Grace Christian Reformed Church
We welcome you to our worship service! Pastor William Koopmans will lead us in worship this morning.
This evening: our combined worship service is at 5pm and it will be led by Grace and located at Grace CRC. Pastor William will continue with Romans 6:1-14, Lord’s Day 16, “Five Questions on the Death of Jesus”. We will also be celebrating Lord’s Supper in this worship service.
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: “Bring sunshine to others and you will never live in the shadows.”
MORNING OFFERINGS:
January 15, 2012 – Diaconate: The Grace CRC diaconate seeks to aid those in need both in our church and in our surrounding community. A portion of the money collected for the diaconal goes to Diaconal Ministries Canada whose mission is to inspire, equip and encourage deacons, churches and their partners in transforming communities with the love of Christ.
January 22, 2012 – NeighbourLink: Neighbourlink is a national ministry that networks and equips churches to work together to respond to needs in the community. Grace CRC is one of the founding churches of the Chatham-Kent Neighbourlink, with many of our members volunteering regularly with Neighbourlink. Nieghbourlink receives most of its funding from its member congregations.
SENIOR HOME MINISTRY:
§ There is a worship service today at MeadowPark Home (110 Sandys St.) at 2:30pm. The family asked to attend is Patrick & Sharon.
Please have all bulletin items in by Wednesday 7pm. Office Hrs: Tues –Fri 9am–noon
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.
TUESDAY NIGHT: We will meet this Tuesday at Pastor Jake's home. Feel free to show up anytime between 7:30 and 8pm. Bring your Bibles.
TONIGHT: We meet tonight at the church from 7:00-9:00pm. Bring your own Bibles and a loonie or toonie for Kimberly. Kimberly has written us again, "Dear friend Grace CRC Youth Group, I greet you with the peace of God. I like the letter that you sent me, it's beautiful to hear from you and to get to know one member of you group." Check out our Youth Bulletin board to read the rest of the letter.
SKI TRIP: We are going skiing at Blue Mountain on Feb 11-12. Cost is $15 plus cost of lift ticket and rentals. Please sign up on our Facebook event to let us know you are coming. PARENTS: we will need a couple drivers to take us to Collingwood. Talk to Pastor Jake if you would like to come skiing with us.
SUMMER YOUTH UNLIMITED SERVE TRIP JULY 7-14: Interested in going on a mission trip this summer but don't have a lot of cash to pay for it? This year we are keeping the cost of Serve very affordable by staying close to home and eliminating travel expenses. Interested in knowing more? Talk to Pastor Jake.
January 27: We will be joining the Cadets at CM Wilson Conservation area on Friday evening, January 27. Keep the date open and more info will follow shortly.
WEEK OF PRAYER (JANUARY 16 to 20th 12 noon to 12:35pm): at FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH with the theme of “We will all be changed by the Victory of our Lord Jesus Christ”. There will be a freewill offering each day and lunch will follow each service. Elevator Access is available.
Monday, Jan. 16th Pastor Al Edmonds (Living Faith Community Church)
Tuesday, Jan. 17th Rev. Alan Knight (Holy Trinity Anglican Church)
Wednesday, Jan. 18th Father Matthew Kucharski (St. Joseph’s & St. Ursula’s Parish Cluster) Thursday, Jan. 19th Rev. Tyler Powell (Sprucedale/Providence United)
Friday, Jan. 20th Rev. Marg Moriyama (St. Paul’s Congregational Church)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22nd, 7:00 P.M: Concluding inter-denominational Service with Massed Choir from area churches. Speaker: Rev. Paul McPhail At: Chatham Christian Centre
Together let us make this a joyous celebration to God’s Glory and Praise.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The Fellowship Club will meet at the home of Ralph and Cynthia's on Sunday, January 22 at 8pm. We hope to plan out the events for the year. If you would like to know more about the Fellowship Club give Cynthia a call. Newcomers are always welcomed.
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS: are requested to ensure that all expenses for 2011 are submitted to the treasurer by January 31st, 2012 so that the books for 2011 can be closed in a timely manner.
NEW OFFICE BEARERS: Council is collecting names of individuals who demonstrate the necessary leadership and gifts to serve as Elder or Deacon. Please prayerfully consider this and submit all nominations to Ray VanderSluis, Chair of Council, by Sunday January 22, 2012. Thank-you!
CHRISTMAS PRAYER ORNAMENTS: Please take an ornament home with you to pray for the people in our church throughout 2012. There are many to choose from. Please help yourself. They are in a basket on the table in the narthex.
FLOWER MINISTRY: The next schedule for donating flowers to the church is on the table in the Narthex. We are asking for people to donate a bouquet of flowers each week (only one vase) and they will be placed on the organ. Following the worship service this bouquet of flowers will be taken, by our elders & pastoral care workers, to someone in the congregation who is house bound, sick, or dealing with difficult circumstances. If you would like to participate in this ministry, please sign up in the narthex to donate a bouquet of flowers for a specific Sunday. Your job in this would be to purchase the flowers with a vase (there are extras in the Council room) and place them on the organ before church that Sunday morning.
SIMULCAST EVENT: We are once again hosting a Video event- “The Case For Christianity” by Lee Strobel and Matt Mittelberg, on Jan. 28, 9am-4pm at a cost of $8.00, including refreshments and lunch. Would you consider helping by baking snacks? Check our signup sheet on the back table to let us know if you plan to attend and/or bake for us.
THANK YOU: to Tina for all her years of service on the Counting Committee. Your work has been appreciated. The Counting Committee welcomes on board Lou.
LIBRARY NEWS: Two novels by Tamera Alexander, “Rekindled” and “Remembered” are now in your Library. These are historical fiction that the ladies will enjoy. Each novel is filled with realistic settings, characters, compassion, hope, and God’s grace.
Council report:
Grace CRC Council met in regular session on January 11. Minutes were received and approved from previous meetings of council as well as the congregational meeting of Nov. 30. Reports were received from Pastor Jake and Pastor William regarding their work within the congregation. Minutes were received and discussed from the Executive, Worship, Outreach, Board of Trustees, Youth and Audio Visual committees.
Council decided to discontinue the formal designation of a Let’s Get Acquainted Sunday on the first Sunday of the month since this arrangement has not seemed to receive enthusiastic support and implementation in the congregation. District coffee social with elder / deacon districts will continue on the first Sunday of the month.
Regarding transfers of memberships, with appreciation council notes the memberships received from Rev. Fred and Mrs. Ella, Steeve and Angela and their children Sophie and Jonah. With regret, Council approved the membership transfers of Neil and Sue and their children, and the membership of Ken, to Calvary CRC, as well as the lapse of membership of Henry and Elaine and children.
Council looks forward with enthusiasm to a workshop re Caring For God’s Children to be presented by Roseanne Baker (more information to follow). Council also noted with appreciation Rebecca’s up-coming mission trip, for which more information will also follow.
The next meeting of Council is scheduled for Feb. 29, when Church Visitors will be received, nominations for office bearers will be discussed, as well as possible updates on facility enhancement plans.