Bulletin Board

Ø   There will be a benefit dinner for Mississippi Christian Family Services (MCFS), one of the ministries our church supports through Faith Promise giving, on Thurs., Nov. 5, at 6:30 pm in Ridgewood CRC, Jenison. Please call your reservations in to Harriet Sikma at 340-3009 or Vonnie Beelen at 895-2470.  Today at 7:45 pm there will be a Hymn Sing featuring The Heralders Quartet at First Jenison CRC, 8370 Cottonwood Dr.  An offering will be received for MCFS.

Ø   The Pumpkin Walk is fast approaching! Lots of volunteers are needed to make this year’s trail successful. Please sign up in the lobby today. Many donations are also needed: big buckets, baby food jars, cupcakes, candy, funkins (plastic carvable pumpkins), and real pumpkins. Pumpkin Carving Parties: Oct. 27 & 28 from 5-8 pm. We need everyone’s help to carve! The walk will be held Oct. 29-31 from 6-9 pm. Please see Rachael or call her at 610-7398 if you have questions about the event.

Ø   The church is in need of TV’s VCR’s and DVD players. Questions? Call Ron Borst at 895-5220.

Ø   GEMS in 4th-8^th grades, if you’re interested in going to the Nov. 7 Beauty of Believing Tour at Sunshine Church, turn in your money this Wed., the 21^st. Tickets: girls - $10; moms or special friends - free.  We’ll carpool to this event. If your daughter needs a ride or if you have questions, please call Rachael Taylor at 895-9414.

Ø   Grocery Showers: Baskets for Alicia Borst and Mark VanderVeen  are in the lobby for the next two weeks. Thank you for supporting this soon to be married couple.

Ø   Thank you to the following families for hosting a table at the Grand Valley Ministries Potluck this noon: Mike and Sheri Brookhouse, Chuck and Lori De Young, Bill and Mary Espinoza,  Mike and Beth Motman, Pierce and Ida Roon, Rog and Barb Tolsma, Josh and Lauren VanderMolen.

Ø   Volunteers needed in the following areas and contact persons:
* Children’s Worship Teachers for 3&4 yr. olds – Sue Brown, 723-2397 or Jerene Schierbeek, 608-5272.
* Nursery Coordinator to do scheduling – Jen Konydyk, 895-4884
* Kitchen helpers for Connections nights – Deb Zeinstra, 895-5160
* Nursery is Available on Connections night so Come one Come All.

Ø   How often are we provided a unique opportunity to “Pass It On” or to share the qualities that make each of us so special? How would you like to be remembered in life? Being a Kid’s Hope USA mentor is one way a person can see what they gave back to a child in Allendale. What qualities do you possess that you think would be useful to a young person growing up today? We have all made choices in our youth that we would not necessarily make today. Mentoring is one way to pass your wisdom along to others. It’s like being a kid again – a great excuse to play games and have fun! Interested? Contact Aileen VanderSchuur, our Kids Hope USA Director, at aileenv@altelco.net or 204-3540 to find out how you can become a Kids Hope USA mentor or substitute mentor.

Ø   All information for the next Second Thoughts newsletter is due Today.

Ø   One very important element of building God's Kingdom is the ministry of prayer. There is an exciting opportunity for a short term mission trip to Haiti, a prayer mission trip. This trip will be led by CRC Pastor Jon DeBruyn and is organized through Christian Ref. World Missions (CRWM) with the assistance of Zach and Sharon King in Haiti.  Dates: Nov. 11-18 (with the possibility of extending the trip to Nov. 22^nd/23^rd for those who would like to participate in the CRWM/CRWRC Spiritual Retreat to be held at beautiful Haitian beach resort). There is a donor that has provided "scholarships" for those who would like to participate in the prayer trip but are hesitating because of financial need.  Please contact Pastor Jon DeBruyn at pastorjondb@chartermi.net or 231-947-3526 for more information.

This Week:      October 25-31, 2009

Today:     9:30 am & 5:30 pm - Worship Services
                am – Church School; grades 1-3 during service and grades 4-12 after the service
                after am service – Worship Planning Team
                3:00 pm – Community Choir rehearsal

Monday:    7:00 pm – Faith Friends

Tuesday:    9:30 am – Women’s Coffee Break/Story Hour
                  1:00 pm – Primetimer’s

Wednesday:    3:45 pm – Children’s Choir

Prayer List  / God's Family

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

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

Requested Announcements

Ø   Trash for Cash: clip and save your Box Tops for Education, Spartan UPC’s, and Campbell’s UPCs for Allendale Christian School. You can place these in Janet Potgeter’s mailbox at church.

Ø   The holidays are fast approaching and it’s time for the Koeze Nut Sale at Allendale Christian School. This sale is going on now through Oct. 28. Place your order with an ACS student or call Rachelle Brown at 895-5030. Orders will be ready for pick up in the school kitchen on Tues., Nov. 24, just in time for Thanksgiving gatherings.

Ø   The Sub Sale at Allendale Christian School is going on now through Oct. 27. Place your order with an ACS student, or contact Audrey Beute at 892-7400. The handmade subs are great for the deer hunters to pack for deer camp and they will be ready for pick up on Wed., Nov. 11, just before they leave.

Ø   The 2009/2010 P.A.C.E. Drive for Unity Christian High School will begin the week of Oct. 26 with a goal of $350,000. P.A.C.E. (Partners Advancing Christian Education) pledges and gifts are essential in helping provide tuition scholarships as well as keeping tuition affordable. Currently, 76 Unity students are receiving tuition scholarships. Please pray for the P.A.C.E.  Drive and pray that Unity continues to provide affordable Christian education for all the children. Thank you.

Ø   Allendale Christian School's Pumpkin Patch will be open every Fri. (4pm – dusk) and Sat. (9am - 3pm) in October. Location: 5693 Lake Mich. Dr., just west of 56th Ave.  Look for the sign! A variety of pumpkins available in every size -- orange or white and gourds, too!  Come ready to pick!  100% of the proceeds benefit the school. 

Ø   The Ladies Bible League Zeeland Division will host a Fall Fellowship Dinner at Rusk CRC at 6:30 pm on Thurs. Oct. 29. A family style dinner for $10 will be served. Mike & Linda Philo of Fellowship CRC in Grandville will share of their travels to Israel and Jordan. An offering will be received for the “Africa Project.” Please call Mary Mannes at 772-6747 by Mon., Oct. 19 to make your reservation.

Ø   North Blendon CRC is planning its second annual Holiday Craft Show on Sat., Dec. 5 from 9 am – 3 pm in the church basement. Booths, which include an 8-fool table and 2 chairs, are $25. Profits will go to a charitable cause still to be determined. Home demonstrators, baked goods, and crafters are all welcome. For more information or to sign up for a booth, call Alicia Schipper at 616-797-9878.

Ø   Grace Lutheran Church, 300 E. Cleveland St., Coopersville, is hosting a Party of Parties with many, many craft booths and home based business representatives. Proceeds go to mission projects and will be matched by a generous donator. Shop and support missions at the same time!