Prayers:Your prayer support is appreciated for the following individuals and their special circumstances: Noah Schwartze (scheduled for surgery on July 6 to remove adenoids), Asher Menning (hospitalized at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls; pray for improved lung function and weight gain), Twilla Hoekstra (recovering from surgery), Greg De Jong (recovering from bypass surgery), Donna Hulshof (will be returning to Mayo Clinic for further appointments), Sue Faber (recovering at home), Loren Dengler (recovering from heart surgery), Pam Foster, Bob Dreke’s sister (coping with Huntington’s Disease), Dave Sieperda (recovering from knee replacement surgery), Dawn Vanden Top (pray that Dawn’s recent surgical procedure will improve her liver function), Eldora Krull (recovering from a second stent procedure), Karyn Boer (recovering from hip replacement surgery), Mykenah Horstman (recovering from spinal cord surgery), Russ Carver, Rachelle Johnsen’s father (recovering from surgery), and Alice & Tony Schoneveld, Jessica Harman’s grandparents (Alice has stage 4 cancer; Tony has stage 4 COPD).

Your prayers are also requested for the following individuals who are coping with cancer: Gert Van Roekel (Laurine Gerritsen’s mother), Gail Hartter, Eric Hartter’s mother (recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer), Marilyn Kuyper (Ethanie Pulscher’s aunt), and Steve & Dave Kwikkel (Arnie and Donna Kwikkel’s sons).

Thank You: We want to thank Cheryl Van Beek for organizing the help we needed to empty our basement because of a flood threat. We are very grateful for all who came and helped us. We greatly appreciate all your help and hard work. It is so nice to be a part of this caring church. ~ Harvey & Nettie Roskam

Thank You: The family of Ronnie Boekhout would like to express our sincere gratitude for the Comfort Meals as well as all of the prayers, cards, texts, and personal condolences that were extended to us following his passing. We are grateful for all of your friendships and love through the years. Blessings! ~ Tim & Julie Boekhout family

New email address: Ashley Pena, our new Communications Coordinator, has an email address: frcashley@premieronline.net.

Advance Notice: Our church will again be collecting Christian Literature for use in spreading God’s word throughout the world. Please use the guidelines on the bulletin insert to be sure your donations can be used. This is an early notice so you can be prepared with your Christian Literature donations when the collection boxes are put under the south coat rack August 1 – 19, 2018. We just received a revised guideline and there are changes from the original list that was published in the copy of the July Bridge. There will be a revised copy in The August copy of the Bridge. The revised guidelines are posted above the collection box that is available all year. Thank you for sharing your unused Christian material.

Facebook: Our Facebook name has changed! It is now - First Reformed Church, Rock Rapids, IA. This should be easier to search and find us and keep up with what is going on. Thanks for liking the page!

Library News: We would like to thank Arietta and Vi for their many years of service as librarians. We have a well-supplied and organized library because of their dedication to our church. As the new librarians, we have some very big shoes to fill. We would love for you to check out all of the amazing, exciting, suspenseful, inspirational, and thought provoking books and movies we have. Come in and see what we have. We’d love to help you find a book. FREE: We have decided to remove some items from the shelves which haven’t been used for some years. We have put these items on a table in the gathering space. They are free for the taking to anyone who would like them. Whatever material that is accepted after 3 weeks will be donated to the International Christian Liturature Organization. ~ Cheryl Hulstein, Barb Tilstra, and Brenda Vanden Top

Triumphant Sound Quartet in Concert, July 15^th: Lyon County Fair presents the 125^th Anniversary Gospel Concert on Sunday, July 15, 2018 at 2:30 pm at Rock Rapids First Reformed Church. Ice Cream Social to follow. Centennial attire is encouraged. Hope to see you there!

WORSHIP AT INSPIRATION HILLS: Mark your calendars for July 22 to hold our morning worship service at Inspiration Hills. Start time will be at 10:30 am followed by events to be announced as well as lunch. If you plan on joining us, please sign up in the gathering space on the sheets provided so we know for food preparation. Thanks

The Bible League Christmas in July will be held on Monday, July 23, 2018 at 1:30 pm at the 1^st CRC of Hull, IA. You are asked to bring an item such as baked goods, crafts, plants, etc., to place on the silent auction tables. You will be given a time to view the items and place your bids. Andrew Earnshaw, a representative from the Bible League headquarters, will be there to speak to us about the work of Bible League International. Hope to see you there.

On September 11, 2018, the Bible League Volunteers are hosting their fall retreat. You will be enriched with spiritual encouragement, joyful fellowship, worship, and entertainment. To give you an opportunity to partner iin the Great Commission, and offering will be taken for ministry in Latin America. Registration brochures are available through La Vonne Grooters or online at bibleleague.org/retreat18.

FINANCIALS

Offerings Sunday 7-1-18 Offerings to 7-1-18 Budget to 7-1-18

General Fund: $5,783.00 $150,179.54 $179,342.04

Benevolent Fund: $6,709.00 $83,755.62 $85,541.56

Building Fund: $405.00 $16,745.92 $62,111.14

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

SUNDAY: 2-5 pm TEC Reunion in the Fellowship Hall

6-7 pm TEC Council Meeting in the Youth Room

MONDAY:

7 pm Christian Education Meeting in the Conference Room

TUESDAY:

7 pm TEC Meeting in the Youth Room

WEDNESDAY:

9:30 am Joy Circle in 345

THURSDAY:

FRIDAY:

8:00 am- Men’s Bible Study in the Conference Room

SATURDAY:

SUNDAY: 2:30 pm Lyon County Gospel Concert!