Church Family - April 12th, 2026
Offering Prayers
It has been a messy time in the Middle East and on the world’s political stage. We pray for God’s wisdom, grace, love and shalom to enter leader’s hearts, to guide them in paths of righteousness. We pray for all those grieving, hurting, fearful, displaced, injured, alone. May organizations like World Renew, GAiN, Doctors Without Borders, government agencies and others be God’s heart, hands and feet to all those affected by war in this region and others across the globe living in a state of war or with the aftereffects of natural disasters.
We pray for campers and their families who have registered for Summer Camp, for returning staff, and for new applicants. May their hearts and minds be prepared for their time at camp. May they lean into learning about God’s Kingdom and living it out. May we receive the funds that we need to offer the camp we envision; one that provides love, support, faith development and care for our campers and our youth leaders. To God be the glory as we get ready to welcome the community this summer.
Please join us in holding up in prayer those who manage daily burdens of one kind or another (chronic or acute illness, grief, mental health, loss of abilities). We think specifically this week of: Dorothy Veenhof, Bertha Vermeer, Hetty Romkema, Annie Boekestyn, Agnes Bennink, Adrian & Susan Vander Vaart, Anne Schuringa, and Dina Reinders. May God give them each what they stand in need of. May God give wisdom and strength to those who walk alongside them. We also pray for those who are dealing with issues of which we are not aware.
Giving Thanks
Jesus is Alive! Praise God! Hallelujah! May we live out resurrection in little ways and big ways each day as we seek to walk and work where God is moving and as we seek to love others how God loved us.
THANK YOU to all our worship participants and leaders for our Lenten worship and Good Friday/Easter services. Scripture readers, tableaux presenters, musicians, choir members, AV team, prayer team and visuals team - I am so grateful for you all in helping us to worship God with depth and richness and beauty. Thanks to the VanderHouts for the flowers that we placed on the cross on Easter: that was an especially meaningful part of our Easter service (see note below on the background of this embodied act of worship). The gifts of God for the people of God! With appreciation, Ruth Ann
“Flowering the cross is a Christian tradition dating back to the sixth century. It's a way of celebrating life over death as we bring the new life of flowers to cover the cross, the instrument of death. Traditionally congregants were asked to bring their own flowers from home, but in our climate we don't have any flowers in our gardens yet. Death into life, mourning into dancing, grief into joy!”
We give thanks for Kathleen & Colin’s ministry in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with EMI, with Dai Ku Motora and in their community building with their neighbours there.
May God bless their efforts and give them what they need.
We will see a video Sunday morning on the life-changing work Tyler is doing in Myanmar, but more importantly, we will hear what they Spirit is doing in people’s hearts and lives, through Tyler’s and GAiNs work in specific countries around the world. We pray a blessing on their ministry.
We give thanks for all the fun and meaningful ways we have been able to connect to raise funds for Youth, Cadets & GEMS (Breakfasts, Dinners, Bake Sales, Bowling) as they plan to fund special events that nurture spiritual growth. We also give thanks for the generous support of these ministries by our congregation. This summer our Cadets will travel to Camp Longview in Alberta for their International Camporee and our Youth will travel to Medicine Hat on Serve. More fundraising events still to come. Keep your eyes peeled! We pray a blessing on the planning and preparation for these adventures.
We Celebrate The Coming Week’s Birthdays!
(Milestone Bdays listed by request) - On BRIDGE APP in the DIRECTORY see “UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS”
Sunday April 12 – Janny Beck, Emilia Vander Wier, Dorothy Veenhof
Monday April 13 – Anna Spoelstra, Jake Voordenhout
Tuesday April 14 – Erik Eggink, Kim Heersink
Wednesday April 15 – Marlise Heidbuurt, Martha Tamming, David Vangoch
Thursday April 16 – Pauline Bijsma, Evan DenBak, Taylor De Graaf, Paul Toohey
Friday April 17 – Caroline Eyk, Hilda Fledderus, Joanne Rumph
Saturday April 18 – Nancy Heersink, Ashylynn Schwanz
REMINDER: The most up-to-date information for members, at any given time, can be found in the Bridge App Directory.