Announcements for 5-17-26

 ~ Today is our last day of Sunday School. What a blessed year it has been! Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with our education programs this year.

~After serving our congregation for 6 years, Valerie, our Music and Worship Director, has decided to step away from her position effective May 31, 2026.  Please pray for Valerie and our congregation during this transition.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”- 1 Peter 5:7

Our prayer concerns….                                                                                                                                      

Bill Kastein                                                                    

Merlin & Jackie Groen                                                    

Roger DeBey (knee infection)

Scott Hunt                                                                    

Rod Grooters

Jeff Hrdlicka                                                                                    

JoAnn Douglas

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                       

Linda Person (Kari Jurrens’ mom)                                                    

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)                                                                                        Betsy Mans (Cal & Cheryl Mans’ daughter in law- chemo treatments)

~Our sympathies to the family of Alice Feikema on her passing

~Our sympathies to Roberta Flier and family on Art’s passing

~Our sympathies to the family of Beth TeGrotenhuis

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

(addresses are available by request)

 Arnie & Donna Kwikkel                         Wilma DeRoo                     JoEllen Sorgdrager       Merlin & Jackie Groen                            Joyce Mellema                         Harriet Hoff 

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

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

6:30 Monday nights through June, here at church

Care Elders’ Training- May 27^th @ 6:30pm

Oaks’ Club (anyone 50 or over) will meet on May 21

gather at the church at 9am to go to Luverne’s Brandenburg Gallery & lunch

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The May 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*

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 May 17, 2026 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “Hymn Of Heaven”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Mission Minute: Freedoms Gate

Praise Service:

“Battle Belongs”

“Abide”

Congregational Prayer

Offertory Hymn: “All Hail King Jesus”

Doxology #625

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 

Sermon: Impact of a Godly Father

Communion

Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision”

Hymn: “How Deep The Father’s Love For Us”

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “My Victory” 

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “Sanctuary”

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

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

Serving us today 5-17-26

DOOR GREETERS - (N) Shawn & Heather Van Wyhe (S) Evan & Linda DeBoer (SE) Mark & Sara Swartz

NURSERY- Ashlyn & Brooklyn Timmerman

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Men’s Ministry (Monkey Bread for free will donation)

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Men’s Ministry 

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Lisa VandeStouwe

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Dayna Altman

SOUND SYSTEM- Sawyer Hrdlicka

VIDEO TAPING- Breyden Dieren

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Lily Jurrens

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- April DeWit

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

 Serving us next week 5-24-26

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Barb Dreke & Karen Reemts (S) Art & Karen Flier (SE) Wayne & Geneva Grooters

NURSERY- No Nursery- Memorial Day

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- John & Peggy Metzger

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Lonn & Jammie Kellenberger

SOUND SYSTEM- Matt Kock

VIDEO TAPING- Jonathan Kock

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Berlyn DeWit

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kristi Metzger

*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 5-10-26                                                                                                                                         Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                    YTD Budget

General Fund:         $22,557.70                         $280,466.88                     $257,909.18

Benevolent Fund:  $1,085.00                           $104,295.85                      $72,636.45

                                       *Online donations are now added to designated funds*      

Sunday School 5-10-26

                      Last Year’s Attendance: 85                               Last Week’s Attendance: 50

                      Last Year’s Offering: $32.00                             Last Week’s Offering: $45.00

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 5-17-26:

Last day of Sunday School: Review

9am Evangelism Committee Meeting (Connections room)

Senior Recognition Sunday

MONDAY 5-18-26:

6:30pm Deacon/ Elder Meeting 

6:30pm Grief Share (Elijah Room)

7:30pm Consistory Meeting (David Room)

TUESDAY 5-19-26: 

6pm Grace Circle

WEDNESDAY 5-20-26:

9-11am Mom Co. (Island Park)

12-2pm Prayer time (Sanctuary)

THURSDAY 5-21-26:    

FRIDAY 5-22-26:   

8am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

SATURDAY 5-23-26:    

SUNDAY 5-24-26: 

5/17/2026                         Impact of a Godly Father                         Deut. 6:4-9

Intro: Importance of Fathers

Can’t be a Godly Father unless you are son of the Father.

1. Know God (The Lord our God, the Lord is one.)
1. About God: Bible, Study, Questions

1. Personal Relationship
1. Deeper Knowing and Intimacy (Son)

1. Love God (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength)
1. Heart
1. First Love (Priorities: Money and Time) (What do you sacrifice for?)

1. Soul
1. Identity, Purpose (What do you surrender to?)

1. Strength
1. Abilities, Work, Vocation, Energy, Resources

1. Obedience (These commands are to be upon your heart.)
1. Living out your faith
1. Authentically growing in your faith

1. Impress upon your children
1. What?
1. Knowledge, Love, and Obedience (Can’t impress, what you don’t have)
1. Kids know fakes…(Caught not Taught)

1. How
1. Talk about your faith. 
1. What you are learning, Who God is, What God is doing in your life, How you are loving God or sacrificing for God, How you are working on growing in obedience to God.
2. Where? At home, not just at church
1. Kitchen Table, Back Yard, Enroute, Bedtime
2. Symbols and Reminders (Tying as symbols on hands and foreheads.)
1. Rituals and Practices: Prayers at Meals, Bedtime, Going to Church, S.S. or youth group.
2. Biblical Worldview: Seeing the world through the lens of Scripture.
3. Living Differently from the world. (Door Frames and Gates)
1. Language, Family Culture, Serving, Sabbath, Sports, Repentance, Humility, loving without expectation of being loved, forgiveness.