Announcements for 11-24-24

~Door Greeters: We are working on our list of door greeters for 2025.  If you would like to be added or removed from the list, please contact the church office no later than November 25.  Thank you.

~We now have a 40- foot shipping container at Justice For All to hold things for the container to go to Ukraine. Please drop your things off at the regular drop off by the Justice For All office. They will take care of them from there. Please make sure you mark all of your boxes or bags "Ukraine" so they will know which ones go to Ukraine and which ones stay there. Deadline to bring items is November 28^th. Contact Justice For All with questions.

“The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”-Psalm 145:14

Our prayer concerns….                            

Scott Hunt (Recovery from knee infection)

Marilyn Mammenga (healing for leg fractures)                             

Loren Dengler                                                                  Twilla Hoekstra

Merlin Groen                                                                   JoAnn Douglas

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                        Nancy Bosma (Mary Klinkenborg’s sister) 

Kathy Van Olst                                                                      Eldora Krull      

Karen Flier                                                                                          Ellen Schram (Jeff Schram’s mom)             

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)                           Carlton Woodruff (Rachelle Johnsen’s uncle)                                         

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

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)                             

~Condolences to the family of Nolan Top

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

Pearl Folkens                                                                      Wilma DeRoo                                       JoEllen Sorgdrager                                           

Ruth Van Aartsen                                                                 Joyce Mellema                                   Lucille Smit                     

Eldora Krull                                                                          Darlene Aeilts                                    Harriet Hoff

Doris Calkins                                                                          Darlene Brinkhuis                                            

Addresses available upon request at church office       

Grief Share: Surviving the Holidays (one night event) November 25^th @ 6:30pm. All are welcome! No registration required. 

The Sanctuary will be open for prayer each Wednesday from 12-2

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 Thursday 9-1.

**This week please have the bulletin announcements to the church office by Wednesday morning the 27^th @ 9am, due to the holiday the church offices will be closed Thursday and Friday. Thanks

Club 512 Volunteers for 11-27-24

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

Club 512 Snack helpers:     No Midweek Activities due to Thanksgiving Eve Worship at 6:30pm  

Midweek Meal Helpers:                                                                          Nursing Home Chaperone:  

Church & Local Happenings

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 November 24, 2024 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “My Victory”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Ministry of Music: Adult Choir

Operation Christmas Child Dedication

Praise Service:

“Same God”

“Leaning”

Congregational Prayer

Offertory Hymn: “Holy Forever” (offering plates will be passed)

“Doxology” #625

(Children and Worship Dismissed)

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Psalm 40: 1-3

Sermon: Reasons for Thanksgiving

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “Wonderful Merciful Savior”

Benediction

Sending Chorus: “Give Thanks”

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

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

Serving us today 11-24-24

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Jordan & Kellie Menning (S) Jeff & Danielle Hrdlicka (SE) Eric & Amy Hartter

NURSERY- Ashlyn & Brooklyn Timmerman

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Heather & Shawn Van Wyhe                       

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Fred & Sharon Tilstra

CHILDREN & WORSHIP- Leader: Emily DeBey     Greeter: Mali Kellenberger

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Sarah Wilson       

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Kyle & Emily Grooters       

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Tara Bouwman        

SOUND SYSTEM- Sawyer Hrdilcka

VIDEO TAPING- Brad Rypkema

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Aubree Boender

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kristi Metzger

VAN DRIVER- Dale Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

Serving us next week 12-1-24

DOOR GREETERS-(N) Dale & Jill Jansma (S) Marcus & Kristi Kahl (SE) Dale & Cori Klarenbeek

NURSERY- Jen Lincecum 

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Steve & Debbie Crane

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Springer Family

CHILDREN & WORSHIP- Leader: Elise Kahl   Greeter: Lily Jurrens

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Paul Van Whye   

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Cindy Bosch 

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Tara Bouwman   

SOUND SYSTEM- Dustin Bosch

VIDEO TAPING- Eric Arnold

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Caitlin Huisman

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Brenda Van Hofwegen

VAN DRIVER- Jeff Hrdlicka

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

                                                  FINANCIALS as of 11-17-24

                                     Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                    YTD Budget

General Fund:            $4,554.85                            $492,840.70                        $787,382.00

Benevolent Fund:     $7,255.00                            $177,259.92                        $179,731.20                                 

Online Donations:    $1,352,89                             $49,797.30         

Sunday School 11-17-24

                              Last Year’s Attendance: 106                              Last Week’s Attendance: 117

                              Last Year’s Offering: $39.00                             Last Week’s Offering: $95.00

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 11-24-24: 

Sunday School Lesson: Seven C’s of History 

10:30-11:45am Sunday School Christmas program practice (Sanctuary)

1-4pm Operation Christmas Child Drop off

MONDAY 11-25-24:

8-10am Operation Christmas Child Dropoff

6:30pm Grief Share (Elijah Room)

TUESDAY 11-26-24: 

6:30pm Women’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

WEDNESDAY 11-27-24:

6:30pm Thanksgiving Eve Worship

THURSDAY 11-28-24: 

12pm Thanksgiving Meal (Fellowship Hall)

CHURCH OFFICES CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING

FRIDAY 11-29-24

CHURCH OFFICES CLOSED

8am Men's Bible Study (Martha Room)

SATURDAY 11-30-24

SUNDAY 12-1-24:

Sunday School Lesson: God Creates the Universe

10:45-11:45am Sunday School Christmas program practice (sanctuary)

5pm Girls League

11/24/2024                      Giving Thanks in the Wait            Psalm 40:1-3 

Intro: Suffering and Waiting are Universal Experiences

1. Waiting on the Lord = Trust/Faith
1. Leaning into your relationship with God
1. Trusting He will work in the Trial.

1. Trusting in his Timing…

1. Surround yourself with Others
1. Devil wants to Isolate you.

1. Church’s intentional Design:
1. Praying, supporting, waiting with one another.

1. How the Lord works in the Waiting.
1. God Prioritizes Heart Transformation Verses Situation Transformation
1. Rarely does God Change our circumstances before he changes our hearts.

1. Heart Transformation
1. Sees you and hears you = Assurance of his Presence

1. Lifts you out of the Slimy Pit = Hope

1. Solid place to stand = Peace in Identity

1. New Song = Joy

1. Now God uses our Trials
1. What the Devil intends for evil, God uses for Good.
1. Growing Trust in Him

1. Many see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

Share your Testimony of Thanksgiving