Westwood Christian
Reformed Church
Newsletter
December 6, 2015
620 Northampton Rd., Kalamazoo, MI 49006
Phone 269-381-8691
Fax 269-381-8699Email:
Phone prayer line: 350-4116
Our Website:
Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Discipleship Classes – Sunday 9:00 a.m.
Sunday services – 10:00 a.m.
Senior Pastor Mike Koetje
Email:
Youth Director Alex DeWaal
Family Life Coordinator Cheri Dykstra
Secretary Ginny Hoekstra
Worship Coordinator Kristina Riewaldt
Custodians Karen Kros and Kevin Berghuis
WiFi Login ID WestwoodCRC - WiFi connection – W620connect
Website Member password – W620member
Items for the Sunday Newsletter
are due in the church office by 3:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Hearing aid units which are wirelessly connected into our sound system are available for those who might find them helpful. They can be found near the office window at the entrance of the building. If you need help with them speak to one of the greeters at the service.
Welcome to worship on this second Sunday in Advent. In Advent we heighten our anticipation for the ultimate fulfillment of all Old Testament promises, when the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, and every tear will be wiped away. In this way Advent highlights for us the larger story of God’s redemptive plan.
Today we begin a series of sermons on “The Contrasts of Christmas” where we will explore some amazing contrasts from the Christmas story, beginning with “God’s Silence and God’s Voice,” which comes from Malachi 4:5-6 and Luke 1:5-20.
This morning we join together for the Lord’s Supper, a time of remembrance and celebration where God nourishes, sustains, comforts, challenges, teaches, and assures us as we await the fullness of Christ’s coming kingdom. We invite all guests and visitors who are baptized members and regular participants of the Lord’s Supper at your home church, to join with us.
Youth Discipleship classes. Classes are at 9:00 AM. The following are the room and teacher assignments.
Pre K/1...... Room B-9 (downstairs) – Renee Driesenga
2nd/3rd grades.....Room B-3 (downstairs) - Steve Veldkamp
4th / 5th grades...... Room B-4 (downstairs) – Steve Lanting
6th - 7th...... Room 106 (upstairs) – Jim Koning
8th...... Room 105 (upstairs) – Ryan Langejans
9th/10th...... Room 103 (upstairs) – Barb Sportel
11th/12th...... Room 104 (upstairs) –Rick Huyser
Adult Discipleship (Room 101) 9:00 AM:
Today and Next Week: We are pleased to welcome Keith Corts, a local financial planner, to teach Money-smart Kids during our adult discipleship time. Money-smart kids program offers simple, practical ways for parents and grandparents to teach children the basics of budgeting money, how to give generously, live within their means and save for the future. It is a faith based system to teach children the value of money, the responsibility of giving and the contentment found through Biblical stewardship. The class will also touch on age-old questions such as: How much allowance should I give my children?; How do I make my children financially independent?; and more. The program utilizes the piggy banks that Westwood gifts to our children upon their completion of 1st grade.
Preschool-1st Graders are invited to Children’s Worship this morning. At a designated time during One Worship, they will be dismissed for a time of worship and learning in meaningful, fun ways for their age-group. Their Teacher will meet you in the back of the sanctuary, and guide you to their classroom.
No evening Bible Study tonight.
Weekly Giving – 2015 weekly budget - $11,769.23
Envelope giving 11-29-15...... $8,759.35
Online Giving (November 26-December 3)...... $5,995.00
11-29-15 – envelope giving
Faith Promise...... $550.00
Tuition Assistance...... $15.00
Benevolence...... $50.00
Special Offering – Thanksgiving
Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes...... $2,169.50
Special Offerings 11-29-15
Back to God Hour Ministries...... $227.25
Next week Sunday morning the offering will be for the Christian Resource Center.
Outreach Door Hanger Packets – are available in the council room along with a sign-up sheet for which street you will deliver on. Deliveries can be made at your convenience, but must be made by Wednesday night. Thanks very much to Sally, Dale, Betty, Marcia, Evonne, & Brad for helping put the packets together. – Nancy D.
Poinsettias: If you have not yet picked up your plants, you will find them in the kitchen fellowship area. Enjoy!
From the Renewal Lab Team:
Join us for a fourteen-day journey through the Book of Colossians in “Listening from Above,” as we seek to understand what God is saying in His Word about our mission and calling as Christians and as a church. This week’s daily Scripture Readings are listed in the “Aim Higher – Live Differently” section of the bulletin.
To receive the daily readings via email, please sign up at:
- westwood-crc--2.journeymaker.org/colossians-1
- To receive the daily readings via text, please text: colossians-1 to 72717
- You can also find the link to sign up for these readings on the homepage of the church website:
The Millennial Group will have a Christmas Potluckthis Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Room in the basement. Adults and children are welcome. Please bring a dish to pass. There will be fun activities, but no gift exchange.
Christmas Program practices:
*12/6, 9:30-9:55 for PreK-5th singers in Puppets Room, 11:00 for narrators/readers in Friendship Room.
*12/9, time TBD for actors, and 6:30-7:15 for PreK-5th singers in Puppets Room during Millenial Group potluck.
*12/13, 9:00-9:55 for ALL singers/narrators/readers/actors during Discipleship in Puppets Room.
*12/13, 4:00 for all participants.
Please sign up TODAY to bring Christmas Goodies for all to enjoy following our Christmas Program/Carol sing next Sunday, Dec. 13.
The Budget for 2016 was approved by full Council and will be presented to the Congregation at our annual Congregational meeting on Tuesday, December 15 at 7 p.m. Information will be coming soon.
Advance Notice: BE SURE TO GET YOUR 2015 receipts into the church office by December 20 for reimbursement. We need to pay those out before the end of the year otherwise they will go against the 2016 budget.
MISSIONARIES OF THE MONTH: PastorCarlos and Juve Mendozaalong with Dr. Mark and Becky Veenstra and several groups of volunteers (including Dale and Bette Dyksterhouse) have been busy with medical clinics in Honduras. Each patient who comes for medical consultation and/or treatment alsohears the gospel and experiences the love of Jesus. Thank God for faithful servants.
Renewal Lab: Ways to Get Involved:
- Listening from “Above” by reading the Book of Colossians from December 6-14.
- Neighborhood Outreach Opportunity in December – packets are in the Council Room with a sign-up sheet for streets that are available.
- A Worship Service of Repentance, Reconciliation, and Renewal on January 10.
- The “Time to Remember” Event on January 17.
To our family at Westwood - Thank you for your loving care, prayers, visits, food, and expressions of sympathy as we mourn the loss of a husband and brother. God has worked through you to give us comfort and peace, and we thank Him for each of you.
Myra DeLoof, Dave and Mary DeLoof
Middle School Youth GroupChristmas Party will be on December 9 at 6 p.m. in the youth room.
Middle School: Sign up now for the Spring Hill Winter Retreat.
55 Alive: Please reserve December 16 for lunch at noon. Cost is $13 per person – food will be catered by “Along Comes Mary.” Sign up at the pillar table by December 13. Bring an item for food pantry, i.e. – soap, shampoo, toothpaste, or toothbrushes.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:14 (ESV) A time of prayer is being planned by Classis Kalamazoo for area churches on December 8 @ 7:00am at Heritage Christian Reformed Church, 2857 S. 11th St., Kalamazoo, MI. Please join area Christians as we enter into this advent season and “Give glory to God in the highest.” This event will be canceled if the Kalamazoo Public School system is closed because of weather conditions.
Jericho Foundation’s Project HOPE Trip to Bosnia 2016-June 9-June 19. If you have a heart for service and you are interested in a unique and unforgettable opportunity to serve, then Project HOPE 2016, is exactly what you are looking for. Visit the incredibly beautiful and historically relevant city of Mostar, voted one of the top 10 best destinations! Serve at an Orphanage, Roma (Gypsy) settlement and meet our amazing scholarship students. Join us for an informational meeting: Tuesday, Dec 8th at Water Street Coffee on 245 W. Center at 7pm (must rsvp joanna - (269) 207-7966 or Saturday, December 19th9:00 a.m. at Westwood CRC, 620 Northampton Kalamazoo (must rsvp, Dave (269) 303-9029. Applications will be available at the informational meeting. To learn more about us, go to
Next Sunday we will explore the contrast of God’s Grandeur and Human Squalor in Luke 2:1-20.
Next Sunday Evening at 5:00 p.m. come and join us for a Carol Sing and Christmas program. Refreshments will be served afterwards.