Prayers:Your prayer support is appreciated for the following individuals and their special circumstances: Arietta Beyenhof (recovering from hip replacement surgery on August 3), Tanner Lincecum (hospitalized at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, MN), Myron Krull (recovering from knee replacement surgery), Asher Menning (continue to pray about the blood clot in Asher’s right atrium), Greg De Jong (recovering from bypass surgery), Aubree Boender (pray for patience and healing of Aubree’s broken arm), Donna Hulshof, Twilla Hoekstra (recovering from surgery), Sue Faber (recovering at home), Pam Foster, Bob Dreke’s sister (coping with Huntington’s Disease), Dawn Vanden Top (pray that Dawn’s recent medical procedure will improve her liver function), Jack Gable, Allison Van Aartsen’s father (being treated for myasthenia gravis at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls), Russ Carver, Rachelle Johnsen’s father (recovering from surgery), and Tony Schoenveld, Jessica Harman’s grandfather (has stage 4 COPD).

Your prayers are also requested for the following individuals who are coping with cancer: Gert Van Roekel (Laurine Gerritsen’s mother), Marilyn Kuyper (Ethanie Pulscher’s aunt), Steve & Dave Kwikkel (Arnie and Donna Kwikkel’s sons), and Gail Hartter (Eric Hartter’s mother).

Prayer Update: Mykenah Horstman has recovered well from her spinal cord surgery. She will have an MRI and a follow-up appointment with her doctors in six months. Mykenah will eventually need more back surgery in the future, but Robin & Dustin are hopeful that surgery can wait for a few years as it is a very large procedure. Please pray that Mykenah’s spinal cord does not re-tether before her next surgery.

Thanks: Thank you for all of the kind thoughts, prayers, cards and generosity shown to us during the loss of our brother, Gerald Wiersma. Gerald was also the father of Jason Wiersma, pastor of Living Stone Church. We would also like to thank our care elder, Cori Klarenbeek for her kindness. God is good. ~ Cal & Cheryl Mans family

Page 2: In the August Newsletter, The Bridge, page 2 of Pastor Dan’s submission inadvertently got omitted. If you are interested in that page to read the whole article, please contact or pick up at the office. Thank you and sorry for any inconveniences. We will rerun the article in its entirety in the September 2018 issue of The Bridge. Thanks

TONIGHT! August 12th! We have reserved the pool for a private party tonight. Supper and Registration will begin at 5:00 PM in the shelter house by the pool. Hot dogs, buns and lemonade will be provided. Please plan to bring a side or dessert to share, along with table service for your family. From 6-8 PM, we will move to the pool for fun time in the water! We encourage everyone to attend, and to invite friends. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Schulte at 712.470.4883.

CONSISTORY reconvenes on Wednesday, August 15. 7 PM elders and deacons meet separately and full Consistory meets at 8 PM.

Christian Literature is being collected by our church for use in spreading God’s word. A list of acceptable and unacceptable material is included in the August issue of The Bridge. The list will also be posted above the collection boxes which will be under the south coat rack from August 1 – August 19. Thank you for sharing your unused Christian material.

Church will be held at West Side Park on August 26, 2018. We will be joined by Rods ‘n Rides, breakfast will start at 9:30 am with the services following at 10:30 am. Please bring a lawn chair and plan to join us.

Advance Notice – Women’s Ministry Executive Committee will meet at 7:00 pm on Monday, August 27 in room 345. This meeting is for all officers, chairpersons, and circle leaders. Please plan to attend or have someone else represent your group. It is important to get input from everyone. An agenda will be placed in your mailboxes. Please take your 2018 Women’s Ministry Booklet along.

Looking Ahead: Back-to-School sales are in full swing which makes it the perfect time to purchase Operation Christmas Child shoebox supplies! There is an insert in today’s bulletin with a list of needed items for our packing party on November 14th as well as a sign-up sheet on the table in the gathering space. A small shoebox gift can change the heart of one child and in turn an entire family or even village for Christ. One box = and eternal impact! Please consider contributing to this event. Thank you!

Women’s Ministries Night of Renewal: Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 7:00 pm. Come and kick start your fall activities and be challenged by our guest speaker Marilyn Moser, author of “Code to Grace”. Refreshments to follow in the fellowship hall.

ATLAS DONATION ITEMS: Starting Monday, August 6, ATLAS items are no longer going to be picked up at First Reformed. Please bring all of your donations to the shed designated in the Pizza Ranch parking lot. However, food and beverage donations can still go into the grocery carts on the main floor at church. ~ Thanks!

Justice For All: JFA will be sending a truck full of supplies to Grace Reigns our partner ministry that is located in Colorado City, Arizona. Our supplies help supply the Grace Reigns thrift store and they in turn help people in the community transition out of the FLDS community. We are looking for a few people to join us on this trip to assist with our truck and help our partners at their thrift store. The trip will take place the first week in September, most likely flying or driving out on Tuesday, September 4. Contact Luke Grooters at 712-476-2804 if you are interested.

The Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital Auxiliary is a vital part of our local hospital and clinic. Since 1956, we have given over $600,000 to help equip and decorate the hospital and clinics in George and Rock Rapids. This money has been raised through annual fundraisers. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend this year’s Family Fun Night on Tuesday, August 14, from 5-7 pm at the Rock Rapids Island Park just west of the swimming pool. There will be a General Store where you can buy a variety of goodies. There will also be burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies and bottled water for a free-will donation. Inflatables and stationed games will provide for fun for all ages. Join us in our mission to maintain strong medical facilities and to meet the healthcare needs of the residents of Lyon County.

FINANCIALS

Offerings Sunday 8-5-18 Offerings to 8-5-18 Budget to 8-5-18

General Fund: $3,941.00 $173,465.29 $213,830.94

Benevolent Fund: $5,104.00 $97,506.62 $101,991.96

Building Fund: $1,080.00 $23,693.77 $74,055.59

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

SUNDAY: 5 pm meal Swim from 6-8 pm Education Registration – Family Night at the pool!

MONDAY:

TUESDAY:

WEDNESDAY:

7:00 pm Deacons meeting

7:00 pm Elder Meeting

8:00 pm Full Consistory Meeting

THURSDAY:

FRIDAY:

8:00 am- Men’s Bible Study in the Conference Room

wedding rehearsal

SATURDAY: Van Beek/Clausen Wedding

SUNDAY: Baptism