Family Ties - March 2009

March Birthdays

1	Cory Bruins Will Rosel
5	Debbie Rosel
6	Connor Tibbe
7	Aubrey Taylor
9	Joel Barkel Betty Bergsma
11	John Richardson
13	Alayna McClellan
14	Glenn Veeneman Tyler Snyder
15	Chase Berg
16	Tyler Kary

17	Kyle McClellan
19	Natalie Tibbe Karla VanHouten
20	Kathy Veeneman
21	JoEllen Meermanr
22	Meryk Bruins
23	Beka Wiersma
27	Stephanie VanDoorn Josiah Kingma
28	Marilyn Meindertsma Kyle VanDoorn
30	Molly Thiss
31	Amy Pitz

Pastor's Page
UPCOMING EVENTS
     I am excited for two events coming in April.
     The first is the work trip to Iowa. I have found the opportunity to serve has always been a blessing—both for those served and the ones serving. Very few things impact us the way that giving to others does. Add to that the camaraderie experienced while traveling, working and hanging out with members of our church family and it is a week that is hard to beat. I also appreciate that this opportunity is offered to all ages. While it can be a great experience to go as a youth group or as an adult work team, an intergenerational event is truly special. If you are thinking about whether you should go, I encourage you to get involved in this offering. The team will be leaving on Sunday, April 5, following morning worship and returning on Saturday, April 11.
     The second event is Messiah in the Passover. The Passover is what Jesus was celebrating with the disciples on the night he was betrayed. On the evening of April 5 we will be led through part of the Passover meal while being shown the significance it has upon Communion. I look forward to the insights we will gain regarding the Lord’s Supper and what we will learn about how the celebration points to Messiah. Our guest is a Messianic Jew—a person of Jewish descent and the Jewish faith who believes that Jesus is the Messiah. If you are not making the trip to Iowa, please mark the evening of April 5 to partake in this event. We will celebrate Communion as part of this evening and it will be a meaningful way to start Holy Week.
     I hope that you can take advantage of these events and look for more opportunities in the coming months.

RCYF meets every other Saturday (March 7 and March 14) at 10:30AM. Contact Rachael McClellan with any questions at 723-2759.

L.I.F.T. Living In Faith Together
Join us following worship on March 15th at 11AM for the next program. There will be praise music, Bible study, and a family-friendly meal for all.

Spring Break Mission Trip!
We have recently received information on an opportunity to serve in Iowa for the flood recovery effort. We realize that this is short notice, but please consider this chance to serve from April 5 through 11. All ages are invited to participate. Costs will be minimal to none with participation in fund raisers! Please see Cheryl Taylor in the gym after worship if you are interested, where a table will be set up with more information.

Fleece Blanket Drive - We are having a fleece blanket drive again this year for DeVos Children’s Hospital to support Junior Miss Coopersville, Kristin Stuck. Kristen was a patient at DeVos during her reign and wants to help bring comfort and love to other children in the hospital. The drive will run through March 15. The hospital asks for single layer fleece in twin bed size. The edges can be finished if you choose to, but is not required. If you have questions see Cheryl Taylor.

Don’t forget to “spring ahead” one hour on Sunday, March 8!

The Healing Hands medical team leaves on Friday the 13th for Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. Saturday morning we take a 50 minute flight to San Carlos, a village of 10,000. Here the mouth of the San Juan River empties the fresh water of Lake Nicaragua into the Caribbean. The team will run clinics both Saturday and Sunday.

Monday we take boats a couple of hours to the Archipelago of the Solentiname, a series of 36 islands in Lake Nicaragua. Clinics will be run for the rest of the week on the largest of the islands. On Sunday we fly back to Managua and return home on Monday the 23rd.

With your prayers, we hope that many will see the love of Christ in our work - the medical clinics, the dental clinics, the vision clinics, family pictures, the work with the children, and the Christian counselors.
- Roger Luben

The Scrapbooking/Craft Night for the month of March will be on Friday the 20th.

From the Thursday morning Bible Study:
Retreating into the Wilderness with Jesus
Just as Jesus retreated to the wilderness for a time of soul searching, so must we, as we enter this Lenten season.

Lent is a period of time which begins on the seventh Wednesday before Easter, known as Ash Wednesday, and extends to Easter. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on February 25th to start the Lenten season.

Lent is defined as a 40-weekday period before Easter. Notice it’s only a weekday period; Sundays are excluded from the 40 days because they are known as days of the resurrection.

Just like Jesus, we should use this time for soul-searching, self-examination, repentance and reflection.

There are many ways for us to celebrate and mark our journey through this Lenten period. Some ways include:

1. Prayer – Have a heart-to-heart with God (say what’s in your heart and listen to God as well)
2. Fasting/Sacrificing – to bring one closer to God
3. Study God’s Word – read the Bible, open up your relationship with God and others
4. Seek a spirit of detachment – break away from buying unnecessary things; donate money to a charity

These are only a few suggestions. You may have your own special ways of celebrating the Lenten season whatever those may be. Now is the time to follow through as Jesus did.

May you continue to work toward a more intimate relationship with God during this Lenten Season.

God Be With You!

2009 Church Dinner and Auction
** Saturday, March 14 **

5:30 pm Doors Open, Silent Auction Begins
6:00 pm Dinner
7:15 pm Silent Auction Room #1 Closes
7:30 pm Live Auction
Intermission and Dessert
8:30 pm Silent Auction Room #2 Closes

Please plan to join us for this annual fundraiser -- There will be great auction items, great food, and a great time to be had by all!

Unemployed Coffee Clutch - Karolyn Holmes is starting a support group for the community, meeting on the first and third Tuesdays at 7PM at Coopersville United Methodist Church. The Mission Statement of this group is as follows: To nurture and empower unemployed persons to keep their mental health, self worth, and encourage a positive attitude so they will be successful in finding employment. If you know anyone who is unemployed please invite them to come - the first meeting will be March 3. For further information contact Karolyn at 616-893-6063.

Lamont Christian School invites you to a Monday Afternoon Tour, available every week between 3:30 and 5:30PM. Located at 5260 Leonard Street, LCS offers 3-school, preschool, kindergarten, and 1st-8th grades. The Open House for 3-school, Preschool, and Kindergarten will be on Tuesday, March 10, 7-8PM. Join us to learn more about our exemplary Early Learning program. Kindergarten enrollment applications are now available for 2009-10. For more information visit www.lamontcs.org, stop in, or call 677-1757.

Allendale Christian School is hosting their third annual 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament on March 28. The double elimination tournament will have divisions for both girls and boys third through eighth grades, and play will be continuous. Concessions will be available throughout the day. Trophies will be awarded to winning teams at each level, each player will receive a tee shirt, cost is $15 per person and should be sent in by team. Registration forms due March 13, available at the school or at www.allendalechristian.com. For questions or to become a sponsor contact Jody Ribbens at 895-6016. NOTE: New tournament location for the Allendale Christian School's 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament will be the Allendale Public High School.

URBANA09
December 27-31 in St. Louis - A gathering of over 20,000 young adults, age 17-30, from across the U.S., Canada, and over a hundred other countries. This conference has happened every three years since 1946. At Urbana you’ll see the world in a whole new light, engage with critical global issues, and worship with thousands in one of the most diverse gatherings in North America. In this time of swiftly changing global realities, including urbanization, globalization, and an increasingly mobile population, Christians are called to bear witness to a steadfast God who is working to bring people from every tribe and nation to himself. Visit www.urbana09.org for more information.

Just for Laughs...

A little boy in church for the first time watched as the ushers passed around the offering plates. When they came near his pew, the boy said loudly, “Don't pay for me daddy. I'm under five.”

“Do you believe in life after death?” the boss asked one of his employees. “Yes, sir,” the new employee replied. “Well, then, that makes everything just fine,” the boss went on. “After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral, she stopped in to see you!”

After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the three-year-old say with a trembling voice, “Who was THAT?”

A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks they're stupid, stand up!” After a few seconds little Davie stood up. The teacher said, “Do you think you're stupid, little Davie?” “No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!”

March 1 ~ First Sunday in Lent
Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15

March 8 ~ Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

March 15 ~ Third Sunday in Lent
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22

March 22 ~ Fourth Sunday in Lent
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21

March 29 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33

Serving Community
East Greeters:	March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26	Chris & Traci Berg Marv & Betty Bergsma Cory & Lori Bruins Arlene Bubnik Rodger & Theresa Cheadle Chuck & Connie Cook Angel & Heather Dominguez Jeannette Eisen Mary Estrada
Coffee:	March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26	John & Marty Richardson David & Ariana Rosel Dennis & Lee Ann Rosel Sue Smith & LVH Ray & Natalie Tibbe Troy & Tracy Snyder Dick & Cheryl Taylor Art & Molly Thiss Ray & Natalie Tibbe
Nursery:	March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26	Eric Spoelman family Joel Spoelman family Dick Taylor family Thiss family & LVH Tibbe family VanHouten family G Veeneman family Veldman family Barkel family
Sound System:	March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26	Ray Tibbe David Rosel Will Rosel Kyle McClellan Ray Tibbe Bob Veeneman David Rosel Will Rosel Kyle McClellan
Sunday School:	March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 19 April 26	JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman JoEllen Meerman & Barb Veeneman Shari & Melissa Veldman Shari & Melissa Veldman Shari & Melissa Veldman Shari & Melissa Veldman
Communion Set Up:	March 1 April 5 April 9	Dave Rosel Denise Wiersma Molly Thiss (Maundy Thursday)

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