ANNOUNCEMENTS A sincere thank you to all of those who remembered us with prayer, cards, food and visits after my surgery and hospital stay. It was very much appreciated and we are grateful to God for the healing mercies He has provided. We are praying that it will continue! Thanks again! Bob and Ruth Congratulations Jakob, Janessa and Cora VanderVelde! This family was blessed with a new baby boy! Thomas Jakob was born on Monday, Thomas and Janessa returned home and are doing well! New Era Christian Reformed Church "Growing in Relationship with God, with Each Other, and with our Community" Help Needed: Sunday School Teacher for Grades 4-8. Although we are happy that Jeff Weesies has been selected as a Deacon, we are sad that he will not be able to teach Sunday School because of the conflict during 11:00-11:45 on Sunday mornings. Thank you to Jeff for your willingness and skill to teach the past few years. If you are interested in helping with four fun-loving and creative boys, please let Sharon Zoller know before the end of the year. For those who would like to add their voices to a male and female ensemble Christmas Day! THREE songs and TWO practices (come to at least one!) Songs will be on the mailbox shelf for you to take! Worship Workshop: 5:15 p.m. Monday and Saturday, 22nd: 10:00 a.m. Just show up!...(that's 99% of serving, you know!) Help us Rejoice! Sing Joy! Celebrate Jesus! Inspirational Calendars: A big Thank You to all of you who purchased a calendar and a special Thank You to Loie Hoekstra for donating the profits of this fundraiser to Women's Fellowship Missionary Christmas Gifts this year. The members of Women's Fellowship Please take a moment to remember our shut ins and those who cannot worship with us regularly with a Christmas card. Sign your cards and place in the appropriate bag in the Narthex. Today is the last Sunday the cards and gift bags are available. NECS Christmas Concert - Please join us tomorrow evening, December 17, at 7:00 p.m. for our annual Christmas Concert. NECS Bands and Choir will be featured. Sunday Worship Services 9:30a.m. and 6:00p.m 1820 Ray Avenue - New Era, MI 49446 (231-861-5554) www.neweracrc.or
Sunday ~December 16, 2018 SCHEDULES THIS WEEK'S... 8:59a.m - A Prayer Time in the council room. Everyone welcome! Greeters - Phil, Missy, Anna, Matthias, and Eli Morse Nursery Providers - Janet Meyers, Ruth Prince, Anna Morse Sound System - Scott Meyers Children's Message - Terri Langerak After Morning Worship - Coffee and Fellowship Adult and Children's Sunday School EVENING WORSHIP - 6:00PM TEXT: 1 Samuel 10 Join us for a time of Praise, Prayer, and Listening to God's Word. MONDAY: 5:-30p.m. - Worship Workshop MONDAY: 7:00p.m. - NECS Christmas Concert TUESDAY: 9:30a.m. - Coffeebreak NERC - Christmas Party! WEDNESDAY: 1:00p.m. - Prayer Shawl Ministry WEDDNESDAY: 3-5p.m. - Personal Care Pantry Volunteers: Sue Vriesman, Helen VanderMey NEXT WEEK'S... 8:59AM: A time of prayer seeking God's presence and blessing as we worship Him. Everyone welcome! Please join us in the council room. Greeters: Ruben and Debra Gaitan Christmas Day: Tom and Betty TenBrink Nursery Providers: Barb Reed, Margaret Bruinsma, Stephanie Weesies Coffee and Cookies: Bob and Ruth Eekhoff, Jerry and Debbie Newmyer, Jed and Nicole Kostal Sound System: Dexter Weesies Children's Message: Phil Morse Offering: General Fund ADDITIONAL DATES TO REMEMBER... December 23 - Our children will present to us "The Ornaments of Christmas." December 25-9:30a.m. - Christmas Day Worship Service December 30-9:30a.m. - Installation of elders and deacons. December 30-6:00p.m. - New Year's Eve Service WORSHIP NOTES Welcome to all who are worshiping with us today! As we gather together in response to our Lord's call to worship, may we hear His word with gladness, respond with hearts of love and gratitude, and go forth from this place with renewed commitment to serve Him every day. Please join us for coffee and cookies following our service. A nursery for infants and toddlers is available in the basement. We also have a quiet viewing room in the Upper Room, access in the narthex, for those who need to leave the sanctuary but would like to view the worship service. The ALS System is available for those with hearing impairments. Christmas draws closer each week. TODAY is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. We celebrate Jesus' birthday while waiting for his return. But our life is not all about waiting. You see heaven has come to us already. Through the powerful working of God's Holy Spirit we are one with Christ. Who we are is connected to Jesus and to heaven. We celebrate communion today. If you are truly sorry for your sins, sincerely believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, earnestly desire to live a Godly life, and are a participating (professing) member in a Christian Church you are invited to join us at the table. We celebrate God's grace as Rachel Bruinsma professes her faith in Jesus. PRAYER CONCERNS Our church family members dealing with cancer: Henry Hoekstra, Cal Weesies, Jan Wiersema, Shirley VanDrie Roger Westrate - dealing with Parkinson's Disease. Lois Bush and Ruth Eekhoff as they continue to heal and gain strength. Lifting Our Lambs to the Shepherd ~ Jeff and Linda Wiersema ~ Lois Bush Proverb of the Month: "Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters. " Prov.25:13
The Lord s Day ~Sunday, December 16, 2018 Pastor Greg Dyk ~ Morning Worship 9:30am "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6, 7 God Gathers Us In His Presence Prelude *Opening Song: LUYH#95:1, 3 "What Child is This?" Call to Worship - Isaiah 61:1-3 *Song of Praise: LUYH#80:1, 3 "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" *Welcome and God's Greeting God's Promise to Us - Zephaniah 3:14-17 Song -Sung by Debbie Newmyer "I Believe" Prayer by Congregation: "O God, you make us glad by the yearly celebration of the birth of your only son, Jesus Christ. Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence, behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN" Children's Message - Terri Langerak Lighting of the Advent Candle: JOY *Song of Response: "He Came Down" 1."He came down that we may have Hope, he came down that we may have Hope, he came down that we may have Hope. Hal-le-lu-jah forevermore. 2. He came down that we may have Peace... 3. He came down that we may have Joy... To Listen to His Word Scripture: Colossians 2:6-12 pg. 1833 Message: "When Heaven Came to Us" To Celebrate Grace at the Lord's Supper We Come to the Table *Song: LUYH#92:1, 3 "Joy to the World" *Apostle's Creed We Celebrate the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God our Father Thank Offering for Missions Song: LUYH#98:1, 2, 3 "Good Christian Friends Rejoice" To Go Out and Serve *God's Blessing *Sending Song: LUYH#93 3 "Go, Tell It on the Mountain" Postlude There are a few Lift up your Heart hymnals on the counter in the narthex. If you prefer to use a book rather than the power point, feel free to use one during worship. Please return the hymnals to the counter after worship. SERMON NOTES To Give God Thanks Profession of Faith by Rachel Bruinsma Congregational Prayer Offering: General Fund While offering is taken we will sing: LUYH#86: 1, 2, 3 "Away in a Manger "