From the deacons: As 2009 is coming to a close we ask you to remember our church in your tithing. Our budget for 2009 is $205, 766.00 and to date we have only received $107,655.00 or 52.3%. We only have 25% of the year left to collect the remaining amounts in order to honor our financial commitments. The treasurer has prepared a summary of your current giving for 2009 (should be in your mailboxes) and asks that you contact her if there are any discrepancies in her records.

August collection totals: Dordt- 524.00; CRWM VanderPloeg’s - 406.00;

Foodgrains Bank- 2194.00; IVCF- 203.00; Leadership Training- 385.00;

 Vorhees- c/o Drenthe CRC - 609.00; Budget - 14,430.00.

From Council:

            Pastor Stan Frieswick to participate in the evening service of Nov 15^th

 

Home visitation to start soon. A list of visits is being worked on, but if you have a specific concern, please contact an district elder and we will add you to the list. Also please make every effort to make yourself available when an elder calls to schedule the visit. This will help the elders achieve all of their visits in a timely manner

            New elder / deacon lists are in your mailbox. There was a small mistake made in that the years were not changed at the top of the sheet. If your name is missing, please contact an elder to get your name added to the sheet.

 

Sunday School Update. We are in full swing and having fun! Just a few notices to keep the congregation informed. First, the date of the Christmas program has been changed to December 11, due to scheduling conflicts with two of our star performers, so please change this on your calendar! Second, tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and everyone is asked to bring food donations for the North County Food Bank. Also, the kids will be singing during the service. Also a reminder that we collect an offering in Sunday School, which up to today was for the Food Bank, but starting next week it will be for Kits 4 Kids. Thank you to those who signed up to provide snack. FYI: We have 30 kids and 6 teachers.

The GEMS Counselors would like to invite all women of the congregation and community to come for an evening of fun and fellowship. The annual Fall Ladies Night will be Friday, October 16 at 7:30 pm in the church basement. Our evening will consist of delicious dessert snacks, games and a fun craft. If you need more information please contact Shauna Konynenbelt, 824-3280 or Diane Kooy, 824-3623. We hope to see you there.

 

GEMS: Coffeemate sure tastes great, but what to do with those jars when you're through. GEMS is looking for empty coffeemate containers for the Grade 3 Christmas craft. If you have a few, GEMS would love to hear from you. Please contact Benita, 732-5163. Thanks.

 

Nobleford Coffee Break. Our season is set to begin with a social on Thursday, October 29, with our first lesson to follow on November 1. We still have only one Bible Study leader, so please re-consider if you may be able to help out in this way. Everything else is on schedule, so please start thinking about who you can invite to join us as we grow in God's word together. For more info please contact Melinda.

 

Breakforth Registration! There will be a meeting next Sunday @ 11:30 A.M. in the kitchen for anyone interested in registering for Breakforth at a group rate. It saves $20/person and we would like to register by November 10, which is the first registration deadline. If you can't make this meeting but would like to take advantage of this lower rate, or for more info, contact Melinda Notenbomer ASAP.

 

For Junior-Senior youth and Youth leaders. The Billy Graham Association of Canada and the Youth Pastor Ministerial of Lethbridge invite you to be a part of Epicentre! Epicentre is a series of events and workshops that will be happening over the course of this youth year targeted at training our youth to do evangelism. Maranatha CRC in Lethbridge is fully on board with this program and would like to invite our brother and sister Reformed churches to come join us in this area-wide, interdenominational effort to reach out to our community. The first major event is called Halofuzion, and it is on October 30th at the Evangelical Free Church in Lethbridge (4717-24th Avenue South). Guest speaker will be Phil Cann from the well-known "Quest" series, and we will be led in worship by Revolution Band.
The website for this year-long program is epicLA.ca. Please contact Pastor Mike Van Boom by email if you have any questions. mvanboom@hotmail.com. He is the contact person for our church.

Attention all young peoples! Lethbridge Evangelical Free Church (E-free) is hosting "hallofuzion", by Billy Graham on Friday, October 30th @ 7:00 p.m. Have a blast with the Revolution Band, Phil Cann and meet tons of other youth. For any questions please call Glen and Sonya. Also don't be afraid to bring a friend or two along, because as you know the more the merrier!!

 

 

Can you smell them? You could if you come and help at the annual apple crisp making day hosted by the Immanuel Christian School Ladies Auxiliary. We are gathering at the High School home ec room at 10:00 on Wednesday. October 28. We are looking for volunteers to help with peeling, assembling and packaging the crisps. Everyone, men and women, are invited to join us. Free soup will be available for lunch. An hour or two anytime during the morning to early afternoon would be appreciated. Please call Hennie Korver @ 327-8834 after 4:00 p.m. to offer your time. Also, a reminder, if you are ordering apple crisps to ger your order in by October 19.

“In this season of Thanksgiving” we the staff and volunteers of the Lethbridge Bibles for Missions Thrift Store, thank you wholeheartedly for all your support this past year. The Lord has richly blessed us and we cannot achieve success without your help. Our Lethbridge store has contributed over $100,000 to the Bible League this year already to assist with scripture placement, children ministry and impact poverty. Our store is actively seeking volunteers that may have 4 hours a week or month, and would like to join this wonderful ministry. We especially need cashiers ,sorters and Saturday help. If you would like any more information about being a BFM Volunteer please call our volunteer recruitment officer/ manager at 403-327-3199 and ask for Sharon. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Don’t send those piggies to market!!! Send them to Neal Dekens. If you are willing to donate pigs to the annual bazaar for Immanuel Christian Schools, Saturday, November 21,2009, please contact Neal at 403-635-5323 (cell) or 403-328-2754 (home). A gift-in-kind receipt will be issued in February 2010. If you need more information please contact the Business Office, 403-327-4223.

 

Rehoboth: Remember to put your forms and donations in Pearl’s mailbox.

 

“WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND’’ Ladies ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SOCIAL and trade show- MARANATHA CRC (260 McGill Blvd, West Lethbridge).

Mark November 6 & 7, 2009 from 6:00-9:00 PM on Friday and 10:00 to 2.00 PM Saturday on your calendars. You are invited to come out to celebrate the Christmas season and gets a head-start on your gift giving! Wander decorated Christmas lanes, enjoy the music of the season and browse among the displays of home crafts, Christian books, Cards, Household gifts and Cosmetics etc.etc. On Friday night at 8:00 PM a fashion show with garments from the Bibles for Mission store boutique will definitely be the highlight of the evening!! Beverages and delicious treats will be available for you to enjoy while you chat and celebrate the amazing Christmas season with family and friends. Enjoy a night and/or day out and support outreach ministry at the same time. Toonie admission includes beverages and treats.

For more information please contact Nellie at 403 320 5653.

 

Promise Keepers Conference “Standing Firm” This Men’s Conference entitled “Standing

 Firm” is being held in Lethbridge at Park Meadows Baptist Church (2011 15^th Avenue North) on Friday, November 6^th starting at 6 pm and Saturday November 7^th from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The conference includes two workshop sessions, 4 speakers including Rick Johnson (author of “The Power of a Man” and “ Better Dads Stronger Sons”) and Doug Weiss (author of “Sex, Men and God”) as well as worship concerts. Registration is $55 per person if registered by Oct 8^th, $70 if registered after Oct 8^th and before Nov 3. Youth (under 19) registration is $40. For more information (or to register) check out the PK website www.promiskeepers.ca, call 1-888-901-9700 or contact George Lubberts. Please do not attend alone, bring a friend, neighbour or son.

 

Final Reminder: This is the final notice for you to sign up to enjoy the special lunch with Dr. Neal Plantinga on October 31, from 12 noon until 2 PM at the Maranatha Christian Reformed Church. A sign-up sheet has been made available. A nursery will be provided, and a donation to cover expenses will be accepted at the door.

 

Reformation Day

This is the first of four vignettes (short literary sketches) relating to what the Reformation was about and what we hope to celebrate with a special area-wide “Reformation Day Service”on Sunday, November 1, at the Trinity Reformed Church. With increasing interest in self-help spirituality such as we find in the “Body, Mind, and Spirit” sections of bookstores, we can’t but conclude that spirituality is big business – so, some thoughts on “Reformed spirituality.” John Calvin, whose 500^th anniversary we observe this year, saw Reformed faith as involving both heart and mind, as well as being “hands-on.” In today’s words, he would agree that we should not only “talk the talk” but “walk the walk.” We need to walk Jesus’ way and talk Jesus’ truth, he would say, and that means we ought to practice God’s grace as we receive it. Sharing that God-given grace lends a particular sheen to the lives of Reformed Christians, a distinctive “holiness.” That’s not a bad thing, in view of Calvinism’s stern image.

Again this year, we will celebrate God’s intervention in the life of his church through the Protestant Reformation of 1517, with a special church service on Sunday, November 1, at 3 PM at the Trinity Reformed Church. Bringing God’s Word will be Dr. Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., president of Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The offering will be, after expenses, for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. A nursery will be provided.

 

 

 

WORLD MISSIONS - Happy Thanksgiving Eh! Canadian missionaries around the world are remembering and celebrating with you God’s goodness this holiday. Send them a note of encouragement as they celebrate another holiday away from loved ones ‘back home.’ Thank you for your prayers for strong relationships and fruitful ministry on behalf of your missionaries. [Bulletin Editors - Feel free to add missionary names to the last sentence: …on behalf of your missionaries, Mr & Mrs Missionary.]

 

BACK TO GOD HOUR - Pain, God's Megaphone: Why does a good and all-powerful God permit pain in the world? Does God use our pain to teach us? How can the book of Psalms answer our questions? Find out on the Oct. 18 Back to God Hour. Visit BacktoGodradio.net to find a station in your area or listen to a sermon. You can also download our podcast. No station in your area? Can’t listen on line? Call or email to request a CD to be sent to you.

KIDS' CORNER - The Accidental Skateboardist: Everyone thinks Liz can do tricks on a skateboard, but he can’t. Should Liz tell the truth about his skills or pretend that he is as good as they think. Find out on this week’s Kids Corner. Then check out the Kids Corner website at www.kidscorner.net for stories, devotions, puzzles and more. Write to Kids Corner at P.O. Box 5070, Burlington ON L7R3Y8 for your very own Bible study.

OFFICE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE - Justice Prayers: Interested in an easy way to get involved in justice work? Prayer is essential to combating injustices and restoring God’s world. Every Friday the CRC Office of Social Justice emails out 3-5 prayers about pressing justice issues from around the world. Forward the prayers to your pastor for Sunday's congregational prayer, print them for use in small groups, or supplement your personal devotions. To subscribe to OSJ Prayers, visit www.crcjustice.org and click on Newsletters.

INTERMISSION - “It is much easier to be busy than to be holy.” Maybe it’s time for something less busy. Intermission is a 2 ½ day silent directed retreat sponsored by Centrepointe CRC, Edmonton. Nov. 6-8 at Providence Renewal Centre, Edmonton, AB. $300/person. To register: Annemarie at 780-454-1936 or info@centrepointechurch.ca.

CRWRC Disasters in Asia - Earthquakes in Indonesia and typhoons in the Philippines have claimed lives, destroyed homes, and poisoned food; people are hungry, cold, and at risk for waterborne diseases. CRWRC is distributing emergency supplies, and plans to help rebuild communities. Please mark cheques “Philippines/Asia floods 2009”, “Indonesia Earthquake 2009”, or “International disaster response fund” and mail to CRWRC at 3475 Mainway, P.O. Box 5070, STN LCD 1, Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8, or give by phone at 1-800-730-3490, or online at www.crwrc.org