Communiqué
February 2, 2014
Pray— Christian sympathy is expressed to
Mike, Sharon, Jonathan, Michelle, &
Nicole in the recent death of their mother
and grandmother, Annette Visser.
Praise—Congratulations to Chris & Katie
Prins who were blessed with a healthy
baby boy, Jacob Christopher, Tuesday,
January 28.
Pray—Doc VanDuinen fell and fractured a
hip last week. He had a half hip replace-
ment done on Monday and is now at Spec-
trum Physical Therapy (44th & Kalamazoo)
for rehabilitation.
Praise—Marilyn Laninga had successful
back surgery Monday, January 27. She
hoped to return home by the weekend.
Praise—Doreen Potter had successful
shoulder replacement surgery last week
and is recovering at home.
Pray—Keep the men attending the Piper
Conference, Feb. 3—5, in prayer.
Pray— Keep Anita Collins, Al Bruursma, &
Steve Schreur in prayer as they continue
treatment for cancer.
SERMON QUESTIONS
Study questions re the morning sermon
are available from the wall basket out-
side the church office or on our website
(firstbyroncrc.org) under “Sermon
Study.” Check them out; they can be
used for small group study or for family/
individual study.
2450 85th Street, Byron Center, MI 49315
Phone: 616-878-9768 • Fax: 616-878-0940 • Prayer Line: 616-878-0101
Email: [email protected] • Website: www.firstbyroncrc.org
Service Times: Sundays at 8:30/10:45 am and 5:00 pm
Prayers | Praises WEATHER POLICY
To check if church services are cancelled
due to weather, watch WOOD-TV
(channel 8), listen to WOOD-radio (1300
AM), or go online to woodtv.com.
If a tornado
WATCH or
WARNING
has been
issued and is
in effect within one hour before the
start of any church service or meeting,
that service/meeting shall be cancelled.
ALL CHURCH POTLUCK
TODAY @ 12:30 PM
Ham, potatoes, corn, and rolls provided.
Please bring table service and a dish to
pass if you are a family of four or less;
two dishes if you are a family of five or
more.
ELDER/DEACON NOMINATIONS
Council has started the process of nomi-
nations for elders and deacons. The con-
gregation is invited to submit the names
of male members who they feel should
be considered in the nomination proc-
ess. Names must be submitted to Bob
Mast by TODAY, Feb 2.
CRY ROOM
We are live-streaming the worship ser-
vice into the room across from the
kitchen for
nursing moms
and those with
small children.
SHOPPING BAGS NEEDED
One of our small groups needs lots of
plastic shopping bags for a service project
for the homeless.
You can drop
them off in the
church office over
the next few
weeks. Thank
you!
BACK TO COLLEGE KNIGHT
Men! Join us for the Calvin Men’s Bas-
ketball game Wednesday, February 12,
with a trip to Yesterdogs before the
game. Meet at church at 5:30 pm. See
Steve Elenbaas if interested.
FAMILY NIGHT
DINNER
Wednesday, February 5—The
menu is macaroni and
cheese, meatballs, and green
beans. Prayer begins at 6:00
pm sharp with dinner following. Sign up
at the table in the lobby or online, first-
byroncrc.org, by tomorrow, February 3.
You are encouraged to bring a friend or
invite a neighbor to join you.
NEW ADDRESS
Fannie VanSolkema Sunset Manor & Villages 725 Baldwin #3025 Jenison, MI 49428 Phone: 616-891-1737
NO BIBLE STUDY
Pastor Tom’s Wednesday night Bible study
and Thursday morning breakfast Bible
study will not meet on Feb 12 or 13. There
is also no C4 Men’s Bible Study Feb 5 & 12.
PCRT thoughts from Pastor Tom
Have you considered attending the PCRT conference at our church? It’s coming up again on March 28-
30 with the theme, “Profaning the Sacred: The Beauty and Holiness of the Bride of Christ.”
Don’t let the title scare you away. What we’re simply going to be thinking about is how God calls us as
individuals and the church to be holy. Ephesians 5:26,27
tells us that Jesus died to make his bride holy and radiant,
without stain, wrinkle, or any other blemish. Revelation
19:7,8 reminds us that at the end of time— at the wedding
supper of the Lamb—we will be wearing fine linen, bright
and clean. Both of these passages suggest that Jesus died
to make us holy.
One of the greatest challenges in the Christian church and
life is to pursue holiness instead of happiness. We’re called
to holiness, but happiness is so appealing. It’s appealing to
take a Sunday off for myself and family instead of joining
God’s people in worship. It’s appealing to define good wor-
ship as that which moves me more than that which blesses
God. It’s appealing to give people a half gospel of easy
“believism” instead of calling people to a full gospel of re-
pentance and faith. It’s appealing to coast in the Christian
life instead of engaging in a passionate pursuit of godliness
through prayer and meditations on God’s Word.
Come out and be edified and encouraged to pursue holiness,
all for the sake of our holy and handsome bridegroom, Je-
sus.
You can register through the church office (878-9768).
THANK YOU
A sincere thank you for all the birthday
cards, to those who shared kind words,
and to those who attended the open
house. It was all appreciated. I was blessed
and to God be the praise!
Sam Tjepkema
MENTOR NEEDED
There is an urgent need for a mentor for
a girl in kindergarten. She is a sweet little
girl struggling with t he recent divorct of
her parents. She needs someone to
spend time with her, give her the special
attention she needs, and be a reliable
adult in her life. Her brother recently
began with a Kids Hope mentor and has
shown remarkable positive behavior in a
short time. If you feel called to this minis-
try, please contact Chris Kruithof at
[email protected] or 616-437-3213.
RED HAT LADIES all ladies are invited
to attend the Red Hat Ladies for lunch.
Reservations are made to go to Blue Gin-
ger, Monday, February 10. Meet at
church at 11:20 am to carpool. Over 50?
Red & purple. Under 50? Pink & lavender.
Sign up at the table in the lobby. ??? Call
Char Troost, 616-877-4019.
Feb 2 AM Christian Education PM Missions Feb 9 AM Seminary of Myanmar PM Crossroad Bible Institute Feb 16 AM Missions PM Christian Education Feb 23 AM Christian Education PM Pregnancy Resource Center
Feb Offering Schedule
Serving next Sunday
February
Bulletin Announcements due in the office by 10 am
Mon 3 Tue 4 Wed 5 Thur 6 Fri 7 Sat 8 Sun 9
6:00 pm Cadets 7:00 pm Beth Moore
Study Birthday: John Haaksma Mary Harkema Joanne Veldman Anniversary:
7:00 am RISE 9:45 am Ladies Fellowship Birthday: Alan Doornbos Lindsay Kalmink Derek Oosterhouse Anniversary:
Pizza @ SCHS 6:00 pm Family Dinner 6:30 GEMS 6:45 pm Pastor Tom’s class C4 Men’s Ministry Birthday: Kaden Potgeter Diane VanDyk Dave Walker Grant Zondervan Anniversary: Don & Bev Smit
6:00 am Men’s Breakfast Bible Study 9:15 am Reaching Women 9:30 am Playgroup @ Kerri Maas 6:45 pm Stephen Ministry 7:00 pm Financial Peace Birthday: Matthew Diekevers Bernie Kolkman Mike Kortering Seth Verburg Elli Vink Anniversary:
Birthday: Zachary Brinkert Larry VanSingel Katelyn Winters Anniversary:
Birthday: Mike Bouma Dean Doornbos Elizabeth Woudwyk Anniversary:
8:30/10:45 am Service 9:45– Sunday school, Catechism, Adult Ed, Rev. Henry Entingh, “The Mystery of Christ” Sr. Choir 5:00 pm Evening ser-vice After evening service: High school youth group @ church Birthday: Maryn Kuiper Dick Norden Sophia Prins Anniversary: Dave & Renee Potgeter
2•9•14 Valet AM: Nate Deppe (1) Duane Visser (2)
Greeters PM: North Entrance: John & Tami Brinkert South Entrance: Mike & Amelia Broekhuis
Librarians: AM Cecil DeVries (1), Pam Tillema (2) PM Joy Folkersma, Claire Duimstra
Children’s Worship: 8:30 AM Heidi Brouwer, Jamie Keegstra 10:45 AM Heidi Brouwer, Samantha Lutke, Molly Longstreet
Nurseries: 8:30 AM Greeter: Sheri Deppe Infant/ Kathy Oostra, Diane VanZoest, Toddler Sydney VanZoest, Lexie VanSolkema, Ellie VanSolkema 10:45 AM Greeters: Lanae Wolf, Mandi Palmbos Infant: Sheri Groelsema, Linda Pareti, Emily Groelsema, Kalley Groelsema Toddler: Paulette Sterk, Lisa DeVries, Bre Sterk, Lexi Sterk
Little Lambs/Wee Worship: 8:30 AM 2’s—young 4’s Steph Boomsma, Maddie VanSolkema, Sara VanSolkema 10:45 AM 2’s Julie Bromhead, Anika Darter, Hannah Hofman 10:45 AM 3’s—young 4’s Mari DeJonge, Sarah DeVries, Kaysey Sterk
Nursery: PM Greeters: Emily Warners, Holly Twiest Infant: Judy Hoekman, Sarah DeVries, Lauren Keen Toddler: Charise Bos, Karen Huttenga, Jerod Bos, Reese Bos
You are invited to join the staff in a time of prayer each Monday, 10:45 am.
Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology @ First Byron CRC
March 28-30, 2014
Profaning the Sacred: The Beauty and Holiness of the Bride of Christ
Register at alliancenet.org or call 1-215-546-3696.
Questions? Contact Norm/Lu VanSolkema, 878-7613 or Ken/Joan Buiter, 878-3488.
This year’s speakers are Dr. Rick Phillips, Rev. Greg Gilbert, and Rev. Phillip Johnson.
We have been privileged to hear Dr. Phillips many times. He is the senior preaching
pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC. Rev. Gilbert is the senior
preaching pastor at Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. He recently partici-
pated in the Cross Conference that several of our college students attended. Phillip
Johnson is executive director of Grace to You, John MacArthur’s media ministry. He
manages two websites, The Spurgeon Archive and The Hall of Church History.
CADETS
Tomorrow, February 3, we will be going
to 3 Mile Project along with other cadets
from Grand Valley
Council for a pri-
vate event. We will
leave church at
6:00 and return at
around 9:00. Cost
is $4. There may
be food to purchase which is not included
in the price. Eat before you go! There
will be basketball, reball, games, indoor
skate park, etc. Remember the waiver
that must be signed and brought! You
will not be allowed in without the signed
form. Cadet shirts will not be re-
quired. This should be fun for all. More
information can be viewed at
www.3mp.org or by contacting your ca-
det counselor. Please no friends for this
event since our club is picking up some of
the cost above the $4.
From the community. . .
Please come help support H.U.G.S. Ranch by taking your family to an early Valentine's Dinner at the 54th St. Culver's from 5:00-9:00 p.m. on February 10th. Ten percent of all sales goes directly to the Ranch. Thank you for your support, H.U.G.S. Board of Direc-tors. Please join us for the next Byron Community Ministries Senior Luncheon on Tuesday, February 11, at noon. The menu will be goulash, garlic toast, green beans, jello, and dessert. We will also have a speaker from Holland talking about “Healthy Pleasures”. Please call 878-6000 to RSVP.
Calvin Christian High School Music Department is holding its annual Soup Supper, Sat-urday, February 8, 2014, 5:00-7:00 pm in the High School gym. Come, enjoy a warm bowl of soup, a baked potato, and a yummy dessert all the while supporting Calvin Christian Music Department. Partners in Learning is in urgent need of a few host families for this spring semester at Calvin Christian. We have three male students coming from china who will be entering the freshman, sophomore and junior class. They will be arriving within the next few weeks and we are looking for families who will either host them for the semester or for a short welcome period until we are able to find a permanent home for them. There is a monthly stipend included to help with the food and travel expenses. Please contact Rod DeJager at 616.562.1020 or [email protected].
CADETS & CADET DADS
The annual Cadet father/son campout will
be Friday and Saturday, March 7-8. Plan
now to attend with your son for a time of
great fun and great food!
HIGH SCHOOL CREW NEWS
RISE will meet Tuesday morning, 7:00
am, February 4, at the Reitsma’s.
Pizza Lunch at South Chris-
tian on Wednesday, Feb 5.
Project Serve this Wednesday, Feb 5, at
the church to serve at Wednesday Night
Dinner. Students should
arrive at the church at
5:30 pm ready to serve.
The Crew Ski Day Trip is February 22. We
are going to Caberfae Peaks. The cost is
$30. This needs to be turned in by Sun-
day, February 16.
YOUTH GROUP FUNDRAISER
Help defray the cost of our high school
youth group BIG STUF conference trip
June 15-27! There are 37 students signed
up to attend.
Join us at
our fund-
raising spa-
ghetti din-
ner with
salad, rolls,
and dessert
Wednes-
day, February 19, from 5-7 pm. Look for
an “official” invitation in your mailboxes.
Feel free to invite friends and family to
attend. RXVP to the church office, 878-
9768, [email protected], or sign up
at the table in the lobby or online, first-
byroncrc.org;
ADVANCE NOTICE
Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be held
at First Byron CRC, July 14-18, from
9:30—11:30 am. Kids and volunteers
save the date! Opportunities to serve will
be coming in April. If you have any ques-
tions, please contact Jen Huyser at 616-
878-9520 or [email protected].
COLLEGE
MISSIONS PRAYER MEETING
The prayer meeting has been moved to
tomorrow night, Feb 3. Please meet at
the church at 7:00 pm to head to Cal-
vin’s Campus for a time of prayer for the
nations.