Announcements for 4-27-25

~This morning our 5^th grade class will recite the Beatitudes. Next week, our 6^th grade class will recite Psalm 19. Parents: please have your 6^th 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!

~MARK YOUR CALENDAR - May 4 is fast approaching and you will not want to miss hearing Bethany Kuhlmann speaking to all ages about “Dating and Relationships”.  This event is for anyone from middle school through adults.  All adults are encouraged to attend as many no longer have teens at home but are in contact with grandchildren, young people in church and school activities.  We are not all aware about what is happening on social media and the pressure young people are under.  This Council of Churches event will be hosted by Peace Lutheran Church on Sunday, May 4 at 4 p.m.  Please join us.  There is no cost to attend but a free will offering will be taken to further the ministry of the Rock Rapids Council of Churches. ~Thank you for your help in promoting this event.  Questions can be directed to Pastor Alex.

~Ladies! Plan to attend Bible League’s Spring Salad Luncheon with your friends on Monday, May 5 at Rock Valley First Christian Reformed Church (1401 16^th Street, Rock Valley IA). Please bring one salad for every four ladies in your group. The Luncheon begins at 11:30 AM; featured speaker is Gayle Walhof who will tell of her 4-year journey in publishing her book “Songs of Naamah – A Novel of King David’s Harem”. Updates from BLI will be given, and a freewill donation will be received. Join us for this FUN event!

 “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Romans 7:25a

Our prayer concerns….                                                                                                  

Chris Schwartze                                                               Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                                                        

Rod Grooters                                                                                       Eldora Krull

Alice Feikema                                                                  JoAnn Douglas

Loren Dengler                                                                  Twilla Hoekstra 

Merlin Groen                                                                   Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                        Todd Altman (Jack & Esther Altman’s son)            

Kathy Van Olst                                                                      Dannelle Gerdes (Scott Hunt’s sister-chemo treatments)    

Karen Flier                                                                                          Ellen Schram (Jeff Schram’s mom)             

Marv Faber (Gordy’s brother)                                                       Russ Carver (Rachelle Johnsen’s dad)

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

Doris Iwen (Lance Iwen’s mom)                                                       Mandie Sprock (Marilyn Mammenga’s daughter)    

Ron & Cathy Birkeland                                                                     Beth Gable (Allison Van Aartsen’s sister-in-law)

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

Loren Dengler                                                                       Darlene Brinkhuis                                            

*addresses available upon request at church office       

The May 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 are due on Thursdays at 9am. Thanks** 

Beginning on April 7^th 6:30pm- Contact Amy Ryals for more information

Birthday & Anniversary List (if you’d like a copy, please see church office)

Church & Local Happenings

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 April 27, 2025 at 9:30am 

Prelude

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Ministry of Music: Adult Choir 

Memory Work: Fifth Grade “Beatitudes”

Hymn: “All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name” #97, v. 1-4

Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy” # 262, v. 1-4

Congregational Prayer

Offering Hymn: “Breathe On Me Breath Of God” #259, v. 1-4

(offering plates will be passed)

“Doxology” #625

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Acts 2: 1-12

Sermon: Pentecost: Now What?

Baptism: Raegan Skidmore

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Benediction

Sending Chorus: “Spirit Of The Living God” #247, v. 1

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

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

Serving us this week 4-27-25

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Dalton & Kenzie Skidmore (S) Chris & Jen Lincecum (SE) Wayne & Geneva Grooters

NURSERY- Avery Harman & Ashlyn Timmerman

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Colin & Rachelle Johnsen       

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- JD & Lesa Hommes

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Lisa Vande Stouwe

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Karen Reemts

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Tara Bouwman

SOUND SYSTEM- Brad Rypkema

VIDEO TAPING- Dave Hulstein

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Thane Jansma

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kiya Griesse

VAN DRIVER- Shawn VanWyhe

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

 Serving us next week 5-4-25

DOOR GREETERS-(N) Greg & Sherri DeJong (S) Rich & Denise Roskam (SE) Evan & Linda De Boer

NURSERY- Emelia Stiltz & Sara Hrdlicka

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Scott & Amy Sieperda

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Shawn & Heather Van Wyhe

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Jerry Pytleski

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Emily Grooters

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Lindsey Anderson

SOUND SYSTEM- Sawyer Hrdlicka

VIDEO TAPING- Eric Arnold

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Caitlin Huisman

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Shannon Rodger

VAN DRIVER- Mike Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

ELDERS

Chris Wright, Clerk-2023-25

Sharon Postma, VP-2023-25

Nate Schulte -2024-26

Randy Bosch-2024-26

Joel Vis- 2025-27

Rodney Vanden Top- 2025-27

DEACONS

Rob Van Hofwegen, Property Chair-2023-25

Justin Groen -2023-25 

Mark Boender-2023-25

Shawn Van Wyhe, Benevolent Treas. -2024-26

Jordan Menning, Chair of Deacons -2024-26

Evan Metzger, General Treas./ Personnel chair-2024-26

Kade Griesse, Clerk of Deacons- 2025-27

Brad Rypkema-2025-27

Jerry Mulder- 2025-27

                                                  FINANCIALS as of 4-20-2025                                                                                 Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                     YTD Budget

General Fund:         $2,660.00                              $169,093.18                         $210,942.40

Benevolent Fund:  $9,844.05                               $82,471.65                           $61,827.20     

                                                           Sunday School 4-20-25

                      Last Year’s Attendance: 97                             Last Week’s Attendance: 82

                      Last Year’s Offering: $38.00                           Last Week’s Offering: $54.75

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 4-27-25:

Sunday School Lesson: Noah’s Ark

12-3pm Membership retreat (Youth Room)

MONDAY 4-28-25:

7pm BSF (David Room)

6:30pm Grief Share (Elijah Room)

TUESDAY 4-29-25: 

6:30pm Grace Circle

WEDNESDAY 4-30-25

12-1pm Prayer Time (Sanctuary)

6:15pm Jr. RCYF

8pm Sr. RCYF

THURSDAY 5-1-25: 

FRIDAY 5-2-25:   

8am Men’s Bible Study

8am Women’s Ministry Table Decorating (Fellowship Hall)

SATURDAY 5-3-25: 

10am Tea & Testimony (Fellowship Hall)

SUNDAY 5-4-25:

Sunday School lesson: The Ice Age

2pm TEC Council meeting (Youth Room)

4/27/2025                           Pentecost: Now What?                                   Acts 2:1-12

Intro: Death, Resurrection and then Ascension of Jesus…Now What?

We place our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior…Now What?

1. Jesus Commissioned his Disciples
1. Instructs them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit

1. Great Commission: Matt. 28 and Acts 1

1. After Jesus ascends…they wait: pray, fill Judas’ spot, and wait some more…

1. Day of Pentecost Helps answer…Now What?
1. History of Pentecost
1. Festival of Weeks = 50 Days after Passover
2. Gift of the Law on Mount Sinia
1. How to live as God’s people, free from slavery in Egypt.

1. Day of Pentecost after Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus
1. Gift of the Holy Spirit (Given to all believers)
2. How to live as God’s people in freedom from sin.
3. Holy Spirit lives in you…

1. What does it mean that the Holy Spirit Lives in You?
1. Given the Capacity to Grow (Become more like Jesus)
1. Heart of Stone to Heart of Flesh (Ezekiel)
2. Eph. 2: Dead in sin and made alive in Christ.

1. Helps us Grow (Become more like Jesus)
1. Convicts us of Sin (Shows us what pleases God and what does not.)
1. Over time, not overnight (John Newton)
2. Reveals God’s Word
3. Assurances of Salvation: Peace and Comfort in the Valley of the Shadow of Death
4. Equips us with Gifts to further the Kingdom

1. What is does the Christian Life consists of!
1. Along with your brothers and sisters in Christ…Growing to become more like Jesus.
1. The Holy Spirit Working in your life. 
1. Convicting you of sin
2. Revealing Scripture
3. Assuring you of salvation
4. Equipping you with gifts and opportunities to use them.

Prayer: Make us more like Jesus