November 2, 2008

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR

Sunday, November 2

9:00 Sunday School for students in grades 3 - 12.

10:00am:  Morning Worship and Children's Church for children ages 3-preK and K-gr.2

Tuesday:

9:30am: Ladies Bible Study at Val Duinincks home

Wednesday:

6:30pm: GEMS at First CRC

6:30pm: Worship Planning Meeting

7:00pm: SRYG at the Rock on 8th  for 9th - 12th Grade

7:00pm: Men's Jail Ministry

9:00pm: Worship Team Practice

Sunday, November 9

9:00 Sunday School for students in grades 3 - 12.

10:00am:  Morning Worship and Children's Church for children ages 3-preK and K-gr.2

Following worship Congregational Meeting

Mark Your Calendar!

Sunday, November 9 - Congregational Meeting after Worship

Sunday, November 16 - Prayer & Praise Night at 6:30pm

Wednesday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Eve Service at 7:00pm

Wednesday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Service

(Time to be announced.)

Unity Church Announcements

Prayer Ministry

At the conclusion of our worship time each week people will be available to pray with you about any item of concern to you.

Congregational Town Hall Meeting

Following worship on Sunday, November 9th the Council will be hosting a town hall meeting to update the congregation on various issues, including initial ideas about restructuring the Council, new policies being established by the Council, an update on the building project, and discussion about the position to replace Pastor Jeff.

Prayer & Praise Night

Our next Sunday evening time of prayer and praise will be Sunday, November 16 at 6:30pm.

Our Love & Sympathy

We express our love and sympathy to Sandy and Chuck Leininger and their family in the passing of Sandy's father this past week. Visitation is today and the funeral tomorrow in North Dakota.

Continued Prayers

Elva Post had successful back surgery this past Thursday. She will remain a patient at Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria through mid-week.

Virgil Gerdes has returned home and is experiencing a good measure of strength and healing.

Gretchen Ehret was able to come home this past Thursday from the hospital and is experiencing a measure of health and healing from her recent lung infection.

Virgil Gerdes returned home this past Friday after a brief stay at Bethesda Heritage.

I wish to inform the Unity family that I will be stepping down as elder effective immediately for health reasons. I have been diagnosed with a spot on my brain, which is currently affecting my vision. Further testing will be done over the next couple of months to determine the nature and extent of this spot. Your support and prayers this last year and a half and for the months ahead are much appreciated! Thank you for the privilege of serving Christ through serving you!" In Christ, Beth Hoekstra.

Open House Bridal Shower

An open house bridal shower will be held in honor of Kaitlyn Leininger, bride-elect of Stephen Vogel on Tuesday evening, November 11th, 7:00pm at Unity Christian Reformed Church. Kaitlyn & Stephen are registered at Target.

Game Night!

Reserve Saturday, November 15th for a fun night of DICE! Sign up sheets are in your mail slots today! If you have any questions please contact Dawn Poppema  or Marge Breems.

2009 Children of the Promise Calendar now available

If you are interested in ordering a calendar, please contact Sue DeGroot, Jan Bonnema or go online to childrenofthepromise.org. They are $20.00 each. A sample calendar is on the back table. Prepayment is required. Please make checks payable to COTP.

SRYG Schedule!

Wednesday, November 5th for 9-12th grades at Rock 7-9p.m.

Topic: Witnessing

Saturday, November 8th-9th 7-12th grades at Rock (all day into following day event--sleep at home)

Activity: 30 Hour Fast to raise awareness and support for HIV/AIDS & hunger victims--funds raised probably go to jointherace.org and food to the local food shelf

Wednesday, November 12th  7-12th grades at Rock 7-9p.m.

Topic: Guest Speaker (9-12th)

Topic: TBA (7-8)

Wednesday, November 19th  9-12th grades at Rock 7-9p.m.

Topic: TBA

Wednesday, November 26th,  NO YOUTH GROUP - THANKSGIVING

New Council Minutes Binder

Please note that there is now a Council Minutes binder in the back of church.  While the most recent minutes will be in the media rack located in the narthex, past minutes, beginning July 2008, as well as public attachments will be contained in this binder for public viewing.  If you would like a copy of something in the binder, please ask your elder for assistance.

Announcements

Community Announcements are available in the information rack located on the wall in the fellowship hall.

Announcements are also available on our website at www.unitycrc.org

Prayer Corner and Ministry Information is online at  members.unitycrc.org

Community Announcements

CMCS Honors Veterans

CMCS would like to invite you to attend an assembly to honor our veterans on November 10 at 1:00 in the high school gymnasium.

CMCS Cable and newsletter

 For years you have been informed through the Cable newsletter sent out following each Board meeting.  This will continue; however, another newsletter will be distributed bi-monthly by CMCS. This newsletter will be full of feature articles about staff, students and what is going on in classrooms.  Watch for the first edition to come out in mid-November!  The regular Cable will be distributed to parents and copies will be available for pick-up at local churches, but will not be put in church mailboxes.

Thank you!

"A big Thank You from the GEMS and the Willmar Area Food Shelf for our recent food collection for them.  We were able to bring in 566 lbs of food and $20 in cash to help those in need.  They said they are having trouble keeping their shelves filled in this time of great need, so your gifts were greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much for being cheerful givers."

Holy Land Tour

Due to several cancellations there are 6 more spaces available. If you are interested in going on the Holy Land Tour March 25th - April 5th please call Ardy Zondervan for more details.

Exciting Banquet Opportunity

Community Christian School in Willmar will be hosting their Annual Dessert Banquet on Thursday,   November 13th at 7:00pm at the E-Free Church in Willmar. The speaker this year is Rick Larson, a professor of Law at the University of Texas. He became fascinated with astronomy a number of years back and some of the discoveries he has turned up in his quest are nothing but 'mind boggling'.  He has made some amazing discoveries of the Star of Bethlehem. Contact Tracy Borstad at for ticket information if you are interested in attending this banquet. 

Emden's Second Annual "Dinner & A Show"

Wednesday, November 5. Dinner from 5:30 to 7:00 with the show to follow. Proceeds from this event will benefit the building fund. Featured entertainers will be the "Chord Ayres" men's ensemble from Southwestern Minnesota. A variety of musical numbers will be performed including patriotic, sacred, as well as secular  selections. A featured group will include a quartet named "Four on The Floor". Plan on attending this evening of fun, food, and fellowship. It will prove to be a great time!

Helping Hands Return to Mississippi!

Duane Bonnema is organizing a group of adult volunteers from area churches to lend a helping hand in Mississippi this fall.  This group will be leaving early on     Saturday, November 15, and returning in the evening on Saturday, November 22, 2008.  While there, we plan to pour cement footings and a foundation for the Mount Buria Missionary Baptist Church's new building.  Their current church building is very old and is falling apart.  They have enough money to purchase the materials, and we are planning to come alongside these fellow believers to help them pour their floor.  We are welcoming additional volunteers at this time.  Please pray for us as we prepare to return to Mississippi.  If you have any questions or can help in any way, please contact Duane Bonnema: or Andy Ypma.

Veterans Memorial

The Veterans Memorial committee has CD's, DVD's and dedication booklets available from the dedication program on July 4th. The CD's & DVD's are $3.00 each and the booklet is free. If you are interested in one contact a committee member.

Musical Praise Time

A time of musical praise will coincide with the evening service at the Emden Christian Reformed Church in Renville on Sunday, November 9. The service will begin at 6:00, and will include several musical numbers from a men's trio consisting of Randy Groen, Gar Jasper, and Paul Knapper, with Pam Knapper the accompanist. Also performing will be Daniel Knapper on the piano as well as violin.

GEMS Soup & Pie Supper and Bake Sale

You are invited to the Raymond GEMS girls club Soup & Pie Supper and bake sale on Wednesday, November 12th. Serving will be from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church. There will be a free-will donation. A portion of the proceeds will be given to support the African GEMS Girls Clubs. Please join us for a night of good food and fun.

Barnabas Foundation

Should your children receive all or part of your estate when you're gone?

Don Long from Barnabas Foundation will be in the area November 18 - 20, 2008. Discuss your options with a Barnabas Foundation representative. It's confidential and free - thanks to the nearly 200 Christian member organizations of Barnabas Foundation. For over 30 years, Barnabas Foundation has helped Christians like you meet family financial needs while supporting the causes that are close to their heart. To arrange an appointment to meet with Don or for more information, please contact Barnabas Foundation at 1-888-448-3040 or www.barnabasfoundation.com

The Prairie Arts Chorale

The Prairie Arts Chorale will be presenting "Slice of Minnesota: A Musical's 150th Birthday Celebration".

The Chorale will appear in concerts in the following areas:

Marshall: Friday, November 14th, 7:30pm at the First Lutheran Church Clara City

Saturday, November 15th , 7:30pm at Bunde Christian Reformed Church

Redwood Falls: Saturday, November 22, 7:30pm at the United Methodist Church

Spicer: Sunday, November 23, 4:00pm at Faith Lutheran Church.

For more information including tickets, contact one of the Chorale members. Local vocalists include David & Claudia Zylstra and Gar Jasper of Prinsburg, Paul Knapper of Renville.

55+ DRIVER IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OFFERED

The Minnesota Highway Safety Center will be offering a 55+ Driver Improvement Course on the following days: 8 Hour Class-Monday and Tuesday, November 17 and 18. 5:00-9:00 Renville School Room S-2, Paul Knapper-Instructor

The Driver Improvement course is open to the public; however, pre-registration is requested. A MN Highway Safety & Research Center certified instructor teaches this class.  Driver safety, confidence and comfort are enhanced by utilizing the most up-to-date research in the field, including the latest visual scanning and steering techniques, anti-lock braking (ABS) skills, airbag information, driver distraction, road rage and new vehicle technology.  The fee for the four hour refresher course is $18.00 and the eight hour course is $20.00. For more information or to register call TOLL FREE 1-(888)-234-1294) (be sure to include the 1 before the 888 when publishing this number).  Students can also register by calling the Renville Community Education Office at 320-329-8362.

Persons age 55 and older who complete the course qualify for a ten percent discount on their auto insurance premiums for three years, according to Minnesota law.  First time participants must complete two four hour sessions.  Repeat persons are required to take a four hour refresher course.