| Please remember If you are unable to be here on your assigned Sunday. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to trade with someone - Thank you for volunteering! |
| Dear Emmanuel Reformed Church Family, February 2012 We have two February birthdays at our house so I need to be careful how I say this, but…”I am not a big fan of February!” Not being a huge basketball fan I am grieving the end of football and longing for the start of baseball. By February, winter is quickly losing its charm and I am usually in the throes of trying to be healthier. February is a grind and with no plans to spend any time in the Caribbean it’s a cold grind. So where does that leave me and my less than sunny attitude? Searching. I will need to find blessing beyond what comes natural. I will need to take joy in those who take joy in February. All those who love skiing and really brisk walks will need to stop by and cheer me up. I will need to bask in the excitement of the birthdays at our house. I will need to find purpose in some brisk walks of my own. Most importantly I will need to trust that the God who created Spring and Fall which I love also created Winter. God has blessings for me in winter and maybe because I won’t be distracted by the things I naturally love about other seasons, the blessings of God can be magnified. So bring on February! Let’s trust God to speak and comfort and direct in the month ahead. May God open our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to receive what God longs to give!! Praise Be to God! 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 In His Grip, Pastor Jeff |
A Word From Your Pastor
From Your Ministry Coordinator
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, February 2012
Here we are, smack dab into February! The days are getting longer and that gives us hope that SPRING is on its way!! That being said,
for many however, the month of February is the longest month in spite of the fact it is usually only 28 days long. (This year, of course,
we get that extra day since it’s Leap Year!) The weather is cold, the excitement of Christmas is no longer with us, darkness comes too
early to enjoy being out of doors in the evening, and the cold winds of winter still blow.
February is also the month for Valentine’s Day. Yes, for those with a special someone, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse for that special
date or outing. But, for many, this is a day spent without the love of their lives and this day of “fun” has become a day of mourning.
Mourning for those spouses who have gone on to glory, mourning marriages that have failed, mourning relationships gone sour. This can
truly be one of the loneliest days of the year because people feel like they are no one’s Valentine.
Here’s the good news!! We are ALL God’s “Valentine’s!” We are all loved in the purest ways by The One who never leaves us, never
gives up on us, never throws His hands up and walks away from us! John 3:16 says “For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life!” God’s love reaches beyond boundaries humans
make…God’s love is forever! God loves us all! Because of this we have hope to carry us through these dark days of winter knowing that
spring is on the horizon! This is good news!
Thanks be to God for his unending love! Happy Valentine’s Day!
With joy, Rich~
Here we are, smack dab into February! The days are getting longer and that gives us hope that SPRING is on its way!! That being said,
for many however, the month of February is the longest month in spite of the fact it is usually only 28 days long. (This year, of course,
we get that extra day since it’s Leap Year!) The weather is cold, the excitement of Christmas is no longer with us, darkness comes too
early to enjoy being out of doors in the evening, and the cold winds of winter still blow.
February is also the month for Valentine’s Day. Yes, for those with a special someone, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse for that special
date or outing. But, for many, this is a day spent without the love of their lives and this day of “fun” has become a day of mourning.
Mourning for those spouses who have gone on to glory, mourning marriages that have failed, mourning relationships gone sour. This can
truly be one of the loneliest days of the year because people feel like they are no one’s Valentine.
Here’s the good news!! We are ALL God’s “Valentine’s!” We are all loved in the purest ways by The One who never leaves us, never
gives up on us, never throws His hands up and walks away from us! John 3:16 says “For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only
begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life!” God’s love reaches beyond boundaries humans
make…God’s love is forever! God loves us all! Because of this we have hope to carry us through these dark days of winter knowing that
spring is on the horizon! This is good news!
Thanks be to God for his unending love! Happy Valentine’s Day!
With joy, Rich~
| F E B R U A R Y V O L U N T E E R S |
Ushers
Feb. 5 – Lloyd DeShane, Carol Stralow, Ernie Renkes
Feb. 12 – Todd Haan, Carol Stralow, Todd Schlegel
Feb. 19 – Steve Hook, Carol Stralow, Don Tegeler
Feb. 26 – Corey Johnson, Carol Stralow, Doug Temple
Feb. 5 – Lloyd DeShane, Carol Stralow, Ernie Renkes
Feb. 12 – Todd Haan, Carol Stralow, Todd Schlegel
Feb. 19 – Steve Hook, Carol Stralow, Don Tegeler
Feb. 26 – Corey Johnson, Carol Stralow, Doug Temple
Nursery
Feb. 5 – Norma Boeck, Amy Swaim, Kelsey Challand, Ashley Ruchotzke
Feb. 12 – Dar Hook, Sarah Schmidt, Kelsey Snyder, Nate Osborn
Feb. 19 – Pat DeShane, Abby Temple, MaKayla Mulnix, Allysa Criss
Feb. 26 – Deb Pruis, Kathy Garrett, Cassidy VanZuiden, Anna Hogue
Feb. 5 – Norma Boeck, Amy Swaim, Kelsey Challand, Ashley Ruchotzke
Feb. 12 – Dar Hook, Sarah Schmidt, Kelsey Snyder, Nate Osborn
Feb. 19 – Pat DeShane, Abby Temple, MaKayla Mulnix, Allysa Criss
Feb. 26 – Deb Pruis, Kathy Garrett, Cassidy VanZuiden, Anna Hogue
Acolytes
Feb. 5 – Alethea McIlrath and Kara Saville
Feb. 12 – Madelyn Hackbarth and Gracyn Schmidt
Feb. 19 – Jaicee Schmidt and Lauren Schlegel
Feb. 26 – Jacob Schlegel and Ryan Damhoff
Feb. 5 – Alethea McIlrath and Kara Saville
Feb. 12 – Madelyn Hackbarth and Gracyn Schmidt
Feb. 19 – Jaicee Schmidt and Lauren Schlegel
Feb. 26 – Jacob Schlegel and Ryan Damhoff
Screens/DVD Operators
Feb. 5 – Dawn Bush and Shawn Swaim
Feb. 12 – Mike Renkes and Tylr Dolan
Feb. 19 – Halie Ward and Sarah Kallemeyn
Feb. 26 – Dawn Bush and Shawn Swaim
Feb. 5 – Dawn Bush and Shawn Swaim
Feb. 12 – Mike Renkes and Tylr Dolan
Feb. 19 – Halie Ward and Sarah Kallemeyn
Feb. 26 – Dawn Bush and Shawn Swaim
Greeters
Feb. 5 – Paul & Lori Vandermyde
Feb. 12 – John & Carolyn VanderSchaaf
Feb. 19 – Darrel & Angie VanderVinne
Feb. 26 – Tiny & Kathie VanderVinne
Feb. 5 – Paul & Lori Vandermyde
Feb. 12 – John & Carolyn VanderSchaaf
Feb. 19 – Darrel & Angie VanderVinne
Feb. 26 – Tiny & Kathie VanderVinne
| Please Be In Prayer For . . . |
Dearest Emmanuel:
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
There are a lot of dates to keep in mind! We will be having a Super Bowl Party on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5:00pm in the Youth Room. Bring
your favorite football-watching snack! Also, Friday, Feb. 17 we will be hosting a Soup Supper Fundraiser before the Legacy Five
Concert. Come help serve a yummy meal so we can plan some excellent activities for the summer!
YOUNG ADULT GROUP
This month we will joining the rest of the church in studying the small group series, “Life’s Healing Choices.” It is a fabulous, life-
changing study about the Beatitudes that Christ taught from the Sermon on the Mount. The only change to our regular schedule is that we
will not meet on Sunday, Feb. 5 due to the Super Bowl. Also, contact me if you are interested in attending the Casting Crowns Concert on
Friday, March 23.
Hilary hilary.mcdearmon@gmail.com
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
There are a lot of dates to keep in mind! We will be having a Super Bowl Party on Sunday, Feb. 5 at 5:00pm in the Youth Room. Bring
your favorite football-watching snack! Also, Friday, Feb. 17 we will be hosting a Soup Supper Fundraiser before the Legacy Five
Concert. Come help serve a yummy meal so we can plan some excellent activities for the summer!
YOUNG ADULT GROUP
This month we will joining the rest of the church in studying the small group series, “Life’s Healing Choices.” It is a fabulous, life-
changing study about the Beatitudes that Christ taught from the Sermon on the Mount. The only change to our regular schedule is that we
will not meet on Sunday, Feb. 5 due to the Super Bowl. Also, contact me if you are interested in attending the Casting Crowns Concert on
Friday, March 23.
Hilary hilary.mcdearmon@gmail.com
Director of High School and Young Adult Ministry
| H A P P Y A N N I V E R S A R Y |
Feb. 1 – John & Karen Mouw
Feb. 5 – Nick & Judy Becker
Feb. 14 – Don & Bonnie Reed
Feb. 14 – Wayne & Marilyn Akker
Feb. 14 – Lloyd & Pat DeShane
Feb. 21 – Dan & Connie Heusinkveld
Feb. 27- Phil & Faye Jansma
Feb. 28 – Vyrle & Nelta Gerlach
Feb. 5 – Nick & Judy Becker
Feb. 14 – Don & Bonnie Reed
Feb. 14 – Wayne & Marilyn Akker
Feb. 14 – Lloyd & Pat DeShane
Feb. 21 – Dan & Connie Heusinkveld
Feb. 27- Phil & Faye Jansma
Feb. 28 – Vyrle & Nelta Gerlach
Feb. 1-Dawson Sterenberg
Feb. 1-Jim Landheer
Feb. 1-Mike Vandermyde
Feb. 3-Connie Pruis
Feb. 3-Andrew Akker
Feb. 4-Brad Venhuizen
Feb. 5-Jason McDearmon
Feb. 5-Chris Reed
Feb. 5-Nick Vandermyde
Feb. 6-Brian Pruis
Feb. 6-AlexZander DeShane
Feb. 7-Tim Ebbers
Feb. 8-Charme Millard
Feb. 9-Steven Wiebenga
Feb. 9-Cassy Osborn
Feb. 9-Kelsey Challand
Feb. 10-Eric Schlegel
Feb. 10-Bill Nice
Feb. 11-Karissa McIlrath
Feb. 11-Andrea Folkers
Feb. 11-Ron Vandermyde
Feb. 12-Cory Pruis
Feb. 13-Todd Schlegel
Feb. 14-Kim Challand
Feb. 1-Jim Landheer
Feb. 1-Mike Vandermyde
Feb. 3-Connie Pruis
Feb. 3-Andrew Akker
Feb. 4-Brad Venhuizen
Feb. 5-Jason McDearmon
Feb. 5-Chris Reed
Feb. 5-Nick Vandermyde
Feb. 6-Brian Pruis
Feb. 6-AlexZander DeShane
Feb. 7-Tim Ebbers
Feb. 8-Charme Millard
Feb. 9-Steven Wiebenga
Feb. 9-Cassy Osborn
Feb. 9-Kelsey Challand
Feb. 10-Eric Schlegel
Feb. 10-Bill Nice
Feb. 11-Karissa McIlrath
Feb. 11-Andrea Folkers
Feb. 11-Ron Vandermyde
Feb. 12-Cory Pruis
Feb. 13-Todd Schlegel
Feb. 14-Kim Challand
F E B R U A R Y N E W S L E T T E R |
| H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y |
Feb. 16-Roger Fiet
Feb. 16-Mason Muur
Feb. 17-George Temple
Feb. 18-Pauline Sterenberg
Feb. 18-Austin Adams
Feb. 18-Jerry Peterson
Feb. 20-Amanda Conover
Feb. 20-Eric Anderson
Feb. 21-Carol (Kurt) Stralow
Feb. 21-Doug Temple
Feb. 22-Myra Ottens
Feb. 22-Nicole Reed
Feb. 24-Heather McIlrath
Feb. 24-Betty Wiebenga
Feb. 24-Sue Bush
Feb. 24-Michelle Schroth
Feb. 25-Jane Darby
Feb. 25-Beth Wiersema
Feb. 26-Les Renkes
Feb. 27-Dewey Mulnix
Feb. 28-Sue Gravert
Feb. 16-Mason Muur
Feb. 17-George Temple
Feb. 18-Pauline Sterenberg
Feb. 18-Austin Adams
Feb. 18-Jerry Peterson
Feb. 20-Amanda Conover
Feb. 20-Eric Anderson
Feb. 21-Carol (Kurt) Stralow
Feb. 21-Doug Temple
Feb. 22-Myra Ottens
Feb. 22-Nicole Reed
Feb. 24-Heather McIlrath
Feb. 24-Betty Wiebenga
Feb. 24-Sue Bush
Feb. 24-Michelle Schroth
Feb. 25-Jane Darby
Feb. 25-Beth Wiersema
Feb. 26-Les Renkes
Feb. 27-Dewey Mulnix
Feb. 28-Sue Gravert