~This morning, our 3^rd Grade Class will be reciting The Ten Commandments.   Next week, our 4^th Grade Class will be reciting the Books of the Bible. Parents: please have your 4^th graders to their classroom by 9:15 AM. When they are finished, the children will join their families for the remainder of worship. Thank you!

VBS Registration is open! Please visit https://rockrapidsvbs.myanswers.com/jungle-journey/ to get your 4 year old – 6^th grader registered. VBS will be June 5-7, 2024. We are also looking for volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please contact Amy Schulte at 712.470.4883. Thanks!

~Bible Reading Plan: You can grab a bible reading bookmark from the Welcome Center or sign up at the Welcome Center for a daily text with the scripture reading for the day! 

The 2024 church directory is now available in the church office. If you would like a copy, contact the church office and we will get one to you! 712-472-3729 or frchurch@premieronline.net. 

Please check the lost and found area on the south side of the coat rack behind the welcome center. There have been a lot of items left from church and there are still a few pans left from the RCYF soup supper. If not claimed by May 1^st we will donate. Thanks

Family Fun Night-  Wednesday Night @ 8pm, sign up on Church center and you will need to fill out a waiver that is available at the welcome center and at the church office. 

The April Bridge is now available in the clear boxes next to the mailboxes.

                          Church office hours: ~ Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9-1 & Friday 9-12.

*Bulletin announcements need to be to the office by Thursday at 9am for the Sunday bulletin

“For the Lord will not forsake His people.” Psalm 94:14a

Our prayer concerns….                                                                                       

Twilla Hoekstra                                                                                      Judy Netten                                                         

Barb Hoogendorn                                                                                 Merlin Groen

Karen Flier                                                                                              Kari Jurrens 

Makayla Klarenbeek                                                                            Betty Vanden Heuvel                         

Eldora Krull                                                                                              Janice Den Besten                                                                                                               JoAnn Douglas                                                                                      Nina Koedam (Terry Koedam’s mom)

Todd Altman (Jack & Esther Altman’s son)                                      Cindy Witt                                                            

Melissa Moser (Kathy Moser’s daughter-in-law)                             Mandie Sprock (Marilyn Mammenga’s daughter)

Ellen Schram (Jeff Schram’s mom)                                                    Nancy Bosma (Mary Klinkenborg’s sister)                    

Greyson Austin (Marlene Mellema’s grandson)                              Michelle Koele Vore (Jessica Harman’s cousin)

Roger Van Maanen (Heather Van Wyhe’s dad)                              Sandra Smith (Laurie David’s mom) cancer     

Carlton Woodruff (Rachelle Johnsen’s uncle)                                 Nancy Aaker (Shari Kastein’s mom)

Doris Iwen (Lance Iwen’s mom)                                                         Steve Ellsworth (Peggy Metzger’s dad) 

Grief Share: Monday nights through June 24 6:30-8:30pm

Thank you for the thoughts and prayers, calls, texts, gifts and food after my recent knee surgery.  ~Scott Hunt

Thank you for all the prayers and support you have given us the past two months. Thank you to those who gave us gifts, food and gift cards. A special thank you to our Care Elders, Fred and Sharon Tilstra for their many calls and visits and Amy Ryals for all her visits. ~Merlin & Jackie Groen

~Sourdough bread making class information- Saturday, May 11^th at 10AM in the Elijah room. Sarah Wilson will be teaching. The class will be $15 and will include a Danish dough whisk, a banneton bread proofing basket, and sourdough starter. Please bring a glass jar of any size to take the sourdough starter home in. Participants will ‘make and take’ a loaf of bread to take home to bake. A sign-up sheet will be located in the Welcome Center or you can sign-up by texting Brenda Van Hofwegen at 712-470-5139. 

Bible Studies:

Mondays @ 6:30pm Young Adult Bible Study 

Tuesdays @ 6:30pm Women’s Bible Study (Martha room)

Wednesdays @ 6am Men’s Bible Study (Martha Room)

Moms in Prayer:

Sundays @ 7pm Traditional (Prayer Chapel)

Mondays @ 5:45am Traditional (Connections room)

Mondays @ 5pm College & Careers (Connections)

Tuesdays @ 8:30am College & Careers (War room/rm 355)

Tuesdays @ 8:30am Traditional (Nursery)

FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
 WORSHIP SERVICE 
 April 14, 2024 at 9:30am 

Prelude: “Open the Eyes of My Heart”

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

*please pass the fellowship pads*                                                         

 Memory Work: 3^rd Grade: The Ten Commandments 

Children’s Message 

Praise Service

“The House of the Lord”

“My Lighthouse”

“O Praise the Name”

Congregational Prayer                                                           

*4-5 yr. olds dismissed for Children & Worship*

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: Esther 3-4 

Sermon: Repentance 

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Offertory and Closing Song: “God is So Good”

(Offering plate will be passed) 

Benediction

Sending Chorus: “God is So Good”

*6^th Grade and below may exit for Sunday School*

Mission statement: “TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS

Serving us this week 4-14-24

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Cody & Jen Hoefert (S) Todd & Stacy Dieren (SE) Dwayne & Sharon Postma

NURSERY- Nathan & Ashley Kruse

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Girls League

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Girls League

MINISTRY OF MUSIC-             

CHILDREN & WORSHIP:  Leader: Jess Drewes   Helper: Brooklyn Timmerman

SOUND SYSTEM: Keith Van Beek

VIDEO TAPING- Justin Groen 

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Lincoln Kock

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- April DeWit

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER: Paul Van Wyhe

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES: Karen Reemts

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR: Myranda Moser

VAN DRIVER: Shawn Van Wyhe

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Lisa Vande Stouwe (S) Dave & Heather Springer (SE) Steve & Jessica Harman 

NURSERY- Alexis & Emory Lincecum

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Sawyer & Sara Hrdlicka

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Wendy Huisman 

MINISTRY OF MUSIC- 

CHILDREN & WORSHIP:     Leader: Taylor Bosch    Helper: Mali Kellenberger

SOUND SYSTEM- Sawyer Hrdlicka 

VIDEO TAPING- Breyden Dieren

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Thane Jansma

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- April DeWit

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER: Fred Tilstra

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES: Rob & Brenda Van Hofwegen

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR: Katie Boender

VAN DRIVER: Mike Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

                                                         FINANCIALS as of 4-7-24

                                            Last Sunday                    YTD Offerings                  YTD Budget

General Fund:                    $5,310.00                          $124,553.17                       $239,638.00

Benevolent Fund               $7,689.00                         $52,226.75                         $54,700.80

Online Donations:             $760.00                             $13,523.44

Sunday School 4-7-23

                              Last Year’s Attendance: 77                                 Last Week’s Attendance: 93

                              Last Year’s Offering: $174.00                             Last Week’s Offering: $29.75

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 4-14-24:

9am Evangelism Committee Meeting 

10:45am Doing life with adult children SS class (Rm 377)

Sunday School Lesson: Session 2: The Church Handled a Problem/ The Divided Believers

12-3pm New Member Retreat (@ Schulte’s Home)

5pm Girls League

5pm Guys Night

MONDAY 4-15-24:

6:30pm Deacon/ Elder Meeting

6:30pm Grief Share (Elijah Room)

7:30pm Consistory Meeting (David Room)

TUESDAY 4-16-24: 

6:30pm Grace Circle 

WEDNESDAY 4-17-24:

9-11am MOPS

6:30pm Proverbs Bible Study (Martha Room)

8pm Family Night at Air Madness 

8pm Sr. RCYF

THURSDAY 4-18-24:  

FRIDAY 4-19-24:   

7:30pm Hosting CL Prom Meal

8am Men’s Bible Study

SATURDAY 4-20-24:

SUNDAY 4-21-24: 

10:45am Doing life with adult children SS class (Rm 377)

Sunday School Lesson: Session 3: Stephen Was Arrested/ The Murdered Servant

5:30pm Esther Movie (Fellowship Hall & Sanctuary)

4/14/24   Sermon Notes

Esther 3 & 4          Repentance  

Intro: Revelation of Sin

When God reveals sin in your life…you can repent or continue to walk in it.  

1. Chapter 1 & 2 Review
1. Israel Drifted, King Xerxes, Queen Vashti, Queen Esther

1. Mordecai and Haman
1. Mordecai: City Official 
1. Descendant of Benjamin and Kish (Relative of Saul)
2. Saves King’s Life (Help of Esther)
3. Written in the Book of Records

1. Haman: Politian (Second in Line)
1. Agagite: Descendant of King Agag the Amalekite

1. Mordecai and Haman’s Beef
1. Mordecai refuses to bow down to Haman. 
2. Haman’s Evil Plan

1. Why?
1. History of Jews and Amalekites

Jacob: Benjamin                Exodus                      King Saul                  Mordecai

Esau: Amalek                      Amalekites              King Agag                 Haman

1. Jews Repent
1. Mordecai and Jews throughout the providences

1. Esther puts her trust in God and decides to go before the King.

Is God Calling you to repent?