Bulletin for November 23

Ø Come celebrate Thanksgiving Day with worship at 9:30 a.m. Offerings received: Benevolent Fund and items for nonperishable grocery items for Mel Trotter Ministries in Grand Rapids.

Ø Church School is looking for people who love the Christmas season to help with the Christmas Program. Everything is in place, we just need helping hands to make it happen. Some of the things we need help with are songs, fitting of costumes, crowd control, and set up. If you can help in anyway, even for one Sunday rehearsal in December, please contact Kristina Moelker at 895-5946.

Ø Throughout the year, do you ever work with or plan to work with the children of our church? If so, you have one more chance to attend a Safe Church (Abuse Training) meeting for this year. This meeting is held so that you can be protected as well as for the protection of our children AND it is required for anyone 18 years and older. The meeting will be held in the auditorium beginning 15 minutes after the morning church service on Sun., Dec. 7 and will end in less than one hour later. Please contact Lorie DeYoung with any questions. 895-7649 or lady@altelco.net.

Ø Kids Hope USA mentors: please note that there will be no school this week Wed, Thurs, and Fri. at Allendale Public Elementary because of the Thanksgiving Break.

Ø The church kitchen is in need of a few dozen new or used (but still usable), terrycloth towels. If you have any to donate, please put them in a bag and put it on the kitchen counter next to the refrigerator. Thank you!!

Ø The GEMS are collecting pop cans again! Please place your empty cans in the big green trash can in the triple room. The girls are learning about recycling this year and the money collected from the can refunds will go towards buying supplies for the GEMS ministry.

Ø GEMS needs a few women or junior/high school girls to help during craft and class times. You don’t need to prepare anything ahead of time, we simply need extra hands. Interested? Please call Rachael Taylor at 895-9414 or Lonna Driesenga at 892-4808.

Ø Don’t forget to place your order for all those delicious baked goods from the Coffee Break Ladies. Extra order forms are at the Information Desk. If you have nay questions, please call Jean at 895-4151 or Lisa at 892-9477.

Ø Our Kids Hope USA ministry would like to give gift boxes to the KHUSA families at the Christmas Dinner here on Dec. 4 and you can help. Please take an ornament off the Christmas tree in the lobby, purchase the item, bring it to church and put it in the gift box by the tree no later then Nov. 30. Call Aileen VanderSchuur at 204-3540 if you have questions about KHUSA and/or this project. Thank you!

Ø Beginning Dec. 7, the evening worship service will begin at 5:30 p.m. on a trial basis with review in the spring.

Ø Treasurer’s Report – October 2008
General Fund: Receipts: $24,056; Payments: $29,477; Balance: $15,252
Benevolent Fund: Receipts: $420; Payments: $1,450; Balance: $5,286
Faith Promise Fund: Receipts: $2,300; Payments: $0; Balance: $8,716
Building Fund: Receipts: $7,579; Payments: $7,775; Balance: $7,030
Total Cash Balance: $36,284

Schedule for This Week:

November 23-29, 2008

Sunday:
9:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. – Worship Services
11:00 a.m. – Church School, 6^th & 7^thgrades too

Tuesday:
9:30 a.m. – Coffee Break & Story Hour
1:00 p.m. – Prime Timers

Wednesday:
3:45 p.m. – Children’s Choir
4:30 p.m. – Jr. Choir
7:00 p.m. – Adult Choir

Thursday:
9:30 a.m. – Thanksgiving Worship Service

Ø Groups and Ministries: Bible Studies, Cadets, Church School, Children’s Worship, Choirs, Coffee Break/Story Hour, Connections Night, His Talents, Kids Hope USA, SOS, Youth Group, Just Between, Discovery Groups, GEMS, Prayer Group

Ø “The two of us would like to express our gratitude for your recent expressions of appreciation. Your cards and notes made us laugh and make us truly grateful to serve God together with you. (And any occasion with M&M's is a good one.) We see how God has blessed us - and we are confident of great things as we lean on Him. From both of us - thank you all very much.”

Ø We rejoice with John Feenstra and family as John celebrates his 95^th birthday today! Happy Birthday!!!

Ø Frozen Apple Pies are available. They are easy to bake and delicious; 100 minutes from the oven to your table. To purchase: call Bob & Lynda Brasser (662-0132). Cost: 1 pie for $8, 2 for $15, or 3 for $20. All proceeds go to the Unity Christian High School Senior All-Nighter following graduation. Thank you.

Ø Unity Christian High School will be hosting the men’s basketball league again this year. The games will be played on Wed. nights form Dec. 10 – March 5. The cost will be $450 per team. If you have any questions or if you would like to register a team, call Mark TeSlaa at 669-2220.

Ø The Guiding Light Mission would like to invite you for a free movie, "Fireproof”, at Celebration Cinema South on Dec. 16 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The cinema is located at 1506 Eastport Drive SE,
Grand Rapids across from E. Kentwood High School. There is only one catch, and that is we need you to RSVP by Tues., Dec. 9 to either Wes or Ginny at 616-451-0236. We believe in family and we hope this movie will help you and your family.

Ø Instant TRIP (Tuition Reduction Incentive Program) is coming to Allendale Christian School! A variety of gift cards will be available for immediate purchase on a first come, first serve basis. Stop by the Instant TRIP table in the school’s lobby on the following dates: Fri., Nov. 21 (3-3:45pm), Wed., Nov. 26 (3-3:45pm), Wed., Dec. 3 (5:30-6:30pm @ 2nd Allendale CRC), Fri., Dec. 5 (3-3:45pm), Thurs., Dec. 11 (8:30-9:15am), Fri., Dec. 19 (3-3:45pm). Direct credits that are earned towards a Christian education account. Questions? Contact Mary Sall (895-5535) or Jenny Walters (875-6075).

Ø Every year, the Meeter Center gives two scholarships to high school seniors. The deadline for entries is Jan. 15, 2009. For details please visit http://www.calvin.edu/meeter/scholarships/.

Ø The Zeeland Civic Chorus will be performing Handel's Messiah and you are cordially invited. Dates: Dec. 4 at First CRC of Zeeland and Dec. 9 at Central Ave. CRC in Holland. Time: 7:30 p.m.

Ø Dordt College has the gift of a lifetime for your spouse or parents: a tour of the Netherlands May 11-20, 2009. For details, contact Dianne De Wit at ddewit@dordt.edu or 712-722-6029 or see full details at www.dordt.edu/events/netherlands/

Ø Do you have an addiction? Does something outside of you control your life? Drugs and alcohol are well-known possibilities for addictions. But pornography, work, or a bad relationship are other possibilities. Is it possible to break free from your addiction? Find out on the Nov. 30 Back to God Hour. Go to www.BacktoGod.net for local stations and times.

Ø Liz has to choose between the Iguanas or his friendship with Morrie. Which will he choose? And how does Morrie become the good Samaritan? Getting ready for Christmas? Kids Corner has an Advent calendar that will help you and your family prepare your home and your hearts for the coming of Jesus. Check it out www.kidscorner.net.

Ø The CRCNA has a position opening for a temporary part-time Communications Associate with CRWRC, in the Grand Rapids office. Please visit www.crcna.org or www.crwrc.org for more information and to apply. Deadline is Dec. 5.

Ø Calvin College has several performances coming up such as Handel's Messiah Dec. 5&6, the annual Christmas Pops Concert Dec. 6, and a Handbell Christmas Concert with Aquinas College Dec. 8. For more information, please visit www.calvin.edu/music or call 526-6282.

Ø Please come and check out the first North Blendon CRC Craft Show on Dec. 6, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7284 Taylor St., Hudsonville. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Kyle Project and Horseplay.

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.