WELCOME TO MORNING WORSHIP

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1 T H E L O R D ' S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2, FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT NURSERY TODAY NEXT WEEK KIDS OF LIGHT HALL MONITORS USHERS WELCOME TO MORNING WORSHIP THIS MORNING S MESSAGE THERE S HOPE! THIS MORNING S TEXT Mark 11:20-25 (Pew Bible: Page 1573) See any usher if you need a song sheet or hearing device. Both are available on request Join us for Evening Worship at 6:00 p.m THIS EVENING S MESSAGE PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD THIS EVENING S TEXT Amos 4:1-13 (Pew Bible: Page 1423) MEMBER MINISTRY Jill DeMann, Lynsey & Avery Jager (AM); Lori Schipper (PM) Colleen Broadhurst, Renae Westra & girls (AM); No Nursery (Christmas Event) (PM) Mindy & Carter Stahl, Jenna Marsman, Linda Zeinstra TODAY: Don VerHage; NEXT WEEK: Cora Schaafsma TODAY: Tim Knoper, Jake Sybesma, Caleb Timmer NEXT WEEK: Tim Knoper, Greg Schaafsma, Jake Sybesma Today we remember The Lord's Supper. All those members in good and regular standing of an evangelical church are invited to partake. If you missed this morning's celebration, a Vesper Service will be held in the Pastor s Study immediately after tonight's worship. MRC Calendars and Day Planners will be distributed after the morning worship service. There will be an informational meeting to see if there is anyone interested in going on a work/mission trip to Florida or North Carolina to help with Hurricane Relief this Monday, December 3, 7:00 p.m., at MRC. We are looking at the week of January 13. Call Harvey Leep if you have any questions. Don t forget to put your bid on the quilt in the Friendship Area. This is a fundraiser for the new building project. The auction will end this Tuesday, December 4, before the Congregational Meeting. Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be this Tuesday, December 4, 7:30 p.m., in the downstairs Fellowship Hall. The Jr. High Youth will be serving a Spaghetti Fundraising Dinner prior to meeting (5:30-7:30 p.m.), in the Gym. Please come and support our youth even if you are unable to stay for the meeting. Last Sunday at our Special Congregational Meeting it was voted to approve renovation and construction of a new Narthex, carport, unisex bathroom, and upper parking lot. Pray that God blesses this decision and uses this project to benefit our church and community. LIBRARY NEWS: Congratulations to last week s Library winners: Jackson Kennedy, Margaret Schram, and Ruth Wiley. Also, A BIG congrats to Olphelia Wiersma who guessed within seven pieces in the candy jar! Results of the nomination process for are as follows: Harvey Leep and Bob Modreske as elders; Ben Lyon and Sam Mensch as deacons. Please keep them in your prayers as they anticipate serving in their respective offices. If anyone has a Godly concern as to why any of these men should not be placed in positions of leadership, please contact any elder. There will be NO Romans Bible Study this week. Mark your calendars: The Young Adult Christmas Party will be Sunday, December 16, right after the service. There will be more details to come.

2 For our December Meeting the Prayer Shawl Ministry is going to tour the Allegan Pregnancy Center. Many ladies in our congregation have given their time to hem receiving blankets, make matching burp cloths, knitted and crochet newborn hats for the babies. This has been a fun and exciting time for us and we are looking forward to sharing these gifts. We have a tour arranged for this Thursday, December 6, at 10:30 a.m. We will carpool from our church parking lot at 10:00 a.m. This tour is open to anyone who would like to join us and see the Pregnancy Center. Maybe weather permitting we can extend our day and have lunch together too. There is a sign-up sheet on the table in the Narthex. If you have any questions, please call Linda Hammer Our next scheduled Prayer Shawl working meeting will be Thursday, January 17, 2019 in the Friendship Area. CHRISTMAS EVENT 2018 is only 7 days away: Country choir practice tomorrow night, Monday, December 3, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Drama practice (for ALL 12 speaking parts) happens today during the Sunday school hour in the Sanctuary. Props still needed: artificial Christmas trees undecorated. Please let Sue DeVries know if you have one or two we can borrow. Sign up: If you plan on attending our Christmas Event 2018, please sign up at the table in the Narthex and if you are able to bring veggies/dip or cheese/crackers or bars or cookies please indicate on the sign up form (but please know bringing food is not necessary to attend the program and dinner). The rest of the dinner (pulled pork buns, chips, and drinks will be provided.) ALSO, if you know of any grandparents, extended family or friends that will be attending the Christmas event with you, please give us an approximate number of your group to help us in food preparation. Fliers: There are extra Christmas Event 2018 fliers on the table in the Narthex for you to hand out to family, friends, or co-workers. Encourage them to come hear the real reason for the season!! And don t forget, the program starts at 5:00 p.m. with dinner following in the Gym. Dress Rehearsal 9:30 a.m., this Saturday, December 8, in the Sanctuary. Dress rehearsal is for ALL 12 SPEAKING PARTS AND THE COUNTRY CHOIR (ADULT) (not the Kids Choir). Kids Choir will practice today downstairs as usual AND in the Sanctuary after morning worship next Sunday, December 9. Requested Announcement East Martin Christian School presents "A Christmas Carol: Scrooge in Bethlehem" this Monday, December 3, at 7:00 p.m., in the Gym at EMCS. Please come and enjoy this delightful adaptation of the Dickens tale. Coffee and fellowship to follow. Martin Reformed Church 1073 W. Allegan Street, Martin, MI 49070

3 At our Sunday Evening Service, December 16, Michelle DeMann, accompanied by Julie Leep on the piano, will give a presentation of Mary. The East Martin CRC will join us on this evening. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 18, 6:30 p.m., for a night of Christmas Caroling around the town of Martin. More details will follow. A monetary Christmas gift will be given to Pastor Mark and his family. To be included, drop your gift, marked accordingly, in any offering plate by Sunday, December 16. Your CHRISTMAS CARDS may again be mailed through our Narthex mailboxes. Any cards which are alphabetically pre-sorted are a huge help to us! If possible, please divide cards into three main groups: Alles Kaars Katje Smith Stahl - Zuidema Your "postage money" donated for the sorting of Christmas cards in Narthex mailboxes will again be appreciated. These donations go toward sending personal monetary gifts for both Christmas and birthdays to the missionary wives MRC supports. Your generosity makes it possible for them to enjoy a little pampering they otherwise can't experience. ALSO: If you are willing at any time to work at sorting the cards, your help with this task will be immensely appreciated!! Please join in whenever you are able. Women's Bible Study will start up again on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, and we will study Beth Moore's "Children of the Day". More details to come! Our Fourth Quarter Faith Mission Offering will benefit Words of Hope. If you would like to donate, you may place your gift in an envelope marked accordingly in any offering plate. Martin Resource Center Collections for December will include the following items: laundry soap, fabric softeners, dish soap, dishwasher soap, window wash, disinfectants, mops, brooms, sponges and hand soap. Please leave your donations in the grocery cart in the Narthex. At our Sunday Evening Service, December 16, Michelle DeMann, accompanied by Julie Leep on the piano, will give a presentation of Mary. The East Martin CRC will join us on this evening. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 18, 6:30 p.m., for a night of Christmas Caroling around the town of Martin. More details will follow. A monetary Christmas gift will be given to Pastor Mark and his family. To be included, drop your gift, marked accordingly, in any offering plate by Sunday, December 16. Your CHRISTMAS CARDS may again be mailed through our Narthex mailboxes. Any cards which are alphabetically pre-sorted are a huge help to us! If possible, please divide cards into three main groups: Alles Kaars Katje Smith Stahl - Zuidema Your "postage money" donated for the sorting of Christmas cards in Narthex mailboxes will again be appreciated. These donations go toward sending personal monetary gifts for both Christmas and birthdays to the missionary wives MRC supports. Your generosity makes it possible for them to enjoy a little pampering they otherwise can't experience. ALSO: If you are willing at any time to work at sorting the cards, your help with this task will be immensely appreciated!! Please join in whenever you are able. Women's Bible Study will start up again on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, and we will study Beth Moore's "Children of the Day". More details to come! Our Fourth Quarter Faith Mission Offering will benefit Words of Hope. If you would like to donate, you may place your gift in an envelope marked accordingly in any offering plate. Martin Resource Center Collections for December will include the following items: laundry soap, fabric softeners, dish soap, dishwasher soap, window wash, disinfectants, mops, brooms, sponges and hand soap. Please leave your donations in the grocery cart in the Narthex.

4 Life of the Congregation December 2, 2018 THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE SUNDAY 10:35 AM Coffee/conversation in the Friendship Area. 10:35 AM Children s Choir Three s thru Grade 2: Meet in Fellowship Hall. 10:45 AM Sunday School classes for all ages until 11:30 a.m. 10:45 AM Drama Practice in the Sanctuary. 6:00 PM Evening Worship in the Sanctuary. 6:00 PM Jr. High Youth will meet in the Youth Room for their Annual Christmas Party until 8:00 p.m. (Note: ending time) 6:00 PM Sr. High Youth Small Groups until 8:00 p.m. Girls will meet at VandenBerg s - Guys will meet at Wilson s MONDAY 8:00 AM Open Gym for Walkers: Monday-Friday until 10:30 a.m. 6:00 PM Country Choir Practice in the Sanctuary NO Roman s Bible Study this week. 7:00 PM Informational Meeting for Work/Mission trip. 7:00 PM Women s Volleyball in the Gym until 9:00 p.m. TUESDAY NO Quilting Meeting due to the Congregational Meeting and dinner NO Men s Basketball this week. 5:30 PM Jr. High Spaghetti Fundraiser Dinner until 7:30 p.m. in the Gym. 7:30 PM Annual Congregational Meeting in the downstairs Fellowship Hall. WEDNESDAY 4:00 PM MRC Prays in the Consistory Room. 7:15 PM Second Sunday Worship Team: Musicians. 7:30 PM Second Sunday Worship Team: Vocalists. THURSDAY 10:00 AM Prayer Shawl Ministry will carpool to go to Allegan Pregnancy Center. SATURDAY 9:30 AM Dress Rehearsal for Christmas Event in the Sanctuary. 4:30 PM Sr. High Youth will meet at church to carpool for the Adopt a Family Christmas Project. PRAYER CONCERNS *** Mike Grosser had shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff on Tuesday at Bronson Hospital. Pray for complete healing. *** Marie Knight had foot surgery on Tuesday. Pray for a quick recovery. *** Roger Sikkema s foot is showing improvement. Pray for complete healing. *** Tyler Sikkema will have shoulder surgery on Thursday. Pray for a successful surgery. *** Jonathan Tuinstra had eye surgery to replace a cornea and to remove infection. The cornea is doing well and the infection is stable. He is home, but more surgery is likely. Pray that the eye be saved and that God will heal completely. *** Jessica VandenBerg s dad (Jessica is Chet s wife and Robert and Andrea s daughter-in-law) has recovered from his pneumonia and had triple by-pass heart surgery on Friday. Pray for strength and a complete recovery. *** Ron Westendorp had heart ablation this week at Meijer Heart Hospital. Pray that it will be of great benefit to him. *** Pray for the homeschool group that meets in our facilities every Thursday. *** Pray for MRC moms who are expecting babies this year. *** Pray for the men and women who give of themselves everyday as they serve in our armed forces. Pray also, for our Law Enforcement Officers, EMT Personnel and Firefighters. *** For those with cancer: Shannon Bergsma (Frank & Margaret Schram and Jan & Ron Westendorp s niece); Shirley (sister-in-law to Seymour and Pat DeHaan); Gerry DeHaven (Rachel Katje and Pam Timmer s cousin); Tom Damber (Michelle DeMann s father); Harriet DeVries (Joan Doezema s mother); Reg Iervolina (Sherry Knoper s father); Kimmi McClimans, (Mike and Chris Grosser s cousin); Don Solomon, (Kevin DeMann s grandfather) and Stella Waller (Linda Benwire s sister). REASONS FOR PRAISE *** Praise God for this Advent season in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

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6 6:00 P. M.: We Gather As God s People Prelude Carol Jager Welcome We Praise God in Song Opening Prayer Song Service (Mark Heijerman) Sunday Evening - December 2, 2018 Pastor Mark Heijerman We Turn to God in Prayer and Preparation Time of Prayer Time of Reflection Song of Preparation #170: One Day We Quiet Ourselves to Hear the Word Prayer for Illumination Scripture: Amos 4:1-13 (Pew Bible: Page 1423) Message: PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD Prayer of Application We Respond to the Word Song of Response #245 (vs. 1-2): What If It Were Today? Parting Blessing We Are Sent Forth in the Grace of God Parting Song #245 (last verse): What If It Were Today? Postlude