Sunday February 18, 2018 First CRC Real people. Real life. Together. With God.

Transcription

1 Sunday February 18, 2018 First CRC Real people. Real life. Together. With God. Welcome! We come to call upon the Lord to whom all praise is due. Lift up your heart and sing joyfully to our Lord God Almighty! WE GATHER FOR WORSHIP Prelude Opening Hymn: By Faith Call to Worship: Psalm 27:4,5,6 God s Greeting: Narda We welcome each other *Opening songs of worship: You Are My All in All Glorify Thy Name Alleluia FAMILY TIME Sharing, Thrive Time & Congregational Prayer Bruce Bielema WE WORSHIP GOD WITH OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS We give our gifts for Christ and His Kingdom: General Fund, Cadets (Please fill in the fellowship pads and pass to the center aisle during the offering) As the second offering is being passed, please send your children to the front of the sanctuary for the children s message. GOD SPEAKS TO US Children s Message: Stacy Stephenson Scripture: Micah 6:8, Psalm 86:11-12 Message: DOING HIS W-I-L-L WE RESPOND TO GOD S WORD Song of Thanksgiving: Here I Am Lord WE DEPART WITH GOD S BLESSING *Blessing *Song of Parting: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow *Postlude *Please stand if able

2 SERVICES AND EVENTS Today we welcome Narda Alvelo to share God s word with us. Upcoming Services February 25-Roger Weis March 4-Rev. John Byker March 11-Ken Renkes Upcoming Meetings February 19 TLT Meeting - 7:00 pm at Bethel. OUR CHURCH FAMILY Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 Gayle Dykstra had a follow-up appointment with the surgeon in Iowa City on Monday. She received a good report on her knee replacement but her foot still hurts quite a bit. They did an MRI with results expected in a few days. On Tuesday she suffered a seizure and went to the ER for treatment but was not admitted. The doctors feel the cause was a combination of medications and adjusted the dosage of her anti-seizure medication. Please pray for relief and healing. Myrna Dykstra returned home Saturday the 10th following three nights in the hospital. Her heart has been returned to normal rhythm and fluid around the lungs has been relieved. She is feeling better but is still weak. Pray for healing and strengthening. Jessi Gilliam, daughter to Mike and Peg Wessels and granddaughter to Arlene Stuart and Marlene Wessels, suffered cardiac arrest on Friday February 9. She was revived and a heart beat was restored. She has been placed in a medically induced coma to prevent seizures. A MRI revealed significant brain damage, we are asking for prayers for peace and comfort for the family as decisions are being made. Pray that they feel the Lord s loving embrace through this difficult time. There is a givesendgo.com account that has been set up to help with medical costs and the needs of the 2 children. You can access it by going to Peg Wessels or Jessi Gilliam s Facebook page and click on the link or go to givesendgo.com website and enter Jessi Gilliam and donate.

3 Devin Holesinger, son of Bill and Donna Holesinger and grandson of Rich and Judy Holesinger, underwent a successful heart valve replacement surgery on Tuesday. Pray for a rapid recovery. Kathleen Schipper, Leanna Schipper s daughter-in-law, recently had a two-month check with the doctors in Iowa City. She was relieved to learn that hip pain she had been experiencing was due to inflammation and not due to the cancer. She also received good news that her cancer number had gone down quite a bit after rising for several months. From her CaringBridge journal: Thanks again for all the love and support! As I tell those that ask please don't stop sending those prayers. I need them and they keep me going every day. Love you all and hope all is well! Harbor Crest: Irma Balk, Clara Klavenga, Arlene Stuart, Alva Jean Meurs, Bill Schaver, Bob Sikkema, Pleasant View: Henrietta Fiet Alverno: Gladys Venema Hammet House Home (Sterling): Jane Sikkema Home: Albert Wiebenga, Ken Bielema, Carroll Eizenga, John & Dorothy Salverda, Bernie & Margie Vogel THRIVE MINISTRIES Thrive is requesting the input of each congregation concerning the future direction of Thrive Ministries. Surveys are being distributed at each church to help define the Thrive mission and objectives. This input will be used to identify staffing and resource needs going forward. Our surveys should be in your mailboxes today. Please give this matter thought and prayer. We would like to have completed surveys returned to any Council member or on the back table by March 11. The Kretschman family safely arrived to their new home in PA. May God continue to bless them as they begin this new journey. College Care Packages Thrive Enfolding Committee would like to accept donations again for the college care packages. We will be collecting items until February 25. The boxes will be mailed out by March 3. There are some items left over from the Fall mailing, we have several packages of popcorn so that is not needed this time. There is a list in your mailbox today of items needed, and a box for collection will be in the narthex. We will also accept cards and notes for the students to put into the care packages we send out. We also encourage members of the congregations to send cards and/or notes or even care packages on their own to the students. The more outpouring of love they receive from the churches, they more we as a church body are able to stay connected with the students.

4 COUNCIL NEWS Council Action: At Tuesday s meeting, the Council approved the request of Chris VanderEide to transfer her communicant membership and Aaron s baptismal membership to Bethel CRC. We are sorry to see them go but give thanks for all their contributions to our congregation and wish them well in our sister church. DEACONS NEWS Offering received: 2/11//18 Amount budgeted per week: $1, Amount received: $ Amount short: $ Unity Christian School Booster Fund: $ Offerings today: General Fund: Cadets Offerings next Sunday: General Fund: Faith Promise YOUTH NEWS Youth Group will meet Sunday pm at First CRC at 5:30 pm! We will be watching the movie "War Room" as a final session on the series of prayer. Parents/guardians and congregation are invited to join us. We will start the movie at 5:45 sharp! Please bring a finger food to share. Our local sponsor is the Clinton Humane Society. Any pet item is welcome. SWEETHEART DINNER - Thank you to who helped make the event a success! INVITE YOUR FRIENDS: If you know of anyone 8th grade through college age please invite them to come to YG with you...we love to meet new friends! CHURCH NEWS January Financial Reports are on the bulletin table for anyone to take. Ladies Steering Committee As you know, our congregational numbers have dwindled significantly. Our lists for the steering committee are outdated as we have the names of people in nursing homes still on these lists. To save time, will you please sign and leave a good phone number on the paper in the back of church if you are willing and able to help work at funerals or if you can assist by bringing in salads or desserts to be served at funerals. Thank you in advance for your willingness to help with these responsibilities.

5 Easter Lilies Anyone interested in purchasing an Easter Lily in memory of loved ones, please contact Brenda Bousman at or drop off a note in her mailbox. The cost will be $11.25 per lily. We will need to know who it is in memory of and who it is from. Last day to order will be Sunday, March 11. Thursday: This is our scheduled week for donating items to the Fulton Food Pantry. This month the suggested donations are Jello or canned fruit. Newsletter Please turn in any newsletter articles or pictures to the church office by February 23. COMMUNITY NEWS Come to First Reformed Church, th Ave., Fulton, for Breakfast on March 4 from 7:00-9:00 a.m. and 10:00-11:30 a.m. We are raising money for Clair & Marcia Lathrop so they can purchase a Service Dog. The service dog will help Marcia through her various stages of Alzheimer's. The menu is Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Hash Brown Potatoes, Cheesy Potatoes, Fruit, and Pastries. Cost is by donation. Come join us! Unity Christian Preschool and Child Care will hold its Preschool Round Up on Thursday, March 1, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. (open house). Come and tour the classrooms, meet our teachers, and check out our curriculum. UCPC is located at th Street in Fulton. If you need more information, please call Please share with others who may be interested in a Christian preschool. Advance Notice Self Help Enterprises will be having its Semi-Annual Pancake Day on Saturday, March 3 rd. More details later. WEEKLY CALENDAR Sunday, February 18 9:00 am Worship Service 5:30 pm Youth Group Monday, February 19 7:00 pm TLT Bethel

6 MINISTRIES OF HOSPITALITY Today Next Sunday Ushers Jon & Lynell Bruce Bielema, Andrew Dykstra Breidenbach Greeters Roger & Amy Dykstra Sam Dykstra, Mark Spangler Nursery Care Amy Dykstra Stacy Stephenson Coffee Bruce & Lori Bielema, Roger & Eileen Frazier Servers Provide Lori Bielema, Leanna Eileen Frazier, Geneva DeWitt Cookies Schipper Song Leader Praise Team Praise Team Children s Stacy Stephenson Lauren Medenblik Message Writing to Lynda Vander Eide Lynda Vander Eide Shut Ins Recorder & Sound Joe Vander Eide David Dykstra Facebook: Fulton 1 st Christian Reformed Church Office: Church -Kay:firstcrcfulton@live.com Website: Secretary: Kay Bielema Bulletin announcement deadline: Thursday 5 p.m.