First CRC Weekly

November 19th - November 25th

Our Mission: To Glorify God by making More and Better Disciples

From the Office

Hi everyone!

Welcome to this week's CRC newsletter! You will find time-sensitive announcements, events, service schedules, offering schedules, and prayer lists here. I will send these out at the end of each week.

In Christ,

Becky - Church Office Administrator

Are you receiving our First CRC Weekly via email? This will keep you up to date on what is just ahead. Please get in touch with me if you want to be added to our email list.

zoom_out_map

SUNDAY, November 19, 2023

This Sunday's text: Ephesians 4:17-5:2

LiveStream options are available on Facebook, our Church Website, or via Boxcast (Roku/Apple TV) and Podcast.

SERMON GUIDE

zoom_out_map

11/26 World Hunger Sunday Matthew 25:31-46

12/03 Advent - Jesus Came to Fulfill the Law Matthew 5:17-20

12/10 Advent - Jesus Came to Destroy the Devil's Work 1 John 3:1-10

12/17 Advent - Jesus Came to Take Away Our Sins 1 John 3:1-10

12/24 Advent - Jesus Came to Testify to the Truth John 18:28-40

12/25 Christmas - Jesus Came to Give Life in Its Fullness John 10:1-10

Children's Ministries

No Children's Ministry will on Thursday, November 23rd (Thanksgiving).

UPDATE FROM PASTOR LOREN

The first 3 to 4 months of a transitional pastor’s time in a church is to listen and to learn. So far Norma and I have visited more than 110 households. (We still have more visits to make. Visits will likely slow down during the Christmas season.) The visits have been very helpful to us in getting to know individuals and families and in understanding the strengths and challenges of this congregation. In the last month or so I have become more involved in the second phase of a transitional pastor’s responsibilities. I have begun to share what I have learned with the leadership and have begun making recommendations in terms of what things need to be addressed.

Along with that I am helping the leadership develop a plan to work on the priorities. This involves

setting goals and objectives and a timeline so things are accomplished. As I said at the congregational meeting, the goal is to make this church as healthy as possible for the next pastor.

Once that path is established and the council is assured that most of the transitional issues are being addressed well, the search committee can begin (or in our case) resume the search for a new pastor. As I said at the congregational meeting, I believe that this church has so many good qualities. This place is full of wonderful, gifted, generous, loving people who love others and love the Lord, gifted staff who love Jesus and want to serve him faithfully in ministry and qualified leadership, who want what God wants for this church. I think God has great things in store for this church.

As your transitional pastor, I asked for continued prayer for myself, the leadership, and this church

during this time of transition.

zoom_out_map

Hunger for a world where hunger does not exist!

No child should know the pain of hunger. No parent should have to watch their children grow weak due to malnutrition. Hunger for good; Hunger for a world where hunger does not exist! Next week is World Hunger Sunday and through our gifts we can help World Renew equip communities with the knowledge and resources they need to change the story of hunger. To learn more, visit www.worldrenew.net/worldhunger

zoom_out_map

Children's Raiment Closet

Monroe Elementary contacted us through Children’s Raiment Closet regarding a family in need. This family was hit with a tragedy on October 20th. A Monroe student (2nd grader) was walking with their grandmother when they were struck by a vehicle. Unfortunately, the grandmother and little cousin did not survive the accident. The Children’s Raiment Closet asks the congregation to help assemble a food basket (Pantry Items) for this family. A box will be placed at the Welcome Center.

Please reach out to Elizabeth de Jong (616-893-3475) if you have any questions.

The Children's Raiment Closet is in need of some more items for our children. As cold weather is here we have been blessed to provide many kids and families with warm jackets and pants, but we need more. We are looking for donations of new or gently used pants, jackets and shirts. We have a large need for boys and girls in sizes (8/10, 10/12, and 14/16) and boys or girls shoes sizes 11-6Y. We also are in need of larger sizes of all seasons boy and girl in adult Small, Medium and Large. Thank you so much for serving the children of our community!

zoom_out_map

Marriage

Congratulations to Marshall & Natalie (de Jong) Moons who were united in marriage on Saturday, November 18th. Natalie is the daughter of Peter & Ingrid de Jong.

zoom_out_map

The family of Helen Noland would like to express our sincere gratitude for your prayers, cards, flowers, and donations that you made in her honor. She loved the Hanford First Christian Reformed Church and was blessed through Biblical teaching, Coffee break, and the friendships she made. We are so thankful to be a part of this congregation.

Great is his love for us and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Psalm 117:2

zoom_out_map

YOUTH MINISTRIES

Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30pm

Common Ground comprises co-ed youth in grades ninth through twelve. Please get in touch with Andy Hanson (559-998-9402) for more information.
Middle School Ministry comprises co-ed youth in grades seventh through eighth grade. Please get in touch with Ashlyn Walker (559-308-5455) for more information.
GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) is a program for girls in third through sixth grade. Please contact Shelaine Goebel at (559-779-2136) for more information.

Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm

Cadets is a program for boys in third through eighth grade. Please get in touch with Dave Danielson at (559-381-6215) for more information.

zoom_out_map

THIS WEEK

UPCOMING FIRST CRC EVENTS

Tuesday Morning Women's Bible Study @ 9:30 am (in the Council Room)
Tuesday Evening Coffee Break @ 6:30 pm
Wednesday Morning Coffee Break @ 9:45 am
Youth Ministries Weekly Gatherings starting @ 6:00 pm
Senior Luncheon - Thursday, November 2nd @ 11 am

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

Sunday 11/19: Dean Johnson (75)

Wednesday 11/22: Miles de Jong

Friday 11/24: Tamara Atsma

zoom_out_map

Giving

Special Offerings:

This week: Christian Ed.

Next week: Faith Promise

General Fund Report of Offerings and Gifts:

The approved budget for the fiscal year 2023/2024 - is $796,298.70 ($66,358.23 is needed per month to make the budget.)

General fund offerings through September 30, 2023 - $

(we reached % of our 2023/23 budget)

General Fund expenses through September 30, 2023 - $00 (we spent % of our 2023/24 budget)

Giving is available online 24/7 at https://hanfordcrc.org/give-online Video and Written Instruction links will be provided for your convenience.

Feel free to mail your donations to the church office (2175 Leoni Drive, Hanford, CA 93230)
Cash donations will be accepted during regular office hours only (M 8:30 AM -1 PM & T-TH 8:30 AM–2:30 PM)

If you are writing a check to the church, the bank has requested that all checks be made payable to the First Christian Reformed Church of Hanford. If the checks are made payable to another name, they may be rejected.

Want to save time and hassle? Check out our Online Giving program at http://hanfordcrc.org/give-online or ask a Deacon for assistance. Thank you for your continued support.

GIVE ONLINE

Click here to go to our online donation portal

Our Church Family

PRAYERS AND PRAISES

CHURCH FAMILY

Have a prayer request? Send it to us at prayer@hanfordcrc.org or (559)794-1832.

Join us in praying for our elders, deacons, pastors, staff, and volunteers who lead First CRC of Hanford as we are in a season of transition. May the Lord bless their efforts by lighting the path for their feet with His Word. May the Lord bring many to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of First CRC. We pray that our next pastor will hear God’s call clearly in his life as the Lord leads him to our church family. We pray that the he and his family will transition here with full confidence in the Lord to do great things through our church on the corner of Leoni and Cortner!

Bob Koelewyn - Praise God for Bob’s PET scan and bone marrow results! The results of the bone marrow biopsy were insignificant, so that was good news. The PET scan showed that the lymphoma was localized. The soft palate, where the tumor is located, is healing. He will have another PET scan after his infusion on November 28. That will determine what his treatment will be after that.

Sharon Johnson - Please continue to be in prayer for Sharon, who is continuing weekly chemotherapy treatments. Praise God that prayers and medical treatments already appear to be helping.

SHUT-INS

Romans 12:10 says, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." It can be easy to forget about those we don't see each week. We hope that you take some time to visit, send cards, and pray for these members of our family:

Bob Carvalho, Johanna Hakker, Richard & Marilyn Maccagno, Helen Schilder

Martha Chandler (Alice Manor in Fowler)

Janet Henshaw (Lemoore Elderly Apts)

Jeanette Stout (Hanford Post Acute)

Linda Reenders (Palm Village in Reedley)

Audrey Galloway

RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF FAMILIES

Rodolfo Butts (Robert & Jennifer Butts son)

Jill Smith (Janice Hofman's sister) After 8 months of being on hospice and no cancer treatment it has become evident in the last month there is now rapid disease progression. Please pray for MORE grace and wisdom for Dick and Janice as they care for Jill, who is mentally and physically handicapped as well.

Scott Kooiman (brother to Tami, daughter-in-law of Bob and Jennifer Koelewyn), Scott has had a turn-around. Praise God! He is tolerating treatments, and there have been improvements in his numbers. He is feeling better, has more energy, and is sleeping quite well. This treatment wasn’t working before, but it is now. The family is overjoyed with these results but realizes that each day is a gift, and they need to trust God for each day. Thank you for your prayers.

Steven Koelewyn (Jim & Teri Koelewyn's son) was diagnosed with Chronic Valley Fever earlier this year, and it has not gone away. We pray that the doctors will find answers and get Steven some relief.

FAITH PROMISE

Cal & Jamie Hofland and Roger & Sue Scheenstra

zoom_out_map

information

Did you know you can access our congregation's Business Meeting minutes directly from our website? That's right! All approved meeting minutes from the past year for Governing Council, Ministering Elders, Ministering Deacons, and our Annual Congregational Meeting Minutes are available online. Want access? Inquire with Becky at the office. 559-582-4423 or beckyv@hanfordcrc.org

2023-2024 Church Council

None of the bodies have met to select officers yet, but below is the general makeup of the 2023-2024 church boards. We will update when officers are elected and have a password-protected page on the website with information about the Council, contact information, and details about the roles and responsibilities of each group.

Governing Council