April 3, 2005

10:00 A.M. MORNING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Lead Worshipers: Bryan De Groot and Praise Team
Praying for the Church and the World
Giving of our Firstfruits: Long-Term Missions (Next Week: General Fund)
Scripture Reading (Scripture Reader: Sandy Leininger)
Today’s Message: When Easter Meets Death (Pastor Steve & Pastor Jeff)
Responding in Prayer and Song
Blessing and Sending

6:00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP CELEBRATION

Offering: CRWRC
Scripture: TBA
Message: (Pastor Steve)

WORSHIP NOTES

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Welcome to Unity on this first Sunday after Easter! May God grant ou peace and the victory that is ours in Jesus Christ!

Unity Church Family Cares and Concerns

We express our love and offer our prayers as a Unity Church family to Roger & Linda Ulferts, Chad & Sonia Ulferts, Joe & Wendy Ulferts, Chad & Heather (Ulferts) Groen, & their family in the passing of Grietje Ulferts, Roger’s mother. The funeral was held this past week in Bunde Christian Reformed Church. Roger and Linda will be in Arizona until April 20. Their address there is 7206 E. Desert Spoon Lane, Gold Canyon, AZ, 85218.

Our love and prayers are also extended to Dale & Donna Elliot, Andi Ruplinger, Heather Ruplinger, honorary grandparents Hubert & Marilyn Wieberdink, and their entire family and friends in the sudden loss of a daughter and sister, Samantha (Sam) Ruplinger this past week due to an auto accident. Funeral services were held at First Church in Prinsburg this past Friday.

Please accept our love for you and know that we are praying for you in this time of loss but also sharing in the celebration of the new life each of these women now has in the presence of Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior!

Care Packages: The end of the semester is fast approaching! We plan to send care packages to our college students this week to share our love for them and to help get them through to finals. If you would like to donate any goodies, please bring them to church sometime before Thursday morning. Thank you!

THIS WEEK AT UNITY

Tuesday: 9:30am Ladies Bible Study ~ At Connie Duininck’s
Tuesday: 4:00pm Worship Planning Team Meeting
Wednesday: 7:00pm Youth Group grades 7-12 meet at Pluimers
Wednesday: 7:00pm Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES AT UNITY

Sunday School Teachers: There will be a quick meeting for the Sunday School teachers immediately following the morning service.

Ladies Bible Study: We will have our last meeting this Tuesday, April 5th at Connie Duininck’s home at 9:30am.

Margin Video Series: Crunched for time? Join us for an adult education class that will help restore some margin to your life! The class meets at 9:00am Sunday mornings and will continue for the next 4 weeks. You can join at anytime. Each session is very beneficial.

Lives That Make A Difference: On Saturday, April 30, 2005, Hope Haven & Friendship Bible will be hosting a one-day conference in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This event will take place at the Celebrate Community Church, 1000 Sycamore Street in southeast Sioux Falls, (the former Sioux Falls Christian High School). Keynote Speaker will be Judy Siegle, a gifted athlete, speaker, author, and woman of faith, who will challenge us from her wheelchair to make a difference in someone’s life. This is a conference you do not want to miss! In addition to the powerful testimony of Judy, there will be 18 workshops offered. Nine are focused on those involved in the Friendship Bible program and nine on topics such as Autism, Mental Illness and Grief and Loss. Workshop leaders will include Nella Uitvlugt, Director of Friendship Ministries, and Rev. Jim Vander Laan, Director of the Disability Concerns Committee of the Christian Reformed Church and many more. The registration cost is $35.00, $25.00 for students or a group of 5 or more, which covers the luncheon, and all materials. If you are interested in going contact Rita Ninneman or Wendell Bonnema. We would like to have 5 people attend from Unity.

Mexican Fiesta: Unity Youth Group is inviting everyone to their Mexican Fiesta on April 27th. Serving will be from 4:30 - 7:00 pm. Take out is available. Free-will offering will go towards our mission trip.

Council Nominations: The time is soon approaching when we will be selecting several new officebearers at Unity. If you would like to nominate someone for the office of elder or deacon, or if you feel led to offer to serve on the Council, please contact a current Council member. Nominations will be received until April 15th.

GEMS Ladies Tea: Just a reminder to mark your calendar on April 13 for the Ladies Tea in the First CRC basement at 3:30pm.

St. Cloud Prison Chapel Opportunities: Are you looking for a chance to worship God with other believers in a very unique setting? A team of people from Unity worships at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility four times each year. Training sessions in St. Cloud are available for people who would like to join this team. Upcoming spring training sessions are Monday, May 9 , 6pm - 9pm, Saturday, May 21, 9am - 12noon and Tuesday, June 7, 6pm - 9pm. Call Sarah Brouwer for more information

COMMUNITY & SURROUNDING AREA ANNOUNCEMENTS

Friendship Class At Willmar CRC, 7:00 pm.

April 4 - Unit Three: Lesson Three, Lunch ~ Robin & Helene
April 18 - Unit Three: Lesson Four

Dear Friends,
We have a few Friendship meetings left and would like to invite anyone interested to come and visit us. Monday night class will meet on April 4 and 18. Tuesday night has one more meeting on April 5. It's not too early to think about getting involved with Friendship for next year. We want to thank Rose VanEngen and Laura Hoekstra for leading our lessons this year. And thanks to those who led the music and for each Mentor who faithfully served this year. Thank-you all, for supporting us financially and with your prayers.
We also appreciated the gifts given in Memory of Martha Meyer, Ed Miller and David Trondrud.

In His Service,
The Friendship Board

Dordt College’s 50th Anniversary
Nearly 200 musicians from Dordt College, Sioux Center, will perform at Central Lutheran Church, 333 South Twelfth Street, Minneapolis, on Saturday, April 23, 7:30pm as part of a Midwest tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dordt College. Performing will be the Dordt College Orchestra, Concert Band, Concert Choir and Chorale, with a mass rendition of the Jubilee commissioned piece, “Lord You Have Been Our Dwelling Place.” Also performing will be soprano Tricia Van Ee, a Dordt College alumna who has trained vocally in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, and was recently a featured soloist with the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis. Reservations for preferred concert seating may be made by calling Dordt College at 1-800-343-6738, Extension #3. The concert is free, with a freewill offering being received to cover tour expenses. Refreshments and social time will follow the concert.

A 50th Anniversary Celebration will be held on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center on July 1-3. Everyone is invited to attend events throughout the weekend, including music and theater performances, youth and alumni intramural sports, socials, food, art, a parade, fireworks and more. Most events are free, but some require pre-registration or minimal fees. For additional details or to register, call for a brochure at 1-800-343-6738 (extension #3) or visit www.dordt.edu/events/jubilee/

Women’s Retreat:
First Church in Prinsburg is holding a Women’s Retreat, “Fresh as a Daisy,” April 30th, 9am-2pm All women are invited and welcome to come to freshen up their minds, bodies, and souls. Please watch for more details as the day gets closer.