Platte Christian Reformed Church

Transcription

1 Platte Christian Reformed Church In All Things, Christ Pre-Eminent Pastor Drew Hoekema Prepare the way of the Lord Joy Sunday, December 17, :30 AM Coffee & Prayer Times 10:00 AM Morning Worship Service 11:15 AM PreK 8th Program Practice 11:15 AM Senior High Catechism Class 11:15 AM Fellowship Time 5:45 PM PreK 8th Program Dress Rehearsal 7:00 PM Christmas Program 520 Wyoming Ave, PO Box 386, Platte SD Phone: Website: plattecrc.org Mission Statement To Know Christ-as Savior and Lord To Be Like Christ-by Our Words and Actions To Share Christ-at Home and Throughout the World

2 December 17, 2017 Morning Worship Service The Third Sunday of Advent Organist: Jan Van Zee Violin: Rheanna Pheifer God Gathers Us to Worship Him Prelude Call to Worship *God s Greeting *Song of Praise: PH 340: 1,4,5 Angels from the Realms of Glory We Hear God s Will and Confess Our Sins Call to Confession Prayer of Confession Song of Response: What Child is This? Lighting of the Third Advent Candle We Bring God Prayer and Gratitude Children s Message *Song of Gratitude: CH 270 Joy to the World! Congregational Prayer Offering: Dakota Christian School Offertory Prayer God Speaks to Us by His Word Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (pg 302) New Testament Reading: Luke 13:31-35 (pg 1621) Sermon: What Child is This? The Silent Word is Pleading Moment for Reflection Prayer for Application We Are Sent Out in God s Blessing *Song of Response: CH 408 How Firm a Foundation *Benediction *Doxology: CH 258 Go, Tell It on the Mountain *Moment for Meditation *Postlude

3 Please join us this evening at 7:00 PM for our Annual Sunday Christmas Program Greetings from the Heart Living Christmas Cards Parents please have your children here by 5:45 PM to start preparing for the program. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased! Luke 2:14 WELCOME: In this wintry and snowy time of the year, we gather here for worship of our Triune God. We praise His name for the gift of His Son to us, born to die in our stead, so that by grace we might be raised from death to life. May our worship be more acceptable to Him than the gold, frankincense or myrrh of the Wisemen. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall following the morning service for refreshments and fellowship. Children aged 3-5 meet your teacher in the foyer during the offering this morning for Children s Church. Christmas Program practice will continue for grades PreK-8 th after the morning service. High School Students: Instead of meeting for catechism today, please help out the children as they prepare for tonight s Christmas Program. ABOUT OUR MESSAGES This morning, we continue answering the question of the Our morning message continues our Advent sermon series, What Child is This? The carol says that the Christian ought to fear, for The Silent Word is Pleading. This leads us to recognize the child as not only bringing a word or a message from God, but being the word from God. In Luke 13:31-35, Jesus refers to Himself as a prophet committed to a mission that ends in the city where prophets go to get killed, Jerusalem. In a world intent on putting the lights out, we look again to this prophet and His light to bring us life.

4 PRAYERS AND PRAISES Thank you so much for the care package! It has managed to surprise me each year of school, and I'm so grateful. Have a merry Christmas! Thank you! ~Leanna Johnson OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS Next Sunday, Christmas Eve Reminders: there will be NO Children s Church during the morning worship. Please note that the Evening service will start at 5:00 PM. Meals for Sheryl: The Special Needs Coordinators will be making a new meal schedule soon. There will be a sign up sheet available for those who would like to add or remove their name in the foyer. Please be watching for the new schedule in your mailbox soon! Thank you to those who have provided meals these last few months. The meals have been much appreciated! Church Membership: For those who wish to take the next step toward becoming a full member of Platte CRC, Pastor Drew is leading a Covenant Commitments class starting in January. The class is broken up into four hours, unpacking the four commitments you make in becoming a member of this church family. All those who desire to be baptized, to profess their faith, or simply learn more about our church are welcome to be involved. Please contact Pastor Drew or your district elder by December 31. Your donations are transforming lives! Thank you for your recent offerings. Through your support, prayers and involvement, World Renew can intervene in our hurting world, bringing practical help in development, justice and disaster response programs that create positive, permanent change. The scale of need around our world is beyond comprehension, especially recently with hurricanes, wildfires, and refugees -- as well as the disasters, poverty and injustices that don t make the news. It is in times like these that we can find comfort in remembering that our world still belongs to God. We invite you to join together in prayer for our hurting world -- visit worldrenew.net/ pray for specific ways to pray for World Renew's ministry.

5 Give God thanks for the progress in planting a fourth CRC on the west side of Sioux Falls. Rev. Peter Kelder of Resonate Global Mission has assessed the opening steps and encourages us to proceed. Beginning in January, Pastor Cliff Hoekstra will be working with Sioux Falls Seminary to potentially identify a planter and begin the first steps of planting. God has been answering our prayers so please keep praying so we can praise Him. Thank you. Yours, Jack Gray for the Church Plant Committee of Classis Iakota The Helping Hands Food Pantry would like to thank the CRC congregation for all your support in Whether you supplied our shelves or gave monetarily, we appreciate your help! This is a great local mission that assists families that need a helping hand. As we approach another holiday season we are again truly grateful for your commitment to the Luke Society. We consider Platte Christian Reformed Church to be an ally in bringing hope to this broken world. We are so thankful for your partnership and financial support which enables Luke Society directors to use their gifts in health care as a tool for bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news! (Isaiah 52:7). Those members of a CRC congregation within Classis Iakota who are feeling the call to pursue the Gospel Ministry within the Christian Reformed Church are invited to contact the Classical Ministerial Leadership Team about receiving various forms of support, such as orientation for seminary training, having a mentor, and obtaining financial aid. Please notify Rev. Cory Van Sloten, by January 1, 2018 at cory.vansloten@gmail.com. AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS Dakota Christian School has been blessed with a $50,000 match donation challenge throughout the month of December. Every dollar donated to the school s general fund will be matched, up to $50,000. So far, we have been blessed with close to $21,000 in matching donations. Thank you to all who have donated thus far, and may the LORD continue to move in the hearts of His people.

6 The Grief Support Group will be Monday, December 18 at noon in the chapel of the Good Samaritan Society-Corsica. Lunch will be provided. No cost or obligation. If the weather is questionable, please call to check for cancellation. Harvest Hands Ministries/Resplandor De Vida Children s Home [Juarez, MX] short term missions trip is scheduled for January There are still a few spots available! Contact Karla Sock Donations needed from baby to adult sizes to be handed out during this January trip. Drop socks in the black tote in the Fellowship Hall. Donations are welcome as we continue work on the 2 nd dormitory. Please make checks out to Justice for All, and put in Karla s mailbox. Men s Retreat: January at New Hope Christian Camp & Retreat Center. Check out the flyer on the bulletin board for more information. ABOUT OUR OFFERINGS Our offerings this week are for Dakota Christian School. Dakota Christian School educates children and young people from the perspective of God s Word, in the Holy Bible, in all subjects. We emphasize God s truth in all areas of life to equip students for service in our world today and tomorrow. (from dchs.net) Our offerings next week are for The Banquet in Sioux Falls. The Banquet meal ministry was founded in 1985 starting with just one meal per week. We now serve 13 meals per week at two locations. The Banquet is a volunteer-based ministry, which means our meals are paid for, prepared by, and served by volunteer groups who come from Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. In 2016, The Banquet served 196,000 meals, and at least 25,000 of those meals were served to children under 12. We go through approximately 15,000 gallons of milk each year. (from thebanquetsf.org)

7 ADVANCE NOTICES *Sun, Dec 24, 5:00 PM Christmas Eve Service *Sun, Dec 31, Fun & Fellowship Game Night after evening service *Tue, Jan 2, 6:00 PM Deacon Meeting *Tue, Jan 2, 7:00 PM Council Meeting *Sun, Jan 7, 11:15 AM Sunday School starts *Sun, Jan 14, 2:30 PM Care Center Devos, Gp #1 [FYI- Care Group #1 is in line for the next activity]

8 Church Calendar for This Week Wednesday -6:30 & 7:00 AM Men s Bible Studies -7:00 PM Junior High Youth Group This Week Sunday, December 17, 2017 Offerings: Dakota Christian School Toddler Church: Abby Buitenbos Nursing Home Visitors: Gerald & Vonnie Kuipers Letters to Kevin Burma: Mel & Ruth Vanden Bos Valet Attendant: Jeremy Bultsma, Ken Van Zee Ushers: Mel Vanden Bos, Elmer Visscher, Jon Backes Sound System: Duane Meyerink Projection: Chase Pheifer Nursery: Jan Hansum, Jon Vanden Hoek Greet/Coffee: Gerald Kuipers, Jim Buitenbos Next Week Sunday, December 24, 2017 Offerings: The Banquet, Sioux Falls Toddler Church: NONE Nursing Home Visitors: Ken & Nancy Van Zee Letters to Kevin Burma: Darrel & Mary Kraayenbrink Valet Attendant: Vic Bultsma, Brent Veurink Ushers: Travis Vanden Bos, Alan Weg, Albert Beltman Sound System: Joel Sybesma Projection: Jeremy Bultsma Nursery: Carol Kaemingk, Peter Backes Greet/Coffee: Jerome Bentz, Mel Vanden Bos Pray for Our Fellowship Sunday Missionaries: LaVeryl & Max Voss (Danika, Braden, Mikayla) Wycliffe Papua, New Guinea Monday Special Grace: Harriet Sprik, Betty Van Zee Tuesday: Bob, Corinne, Danica & Alyssa Middendorp Wednesday: Harlan & Judy Van Genderen, Megan Boltjes Thursday: Ken & Nancy Van Zee, Alicia Bultsma Friday: Gary & Marsha Vanden Bos, Elaine Dyk Saturday: Elmer & Judie Visscher, Ramona Dykstra