Unity Church Staff Pastor Steve Zwart - 320-444-6682 stevez@unitycrc.org

Solid Rock Youth Director Travis Berry - 763-210-8344 (solidrockym@gmail.com)

Administrator Wilson Brouwer

Administrative Assistant Merri-Sue Verner (unitycrcoffice@gmail.com

Office 320-978-4300

Treasurer Jennifer Breems

Custodians Scott & Taryn Buteyn

Lawn Care Roger Ulferts

Snow Removal Trapper Swierenga

CURRENT COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD

Harris Duininck, Administrative Elder

Marlin Breems, Administrative Elder

Mike Mulder, Administrative Elder

David Brouwer, Administrative Deacon

Kevin Covert, Administrative Deacon

Wilson Brouwer, Administrator—Non-voting

Steve Zwart, Pastor - Non-voting

Jennifer Breems, Administrative Deacon & Treasurer SHEPHERDING ELDERS Bryan De Groot, Trapper Swierenga, Daryl Marcus, Dan Ohden, Alnora Bruin, Chad Hoekstra and Pastor Steve SERVICE DEACONS Andy Rosen, Dan Brouwer, Tim Ahrenholz, Jennifer Breems, Jeremiah Slagter and Darrell Frikke

May 6—18 Birthday’s & Anniversary’s

May 6

Mr. & Mrs. Virgil Gerdes

May 9 Jaden Dannen Carol Frikke Ben Taatjes Oliver Vogel

May 11

Jessica Bloomquist Cheryl Watnaas

May 12

Lindy Groen

May 13 Roxanne Marcus Carlie Swart

May 14

Dan Brouwer Antonio Jean Louis Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Van Der Puy

May 15

Joyce Marcus Elva Post

May 16 Taylor Hentges

Mr. & Mrs. Jeremiah Slagter

May 17 Shirley Bonnema Neika Leininger Heather Negen Dawn Poppema

Brenda Van Der Puy

May 18 Londa Fischer Marshall Knight

Tanner Stoel

CELEBRATING YOU! If we missed your date or you know

of someone we missed, please contact the church office!

SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2018

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Sunday (Today)

9:30am: Worship Celebration

Children ages 3-preK will be invited by announcement to go to Children’s Church.

Monday

5:30pm: Open Rock (The Van will leave Unity at 5:00pm)

Wednesday

6:30pm: Ladies Bible Study

7:00pm: SRYG (9- 12 grade) at the

Rock (The van will leave from Unity at 6:30pm) 7:00pm: GEMS Year End Counselor

Meeting

Friday

6:45am: Men ’s Bible Study

Saturday

7:00pm: Benson Family Singers Concert

MORNING WORSHIP

Scripture Reading

Romans 13:8-10

Today’s Message

Love’s Undending Debt

Lead Worshipper

Krista Slagter

Offering

General Fund

Welcome to Unity Church!

Welcome to worship today at Unity! Wherever two or three people gather in Christ’s name, He is present (Matthew 18:20). We dedicate our time together to His glory. Welcome!

Pastor Steve will be out of the office

starting later today through Monday, May

21. Our Shepherding Elders continue to

be available for prayer and ministry as you

have need. Please contact them if the

need arises. Bryan DeGroot, Alnora Bruin,

Daryl Marcus, Dan Ohden, Trapper

Swierenga, and Chad Hoekstra.

Community Blessing Breakfast

Was a huge success because of your will-

ingness to show your love to our

community. The outpouring in providing

the food items, to helping out in all areas

of setup, takedown, serving, cleaning

in-between, to visiting with our guests; it

was all very much appreciated!!

Bless you all!!

UNITY FAMILY & COMMUNITY FAMILY

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Friendship Ministries concluded the year with a Banquet of good food and entertainment. We thank Gretjen for her faithful Mentoring. She was an example of what "Friendship" is all about. Her long time student went to meet her Lord and Gretjen shared with her in her final days her favorite Friendship songs and love for Jesus. We will miss Nancy at Friendship. Thank-you for your support of Friendship, The Friendship Board Community Prayer Service

In light of the National Day of Prayer, we

will gather as area churches

for a Combined Prayer

Service on May 6 at First

CRC at 6:00 p.m.,

asking for God’s blessing

upon the world, our

nations, crops and industry, and the

church worldwide Pastor Aaron Greydanus,

from Raymond CRC, will bring the

message. The offering will be for

Children of the Promise and a time

fellowship will follow the service. Let us

join together in prayer for God’s Blessing.

Unity Family:

We continue to intercede for David

Plowman as he enters this final

season of his life here on earth. Pray

for God’s peace to rest on him and his

family.

Shirley Bonnema continues to re-

ceive therapy and care following her

fall a couple of weeks ago. Pray for

God’s strength and peace during this

difficult season of life.

We rejoice with Jamie and Jenny

Groen and their family as the

were united with their daughter

Angelina in Haiti this week! Pray

for safe travels home and the transi-

tion back home.

Pastor Steve and Ang will be traveling

to the Netherlands to visit family and

enjoy some time away. Pray for God’s

renewing strength and rest as they

travel.

The Benson Family Singers On Saturday, May 12th at 7pm, we will be

hosting a concert featuring The Benson

Family Singers. The Benson Family Singers

are a family music group from Faribault,

Minnesota. Peter and Rachelle, along with

their four sons, David, Aaron, Luke, and

Paul have a unique ministry consisting of

barbershop, bluegrass, and gospel music.

They specialize in tight, a cappella harmo-

nies and also play a variety of instru-

ments, including guitar, banjo, bass, violin,

and mandolin. The Bensons use their

music, humor, and message to proclaim

the gospel of Jesus Christ. Admission is

free and freewill offering will be taken

during the concert. Don’t miss this

incredible family!!

Ministry Information

To be a body of Spirit-filled believers who are

rooted in God’s Word, growing in God’s grace, and committed to reaching others

for Jesus Christ.

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

3 - Pre-K THIS Sunday (May 6, 2018)

Aubrey Negen Allie Zwart

Next SUNDAY May 13, 2018

GREETERS Scott & Taryn Buteyn

SERVERS Jason & Melissa VerSteeg Greg & Merri-Sue Verner

USHERS Chad Hoekstra

Jordan Starkenburg

VALET PARKING

Kevin Covert

SOUND/ COMPUTER

Ryan Moorlag Tom Bruin

LOBBY MONITOR

Pete VanDerPuy

LIBRARY Heather Nett

INFANT NURSERY

Londa Fischer Floater:

Sara Ahrenholz

TODDLER NURSERY

Gina Diedrich Dunia Ali

Reagan Swart

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

3 - Pre-K NEXT Sunday (May 13, 2018)

Paulienc Jean Louis Stanley Jean Louis

This SUNDAY May 6, 2018

GREETERS Tom & Alnora Bruin

SERVERS Chuck & Sandy Leininger

John & Carole Negen

USHERS Pete VanDerPuy

Micah VanderBeek

VALET PARKING

Jennifer Breems

SOUND/ COMPUTER

Wilson Brouwer Isaac Swierenga

LOBBY MONITOR

Tim Fischer

LIBRARY Katrina Miedema

INFANT NURSERY

Heather Ruplinger Floater:

Carrie Moorlag

TODDLER NURSERY

Donna Elliot Addie Brouwer Ava Sietsema

UNITY FAMILY & COMMUNITY FAMILY

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bloodmobile at Raymond CRC Save the date: The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at Raymond CRC on Monday, May 7th from 1-7pm. Appointments can be made with Wilma Boonstra at 320-967-4139.

CMCS 9-12 Pops Concert The 9-12 Pops Concert is coming up on Tuesday, May 15 at 7PM in the High School Gym. With a Broadway theme this year, the high school band and choir students will perform selections from famous Broadway musicals such as “Hairspray, “ “The Greatest Showman,” “Newsies,” “Annie,” and more! You won ’t want to miss this!

Harrison Community Presbyterian

Church 150th Anniversary

Celebration

Join us Sunday May 20th as we cele-

brate our 150th Anniversary. The pro-

gram/open house will run from 1:30-

3:00pm. See the poster on the bulletin

board for address.

Splash Canyon VBS will be held at First CRC of Prinburg June 4-8 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. each evening. Registration is open for kids ages 4 yrs. (by Sept. 1) through 5th grade. To register, sign up online at www.office@firstcrcofprinsburg.org and click on “VBS Registration”, on the Facebook page “Prinsburg VBS”, or call Sarah Van Dyken at 320-2204600. Those who register by May 28 will receive a free CD/DVD of VBS music. Volunteers: We are in need of JH/HS volunteers to be station helpers and also assisting the adult leaders as they bring the kids to each station. If you can help, please call Kim at (320) 978-4323.

39th Annual New Life Treatment Center Horse Ride-a-Thon 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at the Pipestone County Fair-grounds to NLTC at Woodstock. Lunch will be served following the ride. We encourage everyone to join in part or all of the events. Lunch, awards and prizes at 1:30PM. In case of bad weather, an announce-ment will be on local radio stations. We invite supporters and riders to come to New Life Treatment Center at 11:00AM for lunch, prizes and awards, even if the weather is bad. Please support the Horse Ride-a-Thon by sponsoring a rider or you can mail your contribution to: New Life Treatment Center, P.O. Box 38, Woodstock, MN 56186. Pro-ceeds will go towards furnishings and equipment to benefit our clients. Call (507)777-4321 for information or to volunteer or register. Volunteers to set up, drive rigs, deliver snacks to the trail and serve food are needed.

UNITY FAMILY & COMMUNITY FAMILY

ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTINUED

Area Prayer Needs and Praises We continue to join together as area churches committing to pray for each other.

This month we will join in prayer for:

First Christian Reformed Church Items of Praise:

We give thanks for the blessings of young families with young children and new

babies born and soon to be born.

We are thankful for the recent professions of faith of young people within our

church family.

We praise God for answered prayer for the warmer weather and pray for safety as

the planting season begins.

We are excited for Splash Canyon VBS to be held in our church June 4 – 8. Pray for

God’s blessings on this as well as our area outreach radio broadcast.

Items of Petition:

Pastor Jon Bushnell has accepted the call to serve at the Sioux Center URC. Pray for

him and his family as they follow the Lord’s will and begin a new phase of their life.

Pray for our church and Council during this transitional time. Pray also for the man

God is preparing to be our next pastor.

Pray for our youth and the Lord’s leading in their lives, especially those who will

soon graduate from high school and college.

Pray for all those of our church family recovering from accidents, surgeries, those

with ongoing health concerns, confined to their home or care facility and those

grieving recent loss of loved ones.

Pray for our missionaries as they bring God’s Word and plant the seed in often diffi-

cult and challenging situations.

Pray that we as a church will grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus

Christ and seek to share the good news of salvation.

2017-2018 Budget Giving Update

Budgeted Giving Commitment

Actual Giving

+/- Need

April 1 $6,014.35 $3,151.00 -$2,863.35 April 8 $6,014.35 $5,015.66 -$998.69 April 15 $6,014.35 0 -6014.35

April 22 $6,014.35 5350.75 -663.60 April 29 $6,014.35 5310.00 -704.35 Monthly Total (as of 4/29/18)

$30,071.75

$18,827.41

-$11,244.34

YTD Total (as of 4/29/18)

$264,174.32

$265,290.63

$1,116.31

THE GENERAL FUND UPDATE

Stewardship Corner Seasons. As we eagerly anticipate the change of seasons from winter to spring, it once again reminds us of our yearning for newness and life. This is not an accidental yearning, but a God-given drive. He built us for life, to sustain life, and to live life to the full-est. Giving is an integral part of that life-giving, life-sustaining picture. Giving is a way of infusing life into others and experiencing fullness of life. An offering is not just a part of the worship service, it’s a life-giving act -- an expression of yearning for newness and vi-tality in God's people and God's world. May your giving always reflect the life-giving spirit of God in all of areas of life, including the morning offering.

Children’s Church We are in need of Children’s Church teachers and helpers for the remainder of the year. If this is something that appeals to you, please sign-up on the sheet in the fellowship area! Contact Natalie Vander Beek with any questions.

What will be your legacy? Many Christians want to make a lasting statement about the importance of God’s Kingdom in their lives. Because of our partnership with Barnabas Foundation, they provide charitable giving services to Christians like you seeking ways to honor God with the resources with which you have been blessed. James Prichard, a Christian attorney from Barnabas Foundation, will help you develop the best possible plan to meet your family’s financial and charitable goals. Jim will be meeting with Christian families in our area May 21-22. Call Barnabas Foundation toll-free at 888.448.3040 to schedule your complimentary conversation with Jim. To help you get started, you may also request a free special resource titled “7 Reasons to Review Your Will” by simply sending an e-mail request with “7 Reasons Request” in the subject line to info@BarnabasFoundation.com