january - 2020 - februaryfirstreformedcg.com/first's editions/2020 jan-feb.pdf · cold-case...
TRANSCRIPT
by Helena Villarreal
As I write this, we are eight hours into a new year. Resolutions come to mind. Many of us will have made resolutions in regard to things like physical fitness, finances, and career goals. But, have you ever considered setting goals in regard to your walk with Jesus Christ? Following Christ does not come easily. It must be done on purpose. Setting attainable goals in our Christian lives will not only improve our own spiritual health- it will improve the health of our families, communities, and our church. God’s Word is inspirational. Here are five possibilities.
Matthew 5:9 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. The only way to lasting peace is through Jesus Christ. Ask God each day to assist you in making peace. It is no secret that some of the meetings and interactions that take place at First Reformed Church have not inspired peace. I have personally left congregational meetings filled with hopelessness, anxiety, and sadness. But, that is because I have momentarily lost my focus on the fact that God is sovereign. He can use this time of uncertainty in our church for His ultimate plan. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing is beyond His Power. Just acknowledging that fact floods me with peace. There are concrete actions that I take. I intentionally respond to anger with calmness. This is new for me. I used to default to another person’s anger at a church meeting with my own self-righteous anger. Now, I listen more often. I even silently pray for unity to be restored during contentious meetings.
John 8:31 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” How are we to abide in His Word? One definition of abide is to accept. Another is to live or dwell in. There is simply no way to be a disciple of Jesus without knowing His Word. The only way to do that is to read it and then obey it. There are numerous ways to read the Bible. I use the Bible app and each day listen to an audio clip of verses that are part of a two-year plan to read through the entire Bible. More importantly, I obey. For example, I forgive and ask for forgiveness because walking with Christ demands obedience. I hear Christians say that they don’t have time to read the Bible. But, if you have time to shower, brush your teeth, and get dressed- you have time to read the Bible! During small group, Cheryl shared with us that she wouldn’t allow herself to eat until she had read her Bible. I link it to getting ready for my day.
January - 2020 - February
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Stand firm. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. If you have taught any classes at our church, you quickly notice something. The first class you teach is full of people. By the end of the class, there are usually one or two faithful attendees left. This used to distress me. I saw it as a reflection on my ability to teach. And, this happens in all age groups. But, it is very important to give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. Even when two people show up for a class, it is just as important to pour my efforts into class. The work you engage in outside of work is also critical. Before heading into the Vollrath HWC, I pray this prayer. “God, go before me. Open my eyes to help whoever You send my way today. Strengthen my hands for Your Work.”
2 Corinthians 4: 9-11 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. A very important way to reveal the life of Jesus in our body is to die to ourselves. What does this entail? This means to put the needs of our pastor and our fellow church members and attendees before our own desires. This may be the hardest resolution. But, this is done by expecting nothing at church but to serve. Rather than complaining about the absence of things that you want at First Reformed Church, ask God to open your eyes to join in and serve in all the ways that He is working. David, Michael, and I joined a small group. We laugh. We cry. We “let our hair down” and encourage one another in concrete ways to grow in Christ. Facilitate a class if no one else volunteers. Join in any of the prayer groups taking place. Prayer is where the real power and change takes place. This is where Satan is soundly defeated. Intentionally put others first. Put yourself last.
2 Corinthians 6:9-11 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We are commanded by God to rejoice! Complaining, gossiping, and speaking words of hopelessness in regard to the future of our church is wrong. It is not acceptable in God’s eyes and does damage to His Bride, the church. He takes this very seriously. It simply must stop because the Great Commission cannot happen when we engage in this behavior. These behaviors are every bit as destructive as sexual immorality and witchcraft according to the Bible. I wince when I look back at how I used to engage in gossip in our community. I have torn down our pastors and leadership without reservation. I have asked God for forgiveness and the moral courage to do my part to stop it. A concrete way that I have stopped it is by being proactive. I start conversations with fellow church members by asking what God did in their lives this week. I always engage in what I call “good gossip” during the week. I’ve been known to tell complete strangers about Pastor Chris and First Reformed Church and all of the great things God is doing through us. I was taken aback several months ago when I introduced myself to someone, telling him that my family attended First Reformed Cedar Grove. He jokingly stated that the four of us were probably the only ones left. My heart began to pound. Frankly, I was angry. But, I calmly stated that my family was staying. First Reformed Church was following Christ. I asked him if he thought that was the most important thing. He agreed. In the past, I may have joined in and torn down our church. Thanks be to God, I now have the moral courage to defend His Church. If I have a problem with someone, I either let it go or only approach that particular person for resolution. Then, I forget it. And, I accept each person with his or her unique attributes and personality.
My prayers for the next year are that you would set your own resolutions that would help you to follow Christ much more closely. This is not easy or comfortable. It may mean having hard conversations with each other. But, to God be the Glory, we have the same power that resurrected the dead living in us! Wow! That only fills me with peace, gives me a hunger for His Word, helps me serve fully, die to myself, and rejoice! I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us.
February March
02 Jason & Jodi Jones family 01 Gene & Joan Dana
09 Brian & Karen Klos 08 Steve & Linda Meinen
16 Dennis & Sandy LeClair 15 Mark & Judi O’Connell
23 Mark & Betty Lorge 22 John & Kathi Poplar family
29 Eric & Joan Chvosta Sanders
April
05 Jeff & Aileen Starr
12 Randy & Linda Walvoord
19 Dale & Betsy Theune
26 Jack & Becky Dulmes family
February
01 Leila Hartmann
Michael Prinsen
04 Gracin Reed
05 Ashley Navis
Marion Prinsen 90
06 Tracy Spriggs
07 Anna Mae Berend
08 Logan Navis
09 JoAnn TenPas 87
10 Owen Teunissen
13 Andrea Scholten
14 Lorraine Huibregtse 91
16 John Prinsen
Jeff Starr
Carl TenPas 88
17 Eric Veldhorst
20 Gene Dana
Jonathan Walvoord
26 Daniel Hartmann
Jack Krause
27 Lowell Kappers 84
28 Cheryl Reha
March
01 Reese Hinze
02 Shirley Claussen
Marilyn Sandee
03 Brian Hopeman
Eli Kaat
Brandon Wieberdink
05 Jaiden Jones
06 Erwin Claussen
09 Darlene TeStroete
Gloria TeStroete 93
11 Jody Kaat
12 Matthew Rubsam
Eric Sanders
14 Ashley Hinze
John Poplar
15 Greg Navis
Roger TeStroete
17 Malachi Lukens
18 Gail Biederwolf
23 Michael Villarreal
24 Rosemary DeMaster
Jeremy Spriggs
25 Ivy Ray
Matthew Risch
Jerry Schwartz 84
28 Lisa Claussen
31 Tessa Krause
Jamie Prinsen
Thank you very much for helping 28 families in the CGBSD schools with gifts,
fulfilling two needs and one want for each truly needy student here. Being a
part of this, with four other churches from Cedar Grove and Belgium is a very
real blessing that is unique to our community. Many Children will be blessed by your giving, above and beyond what was asked. A family
devotional by Max Lucado was given to each family. The genuine thanks and
relief from parents were expressed when they picked up the wrapped gifts on
Saturday, December 14th. Thank you also to the volunteers from our church that helped to wrap the 200
plus gifts on Friday, December 13th. This was accomplished in less than two
hours. It truly was a blessed event!
Thank you for the Poinsettia and the
Christmas cards.
Pearl Hilbelink
Thank you so much for all the
beautiful Christmas cards and
thoughtful messages. For the flower;
to the kind people from First
Reformed Church who had a hand in
delivering all of these heart-warming
things to our shut-ins. So very much
appreciated.
Carolyn Kappers
Dear Church Family,
Thank you for all the prayers,
cards, hugs, calls and gifts
received while
Dawn and Erwin were ill.
Thank you for the beautiful
poinsettia for Christmas. All
was very much appreciated.
Please continue to keep us in
your prayers.
Dawn Claussen
Erwin and Shirley Claussen
Thank you for the Poinsettia and Christmas cards. I appreciate all
of them.
Lillian Veldboom
Thank you to the church for the
Poinsettia, and to all those who were
ministers of grace by sending
Christmas Cards.
Marion DeRuyter
Thank you for the Poinsettia
and Christmas cards.
Paul Nyhof
Thank you to everyone who rang the bell and donated for the Salvation Army at the Piggly Wiggly. The funds raised will be used for the Salvation Army projects in Sheboygan County.
CHECK IT OUT!
NEW ARRIVALS AT THE CHURCH LIBRARY!
ADULTS: 1. Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace. A former homicide detective investigates the claims of the Gospels.
2. King's Shadow by Angela Hunt. Two women struggle to survive in Herod the Great's tumultuous court, where no one is trustworthy and no one is safe.
3. Paul, Apostle of Christ by Angela Hunt. Luke, as a friend and physician, risks his life every time he ventures into the city of Rome to visit Paul, held captive in Nero's bleakest prison cell.
4. The Stones Of My Accusers by Tracy Groot. Two men searching for a woman. One many to confront her, and the other to show her mercy.
5. The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis. Can the Millers find a way forward through the
turmoil to a place of forgiveness and acceptance?
6. The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis. Can God make something good come out of the mistakes of the past?
7. The Caregiver #1 by Shelley Shepard Gray. Wounded hearts find hope and healing in the Amish village of Jacob's Crossing.
8. The Protector #2 by Shelley Shepard Gray. When her mother passes away, Ella's forced to auction off her family's farm.
9. The Survivor #3 by Shelley Shepard Gray. Mattie has faced more in her twenty-three years than she ever imagined possible.
10. How The Lights Get In by Jolina Petersheim. When Ruth Neufeld's husband and father-in-law are killed, she travels to Wisconsin to bury her husband.
11. One More River To Cross by Jane Kirkpatrick. In 1844, the Stevens-Murphy company left Missouri hoping to be the first wagons into California.
12. Then Sings My Soul by Amy Sorrells. At age 94, time is running out for any hope that Jakob can be free from his burden of guilt.
13. Unplanned by Abby Johnson. As director of a Planned Parenthood clinic, Abby decides to walk across the road to join the Coalition for Life.
PLUS Four new Christian movie DVDs: Mom's Night Out, Gods Not Dead 2, Unplanned, and To Joey With Love.
CHILDREN: 47 new books! 1. Including 13 books for older elementary students from Answers in Genesis and Cold Case for Christianity!
2. Five Play and Learn Sets for our younger kiddos: David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lions, Jonah and the Whale, Feeding the 5000, and Jesus and His Disciples!
PARENTING RESOURCES: New books that deal with the difficult but important conversations we must have with our preteens to prepare them for difficult situations as teens and young adults.
Come meet the newest members of our Library!
Come see the old
and new treasures
we have in our
library!
13+ NEW BOOKS
FOR GROWN UPS!
47 NEW
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
4 NEW DVDS!
5 NEW PLAY AND
LEARN SETS FOR THE
KIDS
BIBLE ACTIVITY
PACKS FOR KIDS
CHILDREN &
FAMILY MEDIA
RESOURCES
Information on Answers
in Genesis, Casemakers
Academy, Focus on the
Family, What's in the
Bible, Superbook,
Owlegories, Veggie
Tales, and Pureflix
FAMILY
MINISTRY
RESOURCES
Information on Voice of
the Martyrs,
Compassion, and Reece's
Rainbow
SPIRITUAL
HEALH RESOURCES
Spiritual Health
Evaluations and Spiritual
Gifts Assessments
Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is
noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable—
if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such
things.
Philippians 4:8
EVANGELISM
RESOURCES
Information about why
we should evangelize,
how to evangelize, and
who we should
evangelize.
GREATER CHURCH
HISTORY: FROM ACTS
TO THE PRESENT
OUR CHURCH
HISTORY
WALK THROUGH
THE BIBLE IN ONE
YEAR FOR KIDS AND
PARENTS!
Each week a different
Bible Story will be
showcased using colorful
flannel graphs. There
will also be a coloring
page available for kids
to take home.
LADIES BOOK
CLUB
We meet again on 2-17!
42 Seconds by Carl
Medearis.
LITTLE
SHEPHERD MONTHLY
STORY TIME
In December we talked
about "Jesus is the
Reason for the Season"
This month we will be
talk "God Made You
SNOW Special"
SWEET READS
READING PROGRAM
AGES 3-13: For every 5
books read or movies
watched from OUR
CHURCH LIBRARY, you
will receive a coupon for
a FREE sweet treat!
DISCIPLESHIP
DOLLARS READING
PROGRAM FOR AGES
14-100: For every 5
books read or movies
watched from OUR
CHURCH LIBRARY, the
Library will donate $1 to
one of our Church's
missions.
WALL OF
WONDERS: SHARE
WHAT GOD'S DOING
IN YOUR LIFE!
On the chalkboard wall,
jot down something
amazing you see God
doing in your life! Bless
and be blessed!
But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do
not break in and steal. 21 For
where your treasure is, there
your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:20-21
On Monday, March 2nd the
Northwestern College
A cappella Choir
will give a concert here at
First Reformed Church.
They will be arriving at 4:00 for rehearsal at 4:30. We will feed
them Dinner here at the church. Be sure to come and hear them
for their concert at 7:00pm.
They will be coming with approximately 42 members who will need
a place to sleep that night. Please consider taking in 2, 4 or more
if you can, to spend time in your home after the concert. They will
need to be back at the church with breakfast eaten and lunch in
hand at 8:45am. If you are willing to take in a few members sign
up at the information counter or contact Cheryl or Kaye.
“Cornhole for Seniors”
for men and women at 1:00pm on
Wednesdays here at First Reformed
Church. Invite your friends.
Questions call John Navis
920-980-6441.
Ladies Book Club: Time to read again! This time we will be
reading “42 Seconds: The Jesus Model
for Everyday Interactions” by Carl
Medearis. We’ll meet on Monday,
February 17 at 6:30. There are
questions at the end of each of the 4
sections that we will use for discussion.
Remember to write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper. Sign up at the
info counter or let Mary Lavey (920-
668-8302) know if you would like a book.
Make sure you read the Introduction
too. This is a great book!
Church Ministry Contacts Elders Deacons
Administration Roger TeStroete Kevin Hopeman
Contact: Roger TeStroete 920-564-3801
Congregational Life Dale Theune Nate Hinze
Contact: Dale Theune 920-627-5814
(Connect & Care with Compassion) Contact: Joan Dana
920-918-7785
Discipleship Andrew Lavey David Villarreal
Contact: Andrew Lavey 920-668-8302
Missions Lloyd TerMaat Dan Teunissen
Contact: Lloyd TerMaat 920-980-5798
Property Mark Hopeman Kevin Hopeman
Contact: Kevin Hopeman 920-668-8173
Worship Mark Huenink Jeff Starr
Contact: Mark Huenink 920- 627-6923
Little Shephard’s Inn Board Roger TeStroete Jason Jacoby
237 S. Main Street P.O. Box 319 Cedar Grove, WI 53013 Phone: 920-668-6261 Website: firstreformedcg.com
Missions We Support ➢ Pastor Simon Muntolol
RCA Missions – Kenya ➢ Bob Abel – RCA
Remembering Nhu ➢ Todd & Darlene Voskuil
JAARS/Wycliffe – North Carolina
➢ Words of Hope Uganda Challenge
➢ God’s Kidz in the Hood Milwaukee
➢ The Faithful Workers of Adullam – Milwaukee
➢ Kelsey (TeBeest) Corpas World Team – Spain
➢ Alex Holle InterVarsity @ Carroll University ➢ Beautiful Response – Haiti
➢ RAJ Ministries ➢ Camp Daniel ➢ Jen DeMaster
Mid-East Missions ➢ Pastor Esperanza Dominican Republic
➢ Ongoing Mission Projects
Chris Schaefer – Senior Pastor Phone: 920-668-7024 / 219-863-8037 email: [email protected]
Cheryl Schaefer – Ministry Assistant email: [email protected] Kaye Ebbers – Office Administrator email: [email protected] Patti Hinze – Financial Administrator email: [email protected]
First Reformed Church Cedar Grove, WI
Sunday Morning Worship Services on Access Channel 20
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9:00 & 11:00am
1:00-3:00-5:00-7:00 & 9:00pm