March 29, 2009

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Today (5th Sunday):

10:00am: Morning Worship

Children ages 3-preK and K-1 will be invited  by announcement to go to Children's Church.

7:30pm: SNL at The Rock on 8^th

Monday:

4:45pm: Worship Planning

Wednesday:

7:00pm: Men's Jail Ministry

7:00pm: 9th - 12th Youth Group

Next Sunday (1st Sunday):

8:30am: Temple Prayers

9:00am: Missions Prayer Time

9:00am: Sunday School 3rd - 12th

10:00am: Worship

Children ages 3-preK and K-1 will be invited  by announcement to go to Children's Church!

7:30pm: SNL at The Rock on 8^th

Mark Your Calendar!

~ Just a reminder Friday April 10th, is our Good Friday Communion Service. Join us!

~ Easter Evening Combined Worship Service, Sunday, April 12th, 6:30pm at First CRC of Prinsburg.

Young Adult Fun Night! Wanted Young Adults Ages 20 - 35: Join us on Saturday, April 25th for a fun night of Bunco! More information to come!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner!: Its back by popular demand! Sunday, May 3rd, Mark your calendars. Start to check you mailboxes for more details.

Unity Church Announcements

Love Fund Offering: Today is the 5th Sunday of the month, which means our offering will not be for the General Fund, but will instead be for the Love Fund. Unless otherwise designated all offerings and gifts will go to  assist the community and church needs that the Love Fund covers.

Missions Prayer Time Next Week: You are invited to join the Missions & Outreach Team for a time of prayer for our missionaries at 9:00am next week (and the first Sunday of each month).

EASTER CELEBRATION: As part of our Easter Celebration, we will be incorporating a time of remembrance for those who have gone on before us and now experience life forever in Christ's presence. Starting today (and running through Sunday, April 5) you will have the opportunity to donate a flower or flowers for an Easter display in memory of someone of your choosing. There will be 3 different flowers to choose from and you may select as many as you desire as part of your  remembrance.  A suggested donation will asked to cover the costs of the  flowers. Your name, if you choose (you may choose anonymous), along with the one you are remembering, will be listed in a special insert in the bulletin that morning. SIGN UP Sheets are located in the back of the sanctuary on the round table. Please print legibly so we can ensure proper spelling of your loved ones.

Unity's Prayer Chain: We are working on updating Unity's Prayer Chain. If you are not currently on the prayer chain but would like to be on it or if you are currently on it and would prefer to be off of it, please let the office know by Sunday, April 5th so that we can get a current  list out. Thank you.

Custodian Needed!: We have a job opening for Custodian at Unity Church. This position involves the maintenance of both the building and the grounds (for more details pick up a copy of the "Custodian Job Description" which is available on the table by the mailboxes. This is a part-time salaried position.  If you would like to apply and/or need more information, please contact Phil Erffmeyer.  We hope to fill this position soon.

Pictures Needed!: Work has begun on the Dedication/Anniversary celebration that will take place in August.  We are looking for pictures that you might have of events that have taken place over the past 25 years.  We are looking specifically for pictures that cover the last 15 years.  Please contact Mary A if you have any pictures that you would like to share

Sunday School Announcements: Due to the lack of teachers, we will not be having K-2 Children's Church for the month of April.  We will resume again in May.  If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Tracy Borstad.

Building Progress Report

~ Work on the new facility is continuing well and good progress is being made. The drywall installation is nearing completion, the painters sprayed the wood ceilings, the glass installers are working on the walls and doors for the entries and the carpenters are working on the stage area.

~ Work, however, is taking a bit longer than anticipated and it would appear now that it will be June before we will be able to worship in our new facility. 

~ If anyone is still interested in loaning funds for this project, notes are available at 6% interest ($25,000 minimum).  Please contact Mike Mulder.

Red Envelope. Together we can make a difference!

Who:  YOU

What:  Red Envelope Campaign

When: Mail the envelopes around March 31st, 2009.

Why: To show our support for the unborn.

Action: You are invited to put on a stamp and your return address and mail an empty red envelope on March 31st, 2009. For more information and the mailing address, go to

www.redenvelopeday.com

It may seem that those who believe abortion is wrong are in a minority. It may seem like we have no voice and it's shameful to even bring it up. Let us show our President and the world that the voices of those of us who do not believe abortion is acceptable are not silent and must be heard. Together we can change the heart of The President and save the lives of millions of children.

RE: Remarks made by Candidate Barack Obama when he spoke at a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event, uttering the now infamous line, "Well, the first thing I'd do as president is, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. [Applause.] That's the first thing that I'd do." An empty red envelope with a note on the outside will send a message to President Barack Obama that there is moral outrage in this country over this issue [The Freedom of Choice Act, which will essentially "undo" every law currently in place to limit abortion in the U.S. (i.e., parental consent laws, parental notification, waiting periods, prohibition of transporting a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion, etc.)]. It will be quiet, but clear. The Red Envelope Campaign originated with Chris Otto who has spent the past 21 years of his life in various ministries. One day while having devotions he envisioned thousands of red envelopes being sent to President Barack Obama to protest his pro-abortion policies. On the back of the envelopes a simple message stating that each envelope represented an innocent life lost. Sometimes a simple idea works wonders. Thank you for your help in this campaign

Community Announcements

Marriage Encounter ~ Engaged Encounter: Spring into the full potential of your marriage! Attend the April 25 ~ 26 Marriage Encounter. Weekends are held at the Dakota Ridge Hotel on 35E and Yankee Doodle in Eagan. Visit www.marriages.org for a listing of  retreats or call 651-454-3238.

Camp G.K. Bear: 2009 Camp Date and Location are    Saturday, May 2, 2009 10:0 am - 3:00 pm at St. Mary's Church 713 12the Street SW Willmar, MN. For more information or to register call: The Grief Center 320-230-4714. Also see the flyer and registration form on the bulletin board by the mailboxes.

Open House Wedding Shower: Everyone is invited to an open house wedding shower honoring Josiah & Karina (Marcus) Poirier on Saturday, April 11, from 9:30 ~ 11:30 at the First CRC Fellowship Hall. 

You are invited to the 3rd Annual Kandiyohi County Cancer Survivor Reunion: Join us on Tuesday, April 7th at the Willmar American Legion (220 19th Ave SW, Willmar) we will begin with a social hour at 5:30pm, dinner will begin at 6:00pm, with entertainment starting at 7:00pm. Cost: Free dinner for survivors, Guests $12. Please RSVP by March 28th to Tina Erpenbach by email to terpenbach@yahoo.com

Upcoming Helping Hands Mission Trip: Duane Bonnema is organizing a group of adult leaders along with volunteer Junior and Senior high school students to lend a helping hand to the 2008 flood victims in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  This group will be leaving Monday, April 6, 2009, at 5:00 am, and returning Saturday, April 11 in the evening.  We are in need of more adult leaders, especially those with skills in carpentry, sheet rocking, shingling, and wiring.  If you are unable to join us on this trip, but are willing to help, you can be a part of this ministry by:  supplying tools, donating your van for a week, supplying food (snacks for the trip and/or non-perishable items for meals when we're there), and supporting us financially.  Most of all, your continued prayers and support are coveted as we prepare, Lord willing, to lend a helping hand to those in need.  If you have any questions or can help in any way, please contact:  Duane Bonnema or Andy Ypma.  

Please mail donations to:

Helping Hands Mission Trip

c/o Greg Bonnema, Treasurer

P.O. Box 271

Prinsburg, MN 56281

1 John 3:16 - 18

"This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

Morning of Joy : A Gathering for Women, on Saturday, April 18 from 9:30 - 12 noon at the Sioux Falls Ramkota Inn.  Joe and  Debbie Mayer, from New Brighton, MN, will share their journey into comfort, freedom and intimacy with Christ following the death of their three daughters in a car accident near Willmar in 2004. Registration fee is $12.00 with checks written to Coffee Break Events. Registration deadline is April 8. To make reservations send registration fee and names of women who will be attending to Lois Hoogeveen, 201 North La Salle Ave, Sioux Falls , SD 57110 . 

Fundraiser for Jon Schroeder: Jon's daughter Reese, with the help of her art teacher wanted to do something to help her daddy. So she sat down and has drawn/colored/painted zoo animals and her art teacher has turned them into greeting cards. They will have sets of 6 cards for $10.00. You can place orders with  Mary Ahrenholz. More information to come!