Prayers:Your prayer support is appreciated for the following individuals and their special circumstances: John Van Aartsen (recovering from surgery on September 11 to remove a kidney stone), Tanner Lincecum (pray that Tanner’s shunt will continue to be effective), Roger Oliver (recovering from a second stent procedure), Donna Hulshof (receiving Hospice care), Asher Menning (continue to pray about the blood clot in Asher’s right atrium), Twilla Hoekstra (recovering from surgery), Mykenah Horstman (pray that Mykenah’s spinal cord will not re-tether), Russell Carver, Rachelle Johnsen’s father (recovering from surgery), Pam Foster, Bob Dreke’s sister (coping with Huntington’s Disease), Tony Schoneveld, Jessica Harman’s grandfather (has stage 4 COPD), and Greg De Jong (recovering from bypass surgery).

Your prayers are also appreciated for the following individuals who are coping with cancer: Gert Van Roekel (Laurine Gerritsen’s mother), Melissa Moser (Kathy Moser’s daughter-in-law), Dave Kwikkel (Arnie and Donna Kwikkel’s son), Marilyn Kuyper (Ethanie Pulscher’s aunt), and Gail Hartter (Eric Hartter’s mother).

Prayer Updates: Dawn Vanden Top was discharged from Nebraska Medicine on September 8. Dawn is continuing to recover from her surgery at home. Aubree Boender’s arm is healing nicely. Please continue to pray for full healing for Aubree.

Sympathy: We extend our sympathy to Arnie and Donna Kwikkel on the death of their son Steve on September 11. Funeral was this past Saturday in Clear Lake with a private internment on Tuesday the 18^th at Riverview Cemetery.

It is once again time to make our NOMINATIONS for two new Elders and three new Deacons for the Consistory. Each professing member has a letter and ballot to fill out. PLEASE READ THE LETTER CAREFULLY and note the three lists of those who have asked not to or are ineligible to be nominated. The deadline for the ballots is Sunday, September 30.

Council of Churches meets at 1:30pm at The Holy Name Catholic Church today.

Classis of West Sioux meets here at First Reformed Church Tuesday, September 18, at 5pm.

Consistory meets this Wednesday, September 19. Elders meet at 7pm; Deacons at 7pm. Full consistory at 8:00pm.

Reminder: First Reformed Church is no longer a drop off location for Atlas. You may bring your items to the Pizza Ranch Parking lot or the Atlas thrift store. Thank you.

Moms in Prayer is an interdenominational ministry where women come together to pray for their children, schools and grandchildren. First Reformed is host to several groups – from Traditional (those praying for Central Lyon), to College & Careers, to a Grandma’s Group! More information will be given during the service on September 23^rd. If you are interested in joining a group, please talk to Sue, Cheryl or Amy.

Adult Choir: If you love music and love to sing, please join us downstairs in the choir room after church during the Sunday School hour. We will be singing on September 30th this month and on the 4th Sunday of each month thereafter. We only sing once a month, so if you have a conflict, and have to miss a practice, it isn’t a big deal. Please come and check us out, join us as we fellowship and sing praises to God and his glory. We will start on the Christmas cantata shortly so we can avoid additional practice times in the busy holiday season. Come and share your talent! Judy Gacke

Adult Bible Study: Joe VZ will be leading a small group Bible study around stewardship, leadership and Christian business. The study he plans to go through is called “Our Great Exchange”. If you are interested please text or call him at 712-400-9558. The study will start on Sunday, September 23 and go for 7 weeks. The group plans to meet after worship each Sunday morning. Please see the description below.

*Why would an all knowing God call us to be stewards of his creation? Why are we granted such a high calling as his stewards? In God’s economy, we indeed play a profound role. With the help of our guide, Pastor Jim Liske, along with seven inspiring stories and key biblical insights, Our Great Exchange takes us on a journey to explore his purposes for our stewardship of all that he created. Ultimately, stewardship is about doing what God calls each of us to do, so we can become the people he created us to be.

Looking Ahead: Back-to-School sales are in full swing which makes it the perfect time to purchase Operation Christmas Child shoebox supplies! There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the gathering space with a list of needed items for our packing party on November 14th. A small shoebox gift can change the heart of one child and in turn an entire family or even village for Christ. One box = and eternal impact! Please consider contributing to this event.

Christian Women’s Event - Have some overalls or straw hat to wear? We will be “Pickin and Grinnin” with Ezra and Lubus at the women’s connection on Wednesday Sept. 19 at the Whispering Heights Senior center in Rock Valley at 9:15am. The inspirational speaker will be Kaira Sargent with “Belonging in my Search for Truth”. An offering will be received for Stonecroft Ministries. Brunch is $4.00. Reservations are essential, so call Winnifred at 470-5549 or Bertha at 476-2583 to join in the fun!!

Hope Haven will be holding its Annual Trail Ride on Saturday, September 22, 2018. This year we are at a new location, Newton Hills State Park. Registration starts at 8:30 am with the ride beginning at 10:00 am. Lunch will be served from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. We ask that you support this event by making a donation towards wheelchair sponsorships. For more information please visit, www.hopehaven.org.

Justice For All invites you to attend the Fall Banquet & Annual Society Meeting on Tuesday evening, Oct 9, 2018 at 6:30 pm at Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley, IA. Our special guests this year will be Mike & Dawn Menning with Great Commission Utah. They will share about their great work in Utah, supporting/mentoring the wonderful Christian ministries that are ministering among the FLDS, as well as their own experiences of reaching out and being a presence in a community which so desperately needs to hear God’s truth!! There will also be a short business meeting. Reservations for the meal are necessary and can be made by calling 712-476-2804 or emailing joevz@jfa-nwiowa.org by Oct 5. Please join us as we celebrate JFA ministry over the past year and look forward to what God is calling JFA to in the next year! An offering will be taken for JFA ministry.

1^st Annual NISO Soup and Bread Cook-off! Saturday, Oct 13, 5:30 pm at The Ridge in Sioux Center. RSVP to niso@dordt.edu or Nancy Vermeer at nancyv@mtcnet.net if you are willing to make soup or bread (deadline is Sept 22; for rules see niso.dordt.edu, OR if you would like to attend, tickets are $25 per person. (RSVP by Oct 4^th to niso.dordt.edu or Nancy Vermeer at nancyv@mtcnet.net). Come for an evening of great food, enjoyable music, and sufficient wines from Bon Croix Vineyard.

The 1^st Fall Inspiration Hills auction is coming up fast- Friday, October 26! His year’s auction proceeds will go

towards the kitchen remodel. Everyone is invited to attend. Come for the fellowship, food and the amazing items!

The doors open at 6:00pm when you can look over the donated items and enjoy soup and dessert. The auction will

begin at 7:00pm. We are looking to have a number of larger items (dinners, tickets, outings, and meat bundles

whatever you can think of). Smaller items and homemade goods are also welcome! We will combine them to make

some awesome baskets. If you would like to donate items, please contact Cheryl Van Beek or Dave Heilman at

Inspiration Hills 712-360-0140.

FINANCIALS

Offerings Sunday 9-9-18 Offerings to 9-9-18 Budget to 9-9-18

General Fund: $10,529.00 $198,182.79 $248,319.84

Benevolent Fund: $425.00 $107,399.23 $118,442.16

Building Fund: $250.00 $24,848.77 $86,000.04

Sunday Offering: Sept. 9, 2018

Last Year’s Attendance: Last week's Attendance:

Last Year’s Offering: $ Last week's Offering: $

This Week’s Lesson: Sept 16, Session 1 - God Created The World

Next Week’s Lesson: Sept. 23, Session 2 - God Created People

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE WEEK

SUNDAY:

Sunday School Starts

1:30pm Council of Churches at Holy Name Catholic Church

MONDAY:

12:00 noon Quarter Back Club

7:00pm Circle of Kindness

TUESDAY:

9:00am Staff Meeting with Sue

6:30pm Grace circle

Classis - Sanctuary

WEDNESDAY:

9:00-11:00 MOPS

6:30-pm. Midweek activities (1-6 grade)

6:30 pm Handbell practice

7:30 pm Praise Team

8:00 pm Sr RCYF

7:00pm Deacons and Elders meeting

8:00pm full Consistory meeting

THURSDAY:

FRIDAY:

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

SATURDAY:

SUNDAY: