In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church December 28, 2014 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:1-18 NIV Made into word art for the front cover. Restoring all people to God’s living truth and equipping them to passionately live it out! Today we welcome Pastor Art Verboon from Maranatha CRC for pulpit exchange. We are glad you are here and invite you to stay for coffee and fellowship after the service! Welcome and Prayer Songs: Anthem for Christmas Here I am to Worship Greeting Song: Hosanna (Praise is Rising) Confession and Assurance Song: The Potter’s Hand Children’s Message Song: My All in All Congregational Prayer Announcements Thank Offering: Ebenezer Ministries RiseUp House Scripture: Isaiah 49:1-7 Message: Looking back: Was it a good year? Prayer Song: May the Mind of Christ my Savior Blessing Song: Never Once 2014 WEDDINGS & BABIES – At the New Years Day service we as a church like to recap the previous year and would very much like to show pictures all the babies that were born in 2014 as well as the weddings that occurred. Please send your pictures to [email protected] CHARITABLE DONATIONS - Today is the last Sunday of the year and therefore will be the last Sunday for charitable donations for 2014. The office will be open on Monday & Tuesday mornings (9-noon) if you would like to drop by bring by any last minute donations for the 2014 tax season. Thank you! Jenny CADET BOTTLE DRIVE - Bring your bottles this weekend! The Cadets will be rounding up bottles for their bottle drive this Saturday, January 3 from 9am-12pm. Please either bring your bottles to the c h u r ch that day or e m ai l [email protected] if you need them picked up! Thank you for supporting this awesome ministry! CADET CALENDARS - the 2015 Birthday & Anniversary Calendars are in everyone’s mailboxes. The suggested donation per calendar is the same as last year, $15.00. We will be collecting donations for the calendars after the service on Jan 4, 2015. We will have 2 Cadets in uniform at the doors to the sanctuary to collect donations. This is one of two big fundraisers for the Cadet Program. The money raised from the calendar goes towards minimizing the travel expense for the boys to go to the International Camporee. COFFEEBREAK - We will be starting a new season, January 7, 2015. Join us each Wednesday at 9:30am for a Women’s Bible Study, Storyhour Children’s program, and Nursery! Invite your friends and neighbours and come out for a wonderful time of connecting with our Saviour and with each other! EVOLUTION, SIN AND REDEMPTION - CRC Campus Ministry, along with the King's University and Inglewood CRC, invites you to a presentation by Calvin College Physics professor, Dr. Loren Haarsma at the King's University Thursday, January 15 at 7:30 pm. As modern science sheds more light on human origins, the questions of the historicity of Adam and Eve and original sin are generating much discussion in our denomination. In his presentation, Dr. Haarsma will summarize both the scientific evidence and the main points of Christian tradition around humans as God's image-bearers, the human soul, and original sin. He will also discuss several competing scenarios for harmonizing long-standing Christian doctrines with recent scientific discoveries. This is a free public event. For more information contact Rick VanManen at [email protected] or visit the CRC Campus ministry Facebook page. Thank You to Our Volunteers Ushers: Dennis VanBeek, Andrew Visser, John Taekema New Year’s Day: Dennis Prins, Ruby Prins, Andy Lukas Next Week: Frank Vande Kraats, Ted Koopmans, Dennis VanBeek Greeters: John & Joyce Debbink New Year’s Day: Henk & Hennie Groenewold Next Week: Gary & Jenny Fiebich Coffee Duties: Harold & Leona Hofstra, Rudy & Karen Gengler, Tim & KerryAnne Hoogland New Year’s Day: Scott & Jody Klooster, Josh & Michelle Klopstra, Fred & Linda Knoppers Next Week: Kurtis Horneman, Kyle & Gloria Horvath, Matt & Leanne Klooster Worship Team: Marianne & Team New Year’s Day: Joanne & Susan Next Week: Alice & Team Projection & Audio: Nicole & Mike New Year’s Day: Ted & Josh Next Week: Wes & Pete Serving Elder: Frank Vande Kraats New Year’s Day: Josh Van de Kraats Next Week: Pete Vlieg Nursery: Supervisor– Christine Hofstra Infants: Christine Hofstra, Michelle Opdendries, Bethany Groenewold Toddlers: Christel Wakker, George Debbink, Esther Hoogland New Year’s Day: Supervisor- Christine Hofstra Infants: Johan Martens, Nicole Van de Kraats, Andrea Klooster Toddlers: Janna Prins, Elizabeth DeWeerd, Sam Hoogland Next Week: Supervisor– Laura Abma Infants: Laura Abma, Josh van de Kraats, Isaac Meetsma Toddlers: Jon Prins, Monique Tolsma, Josh Meetsma Ministry Contacts Church Office: Phone: 780-986-4119 Fax: 780-986-9797 Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-3pm Bulletin Deadline: Thurs 12pm Email: [email protected] Website: www.ebenezercrc.com CLASSIS ALBERTA NORTH PRAYER SUMMIT - Please save the date of March 15, 2015 for our second classis prayer summit. This will be a day to gather together as one body before our Lord and enjoy inspirational worship, speakers, testimonials as well as have opportunities to pray. Watch for more details and registration in January. Stay tuned! Monday & Tuesday 9am-12pm Church Office will be open Thursday New Year’s Day Service Sunday (Jan 4) 11:00am 10:00 am Worship Service with Pastor Peter preaching -John 1:14 DEACON’S CORNER 1st Offering - EBENEZER MINISTRIES - This offering is used to cover the day-to-day expenses of the church, fund the various ministries at Ebenezer, cover the salaries of staff, and contributes to the ministry shares that we are committed to as members of Classis Alberta North and the CRC Denomination. 2nd Offering - RISEUP HOUSE - Established in 2007 Riseup House Society is an equipping and healing women’s outreach centre responding to the reality of domestic violence and abuse. Riseup House provides group support, counselling and resources for women impacted by intimate partner abuse, and educates individuals and community groups about preventing and responding to abuse. For more info see riseuphouse.ca New Year’s Day – EDU DEO MINISTRIES - EduDeo Ministries is a Canadian, Christian, mission organization serving children in developing countries with quality education rooted in a Biblical worldview. Education is one of the most powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality and lays a foundation for sustained economic growth. The World Bank states that, "Among human capital investments, education stands out as critically linked to poverty reduction and improved productivity." At EduDeo, our goal is to take this incredibly effective tool of education one extraordinary step further and combine it with the transforming message of the Gospel. https://edudeo.com/ Next Week - LEDUC FOOD BANK - The Leduc Food bank serves a population of approximately 55, 000. Their mission is to promote human dignity, bring surplus food together with people in need, lend support to other agencies that care for those in crisis and develop community awareness, co-operation and education. For more info see leducfoodbank.ca MARRIAGE VIDEO SEMINARS - Keep this date open and join our 4 part Marriage video series “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage” First evening Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 7:00pm. Other dates to be announced soon. The seminar features 4 sessions: “Tale of Two Brains” - In this comical and informative session Mark shows couples how many of their problems are the result of how Men and Women THINK about life. He shows how most struggles in marriage are not the result of a HEART problem, but a HEAD problem. “The #1 Key to Incredible Sex” - In this session, Mark shows the importance of sex in marriage while incredibly funny, Mark shows how the sexual messages of our culture are fundamentally flawed at best and destructive at worst. He then shows steps they can take to achieving a great and healthy sex life, ending with the #1 Key to Incredible Sex. “Why Does He/She Do That!?” - Mark Shows how to discover the true reason why their spouse does what he or she does. A great “stress reducer.” “How to Stay Married and NOT Kill Anybody” - In this final session, Mark shows how to avoid building resentment in your marriage and the key to staying married for a life time. Is the program appropriate for my teen/college age child? “People always tell me ‘I wish I would have learned this stuff BEFORE I got married.’ It is time we start preventing relationship problems – not just fixing them.” Many parents have expressed a desire for their young adults to hear the information that Mark teaches about relationships and sex, and Laugh Your Way is happy to welcome them. For more information contact Pastor Peter.