Offerings next week are for the following causes:
Morning: General Fund and Benevolence
Afternoon: Trinity Christian High School
Nursery this morning: Hilary A., Alyssa M.
This afternoon: Kaylie A., Sierra M.
Next Sunday morning: Shayna A., Allison M.
Next Sunday afternoon: Mrs. D. Blankespoor, Elizabeth P.
Ushers: For January: Brian Westra, Jason Westra, Nathan Westra
Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour every Sunday on KLOH 1050 AM at 8:00 a.m. and KDCR 88.5 FM at 5:00 p.m. Today’s message is “Keep Yourselves in Love” (Jude 20-23). Next week’s message will be “Praise to God Our Savior” (Jude 24,25).
FROM THE CONSISTORY OR COUNCIL
We welcome all visitors worshiping with us today. May God’s name be exalted as we worship together. The order of our worship service is printed on the back of the bulletin.
The sermon this afternoon will be a preparatory sermon, with a view to partaking of the Lord’s Supper next Sunday morning. Supervision is exercised over the sacrament, so that only those who are members of our congregation in good standing, or those who have received special permission from the Consistory will be allowed to partake of the sacrament. May we be made worthy partakers of the supper of our Lord.
With joy the Consistory announces that Kirsti Kooiker and Rochelle Kooiker have appeared before the Consistory to make confession of their faith. Unless there are any lawful objections, their public confessions of faith are scheduled to take place next Sunday during the afternoon service.
At the Council organizational meeting this past Monday the following men were chosen for various positions: Vice President: Jim Andringa; Clerk: Don Vermeer; Clerk of Records: Gene Van Bemmel; General Alternate: Steve Kooima; General Fund Treasurer: Chad Andringa; Assistant Treasurer: Carl Maassen; Building Fund Treasurer: David Kooiker; and Benevolent Fund Treasurer: Travis Groeneweg. The deacons at their meeting chose David Kooiker to be chairman and Kevin Kooima as secretary. Committee appointments were also made at the Council meeting and are listed on the back of this bulletin.
Our pastor is scheduled to be one of the church visitors to visit Lynden PRC on Wednesday and Hope PRC in Redlands on Thursday. He plans to return on Friday. Due the funeral this past week and the fact that our pastor is going to be gone for three days this week, a pulpit exchange was arranged for our second service today. Rev. Griess will be preaching here while our pastor preaches at Calvary PRC. We welcome Rev. Griess to our pulpit and fellowship.
Offering totals for the month of December were General Fund $23,630.28, Budgeted YTD $274,500, Received YTD $264,897.16, Benevolent Fund $3,853.10, Balance $52,491.59, Building Fund $4,404.50, Hull PRCS $10,485.25, Spokane PRC Building Fund $304.05, Seminary Student Assistance $343.00, Trinity CHS $6,657.30, Hull Evangelism Committee $320.50, Reformed Witness Committee $347.00, Edgerton Free Christian School $310.75, and Lyndon Covenant Christian School $281.25.
CHURCH CALENDAR
Today: The Young People’s Society will meet this afternoon at 3:45. We will discuss Jonah 2:1-9.
Monday: The Consistory will meet at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday: Morning classes in Bible History (Grades 1–7): Lesson 16.
Wednesday: 9:45 a.m. Wealth will meet to study Lesson 14. Lunch: Michelle V.B., Anna V.D.T., Amanda R. Upstairs helper: Andria D.R., Nursery: Jessica W.
7:00 p.m. Heidelberg Catechism (Grades 8 & 9): Test over Lord’s Days 12-16; 8:00 Essentials (Grades 10 & 11) Test over Lessons 7-9; 9:00 Pre-Confession (Grade 12 and older): Test 2.
Thursday: Martha Ladies’ will meet at 7:30 p.m. Bible discussion will begin with Acts 20:13. Karen A. and Rose A. have lunch.
Men’s Society will meet on Thursday at 7:30 pm. We start with Colossians 3:12ff and Church Order Art. 13
CONCERNING THE CONGREGATION
Erika De Jong is asked to write to Gary Brummel and Caleb Groeneweg to Derick Grimm.
This past Tuesday our heavenly Father took our beloved brother and friend, Norm Vogel, to be with Him in heavenly glory. We express our sympathy to Wilma and to her family. May our Father in heaven comfort their hearts and draw them ever nigh unto Him. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (I Corinthians 15:22)
Rochelle Kooiker is scheduled to have knee surgery at Dakota Dunes Surgical Hospital on January 19 to repair a torn ACL and meniscus in her left leg. Let us remember Rochelle and her family in our prayers during this trial.
Denny Hoksbergen remains at St. Mary’s hospital in Rochester. He has a duct that is leaking after his lung surgery. A specialist performed a procedure to locate the leak and is now studying some pictures to determine how to attempt to fix it. May our Father in heaven continue to uphold Denny, Michelle and their family during this trial.
CHURCH NEWS
Doon PRC called Rev. Mahtani to be a missionary to the Philippines.
Rev. N. Decker and Mr. Peter Vander Schaaf were sent by the Contact Committee to conduct church visitation with the Covenant PRC in N. Ireland and to visit the mission field in Limerick as part of our sister-church relationship. Today they are worshiping with the saints in Covenant PRC in N. Ireland, and Rev. Decker is leading them in worship. Next Sunday they will visit Rev. McGeown and the saints in the Limerick fellowship. May God use this visit to strengthen the relationship between our churches and may He return these men safely to us next week, the Lord willing.
REQUESTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
HPRCS Collection Report: The current offering total is $115,556.35 of the $148,728.16 budgeted YTD ($33,171.81 short).
Ushers: If you know you will be unable to usher for any service during your month, it is your duty to find a substitute to usher for you. Please inform the head ushers of your absence and who will be substituting for you. Arrive 20 minutes before the service and make sure the center aisle has an usher first. Familiarize yourself with the reserved rows for the elders, organist, and those with disabilities.
The Midwest Young Adult Retreat Committee will meet Wednesday, January 13, at 7:00 p.m. at Calvary PRC. New members are always welcome!
Thank You: The RFPA is thankful to our heavenly Father for your gifts and prayers over the past year! These gifts allow us to publish and distribute books and the Standard Bearer at affordable prices. Readers from around the world receive and use these publications, often expressing to us their appreciation and gratefulness for this solidly Reformed material. Please keep this kingdom cause in your prayers!
Loveland Young Adults Retreat: Registration for the Loveland Retreat held March 14-17 is now open! Space is limited, so register quickly. Check out our Facebook page or the Loveland PRC website for more details and a link to the registration form. The theme is “Our Lives of Joy” based on Psalm 118:24. Rev. Key and Rev. Huizinga will be our speakers. Post-high to age 35 are encouraged to attend!
The Special Education Board asks you remember the Protestant Reformed Special Education Program in your year-end giving. We are currently $68,652 short of our 2015 Fall Drive goal of $184,000. Thank you for your continued support.
Psalm Choir: The Psalm Choir’s CD Volume 19 O Treasure Thou My Tears is now available for the low introductory price of $8. All proceeds from the sales are donated to a cause of our choice. To order go online at www.psalmchoir.com or email marciagritters@yahoo.com.
Beacon Lights magazine is celebrating its 75th year of publication! We are celebrating all year long with fascinating articles regarding our history, republishing the best articles picked by the staff and so much more! We are also offering a special discounted rate for new subscribers: $7.50 for a 1 year subscription. That’s 12 issues for half off! Don’t delay, you won’t want to miss a single issue! Visit beaconlights.org and use promo code beacon75 or call/email Matt Rutgers at (616)209-2824 or subscriptions@beaconlights.org and mention the promo code.
Faith Christian School of Randolph, WI, is in need of a full-time elementary or junior high teacher for the 2016-2017 school year. Interested parties should contact Ed Hoksbergen edhoks@gmail.com or 608-712-7514 or Mike Vander Veen michael.vanderveen@yahoo.com or 920-296-4406.
Heritage Christian School (Hudsonville, MI) is adding an elementary teacher beginning in the fall of 2016. Interested candidates should send in a resúme by January 18, 2016. Please contact Brian Kuiper (bkuiper@hchr.org or 616-669-1773) or Dan VanBaren (dan@vibrationresearch.com or 616-340-6600) with questions they may have.