Prayers:

• Brock Klarenbeek (recovering from recent chest surgery)

•Carter Krull (pray for recovery following surgery on June 5 to repair Carter’s broken arm)

•Mykenah Horstman (pray for the plans to get Mykenah fitted for a brace that she can wear at night)

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

•Tanner Lincecum (pray for relief from headaches and for Tanner’s doctors to have wisdom in caring for him)

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

•Lambert Van Olst (recently hospitalized for tests; discharged on 7-30-19 and is home)

•Andrew Perry, Anita & Curt Dieren’s brother-in-law (pray for Andrew’s blood clots to dissolve),

•Thomas Bouwman, Tom & Sheryl Bouwman’s son (continues to experience some improvement; is now working on another round of physical therapy goals)

•Danny Bolerjack, Danielle Bouwman’s father (recovering from a stroke)

•Zucker Freerks, Sara & Justin Groen’s nephew (pray for Zucker to maintain good health during the summer months)

•Tony Schoneveld, Jessica Harman’s grandfather (has stage 4 COPD).

•Phyllis Te Slaa (recovering from knee replacement surgery on July 9)

•Missy Perkins (will be having surgery on August 6 at Sanford in Sioux Falls)

*Your prayers are also requested for the following individuals who are coping with cancer:Melissa Moser (Kathy Moser’s daughter-in-law), Gail Hartter (Eric Hartter’s mother), Marilyn Kuyper (Ethanie Pulscher’s aunt), Stacy Dieren (chemotherapy treatments), Arlene Sterler (Robbie Korthals’ mother), and Jeremy Hespen, Merlin &

Jackie Groen’s nephew (recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma).

Sympathies:We wish to extend our sympathy to the Jeff and Laureen Schram family on the loss of their brother-in-law, Rick Munce of Sioux Falls, Wednesday morning July 31.Services were held this past Friday in Sioux Falls.

Sympathies:We wish to extend our sympathies to Bonnie Nail and her family on the death of her mother, Arlo Weerheim, July 26, 2019.Her funeral was held this past Wednesday, July 31 here at First Reformed.

Thank you:We are so appreciative of the well wishes, prayers, cards, food and visits following my knee surgery.Special thanks to our Care Elder, Diane Altman and to Sue Haggar.We are so thankful to be part of a caring church family. ~ Karen and Bob Reemts

Christian Literature is now being collected!We are now collecting Christian Literature from now until August 20.Check your July issue of the Bridge for a list of item that we can and cannot accept.The boxes are located underneath the coat racks across from the restrooms.Thank you for your donations.

Sanford Hospice is looking for volunteers to do companionship visits with Hospice patients.A 2-day training session will be held on August 5^th and August 6^th, 2019 from 9 – 3 at the Pizza Ranch in Rock Rapids.A light breakfast and lunch will be provided on both days.Please call Laurie at 712-324-6419 or email her at laurie,vaniperen@sandfordhealth.org to request further information.

You are invited!Pastor Steve Van Wyhe would like to thank First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids for their financial support and prayers as he finished his Masters of Divinity degree this past May.Pastor Steve and family wish to extend an invitation to attend his ordination and installation service as Associate Pastor of Youth and Discipleship at Carmel Reformed Church on August 11 at 6:30 pm.Note the change of time

Special Music:On August 11^th, the men’s chorus will be singing “Midnight Cry” as special music during our Sunday service.All men including high schoolers and college students are invited to take part.We will be rehearsing in the choir room today immediately following church services, and also on August 11^th, before worship at 9:10 am.We are very short on copies and this piece is now out of print, meaning that we cannot buy additional copies.If you have a copy at home, please return it to church and put it on the table in the choir room.

Open House Retirement Coffee:Peace Lutheran Church invites you to an Open House Retirement Coffee for Pastor Hansen on August 18, 2019 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.All are welcome.

2019 Tri-State Conference – Hosted by Bible League International Volunteers: Get your tickets today for the “His Plan…Our Purpose” events hosted by the Bible League Volunteers.Dinner on September 9, conference on September 10, 2019, both at First Reformed Church in Sioux Center.Tickets available online at bibleleague.org/tickets.

Faithwalking:Church members and leaders spend so much time caring for others that we don’t always take care of ourselves. We don't schedule time to engage our own growth and transformation. When was the last time you truly invested in your own transformation, healing, and wholeness? I’d like to invite you to join me, and others from the area in a spiritual formation journey. The material is called Faithwalking. You can check it out at https://www.faithwalking.us/ One pastor who recently completed Module 1 recently said, Faithwalking Foundations was the “best investment I made this year in my own spiritual life.”Faithwalking Foundations is not just for pastors. People from all walks of life have participated. One person said this of their experience, “Faithwalking gave me the chance to reflect on my life in ways I never had before. I now have tools that will impact my life, my work, and my engagement in my church. ”Sessions are conducted via the internet on Zoom calls. The next Module 1 will begin on August 28 and last 10 weeks and the enrollment cost is $175. Two session times are available, either 6:30-7:45 a.m. or 11:45a.m.-1:00p.m.To register follow this link: https://www.faithwalking.us/registration-fw-foundations/Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with questions or for additional information.

In 2019, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough boxes to reach another 11 million children in more than 100 countries. Gift-filled boxes demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way, and is many times the first gift these children have ever received. Not only is it a tangible gift, but each shoebox has eternal value. Once the gift is in the hands of a child, an opportunity arises to share Jesus Christ with them. The children in our own congregation are also impacted as they pack gifts and pray for the children each of those gifts will reach at our annual packing party. But we need your help! Please consider donating items for our packing party. There is a supply list/sign-up sheet available in the gathering space. Please take a moment to look it over and see where you might be able to help. If you have any questions, please talk to Amy Schulte. Thank you for your participation!

Offerings Sunday 7-28-19 Offerings to 7-28-19 Budget to 7-28-19

General Fund:$2,770.00 $169,658.63 $226,065.00

Benevolent Fund:$400.00 $91,725.19 $103,321.50

Building Fund:$0.00 $21,629.51 $74,423.10

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

SUNDAY:

MONDAY:

TUESDAY:

WEDNESDAY:

THURSDAY:

6:30 pm Peace Circle in Judy Feikema’s Farm Shed

Walk in Love in 345

FRIDAY:

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

SATURDAY:

SUNDAY:

Care Center Services (all are welcome to come and assist residents)

3:15 at the RR Health Center

4:00 at Care Initiatives (Lyon Manor)