Sunday, December 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 Sunday, December 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent Taste of Christmas Matt. 26:1-30 This morning we welcome the Adult Choir as they bring us the gift of music, singing Angel Song. Thank you for blessing MRC! Next Sunday at MRC Touch of Christmas Luke 1: :30-8:30 PM Traveling Nativity Church Family Prayer We extend our sympathies to Julie & Gary Hegstad in the passing of Julie s dad, Keith. We pray for peace for the family during this time. We extend our sympathies to Billy (and Arla) Korver and Gloria (and Lou) Wierda in the passing of their brother-in-law, David Hulsart. Prayers for peace during this time. We continue to pray for Isaac Schmidt as he receives treatments. We pray that he & the rest of the family are able to remain healthy & that they are able to take each day as it comes. We pray for Debbie Hubers as she recovers from ankle surgery. Prayers for comfort for her during this time and that she may have a speedy recovery. Keep Earl Vore in your prayers as he was recently hospitalized with pneumonia. Pray for strength, comfort, and healing for him. Continued prayers for Arlin B, Joyce G, Denny VO, Brent DK, & Ruth H.

2 Calling all MRC college students! With finals approaching, we want you to be well fed and well loved! We would like to invite you for supper on Tuesday, December 4 at our home in Orange City (714 9th St SE). Supper will be ready by 5:30 so come when you can, come hungry, and even line those pockets with baggies! Please RSVP to Amber by TODAY: We hope to see you there! - Steve & Amber Leusink Live Traveling Nativity December 8-9 Traveling Nativity is this week! Here are a couple reminders for those who have signed up to bring donations or for those who have volunteered for certain roles: Please bring all donations to the Catering Kitchen this week, and please make sure all borrowed items are properly labeled. ALL adult volunteers, please arrive at 4:30 pm prior to each evening for the night(s) you are volunteering for instruction and for a time of prayer in the sanctuary. The Angel Tree will be set up this Sunday, December 2, and December 9. Please have gifts purchased, wrapped and returned by Wednesday, Dec. 12th at the latest to allow plenty of time to have them delivered to families! Gifts should be between $15-20 each and the angel tag placed on the outside. Please contact Kelli Bartlett at if you have any questions and/or if you would be interested in helping deliver the gifts. Thank you for blessing these children! Atlas Christmas items are due this week. Please return your items to the fellowship hall area Sunday or let LaDonna DeVries know if you will have them in later. The Dykstra Family Tip Night The Dykstra s recently joined YWAM, an organization designed to equip and send people out to all nations and spread the gospel. There will be a tip night for the Dykstra family at the Sioux Center Pizza Ranch on December 3 from 5-8 pm. For more information on the Dykstra family, look to the December Maurice Moments. Thank you to everyone who purchased poinsettias! The cost is $12 and can be paid at the church office. Please pay before December 24. Your poinsettias may be picked up after the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. New Consistory Members We would like to welcome aboard the new elders, Dan DeVries, Laura Haverdink, and Stacy Jasper, and deacons, Dan Bruxvoort, Dan Leusink, and Brian Oolman. Thank you for using your gifts & strengths to serve in this way! December s Special Offering: RCA s partner for relief & development World Renew (see Maurice Moments article for details). Please mark your envelope or check with Special and place it with your regular giving in the offering plate.

3 Today we are asking you to mark your offering Christmas Candy if you would like to help purchase the peanuts and candy bags given to each student attending Sunday school. Bags will be given to students after the Christmas program on December 16 There will be NO Pioneer Club in December. Sunday school students in grades 1st-5th are asked to meet for an hour of Christmas Program practice from 6:30-7:30 on December 5 & 12. Any parents that are willing to hang around and supervise would be appreciated! December 5 Students in 1st-4th grade meet in the multipurpose room, 5th graders meet in the sanctuary December 12 All students 1st-5th grade will meet in the sanctuary Sunday School for December: December 2, 9, and 16 students will go to Sunday school as usual. However, there will be practice time built into the Sunday school hour for our program, which will be December 16. There will not be Sunday school on Dec. 23 or 30. October Offerings Mission Fund $45, Sp. Offering for Genesis House Building Fund Thanksgiving Offering $46, Mission Fund Balance October 1, 2018 $ (27,321.40) Mission Fund Offerings 45, Special Offering for Genesis House Misc. Receipts Sale of Crop 34, $53, October Disbursements $ (54,186.04) Balance November 1, 2018 $ (521.83) Building Fund Report Balance October 1, 2018 $308, Offering Interest Total 78, Material for Refuge Project $ (482.45) Balance November 1, 2018 $77, *$279, RCA Church Growth Fund *$11, Savings account Consistory meeting - November 20, 2018 Pastor Ross led us in devotions and Bob Cleveringa opened us in prayer. Reviewed staff reports. Team Reports Asset management Team- M/S/C to approve fund balances VA Team- reviewed updates made to the job description for a Discipleship Pastor, along with some suggested benchmarks. Discussed starting to put together a search team VA will begin putting together a list of potential search team members to bring back to consistory for approval Discussed the process fro the 2019 consistory team nominations, the forms are to be turned in to Alan by Nov. 28th Myron Dekkers closed in prayer.

4 Schedule: December 5 Movie Night I Can Only Imagine December 12 The Incarnation led by Dana VO Lunch Schedule: Lunch is 2 dozen cookies/bars and 2 two liters of pop or juice December 5 Jacob H, Brady VG, Haley H, Kelsey O December 12 Jordan VDH, Carson J, Karter H, Alex VH As a part of our learning related to Jesus and our stuff, the 6th graders are challenging the 7th & 8th graders to see how many turkeys can be purchased and given to those who might not be able to afford one during this holiday season. Jr. GAP Movie Night - Wednesday, December 5 - For Jr. GAP on Dec. 5, we will be enjoying some popcorn and watching the Christian film, I Can Only Imagine. The movie will begin at 6:20 pm and will conclude shortly after 8 pm. Parents, you are invited to join us as well. Bring along a pillow and blanket if you would like! Jr. GAP Students NEEDED for Life Traveling Nativity - We are in need of some students to help with acting for Traveling Nativity on December 8 & 9. Please contact Jon Eveland by December 5 for more information if your Jr. GAPper is interested. By helping, you will receive funds towards Power Connection 2019 cost. Wednesday Night Refuge Worship - Wednesday, December 12 - Join us as we worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ! Practice will be on Sunday, December 9 at 10:45 and on Wednesday, December 12 at 5:15 pm. Jr. GAP Christmas Party - Wednesday, December 19 at 6:20-7:30 Christmas is right around the corner! We are going to celebrate Christmas in Jr. GAP on Wednesday, December 19. There will not be a Wednesday night meal in the Family Life Center, however, we will have plenty of food provided during Jr. GAP for supper. Also, we are challenging Jr. GAPpers to wear their favorite pajamas for the evening (please make sure that they are appropriate to be worn in public). DATES TO REMEMBER: Middle School Retreat Hidden Acres Dayton, IA - April 5-7 Power Connection Minneapolis, MN July 23-28

5 Schedule: December 5 Traveling Nativity Prep/Set up December 12 The Incarnation led by Dana VO Lunch Schedule: Lunch is 2 dozen cookies/bars & 2 two liters of pop/juice December 5 Katie P, AJ S, Angel VZ, Christa VD December 12 Caleb S, Hanah VB, Jacie VW, Brandon VS Live Traveling Nativity - December Traveling Nativity is this week! This event is very special for many in NW Iowa, and many look forward to attending. For Sr. High, On Wednesday, December 5, we will be prepping for Traveling Nativity. Students, please sign up for acting roles in Jon s office. Sign ups for other various roles are available in the fellowship hall. Wednesday Night Refuge Worship - Wednesday, December 12 - Join us as we worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ! Practice will be on Sunday, December 9 at 10:45 and on Wednesday, December 12 at 5:15 pm. Sr. High Christmas Party - Wednesday, December 19 at 7:50-9:00 pm Christmas is right around the corner! We are going to celebrate Christmas in Jr. GAP on Wednesday, December 19. There will not be a Wednesday night meal in the Family Life Center, however, we will have plenty of food provided during Sr. High for supper. Also, we are challenging Sr. Highers to wear their favorite pajamas for the evening (please make sure that they are appropriate to be worn in public). Sr. High Summer International Mission Trip July Eaglecrest Alaska Missions We are excited to announce that we will be partnering with Eaglecrest Alaska Missions (Sutton, Alaska) for our summer mission trip (July 13-20). Though it is not international per se, it is a great distance away, and not part of the lower 48 states and there is great need in the Sutton community for us to come, serve those in need and experience the love of Christ in a much different culture than our own! We will be serving by participating in light construction, relationally with families in need, winterizing homes, chopping wood, potentially helping with a VBS and Summer Day Camp, and perhaps other needs that arise. So far, we have about 30 students who are interested in going, which is awesome! The cost for the trip has not yet been determined, as we await word on the NEXT Gen RCA Scholarship, fundraisers, and airfare costs.

6 Sunday, December 2 Adult Choir 10:45 AM Sunday School 2 PM Pioneer Club Planning Meeting & Meal Monday, December 3 8:30-9:30 AM Fellowship Through Fitness 6:30 PM Bell Choir Tuesday, December 4 9 AM Staff Meeting 1-5 PM Stitches of Love Wednesday, December 5 5:30 PM Meal 6:20 PM Jr. GAP 6:30 PM Christmas Program Practice 7:50 PM Sr. High Thursday, December 6 8:15-9:00 AM Fellowship Through Fitness Saturday, December 8 5:30-8:30 PM Traveling Nativity Sunday, December 9 10:45 AM Sunday School 5:30-8:30 PM Traveling Nativity Wednesday Night Meal Taverns, tater tots, strawberry pretzel salad, chocolate chip cookie Come for a great night of food and fellowship! THIS WEEK NEXT WEEK ORGAN/PIANO Janene VG/Julie V Janene VG/Kristi H NURSERY Karen Leusink, Emily Maassen, Morgan Feenstra Gary & Cherie Van Donkelaar and family PRAYER ROOM Sue De Kok Jill Muilenburg FLOWERS Sharon Plendl Sharon Plendl