Announcements for 3-22-26

~ This morning our 3&4yo, Preschool, TK and Kindergarten Class will recite their memory work. Next week, our 1^st Grade Class will recite Psalm 23 and John 3:16. Parents: please have your 1^st graders to their classroom by 9:15 AM. When they are finished, the children will join their families for the remainder of worship. Thank you!

*The Junior High Youth Group is selling Pastry Puffins. Orders are due by March 25. Puffins will come in April 1, so they will be here in time for Easter! Please reach out to a JR High youth group student. There is also a form at the Welcome Center

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”- Jeremiah 29:12 

Our prayer concerns….                                                                                                                                      

Bill Kastein                                                                     

Merlin &  Jackie Groen 

Scott Hunt                                                                     

Dave Hulstein

Jeff Hrdicka                                                                                        

Rod Grooters

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                       

JoAnn Douglas                                                                                         Alice Feikema  (Hospice)                                                  

Kathy Van Olst

Russ Carver (Rachelle Johnsen’s dad)                                           Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)

Janice Den Besten                                                          

Todd Altman (Jack & Esther Altman’s son)

Ron & Cathy Birkeland                                                             

Kaitlin Altman (Todd & Patty Altman’s daughter) thyroid cancer            

Bill Saeger (Jackie Groen’s brother)                                                Linda Person (Kari Jurrens’ mom) 

Betsy Mans (Cal & Cheryl Mans’ daughter in law, *starts chemo this week)

Brian Hulshof (John Hulshof’s son)

Our sympathies to Craig DeRuyter and family for the passing of his mom, Shirley DeRuyter

Our sympathies to the Bosch and the Van Aartsen families for the passing of Ruth Van Aartsen

Our Sympathies to the Bouwman Family for the passing of Sheryl Bouwman

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

(addresses are available by request)

Pearl Folkens                  

Wilma DeRoo                                      

JoEllen Sorgdrager                                           

Merlin & Jackie Groen                                                         

Joyce Mellema                                   

Alice Feikema          

Merlin & Jackie Groen                                                         

Joyce Mellema                                   

Alice Feikema                                     

Harriet Hoff                                                                        

Arnie & Donna Kwikkel                       

Marlene Flier

*Prayer Time- in the sanctuary, Wednesday 12-2*

*The March 2026 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 Friday 9-1                                                  

**Bulletin announcements are due Fridays by 9am*

*The 2026 Church Directory is now available to pick up. Please email frchurch@premieronline.net or Call 712-472-3729 or stop in the church office to pick one up.

Club 512 Volunteers for 3-25-26

Games:                

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

Maddie VandeWeerd               Jonathon Kock                                  Leo Groen

Ashlyn Timmerman                Lincoln Klosterbuer                        Liam Vander Zee

Taylor Rypkema                          Brody Buntjer                                 Jayden Daale

  Anika Springer                                                                                   Connor Altman

Club 512 Snack helpers:  Debbie Crane & Bonnie Nail

Midweek Meal Helpers: Glenda Hellenga, Randy & Cindy Bosch, Jen Lincecum & ReNae Leuthold

Nursing Home Chaperone: Steve Crane

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 March 22, 2026 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “Trust In God”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Memory work: 3&4yo, Preschool, TK & Kindergarten

Ministry of Music: Adult Choir

Praise Service:

“Lord I Need You”

“Lead Me To The Cross” 

Congregational Prayer

Offering Hymn: “Man Of Sorrows”

Doxology #625

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Matthew 27: 27-44

Sermon: Life in the Hard

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “Jesus Paid It All”

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “Jesus Paid It All”

(K-6^th grade Sunday School may be excused)

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

Serving us this week 3-22-26

DOOR GREETERS – (N) Lonn & Jammie K (S) Julie & Dustin Timmerman (SE) Steve & Jessica Harman

NURSERY- Wendy & Caitlin Huisman

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Hartter Family

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Kyle & Emily Grooters

CHILDREN & WORSHIP: Leader: Sara Hrdlicka        Greeter: Elsie Buntjer

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Marilyn McCoy

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Glenda Hellenga

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Dayna Altman

SOUND SYSTEM- Brandon Lenderink

VIDEO TAPING- Breyden Dieren

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Brett Dieren

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kristi Metzger

VAN DRIVER- Ruben Fick

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

Serving us next week 3-29-26

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Dwayne & Sharon Postma (S) Jerry & Jill Pytleski (SE) Dusty & Ivy Ramsey

NURSERY- Nathan & Ashley Kruse

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Palm Sunday Breakfast (Women’s Ministry)

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)-  Ivy & Dusty Ramsey

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Fred Tilstra

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Debbie Crane

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Tara Bouwman

SOUND SYSTEM- Dustin Bosch

VIDEO TAPING- Dave Hulstein

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Berlyn DeWit

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Shannon Rodger

VAN DRIVER- Lucas Bouwman

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

ELDERS

Nate Schulte -2024-26

Randy Bosch, VP-2024-26

Joel Vis, Clerk- 2025-27

Rodney Vanden Top- 2025-27

JD Hommes- 2026-28

DEACONS

Shawn Van Wyhe -2024-26

Jordan Menning -2024-26

Evan Metzger, Property Chair-2024-26

Kade Griesse, Chair of Deacons- 2025-27

Brad Rypkema, General Treas.-2025-27

Jerry Mulder, Benevolent Treas.- 2025-27

Braeden Schulte-2026-28

Mike Pulscher, Clerk-2026-28

Kyle Grooters-2026-28

FINANCIALS as of 3-15-26                                                                                                                                                                 

                               Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                     YTD Budget

General Fund:         $1,097.94                              $83,454.87                          $149,315.84

Benevolent Fund:  $275.00                                  $65,152.85                           $42,052.68

Sunday School 3-15-26

       Last Year’s Attendance: NA                                Last Week’s Attendance: NA

         Last Year’s Offering: NA                                      Last Week’s Offering: NA

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 3-22-26:

Sunday School Lesson: Lesson 52: God Calls Moses 

4pm Created to Commune Small Group (Martha Room)

6-8pm Father Son Bible Study (Youth Room)

MONDAY 3-23-26:

TUESDAY 3-24-26: 

7pm Shared Life Committee Meeting (Martha Room)

WEDNESDAY 3-25-26:

8:30am Staff Meeting (Martha Room)

12-2pm Prayer time (Sanctuary)

2:30pm Club 512

5-6:15pm Midweek Meal

6:15pm Jr. High Youth Group (Youth Room)

8pm Sr. High Youth Group (Youth Room)

THURSDAY 3-26-26:    

FRIDAY 3-27-26:   

8am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

SATURDAY 3-28-26:    

9am Easter Cantata Practice (Sanctuary)

SUNDAY 3-29-26:     

Easter Cantata

8:15-9:15am Palm Sunday Breakfast (Fellowship Hall)

Sunday School Lesson: Lesson 53: God Displays His Power

10:45-11:30am Grace Covenant Ministries speaker (Sanctuary)

11:45am New Member Class (Martha Room)

5-7pm Small Group Facilitator Workshop (EIijah Room)

3/22/2026                         Living in the Hard                               Matt. 27:27-44 

Intro: What is your Hard? Darkness, Grief, Financial Hardship, Prodigal Child, Separation, Disease, Rejection, Betrayal, Gossip, Overwhelmed, Lost

1. Jesus’ Hard
1. Roman Praetorium (Company of Soldiers)
1. Flogging, Mocking, Beating

1. Roman Road to Golgotha
1. Weakness and Humiliation of Jesus: Carrying the Cross

1. At the Cross
1. Both Rebels Mocked Him. (Completely Alone)

Jesus’ Feelings of Betrayal, Rejection, Separation, Humiliation, Pain, Suffering, Grief

1. Lessons from Jeus in the Hard
1. Fix your Eyes on God
1. When our world is in Chaos, Darkness, Confusion: Fix our eyes on God.
1. James 4:8/Heb. 12:2
2. Draw your Strength, Perspective, and Hope from God.

1. Faithfully Take the Next Right Step           
1. Know what God has called you to do and where he has called you to be.
2. Obey and take the next right step. 

1. Forgive those who hurt you
1. “Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” 
1. We must work towards forgiveness, or we are locking ourselves in a prison from the inside. 
2. Give God your hurt and revenge. 

1. Hope in the Hard
1. God is working in the Hard.
1. Centurion Soldier
2. Simeon the Cyrene
1. Rufus and Mother (Mark 15:21/Romans 16:13)
3. Thief on the Cross
4. You and Me

Fix you eyes on God, faithfully take the next step(trusting God), and work towards forgiveness