1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

CHILDREN
Little Lambs (ages 2-4) meet today at 9:30. We continue
with our unit ‘Jesus’ Work’ with the story “Jesus Heals a
Man Who Couldn’t Walk.”
The MicroScope for January 25, 2015
A Closer Look at the Ministries of Seymour Church
Today at 9:30 am, Pastor Phil will conclude the “Coming
Home” series with the last message, “The Celebration of
Coming Home.” The text will be verses 1-15 and 22-24 from
Luke chapter 15. We will celebrate by communing together
with the Lord’s Supper and our Sanctuary Choir will lead our
singing. Our second offering is for Wedgwood.
Next Sunday at 9:30 am, we have the privilege of installing
Rev. Todd Grotenhuis as our volunteer Pastor of Outreach
and Discipleship. Todd will also be preaching from Matthew
4:18-22, “Following Jesus and Fishing.” Phil DeJonge will be
our liturgist and the Worship Team will be singing the
prelude.
Please Pray For . . .
1. Remember in prayer those who mourn the death of Dr.
Ted Minnema: wife Tena, children Tom and Sondra,
grandchildren David, Benjamin, and Anna.
2. George Eckhoff’s sister, Joyce Herrema, died on January
19. Please remember George and his family in prayer as
they mourn her death.
3. Pastor Mary and Pastor Phil will meet with several of our
Raybrook residents on January 29. Please pray for our older
members, especially those who are unable to travel
because of winter weather.
4. Give thanks for the ways our missionaries provide
leadership training to national leaders. Remember to pray
for Ben Meyer in Mexico and John VanderStoep in Haiti.
8. Thank God for Kate Bykerk’s wonderful testimony of
faith with the Elder Board last Monday night.
9. Pray for our sister churches in Classis Grand Rapids
East. This month many of us at Seymour Church are praying
for our brothers and sisters at Shawnee Park CRC.
Our Sympathy
To Tena Minnema (Z-1). Ted Minnema died Sunday, Jan. 18.
Also to Tom and Sondra Minnema and family (Z-2).
To George and Bev Eckhoff and family (Z-2). George’s sister,
Joyce Herrema, died on January 19th.
OUR STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S RESOURCES
Children’s Worship (Pre-K, K, 1st) meets today at 9:45ish.
Today we begin a series on the parables with “The Parable
of the Good Samaritan.” Please remember your collections
for Anjana, Gomathy, and Daise.
G.R.A.C.E. (grades 2-6) meets today at 10:50. Grades 2-5
will finish up their unit on “The Boy’s Lunch – Feeding the
5,000,” with shepherd helpers continuing to be the Kuipers
(2nd), DeBlecourt (3rd), Bos (4th/5th), and Prins (5th)
parents. Our 6th graders will explore ‘Comprehensive
Coverage,’ focusing on spiritual, physical, intellectual and
social health! Please remember your collections for Anjana,
Gomathy, and Daise.
Shepherd Helpers for G.R.A.C.E. in February are the: Jansen
(2nd), Reidsma (3rd), Holleman (4th/5th), and VanAntwerp (5th)
parents. Thank you for your help and interest!
Musical CDs – please return these ASAP to Lori Schreur! So
far, only one has been turned in. 
Candy Cane Sale for Cadet Camporee and Gems Camps –
each group made $40! Thank you for your purchases!
Old Photos – have you found some old photos in your
church mailbox? Lori Schreur has been doing some spring
cleaning . . . Enjoy!
YOUTH
All Youth Families: Join fellow BLAST & High School Youth
Families on Saturday February 21st for a Winter Road Rally!
9am - 1 pm, the cost is FREE, details are in your mailboxes!
Sign up today in the church lobby!
BLAST meets today (1/25) in the Zoocasa basement after
the AM service from 10:50-11:45am. Our Re:Form topic will
be, "Can I be a Christian without going to church?"
BLAST students - Friday, Feb 6, 7pm-8:30pm. Join us for a
SkyZone Jump Party! Details were in your church mailboxes
last week! RSVP to Amanda by February 1st!
High School Youth meet today (1/25) in the Zoocasa after
the AM service from 10:50-11:45am. This morning we’ll
breakdown the story of the Fiery Furnace (Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego) in several entertaining ways!
High School Youth! Tonight (1/25), 5-7pm, everyone will
meet at the Zoocasa for Youth Group! We'll enjoy supper,
fellowship, and continue our video series; "Seek Social
Justice". Be thinking about our own social justice project
and what to do with our collection! See you there!
Mexico Trip Participants & Parents! Save the Date: Sunday
February 1 immediately following the AM service we are
going to have a Mexico Mission Trip Meeting in the
Zoocasa! Our agenda is to review trip details and begin
paperwork!
ADULTS
Special offerings for January 18, 2015: Benevolence $114, Potter’s
House $364; Capital Campaign pledges rec’vd to date: $809,291
(of $984,091)
Pacesetters – Upcoming February events! Make note of
the dates which are slightly changed due to Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Coffee – Thurs, Feb. 12, 9:45am *
Russ’ Woodland Breakfast – Thurs, Feb. 19, 9:00am
Russ’ Wyoming Breakfast – Thurs, Feb. 26, 9:00am
Pacesetters and Valentines! Join us for coffee and
valentine goodies in the Fellowship Room. We will be
blessed with songs and activities by Sondra Minnema’s class
from GR Christian Elementary. Contact Lori at 245-8726 if
you have Valentine goodies you would like to share!
VOLUNTEERS
Ministry
AM Nursery
(be there 9:15)
AM Nursery
(be there 9:15)
Children’s
Worship
Enfolders
Little Lambs
Library
Sound
Projection
Video
Today – January 25
B: Rachel Vandenbroek family
Diane Smith
T: Jessica & Randy Setsma
Next Week – February 1
B: John and Glenna Mindling
T: Kevin & Lynn Helder
Jany Nykamp
Tom/Heidi DeBlecourt, Scott Bishop
Vincent, Boorsma
Carol, Rachel/Sarah Bredeweg,
Sarah Brinks, Jonathon DeBruin
Jan Dyk, Margaret VanAntwerp
am – Doug Nykamp
Jim Jonker
Rich VanDyk
EVERYONE
The Daniel Plan meets today at 11 am. We will meet every
Sunday through Feb. 15 at 11 AM in the Fellowship Room.
Seymour Supper Club! Have you ever greeted someone in
church and thought that you would like an opportunity to
get to know that person better? Well, here is your chance.
Seymour Supper Club is about to begin again! Information is
in your mailbox. If you have additional questions, contact
Joan DeVries [email protected] 942-5806.
The Council is pleased to announce that Rev. Todd
Grotenhuis has accepted the call we have extended to
become our volunteer Pastor of Outreach and Discipleship.
In his letter he wrote, “I am happy to accept this call, and I
look forward to how God will guide us forward through this
position.” The Lord willing, we will install Rev. Grotenhuis
next week Sunday, February 1.
Food Drive for Kids Food Basket – We will collect food
donations through next Sunday, February 1. Thank you for
helping your GRACE kids exemplify the story of ‘Jesus
Feeding the 5,000’ by collecting food for hungry children in
Grand Rapids. You are appreciated!
Love Soup Mixes – there should be two mixes on the
counter today. Please help yourself and bring a meal to
someone who could use some help this week. In G.R.A.C.E.
today, we will be making our last two jars which will be on
the coffee counter next week.
Our next WAS night will be Wednesday February 4. Pastor
Phil invites you to join us at the Adult Discussion Class that
meets in the Fellowship Room at 6:45 p.m. As we continue
to investigate the world of biblical Israel, the next topic will
be the political and economic ramifications of centralized
worship at the Jerusalem Temple.
Seymour Church Camp Out - Save the Date! August 21-23
camping at Tri-Ponds! More details to follow.
Projectionists Needed: We appreciate our projection
system and are grateful to those who make it happen every
week. However, we really need to expand our pool of
capable personnel. We are searching for people with 1) an
overall understanding of computer usage; 2) a willingness to
be at church at 8:30 AM on the Sunday mornings you are
scheduled; 3) advance the screens throughout the service.
You DO NOT have to create the service slides and you will
not need to be a volunteer every Sunday. If you sense that
you are being called to fill this need, please talk to Jim
Jonker or members of the Worship Committee: Mike
Nykamp, Curt DeYoung, Carl Peterson, Ilene Woldhuis, or
Pastor Phil.
Old Photos – have you found some old photos in your
church mailbox? Lori Schreur has been doing some spring
cleaning . . . . . Enjoy!
The Administrative Board has endorsed two proposals for
our 75th Anniversary Service Project: 1) Construction of a
playground for Zuni Christian School in New Mexico, and 2)
Construction of a Habitat House in Grand Rapids. There will
be a Congregational Forum on Sunday, February 8, at 11
a.m. when the congregation will hear presentations on
these proposals and then decide by vote on which of the
two service opportunities we will do this year for our 75th
Anniversary Project. Plan on being at the forum and pray
for a good discussion and discernment.
Perhaps you’ve heard: there will be some major changes in
the church office soon! Both Ginny Hartger and Diane
Jonker will be finishing their work as Administrative
Assistants (Diane in February, Ginny later in the spring). We
thank them for many years of faithful service: Ginny for 13
years and Diane for 11 years! We will schedule a postworship reception for a later date so that we can all express
our appreciation for their many contributions to our life and
ministry at Seymour Church. We will soon begin the search
for one Administrative Assistant who will be able to work for
28 hours per week (between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3
p.m.). If you are interested in this position, or know of
someone who might be interested, please contact Pastor
Amanda or Pastor Phil for a job description. Applicants do
not need to be members of Seymour Church.
Requested Announcements
We are excited to invite YOU to an EXTRA SPECIAL Dining to
Donate event! Tuesday, January 27, 5-9 PM
Culver's (245 - 54th Street SW, Wyoming)
Students on AnchorPoint's Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team
will be SERVERS and GREETERS. We hope YOU can join in
and help keep them busy! Invite your family and friends! No
flyer needed! 10% of ALL sales will be donated to the OM
team*. *Drive-thru sales not included. Charlotte Reidsma,
Luke and Seth Halpin are on the AnchorPoint OM team and
Courtlyn and Lynne Helder are serving as coaches. Thank
YOU very much for your participation!
Community Game Nights are just around the corner!
Here's a perfect way to shake off those winter blues! Join
neighbors and friends again this winter for a Community Game
Night.
The game nights will be held on the 4th Friday of the month at
Seymour Church at 6:30pm from January to April (see dates
below). Bring the family, your favorite board games (some games
will be provided) and feel free to bring a snack for yourself or to
share. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Mark your
calendar with these dates:
February 27, March 27, & April 24. Hope to see you there!
Contact Jenn Reidsma with questions /comments at 988-9268 ext
205 or [email protected]
Upcoming Evening Worship Opportunities:
“A Choral Evensong for Epiphany” with the Calvin College Alumni
Choir under the direction of Pearl Shangkuan
DATE: Sunday, January 25, 5 pm
PLACE: Woodlawn CRC in the Calvin College Chapel
“Who is My Neighbor - A Hymn Festival” with the choirs of
Woodlawn CRC and Calvin CRC, featuring the art of Steve Prince
DATE: Sunday, February 1, 5pm
PLACE: Woodlawn CRC in the Calvin College Chapel
Oakdale Park Church and Madison Square Church present a
Vespers Service incorporating music, liturgy and other art
forms to promote racial reconciliation with justice. This
vespers service will be led by David Bailey and Urban
Doxology. 7:30pm this Saturday, January 31, 2015 at
Oakdale Park Church, 961 Temple SE. An offering will be
received.
Alger Heights residents, Will You Be My Neighbor?
Sustaining the Practices of Good Neighboring-- We often
have good intentions about knowing our neighbors and
working with them to make our community a better place.
It is easier to start things than to sustain them, and in the
busyness of our lives, our good intentions can sometimes
remain unfulfilled. Join your neighbors for this interactive,
conversational training as we remind ourselves of core
"good neighbor" habits and brainstorm how to take next
steps in creating a vibrant, caring neighborhood
environment. Join the conversation on: Saturday, January
31 from 9:00am-11:30am at Alger Middle School in the
Media Center. RVSP to Jenn Reidsma, Community
Coordinator, with questions at
[email protected] or 988-9268 ext 205
Update on Christmas Persecution Threat: thank you to
everyone who committed to pray for India's persecuted
believers over the Christmas holidays. Mission India's
ministry partners did not report any disruption of worship
or violence against believers over Christmas. We praise God
for His hand of protection over our brothers and
sisters! However, the issue of religious freedom became a
topic of hot national debate in India, and some opponents
of the Gospel are proposing a nation-wide ban against
religious conversions. You can keep India's persecuted
believers
in
your
prayers:
sign
up
at
www.missionindia.org/prayer and Mission India will send
you one daily prayer point to guide you.
The Christian Recreation Center invites you to become a
member and join the hundreds of people who play softball
or golf each week at its beautiful facilities. Take some time
to organize a softball team from your church or business
and join many other teams in friendly competition. To join a
team, you must be a member, so take the opportunity now
to benefit from the early bird discounted prices (until
February 1, 2015). Check out our web page today for more
details: http://christianreccenter.org, call us at 616-9421330 and join our facebook fans to get important news
flashes at facebook.com/ChristianRecCenter.
Get outdoors, play hard, meet amazing counselors, make
great friends, and know that you are loved by a God who is
greater than you can imagine. It’s time to register for 3 Day,
5 Day and 8 Day in camp sessions for grades 1st through 9th
and wilderness trips for grades 7th through high school.
Camp Roger in Rockford, MI has been revealing God’s love
through experiences in God’s world since 1913. Find out
more at camproger.org