American Reformed Church
Orange City, Iowa
What’s Happening Sunday at
ARC?
American Reformed Church
407 Albany Avenue SE
Orange City, IA 51041-1627
712.737.4430
[email protected]
http://www.americanchurchoc.com
8:15 AM Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
9:30 AM Worship (Sanctuary)
Scripture: Luke 1:47-55
Preaching: Rev. Shirley Folkerts
Liturgist: Paul Karssen
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
10:30 AM Coffee Fellowship (Narthex Area)
Providing cookies/bars
April Buysman, Margaret Fernow
Lori Hayungs, Phyllis Vander Werff
Serving Refreshments
Ron & Peg Juffer, Kevin & Lynne McMahan, Jo Van Es
Volunteers for Sunday, December 28, 2014 and January 4, 2015
Thank you for serving! Each job is important to us. If you have a conflict the date you are to serve, it is
your responsibility to find your own replacement and notify the church office (737-4430) of any change.
Preaching
(28) Lynne McMahan
( 4) Harold Heie
Liturgist
(28) Jo Tolsma
( 4) Adrienne Forgette
Bulletin Delivery to Shut-ins
(28) E. Elder, J. Wilbeck, B. Ferrell
( 4) Beltman, B. Fernow, R. Juffer
Nursery
(28) Vazquez Family
( 4) Mark & Nicole Beltman
Heather & Jacob Gabel
Exterior Doors Greeters
(28) Marilyn Jiskoot (U/W)
Jerry & Kim Van Es (D/E)
Joel & Junia Punt (D/SE)
( 4) Russ & Sharon Vande Steeg(U/W)
Jim & Judy Smits (D/E)
Lynn & Denise Sneller (D/SE)
Sanctuary Doors Greeters
(28) Smith Family
( 4) Darryl & Barbara Turnwall
Don & Mary Lou Vander Wel
Sound Technicians
(28) Tony Altena
( 4) Norm Nieuwenhuis
Brent Sampson
Staff
Mary Abels, Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Rosalyn De Koster, Director of Youth Ministries
[email protected]
Providing cookies/bars
(28) Pam Boonstra, Ellene Deets,
Betty Jasper, Jo Van Es
( 4) Cake — in Appreciation of
Pastor Gary Hegstad
Serving Refreshments
(28) Gabels, Marilyn Jiskoot
( 4) Van Oorts, Vande Weerds
Children’s Message
Benjamin Langton
Children & Worship
(28) No C & W
( 4) Story: “Baby Jesus Presented”
Leader: Jo Tolsma
Greeters: Julie Elliott, Tessa Burg
Laura Jonker, Coord. of Children’s Ministries
[email protected]
Julie Powell, Facility Manager
[email protected]
ARC News, published weekly, is delivered to your home. Its mission: to celebrate and communicate the life and ministry of
American Reformed Church. Extra copies will be available for visitors by the mailboxes. If you do not receive this newsletter
by Saturday, please let the church office know. Your stories and news items are welcome! Staff reserves the right to edit.
7:00 PM Longest Night Service (Sanctuary)
Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the
first Christmas without a loved family member who has
recently died; it may be a time that has always been
difficult. Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We
feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need
encouragement to live the days ahead of us. Come out,
and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that God’s presence
is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and
that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness.
A time of fellowship will follow the service. Everyone is
welcome.
VOLUNTEERING FOR TODAY
Bulletin Delivery to Shut-ins
Allen Fernow, Jeff Tolsma, Junia Punt
Exterior Doors Greeters
Jan Vandermeulen (U/W)
Todd & Erin Nelson (D/E)
Paul & Vic Karssen (D/SE)
Sanctuary Doors Greeters
Kensak Family
Nursery
Todd & Erin Nelson, Maggie Kensak
Sound Technicians
Norm Nieuwenhuis, Doug De Zeeuw
December 21, 2014
Carols
and
Candlelight
Service
Christmas Eve
Wednesday,
December 24
5:00 PM
(ARC Sanctuary)
All are welcome!
This year’s CHRISTMAS EVE offering will be for
Rock Valley Recovery, a project of Justice For
All, helping the Rock Valley area recover from
the 2014 summer flooding. Much has been
done but many homes still need to be
repaired. Also, if you have some down time
this winter/spring, JFA would love to have you
commit 2-3 days to helping getting these
homes repaired before spring. Why not get a
group together and give them a hand?
Call 712-476-2804 to explore where you can
be used.
American Reformed Church gathers together to be transformed by Jesus to transform the world. As followers of Jesus Christ,
we have been called by the Holy Spirit to worship God, know God in community with others, and serve God by serving others.
Announcing the
Events for the Week
Monday, December 22
10:00 AM Women’s Prayer Group (Library)
Questions? Please contact Arlene Punt at 707-4600.
1:30 PM Women’s Faith Sharing (Library)
For more information or questions, please contact Lynne
Grossmann (737-4202).
Wednesday, December 24
5:00 PM Christmas Eve Carols & Candlelight
Service (Sanctuary)
The traditional service of eight lessons and carols traces
the story of our salvation from the disobedience of Adam
and Eve to the birth of Christ. In the service this year,
following each carol, a symbol is brought forward. Each
recalls the lesson just read and also points to our redemption in Christ. The symbols serve to remind participants that the meaning of Christ’s incarnation is not understood apart from his passion and resurrection. The
infant in the manger is none other than the one who died
on the cross and rose from the grave, bringing light and
life to all.
Thursday & Friday, December 25 & 26
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
(Church office and building closed.)
Sunday, December 28
9:30 AM Worship (Sanctuary)
Monday, December 29
10:00 AM Women’s Prayer Group (Library)
Questions? Please contact Arlene Punt at 707-4600.
1:30 PM Women’s Faith Sharing (Library)
For more information or questions, please contact Lynne
Grossmann (737-4202).
Thursday & Friday, January 1 & 2, 2015
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
(Church Office and Building Closed.)
Sunday, January 4
9:30 AM Worship (Sanctuary)
(C & W Resumes)
10:45 AM Sunday School Resumes
The ARC News will not be published
next week. The next issue will be
published January 11, 2015.
Team Prayer Requests for
Nicaragua Service Trip
On December 26, 2014-January 3, 2015, a team of 10
individuals from ARC (Doug & Marlene De Zeeuw, Kathy
& Heather Gabel, Lori & Jenna Hayungs, Dennis & Wanda Korthals, Edan Lambert, and Abebja Bobb-Kelly), will
travel to Bluefields, Nicaragua to lead a VBS for children
from “the dump”. They will be working alongside RCA
missionaries, Dr. Bernardeth and Pastor Adrian BobbKelly. The team earnestly asks for your prayers that:
*God will send a mighty Spirit to guide the team during
their visit in Bluefields;
*the people the team spends time with will be so blessed
and be able to see God at work through the team;
*the team will have a safe journey and safe visit;
*the family members back home will be at peace and
blessed as well;
*all fears and concerns that team members have will be
calmed and stilled by our Heavenly Father who can do
anything;
*the VBS program will be a mighty blessing to all the
children attending and bring joy to their lives;
*the VBS Christmas story spring alive in the hearts of the
receivers and the ones bringing the story in a new and
mighty way;
*the team will be able to see and hear what God has to
show them in Bluefields;
*God will provide Pastor Adrian and Dr. Bernardeth the
time and energy needed to direct the team during the
visit and that the team will bless them in their ministry
and not drain them;
*God provide energy and good health to each member so
that the team can work at full capacity and beyond;
*the bonds the team builds with each other will be a
strong foundation looking forward to ARC future mission
projects.
Remembering
God’s People in Prayer
Home from the hospital:
*Don Hop, *Betty Jasper , *Sherri Langton ,
*Julie Powell
Prayers have been requested for:
*Peter (Dorothy) Karssen, father of Paul Karssen, who is
hospitalized in Orange City.
Expresses Thanks
“Many thanks to all who donated, helped, and attended
the high school youth group brunch on Sunday. We
served 162 people and raised $662ARC youth appreciate
your support so very much! Merry Christmas!”
...Sara Tolsma and Rosalyn De Koster
“Warm, cozy, inviting, homey, and exciting are a few
words I have heard from church and community members
when walking through our coffee fellowship area and other newly painted areas of church. I have been wanting to
paint the white walls for a couple of years now and we
finally got that accomplished. I have several people to
thank. I first want to thank the deacons for giving me the
go ahead to get this painting done. Next, thanks to Kristy
Kepp for coming in a couple of different times to help select colors. She did an amazing job finding the right colors
to match existing carpets and furnishings. Finally, I would
like to thank three amazing men - Carl Reinking, Al
Nibbelink, and Lynn Sneller. These guys put up with my
demands and delivered more than I could ever imagine.
Thanks for your jokes, laughs, smiles, and willingness to
give back to the church with your time and energy. The
church looks awesome!! We owe the fresh look and excitement to the hard work you three did this past month.
Thanks again to everyone involved for making our church
look warmer and more inviting.”
Daily Bible Readings for
Your Devotions
and Worship Preparation
December 22-28
22 Monday
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
23 Tuesday
Psalm 148
24 Wednesday Christmas Eve: Psalm 96
25 Thursday
Christmas Day: John 1:1-14
26 Friday
Galatians 4:4-7
27 Saturday
Luke 2:22-40
28 Sunday
1 Corinthians 13:12
Matthew 2:13-23
December 29-January 4
29 Monday
Jeremiah 31:7-14
30 Tuesday
Psalm 147:12-20
31 Wednesday
Ephesians 1:3-14
1 Thursday
New Year’s Day: Psalm 8
2 Friday
John 1:1-9
3 Saturday
John 1:10-18
4 Sunday
John 17:20-22
PLEASE NOTE: If a pastoral concern or need arises,
it is the responsibility of a family member to contact
the Church Office (737-4430), or an on-call Elder:
December 18-20: Wanda Korthals
756-4306 / 395-1761
December 21: Paul Bartlett
737-8541/707-7286/441-7218
December 22-27: Marilyn Jiskoot
737-4041/540-4559
December 28-January 3: Eric Elder
737-3498/707-7012
...Julie Powell, Facility Manager
Support Local Mission
The December local Mission of the Month
offering is for Justice for All. Justice for All is
based in Rock Valley, IA. Their mission statement
states: JFA seeks to promote Biblical justice and
reconciliation, by encouraging and equipping volunteers,
empowering the poor, and partnering with other ministries that share a commitment to Christian community
development. Use this opportunity to “act justly, love
mercy and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8)
ARC Deacons Financial Report
as of December 14, 2014
Total Giving to Date: $359,271.86
2014 Annual Budget: $394,332.67
Average Weekly Giving (Actual): $7,185.44
Average Weekly Giving (Budget): $7,583.32
Average Weekly Giving (Deficit) ($397.88)
Noisy Offering Totals
(Health Kits for Nicaragua) - $581.39