Communiqué

February 2, 2014

Pray— Christian sympathy is expressed to

Mike, Sharon, Jonathan, Michelle, &

Nicole in the recent death of their mother

and grandmother, Annette Visser.

Praise—Congratulations to Chris & Katie

Prins who were blessed with a healthy

baby boy, Jacob Christopher, Tuesday,

January 28.

Pray—Doc VanDuinen fell and fractured a

hip last week. He had a half hip replace-

ment done on Monday and is now at Spec-

trum Physical Therapy (44th & Kalamazoo)

for rehabilitation.

Praise—Marilyn Laninga had successful

back surgery Monday, January 27. She

hoped to return home by the weekend.

Praise—Doreen Potter had successful

shoulder replacement surgery last week

and is recovering at home.

Pray—Keep the men attending the Piper

Conference, Feb. 3—5, in prayer.

Pray— Keep Anita Collins, Al Bruursma, &

Steve Schreur in prayer as they continue

treatment for cancer.

SERMON QUESTIONS

Study questions re the morning sermon

are available from the wall basket out-

side the church office or on our website

(firstbyroncrc.org) under “Sermon

Study.” Check them out; they can be

used for small group study or for family/

individual study.

2450 85th Street, Byron Center, MI 49315

Phone: 616-878-9768 • Fax: 616-878-0940 • Prayer Line: 616-878-0101

Email: office@firstbyroncrc.org • Website: www.firstbyroncrc.org

Service Times: Sundays at 8:30/10:45 am and 5:00 pm

Prayers | Praises WEATHER POLICY

To check if church services are cancelled

due to weather, watch WOOD-TV

(channel 8), listen to WOOD-radio (1300

AM), or go online to woodtv.com.

If a tornado

WATCH or

WARNING

has been

issued and is

in effect within one hour before the

start of any church service or meeting,

that service/meeting shall be cancelled.

ALL CHURCH POTLUCK

TODAY @ 12:30 PM

Ham, potatoes, corn, and rolls provided.

Please bring table service and a dish to

pass if you are a family of four or less;

two dishes if you are a family of five or

more.

ELDER/DEACON NOMINATIONS

Council has started the process of nomi-

nations for elders and deacons. The con-

gregation is invited to submit the names

of male members who they feel should

be considered in the nomination proc-

ess. Names must be submitted to Bob

Mast by TODAY, Feb 2.

CRY ROOM

We are live-streaming the worship ser-

vice into the room across from the

kitchen for

nursing moms

and those with

small children.

SHOPPING BAGS NEEDED

One of our small groups needs lots of

plastic shopping bags for a service project

for the homeless.

You can drop

them off in the

church office over

the next few

weeks. Thank

you!

BACK TO COLLEGE KNIGHT

Men! Join us for the Calvin Men’s Bas-

ketball game Wednesday, February 12,

with a trip to Yesterdogs before the

game. Meet at church at 5:30 pm. See

Steve Elenbaas if interested.

FAMILY NIGHT

DINNER

Wednesday, February 5—The

menu is macaroni and

cheese, meatballs, and green

beans. Prayer begins at 6:00

pm sharp with dinner following. Sign up

at the table in the lobby or online, first-

byroncrc.org, by tomorrow, February 3.

You are encouraged to bring a friend or

invite a neighbor to join you.

NEW ADDRESS

Fannie VanSolkema Sunset Manor & Villages 725 Baldwin #3025 Jenison, MI 49428 Phone: 616-891-1737

NO BIBLE STUDY

Pastor Tom’s Wednesday night Bible study

and Thursday morning breakfast Bible

study will not meet on Feb 12 or 13. There

is also no C4 Men’s Bible Study Feb 5 & 12.

PCRT thoughts from Pastor Tom

Have you considered attending the PCRT conference at our church? It’s coming up again on March 28-

30 with the theme, “Profaning the Sacred: The Beauty and Holiness of the Bride of Christ.”

Don’t let the title scare you away. What we’re simply going to be thinking about is how God calls us as

individuals and the church to be holy. Ephesians 5:26,27

tells us that Jesus died to make his bride holy and radiant,

without stain, wrinkle, or any other blemish. Revelation

19:7,8 reminds us that at the end of time— at the wedding

supper of the Lamb—we will be wearing fine linen, bright

and clean. Both of these passages suggest that Jesus died

to make us holy.

One of the greatest challenges in the Christian church and

life is to pursue holiness instead of happiness. We’re called

to holiness, but happiness is so appealing. It’s appealing to

take a Sunday off for myself and family instead of joining

God’s people in worship. It’s appealing to define good wor-

ship as that which moves me more than that which blesses

God. It’s appealing to give people a half gospel of easy

“believism” instead of calling people to a full gospel of re-

pentance and faith. It’s appealing to coast in the Christian

life instead of engaging in a passionate pursuit of godliness

through prayer and meditations on God’s Word.

Come out and be edified and encouraged to pursue holiness,

all for the sake of our holy and handsome bridegroom, Je-

sus.

You can register through the church office (878-9768).

THANK YOU

A sincere thank you for all the birthday

cards, to those who shared kind words,

and to those who attended the open

house. It was all appreciated. I was blessed

and to God be the praise!

Sam Tjepkema

MENTOR NEEDED

There is an urgent need for a mentor for

a girl in kindergarten. She is a sweet little

girl struggling with t he recent divorct of

her parents. She needs someone to

spend time with her, give her the special

attention she needs, and be a reliable

adult in her life. Her brother recently

began with a Kids Hope mentor and has

shown remarkable positive behavior in a

short time. If you feel called to this minis-

try, please contact Chris Kruithof at

chkruithof@gmail.com or 616-437-3213.

RED HAT LADIES all ladies are invited

to attend the Red Hat Ladies for lunch.

Reservations are made to go to Blue Gin-

ger, Monday, February 10. Meet at

church at 11:20 am to carpool. Over 50?

Red & purple. Under 50? Pink & lavender.

Sign up at the table in the lobby. ??? Call

Char Troost, 616-877-4019.

Feb 2 AM Christian Education PM Missions Feb 9 AM Seminary of Myanmar PM Crossroad Bible Institute Feb 16 AM Missions PM Christian Education Feb 23 AM Christian Education PM Pregnancy Resource Center

Feb Offering Schedule

Serving next Sunday

February

Bulletin Announcements due in the office by 10 am

Mon 3 Tue 4 Wed 5 Thur 6 Fri 7 Sat 8 Sun 9

6:00 pm Cadets 7:00 pm Beth Moore

Study Birthday: John Haaksma Mary Harkema Joanne Veldman Anniversary:

7:00 am RISE 9:45 am Ladies Fellowship Birthday: Alan Doornbos Lindsay Kalmink Derek Oosterhouse Anniversary:

Pizza @ SCHS 6:00 pm Family Dinner 6:30 GEMS 6:45 pm Pastor Tom’s class C4 Men’s Ministry Birthday: Kaden Potgeter Diane VanDyk Dave Walker Grant Zondervan Anniversary: Don & Bev Smit

6:00 am Men’s Breakfast Bible Study 9:15 am Reaching Women 9:30 am Playgroup @ Kerri Maas 6:45 pm Stephen Ministry 7:00 pm Financial Peace Birthday: Matthew Diekevers Bernie Kolkman Mike Kortering Seth Verburg Elli Vink Anniversary:

Birthday: Zachary Brinkert Larry VanSingel Katelyn Winters Anniversary:

Birthday: Mike Bouma Dean Doornbos Elizabeth Woudwyk Anniversary:

8:30/10:45 am Service 9:45– Sunday school, Catechism, Adult Ed, Rev. Henry Entingh, “The Mystery of Christ” Sr. Choir 5:00 pm Evening ser-vice After evening service: High school youth group @ church Birthday: Maryn Kuiper Dick Norden Sophia Prins Anniversary: Dave & Renee Potgeter

2•9•14 Valet AM: Nate Deppe (1) Duane Visser (2)

Greeters PM: North Entrance: John & Tami Brinkert South Entrance: Mike & Amelia Broekhuis

Librarians: AM Cecil DeVries (1), Pam Tillema (2) PM Joy Folkersma, Claire Duimstra

Children’s Worship: 8:30 AM Heidi Brouwer, Jamie Keegstra 10:45 AM Heidi Brouwer, Samantha Lutke, Molly Longstreet

Nurseries: 8:30 AM Greeter: Sheri Deppe Infant/ Kathy Oostra, Diane VanZoest, Toddler Sydney VanZoest, Lexie VanSolkema, Ellie VanSolkema 10:45 AM Greeters: Lanae Wolf, Mandi Palmbos Infant: Sheri Groelsema, Linda Pareti, Emily Groelsema, Kalley Groelsema Toddler: Paulette Sterk, Lisa DeVries, Bre Sterk, Lexi Sterk

Little Lambs/Wee Worship: 8:30 AM 2’s—young 4’s Steph Boomsma, Maddie VanSolkema, Sara VanSolkema 10:45 AM 2’s Julie Bromhead, Anika Darter, Hannah Hofman 10:45 AM 3’s—young 4’s Mari DeJonge, Sarah DeVries, Kaysey Sterk

Nursery: PM Greeters: Emily Warners, Holly Twiest Infant: Judy Hoekman, Sarah DeVries, Lauren Keen Toddler: Charise Bos, Karen Huttenga, Jerod Bos, Reese Bos

You are invited to join the staff in a time of prayer each Monday, 10:45 am.

Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology @ First Byron CRC

March 28-30, 2014

Profaning the Sacred: The Beauty and Holiness of the Bride of Christ

Register at alliancenet.org or call 1-215-546-3696.

Questions? Contact Norm/Lu VanSolkema, 878-7613 or Ken/Joan Buiter, 878-3488.

This year’s speakers are Dr. Rick Phillips, Rev. Greg Gilbert, and Rev. Phillip Johnson.

We have been privileged to hear Dr. Phillips many times. He is the senior preaching

pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. Rev. Gilbert is the senior

preaching pastor at Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. He recently partici-

pated in the Cross Conference that several of our college students attended. Phillip

Johnson is executive director of Grace to You, John MacArthur’s media ministry. He

manages two websites, The Spurgeon Archive and The Hall of Church History.

CADETS

Tomorrow, February 3, we will be going

to 3 Mile Project along with other cadets

from Grand Valley

Council for a pri-

vate event. We will

leave church at

6:00 and return at

around 9:00. Cost

is $4. There may

be food to purchase which is not included

in the price. Eat before you go! There

will be basketball, reball, games, indoor

skate park, etc. Remember the waiver

that must be signed and brought! You

will not be allowed in without the signed

form. Cadet shirts will not be re-

quired. This should be fun for all. More

information can be viewed at

www.3mp.org or by contacting your ca-

det counselor. Please no friends for this

event since our club is picking up some of

the cost above the $4.

From the community. . .

Please come help support H.U.G.S. Ranch by taking your family to an early Valentine's Dinner at the 54th St. Culver's from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on February 10th. Ten percent of all sales goes directly to the Ranch. Thank you for your support, H.U.G.S. Board of Direc-tors. Please join us for the next Byron Community Ministries Senior Luncheon on Tuesday, February 11, at noon. The menu will be goulash, garlic toast, green beans, jello, and dessert. We will also have a speaker from Holland talking about “Healthy Pleasures”. Please call 878-6000 to RSVP.

Calvin Christian High School Music Department is holding its annual Soup Supper, Sat-urday, February 8, 2014, 5:00-7:00 pm in the High School gym. Come, enjoy a warm bowl of soup, a baked potato, and a yummy dessert all the while supporting Calvin Christian Music Department. Partners in Learning is in urgent need of a few host families for this spring semester at Calvin Christian. We have three male students coming from china who will be entering the freshman, sophomore and junior class. They will be arriving within the next few weeks and we are looking for families who will either host them for the semester or for a short welcome period until we are able to find a permanent home for them. There is a monthly stipend included to help with the food and travel expenses. Please contact Rod DeJager at 616.562.1020 or rod@partnersinlearning.org.

CADETS & CADET DADS

The annual Cadet father/son campout will

be Friday and Saturday, March 7-8. Plan

now to attend with your son for a time of

great fun and great food!

HIGH SCHOOL CREW NEWS

RISE will meet Tuesday morning, 7:00

am, February 4, at the Reitsma’s.

Pizza Lunch at South Chris-

tian on Wednesday, Feb 5.

Project Serve this Wednesday, Feb 5, at

the church to serve at Wednesday Night

Dinner. Students should

arrive at the church at

5:30 pm ready to serve.

The Crew Ski Day Trip is February 22. We

are going to Caberfae Peaks. The cost is

$30. This needs to be turned in by Sun-

day, February 16.

YOUTH GROUP FUNDRAISER

Help defray the cost of our high school

youth group BIG STUF conference trip

June 15-27! There are 37 students signed

up to attend.

Join us at

our fund-

raising spa-

ghetti din-

ner with

salad, rolls,

and dessert

Wednes-

day, February 19, from 5-7 pm. Look for

an “official” invitation in your mailboxes.

Feel free to invite friends and family to

attend. RXVP to the church office, 878-

9768, office@firstbyroncrc.org, or sign up

at the table in the lobby or online, first-

byroncrc.org;

ADVANCE NOTICE

Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be held

at First Byron CRC, July 14-18, from

9:30—11:30 am. Kids and volunteers

save the date! Opportunities to serve will

be coming in April. If you have any ques-

tions, please contact Jen Huyser at 616-

878-9520 or jhuyser@comcast.net.

COLLEGE

MISSIONS PRAYER MEETING

The prayer meeting has been moved to

tomorrow night, Feb 3. Please meet at

the church at 7:00 pm to head to Cal-

vin’s Campus for a time of prayer for the

nations.