Brunswick Reformed Church
3535 Grafton Road Brunswick, Ohio 44212
(330) 225-5475
Ministers: Worship & Christian Education
The Congregation Sunday 9:00 & 10:30 a.m.
Pastors:
Don Poest www.b-r-c.org
Dan Toot
Welcome to Brunswick Reformed Church’s worship celebrations. To make our mutual experience more enjoyable today please: 1. Relax - At BRC you can rest assured that you will not be embarrassed, singled out, or put on the spot. 2. Fill Out a Welcome Card - These can be dropped in the offering plate later. The information won’t be misused, and will help us know who’s been here. It’s also a great way to drop a note to, or request a contact from, a staff member. 3. Ask for Prayer - If you have a prayer concern to share, pick up a prayer request form from the cart in back. Give completed forms to an usher or the pastor before the service begins. 4. Know There Are Options for Children - - The small room in the right rear corner has rocking chairs where little ones can be rocked, quieted or nursed. - We have an excellent nursery for ages 0-3 at the far end of our education wing. 5. Join Us for Fellowship - Coffee and juice are served in the fellowship area after each service. Join us and get acquainted. We do ask that you not take drinks into worship with you. 6. Do Not Feel Obligated to Give - If you are a first-time guest, please do not feel obligated to participate in the offering. This is a time when members and regular attendees honor God by giving to his work through this church. Let today be our gift to you. 7. Stop by our Welcome Center for more information about Brunswick Reformed Church! 8. BRC is on the web www.b-r-c.org Who Is BRC? We are a member of the Reformed Church in America, a Protestant denomination that goes back to the Reformation period in Europe when the Church was “reformed” according to the Word of God. We are a mixture of Christians from many denominational backgrounds, all seeking to grow in our spiritual maturity as we live by faith with Jesus as our forgiver and leader. You will find our calling, mission and core value statements on the back of this bulletin.
December 6, 2015
Welcome to worship! On this second
Sunday of Advent the Faith candle on the
Advent wreath will be lit by Marie Buser
(9:00) and Sam Reichle (10:30).
We welcome the Rev. Pete Pinkowski as our guest today.
Pastor Pete recently moved with his family into the West Park
neighborhood of Cleveland to begin the work of planting a new
church. More information can be found elsewhere in the bulletin.
If you are a member of this church, please stop at the table in the
fellowship area today and cast a vote for those discerned by the
Greater Elders to serve a term as elder or deacon on our consistory.
Thank you.
Thank you to the worship team for leading us in worship through
music.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. Worship service
9:00 a.m.: Proverbs 31 (Adult) Room 4
10:30 a.m.: Worship Service
10:30 a.m.: Sunday School classes (Pre-school - 5th grade)
10:30 a.m.: Through the Bible (Adult) in Room 10-11
2:00 p.m.: Women’s renewal team meets in Room 8.
5:30-6:30 p.m. Let’s Pray Together, meeting in the sanctuary.
6:30-8:00 p.m., Marriage Group meets in Room 8.
To get a cd of any of our sermons, simply write “cd” and the
requested date on your Welcome Card. The sermon audio files,
sermon outlines, study questions, verses and bulletins are available
on the church website www.b-r-c.org.
REACT Student Ministries......
For Sunday, December 6
and upcoming events
9:00 a.m.: Middle School Sunday School class, Room
9:00 a.m.: High School Sunday school class, Room 10.
6:00-8:00 p.m.: Youth Group
Monday: ASK ANYTHING, at 2:45 p.m.,. Rec Center
Next Sunday the Youth Group will go Christmas caroling.
Remember to to dress for the weather
The Heidelberg Catechism Question 61.
Why do you say that you are right with God by faith alone?
Answer. It is not because of any value my faith has that God is
pleased with me. Only Christ's satisfaction, righteousness, and
holiness make me right with God. And I can receive this
righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith.
THIS WEEK:
Volunteers are still needed to ring the bell for the
Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign this week at
Giant Eagle in Brunswick. The sign-up sheet with
hourly slots from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. is on the bulletin board
in the fellowship area. There are some open slots!
Monday: Campus Life, 6:30 p.m.
Monday: Elders meet at 7:00 p.m. in Room 1.
Potter’s Workshop has concluded the current study. Group will
resume in the spring.
Wednesday: Women of Wisdom, 10 am-noon, Room 8
Advent study, “The Christmas Experience”
Wednesday: Men’s Study, using Sermon Questions, Rm 4.
Wednesday Connections 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
FOUNDATIONS 2.0
Let it Go by Karen Ehman
Kids Club (Kindergarten - 5th) What’s In the Bible
Thursday: God’s Friends Forever, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday: Worship Team rehearsal, 7:15-8:30 p.m.
Friday: Shining Stars meet at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday: Oaks Family Care Center will use our facilities from
9:00-4:00 for their annual Adopt-a-Family Christmas event.
If you would like to volunteer to help (teens or adult) or to
donate cookies, please call Lois at the Oaks @ 330-220-7777.
Next week’s message, based on Matthew 1:18-25, will be,
Un-Sanitized Christmas: God’s Lousy Timing
Our Donuts with Santa event will happen next
Sunday, Dec 13 following the second service.
There will be donuts, crafts for the kids,
and Santa will read a story. Parents will have the
opportunity to take pictures with Santa if they
wish. All are invited - even those with no small
children! Come, enjoy a time of fellowship together.
We are invited to participate:
WHAT: United Prayer and Fasting: The latest mass shootings in
particular, but also the growing international response against ISIS,
the Tamir Rice case locally, and Advent: together they are a call to
united prayer & fasting. "If my people...called by my Name..."
In Christ we have nothing to fear, but let us intercede for our city,
our country, and our world.
WHO: You, your churches, invite anyone
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 10, between 11:30a-1:30p (come when
you can, stay as long as you can)
WHERE: Calvary, 1918 W. 65th Street, Cleveland.
HOW: With fasting over lunchtime.
Poinsettias: If you wish to help decorate the worship area for
Christmas by providing a poinsettia, please mark
“poinsettia,” the number of plants, along with
your name on your welcome card. Cost is $5,
payable to BRC. Orders and money due by
TODAY, Dec 6. Payment can be placed in the
"poinsettia" mail slot in the communication area.
You are able to take your plant home following
the Christmas Eve worship services.
Attendance last week was 77 & 129. Offerings for Nov 22 totaled
$8,659 and for Nov 29 $7,725. Our Thanksgiving Eve offering
totaled $1,155.
For more than a year you have occasionally heard me
reference Luminex, or a new church plant in Cleveland. Luminex
is the name of the collaborative effort between Brooklyn,
Brunswick, Calvary and New Hope Reformed Churches to start a
new church somewhere on the west side of Cleveland. The Rev.
Doug McClintic, veteran church planter and now church start
coordinator for our region, is guiding us through this process.
After careful prayer, planning and searching, the Rev Pete
Pinkowski has been chosen, and he has accepted the challenge, of
being the planting pastor. Pastor Pete is with us today so we get
acquainted, and so he can begin to share the vision with us. There
are many ways we can support this effort, and I encourage you to
join me in doing just that!
You can commit to being a regular prayer partner. Never
underestimate the power of this! Pete has already been given the
email addresses of those of you who indicated on the recent prayer
survey card in the bulletin that you have the gift of intercession.
If you wish to receive email prayer requests from Pete, simple note
“prayer” on your Welcome Card today.
You can support this work financially. Our Christmas Eve
offering is designated for this cause, so please give generously!
You can also commit to giving a regular financial gift for this
cause over-and-above your regular offering here. Simply
designate it for “Luminex” on your offering envelope. (All four
churches have committed to this work financially. BRC’s portion
is $30,000 paid over three years. We are doing this outside our
regular budget through Christmas Eve offerings and commitments
from individuals to give additionally for this cause.)
You can commit to direct involvement. If God calls you to
be a part of this exciting new work in Cleveland, you are free to
leave BRC to join Pastor Pete. We may not like seeing you leave
here, but God’s kingdom work is bigger than BRC, and we trust
that God knows what he is doing!
So enjoy the service. Encourage Pastor Pete. Pray for this
mission. And ask God what level of direct involvement he wants
from you, through praying, giving, going, or any combination of
these. It’s what this season is all about!
Pastor Don
Luminex Cleveland is a church planting initiative that
me (Pete), my wife Robyn, sons (Ben who is 20 months old and
a son to be born in mid-December), and four RCA churches
(Calvary, Burnswick, Brooklyn, and New Hope) have embarked
on about a month ago. Our family has moved from the
Chicagoland area, and where I (Pete) served as a youth pastor
for seven years and in other various ministries in the
Chicagoland area. I have also recently graduated from Western
Theological Seminary. Why would we move to Cleveland (we
live in the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland)? It is because
we have a desire, hope, and vision is to bring Gospel Renewal
to the people and communities in Cleveland where the complete
fabric of the city is renewed for the Kingdom. The harvest in
Cleveland is enormous with only 8% of the population who are
professing evangelical Christians and 48% of Cleveland is filled
with people who have no religious affiliation. To put it bluntly,
Cleveland is in great need to hear the Good News of the Gospel!
This work we are embarking upon cannot be done by
just my family, we need others to help us in this Gospel
endeavor for the Kingdom of God in the city of Cleveland. We
are looking for people to come help us plant this church (we are
seeking long term and short term help), people who will pray for
the Luminex church plant, and people who will support the
church financially (a little under of half the financial support of
$400,000 has been raised). Would you please pray and see how
God wants to use you in this church plant. If you feel God is
calling you to help us in any way or have questions or you
would like to grab a cup of coffee, please contact me at
219-776-4801 or [email protected]
Advance: Consistory meets on Tuesday, Dec 15, at 7:30 P.M.
Prayer concerns: Gini Reinke is home from the hospital. Bob
Beck hoped to be home by the weekend, wearing a heart monitor.
Laura Bailey is waiting to see a heart specialist. Continue to pray for
those with ongoing health concerns: Bob Cooperrider, Rick
Demeter, Nancy Hanwell, Anna Henry, Ashley Holler, Peg Jenkins,
Flora Kostyak, Laura Martz, Rose & Bob Murray, Eileen Raich, Dick
Read, Gini Reinke, Ted Szenger, Mary Trzop and Nickey Whited.
Continue to pray for our military personnel.
ENCORE, our group of retirees/over 65's, will have their annual
Encore Christmas potluck lunch on December 16, after the Bible
study, approx noon. All in the age range are invited - even if you
don’t usually attend the Wednesday study! Please call or email Gina
Kock at 440-238-0135 or [email protected] if you are planning to
attend so she will know how many to plan for.
Adopt a family for Christmas! Each year many of
our families engage in this wonderful experience, and
we invite you to join in as well. Here’s how this
works:
We get the names of families in need at Christmas,
usually from within the church or from our relationship with Towslee
Elementary School. You tell us what size family you would be
willing to adopt. We provide a “wish list” from the kids in this
anonymous family. You shop for and wrap the gifts and bring them
to church. We make the deliveries so as to protect anonymity. You
get the blessings of being generous, children get the blessings of
having a good Christmas, parent(s) get the blessings of seeing their
kids have a much better day than they could have provided, and God
gets the honor of it all!
If you wish to participate, please write “adopt” on your
Welcome Card. If you know of a family who needs to be adopted,
please get that information to Donna Cook or Pastor Don asap.
Children’s 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service:
If your child wishes to provide vocal or instrumental music for
this service, please note that on your Welcome Card or contact Pastor
Don. Thanks! Our other Christmas Eve services will be at 7:00 &
11:00 p.m
.
THE GOSPEL TO THE OUTSIDER
JOHN 4:1-26, 39-42
Points I want to remember from the message.....
Sermon Study Questions
1. Have you ever felt like an outsider? What was that like?
2. Have you ever treated others like outsiders? Why? How did
they respond?
3. Verse 4 says that Jesus “had to go through Samaria.” Why did
his GPS (God’s Positioning System) send him that way? Have you
ever had a similar experience?
4. Jesus broke two Jewish rules by speaking to a Samaritan, and a
woman. Why did he do so? What barriers have you broken for
the sake of the gospel?
5. How would you present the gospel in a few sentences to
someone?
6. Have you ever had someone try to distract you by asking a
theological question? How did you respond? How did you get the
topic back on track?
7. How did this woman respond to Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah?
How have you responded?
8. This woman went back into town to tell people about Jesus.
Who is the last person you told about Jesus? How did they
respond?
9. Who does God want you to tell about his son Jesus? When will
you do so?
10. What is one thing you will do differently as a result of this
message?
Serving at BRC
Sunday, December 6
Greeters (9) - Marilyn Zeigler
(10:30) - Jim and Eileen Smalley
Welcome Center - Carol Rounds
Nursery (9) - Jennifer Poore
(10:30) - Serena Kramer
Ushers (9) - Paul Buser, Mike Pasko
Assisting - Paul Morgan, Tom Michelson
(10:30) - Pete Nixon, Renee Niedermyer
Assisting - Kenny Wright, Mark Herbert
Verse Cards (9)-Nadine Hapney,
Marilyn Zeigler
(10:30)- Gary Brualdi
Coffee-&Juice (9) - Patty Walker,
Kerri Richenbach
Sunday, December 13
Greeters (9) - Mike and Arleen Pasko
(10:30) - Carol Rounds
Welcome Center - Marilyn Zeigler
Nursery (9) - Melissa Fazekas
(10:30) - Cheryl Wright, Savannah Dickens
Ushers (9) - Paul Morgan, Tom Michelson
Assisting - Bob Jacobs, Dennis Parker
(10:30) - Kenny Wright, Mark Herbert
Assisting - Bob Besida, Eric Kramer
Verse Cards (9)-Guy and Candice Lenart
(10:30)-Jim & Eileen Smalley
Coffee-&Juice (9) - Bill and Bonnie Bumford
Sunday, December 20
Greeters (9) - Gina Koch
(10:30) - Ilze Fultz
Welcome Center - Dick and Rhyna Sensiba
Nursery (9) - Mark Herbert
(10:30) - Renee Garapic, Madison Haynes
Ushers (9) - Bob Jacobs, Dennis Parker
Assisting - Eric Raich, Earl Holzehimer
(10:30) - Bob Besida, Eric Kramer
Assisting - Carol Rounds, Bonnie Ansel
Verse Cards (9)-Earl and Karyn Gentile
(10:30)-Jim & Renee Niedermyer
Coffee-&Juice (9) - Gina Koch
Would you like offering
envelopes?
To request a set
of offering envelopes for
2016, just write your
name and “offering
envelopes” on your
welcome card.
Would you like to give
your offering
electronically?
Go to the BRC
website, www.b-r-c.org
On the lower left of the
home page is a link to
ONLINE GIVING.
Click the link and follow
the instructions. If you
have questions, contact
Jeff Toom.
Advent Devotions
available from the RCA.
Each day during
Advent, the RCA
website posts a new
Advent devotional. The
2015 Advent devotions
were written by Grace
Claus, managing editor
of RCA Today, and
prepared by the RCA
editorial team. You can
visit the site daily, or
sign up to receive the
devotions in your email
each day:
https://www.rca.org/ad
ventdevos
Brunswick Reformed Church
Why Do We Exist?
BRC exists to be a church
where the love of Jesus is transforming lives.
What Do We Do?
BRC offers opportunities for Christ-centered worship,
discipleship, fellowship, service and outreach.
What Are Our Core Values?
Scripture: In all of life the Bible governs, guides, shapes and
sends us out.
Humility: God and his grace is the lens through which
we view and respond to ourselves and others.
Compassion: The love of Jesus empowers us to value and love
all people, and to serve those for whom God is equipping us.
To What Values Do We Aspire?
Discipleship: We will continue to develop a wise
understanding of God’s Word, an ability to discern God’s will,
and an eagerness to obey God’s leading.
Worship: We will continue to grow in our commitment
and love for both personal and corporate worship.
Kingdom-focused: We will place involvement in
God’s mission before personal preferences or human traditions.
Faith sharing: With humble confidence we will live out
our faith, sharing our stories and inviting others to join us
on the journey as we have opportunity.
Prayer: We will live all aspects of life dependent on God
and in communication with him, sharing our hearts
and listening for his leadings.