HRC Heartbeat August 2020

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3554 M-40 Hamilton, MI 49419 (269) 751-5145

hamiltonreformedchurch@gmail.com www.hamiltonreformedchurch.org

Teacher Training is a time to go over

information for ALL Leaders and

Helpers involved in the Children’s

Ministry program for 2020-21.

Details coming soon!

Student Registration Forms

Student Registration Forms are

one of the ways we use to create a

safe environment for our students.

Registration forms and information

letters will be emailed to parents

soon using a Google Form. Please

fill out the form for each of your

children. Each child must have an

updated registration form on file, in

order to participate in HRC

education programs. Completed

forms should be submitted or

returned to Nicki or Gracie by

Sunday, August 23. If you prefer

paper forms, they will be available

outside the library.

Before you know it, the days will get cooler and another

education year will begin at church. August is a busy month

filled with many preparations as we get things ready…

Leader/Helper Sign-up

Do you have a love for children and a

desire to encourage them to develop a

relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, we

have a place for you to use the gifts

God has given you in Children’s Ministries. As you spend

time in prayer listening to God - where and how is He

urging you to plug in? A sign-up poster will be on the

bulletin board by the carport soon, or stop by the Volunteer

Fair on August 16 following the morning worship service.

Our kids need adults in their lives who love God and them!

Teacher / Helper Installation is planned for August 30 during the morning worship service.

Children in Worship and Sunday School are scheduled to begin September 13.

Prayer Buddies

We would love to know how to specifically pray for

your child(ren)! Each month several children are

featured in the Heartbeat for the congregation to

pray for. Prayer Buddy info questions will be

included in the Student Registration Google Form

that will be emailed soon. Please submit completed

forms by August 23. A photo of your child(ren)

should be emailed to the church office. If you prefer

paper copies of the form, they will also be available

outside of the library.

The Consistory Chronicles

• In July the Consistory met to address how and when we might return to in-person worship at HRC.

Many factors and perspectives were taken into consideration and, after a lengthy, heart-felt

discussion, it was decided that August is not the time to transition away from our current drive-in

services. The biggest concern continues to revolve around access to supplies. Disinfectants and

other PPE are hard to come by; plus, the materials we've already purchased for sanitizing the building

are back ordered due to high demand. The Consistory - which has COVID fatigue like everyone else

- continues to refine its plan for resuming in-person worship at some point, hopefully in the near

future. Until then HRC members are encouraged to stay connected to God's family, Word, and way of

life at HRC while helping others do the same.

• In July the Consistory received a recommendation from the Personnel Committee to hire Amy Carroll

to the position of Cleaning Custodian. This came as a motion which the Consistory passed.

• The Consistory discussed and has decided to discontinue the Zumba classes that were held here.

• While no motions were made at the July Elders meeting, significant time was spent addressing the

following:

o Racial tensions of our nation and world

o Tentative plans for how and when to resume in-person worship

o Going over details for our member care action plan

• The financial reports are as the following:

o General Fund: $61,465

o Building Fund: $11,838

o Building Maintenance Fund: $36,217

o Memorial Fund: $18,924

o Love Fund: $4,468

• The next Elders meeting will be on Monday, August 3, at 6:30pm.

• The next Consistory meeting will be held on Monday, August 24, at 6:30pm.

August Series

Join us this August as Pastor Adam leads

us in a month-long message series titled,

Foundations. Prepare to hear challenging

and inspiring messages during worship that

are shaped from the Scriptural truths of the

Apostles’ Creed. For those of you who

have yet to make your profession of faith,

and for those of you who may wish to make

a reaffirmation of faith, be sure to follow this

series closely. At the end of the month

Pastor Adam will host an open meeting for

anyone who is interested in

publicly declaring that Jesus is the

foundation of their life. More info to follow!

Job Openings

We are looking for a few

people to work various Inside

Custodian positions:

• Building Organizer to work 8-10 hours per week

• Maintenance and Repair Custodian to work 3-8

hours per week

Job descriptions and more specific job notes can be

picked up in the church office. Anyone interested

should contact the Personnel Committee (Jen

Becksford, Joy Essenburg, Gary Jurries, Peg

Klingenberg, Kathy Weerstra) or a Deacon (Mark

Groenheide, Craig Poll, Eric Becksford, John

Casemier, Arie Doolaard, Jeff Hulst).

Children’s Discipleship Update August 2020

It has been a very interesting summer! We had a great night at VBS

on Tuesday, July 21st. Families joined us for a social distancing

version of VBS and went home with materials for two more nights (and

ice cream)! It was a great night! Thank you to those who donated

materials and participated in the evening.

It is hard to believe, but the education year is right around the corner.

We are busy preparing for another great year. Volunteer sign-ups will

be posted in the next few weeks and will also be available at our

upcoming Volunteer Fair (on Sunday, August 16).

Registration forms will be sent to parent email addresses soon. This

year we are trying something new by making the forms digital.

Parents, please make sure to submit the form for each of your children

prior to August 23. It is necessary to have these forms on file.

Thanks ~ Gracie and Nicki

Thank you! Gracie and Nicki

Upcoming

Events

Summer Story Time

August 2 & 9

August 16

Volunteer Fair

August 23

Student Registration and

Prayer Buddies Forms Due

August 30

Teacher / Helper

Commissioning

September 13

Sunday School begins

Supply

Requests

We are in need of a few

items to restock the primary

cupboard for the upcoming

school year:

• 8-10 oz. bottled water

• Individually wrapped

snacks

• No. 2 pencils

• Disinfecting wipes

Thank you in advance!

Volunteers Wanted:

We are looking for volunteers to teach/lead Children in Worship,

Sunday School and Kid Connection. Please begin praying about this

and considering where God is calling you to help. Sign-up sheets will

be available at the Volunteer Fair on August 16!

We will be looking for teachers and helpers to fill

the following slots:

Sunday Morning

• Children in Worship

• Children’s Message

• Substitute Teachers

Sunday School

• Preschool

• Kindergarten

• 1st – 3rd Grade

• 4th – 5th Grade

Wednesday Night

• Kid Connection

Students and Parents: watch for information soon on upcoming events!

LOVE INC BACKPACK MINISTRY 2020

What is it?

The Backpack Ministry is an annual ministry of area churches and

individuals that provides new backpacks with age-appropriate school

supplies to children in need who live in Northwest Allegan County.

Backpack Requirements:

• Age appropriate

• Generic colors for use by boys or girls

• NO character backpacks

• NO backpacks with wheels

School Supplies for Each Backpack

Elementary School:

(smaller size backpack)

• 5 Pencils

• 2 Big erasers or 6

cap erasers

• Markers

• Colored pencils

• Pencil box or bag

• 2 Glue sticks

• Scissors

• Box of crayons

• (2) 2-pocket folders

• 1 wide-rule spiral

notebooks

• Pencil sharpener

• Ruler

Middle School/High School:

(larger size backpack)

• (5) 2-pocket folders

• Loose leaf paper

• 3 Spiral notebooks

• (2) 3-ring binders

• 6 Pencils

• 2 Big erasers or 6 cap

erasers

• 3 Blue ink pens

• 3 Black ink pens

• 2 Red ink pens

• 2 Highlighters

• 1 Compass/Protractor

• Graph paper

Backpacks and

supplies should be

brought directly to the

Love INC office (4621

135th St.) in Hamilton by

Monday, August 10.

For more info, contact

Barry or Eloise at

Eloise@loveincnwa.org

or at 269.751.2533,

ext. 112

Student Ministries at HRC

Outdoor Movie Night Fundraiser

We will be holding a fun movie night fundraiser…watch for details soon!

**All proceeds will be going towards a future high school mission trip

Gravitate: 6th-8th Grade / The Gathering: 9th-12th Grade

Volunteer Fair & Ice Cream Social August 16 ~ 10:00-10:45am

Join us on the north lawn following the morning worship service for an ice

cream social and our second annual volunteer fair. Several of our

ministries will have tables set up with information on how YOU can get

involved. Stop by each table and check it out!

➢ Children’s Ministry • Children in Worship Leaders/Helpers

• Sunday School Leaders/Helpers

• Children’s Message Presenters

• Christmas Program Assistants

➢ Student Ministries / Youth Groups • Prayer Partners

• Supply Donations

➢ Wednesday Night Activities • Family Night Meals

• Adult Classes

➢ Kids Hope • Mentors

• Prayer Partners

• Substitute Mentors

• Party Coordinator(s)

➢ Sunday Morning Activities & Various Church Ministries • Nursery Helpers

• Cookie Donations

• Pantry Volunteers

• Valet Parking

• Tech Booth (Security Camera, Sound,

PowerPoint, Recording)

Dunk Tank You could send Pastor Adam swimming!

Each time you volunteer or sign up, you will be given a

ticket which is good for three throws at the dunk tank.

• Christmas Party Donations

• Christmas Party Volunteers

• Year-End Party Donations

• Meal Donations

• Desserts

• Kid Connection Leaders/Helpers

• Substitute Leaders/Helpers

• Supply Donations

• Security Team

• Worship Team

• Worship Leaders

• Book Study – 5 Love Languages

• Adult/Young Adult Bible Study –

Book of Romans

KIDS HOPE Hamilton - August Update

Usually at this time of the calendar year, everyone is planning for the beginning of

another school year. This year is no different - the plans are being made. What is

different is what the plans are going to entail. I have not been able to get any details

for the KIDS HOPE USA program, but am fairly sure we will not be doing in-school

mentoring for the first few months of school.

The KIDS HOPE USA National Organization has been looking at some different options for mentoring.

1. Online mentoring through ZOOM or whatever format the local school is using. Listening to what

this would require is a little overwhelming to me. A school and church down in Texas piloted a

program in the spring. They have some idea of what worked and what did not work. I know that if

this is how we will need to mentor, God will make a way.

2. In person mentoring is of course the best option for both the student and the mentor. The

challenge with this option is the age of many of the mentors. Most are over 60 years old. We are

told this is a high-risk group. Also, most schools are not going to be allowing any extra persons in

their buildings.

3. A pen pal option was also suggested. We tried this in the spring with minimal success. This option

tends to be quite one sided.

Please pray for the following:

• The government to know how to handle the pandemic.

• The school administrators to know how to set up the best learning system for our students during

this pandemic.

• Parents to know whether to send their child to in school learning or to continue with online learning.

• Our community to be supportive in however the school year plays out.

• Teachers as they are preparing for two or more case scenarios for educating their students.

• All the students to be able to function and learn under these extenuating circumstances.

• KIDS HOPE USA to be able to find a way to mentor to the at-risk students.

• Myself as I try to connect with mentors, students, teachers, and school staff.

Please continue to follow the Pulse for updates as I receive them. If you are a current mentor, you should

receive a questionnaire in early August. Please complete honestly because I really will need to know how

you feel about the three options listed above.

Thank you to the congregation for your support of this ministry. KIDS HOPE USA in Hamilton would not

be possible without your prayers and financial support. If you have questions or concerns, please contact

Bev Ende at bendkidshope@gmail.com.

Summer Story Time August 2 & 9!

Kids: please bring your own beach towel to sit on and join us for some fun

activities during the service!

Parents: your child(ren) will be dismissed to join us in the lawn during the first song. Please bring them

over to join us. Children should be picked up during the doxology.

Congregation: if you are willing to donate beach towels, we would love to have some extras on hand for

visitors or those who forget. Also, if you are interested in helping out please email Nicki and Gracie at:

hrcchildren@gmail.com. All materials and instructions will be provided.

Drive-In Weather Cancellations

In the event of inclement weather,

the official call for having or not

having our drive-in service will be made no later

8:00am Sunday mornings and will be broadcast on

WCSG (91.3 FM), WOOD-TV (channel 8) and

WZZM (channel 13). However, we shouldn't expect

that just rain or just wind will move us to cancel.

Severe Weather Guidelines

If a Tornado Watch or Warning has been

posted for Allegan County within one hour

prior to a church service or activity, the

service/activity will be cancelled.

Also, if a Severe Thunderstorm Warning

has been posted for Allegan County within

one hour of any church service or

church activity, the service/activity will be cancelled.

Leaders and chairs of committees have the right to

conduct an event during a cancellation if they deem

the conditions are safe. In such cases, the leaders

and chairs are responsible for notifying members

and participants to inform them the event is still

taking place and where they will be meeting.

Please check one of the following for the status

of church activities:

WZZM (TV – Channel 13) wzzm13.com

WOOD (TV – Channel 8) woodtv.com

WXMI (TV – Channel 17) fox17online.com

WCSG (91.3 FM)

Dates to Remember

August 2 – Drive-In Worship Service

August 2 – Summer Story Time

August 3 – Elders Meeting

August 6 – Staff Meetings Resume

August 6 – Red Cross Blood Drive

August 9 – Drive-In Worship Service

August 9 – Summer Story Time

August 10 – Prayer Group

August 16 – Drive-In Worship Service

August 16 – Volunteer Fair & Ice Cream Social

August 23 – Drive-In Worship Service

August 24 – September Heartbeat Deadline

August 24 – Prayer Group

August 24 – Consistory Meeting

August 30 – Drive-In Worship Service

August 30 – Leader / Helper Commissioning

September 13 – Children in Worship &

Sunday School Begin

The church office is open Monday-Friday

from 8:00am-1:00pm.

Friends at Home

Please continue to remember our Friends at

Home -- send them a note or have your

children draw them a picture.

August Mission of the Month

Great Lakes Synod - Asking

Red Cross Blood Drive

The next Red Cross Blood Drive

for our community will be held

on Thursday, August 6, from noon-5:45pm at

HRC. If you weigh at least 110 lbs., are 17 years

old or older, and are in good health you may

donate. To schedule an appointment visit:

redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS

(appointments required). Sponsor code:

Hamiltonreformed

Wilma Johnson

Marlene Joostberns

Alvina Klein

Jack Poll

Irene Slotman

Joyce VanDam

Barb Bleeker

Leona Boerigter

Jill Broekhuis

Harvin Bultman

Gary Ende

Ken Haverdink

Jean Hutt

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Gord Poll

2

Gregg Brower

3

Wilma Johnson*

Drew & Jessi

Boerman (2)

4

Gladys Serie

Sharon VanDyke

5

Misti Lindholm

Mike & Barb

Kraker (44)

Gord & Linda

Poll (44)

6

Gracie Bosch

7

Del Redder

Tom Weerstra

8

Earl Smit

9

Brian & Paula

VandenBrink (35)

10

Jaycee Poll

Ken & Gloria

Haverdink (58)

11

Greg Kalmink

Linda Wolters

John & Libby

Casemier (19)

12

Harold Ende

Tami Folkert

Tom & Kathy

Weerstra (25)

13

Joyce VanDam

14

Terry Dougan

Tim & Cheryl

Bleeker (39)

Dick & Arlynn

Immink (39)

15

Phil & Nicki

Boerman (12)

16

Ryan & Misti

Lindholm (23)

Jeff & Laurie

Reuschel (41)

17

Mitch Doolaard

18 19

Brian & Nancy

Kleinheksel (37)

Ivan & Connie

Top (65)

20

Callie Casemier

21 22

Ethan Ritsema

Irene Slotman*

23

Colin Eding

24 25

Peg Klingenberg

26 27

Devin Kroeze

Don & Tami

Folkert (4)

Jeff & Sandy

Mulder (10)

28

Les & Deb

Meiste (39)

29

30 31

Mike Bosch

August Birthdays & Anniversaries *Please see the church directory for address

Birthday Blessings Remember them on their special day by sending a card

Wilma Johnson will celebrate

her 92nd birthday on August 3

Irene Slotman will celebrate

her 93rd birthday on August 22