Announcements for 4-5-26

~This morning our 2^nd Grade Class will recite The Apostle’s Creed. Next week, our 3^rd Grade Class will recite The Ten Commandments. Parents: please have your 3^rd 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!

“….He has risen….”- Matthew 28:6

Our prayer concerns….                                                                                                                                      

Bill Kastein                                                                     

Merlin &  Jackie Groen 

Scott Hunt                                                                     

Rod Grooters

Jeff Hrdicka                                                                                       JoAnn Douglas

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                       

Alice Feikema  (Hospice)                                                

Kathy Van Olst                                                                             

Phyllis Fiegen (Tammi Top’s mom)

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- chemo treatments)

~Welcome baby Elizabeth to Bryce & Chelsea Hunt

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

Harriet Hoff                                                                        

Arnie & Donna Kwikkel

All are welcome who have recently lost a loved one to death

April 6-June 29 (6:30 Monday nights) here at church

Club 512 Volunteers for 4-8-26

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

                Maddie VandeWeerd        Jonathon Kock                  Leo Groen

                  Mali Kellenberger          Lincoln Klosterbuer         Liam Vander Zee

                   Taylor Rypkema                Brody Buntjer                  Jayden Daale 

                      Anika Springer                                                        Connor Altman                                  

Club 512 Snack helpers:  Jan Spyksma & Heather Heimensen

Midweek Meal Helpers: Glenda Hellenga, Rachelle Johnsen, Amy Kim, Char LaFrenz, & Shannon Rodger

Nursing Home Chaperone: Geneva Grooters

Save the Date! Sunday – April 19 - Building on Faith Fundraiser “Raise the Roof” event.

Proceeds will go towards roof repair (estimated cost of $85,000).

Schedule of Events

• Lunch will be served starting at 11:15 (hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, chips, cookies).
• Silent Auction will start after church service.
• Bingo games will be played after lunch has been served. No cost to play.
• Live auction on homemade pies – during Bingo.

How can you help? See Sign Up Sheets in Gathering Area

• Donate an item for the Silent Auction (contact Amy Hartter 712-470-3518).
• Donate a salad for the meal (contact is Audra Klinkenborg 712-470-6169 or ReNae Leuthold 712-470-1635).
• Help with setup and serving or help with clean-up (contact is Audra Klinkenborg 712-470-6169 or ReNae Leuthold 712-470-1635).
• Help with grilling hamburgers and hot dogs (contact Evan Metzger 605-413-3090).
• Donate a pie for the pie auction (contact Laureen Schram 712-348-2695).
• Attend the event.
• Contribute to the fundraiser, even if you are unable to attend.
• Pray for a successful event and that we fulfill our mission statement to Share the Good News of Jesus through this event.

Some ideas for Silent Auction donations

• Gift basket (meat bundle, home movie night, grilling basket, board games gift basket, pamper mom basket, food basket, homemade meal, child’s activity basket, etc.).
• Gift card to a favorite store or restaurant.
• Service work (such as an evening of babysitting, house cleaning, walking dogs, yard work, mowing lawn, washing or detailing cars, etc.).
• Homemade blanket, quilt or other craft items.
• Woodworking project or homemade crafts.
• Homemade Goodies.

~We have installed sensors for our Gathering Space and Kitchen lighting.  The lights will automatically come on when people enter the area and will shut off after room is empty.  The switches on the wall no longer work and will soon be replaced with a blanking plate.

~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.

The April 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*

Church and area happenings:

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 April 5, 2026 at 9:30am “Easter Sunday”

Prelude: “My Victory” 

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Ministry of Music: Cherub Choir

Memory work: Second Grade “Apostle’s Creed”

Praise Service:

“Man Of Sorrows”

“Graves Into Gardens”

“Christ The Lord Is Risen Today”

Congregational Prayer

Offertory Hymn: “Mighty To Save”

Doxology #625

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:14

Sermon: Evidence of the Resurrection

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “Because He Lives”

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “Because He Lives”

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

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

Serving us today 4-5-26

DOOR GREETERS - (N) Garrett & Carly Sayler (S) Laurine G. & Char L. (SE) John & Peggy Metzger

NURSERY- Carly Sayler & Ella Jager

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Evan & Kristi Metzger

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Glenda Hellenga & Edie Korthals

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Amy Kim

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Barb Folkens

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Lindsey Anderson

SOUND SYSTEM- Matt Kock

VIDEO TAPING- Randy Bosch

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Caitlin Huisman

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kristi Metzger

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

Serving us next week 4-12-26

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Youth (S) Youth (SE) Youth

NURSERY- Tracey & Baylor Hoefert

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Girls League

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Girls League

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Geneva Grooters

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Carol Oliver

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Lindsey Anderson

SOUND SYSTEM- Brad Rypkema

VIDEO TAPING- Justin Groen

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Brett Dieren

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- April DeWit

*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

Ken Leuthold-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 3-29-26                                                                                                                                                                    

                                 Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                     YTD Budget

General Fund:         $15,120.50                            $110,053.17                         $176,464.18

Benevolent Fund:   $3,881.00                             $70,458.85                           $49,698.63

                                       *Online donations are now added to designated funds*                    

Sunday School 3-29-26

                   Last Year’s Attendance: 101                                Last Week’s Attendance: 84

                  Last Year’s Offering: $57.00                                Last Week’s Offering: $76.00

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 4-5-26:

Easter Sunday

Sunday School lesson: Lesson 54: God Sends the Final Plague

MONDAY 4-6-26:

6:30pm Grief Share (Elijah Room)

TUESDAY 4-7-26: 

7pm Faith Circle (Martha Room)

WEDNESDAY 4-8-26:

8:30am Staff Meeting (Martha Room)

9:30am Joy Circle (Room 105)

12-2pm Prayer time (Sanctuary)

2:30pm Club 512

5-6:15pm Midweek Meal

5:30pm Mary Spirit Bible Study (Martha Room)

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

THURSDAY 4-9-26:    

6:30pm Peace Circle 

FRIDAY 4-10-26:   

8am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

SATURDAY 4-11-26:    

SUNDAY 4-12-26:     

9am Evangelism Committee Meeting (Connections Room)

Youth Sunday

11am OCC Committee Meeting (Connections Room)

5pm Girls League (Youth Room)

4/5/2026                            Evidence of the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:14

Intro: If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Harvard Professor Simon Greenleaf and Journalist Frank Morrison

1. Jesus Died on the Cross
1. Romans Perfected Crucifixion
1. Multiple Historical Records written before the first Gospel.
2. Tacitus, Josephus, and Thallus

1. Jesus Dies on the Cross John 19:31-37 

1. Burial of Jesus
1. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (Members of the Sanhedrin)

1. Timing (Prior to the Sabbath)

1. Stone
1. Very Large (3000-4000lbs) 4 ½ - 5’ in diameter. (20 men to carry the stone)

1. Sealing and Guarding of the Tomb
1. Chief Priest asks Pilate for a Guarded and sealed tomb.
2. Pilate gives permission. (Roman Soldiers)
1. Koustodia = 16-man unit
2. Seal = Roman Insignia 

1. The Resurrection (Matt. 28:1-6)
1. The stone has been moved.

1. Jesus’ body is not there, grave clothes and garments, but no body.
1. Guard go tell the Chief Priest. (Proof that the grave is empty)
2. Disciples and Women see the empty tomb. 
3. No one refutes the empty tomb. (Easy to disprove)

Wasn’t the Empty tomb that convinced the Disciples that Jesus was raised from the dead.

1. The Appearances of Jesus
1. Acts 1:3 Many convincing proofs over 40 days
1. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8
1. James, Peter, 500 at one time. (many still alive)
2. Not Just Friendly Faces

Evidence is clear…You may know it in year head, but do you know Christ is risen in your heart…