Prayers:

•Pam Foster, Bob Dreke’s sister (coping with Huntington’s disease)

•Tanner Lincecum (pray that Tanner’s shunt will continue to work effectively)

•Bonita Schwan, Norma Jansma’s daughter (serious health conditions and side effects from previous cancer surgeries)

•Lambert Van Olst (receiving treatments for leukemia)

•Karen De Noble, David De Noble’s mother (has been diagnosed with cancer; please pray for comfort as Karen goes through chemotherapy treatments)

•Graham Johnson, great-grandson of Don & Doris Calkins (Graham has returned home and is doing well thus far)

•Carol Groen (continues to be evaluated at Mayo Clinic regarding her lower back problems)

•Thomas Bouwman, Tom & Sheryl Bouwman’s son (continues to make progress in physical therapy)

•Greyson Austin (doing well on Humira; pray for Greyson’s stamina to increase)

•Denise Roskam (pray for continued healing from cancer)

•Tony Schoneveld, Jessica Harman’s grandfather (see prayer update below)

•Vicky Van Houten, Judy Netten’s sister (see prayer update below)

•Ray Schram, Jeff Schram’s father (recently diagnosed with cancer on his leg)

•John Hulshof (was hospitalized and treated for blood clots; is now home; pray for John’s recovery)

*Your prayers are also requested for the following individuals who are coping with cancer:Melissa Moser (Kathy Moser’s daughter-in-law), Marilyn Kuyper (Ethanie Pulscher’s aunt; continues to be treated for cancer and is experiencing a lot of fatigue), Arlene Sterler, Robbie Korthals’ mother (Arlene’s cancer has moved to her lungs; pray for Arlene’s doctors to have wisdom as they care for her), and Trish Lombard, Tara Bouwman’s mother (recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer).

Prayer Updates:Vicky Van Houten, Judy Netten’s sister, is tolerating her chemotherapy treatments well.Tony Schoneveld, Jessica Harman’s grandfather, has moved from his home to an assisted living facility.

Thank you for celebrating our anniversary with us.Thank you also for the cards, gifts, and well wishes. ~ John & Ruth Van Aartsen

CORRECTION:In last week’s bulletin we shared information about the death of Rev. Wilmer VerMeer.Wilmer was related to several families in our church.Wilmer was listed as a nephew of Hyman & Arietta Beyenhof and Betty Vanden Heuvel.This was incorrect, as Wilmer was a second cousin to Arietta and Betty.

Weekday Membership class meets Tuesday, January 21 at 7 pm

First Reformed is leading the worship services at the Health Centre and Lyon Manor this afternoon at 3:15 pm and 4:00 pm respectively.You are welcome to join us to help the residents get to the services and find page numbers in the hymnbooks.

Next Sunday, January 26, we will be celebrating Holy Communion.

Grace Circle members:Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 21, at 6:30 p.m.Sherri De Jong will be our Bible study leader and hostess.We will be meeting at Sherri’s home.Hope to see YOU there!

Adult Choir:The choir is starting to work on the Easter Cantata and the second half of the year.We would love to have anyone with a love of music come and share their talent with us.We meet in the choir room down the hall from the nursery after worship service.Please come and check us out if you are interested. ~ Thank you! Judy Gacke

The Search Committee is up and running. Please pray for those on this team seeking to discern God’s direction for our future pastor: Steve Harman, Chairperson, Shari Kastein, Jeff Jager, Dan Van Beek, Chelsea Hunt, Joe Vander Zee, Mary Hoogers, Evan Metzger, Kathy Moser, Jen Hoefert, and Amy Schulte. They are currently working on completing a Church Profile, a resume of First Reformed Church. The next steps will include submitting the profile to the Reformed Church who will then match it with prospective candidates and send the search committee pastor’s profiles to review and evaluate. The search committee can also send FRC’s profile to prospective pastors they know of through networking and invite conversation. Once a pastoral candidate is narrowed down further interviews and conversation will be conducted with Consistory and groups within the congregation. At this time the congregation has opportunity to get to know and ask questions of the candidate in small group meetings. Ultimately it will be the Consistory who recommends and presents a candidate for pastor to the congregation to vote on. There could be variations on this process if there is any consideration of restructuring the staff. The search committee will be keeping us all informed as to where they are in the process and you can give input to any of the members as the journey unfolds.

Upcoming Opportunities for the whole family!

1. A one day retreat for fathers is scheduled for February 29, 9am-4pm in Maurice, Iowa.The title is “Dad Tired”.It promises to be a great day. See the link for more information and how to register-

https://mauricereformed.org/dad-tired-conference/

2. URBAN PLUNGE- March 13-15 is a weekend of ministry planned for all generations!We will travel to Sioux Falls on that Friday and experience several ministry opportunities throughout the weekend.Please see Cheryl Van Beek TODAY, if interested.

*Please No Shaking Hands due to the cold and flu season.The upper respiratory and G.I. bugs are getting around.Thank you ~ The Rock Rapids Clinic

Offerings Sunday 1-12-19 Offerings to 1-12-19 Budget to 1-12-19

General Fund: $11,778.00 $17,453.00 $15,172.58

Benevolent Fund: $720.00 $5,552.00 $6,977.24

Building Fund: $55.00 $195.00 $3,157.70

Sunday School Offering & Attendance

Last year’s attendance:108Last year’s offering:$83.08

Last week’s attendance: 115Last week’s offering:$119.00

Sunday School Lessons:

January 19:Session 3 – Elijah and Elisha/The Gifts of God’s Power

January 26:Session 4 – Elijah and the Army/Visions of God’s Strength

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

SUNDAY:Services at the Nursing Homes:

3:15 pm – Health Centre

4:00 pm – Lyon Manor

(all are welcome to assist)

MONDAY:5:00 pm – Moms in Prayer – College & Career Group

7:00 pm – Circle of Kindness

TUESDAY:9:15 am – Staff Meeting

6:30 pm – Grace Circle

7:00 pm Membership Class

WEDNESDAY:

5:45 pm Mid-Week Meal (Glenda H, Sara H, Julie DR, & Amy S)

6:30 pm Regular Wednesday Night Activities (4^th Grade to Premier Estates)

Memory Work:Psalm 139:1-24

6:30 pm Jr RCYF

6:30 pm Hand Bell Choir

7:30 pm Praise Team

8:00 pm Sr RCYF

THURSDAY:

FRIDAY:

8:00 am- Men’s Bible study in the conference room

SATURDAY:

SUNDAY:Holy Communion