Announcements for 11-16-25

It’s Operation Christmas Child Collection Week! Please be in prayer as our church will be a drop-off location this coming week. Area churches, families, and individuals will be bringing boxes to our church to be packed and readied for shipment. There’s still time to pack a box of your own! Deadline is next Sunday, November 23^rd.

Operation Christmas Child drop off times & Dates: 

1-3pm November 17      10-12pm November 21

4-6pm November 18       10-12pm November 22

10-12pm November 20  1-4pm November 23

                     8-10am November 24  

The November Bridge Newsletter is now available in the clear boxes next to the mailboxes it will no longer be available on online, so please visit the church to pick up a copy.

Secretary’s office hours: ~ Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9-1                                                     

**Bulletin announcements are due on Fridays at 9am. Thanks** 

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“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”- Psalm 56:3

Our prayer concerns….                                                                                                                                      

Marlene Flier (healing after hip surgery)                                        

Paul Van Wyhe (healing after hip replacement)

Jeff Hrdicka (radiation & chemo treatments)                       

Merlin Groen

Betty Vanden Heuvel                                                       

Rod Grooters                                                                                           

Alice Feikema  (Hospice)                                                  

JoAnn Douglas

Karen Flier                                                                     

Twilla Hoekstra (Fellowship Village-Inwood)

Janice Den Besten                                                           

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)

Ron & Cathy Birkeland                                                           

Todd Altman (Jack & Esther Altman’s son)            

Kathy Van Olst                                                                      

Bill Saeger (Jackie Groen’s brother) 

Mandie Sprock (Marilyn Mammenga’s daughter)                       

Russ Carver (Rachelle Johnsen’s dad)

Kathleen Jacobsma (Brenda Vanden Top & Barb Tilstra’s mom)

~Thank you for all the cards and text messages while I was in the hospital getting a cement spacer placed in my knee. Also thank you to air Care Elder Mary Hoogers visit. ~Scott Hunt

Birthday & Anniversary List (if you’d like a copy, please see church office)

Remembering our Nursing Home, Assisted Living & Senior Living Residents:

Pearl Folkens                                Wilma DeRoo                       JoEllen Sorgdrager 

Ruth Van Aartsen                        Joyce Mellema                        Donna Kwikkel                     Harriet Hoff                                 Alice Feikema                                                   

Addresses available upon request at church office

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Surviving the Holidays (a one-night grief seminar)

November 24^th @ 6:30pm- everyone is welcome

(if you have any questions, please contact Amy Ryals)

The Sanctuary will be open for Prayer on Wednesday from 12-2

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: On November 16, 2025 we will be hosting our annual Volunteer Fair. Prayerfully consider where you will serve in 2026! See the list and descriptions of volunteers needed in the November edition of “THE BRIDGE”. Registration date: November 16-23 in the gathering space.

~2025 General and benevolent budgets have been placed in mailboxes and sent out. Copies of the budget are available at the church office if you didn’t receive one. We will hold a budget meeting today November 16^th from 10:45am-11:45am in the sanctuary. Thanks ~FRC Deacons

Club 512 Volunteers for 11-19-25

Games:               

 1^st & 2^nd                                               3^rd&4^th                                                5^th&6^th 

Maddie Van Der Weerd                   Jonathon Kock                                    Leo Groen

 Mali Kellenberger                          Lincoln Klosterbuer                         Liam VanderZee

   Anika Springer                                 Brody Buntjer                                   Jayden Daale

    Lily Jurrens                                                                                                  Connor Altman 

Club 512 Snack helpers: Debbie Crane & Jan Spyksma 

Midweek Meal Helpers: Audra Klinkenborg, Kay Wynia, Rachelle Johnsen, Kellie Menning & Carol Oliver 

Nursing Home Chaperone: 

Church and Area Happenings: 

"Join us for a time of food, fun, and fellowship with a potluck following church service on November 16th. Bring your favorite dish to share as we grow together with our church family. All are welcome to attend!"

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 November 16, 2025 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “Abide”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

Congregational Meeting

Praise Service:

“Great Things”

“Good Ground”

Congregational Prayer

Offering Hymn: “10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)”

(offering plates will be passed)

“Doxology” #625

(Children & Worship may be excused)

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Luke 15: 1-10

Sermon: The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin

Communion

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Benediction

Sending Hymn: “Soon And Very Soon”

(6^th Grade and below may be excused for Sunday School)

Mission statement: “TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS!”

Serving us today 11-16-25

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Rich & Denise Roskam (S) Curt & Hedy Kruger (SE) Curt & Sandy Wynia

NURSERY- Aubrey Kirch, Brielle VanderLee & Danielle Grooters

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Men’s Ministry (Monkey Bread for free will donation)

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)-  Men’s Ministry

CHILDREN & WORSHIP:  Leader: Taylor Bosch         Greeter: Ashlyn & Brooklyn Timmerman 

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- Jerry Pytleski

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Karol Hanson

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Lindsey Anderson

SOUND SYSTEM- Sawyer Hrdlicka

VIDEO TAPING- Breyden Dieren

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Elise Kahl

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Shannon Rodger

VAN DRIVER- Lucas Bouwman

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

Serving us next week 11-23-25

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Jordan & Kellie Menning (S) Jeff & Danielle Hrdlicka (SE) Eric & Amy Hartter

NURSERY- Olivia Lyman & Jayda Pytleski

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Wendy & Heath Huisman

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)-  Shawn & Heather Van Wyhe

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER- 

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES- Rachelle Johnsen

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR- Tara Bouwman

SOUND SYSTEM- Dustin Bosch

VIDEO TAPING- Johathan Kock

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Berlyn DeWit

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- April DeWit

VAN DRIVER- Shawn Van Wyhe

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

ELDERS

Chris Wright, Clerk-2023-25

Sharon Postma, VP-2023-25

Nate Schulte -2024-26

Randy Bosch-2024-26

Joel Vis- 2025-27

Rodney Vanden Top- 2025-27

DEACONS

Rob Van Hofwegen, Property Chair-2023-25

Justin Groen -2023-25 

Mark Boender-2023-25

Shawn Van Wyhe, Benevolent Treas. -2024-26

Jordan Menning, Chair of Deacons -2024-26

Evan Metzger, General Treas./ Personnel chair-2024-26

Kade Griesse, Clerk of Deacons- 2025-27

Brad Rypkema-2025-27

Jerry Mulder- 2025-27

                                            FINANCIALS as of 11-9-2025     

                               Last Sunday                      YTD Offerings                     YTD Budget

General Fund:         $21,462.18                        $501,826.42                         $593,275.50

Benevolent Fund:  $525.30                             $193,649.50                       $173,889.00

                                       *Online donations are now added to designated funds*      

Sunday School 11-9-25

                        Last Year’s Attendance: 105                           Last Week’s Attendance: 98

                         Last Year’s Offering: $88.25                          Last Week’s Offering: $116.00

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 11-16-25:

Sunday School Lesson: Lesson 30: A Bride for Issac

Volunteer Fair (Gathering Space) 

9:30am Congregational Meeting  

9:30am Communion

10:45am Budget Meeting (Sanctuary)

11:30am All Church Potluck (Fellowship Hall)

MONDAY 11-17-25:

6:30pm Deacon/ Elder Meeting

7:30pm Consistory Meeting (David Room)

TUESDAY 11-18-25: 

6:30pm Grace Circle

WEDNESDAY 11-19-25:

9-11am Mom Co. (Fellowship Hall)

12-2pm Prayer Time (Sanctuary)

2:30pm-5pm Club 512

Midweek Meal *Lasagna*

6:15pm Jr. High Youth Group (Youth Room)

8pm Sr. High Youth Group (Youth Room)

THURSDAY 11-20-25:                                                                                   

FRIDAY 11-21-25:   

SATURDAY 11-22-25:      

SUNDAY 11-23-25:     

Sunday School Lesson: Lesson 40:  Unit review 

10:45am Sunday School Christmas Program practice

11/16/2025                                  Parable of Lost Sheep and Coin         Luke 1:1-10 

Intro: Jesus Confronts the Pharisees

• Shepherds of Israel: Ezekiel 34

1. Parable of Lost Sheep
1. God is the Good Shepherd
1. Isaiah 53:6
2. Gospel
1. God pursues the lost Sheep outside of the flock.
2. Joyfully puts it on his Shoulders and brings it home.
3. Throws a Party in Heaven!

1. Psalm 23

1. Parable of the Lost Coin
1. Value of the Coin, no matter its location.

1. Woman lost the coin in the house.
1. Lamp, Sweep, and Searches
2. Rejoices with Neighbors

1. Lost in the House.
1. Facade of Perfection
2. We sin or have dark habit of sin that we hide from others and God.
1. Shame and Guilt pull us away from God and others in the church.

1. Expectation vs Reality
1. Expectation
1. Cover up the sin, Hide it away, Don’t let other see or know it.  
2. If exposed: Rejection and Shame

1. Reality
1. The Lord pursues us in our sin.
1. Bible, Others, Holy Spirit
2. The Lord rejoices in our repentance!
1. Peace, Forgiveness, Authentic Relationships, closeness with God.

The Lord’s Table