Announcements for 4-28-24 

~ This morning our 5^th grade class will recite the Beatitudes. Next week, our 6^th grade class will recite Psalm 19. Parents: please have your 6^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

-Mark your calendars for the Annual May Breakfast! All are welcome for an inspiring message and delicious breakfast. Saturday ~ May 4 ~ 9:00 AM. The Rock Community Church.  Speaker - Jessica Remme of the Oaklyn Foundation Music provided by Annie and Josie McMahon RSVP by May 1 by emailing therockcc@premieronline.net or calling The Rock Community Church at 712-472-2324. 

                            The May 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

*Scott Burdsall, one of the missionaries we support, is in northwest Iowa this week!  You can visit him at the open house at the George Community Center on May 1, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm or call or email to find a time to visit with him, sburdsall@serge.org or 317-668-9512.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”- Lamentations 3:22-23

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 @ 6:30pm

Church Events

~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)

Wednesdays @ 6:30pm Proverbs Bible Study (Martha Room)

Sundays @ 10:45am Doing life with adult children (Rm 355)

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 28, 2024 at 9:30am 

Prelude 

WE APPROACH GOD

Welcome /Announcements/ Prayer

*please pass the fellowship pads*                                                         

Memory Work: 5^th Grade: Beatitudes

Ministry of Music: Adult Choir 

Mission Minute

“Praise To The Lord The Almighty” #8, v. 1-4

“Tell Me The Old Old Story #424, v. 1-3

Congregational Prayer                                                           

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

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

Scripture: John 3: 1-21 

Sermon: Jesus Meets with Nicodemus

WE RESPOND TO GOD

Offertory and Closing Song: “There Is a Redeemer” #206, v. 1-3

(Offering plate will be passed) 

Benediction

Sending Chorus: “There Is a Redeemer” #206

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

Mission statement: “TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS

Serving us today 4-28-24

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Dalton & Kenzie Skidmore (S) Steve & Jessica Harman (SE) Greg & Sherri DeJong

NURSERY- Kayla Van Wyhe & Jayda Pytleski

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Scott & Amy Sieperda

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Rypkema Family

MINISTRY OF MUSIC- Adult Choir            

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

SOUND SYSTEM: Curt Dieren

VIDEO TAPING- Brad Rypkema

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Berlyn DeWit

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Kristi Metzger

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER: Lisa VandeStouwe

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES: Dwayne & Sharon Postma

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR: Ashley Rypkema

VAN DRIVER: Dale Klarenbeek

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- General Fund

Serving us next week 5-5-24

DOOR GREETERS- (N) Wayne & Geneva Grooters (S) Rich & Denise Roskam (SE) Evan & Linda DeBoer 

NURSERY- Heather & Anika Springer

COMMON GROUND (before worship)- Collin & Rachelle Johnsen

COFFEE BREAK (following worship)- Evan & Linda DeBoer 

MINISTRY OF MUSIC- Ring & Sing

SOUND SYSTEM- Matt Kock 

VIDEO TAPING- Eric Arnold

PROCLAIM PRESENTER- Caitlin Huisman

MEDICAL ASSISTANT- Brenda Van Hofwegen

SUNDAY SCHOOL PRAYER LEADER: Geneva Grooters

SUNDAY SCHOOL COOKIES: Tara Bouwman

SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL MONITOR: Josie Moser

VAN DRIVER: Jeff Hrdlicka

*THE LOOSE OFFERING- Benevolent Fund

                                                     FINANCIALS as of 4-21-24

                                            Last Sunday                    YTD Offerings                  YTD Budget

General Fund:                    $3,687.00                         $140,633.67                       $273,872.00

Benevolent Fund              $7,947.00                           $60,808.75                         $62,515.20

Online Donations:            $660.60                              $14,994.04

Sunday School 4-21-23

                              Last Year’s Attendance: 83                                 Last Week’s Attendance: 97

                              Last Year’s Offering: $110.00                             Last Week’s Offering: $38.00

Upcoming Events  

SUNDAY 4-28-24:

Sunday School Lesson: Session 4: The Church Spread Out/ The Scattered Church

11:30am-1pm Building on Faith Fundraiser (Fellowship Hall) 

MONDAY 4-29-24:

6:30pm Grief Share (Elijah Room)

TUESDAY 4-30-24: 

WEDNESDAY 5-1-24:

9-11am MOPS

THURSDAY 5-2-24:  

FRIDAY 5-3-24:   

8am Men’s Bible Study

SATURDAY 5-4-24:

SUNDAY 5-5-24: 

Sunday School Lesson: Session 5: Jesus Suffered for Us/ The Humble Servant

*for all bible studies and moms in prayer times and dates refer to the announcements*

Sermon Notes 4/28/2024

Jesus Meets with Nicodemus   John 3:1-21

Intro: Who is Nicodemus and Why did he meet with Jesus?

1. What is the Kingdom of God?
1. God + People + Place = Kingdom of God
1. God is the King, and his people are with him.

1. Created to be in the Kingdom of God

1. Sin Separated People from God. (And His Kingdom)
1. Wanderers, searching for purpose, trying to be good enough                (World Religions) 
2. Nicodemus Devoted his life to being in the Kingdom of God

1. The Condition for Entrance (Unless)
1. Born from Above/Again
1. Water: Purified (Holy and Righteous)
2. Spirit: Spirit of God lives in you. (His Breath in Your Lungs)

1. All must be born from Above/Again
1. Christian Parents, Church members, Pharisees. (Thief on the Cross)
2. No Gate Keepers:  You cannot control who gets in… (Parent/Child, Pastor/Parishioner, Your Own Efforts)

1. How to be Born from Above?
1. God made the Way (John 14:6)
1. Snake in the Wilderness
2. Love by Sending Jesus to save his people from their sins.
3. Eternal Life=Kingdom of God

1. Accepting the Gift
1. Admit you are a sinner in need of saving.
2. Believing that Jesus saves you from your sins.
3. Commit to serving your King.

We can only enter the Kingdom of God if Jesus is our King!