April 24, 2005 Newsletter

Issue #368

Contemplate, right now, the height and depth
Contemplate, right now, the height and depth
and width of God's grace.

Special Birthday Honors for Those 80 and Over
Jeanne Vanderlaan will be celebrating her 89th birthday on April 27, 2005. Her
address is:
Holland Home, Rm. 328
1450 E. Fulton St.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Gerard Hasper will be celebrating his 82nd birthday on April 30, 2005. Vera
Tregoning will be celebrating her 88th birthday on May 3, 2005. Her address is:
2121 Raybrook SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
May God bless you on your special day!

Bethany Family
Mercy Hospital: Mike Hepler
Home: Gracie Sytsema
* If you have a prayer request you would like to put in this newsletter, please
give copy to Laurie in the office by Wednesday noon, or fill out a request card
and place it in the Prayer Request Box on the Literature Table in the foyer.

Women's Softball News
First practice is May 2 at 7:00 PM at Beukema field. Newcomers are welcome. Any
questions, call Pat Miller (777-1715).
Practices:
May 2 7:00 Beukema
May 9 7:00 Beukema
May 16 7:00 Beukema
May 23 7:00 Beukema

Intermediate Club Breakfast
Hungry for a good breakfast with good friends? Meet with the Intermediate Club
at Mickey's Restaurant Tuesday, April 26 at 9:00 AM.

Calling all 20-Somethings
Today, at 3:00 PM join us for a walk in the neighborhood! Steve Faber and Sarah
Rinsema-Sybenga, both employees of City Vision, a partner of CRWRC, have
planned a walk through our neighborhood that is guaranteed to challenge the way
we've been taught to think about and see our community. We'll be donning "new
glasses" on this walk, as we strive to see not the deficiencies, but the
capacities (the strengths, gifts, and assets) of our neighborhood! Come and
join us on this first step in discovering the gifts of God in our neighborhood!
Thanks! Sarah

Explore Questions of Life and Faith Today
The Adult Sunday School will be watching a video series called the "Question of
God" today at 11:30 at the Fellowship Hall. This is dramatic PBS presentation
on the lives of Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis and explores the great questions
of life and faith. Everyone is invited to come and join in the discussion.

Prayer Vigil Planned
Thank you to all those who have already secured a time slot for the Pentecost
Weekend (May 13-14) 24-hour Prayer Vigil! Nearly one-half of the vigil is
covered. We still need a number of the faithful, prayerful, sanctified
insomniacs (like Paula Foreman and Grace DeVries) to cover the early Saturday
morning slots (from midnight to 6:00 AM.) Sign up today in the Fellowship Room.
For more information, feel free to talk with any member of the Prayer Action
Team (Leah Sieplinga, Marietta Hasper, Grace Eckman, Pat Flickema, Willy
VanderKooi or David Sieplinga).

Birthdays This Week
Apr. 27 Judith Schutter
Jessica Medema
Bill Mogren
Jeanne Vanderlaan
Apr. 29 Carol Patton
Kyle Miesch
Apr. 30 Gerard Hasper
James Jr. McCollum
Marc Rottman

Birthdays Next Week
May 1 Mary Abbott
May 2 Jennifer Heethuis
Mary Sytsema
May 3 Garrison Farr
Vera Tregoning
May 5 Carl Arkema
May 7 Gerald Heykoop

The birthdays listed are from the information we currently have in our
" membership list". Should your birthday be recorded incorrectly or not appear,
please contact the office @725-7325. Should you wish to send cards but do not
have current addresses, please call the office as well.

A Note of Thanks
Dear family of Bethany,
I give thanks to God for your love, support, prayers, cards, e-mails, visits to
the church for visitation and coming to the funeral of my brother, Larry. 235
people came to the funeral to worship the Lord with us. Larry was a man of God.
Praise the Lord. In Christ?s love, Tom and Barb Holtrop

Lost and Found
A man's black spring jacket, size Large has been found. Check the box if you
have lost yours.

Needed
If you have a queen size mattress that you would be willing to donate, please
contact the church office. 725-7325

Collection Schedule
May 1 Gen. Fund/Benevolence
May 8 Gen. Fund/Missions
May 15 Gen. Fund/BCES
May 22 Gen. Fund/Property Improvements
May 29 Dave & Daphne Smith

Advance Notice
You won't want to miss The Bible League Spring Luncheon! It will be at
Maranatha on Wednesday, May 18 at 12:00 noon. Both men and women are invited.
Tickets are $9.00. Get tickets from Grace Eckman - 780-3988.
Women?s Breakfast Tea
A Women?s Breakfast Tea, "A Time to Laugh", featuring comedian Donna East will
be at the Muskegon Holiday Inn (939 3rd. St.) May 14 at 9:00 AM. The cost is
$10.00. Please see the display on the table in the Fellowship Hall.

Recycling News
Thanks for recycling unwanted bulletins, newsletters and song sheets! There are
2 boxes for this purpose in the Sanctuary and one in the Fellowship Hall. Lets?
all be good stewards of what God gives us. ~Tom Johnson

Comedian Brad Stine Live in Concert
Friday, May 13, 7:00 PM
Calvary Church in Fruitport
Admission is free. An offering will be taken to help the homeless through
Muskegon Rescue Mission.

Jubilee - Dordt College
A free live stage performance, music and multimedia show from Dordt College,
Sioux Center, Iowa, will be present at the Holland Christian High School, on
Sat., May 7, at 7:30 PM and at the DeVos Auditorium, Grand Rapids Christian
High School, Sunday, May 8 at 8:00 PM The show is traveling across the U.S.
and Canada in celebration of the college?s 50th anniversary. A free dessert
reception follows the performance.
RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. To indicate your plans to attend, call
Dordt College (1-800-343-6738, ext. 3; or go on line at
www.dordt.edu/jubilee/rsvp or call Glenn Vos at 616-335-3887. Please see poster
on bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

Ministry Opportunities for May 1
Greeters: Don & Ardi Pranger/Art & Patty Brown, Hap & Marietta Hasper
Ushers: Jim Dephouse, Mike Gordon, Bob Heethuis, Dale Palmer
Coffee Fellowship: Grace Eckman, Judy Hepler
Transparency: Dan Rinsema-Sybenga
Reader: Pat Gould
Lectionary: Acts 17:22-31; Ps. 66:7-18; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21
Offering Opportunities: General Fund and Benevolence
Nursery Today: Mary Abbott, Carol Patton, Misty Patton
Nursery for May 1: Ev Christenson, Betty Heykoop, Benjamin Klemm

Youth for Christ Spaghetti Supper
Tuesday, April 26th from 5:00 - 7:00 PM
at Full Deliverance Ministries
(Central Lutheran Church, corner of Ransom and Delaware)
Serving Sodinioly
(Made by Mike and Diane Sodini)
Tickets $5.00 per person or $13.00 per family
Contact Mike or Diane Sodini for tickets.