Ø    Kids Hope USA will be having its annual Easter Egg Hunt for the Kids Hope USA children at Allendale Public Elementary. We are in need of the following donations: 50 egg cartons, individually wrapped small candies that can go in plastic eggs and plastic eggs. Please put the donations in the box by the Kids Hope USA table in the lobby by April 5. Thank you for your help!

Ø    How is your Pinewood Derby car coming? All church members are encouraged to build a car and participate in the March 27 annual First & Second CRC Pinewood Derby. The SHACK behind church will be open from 6 – 8 p.m. on March 18, 23, 25, and 26 for people to work on their Derby cars. There will also be a Soup Supper by donation the night of the big race.

Ø    The GEMS are collecting recipes for a cookbook that will be available this fall. Ideas: family favorite, new tasty discovery, crock-pot meal, or kid friendly to make. Forms are available from the table under the mailboxes or by going to our church website at www.2ndcrc-allendale.org. Please return completed forms to the red box next to the table by May 17. Thanks for sharing!

Ø    Tuition Assistance Update: Second Allendale CRC will be participating with the Eastern Ottawa Christian Schools in *FACTS*, an online web-based application process. Families who wish to apply for tuition assistance will need to access the *FACTS* web site to input their financial information. For information or questions on this program please contact Jim Krikke or Mike Spriensma. There will be information sheets for this program at the Information Desk.

Ø    Reminder: Please use Giving/Budget Envelopes whenever possible. When giving a loose check, please write your envelope number on it in order for your gift to be included on your year end contribution statement. If using the “other” space on the envelope, please write in where you intend your money to go. If not specified, your offering will be placed in the General Fund. Thank you.

 Ø       February 2009 Financial Report

Notes from February:

1. General Fund expenses exceeded offerings by $2,513.
2. Building Fund expenses exceeded offerings by $1,795.
3. Our Building Fund balance is just over half of our monthly mortgage payments. This is a concern to the Operations Team.
4. Our gas and electric bills for the month were $355 less than in 2009! Great!
5. Total offerings were down by just over $1,000 from Feb. 2008, which isn’t bad considering our present economic situation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please see me.
Respectfully submitted, Jim Krikke

Prayer List

GOD’S FAMILY 

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

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

Ø    Welcome! Tim & Candace Bennink and daughters Kendra, Ashley, Samantha from Westend CRC and Vern & Glynda Vander Zwaag from Faith United Reformed Church. Contact information: Benninks – 10923 Skylane Ct., Allendale; 895-4754. Vander Zwaags – 10083 Lake Michigan Dr., West Olive, 49460; 895-1114. 
 

Ø    Congratulations to Pierce and Ida Roon as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on March 17!
 

Ø    Prayers for:
Jim Sweezer – home from hospitalization due to a bad virus;
Wendy Sweezer – cancer treatments;
Barb Schulz – back pain;
 - and recovery from surgery for Vonnie Beelen, Wes Brower, and Aileen Vander Schuur
 

Ø       A special thank you for all of your prayers for our little granddaughter Dakota. We praise God for all of His goodness. Thanks again, Gary & Joan Kleinjans

Ø    Allendale Christian School will have an informational evening for parents of prospective ACS Young 5’s and Kindergarten students on March 19 at 6:30 p.m.  Come see “A Day in the Life of a 5-year-old”. Kindergarten Testing: April 14 & 16. Sign up on the 19^th or call the school at 895-5108 for an appointment.

Ø    Create a poster with a missions theme for the World Missions’ 2009 Poster Contest. Send it to World Missions by April 17. Winning posters will be selected according to the following age categories: 6 and under, 7-9, 10-12, and 13 and above.  For more information, talk to your Sunday School Administrator, Missions Team, or visit the Opportunities page at www.crwm.org under “Get Involved”.

Ø    Everyone is invited to a Spaghetti Supper on Wed., March 25, at City on a Hill (former Zeeland Hospital) from 5 to 7 p.m. to raise funds for North Blendon Deacons’ Kyle House project. Kyle Leeuw is a 17 yr. old who was born with spina bifida; he is the son of Dan & Mary Hassevort of North Blendon. He is confined to a wheelchair and the Deacons are working to make his home more accessible for him. A new bathroom configuration has been completed and the addition of a bedroom on the main floor has begun. The cost of the supper will be by donation and will help with this project.

Ø    The Kyle Project has been named the beneficiary of the WJQ Spring Swim to be held on March 21 at Camp Geneva. Swimmers arrive 8:45 – 9 a.m. and the actual JUMP in the lake is at 10 a.m. Bathrooms are available for people to change clothes. Pledge sheets are available on the WJQ website.  

Ø    Calvin Theological seminary invites those who are interested in learning more about pursuing a career in ministry to a Preview Day on March 20. You'll learn about different degree programs and how to respond to God's call to ministry in your life. For more information or to register, call 957-7035 or e-mail semadmit@calvinseminary.edu.

Ø    Financial difficulties often cause stress in our marriage relationship. Devote one weekend just for the two of you to revitalize romance, deepen communication and nourish the spirituality in your marriage. Register now and attend the next Reformed Marriage Encounter weekend, May 1-3, at Geneva in Holland, MI. for additional information, or to register online, go to www.reformedme.org or contact Jim & Kathy Molenkamp at 538-2749 or michigan_registration@reformedme.org.

Ø    Receive a FREE ultrasound picture of you unborn baby!   Lakeshore Pregnancy Center in Holland is looking for 6-15 week pregnant women to volunteer for a free, confidential ultrasound so that our center can complete additional nurse training.  The ultrasounds will be performed under the supervision of a registered sonographer. Training models are advised to consult with their physician prior to volunteering.

Ø    Teens and adults! Serve with MOSES (Making OurSelves Equipped Servants) during Spring Break, April 2-11, doing construction and hurricane relief in Mississipi and Texas. For more information, contact July VanderArk at 949-0344 or mosesjudy@gmail.com or visit www.mosesweb.org.

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.