Ø   Halloween Open House and Pumpkin Walk: That chill in the air means it is time for the Halloween Open House and Pumpkin Walk. Preparations are in the works and the only thing missing is your commitment. Please contact Adam Todd (895-6087) or Rachael Veldman (895-1651) or sign up in the lobby to let us know your ready to help make a special night for the children of Allendale, and to share our church with the community. Look for the display in the lobby to find out what items need to be donated and for sign up sheets. Also check your mailbox for a sheet with important dates. Thanks.

Ø   Where did our young adults go? Facing the challenges of ministry for a new generation, pastors, elders and young adults are invited to an open evening of discussion about ministry for young adults in Classis Zeeland. This forum will be held at 2^nd CRC of Allendale on October 21 from 6:30-8:30 (pizza dinner included). RSVP to office@2ndcrc-allendale.org by noon, Oct. 20.

Ø   Your invited: The congregation is invited to an open house celebration in honor of Albert Potgeter’s 80^th birthday. The open house will be held Sunday, October 19, 2008 from 1-3 pm at 9273 Garfield in Coopersville. Cards may be mailed to Albert’s home address: 6988 Pingree, Allendale.

Ø   Special Thanks: The council would like to thank John and Ali Knoppers for their service to our church family as the Fellowship Committee. As they are resigning from this position, we are looking for one or more people who would be willing to take over. If you are interested or would like to know more, please speak to John and Ali or Dan Ondersma.

Ø   Attention Cadets: The Cadet Campout has been cancelled for October 10, so we are meeting on October 17 for a campfire and games from 5-10 pm. We will bring the kids home and dinner is provided.

Ø   The church parking lot will be closed for repairs Oct. 15 – 18. The church building will be accessible via the rear sidewalk or from walking from the street lawn area during repairs. Thank you.

Ø   From the operations team: Help is needed for chair setup and take-down after Connections Night and for special events. If you are interested or need more information, please talk to Dave Feenstra or Bill Stehouwer.

Ø   Snow plowing bids are being accepted for plowing the church parking lot and sidewalks. Please pick up bid forms in the church office. Bids need to be returned by Oct. 14.

Ø   Youth Group Parents: Our kids like to eat! Please sign up on the form on the Information Desk if you would like to help keep them happy. Call Hilda (895-6225) with questions.

Ø   Kids Hope USA is still in need of 3 mentors for this school year. We especially need MEN. Wouldn’t you like to make an eternal difference in the life of a child? Some of these children are born to be leaders but will it be a leader of a violent gang or instead be a good or even great leader of our community, our state or even our nation. Please contact Aileen VanderSchuur, our Kids Hope USA Director either in person or by phone 204-3540 this week.

Ø   MARK YOUR CALENDARS...it's BAG LADIES!!  We've started up again for the year and plan to have our first meeting on October 28, 7pm-??? in the triple room.  Bring your scrapbooking, quilting, cross stitching, Christmas cards, coupons to sort, recipe book to type...ANYTHING that can be put in a bag!  Email Erin Ensing at erinensing@hotmail.com or call her at 895-6594 if you plan to attend...even if just for a little while.  Hope to see you there!!

Ø   GEMS needs: GEMS is in need of 40 empty cereal boxes (just the cardboard part) for a craft. We will collect them around the mailbox area – we will accept them until Oct. 15.

Ø   Community Potluck – at GVSU is scheduled for Sunday Oct. 19. We are asking 7 families from our church to host tables and share their food with the students. We can be Christ’s love with skin on it as we meet the student’s craving for home cooked food and we promise you a rewarding experience at the same time. Call the Roons at 895-6246 or the Espinozas at 895-5251.

Ø    Attention Bakers: It is time for cookies again at GVSU. If you would be willing to bake some for the wonderful students after their church service on October 26 please call Mary Espinoza at 895-5251. Thank you.

Prayer List

Church Prayer Line: 892-8700 CRC                     Prayer Line: 1-888-CRC-PRAY     

Ø    Community Needs and Service People: Pvt. Matthew Smits, Sgt. Jesse Vander Schuur, Love INC, Allendale Christian School, Unity Christian High School, Allendale Public Schools, Lakeshore Pregnancy Center, Allendale Family Life Center,  GVSU

Ø    Congratulations to Josh and Lauren (Feenstra) Vander Molen who were united in marriage yesterday.  May God be the center of their marriage and their new home together.

Ø    Caden Moelker (son of Brett and Kimie) returned home from the hospital.  A viral infection was causing arthritis-like swelling and pain in his ankles.   He is now past this infection and symptoms have disappeared.

Ø    Ali Knoppers’ white counts have risen significantly in the last weeks.  Our prayers are for her to be admitted into a research program at U of M which will allow her a medication which is designed go “starve” the cancer at its source.

Ø    Wendy Sweezer underwent tests this past week.  Doctors also installed a port through which she’ll receive her chemotherapy.

Ø    Unity Christian Senior All-Nighter Committee is selling Apple Pies, one for $8, two for $15, or three for $20.  They will be made on Saturday, October 11, and keep very well in the freezer for the upcoming holidays, as gifts, or for next summer's picnics.  Key Cards are available for $20, which can be used for discounts at many local businesses.  Younkers Community Day Sale coupon booklets are also being sold for $5 and can be used at Younkers on Saturday, November 15; they include a $10 off coupon plus eight 20% off coupons.  To purchase any of the above, please contact a Unity senior, Unity's office, or Lynda Brasser at 662-0132.  All proceeds will go to the seniors' all-night party following graduation.

Ø    You are all invited to take part in the Allendale Community Christmas Musical.  Performances will be Saturday December 6 (outdoors) and Sunday, December 7 at the Allendale High School Fine Arts Center, and will include refreshments and other opportunities to connect with the community.  Choir rehearsals begin October 19^th at 4 PM at 2^nd CRC in Allendale.  Come join us for this musical presentation of the Good News of the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.  If any questions, please contact Jeff Bond at 895-4833.  This event is being organized by Allendale Wesleyan Church.

Ø    Lamont Christian School will be hosting a Chicken Dinner on Oct. 25 from 5pm to 7pm. If you know you will be attending, please give us a call at school (677-1757) so we can get an idea how much chicken we need to cook. To-Go orders will also be available.

Ø    Party of Parties Church Bazaar – Ready to do some Christmas shopping or shop for yourself? The Girls of Grace from Grace Lutheran Church are hosting the ‘Party of Parties’ on Saturday Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 300 E. Cleveland St. in Coopersville. Proceeds will go to mission projects and funds will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Please come, bring a friend, and be ready for a fun time.

Ø    FOR WORLD HUNGER SUNDAY, GIVE IT UP!—CRWRC’s World Hunger campaign this year encourages you to give up—in the best sense. Pick up your Peter Fish bank this Sunday and work through devotionals that explore ways we might give up to God and others by serving poor and hungry people around the world.

Ø    IS IT DOUBT OR SOMETHING ELSE? Doubt seems to go hand in hand with faith. It’s natural to question or wonder about things that are beyond our experiences. But are questions necessarily doubts? And what about fears? If you fear because something’s unfamiliar, does that mean you doubt God? Find out on the Oct. 19 Back to God Hour. Go to www.BacktoGod.net for local stations and times.

Ø    GOOD NAME: Liz is getting teased because of his name. Help him figure out the value of a good name on this week’s Kids Corner. Then email Kids Corner at kids@kidscorner.net for your very own Bible study.

For Your Information:

Ø    Nursery for infants and toddlers is available during both services. Partway into each morning service young children are invited to “Just Between” (for 2 ½ - 3 year olds) in room 122 or “Children’s Worship” (for 3-5 year olds) which meets in rooms 127 & 129.   

Ø    Sermons: Outlines, if used, are available on the carts in the back of the auditorium. Bibles are there also. Previous week’s sermons can be obtained at the Information Desk in CD format or can be accessed at the church website: www.2ndcrc-allendale.org.   Click Here to go to the Sermon page.

Ø    For those with special needs: The entire facility is barrier free. Large print bulletins are available at the Information Desk. The auditorium is equipped with a hearing loop. If you have a hearing aid, please set it to “T” for better hearing during the service. The best reception is at the center of the auditorium.

Click here to email the church office a bulletin announcement.