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Bulletin for December 27, 2015
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Grace Christian Reformed Church 255 Tweedsmuir Ave. W., Chatham, ON, N7M 5K4, 519-436-1558 Telephone Worship Services: 519-436-0041 (dial 5 min before the service) Fax: 519-436-1241 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.chathamgrace.com
Congregational Assistance Plan (CAP) – 866 347-0041
10AM WORSHIP SERVICES:
WELCOME: We welcome you to Grace CRC! TODAY: We worship together and are led by Pastor Fred Heslinga. NEW YEAR’S EVE: Join us for the 7 pm Worship Service (led by First). NEW YEAR’S DAY: Start on 2016 with our worship service…coffee and treats at 10 am, worship begins at 10:30 am. NEXT SUNDAY: Pastor William leads us in worship on our first Sunday of 2016. 5 PM COMBINED EVENING SERVICE AT GRACE CRC:
TONIGHT: There is no Combined Evening Service today. Instead, we will meet on Thursday at 7 pm for a Combined New Year’s Eve Worship Service. SR. PASTOR: Pastor William Koopmans (519-360-1072) [email protected] YOUTH PASTOR: Pastor Jake Snieder (226-626-2393) [email protected] PASTOR OF VISITATION: Pastor Fred Heslinga (519-676-3310) [email protected] CLERK: Ron Middel (519) 358-6248 [email protected] TREASURER: Hank Batterink (519-351-4800) [email protected] ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Kathy DeKoter (519-436-1558) [email protected] WORSHIP COORDINATOR: Cheryl-Lynn DeGraaf [email protected]
Who We Are
We are called Christian because we confess, belong to, and follow
Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.
We are called Reformed because our history is rooted in the 16th
century Protestant Reformation. We continue to affirm the
Reformation teachings of salvation by faith in Christ alone, and the
Bible as the only rule of faith and conduct.
We are called Church because we are part of the universal family of
God, through which our relationships to God, to each other, and the
world are nurtured.
December 27, 2015
VERSE OF THE WEEK: “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” Mark 1:27-28
TODAY’S SERVANT ROSTER:
ELDERS: Bill Folkerts, Keith Groen DEACONS: Aneta Zondervan, Will Holsappel COFFEE SOCIAL: Joe & Hilda Wiersma, Jonathan Brinkman, Paul & Denise Blommestyn NURSERY: Jolene Medenblik, Carol Dieleman, Alex Blommestyn, Chrystal Koopman, Laura Dieleman USHERS: Gerda Heyink, Jim Hoekstra, Elco Medenblik
MORNING OFFERINGS:
Sunday, December 27, 2015: Joint Refugee Sponsorship Committee
Thursday, December 31, 2015: Local Friendship Ministry
Friday, January 1, 2016: New Beginnings
Sunday, January 3, 2016: WCRC (World Communion of Reformed Chuches)
SENIOR HOME MINISTRY:
There is a worship service on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 at Chatham Retirement Resort at 3 pm.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES HAPPENING THIS WEEK:
Th: 7 pm, New Year’s Eve Combined Evening Worship (here at Grace, led by First) Fri: 10 am, New Year’s Day Worship
2016 VOUCHERS: You can now order your vouchers for 2016…please use the 2016 Voucher Request Form that can be found on the bottom row of the mail slots. Cheques need to be post-dated for January 2016.
bulletin password: grace
Please have all bulletin items in by Thursday 7pm. Office Hours: The office will be CLOSED this week
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
LIBRARY NEWS: Robert Whitlow’s latest book “A House Divided”: Corbin, who has made a mess of his life with his drinking problem, suddenly realizes he has a problem when his son threatens to limit his time with his grandson. Despite the mess that surrounds his personal life, Corbin takes on a high-stakes case against a fertilizer company on behalf of two boys who have contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to the chemicals used. Justice for the two dying boys depends on Corbin’s strength to stand up to his personal demons.
NEW YEAR’S DAY SERVICE: Everyone is invited to join with us in a time of fellowship and praise on Friday, January 1, 2015 in the Fellowship Hall. Please join us for coffee and goodies at 10 am followed by a time of worship at 10:30. Everyone is welcome to bring their leftover snacks and oliboelen to share!
WORSHIP SURVEY: Everyone at Grace CRC is invited to participate in a worship survey. The purpose of this survey is to take a pulse on the congregation to see what is working and what could be improved with worship in order for our church to continue to worship and fellowship together in unity. Parents and caregivers and encouraged to help their children answer these as well). Surveys are available online (http://chathamgrace.com/survey/) or on the table in the lobby. (Surveys may take approximately 10 min to fill out). If you have any questions, please speak with or email Cheryl-Lynn DeGraaf ([email protected]). Thank you!
POP CAN SUNDAY: Next Sunday is the 1st Sunday of the month – that means you are invited to bring your pop cans to the church Sunday morning. Please put empty pop cans in the truck parked in the SW
corner of the parking lot. Thank you from the Cadets!
NEW OFFICE BEARERS FOR 2016: Dear Congregation: In the spring, several Deacons and Elders are completing their time in office. Council hopes to begin the process of finding replacements at our January 20th Council meeting. Council encourages all members of the congregation to submit names of those you feel are qualified to serve in these offices to Clerk Ron Middel prior to the January meeting.
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED: The church office will be closed this week while Kathy is away for Christmas holidays. Please continue to contact the church using [email protected] as e-mail will be checked and responded to regularly. Bulletin deadlines will remain the same (Thursday at 7 pm). For any immediate church office needs, please contact Cheryl-Lynn DeGraaf at [email protected]. Thank you!
LAST SUNDAY: This is the last Sunday to make changes to the GRACE PHONE DIRECTORY. Please take a moment to look over your information for the Grace Phone Directory. Make any needed corrections beside your entry OR, if it is correct, place a checkmark beside your entry. If you have adult children or parents listed, feel free to check over that information as well. Thank you for all of the updates so far!
FROM THE TREASURER: Budget envelopes for 2016 have been placed in individual mail boxes. In many cases, the assigned numbers have changed for 2016, and members are requested to use the new number to ensure that they receive proper credit for their 2016 donation.
CHURCH SCHOOL: Classes for all students in grade 6-12 are held on Sunday mornings at 9am. Classes will resume again on January 10.
New Year Worship Services:
Sun., December 27 10 AM Service at Grace No Combined Evening Service
Th., December 31 7 PM New Year’s Eve Service at Grace (led by First)
Fri., January 1 10 AM New Year’s Day Service at Grace, in Fellowship Hall Sun. January 3 10 AM Service at Grace
No Combined Evening Service
DECEMBER 27th is your last opportunity to give to the budget and other causes for 2015
All 2015 Vouchers must also be used by that date.
Any monies collected after this time, including the December 31 service, will be considered as 2016 donations.
2015 vouchers cannot be carried over into 2016.
Thank you – the Counting Committee
YOUTH MINISTRIES CHURCH SCHOOL: Classes for all students in grade 6-12 are held on Sunday mornings at 9am. Classes will resume again on January 10.
A Look Back at Grace CRC in 2015…
Births (8) Deaths (3)
Sang Pi Muang Gloria Okkema Kate Deelstra Mary Dragstra Colton Mast Dina Roke Mikaela Nywening Nora Middel Transfers In (2) Briella Horneman Phil & Emily Nywening Natalie Bos Vung Dim Huai Khai Re-Affirmation of Faith (1) Erica Horneman Infant Baptisms (6) Aayden Middel Withdrawn/Resigned (12) Kate Deelstra Coolen, Shawn, Julie, Ethan, Noah Colton Mast Bos, Mark, Janet, Kate, Allison, Derek, Rachel Mikaela Nywening Nora Middel Briella Horneman Transfers Out (4) Anita Brinkman Adult Baptism (1) Joyce & Kristen DeBoer Bailee Middel Janelle Koopmans Profession of Faith (4) Kaden VanHelden Luke Wiersma Kees VanRijn Bailee Middel Marriages (6) Nathan & Esther Wiersma David & Julie Klomps Glenn & Michelle Hooyer Nolan & Rebecca Poppe Boreas & Trish Meiboom Gary & Gerda Heyink
November 25th Congregational Meeting Summary
1. The 2015 Fall Congregational Meeting was held on Wednesday, November 25th. Chair Bill Dieleman welcomed all and Richard Vyn led by with opening devotions by reading Colossians 1:15-20, followed by prayer. Worship Coordinator Cheryl-Lynn DeGraaf and pianist Liesje Snieder led those present in singing Speak O Lord.
2. Clerk Ron Middel reviewed the Congregational Meeting Minutes of May 1, May 10 and May 24, 2015. 3. Outstanding from the May 1st meeting was the appointment of Win Elzinga as church auditor,
replacing Barb Dragstra. This appointment was approved by motion. 4. Myrna Panjer gave a presentation on our new partnership with the Tripoli Evangelical Church, a
Presbyterian church in Lebanon that is pastored by Rola Sleiman. We may support this church through prayer, information sharing, encouragement, and possibly worshipping together sometime in the future (Ie: Skype). Anyone wishing to know more about Rola, Google her name and you will find articles on her work.
5. Pastor Jake Snieder reported and gave highlights of our youth programs and activities. 6. Proposed Name Change: A tabled motion from the November 26, 2014 Fall Congregational Meeting
to change our name was defeated. 7. Treasurer Hank Batterink presented the 2016 Budget. Following questions and answers the budget
was passed. 8. Treasurer Hank also spoke of the benefits of members contributing to the church through Pre-
Authorized Debit (PAD) and encouraged all members to sign up. Application forms are available. 9. During the Question and Answer Period, several questions were asked about pledges for the new
addition. Treasurer Hank responded that we hope to be very close to our target. Concern was also expressed about our budget income shortage, which the Chair advised the members of a Meet the budget Sunday being planned for December 13th. Finally, a question was asked about returning to paper bulletins in which the Chair responded that paper copies of the bulletin are available to anyone who prefers one.
10. Pastor William offered closing remarks and prayer followed by the congregation singing My Friends, May You Grow in Grace.
11. Next meeting: January 21st.
December 16th Council Meeting Summary
1. Council met on Wednesday, December 16th. Chair Bill Dieleman welcomed everyone and Elder Richard Koomans led in opening devotions.
2. Items of correspondence, various committee Minutes were reviewed and Pastor William and Pastor Jake’s reports were received.
3. Council received and discussed the November Financial Statement from the Treasurer and the results of Meet the Budget Sunday. Council is thankful for those who have contributed and hopeful that we will meet our budget.
4. Council reviewed and approved a policy paper on Welcoming Children at the Lord’s Supper. This is not a change from our past practice, but now clearly expresses our view that “baptized children of Grace Christian Reformed Church who wish to participate in the Lord’s Supper are encouraged to make an age and ability appropriate profession of their faith, with the support of their parents and under the supervision of the elders. This could occur in a private setting with the pastor and/or elder present.” If anyone wishes to read the entire policy may obtain a copy from the Clerk or church office.
5. A donor has come forward and very generously offered to fund the Pastor of Visitation position for the year 2016. Council acknowledges that this existing ministry is a priority and is well received and appreciated by the congregation. Council gratefully accepted this offer and approved that Pastor Fred Heslinga continue in this ministry.
6. We discussed a request to publish a list of the birthdays of all seniors at the beginning of the year. Since some members opt not to have this information published, Council decided to remain status quo, however if there is a justified request for this information, the list can be provided without the names of those who do not wish their birthdays made public.
7. We received notification that Classis Chatham is scheduled to meet on Saturday, January 23rd at Destination Church in St. Thomas. The Credentials were completed and our delegates are Pastor William, Elder Bill Dieleman and Deacon Paul Hoekstra. Alternates are Elder Henry Taekema and Deacon Hilda Douma. Council also is suggesting to Classis that they hold a 15 or 20 minute discussion on the question: How has your church proceeded with the new provisions that have been made regarding inviting baptized children to the Lord’s Table?
8. Pastor William closed the meeting with prayer. 9. Next meeting: January 20th.
