Announcements & Prayers for 8-23-26

“In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” ~Romans 8:28. You take the lemons of life and turn them into sweet lemonade. 

Our prayer concerns….

Marilyn McCoy 

Rod Grooters (Hospice)                                       

Jerry Pytleski

Merlin & Jackie Groen                                        

Roger DeBey 

Scott Hunt                                                      

Bill Kastein

Jeff Hrdlicka                                                               

JoAnn Douglas

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                           

Linda Person (Kari Jurrens’ mom)                                       

Kathy Van Olst                                                  

Bill Saeger (Jackie Groen’s brother)

Russ Carver (Rachelle Johnsen’s dad)                               

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)

Janice Den Besten                                              

Todd Altman (Jack & Esther Altman’s son) legs swelling

Ron & Cathy Birkeland                                                                                                                       

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

Choir will be starting practice on September 30^th following worship. Anyone wishing to join us, we meet in the David Room, just down the hall from the nursery. We will be singing on the 18^th of October during worship. Contact Sherri DeJong for more information. 

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*Announcements are due by 9am Friday mornings*

*Secretary’s office hours will be changing starting in September* ~ Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9-1                                                      

*Bulletin announcement deadline weekly is 9am on Fridays*

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PRAISE & PICNIC DAY – Sunday, September 13

Our church service on Sunday, September 13, will be held at Island Park (west of the swimming pool).   The worship service will begin @ 10:30 a.m.  Bring your lawn chairs/blankets.  Lunch will be served after the worship service.  There will be some fun activities as well.

Please consider helping us out in the following capacity groups:  

• Food preparation (this will take place on Wed., Sept. 9 evening)
• Serving the food
• Helping with the soft-serve ice cream
• Provide bean-bag boards/bags
• We are asking for volunteers to watch kids on inflatables

There is a sign-up sheet at the Welcome Center for this. Event.  Please save the date, as we invite you to enjoy a beautiful time of worship & fellowship in the great outdoors!

*There will be inflatables for the kids following the meal. So come and enjoy the day with us.

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 August 23, 2026 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “Be Thou My Vision”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome/Announcements/Prayer

Praise Service:

“Lord I Lift Your Name On High”

“A Thousand Hallelujahs”

Congregational Prayer

Offertory Hymn: “To God Be The Glory”

Doxology #625

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Exodus 20:12-17

Sermon: Law of God part 2

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “Agnus Dei”

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “Agnus Dei”

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

Serving us today 8-23-26

DOOR GREETERS - (N) Luke & Danielle Grooters (S) Marlene Mellema (SE) Jerry & Kerry Mulder

NURSERY- Kayla Van Wyhe & Emery Jager 

VAN DRIVER: Lucas Bouwman

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Wayne & Geneva Grooters

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Evan & Linda DeBoer

SOUND SYSTEM- Brad Rypkema

VIDEO TAPING- Jonathan Kock 

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Isaiah DeWit

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Shannon Rodger

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

Serving us next week 8-30-26

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Barb Dreke & Karen Reemts (S) Rich & Denise Roskam (SE) Greg & Sherri DeJong

NURSERY- Anika Springer & Jersie Klarenbeek

VAN DRIVER: Shawn Van Wyhe                              

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

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Jeff & Laureen Schram

SOUND SYSTEM- Dustin Bosch

VIDEO TAPING- Jonathan Kock

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

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 8-16-26                                                                                                                                 

                                Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                      YTD Budget

General Fund:         $1,622.38                             $289,084.85                           $447,974.52

Benevolent Fund:  $5,676.00                              $164,397.93                          $126,158.05

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 8-23-26:

MONDAY 8-24-26:

6pm Back to school prayer walk (Central Lyon School)

TUESDAY 8-25-26:

6pm Grace Circle

WEDNESDAY 8-26-26:

9-2pm Staff Retreat (church offices closed)

THURSDAY 8-27-26:    

FRIDAY 8-28-26:   

8am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

SATURDAY 8-29-26:    

SUNDAY 8-30-26: 

Communion will be served today

4-9pm Mission Committee Serving at Freedom’s Gate 

8/23/2026                          Law of God Part 2               Exodus 20:12-17

1. Overview of 10 Commandments
1. Purpose and Identity, Guardrails, Mirror.

1. 2 Dimensions
1. Love God = Vertical (1-4)
2. Love Neighbor as Yourself = Horizontal (5-10)

1. Commands 5-10
1. Honor your Father and Mother
1. Family is important to God (God’s Design for Family: Gen. 1:27-28)
2. Honor is a posture of the heart. 
1. Obedience vs Honor
2. Love, Serve, Pray
   1. Promise: Live long in the Land the LORD your God is giving you.

    

   1. You shall not Murder
   1. God is the giver and sustainer of life. (Detests Murder)
   2. Train Track (Matt. 5:21-22)

    

   1. You shall not commit Adultery
   1. God’s Design for Marriage = Symbol of the Trinity 
   2. Satan Hates Marriage
   1. Lust of the Heart: Pornography destroying marriages and families.
   2. Hope and Forgiveness in Christ (must come into the light)

    

   1. You shall not Steal
   1. Selfishness desire to take from others.
   2. God’s desire for his people: Generous, trustworthy: Investing in God’s kingdom

    

   1. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
   1. God is the source of all truth (John 14:6)
   1. Rumors, Lies, Deception, Fraud, manipulation are attacks on His Character. 
   2. You shall not Covet
   1. Unholy desire of the heart: Care more about stuff than God or his People

   #114 Q But can those converted to God keep these commandments perfectly?                                           #114 A. No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience. Nevertheless, with earnest purpose they do begin to live not only according to some but to all the commandments of God.

   #115 Q. If in this life no one can keep the ten commandments perfectly, why does God have them preached so strictly?                                                                                                                                                       #115 A. First, so that throughout our life we may more and more become aware of our sinful nature and therefore seek more eagerly the forgiveness of sins and righteousness in Christ. Second, so that, while praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may never stop striving to be renewed more and more after God's image, until after this life we reach the goal of perfection.