Announcements for 10-6-24

Nomination Ballots: It’s that time of year as we choose our deacons and elders to serve our church. Nomination letter and ballots are in your church mailbox. Ballots are due back by today at 11am, October 6^th. Please place them in the box marked ballots across from the mailboxes. Please, prayerfully consider your nominations!

We will start Adult Choir practice, today, Sunday Oct 6^th in the David Room following worship services.  Please come and join us and use your talents to glorify the Lord.  Thank you! ~ Judy Gacke

Potluck Meal 

We will be having a potluck meal on Sunday, October 20 at 11:30 am. All are welcome! Please bring a hot or cold dish to share. Drink and tableware will be provided. Please consider helping with the set-up or clean-up as we need 7 people for each. If you are willing to help, please contact Sharon Postma at 712-470-0533, the church office, or sign up at the Welcome Center.

Wondering what time your meeting starts at church? Or do you want to sign up to attend one of the new classes and wonder where it meets?   Use the link provided to sign up for Church Center!  All those answers and more will be at your fingertips! https://frcrockrapids.churchcenter.com

~Join the Hope Haven My Day group on Tuesday, October 1^st & 15^th at the Atlas Ministry Center in Rock Rapids, IA from 9-11am as we will be serving coffee and pastries and playing bingo. Come and play and win a prize as well. All are welcome to come!

~We are having our annual Holiday Bazaar on Oct 12th from 9am to 2pm in our school gym! The Presbyterian ladies are having their bake sale and local vendors are offering their assorted wares for your holiday gift giving! Please join us for the day at our Ellsworth Holiday Bazaar!!

“ I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.”- Psalm 34:

Congratulations to Dalton & Kenzie Skidmore on the birth of their daughter, Raegan Jo

Condolences to the Klarenbeek family for the loss of their brother-in-law, Verlyn Eben

Condolences to April DeWit & family for the loss of her grandmother, Marlene Timmer

Condolences to Jessica Harman & family for the loss of her cousin, Michelle Vore

Our prayer concerns….

Marilyn Mammenga (healing for leg fractures)                             Emma Winterfield Van Dyke (Sandy Wynia’s mom)

Loren Dengler                                                                  Kathy Van Olst 

Edna Jongerius (Ava’s Hospice House-1320 W 17^th St., Sioux Falls, SD 57104- if you would like to send a card)

Lucille Smit                                                                                       Betty Vanden Heuvel

Judy Netten                                                                          Merlin Groen                                                                     Eldora Krull                                                                     JoAnn Douglas

Karen Flier                                                                                          Ray Eberts (Sue Faber’s brother-in-law) 

Steve Ellsworth (Peggy Metzger’s dad)                                        Russ Carver (Rachelle Johnsen’s dad)

Bill Saeger (Jackie Groen’s brother)                                            Janice Den Besten

Doris Iwen (Lance Iwen’s mom)                                                        Nancy Aaker (Shari Kastein’s mom)

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

Mandie Sprock (Marilyn Mammenga’s daughter)                       Marv Faber (Gordy’s brother)

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

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)                             Carlton Woodruff (Rachelle Johnsen’s uncle)

Roger Van Maanen (Heather Van Wyhe’s dad) 

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

Pearl Folkens                                                                       Wilma DeRoo                                      JoEllen Sorgdrager                                           

Ruth Van Aartsen                                                                 Joyce Mellema                                  Lucille Smit                    

Eldora Krull                                                                         Edna Jongerius                                 Harriet Hoff

Doris Calkins                                                                            Darlene Brinkhuis

Addresses available upon request at church office        

~Bethel Reformed Church is hosting the 3^rd annual Women’s Conference at Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, IA and we welcome the women of your church to join us! The event is Saturday, October 19^th from 8:30-12:30 and is centered around the theme of God’s Character’ He is faithful. He is good and kind…even if, even when, even though. There is no charge for this event, but we do ask that you register at www.eventbrite.com and search for Bethel Women’s Conference 2024. Transportation is available from Rock Rapids to Lester. Contact Cheryl Van Beek if you would like to carpool.

~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 Thursday 9-1.

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

Club 512 Volunteers for 10-9-24

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

                              Leo Groen                              Maddie Van Der Weerd                        Ephraim Hoefert

                           Kari Huygens                                 Kelsey Van’t Hul                                  Aubree Benz

                      Ashlyn Timmerman                           Ellea Pulscher                                    Ellie Hoefert

Club 512 Snack helpers:  Bonnie Nail & Peggy Metzger

Midweek Meal Helpers:   Tracy Arnold, Glenda Hellenga, Audra Klinkenborg, ReNae Leuthold, Geneva Grooters 

                                                                                                                  & Heather Van Wyhe                                

Nursing Home Chaperone:  5^th Grade- Geneva Grooters

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 October 6, 2024 at 9:30am

 Prelude: “Overwhelmed"

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Ministry of Music: Cherub Choir

Praise Service: 

“Graves Into Gardens”

“Cornerstone”

Congregational Prayer

Offertory Hymn: “Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)”

(offering plates will be passed)

“Doxology” #625

(Children and Worship Dismissed)

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Revelation 2: 1-7

Sermon: “Ephesus (Forsaken your first love)”

Profession of Faith: Jenna & Caitlin

Communion

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Benediction

Sending Chorus: “How Deep The Father’s Love” 

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

Mission statement: “TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS

Serving us today 10-6-24 

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Laurine Gerritsen (S) Jarod & Emily De Bey (SE) Garrett & Carly Sayler

NURSERY- Kayla Van Wyhe & Rhya Kelderman

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Todd & Stacy Dieren                      

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Ruben & Jean Fick

CHILDREN & WORSHIP- Leader: Amy Schulte     Greeter: Jayda Pytleski

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Geneva Grooters          

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Glenda Hellenga         

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Lindsey Anderson           

SOUND SYSTEM- Matt Kock

VIDEO TAPING- Eric Arnold

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Brett Dieren

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Caitlin Huisman

VAN DRIVER- Mike Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

Serving us next week 10-13-24

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Evan & Linda DeBoer (S) Tait & Emily Anderson (SE) Tom & Kayla Vander Lee

NURSERY- Heather & Annika Springer

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Girls League (serving cinnamon rolls for free will donation)

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)-  Girls league

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

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Sarah Wilson        

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Karol Hanson         

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Danielle Hrdlicka          

SOUND SYSTEM- Keith Van Beek

VIDEO TAPING- Justin Groen

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Elise Kahl

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Jean Fick 

VAN DRIVER- Dale Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

                                                  FINANCIALS as of 9-29-24

                                     Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                    YTD Budget

General Fund:            $14,770.69                         $426,379.97                        $667,563.00

Benevolent Fund:      $210.00                               $132,376.90                        $152,380.80                                 

Online Donations:     $1,585.60                            $41,172.91            

Sunday School 9-29-24

                              Last Year’s Attendance: 106                                Last Week’s Attendance: 101

                              Last Year’s Offering: $77.00                               Last Week’s Offering: $117.25

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 10-6-24: 

Sunday School Lesson: The Trinity

Choir practice starts today following worship

11am Reformed Tradition Sunday School class (sanctuary)

7pm Come Matter Here Bible Study (Connections room)

MONDAY 10-7-24:

5:15pm Women’s Ministry Meeting (Martha room)

TUESDAY 10-8-24: 

7pm Night Mom Co. (Martha room)

WEDNESDAY 10-9-24:

8:30am Staff Meeting

9:30am Joy Circle (rm 105)

2:30-5pm Club 512

5-6:15pm Midweek Meal (BBQ beef sandwiches)

6pm Can of Worms Bible Study (Elijah room)

6:15pm Jr. RCYF

8pm Sr. RCYF

THURSDAY 10-10-24: 

6:30pm Peace Circle (Martha room)

FRIDAY 10-11-24:   

8am Men’s Bible Study

SATURDAY 10-12-24: 

SUNDAY 10-13-24:

9am Evangelism Committee meeting (Connections room)

Sunday School Lesson: God’s Word Guides Us

7pm Come Matter Here Bible Study (Connections room)

7pm Mission Committee Meeting (Martha Room)

10/6/2024             Ephesus: Forsaken Your First Love              Revelation 2:1-7

Intro: Letter to Ephesus (To be read and studied by all churches)

Ephesus: Population 200,000; Idolatry and False God’s (Food sacrificed to Idols)

Church of Ephesus: Rich History of Leaders (Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, Apollos, Timothy, John)

1. Jesus knows our Deeds
1. Affirms Ephesus in their practices.
1. Perseverance standing up to the culture.

1. Intolerance for false teachers (Nicolaitans)

1. Would Jesus affirm our church and its practices?
1. Biblical teaching, standing against false teaching, serving, ministries, leaders, etc.

1. Jesus Knows our Hearts
1. Ephesus has forsaken their first love (Drifting)
1. Marriage Example: Outward actions meaningless without love. 

1. 1 Corinthians 13 Meaningless without Love

1. Created for love with Jesus, not for list of rules and obligations

1. Dangers of Forsaking our First Love of Jesus
1. Beliefs and Practices lose their meaning. (Why?)

1. Worldly Influence: You become like the one you love.

1. Witness Suffers: (Jesus will remove the lampstand)

1. Are you in love with Jesus? Or are you Drifting?

1. Prescription
1. Repent: Unconfessed Sin or Unforgiveness

1. Prioritizing intimate, honest time with God.

1. Personal vs Private

Celebrating the Sacraments: Professions of Faith and Communion