Church Family - May 3rd, 2026
Offering Prayers
Please pray for Rev. Peter DeBruyne and family. In addition to being a previous pastor of our congregation, Peter was one of the founding members of what is now the disabilities office for the CRCNA. He is well beloved by many as he has touched many lives over the course of his ministry and today, he is surrounded by family, as he is going through his last days here on earth. Please pray especially for his daughter Anna who struggles to understand this loss and will be without both parents.
Tammy Ristow’s surgery yesterday (Thursday) was a success by all accounts. Her physician said “It couldn’t have gone any better”. She has returned home and is feeling well. We pray for continued healing and also for patience and strength on the road to rehab and recovery.
We pray for peace where there is unrest, displacement, disruption and war. May God’s Shalom enter into and embrace the lives of all those most impacted. May we be agents, how we are able and where we can manage from a distance, of God’s peace and justice. Praying for God’s blessing on all the people and organizations bringing light into dark places.
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, loneliness, loss of abilities). We think specifically this week of: Roland & Cheryl Vangameren, Metha Van der Beek, Gert & Hinke Draaistra, Anna Geuze, Delina & John Wiersma, Theresa Jongerden, Martha Luth, and Evelyn Vander Meer. 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
We give thanks for the rain that has been sprinkling and nourishing the earth, for intermittent sunshine and the hope of warmer weather. We give thanks for the crops which have been planted and will be planted and pray for the sun and rain that will help them to grow well. We give thanks for the arrival of a new group of colourful flowers each week and for blossoming bushes and trees; all signs of new life, growth, and God’s faithfulness in this season and every season of nature and of life.
We are so thankful for the work that has gone into the Youth Fundraising Events so far this year by our Youth, their leaders, and our community. Our Youth have been able to raise just under $27,000 dollars through the events so far…just one more to go. A BIG THANK YOU to the congregation for your support. Praise God! Tomorrow (Saturday, May 2) the Youth are having a Plant Sale and Car Wash…just in time for Mother’s Day and warmer weather. Come and enjoy and support the 21 Youth and 5 Leaders heading to Alberta for Serve.
We are submitting a grant request to update doors and other items which could lead to improved accessibility for our aging population and for anyone with visible or invisible disabilities. We give thanks for the opportunity to be supported in our mission and for the many organizations we get to partner with in that important work. We give thanks for an intergenerational and diversely gifted church family and pray that we will always keep an eye to welcoming, belonging, and inclusion for everyone. We pray that our submission will be successful, and bless not only our congregation, but our whole community.
We Celebrate The Coming Week’s Birthdays!
(Milestone Bdays listed by request) - On BRIDGE APP in the DIRECTORY see “UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS”
Sunday May 3 – Renee Teitsma, Ed Van Dijk, Emma Van Geest
Monday May 4 – Michael Heinen, Mark Schmidt
Wednesday May 6 – Graham Austin, Ruth Ann Kamphuis
Thursday May 7 – John Vanderkolk
Friday May 8 – Liam Scholman, Diane Smit, Maguerite Termorshuizen (95)
Saturday May 9 – Marion Bergshoeff, Lucas Vander Wier
REMINDER: The most up-to-date information for members, at any given time, can be found in the Bridge App Directory.