Chapter 21 / Rebuilding the Walls of Brokenness
Many of us were familiar with the film critic duo Siskel and Ebert. Gene Siskel died in 1999. Then, in 2006, Robert Ebert lost his lower jaw and his voice to complications from cancer. He has since relied on Post-it notes, his writing, and various automated voices. The kind you find on your laptop. He types in the words and then pushes a button that translates his written words into spoken words that come out of his speakers.
One voice was called Alex. A generic American accent with no emotion. Very robotic. He had used a British accent named Lawrence. But no off-the-shelf automated voice matched his distinctive voice, a voice that millions knew from his show, At the Movies, for so many years. The voice he most wanted was his own.
Enter CereProc. A Scottish company that customizes text-to-speech software for voiceless customers. robot. The company custom-builds voices by mining an individual’s own archived voice recordings and piecing together, syllable by syllable, Ebert’s voice. When it finishes its work, Ebert will sound like Ebert. At least more so than Alex or Lawrence do.
Sometimes we don’t miss a voice until it goes silent. At the end of the Old Testament there is a period of 400 years often referred to as “the silent years.” Years without any prophets or leaders whose words or lives were recorded in Scripture. Years where there was no voice from God.
But before the silence Ezra read the word of God to the people. His desire was that they rebuild the wall around Jerusalem for protection. And God’s greater desire was to rebuild the hearts of his people. The men, women and children gathered together. They heard the word. They understood the word. And then they did the word.
You can hear God’s voice in the same way these people did. Through his word. It’s not Alex’s voice. It’s not Lawrence’s voice. It’s his voice. When you hear it there will be a response. The Israelites wept. Others have repented. Still others have heard good news and rejoiced. And you? If you hear it today, it can rebuild your life.
Ebert’s real voice may never be heard “live” again. But God’s is still speaking today. You only need to gather the men, women, and children, open his book, and listen.
Written by Pastor Rick Brown of Christbridge Fellowship in Tomball, Texas.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
TODAY: NEXT SUNDAY:
NURSERY: Beth Faber, Jorja Zomermaand Angela Dekkers, Jordan Davelaar
Marlene De Weerd, Alexis Zomermaand Kayla Dekkers, Kennedy Vander Windt
USHERS: Howard Bomgaars, Bryan Bonnema, Dick B. Tim Bonnema, Calvin Bootsma, Doug Broek
GREETERS & COFFEE SERVERS:
Pastor Norlyn & Cherie Van Beek (4 doz cookies) Don & Verla Van Sloten
Mike & Jill Vander Windt (4 doz cookies) Bryan & Mandy Bonnema
ORGANIST / PIANIST: A.M. Donna Koopmans Donna Koopmans
P.M. Celia Ten Napel Pam De Wit
PRAISE TEAM: Gerald, Rhonda, Cinda, Katie Marlene, Don M, Nathan
LIBRARIAN: AM Wanetta Vander Plas Patsy Bootsma
OFFERING: AM Building Fund (Roof) Christian Education
PM Building Fund (Roof) Christian Education
PRAYER FOR:
· Sympathy and prayers for Priscilla Lockhorst, her brother-in-law, Don Ver Hoeven passed away last Friday night. His funeral will be Tuesday, Feb 24 in the afternoon with visiting this Sunday afternoon.
· Betty Juffer, Sadie De Vries and Gert Mulder who are under Hospice Care—and their families.
· Please pray for Gilbert and Mildred De Weerd, Jason, Earl, Tim and Sylvia, Dick, Kory, Megan, Joanne, Deb and all the elderly.
PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR RYAN ZOMERMAAND this week, February 20-28, as he will be traveling with the Faith CRC Salt Team on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. We pray they may be a blessing to congregation of Duquesa. His team has a blog where people can follow what they are doing. The web link is:
http://faithsalt.blogspot.com
--50TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE for Bob and Mary Eisma on Saturday, February 28 at the Ireton Community Center from 2 – 4 pm. Many blessings to you on your years of marriage together.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
--ADULT BIBLE STUDY will meet Sunday, February 22 at 7:00 PM studying Chapters 19-21.
Lunch: Marlene De Weerd
--WORSHIP TEAM MEETING will be held on Monday, February 23 at 7:00pm
--NEWSLETTER ITEMS - Please have items for the newsletter to Pam by Tuesday, February 24.
Thank You.
--UNITY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT INVITES YOU to a Disney themed Pops concert entitled, "Be Our Guest" on Thursday, February 26 at 7 P.M. Choirs, orchestra, and band will be featured. A free will offering will be taken for the music department. We invite you to be our guest and enjoy a spectacular evening of your favorite Disney tunes.
--BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS: Please put any bulletin announcements in Pam De Wit’s Church mailbox or via email () by NOON on Thursday, February 26. Thank You.
--IRETON CHRISTIAN WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL SOCITY/PTA/AUXILIARY MEETING on Thursday, February 26 at 7:00 PM in the All Purpose Room at school. The agenda and proposed budget will be in your church mailboxes prior to the meeting, please bring this along with you to the meeting. The
2015-2016 School Budget and PTA officers will get presented and voted on that night. The PTA will have Deputy Wayne Pollema from Sioux County Sheriff’s Office come and make a presentation.
--THE KNIGHTS OF COMUBUS at St. Mary's in Hawarden are having their annual fish fry on Friday, February 27 at the church fellowship hall from 5-7pm.
--PLUGGING THE PIPELINE TO PRISON – Can schools teach more than curriculum to help struggling students circumvent the school-to-prison pipeline? Teresa Weatherall Neal, superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools, discussed the actions she is taking to employ restorative rather than retributive justice within the public school system. Go to KDCR, 88.5 FM on Sunday at 2:30 P.M. to listen to Crossroad Connection - a restorative justice ministry of Crossroad Bible Institute.
ADVANCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
--HILLCREST SERVICE from Monday, Feb. 2 has been RESCHEDULED for Monday March 2.
Pastor Norlyn, chair, Benjy Weida, Curtis De Vries, Marlin Schoonhoven, Kathy Van Wyhe, Brian Gradert, Kevin Eisma, Eric Faber, Arlin De Weerd, Doug Anema, Brad Fedders, Justin Dekkers (Chairman is requested to call Hillcrest (551-1074) before 9 A.M. on the morning of your service to remind them that your group will be there in the evening.)
--IRETON EMPLOYEE / EMPLOYER BANQUET will be March 3 at 6:00 pm at the Ireton Community Center. Everyone is invited. Tickets can be purchased at the Bank, Ireton Vet Services, or any board member.
Citizen of the Year and entertainment with Tom Foolery
--UNITY CHRISTIAN IS OFFERING AN ADULT WELDING CLASS in their Ag shop. It will be offered on March 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Cost: free will donation to Unity's Ag program. Registration is limited. RSVP to as soon as possible if you are interested.
--HEARTLAND CLASSIS MEETING will be held Saturday, March 7 at Immanuel, Orange City.
Pastor Norlyn, Elder Art Hamming and Deacon Brady Van Sloten will be attending.
--COUNCIL MEETING will be Monday, March 9 at 7:00 pm. Kelly - Lunch and Devotions
--CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SERVICE AUCTION will be on Thursday, March 19. Sheets were put in mailboxes this Sunday. Please turn into Ryan and Angie Zomermaand's mailbox or you can email your donation to . Supper will be available. Please come for a night of fun and fellowship! Your support is greatly appreciated!
--SUNDAY MORNING DRIVERS WANTED - Check the back table –If you signup—please call Chris on Saturday night. THANKS! To everyone who has helped already!!
COMMUNION SCHEDULE 2015
Feb 22 (Lent), April 3 (Good Friday), May 17 or 24 Pentecost, (Memorial Day), July 12
Sept 13, Oct 25 (Reformation Day PM), Nov 1 (Advent)
WORSHIP SERVICES CALENDAR AND ACTIVITIES:
Mar 8 6:00 PM Ireton CRC hosting the Community Prayer Service
Mar 15 6:00 PM Combined Service at Ireton CRC
THE STORY:
22 Feb Chp 21 Rebuilding the Walls- Nehemiah : Ezra 7, Nehemiah 1-2, 4, 6-8, Malachi 1-4
1 Mar Chp 22 The Birth of the King—Jesus : Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2; John 1
8 Mar Chp 23 Jesus’ Ministry Begins; Matthew 3-4; 11; Mark 1-3; Luke 8; John 1-
15 Mar Chp 24 No Ordinary Man: Matthew 5-7; 9; 14; Mark 4-6; Luke 10; 15; John 6
22 Mar Chp 25 Jesus, the Son of God: Matthew 17; 21; Mark 8-12; 14; Luke 9;22; John 7-8; 11-12
29 Mar Chp 26 The Hour of Darkness: Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 13-14; 16-19
PRAISE TEAMS FOR FEBRUARY and MARCH
Please note the change from the schedule handed out
Feb 22 Gerald Rhonda, Cinda, Katie
Mar 1 Patsy Marlene, Don M, Nathan
Mar 8 Pastor Angela, Carmen, Jill
Mar 15 Cherie Youth Group
Mar 22 Pastor Kaitlyn, Pam DW, Cinda
Mar 29 Verla Don VS, Ryan Z, Jorja, Sydney
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sunday, Feb 22 9:30 AM Worship Service
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM Sunday School/Catechism all ages 3yr to Highschool
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM Adult Sunday School – “The Story “ – Chapter 21
6:00 PM Worship Service
7:00 PM Adult Bible Study
Monday, Feb 23 7:00 PM Worship Team Meeting
Wednesday, Feb 25 7:00 – 8:15 PM Adult Study “The Story” Bible Study – Chapter 21