Grace Christian Reformed Church
255 Tweedsmuir Avenue West, Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5K4
Church Office: 519-436-1558 Website: www.chathamgrace.com
Fax: 519-436-1241 E-Mail: grace@ciaccess.com
Telephone Services: 519-436-0041 (dial 5 minutes before the service)
Interim Minister During Sabbatical:
Pastor Fred Heslinga: fred_heslinga@sympatico.ca 519-676-3310
Minister: Pastor William Koopmans: gracep@ciaccess.com 519-360-1072
Youth Pastor: Pastor Jake Snieder: graceyp@ciaccess.com 226-626-2393
Clerk: Jake Janssens: janssens@ciaccess.com 519-352-7944
Treasurer: Hank Batterink: batterink@kent.net 519-351-4800
We welcome you to our worship service! Pastor Fred Heslinga will lead us in worship this morning.
GRACE CHURCH VISION STATEMENT: As disciples of Christ our purpose is to encourage spiritual growth in ourselves, our family, and our church family so that we will be the presence of Christ to all the world around us in all we say and do.
Thought for the week: “When we forgive we set ourselves free.”
SENIOR HOME MINISTRY:
§ There is a worship service today at Copper Terrace (91 Tecumseh Rd.) at 2:30pm. The family asked to attend is John & Margaret. Please use the back door.
Please have all bulletin items in by Wednesday 7pm. Office Hrs: Tues –Fri 9am–noon
5PM COMBINED EVENING WORSHIP SERVICES AT FIRST CRC:
TONIGHT: First CRC is in charge. Pastor Jack will turn to John 11:17-44, “Do You Believe This?”
UPCOMING LORD’S SUPPER:
We will be celebrating Lord’s Supper in the evening service on March 18.
MORNING OFFERINGS:
March 11, 2012 – Diaconate: The diaconate looks and listens, to feel out the needs of the church members. Sometimes the need involves just a visit, but other times financial assistance is needed to help get people back on track. The needs can be physical, psychological, spiritual or emotional. Sometimes the needs are the result of illness, other times the economy leaves people without work or hope.
March 18, 2012 – Calvin Seminary: Calvin seminary prepares people to lead in ministry. Providing them with the tools they need to respond to the Holy Spirit’s call through out their lives. The ultimate goal being, to bring nations to Christ, build His church and extend God’s kingdom.
PRAYER MINISTRY:
§ Please come Sunday mornings at 9am and join in prayer for our church and community. We meet in Room #2 (in the lower level)
§ Join us for prayer following the worship services in the room at the back of the sanctuary. All requests remain confidential.
Jesus tells us to love one another, as taught in Matthew 22. In Acts 2 we also see the example of the believers caring for each other. These are models for us to use with our church today as well. We are God’s family and we want to support and care for each other. That’s why it is so important that you talk to your elder, deacon, pastoral care worker, pastor, or Council Executive if there is something that you are burdened with. These burdens can be physical or spiritual, or maybe other needs. This way, we as a church family can support you and surround you with love and prayer as you work through these situations. Whether it’s concerns and frustrations or celebrations and joyful moments, we urge you to let us know. Feel free to contact Pastor Fred as well.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
ANNUAL REPORTS BOOOKLET: All Committee Chairs and Program leaders have received a letter in their mailslot requesting a report for the Annual Reports Booklet. If you did not receive a letter and have been overlooked, please let me know. Please have these reports submitted by Wednesday April 4th so that we have time to assemble these booklets in time for our congregational meeting on April 25th. If you have any questions feel free to let me know. – thank you, Julie, Grace CRC Secretary & Worship Coordinator
CLAPPING: Worship Committee would like to encourage you to clap during the singing of praises where appropriate, but to please refrain from doing so in response to either pianists, organists, or other musicians offering their gifts of music during the offering. The musicians do not feel comfortable with having this focus on them when they are doing it in worship to God. We ask that you please respect their wishes and refrain from the applause. Thank you – Worship Cmte
PRAISE SONGS HANDOUTS: For those who are having difficulty seeing the screen (children included) we have printed off copies of the praise songs being projected. Please see one of the ushers for a copy if you require one. Thank you – Worship Cmte
FLOWER MINISTRY: Please consider being a part of encouraging church family members who are shut in or going through difficult circumstances by donating flowers to the church for the flower ministry. The sign up sheet is on the table in the Narthex. Thank you.
E-MAILS NEEDED: Council would like to streamline some of the communication that goes out to the congregation ie. funeral details, etc. and they would like to do this via e-mails. Please let Julie know at grace@ciaccess.com what your e-mail address is so that we can add you to the list so that you are not overlooked in receiving this information. Please send Julie a quick e-mail to be added in to the list and to confirm your e-mail even if she already has your e-mail. (For those who do not have a computer, the elders will still phone you with the information). Thank you.
LIBRARY NEWS: “The Valley of Betrayal”: Tricia Goyer has done it again…this time by setting her latest novel during the Spanish Civil War, a regional conflict that was a warm-up to the main event—World War II. Highly interesting…and highly readable.
SUNDAY SCHOOL: GRADE 2 CLASS: Grade 2 will be joining in with the Grade 3 class for the next three weeks due to the leaders being gone on holidays. The Grade 3 class room is right next to the Grade 2 room, so parents of Grade 2 children, please remember to look for your children in the Grade 3 class room.
GAMES: There was a green bag with a couple of board games left behind from the Potluck Dinner/Games Night at the school. If this belongs to you, please let Julie know at the church office. Thank you!
Sabbatical Update: Things are going well on my sabbatical and the work on the Haggai commentary is proceeding as hoped. For the time being I have been given a guest office on campus in Hamilton through McMaster Divinity College. That has helped tremendously with accessing library resources. We wish you God's continued love and blessings. Pastor William and Louise
For more information about GraceCRCYouth events and news find us at "Chatham Grace Youth Group" on Facebook or check out our new website at www.gracecrcyouth.com
TUESDAY NIGHT: We are not meeting this week due to March Break. Join us again next Tuesday at Pastor Jake's starting at 7:30pm.
TONIGHT: We meet tonight at Pastor Jake's home from 7-9pm to continue our discussion on "Crazy Love".
ALL ONTARIO YOUTH CONVENTION: Don't forget to give Pastor Jake a copy of your registration and receipt.
FRIDAY MARCH 30TH: Our next junior youth event will be held Friday, March 30. Stay tuned for more details.