I LIFT UP MY EYES TO YOU, . . .

WHOSE THRONE IS IN HEAVEN.

Psalm 123:1

 

Season of Ordinary Time

 

Ten o’clock                                                                    November 16, 2008

 

Prelude:  Jesus, Lover of My Soul  (PH 578)       Sam Batt Owens; Janet Linker

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship:  For the Beauty of the Earth                  arr. Kevin McChesney

* Opening Hymn: LORD, Our Lord, Your Glorious Name                  PH 8:1-5

* God’s Greeting

 

CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE

 

Call to Confession:

We cannot come before God unless we are first honest with ourselves about who we are, about the mistakes we made, and about how well or poorly we care for others.  In this spirit, let us offer our prayers to God.

Prayer of Confession:

Will you forgive that sin that I begun, which is my sin, though it were done before?  Will you forgive those sins through which I run and do them still, though still I do deplore?  When you have done, you have not done, for I have more. 

 

Will you forgive that sin which I did shun a year or two, but wallowed in a score?  When you have done, you have not done, for I have more. 

 

I have the sin of fear, that when I’ve spun my last thread, I shall perish from the shore; swear by yourself that at my death, your Son shall shine as he shines now, and shone before; and having done that, you have done all, I have no more.

                           John Donne; written in 1623 when he thought he was dying

Hymn of Confession:  O Christ, the Lamb of God                                 PH 257

Assurance of Pardon

 

PRAISE AND PRAYER

 

* Song of Response:  We Will Glorify                                            Sing! 21:1-4

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession

 

PREPARATION AND PROCLAMATION

 

* Hymn of Preparation: Make Me a Captive, Lord                   PH 546:1-4

Presentation of Offerings and Passing of Friendship Pads

Offertory Prayer:  Allyson Koeman

Offering for Christian Education Scholarship Fund

Handbell Offertory:  Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing             

                                                                              Arnold Sherman

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture Reading:                                                       Psalm 123 (page 604)

Reader:  This is the Word of the Lord.

People:  Thanks be to God!

Sermon                                  SERVICE UNDER A BETTER MASTER

Prayer of Application

* Hymn of Response: To You, O LORD, I Lift My Eyes             PH 123:1,2

 

Litany Response of Service:                       A PRAYER FOR KIDS HOPE

Leader:   Lord, as we begin a new ministry we ask for your blessing upon our service at Southeast Academic Elementary School.

People:  Help us, O God, to faithfully support and encourage the volunteers and staff from our church.  Help them, O God, as they serve the vulnerable children from our community.

Leader:   Father, as the eyes of a maid looks to her mistress, so we look to you for all that is needed in this new ministry. 

Mentors/Prayer Partners:  Make us instruments of transformation.  Give us

               words which will inspire.  Grace us so we are fully present to our students--whether in prayer, or in person.

Leader:   For Southeast Academic School, for her principal, teachers, and staff, we give you thanks, Lord, and we look to you for blessing.

People: For each relationship between a mentor, student, and prayer partner, we give you thanks and we look to you for blessing.

Mentors/Prayer Partners:  With your blessing and this church’s help, we

               pledge to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you.

Leader:   Sustain our mentors and prayer partners, O God, as they commit to faithful relationships with students.  Make them joyful in triumph, patient in trial, and prayerful in all circumstances.

People:  Thank you Lord for the leadership in our church and for the ways that they are leading us to be a compassionate and caring body of servants.

ALL:      We praise you Holy Master for the opportunity to live our faith in relationships with others. May we bring glory, honor and blessing to your Name!  Amen.  

* Benediction

* Doxology:  Now Blessed Be the Lord Our God                            PH 630

* Postlude:  Preludium e Fuga in D                                           Josef Seger

 

Preaching Pastor:  Rev. Douglas MacLeod

Organist:  Kenneth Bos

Ministry of Music:  The Joy Ringers

Handbell Director:  Melanie Tolsma

Reader:  Char Bulthuis

Five o’clock                                                             The Evening Worship

Prelude:  Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (PH 486)       Stephen Nielson

               If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee (PH 446)     Stephen Nielson

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship:  Meditation                                                  Michael Helman

* Opening Hymn:  For the Beauty of the Earth                            PH 432:1-4

* God’s Greeting

Praise Selection:  Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing               PH 486:1-3

Evening Psalm:                                                                                 Psalm 91

* Hymn of Preparation:  If You But Trust in God to Guide You    PH 446:1-3

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture Reading:                                                                           Psalm 124

Reader:  This is the Word of the Lord.

People:  Thanks be to God!

Sermon:                                                                   THE GREAT ESCAPE

Prayer of Application

* Hymn of Response:  If God the LORD Were Not Our Constant Help         

                                                                                                   PH 124:1,2

* Affirmation of Faith:  The Apostles’ Creed                       (front cover of PH)

Evening Prayer and Offertory Prayer

Presentation of Offerings

Offering for Volunteers in Service

Offertory:  I’m Gonna Let It Shine                            David Angerman

* Benediction

* Doxology: Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing                             PH 320

* Postlude:  March                                                       Carl Maria von Weber

 

Preaching Pastor:  Rev. Douglas MacLeod

Pianist:  Kenneth Bos

Ministry of Music:  The Junior Bells

Handbell Director:  Arianna Tolsma

 

 

CHANCEL BANNER DESCRIPTION:  Trinity                                      

            This banner expresses the Christian belief that in one God there are three divine Persons:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

WORSHIP TODAY                                                                                    

WELCOME TO CALVIN CHURCH!  As we gather for worship this day, we are grateful for the presence of members and guests.  If you are a visitor, we hope you will feel warmly welcomed and very much a part of this worshiping community as together we lift up praises to our great God and King.  We invite everyone to come to the Fellowship Hall for refreshments following the morning service.  Our pastors and elders are happy to greet you at the doors as you leave the sanctuary after our services today.  Prior to the service this morning you were greeted by Hans and Gert Bokhout (atrium) and Joe and Christy Biermacher (east).  This evening Dan and Judy Bode (atrium) and Warren and Joanne Boer (east) will welcome you back for our vesper service.

 

PLEASE NOTE                                                                                             

THE OFFERING next Sunday morning will be for IHN (Inter-faith Hospitality Network) and next Sunday evening it will be for ICCF (Inner City Christian Fellowship).  Thanksgiving morning the offering will be for Family Assistance.

 

Stewardship Verse of the Week

Those who oppress the poor to increase their wealth and those

who give gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.    Proverbs 22:16

 

 

 

CHURCH FAMILY                                                                                      

Grace Yff (District #08) is very grateful for all our prayers and cards.  In a few weeks there will be another bone marrow biopsy.  Please join her and her family in praying that the results at that time will also indicate that there is no leukemia present.  In the meantime, we pray that her blood count will come up to the right levels and that she receives renewed energy and strength.

Bob McBroom (District #08) is recuperating from injuries he experienced in a fall last weekend.  He is now home after spending several days in the hospital due to two fractured ribs and a punctured lung.

Win Miersma (District #05) is recuperating from back surgery that she had last Tuesday.  She was able to return home again on Wednesday.

Beth Goldschmeding (District #15) spent last weekend in the hospital due to weakness and is now back in extended care in Raybrook.

Ella Decker (District #14) is very grateful that she is regaining some of her strength.

Bertha Huisman (District #01) was able to move back to her apartment in assisted living this past week.

 

 

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES    calvinyouthline@comcast.net

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK:  11/21—Annika Baker (5!)

WORSHIP CENTER TODAY:  Please send your children immediately downstairs to Worship Center before the service begins.  The children will spend time from 10:00 to about 10:20 AM practicing songs for their Christmas program, which will be the morning of December 14, 2008.  At 10:20 AM they will go to Worship Center.

SERVE/CONVENTION:  Reminder that your commitment, either verbal or by email, is due to Char by today if you are planning to attend SERVE.  Your names will be pre-registered on Monday at Youth Unlimited, applying for the Niagara, Ontario SERVE site.  Your name is due next week Sunday, if you are planning to attend Convention in Ridgecrest, North Carolina.

THANKSGIVING, THE SEQUEL:  CYG, don’t miss “Thanksgiving, the Sequel,” an evening service of thanksgiving and celebration at Church of the Servant on Sunday, November 30, 6:00 to 8:30 PM.  This will be a combined service of six area Christian Reformed Church high school youth programs.  We will have dinner together and then join in music and worship!

CYG:  Open Fellowship Hall is this Wednesday, November 19, 7:00 to 9:00 PM.  See you there.  Volleyball, anyone?

CYG:  Our next Sunday night meeting is next Sunday!  See you then, at 6:30 PM. 

78ERS:  Pizza lunch at GRCMS is coming soon.  Watch your emails.

 

 

MEETINGS, ACTIVITIES, AND EVENTS                                           

ADULT EDUCATION:  Today Ed Walhout is back with more on God and Genesis One.  Come hear the second part of his interesting discussion on God Speaking.  Coffee and cookies are available.  Next week we host Bruce Klanderman and his presentation on what happened to our organ and what was done with it.

ADVANCE NOTICE:  The annual Advent Gathering at Raybrook is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9 at 2:00 PM.  Everyone is invited to a brief communion service followed by a fellowship hour.  This is a great opportunity to spend some time with our homebound members.

AUDIO/VIDEO HELP:  The Audio/Video committee is in desperate need of volunteers to tape the worship services and/or to operate the camera from which the DVDs are made.  We also need some help in setting up the audio/video equipment for speakers in Room 1 for the Adult Education meetings after the morning services and when we have missionaries who are invited to give a presentation in the Fellowship Hall.  For years we’ve been trying to operate the audio/visual activities with two or three people and it is just not feasible to do that anymore.  We need several more part-time helpers to share the load.  If you have more than a casual interest in audio/visual procedures, all the better, but experience is not necessary.  Anyone, male or female 14 years or older would be welcomed with open arms!  If interested, please contact Boyd Hoffman Bob Houskamp or Tanya Bulthuis

THE BULLETIN DEADLINE FOR SUNDAY NOV. 30 will be TUESDAY noon, Nov. 25 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING:  Our annual congregational meeting to approve the 2009 budget is scheduled for December 7, after the morning service.  The agenda and 2009 budget information will be coming to your mailboxes soon.

DISTRICTS #06 AND #14 are combining for a potluck dinner in the Fellowship Hall after the morning service on November 23.  Please reserve the date.  Someone will contact you for a dish assignment.

FESTIVAL CHOIR: It's not too early to think about singing with the Festival Choir this Christmas. Anyone who loves to sing is invited to join this expanded choir to sing at the Candlelight Service on December 21st and the Christmas Day service. Rehearsals will be Thursdays from 7:00 until 8:30 PM beginning on December 4th. Please consider making this the year that you join us for some rewarding singing.

FOOD DRIVE:  Family Assistance will again hold a Thanksgiving Day food drive to help support three local food pantries.  You are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to church on Thanksgiving Day and place your donations on the table in the narthex.  Suggested items are:  canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups, spaghetti and sauce, macaroni and cheese, tuna and other canned meats, peanut butter, jelly, oatmeal and other cereals, soap and other personal care items.  Please bring your donations in paper bags, if possible.

KIDS HOPE STARTED STRONG:  We were able to meet and start working with our students this past week.  We praise God for this exciting opportunity to develop a relationship with these at-risk students.  As you can see by our commissioning this morning, we have an outstanding group of volunteers.  The Kids Hope USA national office has selected this Friday, Nov. 21 as the National Day of Prayer for Kids Hope USA.  We invite you to pray for the mentors, the students and the entire program.  There are Kids Hope bookmarks available on the information desk you can use as a prayer reminder.  Don't forget to bring in your donation of educational games to the office.  Thanks for all your support.  God is good.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations worldwide through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love.  Calvin Church is once again participating in this wonderful project.  Simply fill a shoe box with small toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and other small gifts.  Boxes are due TODAY.  There are information brochures with packing instructions on the table in the narthex.  Please contact Allyson Koeman if you have questions.

            TRIP REMINDER:  As you prepare to shop for Christmas gifts this year please consider taking advantage of TRIP opportunities.  Using TRIP purchased through Calvin Church directly reduces our total tuition bill.  Several new retailers have been added over the last year and the use of gift cards has made gift giving very easy and convenient.  The Christian Schools Committee strongly encourages use of TRIP cards or certificates to make purchases you would more than likely be making anyway.  The more TRIP cards and certificates are utilized the lower our church's variance will be.  If you have any questions feel free to contact James Koeman, chair of the Christian Schools Committee.  Thank you so much for considering this method of support for Christian education.

TURKEYS:  Char is again looking for two volunteers to supply one turkey each for the special Thanksgiving youth service at 6:00 PM at Church of the Servant on Sunday, November 30th.  Frozen turkeys can be dropped off at Church of the Servant on Friday morning, November 28th and the kind folks there will prepare and bake the turkeys.  Call Char if you are interested.  Thank you.

PARTICIPATION/RELEASE FORMS DUE:  Please be sure to turn in your forms as soon as you can.  GEMS, Cadets, 78ers and CYG youth all need these forms filled out.  Parents may fill one form out for all of their children by putting several names on one.  Extra yellow forms will be available at the Information Desk.  Thank you!

 

 

UPCOMING PREACHING SCHEDULE                                                 

Nov. 23                        AM      Rev. Douglas MacLeod

                        PM       Rev. Douglas MacLeod

Nov. 27               10:00 AM      Thanksgiving Day—Rev. Jake Heerema

Nov. 30                        AM      Rev. Lora Copley

                        PM       Rev. Lora Copley

Dec. 7              AM      Rev. Douglas MacLeod

                        PM       Rev. Douglas MacLeod

Dec. 14                        AM      Church School Program

                        PM       Orchestra Carol Sing—

Pastors Copley and MacLeod

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calvin Christian Reformed Church

700 Ethel SE   Grand Rapids  MI    49506

Office: 451-8467    Prayer Line: 451-9802    FAX: 451-9327

email: CalvinCRC@comcast.net              www.calvinCRC.org

Office Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8:00am – 5:00pm; closed Fridays

The Prayer Connection:  Gert Bokhout (243-8049) or

Claudia Hoffman (942-0366)

 

CALENDAR

 

 

 

Today, Sunday, November 16

AM

9:30

Prayer Time

 

10:00

Nursery Supervisors:  Ana Gronsman, Jacoba Alderink

 

 

Nursery Helpers:  Mark, Cheri, John, and Jenna Swets

 

 

Parking Attendant:  Brad DeVries

 

11:15

Library Volunteers:  Suzi Baas, Barb Hoekwater

 

 

Coffee Servers:  John & Eunice Stegink/Al & Marilyn Bratt

 

11:30

Adult Education:  Ed Walhout  “What We Can Learn About God”

 

11:30

Worship Committee

PM

5:00

Parking Attendant:  Tom Hendrikse

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, November 17

PM

7:00

Men’s Basketball

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, November 18

AM

9:30

Family Assistance

PM

6:30

Neighbors’ Night

 

6:30

Community Care/Social Justice Committee (Conference Room)

 

7:30

Council

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, November 19

AM

9:30

Women’s Bible Study

PM

1:30

Caring Friends Leaders

 

2:00

Caring Friends Meeting

 

5:30

Junior Handbells

 

6:15

Cherub  and  Covenant Choirs (Gronsman)

 

6:15

Joy Ringers

 

6:15

Prayer Meeting (Prayer Room)

 

7:00

Allegro Ringers

 

7:00

GEMS   and    Cadets

 

7:00

CYG-Open Gym

 

7:30

Disability Concerns Committee (Conference Room)

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, November 20

AM