Bulletin for February 8

Ø Church School has plans underway for a great Easter celebration but we need your help. We are collecting 16 oz. water bottles; place them in a box under the mailboxes labeled water bottles. We also need people who love to bake to make Hot Cross buns and Easter cookies; recipes provided. The last need is your time to lead a station. All the planning and materials are taken care of. If you are willing to lead for even one week let me know. The stations are crafts, food, and digging deeper. The Easter celebration gets underway on March 8 and continues through March 29 with a Passover Feast on the 15^th. Contact Kristina Moelker 859-5946 or e-mail kmoelker@altelco.net.

Ø The Community Potluck at GVSU is scheduled for Sun., Feb. 15. Second CRC has been asked to provide food and hosts for seven tables. The students really look forward to these home-cooked meals. If you can help, please call the Roon’s at 895-6246 or the Espinoza’s at 895-5251.

Ø Children’s Choir and Junior Praise Team will not meet this week Wed., Feb. 11.

Ø It's time to dust off your bags ladies!! Bag Ladies will meet Tues., Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. in the double room. Please email Erin at erinensing@hotmail.com if you are planning to come or have any questions. New faces are always welcome. Hope to see you there!

Ø A pair of children’s glasses was found in our church parking lot on Tues., Feb. 3, and is on the office counter if they are yours.

Ø Volunteers are needed to bring supper on Youth Group meeting nights. There is a sign-up sheet on the Info. Desk. Thanks!

Ø GEMS Africa Project: The GEMS are collecting and earning change to help our sister GEMS club in Zambia, Africa purchase needed supplies. Basic things are needed. If you have change to donate, please pick up at the Information Desk a container decorated by our GEMS to collect coins. All change needs to be turned in to GEMS by Feb. 18. If you have questions or ideas for ways the girls could earn change, call Rachael Taylor at 895-9414. Thank you for your support.

Ø March 27 will be the annual First and Second CRC’s Pinewood Derby & Dinner. Everyone is invited. Registration forms are available in the church lobby. Get your cars now.

Schedule for This Week:

February 8-14, 2009

Sunday:
9:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. – Worship Services
11:00 a.m. – Church School
after p.m. service – Youth Group Deep Impact

Tuesday:
9:30 a.m. - Coffee Break & Story Hour
1:00 p.m. – Prime Timers
7:00 p.m. – Full Council meeting

Wednesday: 7:00 p.m. – Adult Choir

Ø Missions and Missionaries: Zach & Sharon Segaar-King and family in Haiti; Mississippi Christian Family Services in Rolling Fork, MS; Chaplain Larry Norman and Forgotten Man Ministries; Rob & Betty Wood in Quito, Ecuador

Ø We express our sympathy to the family of Ev Kraker. Ev entered heaven on Feb. 3.

Ø Please keep Zach & Sharon Segaar-King and family in your prayers this week, especially on Feb. 10, which is the day they will be traveling back to Haiti.

Ø Love INC’s New to You Store needs donations. Are you beginning your spring cleaning? Redecorating? Your kids outgrown their clothes? Please donate your gently used items to the Store. All donations are appreciated: clothes, furniture, lamps, shoes/boots, small appliances, etc. The drop-off door is open EVERY day---All day. Thank you!

Ø Love INC is seeking to hire a part-time Assistant/Cashier for the New to You second-hand store. This position is for 20-25 hrs. per week with required Sat. hours. For a complete job description and application please Love INC at 895-5683. Deadline: Feb. 20.

Ø Summer Mission Program applications due Feb. 13. Apply now for Christian Reformed World Missions' Summer Mission Program 2009! Visit www.crwm.org/smp to apply today!

Ø Check the kiosk in the lobby for the latest Newsletter from City on a Hill Ministries and Unity Christian High School’s Feb. Prayer Calendar.

Ø Unity Christian High School’s annual ‘08/’09 PACE Drive reaches $293,000 nearing its goal of $300,000. The amount raised to date is a $40,000 increase over last year’s PACE Drive. Unity’s PACE Drive funds $100,000 in tuition scholarships and $200,000 ($275 per student) in tuition reduction. We give God all the glory and we thank all who have contributed generously—giving funds, serving as call volunteers, serving as church captains, and serving as prayer partners. Unity’s 762 students and their families deeply appreciate your help and encouragement during these times. PACE = Partners Advancing Christian Education at UCHS.

Ø 8^th Grade Student & Parent Orientation evening will be held at Unity Christian High School on Wed., Feb. 11, starting at 7:30 p.m. This is the last of three inspirational and informative orientations to Unity for grades 9 – 12. If you are not yet scheduled, please call Judy at 669-1820 to reserve a spot for Feb. 11.

Ø Everyone is invited to a Combined Band Concert on Tues., Feb. 10, at Fair Haven Ministries, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Unity Christian H.S. bands will be featured as well as middle school bands from Allendale, Beaverdam, and Hudsonville Christian schools. Each band will perform separately and then come together to perform under the direction of a guest conductor.

Ø It’s time to enroll for 2009-2010 Preschool. Allendale Christian School offers a 3-year-old preschool class and also a 2 day and 3 day 4-year-old class. Enrollment forms and information on the preschool program can be found at www.allendalechristian.com or call Sara in the school office at 895-5108.

Ø Allendale Christian School is hosting its third annual 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament on March 28. This double elimination tournament will have divisions for both girls and boys 3rd-8th grades, and play will be continuous. Concessions will be available throughout the day. Trophies will be awarded to winning teams at each level and each player will receive a t-shirt. All area schools are invited to participate. Cost: $15 per person and should be sent in by team. Registration forms are due by March 13 and are available at ACS or at www.allendalechristian.com. If you have questions or are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, please contact Jody Ribbens at 895-6016. NOTE: new location for this year’s tournament - Allendale Public High School.

Ø Right to Life of Holland Area is sponsoring its 19^th Annual Oratory Contest on March 17 for students in grades 9-12. Topics include: abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, cloning or embryonic stem cell research. Prizes range from $100 to $250. For more information, call 396-1037 and ask for Betty.

Ø Enjoy a great meal with a great speaker while supporting the Family LIFE Center of West Michigan. What is the Family LIFE Center of West Michigan? It is a Christ Centered Maternity Home which gives a safe, stable home to unwed women who choose life for their unborn baby. The speaker this year will be a Pro-life Pharmacist, Mike Koelzer. The annual benefit will be at the Main Street Pub on Thurs., March 5, at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $20.00 each and are available at the Allendale Library, Family LIFE Center and Keegstra's in Hudsonville.

Ø A big thank you to all of you for your support for World Missions during the holiday season. Your financial support enables ministries around the world to continue to bring the good news of Jesus’ coming to those who haven’t heard. Your cards, gifts and prayers for our missionaries have been a great encouragement and concrete evidence of your care.

Ø Do you ever feel like you are not good enough to expect that God will hear your prayers? Maybe you feel like you should leave praying to the saints or at least to people who are better at it than you are. How can you know for sure if God is willing to hear your prayers? Find out on the Feb. 15 Back to God Hour. Go to www.BacktoGod.net for local stations and times.

Ø What’s the big deal about lying? Little lies don’t really hurt anyone, do they? Check out the 9th Commandment on this week’s Kids Corner. Then check out the Kids Corner website at www.kidscorner.net for stories, devotions, puzzles and more.

Ø Lamont Christian School will host the Lamont 5K River Run on April 18. Down load a registration form at www.lamontcs.org or stop by the school office. Register by March 13 to be guaranteed a t-shirt. Grab four friends to run/walk with you and get money off your registrations. This is going to be a great community event with the annual Flapjack Festival.

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.