Communiqué

May 24, 2015

2450 85th Street, Byron Center, MI 49315

Phone: 616-878-9768 • Fax: 616-878-0940 • Prayer Line: 616-878-0101

Email: office@firstbyroncrc.org • Website: www.firstbyroncrc.org

Service Times: Sundays at 8:30 am, 10:45 am, and 5:00 pm

Prayers | Praises

Pray—Keep Al Bruursma, Bud DeJong, John Haaksma, Doreen Potter, & Steve Schreur in prayer as they manage/treat their cancer.

Praise—Velma Wustman was able to re-turn to her home Tuesday (May 19).

Pray—Ethel Sikkema is beginning a six-week daily radiation regimen for skin can-cer on her forehead.

THANK YOUS

Dear Church Family, Thank you for your prayers, cards, vis-its, phone calls, and basket of goodies. Thanks also for the visits of Pastor Ron and Pastor Tom. This has been a long struggle and your prayers have meant so much to me.

Thank you, Clare Kapteyn

Dear Church Family, Thank you to everyone who has sent cards these past weeks. Thank you for the prayers and words of encouragement. It is great to know that I have a family here who loves and cares about me. You have been such a blessing these past few weeks. Thank you Dave & Ginger Lutke for coming to visit. Thank you also to the basket ministry. I can’t wait to use the car care products once I am healed.

Sincerely, Kyle VanKammen

Dear First CRC, As we continue to nurture, equip, and empower young single mothers, we stand in awe of God’s faithfulness. Here are the names of the beautiful healthy babies born over the last few months: Zachary, Serena, Ja’yoni, Xavien, Greyson, and Gracella. God is good! Thank you for your continued support of Hope Unexpected.

Blessings, Susan Lickley

Exe. Dir. Hope Unexpected

As summer is a chal-lenging time to staff our nurseries, mem-bers are encouraged to sign up for two times to serve this summer. Even if you

don't normally serve during the school year, we ask that all able bodied women consider helping at least one time over the summer. Visit (www.signupgenius .com) to sign up for a time to serve. For more info, contact Sarah Rozema (sarah .rozema@gmail.com).

A Pre-Profession of Faith class will be held next Sunday (May 31) at 3:00 pm. Contact Pastor Jonathan (jbromhead@ firstbyroncrc.org) if you plan to attend.

Rising 9th graders - 12th graders, Summer

Serve 2015 is June 15 - 18. More details to

come!

TODAY (May 24), WE START ONE

SERVICE at 9:30 am.

The church office will be closed tomorrow (May 25), in observance of Memorial Day.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! While July 13th sounds far off, VBS is quickly approaching and plans are coming together. However, we still need several middle school or high school helpers in the classrooms. We also need teachers for 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grades. Volunteer forms are in the lobby. The poster in the lobby will give an idea of where you might be able to help. Informational meetings for teachers and helpers are June 8 and June 16 at 7:00 pm. We ask that all teachers and helpers attend at least one of those

meetings. We would really like to have all of our spots filled by the end of May! If you can’t help out every day during VBS week, consider volunteering with registra-tion on Monday and Tuesday morning for just an hour. For more info, contact Jen Huyser (878-9520; tjhuyser@comcast.net). DONATIONS NEEDED: VBS needs donations of cheap AAA batteries, large paper grocery bags, & empty whipped topping containers. There is a bin in the lobby to put your donations.

Mark your Calendars!

Annual Church Picnic

June 17

6:30 pm Douglas Walker Park

Form in your mailbox!

The church has two pianos for sale. They were both appraised by a professional piano tuner. One is $600 and the other one is free (it’s not tunable). Contact the office (878-9768) if interested.

Congratulations to Trevor & Mallory (Yost) Yonkers on their marriage, Satur-day, May 16, 2015.

Summer events are Sundays, June 7 and August 16 at 6:30 pm. Meet at the Byron Chris-tian Elementary playground to play whiffle ball, bean bag toss, kick ball, & other yard games. Church Life will provide ice cream and lots of cold water! We will wrap up by 8:00 pm. Feel free to bring your own yard games if you have them.

Family Ties,

“Family Kickball

Tournament” is

Saturday, June

13, (5:00 - 8:00

pm) at Byron

Center Christian Elementary School. We

will play a few rounds of kickball followed

by dinner (provided). Kids are welcome!

Please bring a lawn chair or blanket for

seating. RSVP by Saturday, June 6 to

Becky Vos (beckyvos@comcast.net).

There is a card box in the lobby to put your cards of encouragement for Pas-tor Tom to read while he is away on sabbatical.

Prime Timers (age 60+), in your mailbox there is an informa-tion sheet about our annual outing to Norm & Luanne Van-Solkema's cottage on

Thursday, June 18. Please sign up at the table in the lobby no later than Sunday, June 14.

Lindsay Elenbaas begins the youth ministry internship this Tuesday (May 26).

Summer Study (for rising 9th graders -

12th graders) is coming Wednesday,

June 10, (7:30 pm) at the Reitsma’s.

The study will focus on how the Gospel

relates to World Religions.

Parking Lot Update. On Monday (May 18), First Byron CRC received official approval from Byron Township to proceed with our parking lot addition. We still need to await approval for the 85th street road abandon-ment. The Development Committee has been told this will likely occur by the end of May. All approvals have been received. Work on the north parking lot will likely begin sometime in late June/early July. Watch the communiqué for more updates.

Save the Date! Re-

serve June 11 - 13

now for Hands of

Grace. Community

jobs are already roll-

ing in, and we need

you!

Council Meeting Highlights April May 5, 2015

Absent with notice: None. 1. Devotions: Steve Longstreet opened the

meeting with devotions from Galatians 5:13 and prayer.

2. Approval of minutes The minutes of the

April 14th, 2015 council meeting were approved.

3. Financial Reports: a. Operating Fund – Rusty Darter: re-

ported April was a good month. b. Christian Education – Tom Boomsma:

reported that April was a very strong month of giving totaling $37,533. Pro-jected to achieve budget. Steve Longstreet offered a prayer of thanks-giving.

c. Missions – Aaron Snyder: reported mission fund is at 92% of the budget year to date.

4. Correspondence: a. Thank you received from Wycliffe Bi-

ble Translators for the January offer-ing.

5. Old Business: a. Building project update from Steve

Elenbaas. On May 18 the Township Board will vote on the parking lot ap-

proval. The street abandonment vote will be soon after.

6. New Business: a. MMS to receive membership in of

Joshua & Kelly Hover family from Cor-inth Reformed Church, Byron Center. Carried

b. MMS to accept request of Mike & Pam Tillema and family to transfer their membership to South Harbor Church, Byron Center. Carried.

c. MMS to receive membership in of David & Baillie Hoekman and son Caleb from Trinity Presbyterian Church, Hinsdale, Ill. Carried.

d. MMS to approve the release of mem-bership of Alan Doornbos so that he may affiliate with High Point Commu-nity Center, Byron Center. Carried

e. MMS to approve the release of mem-bership of Matt Troost so that he may affiliate with First Church of God, St. Joseph, MI. Carried.

f. MMS to accept the resignation of membership of Wayne DeWitt, Austin DeWitt, and Katelyn DeWitt. Carried

g. MMS to accept the membership in of Joshua Dumeler from Heritage CRC, Byron Center. Carried.

6. New Business: a. Council retreat planned for May 16,

2015 with newly elected council.

7. Pastor’s Reports: They were received for information.

8. Committee Reports: They were re-

ceived for information. 9. Welcome Visits/Roundtable: a. Doug Lutke and Jason Maas listened to

the professions of faith of Jeremy & Carrie Herwyer. MMS to accept their profession. Carried. Doug and Jason also made a welcome visit to Dave & Baillie Hoekman and their son, Caleb.

b. Rusty Darter asked if the pulpit supply was complete for Pastor Tom’s June 28 - August 15 sabbatical. Yes, we have six guest pastors as well as our own.

c. Pastor Tom thanked the retiring coun-cil men for their work.

d. Steve Longstreet also thanked the retiring men for their service.

10. Adjourn & Prayer: Ted Haan closed

the meeting with prayer. Allowed the retired men to leave.

11. Elected Officers: MMS to retain Steve

Longstreet President of Council, Mike Ezinga Clerk of Council, and Dave Dorn-bos Vicar. Carried. MMS to elect Tony Rozema as Financial Advisor. Carried

Respectfully submitted, Mike Ezinga (Clerk)

Sermon-based questions are available on the website & in the basket by the office.

Employment Opportunities are now on the church website.

May 24 AM Christian Education PM Guiding Light May 31 AM Missions PM Christian Education June 7 AM Christian Education PM Missions

May/June Offering Schedule

From the deacons. A reminder that the Christian Education budget year ends on May 31. To complete our commitment for 2014-15 we need $6,200 before May 31. Thank you for your generous giving in the months of March and April.

Byron Community Ministries Reverse Of-fering. Continue to bring your personal care product donations for BCM’s pantry to the table in the church fellowship hall the rest of the month of May.

First Byron is looking for a home in the Byron Center area for the Ti-esengas while they are home on leave from mission work. They need a home from August to mid December. Contact Randy VanDyke (293-1301) if you have any leads.

Serving next Sunday 05•31•15

Valet 9:30 AM Nate Deppe

Librarians AM Marilyn Dykwell (1), Judy Hoekman (2) PM Marcia Lubbers

Nurseries AM

Greeters: Stacy Huttenga, Emily Bont Infant: Maddie Huttenga, Loryn Huttenga, Toddler: Mallory Huttenga

Little Lambs/Wee Worship

2’s: Lanae Wolf, Emily Reed, Tad Buiter 3’s: Mari DeJonge, Chelsey Wiers, Megan Kortering

Nurseries PM Greeters: Infant: Toddler:

Greeters PM North Entrance: Randy & Tarri Oeverman South Entrance: Dan & Kathy Oostra As you can see, we have a shortage of helpers in nursery for next Sunday (May 31). Please consider serving our children in this way. Con-tact the church office (878-9768) to sign up.

Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri 29 Sat 30 Sun 31 Office Closed

Birthday: Karyn Hoeksema Cole Huttenga Holly Twiest Anniversary: Harry & Diane VanDyk Ken & Lee Winters

Birthday: Eric Koll Jacob Springvloed Jim Sterk Anniversary: John & Kathy DeLeeuw Dave & Barb Walker

9:00 am Leisure Golf (@ the Pines)

7:30 pm Praise Team Prac-tice Birthday: Alice Brouwer Loralee Bruxvoort Raegan Francisco Karen Huttenga Anniversary: Jake & Betty Lou DeKleine Herm & Bea Klunder

9:30 am PlayGroup (@ Becky Vos’ home) Birthday: Samuel DeVries Diane Klunder Jensen Postema Jonathan VanEerden Matt VanderMoore Anniversary:

Birthday: Wendy Klunder Bob Stuitje Harry VanDyk Anniversary: Roger & Wanda Izenbaard Ben & Abbie Tameling

Birthday: Taylor Goeman Anniversary: Dan & Jess Wiers

9:30 am Service 5:00 pm Evening Service Birthday: Levi Boomsma Bud DeJong Evan Hapner Carol Post Allison Tillema Anniversary: Tim & Marci Boomsma Josh & Ashley Peters

Communiqué Announcements due to the office by 10:00 am.

The total donated for the bottle drive was $2,600.00.

The Trailer Park Ministry is starting June 17th. We need vol-unteers from our church to help on the dates listed below. Con-tact Chris Kruithof (437-3213 or chkruithof@gmail.com) to sign up.

June 24: Carnival theme with a bounce house, dunk tank, hamster balls, hot dog wagon, & games. Need 3-5 volunteers

July 1: First Byron CRC. Need 7-10 volunteers...the more the merrier!

July 15: Water night and cook out. Need 3-5 volunteers.

July 29: Dog agility show. Need 5 volunteers.

August 12: Car show with root beer floats and possibly a cook out. Need 3-5 volun-teers.