Communiqué

January 4, 2015

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 am, 10:45 am, and 5:00 pm

Prayers | Praises

Pray—Keep Al Bruursma, Anita Collins

Doreen Potter, & Steve Schreur in prayer

as they manage/treat their cancer.

Pray—for missionaries Sarah Fredericks

(South Africa), Tiesengas (Uganda), Lexie

VanSolkema (Australia), & Jacuqeline

Mulder and Kayla Scholten (Malawi).

Pray—Christian sympathy is extended to

Kevin & Judy Hoekman in the passing of

Kevin’s father, Clarence, on Thursday, Dec

25.

Pray—Joe Botting is a patient at Spectrum

Downtown battling a continuing infection.

Praise—Tony Borzi returned home from

the hospital Monday, Dec 29.

Pray—Josh Langerak had an appendec-

tomy Monday, Dec 29.

Wednesday Night Fam-ily Dinner is Wednesday (January 7) at 6:00 pm.

We are having Byron Family fried chicken. Sign up at the table in the lobby or on the church website. The deadline to sign up is tomorrow (January 5).

Mom2Mom will begin a new semester on Thursday, January 15 (9:30 - 11:15 am).

We will be discussing “Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home,” by

Gloria Furman. For more info, contact Julie Bromhead (Julie.Bromhead@gmail.com

or 540-209-4621).

Kids’ Food Basket

Giving Project.

Sunday School

children, please

bring food & cash

donations to your

classroom starting Sunday, January

11, and going through Sunday, Febru-

ary 8. For more info, please contact

Nancy Kapteyn (878-3072) or Kathy

Caines (706-7660).

Church Life Potluck is Sunday, January

11, after the 10:45 am service. Ham,

cheesy potatoes, rolls, & drinks will be

provided. Families of five or more,

please bring a hot AND cold dish.

Families of less than five, please bring

a hot OR cold dish. ALL families, bring

your own table service. Sign up at the

table in the lobby by today (January

4). For more info, contact Ben & Karin

VanKammen (443-7574).

It’s a Catch Phrase Tournament! Club Sandwich (ages 40 - 60+) is meeting on Satur-

day (January 10), at

6:30 pm, in the Fellow-

ship Hall. Sign up at

the table in the lobby.

If you have a Catch

Phrase game that we

could use, please let us

know. There is a place

to indicate that on the signup sheet or contact Eric & Kris

Grimm (erickrisgrimm@aol.com or 583-9174).

Love & Respect Conference This video conference is on Friday (6:45 -10:15 pm) & Satur-

day (8:45 am - 2:30 pm), January 30-31, at First Christian Re-

formed Church. To sign up, contact the church office or visit the

website (www.loveandrespect.com). Please be prepared to pay

when you sign up. The early bird special of $15.00 a person

ends January 19, after which the cost goes up to $20.00. A workbook and box lunch

are included in the conference fee. Whether you have been married for 50 years or

are newly married, this conference is for you! For more info, contact Karin Van-

Kammen (340-5088).

There will be no Catechism Classes today

(January 4). Classes will resume next Sun-

day (January 11).

The March for Life began as a small

demonstration & rapidly grew to be the

largest pro-life event in the world. This

peaceful demonstration, held on the

anniversary of Roe v. Wade, is a witness

to the truth concerning the greatest

human rights violation of our time –

abortion. Our church is connecting with

others in the area to offer the opportu-

nity to go to Washington, DC on Thurs-

day, January 22, for the rally & march.

If you are interested in going, sign up at

the table in the lobby. There is an itiner-

ary there. For more info, contact Nate

Kwantes (583-9239 or kwanteslawn-

care@gmail.com). Red Hat Ladies. All ladies are invited to

attend the Red Hat Ladies for lunch.

Reservations are made for us to go to

the 84th Street Grille on Monday, Janu-

ary 12. Meet at church at 11:25 am to

carpool. If you are over 50, please wear a

red hat and purple top. If you are under

50, please wear a pink hat and lavender

top. Come join the fellowship and fun!

Sign up at the table in the lobby. For

more info, call Char Troost (877-4019).

The Dining Out Group is starting up for

February - May. This group is a great

way to get to know those in church you

may not see on a weekly basis. The du-

ration of these groups is for a four-

month period. Groups consist of 8 peo-

ple (mix of couples & singles). The first

name on the list of each group starts the

ball rolling by picking out a restaurant, a

day, & time that works for the whole

group. If group members would like to

leave the group, they can do so at the

end of the four-month duration. New

members can join at this time too. You

must sign up for each new four-month

duration. Sign up at the table in the

lobby for the February through May

groups. The deadline to sign up is Sun-

day, January 25. For more info, contact

Trudy VanWieren (212-8211).

GEMS

meeting

Wednes-

day

(January

7), 6:30 - 8:15 pm. Meet in the sanc-

tuary for devotions. For more info,

contact Tina Vink (730-3317) or Tracy

Keegstra (878-4248).

THANK YOUS

Dear church family,

Psalm 91:2 “I will say of the Lord He is

my refuge. My God, in whom I trust.” I

praise our loving Lord for preserving me

in my accident and healing me in my re-

covery. Also, for His gift of a caring & lov-

ing church family. The cards, calls, visits,

basket ministry, & the many expressions

of encouragement were so appreciated.

We as His church family are blessed!

Thank you,

Dave Dornbos Sr.

Dear church family,

Thank you so very much for all your

donations to Kylee’s coloring book drop!

She would have been 9 this year. We are

so very thankful for our church family &

your generosity. You have helped us not

only create smiles on so many children in

the hospitals, but you have helped us to

spread cheer in Kylee’s name. We are

blessed to be members of a church that

has shown us so much support & prayers

through the years.

Love,

Russ & Julie Boomsma and Girls

From the Deacons

December 2014 Report

Operating Fund December Year-to-Date

Budgeted $79,536 $954,427

Received 135,587 975,334

Mission Fund

Budgeted $10,775 $129,305

Received 11,126 125,504

Christian Ed Fund June 2014—May 2015

Budgeted $24,467 $171,271

Received 22,100 158,214

2014-15 Chr Ed year began with a $2,250 surplus

December Special Offerings

Thanksgiving Day Offering $37,556.30

Volunteers In Service (VIS) 964.75

Bethany Christian Services 1,521.16

Wycliffe Bible Translators 2,092.45

Degage Ministries 3,234.00

Jan 4 AM Christian Education PM Missions Jan 11 AM Back to God Hour PM Missions Jan 18 AM Christian Education PM Cadets Denominational Jan 25 AM Missions PM Christian Education

January Offering Schedule

Job Openings are on the church website.

Sermon-based questions are available on

the website & in the basket by the office.

A Cry Room is available! We have close-circuit TV of the worship service in the room across the kitchen for nursing moms & those with small children.

Adult Ed. classes are available on CD.

Serving next Sunday 01•11•15

Valets 8:30 AM Jim Zaagman 10:45 AM Nate Deppe

Librarians AM Kathy Oostra (1), Mary Longstreet (2) PM Karin VanKammen

Children’s Worship 8:30 AM Shelly Doornbos, Megan Doornbos 10:45 AM Shelly Doornbos, Deanna Kerkstra, Lindsey Dykema

Nurseries AM 8:30 AM

Greeter: Ashley Burgess Infant & Katie Ezinga, Amelia Broekhuis, Toddler: Tiffany Dykema, Kerri Maas, Pat Stuitje, Tyler Dykema

10:45 AM

Greeter: Betsey Feyen, Amanda Pluger Infant: Missy Haverdink, Linda Visser, Abbie Tameling, Alyssa Visser, Emily Groelsema Toddler: Jen Huyser, Max Huyser, Paulette Sterk, Maddie VanSolkema, Lisa VanSolkema,

Little Lambs/Wee Worship 8:30 AM

2’s - young 4’s: Stephanie Boomsma, Chelsey Wiers, Ava Lenting

10:45 AM

2’s: Jenifer Youngs, Samantha Seeley 3’s: Sheri Postema, Sophie Postema, Alysia VanZalen

Nurseries PM Greeters: Abbie Tameling, Diann Fisk Infant: Tracy Keegstra, Marcia Wiers, Karen Huttenga, Jamie Keegstra, Riley Keegstra Toddler: Cami VanderPloeg, Sheri Postema, Anika Darter, Lindsay VanderPloeg

Greeters PM North Entrance: Bill & Nancy Kapteyn South Entrance: Mark & Linda Karelse

MON 5 TUE 6 WED 7 THU 8 FRI 9 SAT 10 SUN 11

7:00 pm Cadets Meeting Birthday: Grace Boomsma Julie Hibma Kennadi Palmbos Orv Pasma Todd Postma Andrew VanderVennen Dot VanderVennen Anniversary:

7:00 am RISE (Snyders’) 9:30 am Ladies Fellowship 7:00 pm Council Meeting Birthday: Jerry Grasman Ardis Jansma Pat Stuitje Anniversary:

SCHS Pizza lunch 3:30 Youth Serve Night 6:00 Family Dinner 6:30 pm GEMS 6:45 pm C4 Men’s Study 6:45 pm Pastor Tom’s Bible Study Birthday: Julie Boomsma Aaron Burgess Jennifer Faber Karie VanSledright Anniversary: Howard & Gloria Vos

6:30 am Men’s breakfast 9:15 am Reaching Women 9:30 am PlayGroup (Melissa Bussa home) 6:45 Stephen Ministry Birthday: Anniversary: Cam & Rachel Francisco

Birthday: Andrew Deppe Rachelle Wiersma Anniversary:

6:30 pm Club Sandwich Game Night (Fell Hall) Birthday: Bradley Scholten Linda Steenwyk Char Troost Kenley Wiers Anniversary: Russ & Darla Hibma

8:30/10:45 am Services 9:45 am Adult Ed. “The Theologi-cal Importance & Pastoral Func-tion of Lament Psalms” Sunday School Catechism Choir Church Potluck 5:00 pm Evening service 6:15 pm Small Youth Group Mtgs (host homes)

Birthday: Anniversary: Ted & Dorie Boomsma Bob & Jo Grit Bill & Nancy Kapteyn Steve & Jena Karelse

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

Communiqué Announcements due to the office by 10:00 am.

Prime Timers (age 60 +), in your mailbox

you’ll find a sheet highlighting the Prime

Timers’ events that are planned for

2015. Mark these dates on your calendar

and watch for more info on the events a few weeks prior to each one. Extra info

sheets are in the basket by the office if you’d like to share them with friends & rela-

tives.

Our church is once again hosting the

PCRT March 20 - 22, 2015. This year’s topic

is “Holiness and Honor: A Reformed View of

Sex and Marriage.” Iain Duguid will be

speaking at the pre-conference on the Song

of Solomon. Speakers and topics at the con-

ference include David Garner (Gender and

the Image of God; the Beauty of God’s De-

sign for Sex) and DA Carson (The Honorable

Institution of Marriage; Sexual Sanctifica-

tion). There are also break-out sessions on

Saturday afternoon where Rick Phillips, Joe

Thorne, and Tim Geiger will be addressing

issues paralleling this year’s theme.

We want to bring your attention to Tim Geiger, executive di-

rector of Harvest USA, who partners with and equips the

church in bringing the power of the Gospel to transform the

lives of those affected by sexual sin. In addition to speaking at

the conference, Mr. Geiger will speak at our church Thurs-

day evening about what a ministry to sexual strugglers in the

local church can look like. There will also be a time for ques-

tions and answers.

The cost of the PCRT conference is $95 for members of our church; $45 for the pre-

conference. College students can attend both for a total cost of $25. The cost to

hear Tim Geiger speak on Thursday night is free.

For more info on the PCRT, contact Norm & Luanne VanSolkema (862-6919) or Ken

& Joan Buiter (878-3488). For more info about Tim Geiger speaking on Thurs-

day evening, contact Pastor Tom (970-0775) or the church office (878-9768).

Save the Date!!

Saturday, May 9, 2015.

Program 9:30 am

Game Time: 1:08 pm

Detroit Tigers Home Plate Event. Home

Plate is an annual event held at Co-

merica Park at which current and former

members of the Detroit Tigers, along

with other professional athletes, share

about their careers as professional ath-

letes and their faith in Jesus Christ. Tick-

ets are $32 per person which includes

the baseball game. Anyone from the

church is welcome at this event. Watch

the communiqué for more information.