Welcome to Worship

January 1, 2017

We Gather to worship our great God

Preparation for Worship Roxanne Fetterhoff, flute

Announcements Bill Dreise

Welcome/God’s Greeting Rev. Gerrit Besteman

Praise Through Song

We Three Kings

We Respond to God’s holy presence

Confession/Assurance Steve Strite

Response

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Children are dismissed for Children’s Worship

Pastoral Prayer

Offering—General Fund/Faith Promise

O Come, All Ye Faithful

We Hear God’s mighty word

Sermon

THE PERFECT GIFT OF GOD Matthew 2:1-12

Rev. Gerrit Besteman

Response

As With Gladness Men of Old

We Go in grateful obedience to serve God

Parting Words

Parting Song

How Great Our Joy

Postlude

Congregation, please stand

All song lyrics are projected and/or printed with permission. CCLI #221266

Join us for worship at 5:00pm

Sermon:

A PSALM OF QUIET CONFIDENCE

Psalm 62

Rev. Gerrit Besteman

WELCOME VISITORS!

If you are visiting with us, please

stop by the information wall and

pick up a “We’re Glad You Are

Here” packet which includes

information about our church

activities as well as what we

believe.

NURSERY CARE for newborns

through 3yrs of age is available

during our morning services .

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP is offered

during morning worship for

children ages 3yrs—3rd grade.

Children are asked to sit with

their parents until they are

dismissed.

PARENTS: Don’t forget to pick up

a children's bulletin to help you

engage your child during the

worship service.

The LIBRARY is open before and

after the morning service.

COFFEE/FELLOWSHIP: Join us in

the FLC gym for a time of

fellowship immediately following

the worship service this morning.

ASSISTANCE IN WORSHIP

If you need hearing assistance,

our Sanctuary is equipped with

the Hearing Loop.

If there is a medical emergency

during the worship service, please

notify the sound booth or the

nearest usher.

GROW DURING THE WEEK

CDs of the worship services are

available in the Library upon

request. Live webcasts and past

services can be found at

www.bradentoncrc.org.

4208 26th Street West, Bradenton, Florida 34205 www.bradentoncrc.org 941-753-6465

BCRC STAFF

Rev. Gerrit Besteman, Pastor of Worship/Outreach pastorgerrit@bradentoncrc.org x301

Bill Dreise, Director of Youth/Congregational Life bill@bradentoncrc.org x302

Steve Strite, Director of Music and Worship steve@bradentoncrc.org x303

Mary Meiste, Church Secretary mary@bradentoncrc.org x300

Maria White, Administrative Secretary maria@bradentoncrc.org x305

Andrew Stafford, Technology Director/Custodian andrew@bradentoncrc.org

Church Office Hours Tues-Fri 9:00am—3:00pm (941) 753-6465

Pastor Gerrit’s Office Hours Tues & Thurs 9am—3:30pm

God’s Faithfulness to Bradenton CRC

(January-November) Giving: $533,652 Budget: $581,462 Faith Promise: $9,104

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the maj-

esty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,

and you are exalted as head above all. 1 Chronicles 29:11

CALENDAR

SCHEDULE

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 2:42

TODAY: 10:00 am Worship Service

5:00 pm Worship Service

TUES: 7:00 pm Consistory Meeting

WED: 7:00 pm Wednesday Night Activities

- Prayer Group

- Worship Choir

- Elevate High School

- Cadets

THURS: 7:00 am Men’s Bible Studies

9:00 am Coffee Break Women’s Bible Study

WEBSITE CALENDAR: Check our website for upcoming events & group schedules

TODAY NEXT SUNDAY

Greeters: 10:00 am The Meekhof Family Millie Vandergraff, Helen Den Besten

Elder Gary Vreman Elder Gary Vreman

5:00 pm Elder Jim Meiste Elder Jim Meiste

Ushers: 8:15 am Dave, Chuck, Robert

10:00 am Dean, Anthony, Ken Gary, Todd, Anthony, Jon

5:00 pm Alan, Todd, Robert Gary, Alan, Jon

Nursery: 10:00 am Lisa, Jo-Ann, Andrew V. Waite Family, Josh V.

Library: am Kathy, Lois, Marilyn Mary, Marilyn, Lori

Offerings: am Gen. Fund/Faith Promise General Fund/Tuition Assistance

pm Habitat For Humanity Bradenton Christian School

Focus on

Prayer

PRAYER GUIDE

January 1, 2017

“I will take comfort in Your everlastingness, that You outlive seasons

and centuries, for Your years have no end, nor do the destinies of

those who trust in You.” (Psalms Now)

“O God, have mercy! I know my guilt is great, forgive me my many

sins, and restore me to Yourself. Watch over me and hold on to me,

O God, lest I fall again.”

“How good it is to celebrate God’s presence and to sing His praises

throughout each day.”

- for another year - for another opportunity to share the gospel

- for the peace of Christ in our hearts and His love and righteousness

- we could celebrate the birth of our Lord and His gift of salvation

- pastors, elders, deacons, secretaries , custodian, music director

- for the body of Christ - sharing, caring, praying; the children of God

PRAYERS FOR OUR CHURCH FAMILY

- Jan Gabrielse - offer praise for her surgery and she is doing well

- Don Sjaardema - continues rehab in Heritage Park- is going well

- Ashley Waldo - is home- a long process of healing may be needed

- Ardyth Heyboer - has returned home to live with Chuck and Dianne

- pray for comfort for Cristine Civil and family& Ed and Joanne Dick

in the death of her Cristine’s mother in Haiti

- Keep these in your prayers: Cher Zeeff, Ted Owens, Trudy Elenius,

Cor Horneman, Les Mason, Letty Oostendorp, Shirley Lavish and

Mary Kay Coone

SHUT-INS AND THEIR CARE GIVERS

- Marge Van Hook - the Towers - Thelma Kamper - Select Group

- Garth & Betty Beaver - The Manor - Don Westra, Sr. -The Shores

- Ardyth Heyboer - Home - Ramona Hanenburg - Casa Mora

- Bob Visscher - Casa Mora

CHURCH - MISSIONS AND OUR NATION

- BCRC - take time to be holy - redeeming our time well - unity

- Nation - a peaceful transition of powers in government

- Faith Promise Missionaries; Our Daily Bread; Guardian Angels;

Manatee Religious Services; Anchor House; Loving Hands

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

Church Life January 1, 2017

SUNDAY CLASSES Classes will resume again next week at 11:15am.

THIS WEEK AT BCRC

WOMEN’S TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY: Our new study of Nehemiah begins on Tuesday,

January 10. After the exiled people of God are freed to return to Jerusalem,

Nehemiah gets involved in some important rebuilding and shows significant

leadership in rallying the people to rededicate their work and lives to God. Please

join us as we learn more of how God keeps his promises to guide and deliver his

people.

PRAYER: The Wednesday Night Prayer Group meets from 7:00pm until 8:15pm in

Room 4. Join us for praising, repenting and interceding through prayer.

MEN’S THURSDAY BIBLE STUDIES: Meet Thursday mornings from 7-8:00am. Enter

through the kitchen door. Coffee available. STUDY 1: Room 4—Please prepare by

reading Exodus 4. STUDY 2: Room 3/5—We’ll be studying the Book of Isaiah. Study

guides are in Ken Venhuizen’s box in the narthex.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY-COFFEE BREAK: We begin again this week with Lesson 1 of a

7-part study on the Book of Colossians. Discover the richness of God’s

Word through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church of Colosse. Please

complete the questions prior to the 5th and be ready to have a great

discussion. Study guides are in Sharon Hurlds’ mail box. Childcare will be

available; please contact Sharon Hurlds in advance to make

arrangements: 314-616-0828.

PRAYER MEETING: All ages please join us for a short time of prayer

from 9:30-9:50am in Room 4 of the FLC. Come pray for God’s love

and grace to prevail, and for reconciliation with God and with

others.

Before they call I will answer;

while they are yet speaking I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

PRAYER REQUESTS: You may place prayer requests for the

Wednesday night prayer group in the box on the counter in the narthex. They will not

be included on the green prayer sheet unless specifically requested.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL ELEVATE will resume next Sunday, January 8, at 6:15pm.

HIGH SCHOOL ELEVATE will resume this Wednesday at 7:00pm!

ELEVATE CHALLENGE:

In faith, we live out our lives in service to our

God in whom our identity is found. Through

Him we see our salvation earned for us by

Christ while we were still “dead” to our sins.

We live out our faith by shaping our lives to

the pattern Christ has given through his

death on the cross.

CALLING ALL MEN!

Bible Studies resume January 5 Thursdays 7:00-8:00am

Study 1 Currently in the Book of Exodus

Study 2 Beginning the Book of Isaiah

Coffee is available Please enter the FLC through the

kitchen door

4-week class begins on January 15

Do you have questions about what our church believes & why?

Are you considering joining our church family at BCRC?

Sign up at the narthex counter or contact Pastor Gerrit or the office.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COUNCIL SELECTION: The elders are

beginning the process of selecting

nominees to replace those retiring

from the Council in 2017. The

congregation is encouraged to submit

the names of men you believe would

be able to serve well as deacons and

elders. Please include a comment

regarding the qualifications you see in

the person whose name you are

submitting. Names should be given to

the Secretary of the Elders, Len

Gabrielse, no later than Sunday, Jan.

15. They may be placed in

his mailbox at church.

ONLINE GIVING: Go to our website and click on the Give

icon on the top of the page.

S A V E T H E D A T E !

IF:Bradenton women's

gathering is coming to

BCRC on February 25. More

information will be

coming in January.

UPWARD BASKETBALL

The season begins on January 9. We’re looking for volunteer coaches, refs and

FAITH PROMISE MISSION SUNDAY - We

will have Steve and Sandra Brauning,

joining us on Faith Promise Sunday,

January 8. They are missionaries to the

Dominican Republic with Christian

Reformed World Missions. Steve will

preach all three services that day. This

past June, Steve and Sandra hosted

the BCRC youth service/learning team

in a ministry project in the San Pedro

area of the DR. They have asked for

prayer in these areas:

Their travel and arrangements to and

from the DR

The 5-7 service/learning teams they

will be hosting from Jan- April

The Christian school teachers and

principals to adjust to new

programming and new schedules

The churches and communities of

Puerto Plata that have had

destruction due to recent flooding.

Please help support the Braunings and

our Faith Promise Missionaries through

your Faith Promise support pledge and

prayers. Pledge cards will be available

in the narthex, FLC and mailboxes.

CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES: If you ordered contribution envelopes, they are in your box in the narthex. TODAY BOOKLETS are ready to be

picked up.

Next Week !!

Morning Worship Time Change

Beginning: Sunday, January 8

Service Times: 8:15am & 10:00am

Calvin College January Series

BCRC will once again host websites for this highly acclaimed series of speakers,

weekdays from January 4 through January 24. The webcasts are shown live each day

from 12:30-1:30pm in the church narthex and are free and open to any who wish to

attend. You can find brochures with a list of speakers and topics on the counter in the

narthex. Visit the January Series website at https://calvin.edu/january-series/ for details,

or to view archived presentations. For more information or if you are able to help in

some way please contact Jim Meiste (795-2480).

NewNewNew

TuesdayTuesdayTuesday ClassClassClass

Eight sessions onEight sessions onEight sessions on The Book of RevelationThe Book of RevelationThe Book of Revelation with Rev. Jack Kerkhof with Rev. Jack Kerkhof with Rev. Jack Kerkhof

Begins January 17Begins January 17Begins January 17 7:00pm7:00pm7:00pm

Room 9/10 in the FLCRoom 9/10 in the FLCRoom 9/10 in the FLC

Coffee Break Resumes

Thursday, January 5

From 9:00—10:30am

7-part Study of the Book of Collossians

For women of all ages

Childcare available

See above for more details

Women’s Bible Study Resumes

Tuesday, January 10 The Book of Nehemiah

For women of all ages Coffee at 9:30am

Study begins at 10:00am

OUR CHURCH FAMILY

CONGRATULATIONS: Don and Mae Westra celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary

on December 28. We celebrate with them and pray that the Lord continues to bless

their marriage and family.

BETSY BAKER BENEVOLENCE: As many of you already know, our former pastor Ron

Baker’s daughter Betsy has been through a difficult health ordeal in the past two

months. The family is grateful for the grace God has shown in bringing healing to Betsy

so far. They would like to express sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude to the BCRC

family for your faithful and continuous prayer support, love, and encouragement. Her

journey back to a normal and healthy life is still a long and difficult road to travel. Re-

covery is anticipated to take at least 6 months. You can find more information about

Betsy’s condition on the Facebook page “Battling With Betsy.” It is our desire to invite

you to encourage Betsy and show her our love by receiving a benevolence offering

on her behalf, on January 15, at the morning services.

TODAY

CHURCH WEBSITE

We encourage you to visit our website at www.bradentoncrc.org

for more information about church activities.