April 12, 2015 MORNING WORSHIP 9:30 AM. God Calls Us to Worship. God Renews Us By Grace

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1 April 12, 2015 MORNING WORSHIP 9:30 AM God Calls Us to Worship Prelude *Welcome and God s Greeting *Song of Worship: For You Are Holy GEMS Verses GEMS Litany GEMS Songs: God Renews Us By Grace Take My Life I Will Follow You *Song of Worship: #204:1-4 (PH) O Come, My Soul, Bless Thou the Lord (children ages 3 - Kindergarten are dismissed for Children s Church) Offertory Offering: GEMS Girls Clubs God Speaks to Us Through His Word Scripture: Romans 5:1-2 (p. 1116) Sermon: THREE GEMS OF JUSTIFICATION God Blesses Us to Bless Others *Song of Response: #688 (LH) *Benediction *Doxology: Postlude How Vast the Benefits Divine We Receive Your Blessing LEADING US IN WORSHIP Worship Leader & Sermon: Organ: Guitars: Bass Guitar: *Please stand if you are able Pastor Greg Schuringa Donna Erdman Matt Bulthuis, Mike Printz Cassidy Bulthuis (PH-Psalter Hymnal; WC-Worshiping Church)

2 Prelude *Welcome and God s Greeting *Song of Praise: #321:1,2,4 (PH) EVENING SERVICE 6:00 PM We Enter His Presence O Day of Rest and Gladness *Profession of Faith: Belgic Confession, Articles 12 & 13 (pp in the back of the PH) *Song of Worship: Offertory Offering: Before the Throne of God Above #636:1,3,4 (WC) If You Will Trust in God to Guide You We Listen Faith GEMS Girls Club Scripture: Romans 5:3-5 (p. 1116) Sermon: HOW SUFFERING STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH We Are Sent to Serve *Song of Response: #260 (PH) *Benediction *Doxology: Postlude To the Hills I Lift Mine Eyes Step by Step LEADING US IN WORSHIP Worship Leader & Sermon: Piano: *Please stand if you are able Pastor Greg Schuringa Jan Slinkman (PH-Psalter Hymnal; WC-Worshiping Church)

3 WORSHIP AT FAITH In morning worship we look forward to the participation of our GEMS Girls Club and heartily welcome you, if you are a guest with us today because of your daughter s involvement in this special ministry to girls. Thank you for coming to worship our great and loving God with us! In both morning and evening worship, our messages will be in the book of Romans, our evening sermon series of the past several months. In our first service we ll be amazed at Three Gems of Justification, which are precious blessings of God in Jesus that cover our past, our present, and our future. In our second service we ll see that suffering not only does not prevent us from receiving the blessings of God, but in fact strengthens the faith of believers. UPCOMING WORSHIP HIGHLIGHTS April 19 AM: Professions of Faith April 26 AM: Gloryland Band in worship May 3 AM: Baptism Thursday, May 7, 7:00 PM: National Day of Service PRAYER & PRAISE After the morning service, if you have prayer needs, please visit room 1 on the north side of the sanctuary. Pray for wisdom for John and Kathy De Vries as they consider treatment possibilities for John. Please continue to remember Mackenzie Gehrke and Nick Huisman in recovery from surgery. Please pray for Michael Holtrop who will be having surgery related to his Crohn's disease at the University of Chicago Hospital on Thursday, April 16. Remember to pray for those who are unable to join us in worship. Today we think of Bernie & Bernice Lindemulder who live in Elmhurst. Pastor Matthew will be returning to the office this Wednesday after a week of vacation. OFFERINGS Today: AM: GEMS Girls Clubs. PM: Faith GEMS Girls Club. April 19: AM: Faith General Fund. PM: Crossroad Bible Institute. April 26: AM: Timothy Christian School. PM: Lawndale CRC. The Deacons gratefully acknowledge the following offerings in March: $58,800 Faith General Fund $409 CenterPointe Church $340 Faith Benevolent Fund $380 Ebenezer CRC $643 Faith Building Fund $47 Feed My Starving Children $405 Faith Education Fund $380 Grace & Peace Community $2,866 Faith Promise Missionaries $203 PADS $43 All God s Children $322 Rehoboth Christian School $1,361 Back to God Ministries $2,581 Roseland Ministries $72,309 Total offerings for March $3,529 Timothy Christian Schools Actual General Fund receipts from June 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015 totaled approximately $588,000 compared to budgeted receipts of $640,000 or a $52,000 shortfall to budget. Actual accrued expenses for the same period totaled $616,000 or a $28,000 actual shortfall.

4 ANNOUNCEMENTS Faith CRC s Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, May 3, after the morning worship service. All professing members are encouraged to attend. The purpose of this meeting will be: 1) To seek congregational endorsement of Council s budget for the June 2015-May 2016 fiscal year. The budget is a covenant commitment made by our members to support our church s mission and operating expenses. Council encourages both faithful service and giving in recognition that God is the Great Giver who has given the life of His Son for our salvation. Information regarding the proposed budget will be in your mailboxes in the upcoming weeks. 2) To elect new elders and deacons to serve on our Council. Five elders need to be elected to replace five retiring elders. The nominees for the office of Elder are Matt Bulthuis, Pete Holtrop, Ray Middel, Ron Tazelaar, Brent Van Dyk, and Rich Vroom. For the election of elders, Council is asking the congregation for the endorsement of the six nominees. The nominees for the office of Deacon are Cal Boonstra, Paul Boonstra, Al De Los Santos, Peter Groenewold, Jon Kinnas, Chris Slinkman, Mike Speelman, Darrell Stodola, and Matt Tazelaar. Council is asking the congregation to vote for five of these deacon nominees to replace five retiring deacons. The congregation is encouraged to complete proxy ballots if they cannot attend the meeting. Proxy ballots need to be signed by the voting member and be turned in by the start of the meeting to be considered valid. Please pray that our meeting along with the commitments and decisions made will be in accordance with God s will for our church. The Faith Book Club has selected Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? by Tom Doyle for the book to read for April. As a missionary in the Middle East, Tom Doyle has encountered a staggering number of Muslims who have embraced Jesus as their Savior thru dreams & visions. Doyle addresses the questions: Why would God use dreams to reach the Muslim world? Can dreams be trusted? What happens after these dreams or visions occur? Our next meeting is April 21, at 7:00 PM. Creative Connections will be held on Thursday, April 23. Arrive anytime after 6:30 PM. Bring your latest project to work on for an informal evening of crafting and fellowship or sign up in the narthex to make a Chicken Wire Frame. You will need to purchase supplies so please contact Susan Middel at smiddel6@yahoo.com or call her at if you plan to make this month s project. Calling all men, young and old! Come join us for Faith s Springtime Men s Breakfast, April 25, at 7:30 AM. We ll dine on a wonderful spread of goodies cooked by Faith's very own Cadet Leaders, and also enjoy a presentation by AJS (Association for a More Just Society). AJS is dedicated to answering God's call to act justly by pursuing justice for the most vulnerable in our world. The organization s primary work thus far has been in Honduras. Come learn how injustice impacts people's lives and society as a whole, and also hear how Christians are working for justice around the world. Please use the sign-up sheet in the Narthex so we know how many people to cook for. The next Senior Bible Study will meet on Tuesday, May 5, at 1:15. We ll be reading and discussing the article Four Questions about Heaven for our last study this year. You can pick up a copy of the article and discussion questions from the information desk in the narthex.

5 A More Just Society: On April 26 after the morning service, the Adult Ministries Committee is hosting a presentation about justice! Come learn how AJS (Association for a More Just Society) is impacting the lives of the most vulnerable in Honduras by being an advocate for justice. Please join us to hear how injustice impacts people's daily lives and an entire nation. Faith Flower Extravaganza! May 8 & 9 Faith Church will be selling flats of annuals, vegetables and for that perfect Mother s Day gift hanging baskets and patio planters! Proceeds will go towards the Timothy Tuition Assistance Fund. Want to help? Please contact Al Tobin or Randy Heerdt. Save The Date! Faith CRC SpringFest will be Saturday, May 30. Lots of fun activities are being planned. You won t want to miss out! We are currently looking for auction items. If you are willing to donate sports tickets, restaurant gift cards, services (i.e. babysitting, cooking etc.) or brand new, unused items, please contact Jen David at jenbdavid@gmail.com. VBS dates are June 8-11, from 9:00-11:30 AM. You can register online to attend. Please contact our Director of Youth Ministries, Kelly Cornelisse (kcornelisse@faithelmhurst.org), to volunteer or sign up in the narthex. Extra invitations are available at the sign up desk. What does it mean to be a Stephen Ministry church? As God s children, Jesus told us to share His love with one another (John 13:34). How is the Holy Spirit leading you to share that love which He has shed abroad in our hearts? A training class for Stephen Ministry is planned for September. Call Stephen Leaders Grace Harbaugh, , or Dorothy Vanerka, , for information. The Church Property Committee is looking for few people to help create a plan for flowers around the church sign and/or help plant them. We would like to get an order for flowers together soon. If you are interested, please contact Mike Hoving, mjhoving@yahoo.com or TODAY Sunday School meets from 10:45-11:45 AM. Catechism meets from 10:45-11:30 AM. The Sermon Discussion Group will meet in the Choir room at 11:00 AM. PADS sign-up sheets for May 2 & 3 are available in the fellowship hall. Our Church has agreed to provide food & volunteers for P.A.D.S for another month at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church. Your help is appreciated. The Gathering will meet at 7:15 PM. TUESDAY, APRIL 14 Stephen Ministry will meet at 7:15 PM. Feed My Starving Children Service Event at 8:00 PM in Aurora. We are seeking 20 volunteers to pack food for children, supporting a very worthy global ministry. Please sign-up on the sheet at the back of the church. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 Men s Group will meet from 7:00 8:00 AM. Bible Study Fellowship will meet at 9:15 AM. Cadets & Jr. Cadets will meet from 7:00-9:00 PM. We will be making plans for the Chicago West Spring Retreat this Friday & Saturday. Adult Ministries Committee will meet at 7:00 PM. Men s Bible Study will meet at 7:15 PM at the house.

6 THURSDAY, APRIL 16 Women s Bible Study will meet at 9:00 AM. The Gathering Taco Dinner will be from 5:00 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall. This year we are raising money for the gathering to go to the Live It Conference. Night of Worship at 7:00 PM. Join us for a special mid-week hour of worship led by our worship team musicians, with Mac Weiner bringing the message. Evening Women s Bible Study will meet at 7:15 PM. FRIDAY, APRIL 17 Cadets will leave Church at 6:00 PM for the Chicago West Spring Retreat/Competition Day. More information is in your mail box or on the sign-up table in the narthex. Humboldt Community Christian School Auction will be held in the Fellowship Hall. Silent Auction begins at 6:30 PM, live auction at 7:00 PM. YOUTH NEWS 4/24 Asylum & the Gathering are going rock climbing. Please meet at church at 5:30 PM. The cost will be $10. Waivers will be handed out and need to be filled out and brought with. 4/25 Attention Jr. Cadets & 4 th grade Cadets: We are going to the Jelly Belly factory on April 25, leaving church at 12:00 PM. Fathers are welcome to join us. Rides and lunch will be provided. Any questions, please call Peter Holtrop, /15 The Cadet Father/Son Campout is May This is for all Fathers & Sons of all ages. Save the date! More information to follow. SERVING FAITH CHURCH Welcome Center: Chuck Smith Next Week: Len Turnbull Greeters: GEMS Girls Club, Diana De Boer & Flory Hoving Next Week: John & April Kieft Technology Committee, Ryan & Sara Swanson Saratoga Driver: Bill Ridder Next Week: Randy Van Dahm Kitchen: Dave & Marsha Printz, Al & Jannie Vanderschoot Next Week: Scott & Sandy Roelofs, Doug & Dorothy Vanerka Kitchen Servers: Darrell & Linda Stodola Next Week: Harry & Alida Boerman Library: Jeri Cook, Betty Klaassens Next Week: Chuck Slinkman Audio Visual: Steve David, Chris Kakabeeke, Charles Hooker Next Week: Steve De Boer, Mike Speelman, Adam Zarek Infant Nursery: Rachel Baron, Jill Groenewold, Zavien Baron, Lauren Gehrke Next Week: Laurie Van Dahm, Laurie Vander Naald Sarah Printz, Kelli Van Dahm Toddler Nursery: Mary Huizinga, Joy Koopmans Sydney Bulthuis, Karoline Monaco Next Week: Melinda Eizinga, Stephanie Huizinga Ryan De Boer, Grace Lindemulder PM Nursery: Linda Van Dyk, Hannah Schuringa Next Week: Jen David, Etta Veenstra