Announcements & Prayers for 9-6-26

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”- Psalm 119:105

Our prayer concerns….

Our sympathies Rachelle Johnsen and family on the passing of her dad, Russ Carver

Marilyn McCoy                                                 

Janice Den Besten

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)

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson                  

Ron & Cathy Birkeland                      

Todd Altman                                                                

Bret Huisman (Heath’s brother) triple bypass surgery 9/1

*Care Elders’ Training September 28^th, 6:30pm in Elijah Room     

Our Operation Christmas Child Packing Party is just around the corner!  We are still looking for some supplies. Our September focus is on T-shirts (particularly for boys – all sizes) and WOW! Items (small toys/fun items). Please place any items you wish to donate in the provided basket in the Gathering Space. Do you like to crochet? Contact Amy Schulte if interested in making frisbees. Patterns and yarn will be provided. Please be in prayer for every child who will receive one of the boxes we pack on October 18 – that their hearts are ready to hear the Good News, they accept Jesus as their Savior, and that they would become disciples in their own communities      

Praise and Picnic in the Park

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.

Bethel Women’s Conference~ Women, when you hear the word HOME, How does your heart feel? What emotions get stirred up deep inside? Join us as we spend the morning reminiscing about HOME-acknowledging the hard while also recognizing the blessings! And then, as scripture tells us, “Let us be reiminded that this world is not our permanent home…that the Lord is preparing a place with HIM, for those who have surrendered and placed their trust and lives in His hands.”~Hebrews 13:14

Hosted by Bethel Reformed Church of Lester, IA

Registration opens September 1^st with limited seating

Please see the following website for more information/registration:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bethel-womens-conference-2026-tickets1997452070914?sff=oddtdtcreator

Worship, Message, Brunch, Activitiy, Coffee Bar and Door Prizes

_________________________________________________________________________________________

*Announcements are due by 9am Thursday mornings*

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

_________________________________________________________________________________________

*Reminder: Joy Circle will be starting at 10:30am on September 9^th in room 105.

Church and area events: 

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 September 6, 2026 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours)”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome/Announcements/Prayer

Praise Service: 

“I Speak Jesus”

“Raise A Hallelujah”

Congregational Prayer

Offertory Hymn: “Shout To The Lord”

Doxology #625

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-20

Sermon: Prayers of Hannah

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Closing Hymn: “I Need Thee Every Hour”

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “I Need Thee Every Hour”

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

Serving us today 9-6-26

DOOR GREETERS - (N) Art & Karen Flier (S) Marlene Mellema (SE) Evan & Linda DeBoer

NURSERY- Alexis Lincecum & Mali Kellenberger 

VAN DRIVER: Mike Klarenbeek

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Curt & Brenda Gisolf

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Scott & Amy Sieperda

SOUND SYSTEM- Sawyer Hrdlicka

VIDEO TAPING- Dave Hulstein

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Laurine Gerritsen

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kristi Metzger

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

Serving us next week 9-13-26

DOOR GREETERS- (N) (S) (SE)

NURSERY- 

VAN DRIVER: 

COMMON GROUND (before worship)-         Worship at Island Park 10:30am

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- 

SOUND SYSTEM- Matt Kock

VIDEO TAPING- 

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- 

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- 

*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 8-30-26                                                                                                                                   

                                Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                      YTD Budget

General Fund:         $8,475.86                          $ 310,4513.83                       $475,095.86

Benevolent Fund:  $435.00                              $164,867.93                          $133,803.99

                                       *Online donations are now added to designated funds*    

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 9-6-26:

MONDAY 9-7-26:

Church offices closed for Labor Day!

TUESDAY 9-8-26:

12pm Quarterback Club (Fellowship Hall)

12:30pm Staff Meeting (Martha Room)

WEDNESDAY 9-9-26:

10:30am Joy Circle (Rm 105)

12-1pm Sanctuary Prayer (Sanctuary)

THURSDAY 9-10-26:    

6:30pm Peace Circle (Martha Room)

FRIDAY 9-11-26:   

8am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

SATURDAY 9-12-26:    

SUNDAY 9-13-26: 

10:30am Praise and picnic at Island Park

Sermon notes: 

9/6/2026                    Prayers of Hannah                      1 Samuel 1:1-20

What is Prayer?  What is the Purpose of Prayer?  What is accomplished through Prayer?

Intro: Historical Setting: 1100 BC (End of the Judges, No King in Israel, Spiritual Decay)

1. Hannah
1. Young and filled with hope and promise.
1. Married Elkannah: Priestly tribe who made holy vow to God.
2. Hope of children and expectation of a full life

1. Hardship
1. Hannah’s womb was closed. (Barren) 
2. Husband has married another woman
1. Peninnah: Had children and Bullies Hannah.
3. “Big Happy Family” goes to worship the Lord in Shilo each year. 
1. Hannah will not eat; she is so downhearted. (Best meal of the year.)

1. Hannah’s first Prayer
1. Honest and Desperate
1. Deep Anguish and Grief.

1. Who is God and who is Hannah?
1. God is the LORD Almighty.
2. Hannah is a miserable servant.

1. What does Hannah Desire?
1. Son, that will be devoted to the LORD and Glorify God.
1. Her Vow

1. Leaves in Peace…But what has changed?  Not her circumstances…

What is Prayer?  What is the Purpose of Prayer?  What is accomplished through Prayer?

1. Hannah’s Second Prayer
1. Weans Samuel
1. Prepare him, teach him his identity and purpose, Teaches him about God.
2. Presents Samuel to Eli (Dropping Kid off at College when he is 6)

1. Hannah’s Prayer (2 Sam. 1-10)
1. Final lesson to Samuel from his mom. (Final Words, Final Prayer)
2. Full of Joy and Praise.
1. Exalting and Praising God.
2. Great Wisdom and Power of God vs the World.
3. God is Sovereign over all things.
3. Impact on Samuel: He becomes Judge, Prophet, King Annointer.
1. Answer to Hannah’s Prayer was an Answer to the Spiritual Decay of Israel.

What is Prayer?  What is the Purpose of Prayer?  What does Prayer Accomplish?