the Sunday bulletin

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”- Matthew 5:7

Our prayer concerns….

Esther Altman (upcoming surgery)                                                    Judy Netten                                                                                                        Merlin Groen                                                                                        Ray Eberts (Sue Faber’s brother-in-law) kidney cancer

Karen Flier                                                                                              Kari Jurrens 

Makayla Klarenbeek                                                                            Betty Vanden Heuvel                         

Eldora Krull                                                                                              Janice Den Besten                                                                                                               JoAnn Douglas                                                                                      Nina Koedam (Terry Koedam’s mom)

Todd Altman (Jack & Esther Altman’s son)                                      Cindy Witt                                                            

Melissa Moser (Kathy Moser’s daughter-in-law)                             Mandie Sprock (Marilyn Mammenga’s daughter)

Ellen Schram (Jeff Schram’s mom)                                                    Nancy Bosma (Mary Klinkenborg’s sister)                    

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)                              Michelle Koele Vore (Jessica Harman’s cousin)

Roger Van Maanen (Heather Van Wyhe’s dad)                              Sandra Smith (Laurie David’s mom) cancer     

Carlton Woodruff (Rachelle Johnsen’s uncle)                                 Nancy Aaker (Shari Kastein’s mom)

Doris Iwen (Lance Iwen’s mom)                                                         Steve Ellsworth (Peggy Metzger’s dad)     

Grief Share: Monday nights through June 24 @ 6:30pm

Church Events

~Sourdough bread making class information- Saturday, May 11^th at 10AM in the Elijah room. Sarah Wilson will be teaching. The class will be $15 and will include a Danish dough whisk, a banneton bread proofing basket, and sourdough starter. Please bring a glass jar of any size to take the sourdough starter home in. Participants will ‘make and take’ a loaf of bread to take home to bake. A sign-up sheet will be located in the Welcome Center or you can sign-up by texting Brenda Van Hofwegen at 712-470-5139. 

Bible Studies:

Mondays @ 6:30pm Young Adult Bible Study 

Tuesdays @ 6:30pm Women’s Bible Study (Martha room)

Wednesdays @ 6am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

Wednesdays @ 6:30pm Proverbs Bible Study (Martha Room)

Sundays: May 5, 19 & June 2 &9 @ 10:45am Doing life with adult children (Rm 355)

Moms in Prayer:

Sundays @ 7pm Traditional (Prayer Chapel)

Mondays @ 5:45am Traditional (Connections room)

Mondays @ 5pm College & Careers (Connections)

Tuesdays @ 8:30am College & Careers (War room/rm 355)

Tuesdays @ 8:30am Traditional (Nursery)

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 May 5, 2024 at 9:30am 

Prelude: What A Beautiful Name

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

*please pass the fellowship pads*  

Memory Work: 6^th Grade: Psalm 19

Ministry of Music: Ring & Sing 

“Lord I Lift Your Name On High”

“My Victory”

“Beautiful”

Congregational Prayer                                                           

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Genesis 1 

Sermon: VBS: Creation

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Offertory and Closing Song: “How Great Thou Art”

(Offering plate will be passed) 

Benediction

Sending Chorus: “How Great Thou Art”

*6^th Grade and below may exit for Sunday School*

Mission statement: “TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS

Serving us today 5-5-24

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Wayne & Geneva Grooters(S) Rich & Denise Roskam (SE) Evan & Linda DeBoer

NURSERY- Heather & Anika Springer

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Collin & Rachelle Johnsen

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Evan & Linda DeBoer

MINISTRY OF MUSIC- Ring & Sing            

SOUND SYSTEM: Matt Kock

VIDEO TAPING- Eric Arnold

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Caitlin Huisman

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Brenda Van Hofwegen

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER: Geneva Grooters

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES: Tara Bouwman

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR: Josie Moser

VAN DRIVER: Jeff Hrdlicka

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

Serving us next week 5-12-24:

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Marlene Bowers & Julius Damstra (S) Roger & Carol Oliver (SE) Curt & Hedy Kruger 

NURSERY- Berlyn DeWit & Maddie VanDerWeerd

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Reuben & Jean Fick

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Glenda Hellenga & Edie Korthals 

MINISTRY OF MUSIC- 

SOUND SYSTEM- Dustin Bosch

VIDEO TAPING- Justin Groen

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Berlyn De Wit

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Nicole Larson

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER: Dwayne Postma

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES:  Senior Sunday (cake)

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR: Myranda Moser

VAN DRIVER: Paul Van Wyhe

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

                                                     FINANCIALS as of 4-28-24

                                            Last Sunday                    YTD Offerings                  YTD Budget

General Fund:                   $43,011.43                        $183,645.10                      $290,989.00

Benevolent Fund              $325.00                              $61,133.75                        $66,422.40

Online Donations:            $1,460.30                           $16,454.34

Sunday School 4-28-23

                              Last Year’s Attendance: 86                                 Last Week’s Attendance: 99

                              Last Year’s Offering: $21.00                               Last Week’s Offering: $57.00

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 5-5-24:

Sunday School Lesson: Session 5: Jesus Suffered for Us/ The Humble Servant 

10:45am Doing life with your adult children (Rm 377)

MONDAY 5-6-24:

6:30pm Grief Share (Elijah Room)

TUESDAY 5-7-24: 

WEDNESDAY 5-8-24:

9:30am Joy circle (Rm 105)

THURSDAY 5-9-24:  

6:30pm Peace Circle (Martha Room)

FRIDAY 5-10-24:   

8am Men’s Bible Study

SATURDAY 5-11-24:

9am Sourdough bread class (Elijah Room)

SUNDAY 5-12-24: 

Sunday School Lesson: Session 1:  Peter Performed Miracles/ Changed by the Gospel

Senior recognition Sunday

*for all bible studies and moms in prayer times and dates refer to the announcements*

Sermon Notes 5/5/2024

VBS Series: Creation   Genesis 1:1-2:3

Intro: 7 C’s of History: Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, Consummation

When looking at Creation…Who is God?

1. God is Eternal
1. 3 Possibilities of Origins
1. Eternal Matter
2. Spontaneous/Unguided Creation (Everything out of Nothing)
3. Result of a Cause outside of Creation itself.

1. God is the Eternal cause of all things.
1. Outside of Time/Space/Matter.

1. God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
1. Ex-Nihilo: Out of Nothing 

1. God is Good:  Order and Design
1. Light, Sky, Land/Vegetation, Sun/Moon/Stars, Sea/Sky creatures, Land creatures/Mankind, Rest

1. God is Relational
1. Trinity is Present and Relational in Nature

1. Crown of Creation: Mankind (Gen. 1:26)

1. Male and Female in the Image of God
1. Capacity to know and be known, love and be loved by God and people.

1. God is Love
1. Kingdom of God is defined by Love…
1. We have the Will and capacity to love God and one another.  
2. Therefore, must also have the capacity to hate God and one another. 

Man was not created for Sin, but for God.  To love and be loved by God!