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Communiqué September 27, 2015 8541 Byron Center Ave. SW, Byron Center, MI 49315 Phone: 616-878- 9768 • Fax: 616 -878- 0940 • Prayer Line: 616 -878-0101 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.firstbyroncrc.org Service Times: Sundays 9:30 am and 5:00 pm First Byron has been se- lected to host a National Stephen Ministry Intro- ductory Workshop Satur- day, October 17 (9:00 am - 1:00 pm). All First Byron members can come for FREE! Come and learn about ministering to those who are grieving, how to be distinctively Christian in your care-giving, and all about Stephen Ministry. Join us in learning to care for others as Jesus did! Contact Sheri Deppe ([email protected]) or the church office to sign up. If you would like to change your contri- bution envelopes from weekly to monthly or from monthly to weekly, please contact the church office by Sunday, October 11. Discover First Byron Class meets TODAY (September 27) in the council room at 3:00 pm. If you are interested in becom- ing a member or wish to learn more about First Byron, please join us even if you have not signed up. Pastor Tom’s Bible Studies begin this Wednesday, (September 30) 6:45 pm and this Thursday (October 1) 6:00 am. They are studying the book of Acts. Pastor Tom’s Prayers | Praises Pray —Keep Al Bruursema, Bud DeJong, John Haaksma, Herm Klunder, Doreen Potter, Steve Schreur, & Ethel Sikkema in prayer as they manage/treat their cancer. Pray —Christian sympathy is extended to Marv Ilbrink in the passing of his sister-in- law, Judy Ilbrink on Friday (September 18). Pray —Wayne Fredricks had surgery on his broken ankle Tuesday (September 22). Praise —Carole Steigenga’s PET scan showed the spots on her lungs were NOT cancerous. The FIRST Wednesday Night Family Din- ner is Wednesday, October 7, at 6:00 pm. We are having sloppy joes, jell-o, chips, & cookies. Sign up at the table in the lobby or on the church website. The deadline to sign up is next Sunday (October 4). Prime Timers (age 60+) Today is the deadline to sign up for our color tour to and around Traverse City on Thursday, October 8. We’ll be taking a 56-passenger deluxe motor coach, visit- ing the Music House Museum in Acme, and then traveling to the beautiful Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes. Friends and relatives are welcome to join! Extra info sheets may be found in the box by the office. Completed forms are to be placed in Marv Ilbrink’s box. High School Youth Group Crew meets today (Septem -ber 27), 6:15 - 8:15 pm at host homes for Small Groups . GEMS NEWS " First GEMS Meeting is Wednesday, October 7, (6:30 - 8:15 pm). " GEMS is in need of a 5 th grade coun- selor for this season. " GEMS is looking for someone willing to lead music at the beginning of their Wednesday night meetings. This is a very minimal time commitment (about 10 minutes 2 times a month). Hurry & contact Tracy before these opportunities are gone!! All GEMS events are for 4 th - 8 th grade girls. For more info, contact Tracy Keegstra (307-1726) or Tina Vink (260-0161). Pews That Build Pulpits Pastor Ken’s bible study will begin this Wednesday (September 30) 6:45 pm. Family Ties is having a Harvest Party at Nate & Heather Kwantes' home, this Saturday (October 3), at 5:30 pm for a bonfire and other fall festivities. Kids invited! Please bring an appetizer or dessert to pass. Pulled pork and drinks will be pro- vided. RSVP to Heather Kwantes ([email protected]). Monthly Coffee Fellowship Gather in members' homes once a month to fellowship after the morning worship service. Sign up at the table in the lobby or contact Joan Buiter (878-9768). THANK YOUS Dear Church Family, I would like to thank everyone for the kind words, well wishes, and cards given on my 90 th birthday. I am thankful for our new church family and grateful for God’s blessings in my life. Sincerely, Anne VanDerHeide Dear Church Family, Thank you for the cards, well wishes, visits, and expressions of kindness you all sent my way for my recent birthday! I had a wonderful day and appreciated your thoughtfulness very much. Thank you, Carrie Grasman Dear Church Family, Thank you for the cards, kindness, and prayers during my appendectomy. They helped me feel better. Thank you, Colton Keegstra and Family Dear Church Family, Thank you for your cards, prayers, and Pastor Tom’s visit during my hospitaliza- tion for diverticulitis. I am doing much better now. This is a great congregation to be part of! Thank you, Jerry Hop Cadets Chuck Wagon is this Saturday (October 3). Meet at church at 7:15 am and dress for the weather. Nursery needs your help! Please sign up to serve in the nurseries at the tables in the lobby . If you do not sign up for your allotted times, they will be assigned to you. Nurs- eries are only doing paper sign ups this year (no online). October Special Birthdays Gert Boven will celebrate her 91 st birthday on Friday, October 16. She lives in her condo. Nell Buiter will celebrate her 92 nd birthday on Friday, October 23. She lives at Beacon Hill at Eastgate. You can help these loved ones celebrate by bringing your cards to their church mailboxes. SAVE THE DATE October 22-24 Ladies Fellowship will begin Tuesday, October 6 with coffee at 9:30 am and the lesson starting at 10:00 am. They will be finishing last year’s book “Discover Acts, The Gentile Connec- tion,” lesson 12. New members can find books in Muriel Meindertsma’s mailbox. All women are welcome. For more info contact, Muriel (878-1747). A BIG Thank You This is a simple note to say “thank you” for your adjustments and sacrifices in the first couple of weeks of having one morning service. I’m very thankful for those who’ve sacrificed to make room in the sanctuary by taking a turn in the fellowship hall worship space. I think we’re off to a really good start. We’ve spread folks around enough that we’ve had some good room for others to join us in worship. I realize that for some, it’s not your preferred space, but you’ve set aside your pref- erences to make room for others in the sanctuary. That’s a very servant hearted move. Let me ask the rest of you to consider taking a turn the next few weeks. We have a committee that will continue to make adjustments to the new worship area. We value your feedback as we move forward. We want to make this space as excellent as we can. Please direct your feedback to Dean Vink, the chair of the committee who is evaluating this. Let’s continue to keep our focus straight. Sunday mornings are not about us but God. So let’s let that be our theme in music, worship, & even in making worship space. Thankful for you, Pastor Tom
