Prayers:Your prayer support is appreciated for the following individuals and their special circumstances: Alice Feikema (recovering at home after foot surgery on March 21), Loren Dengler (recovering from heart surgery; currently on "swing bed" status at the Rock Rapids hospital), Dawn Vanden Top (health concerns with her liver), Pam Foster, Bob Dreke's sister (coping with Huntington's Disease), Donna Hulshof (anticipating surgery to remove a chest mass), Amy Caswell (recovering at home from surgery), Lester Harman, Steve Harman's father (recovering from surgery due to an infection), James Garnmeister, Frances Weerheim's grandson (recovering from heart surgery), and Tracy Draayer, Jessica Harman's mother, as she cares for Jessica's grandparents (Alice Schoneveld has stage 4 cancer; Tony Schoneveld has stage 4 COPD) at their home in California.

Your prayers are also requested for the following individuals who are coping with cancer: Ted Hoogendoorn, Frances Weerheim, Gert Van Roekel (Laurine Gerritsen's mother), Steve & Dave Kwikkel (Arnie and Donna Kwikkel's sons), Marilyn Kuyper (Ethanie Pulscher's aunt), Brittany Bouwman (Tom & Sheryl Bouwman's daughter-in-law), Jeff Jankord (Deb Markus' brother), and Lorelei Reynolds (Laureen Schram's sister).

Sympathy: We extend our sympathy to Eldora Krull, Sherri and Greg De Jong, and Eric & Amy Borman & Makayla on the death of Eldora's husband John on March 18 at the Rock Rapids Health Center. John's funeral was held this past Friday here at First Reformed Church.

Thank you very much for the cards, prayers, and food that were given to us during my knee surgery. A special thank you to Sue Haggar and our care elder Diane Altman for their visits. It’s a special feeling to know that so many are thinking of you! ~ Mary & Verlyn Vermeer

Thank You: There aren’t enough words to express the gratitude we feel for the loving support re received during the hospitalization and loss of Elmer. The kindness of this church family was overwhelming. Every prayer, visit, message, and gift touched our hearts and lifted our spirits. Thanks be to God and to all over you. ~ Darlene Aeilts and family.

Congratulations! to Joel & Katie Vis and family on the birth of their son, Logan Thomas, March 19, 2018 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We also congratulate grandma Brenda Vis on a new grandson. Best wishes to all.

Nursing Home Services: We are leading the Care Services this Sunday afternoon at 3:15 pm at the Health Care Center and 4:00 pm at Lyon Manor. You are welcome to join us.

BREAD OF LIFE: JR RCYF will be serving at this week at Bread of Life on Wednesday, March 28th. Please meet at the community building at 6pm. Parents, please pick your child up at 730pm at the Community Building.

Maundy Thursday Services will be held this Thursday, March 29, 2018 at 6:30pm. Please plan to attend.

OPEN HOUSE CELEBRATION! The family of Ruth Caswell would like to invite you to an Open House Celebration of her 90^th birthday on Saturday, April 7, 2018 from 2-4pm in the church fellowship hall.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Thanks so very much for participating in OCC this past fall! The count is in: 11,012,840 shoeboxes were packed and sent to over 100 countries. That number represents children who will hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, and have opportunities to study what it means to be His disciples through The Greatest Journey lessons. Please continue to pray for these children, that they would come to know Jesus as their friend and Savior, and be equipped to boldly share His love with families, friends and communities. In Christ, Loralie Wiese, Sioux Center, OCC Church Relations

Memory Work: This morning our 1^st grade will recite Psalm 23 and John 3:16. Next week, our 2^nd grade class will recite the Apostles Creed. Parents: please have your 2^nd graders to their classroom by 9:15 am. When they are finished, the children will join their families for the remainder of the worship. Thank you!

GriefShare: Our next GriefShare class will be on Monday, March 26, 6:45-8:45 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Our topic for this session will be "The Journey of Grief - Part 1". If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, GriefShare will give you support, understanding, and tools to cope with your grief. Please feel free to join us!

TODAY! Living Stations of the Cross: Holy Name Catholic presents the Living Stations of the Cross. Sunday March 25 at 3:00 pm at the Holy Name Catholic Church, 1108 S Carroll Street in Rock Rapids. Admission is a free-will offering and all proceeds will for to Atlas of Lyon County. Open to all faiths and ages.

Advance Notice – Women’s Ministry Executive Committee will meet on Monday, April 9 at 7:00 pm in Room 345. An agenda will be placed in your mailbox. This meeting is for all officers and chairpersons of Women’s Ministry and for all Circle Leaders. If you are unable to attend, please send a substitute. Your participation and input is important for the mission of Women’s Ministry.

Consistory: Consistory will meet on April 10, Elders and Deacons will meet separately at 7 pm and full Consistory will meet together at 8 pm.

Cornerstone Prison Church Council, Board and Congregation would like to invite you to the 12th Annual Benefit Banquet Monday, April 9, 2018 Trinity Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley, IA 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. RSVP by April 2 by calling Trinity CRC at 712-476-5292 or go to our website www.cornerstonepcsd.org. Join us for an evening of praise to God for his work through Cornerstone Prison Church inside the walls of the South Dakota State Penitentiary! A free will offering will be taken as an opportunity to financially support Cornerstone’s ministry. If you are unable to attend, checks can be mailed to Dave Vande Kamp, Treasurer, 801 S. Gordon Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57110. We appreciate your prayers all year long. We look forward to seeing you!

The Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra will present its annual Spring Concert, A Mighty Fortress, on Tuesday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the BJ Haan Auditorium on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Guest artist for the evening is Dr. Richard Steinbach, Professor of Piano at Briar Cliff College and the M.A. Martin Everist Foundation Artist-In-Residence. As in the past, this Spring Concert will also feature the announcement of the 2018-2019 Season of the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. Season tickets for next year will be offered that evening for a special discounted price. Advance tickets are available at Evie’s Hallmark in Sioux Center and Jubon Juweelen in Orange City. Tickets are also available at the door the night of the concert. For more information, contact the NISO office at 712-722-6230 or niso@dordt.edu.

Come join Center of Hope's Walk & Ride Challenges! Walk or ride bike to support the Center of Hope and get some exercise. The Ride Challenge begins April 1 and the Walk begins June 1. These challenges are a great way to help others and have some friendly competition with your friends! Sign up at www.centerofhopesf.org

FINANCIALS

Offerings Sunday 3-18-18 Offerings to 3-18-18 Budget to 3-18-18

General Fund: $1,793.00 $56,847.53 $75,875.50

Benevolent Fund: $6,446.00 $41,650.63 $36,190.66

Building Fund: $1,000.00 $5,280.00 $26,277.79

Sunday School: 3-18-18

Last Year’s Attendance: 132 Last week's Attendance: 105

Last Year’s Offering: $119.81 Last week's Offering: $106.00

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

SUNDAY: Easter Cantata & Cherub Choir

Nursing Home Services: Health Center at 3:15 pm and Lyon Manor at 4 pm

MONDAY: 5:00 pm – Moms in Prayer - College & Careers

6:45 pm – 8:45 pm GriefShare

TUESDAY:

WEDNESDAY: 6:30 pm & 8:00 pm Moms in Prayer

5:45 pm Mid-Week Meal (Glenda Hellenga, Jill & Dionne Jansma, & Briana Erickson)

6:30 pm Pioneer Club (3^rd Grade to Premier Estates)

6:30 pm Hand Bells

6:30 pm JR RCYF will be serving at the Bread of Life (see announcements)

7:30 Praise Team

8:00 pm SR RCYF

THURSDAY: 6:00 am & 6:30 am Moms in Prayer

12:15 pm Grandmothers in Prayer

6:30 pm Maundy Thursday Services

FRIDAY:

8:00 am- Men’s Bible Study in the conference room

SATURDAY:

SUNDAY: Easter Sunday! “He Is Risen!”