First CRC Weekly

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.

This Sunday's text: Mark 9:30-41

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

9/24/2023: Delighting in Simplicity (Matthew 19:16-30)

10/1/2023: Delighting in Celebration (2 Samuel 6:1-15)

* Topics and/or Scriptures may be changed, but these are the current plans.

Pastor Loren will have full days of online classes this Monday through Wednesday(September 18-20) and the following Monday through Wednesday (September 25-27). The class is the second part of a series, "Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry."

Next Sunday, September 24, Pastor Loren will be away.

Once again, one of our Elders, Gerrit de Jong, will be leading a Heidelberg Catechism class for students in 4th-8th grades in the Council Room for about 15 minutes each week after church starting September 17th. This is a great opportunity for these students to learn more about the incredible Biblical truths at the foundation of our faith as taught in the Catechism...and all while their parents enjoy snacks, refreshments, and fellowship after church each week.

Tuesday Morning Women's Bible study meets @ 9:30am in the church Council Room. We will be studying "Abide" by Jen Wilkin. (10 lessons) A workbook is provided & we will watch a video. All ladies are invited..... no childcare. For questions or more information, contact Gayle Zonneveld (559-269-7600).

Tuesday Evening Coffee Break meets @ 6:30pm. New ladies are always welcome. This year, we plan to start with a study on 1 & 2 Thessalonians, followed by a portion of Isaiah, and the book of Micah. If you are interested in joining us, or have questions, please contact Carla Kootstra (559-289-8737) or Jennifer Koelewyn (559-707-5294), and we will provide you with a study guide.

Wednesday Morning Coffee Break begins on September 13th @ 9:45am and will be studying 2 Corinthians "Strength for the Weary." We have seven leaders and expect to have upwards of 50 ladies attending weekly.

Thank you to all who considered to help the GEMS as another leader and, especially, to Audrey Dragt, who answered that call. Well, we have great news and another request. First, GEMS had 23 young ladies at their last weekly meeting! Praise God! With this many girls, there is a need for another leader, so we ask all our adult women to prayerfully consider if you could serve this ministry by filling this important role. Please contact Shelaine Goebel (559.779.2136) for more info or if you are interested.

Life Groups are coming right around the corner, starting on October 8th. Sign up information will be coming soon. Life Groups are the core ministry of Hanford CRC where discipleship, fellowship, and care are cultivated. We have different groups that meet throughout the week. More details to come in the following weeks.

To celebrate the beginning of this next year of Life Groups, we will have a Kickoff after church on October 1st with a luncheon for all and an opportunity to meet different Group leaders and sign up. Save the date for the Kickoff and hope to see you in a Life Group!

Our next choir opportunity will be a Christmas Choir. We would either rehearse for a couple of weeks OR do a one-day, longer rehearsal to prepare for the worship service, depending on the availability of those in the Choir.

Before we can do all that, we need to know if we have enough singers to make up a Christmas Choir. If you are interested in being a part of the Christmas Choir, please let Pastor Vince know by September 30th (vinceg@hanfordcrc.org).

Hanford Christian School is currently accepting applications for the following positions:

• Part-Time Bus Driver

If you or someone you know is interested, please visit our website, hanfordchristian.org, or call the office at (559) 584-9207.

The kids and I cannot express enough gratitude for all the thoughts and prayers during Frank's battle and passing. We have felt more love than we could have imagined during losing our beloved husband and father. Without your thoughts, prayers, and meals, we wouldn't have gotten through this. We sincerely thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Frank had expressed his love for our church family in the final weeks. He was very thankful that we had found such a wonderful church to call our home.

Becky, Ashlyn, Alana, and Aiden Villalobos

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.

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

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

• Monday 9/18: Harriet Johnson

• Tuesday 9/19: Rimmert & Maegen de Jong
• Wednesday 9/20: Jacey de Jong
• Thursday 9/21: Gerrit & Hinke de Jong, EddyDell Huffman, John Tos
• Saturday 9/23: Faye Zonneveld, John Frese

Special Offerings:

This week: Christian Education

Next week: The Scheenstras

A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT CHILDREN'S WORSHIP OFFERINGS

The kids from our Children's Worship raised $472 this past year (8/31/22-8/31/23) to help drill or rehabilitate a village's freshwater wells through the Samaritan's Purse charitable organization. This next year's Children's Worship offerings will go towards Fruit Trees. Samaritan’s Purse provides seedlings of avocado, papaya, mango, and other trees that can thrive even on the fringe of the desert. Every $45 can supply a poor family with 30 seedlings that will feed and shade them for generations.

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.

CHURCH FAMILY

The Family of Helen Noland - Please pray for Mike, Claire, and all of Helen's family and friends as Helen went home to her Lord & Savior on August 28th. We will share details about any service when we receive them. Our church will have a memorial service celebrating and honoring Helen's life on Saturday, October 21st, @ 10 a.m.

Bob Koelewyn - Please pray for Bob, who was recently diagnosed with a tumor located at the back of his mouth. He had a biopsy on Tuesday, September 12. Pray that this will be treatable, that his pain will be relieved, and that the doctor will be wise in Bob’s treatment. Thank you all for your support.

Sharon Johnson - Sharon is still awaiting answers in regards to her condition. Please continue in prayer for comfort and healing. Sharon is under the care of a Stanford pulmonologist and awaiting test results.

Ruth Stryd - Give thanks that Ruth continues to make progress in her recovery. Pray for relief from pain.

EddyDell Huffman - We praise God that EddyDell is progressing well with her recovery. Continued prayers for her.

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) Jill's condition remains stable. Please pray for grace and wisdom for Dick and Janice Hofmans as they care for her.

FAITH PROMISE

Cal & Jamie Hofland and Roger & Sue Scheenstra

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

• Adam Mackey
• Gerrit de Jong
• Fred Holt
• Dave Roach
• Darrell Kootstra
• Brian Bergman
• Aaron Schroeder

Ministering Elders

• Dave Danielson
• Nick Groenenberg
• Murray Minnema
• Peter de Jong

Ministering Deacons

• Case Zonneveld
• Adam Danielson
• Paul de Jong
• Jimmy Goebel

SERVING THIS SUNDAY:

Nursery: Elizabeth de Jong, Connie Minnema, Cameryn Verdegaal, Hannah Zonneveld

Children's Worship:

(Lambs) Cheryl Zonneveld, Conya Zonneveld

(Lions) Jennifer Koelewyn, Mark Tos

After-Church Snack Providers: Gerrit & Hinke de Jong, David & Ash Kohr, Josh & Cassie Zonneveld

SERVING NEXT SUNDAY:

Nursery: Marisa Atsma, Joyce VandeBeek, Ella Goebel

Children's Worship:

(Lambs) Tiffany Mackey, Raina Neal

(Lions) Sheri Tos, Jana Zonneveld

After-Church Snack Providers: Corey & Stevi Zonneveld, Mark & Jordan Tos, Luke de Jong

Rev. Loren Kotman, Specialized Transitional Minister - lorenk@hanfordcrc.org

Rev. Andy Hanson, Pastor of Discipleship - andyh@hanfordcrc.org

Rev. Dr. Vince Godfrey, Pastor of Worship and Liturgy - vinceg@hanfordcrc.org

Rev. Dr. Tony Winterowd, Pastor of Visitation - 559-260-8370

Becky Villalobos, Church Office Administrator - beckyv@hanfordcrc.org

Adam Danielson, Custodian - 559-410-0443

Please join us for our Sunday worship service at 9:30 am.

Email: hanfordcrc@comcast.net
Website: hanfordcrc.org
Location: 2175 Leoni Drive, Hanford, CA, United States
Phone: (559) 582-4423
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HanfordCRC/