IRETON CHRISTIAN REFORMED NEWSLETTER JULY 2016

Dear people of God at Ireton CRC,

Over the last several weeks I have considered the call that you have extended to me. My family and I have prayed about it, talked about it, and looked extensively into the details surrounding moving our family from Trenton, Ontario to Ireton, Iowa. With complete confidence in God’s guidance in this matter we can use the words the apostles used in to relay their decisions of the Council in Jerusalem. “It seems good to us and to the Holy Spirit” that I accept the call to join with the believers in Ireton as your pastor. As a family we have tremendously mixed emotions as we prepare to say goodbye to our church family, friends, and home that God has blessed us with during the 12 years in Trenton. But we eagerly look forward to getting to know each of you, creating new friendships, and especially discovering together how God is calling us to serve the believers in Ireton and reach those that need to hear the gospel.

May God’s grace be with you.

In Christ, Nate, Angela and the rest of the Kuperus family, Cory, Haley, Lydia and Joel.

HILLCREST CARE CENTER SCHEDULE (Chairman is requested to call Hillcrest (551-1074) before 9 A.M. on the morning of your service to remind them that your group will be there in the evening.)

HILLCREST SERVICE – MONDAY, AUGUST 1 at 6:30 pm.

Brad Dekkers, Celia Ten Napel, Brady Van Sloten, Scott Miedema, Rodney Vander Plas. Les Dorhout, Brandon Dekkers, Bernie Fedders, Jeremy Koopmans, Mike Kramer, Jim Dekkers Brent Davelaar, Kaitlyn Lockhorst, Kelly Noteboom. The Heart of a Nursing Home Resident by Deb Gillard

My life has run its course and in the blinking of an eye I am an old woman who is alone. I once had a husband who told me I was the love of his life, but he has long been gone. I remember his smile, his touch, his kindness to me. My children, who I spent my life raising and giving to, hardly come to see me, they have their own lives and they are too busy. I sit all day in front of a TV that I care nothing about, but it is contact with other people, the touch of their hand that I long for, even if I don’t know who they are.

Is there anybody who cares about me? My heart yearns for the days when I was young and alive and had a life. I am still young at heart. I remember those days when I laughed and was carefree. I remember having a job and a family and being able to walk and go anywhere I wanted to. Now, I sit and watch other people walk, and go where ever they want to go. I used to be able to feed myself without spilling my food or need any help, but now I have to depend on other people. Does anybody care that I like my orange juice with my meals or that I like muffins at breakfast? Does anyone care that my bread is too hard and I don’t have as many teeth to eat with or that I cannot cut my own meat? It seems like yesterday I was being depended upon. Where has the time gone? I thought I had my whole life ahead of me.

I hear the lady next to me all day long ask, “Hon, what are we going to do next, I am so confused?” Does anybody really care that she is confused? I think “what is there to do in this place?” Will someone come to see me today and will they notice me sitting here? Will they just walk by me like I don’t exist or will they stop and ask how I am doing and have conversation with me? I am always cold, will someone stop and ask me if I am cold and could they get me a blanket? Will someone ask me if I want to sit outside and feel the sunshine on these old bones? I can’t read anymore; does anyone have time to read to me? I once went to church and read the Word of God. Can someone read to me the goodness of God? I seem to forget sometimes being an old woman that God is still good and cares about me and has not forsaken me! I need a hug. I may be old, but I need the human touch; will someone hug me today? You know the saying, “Have you hugged your kids today?” Well, have you hugged an old person today?

You see, I am an old woman and I may sit here all day, but I’m wondering, did someone comb my hair today, am I wearing a little lipstick, a little jewelry, or did my family bring me something new to wear; or did someone hear me ask could they do those things for me? My lips are chapped; can someone notice my lips and put chapstick on them? My heart, even though I may not be able to tell you, still likes to have those things done. I once could comb my own hair, take my own bath, put my own makeup on and dress myself in anything I wanted, but now I am an old woman who has to depend on someone else. Does anyone have time anymore? The seasons are changing; can someone change out my clothes? Do I have enough clean clothes? Do you know what it is like to wear those diapers; is someone there to change me? I changed diapers once upon a time. Who would have thought someone would be changing mine, an old woman?

I am an old woman and I do not know how many days I have left to sit in front of this T.V. day after day, but the prayer in my heart, even though I may not be able to verbalize it, is that God may turn your heart towards more kindness, more compassion, more forgiveness towards an old woman’s harsh words, to have eyes to look beyond the color of a skin, and more time to take the time. You see, I am old woman whose life is almost over and you may be sitting here one day, an old woman, thinking you had your whole life ahead of you, and your heart is crying out for the same things that I, as an old woman, once wanted.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

-- HOST FAMILIES WANTED FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Families looking for an adventure and desiring a broader perspective on their world, families willing to step out of their comfort zones to offer hospitality and love. If you are such a family, or you think you might like to give this profile a try, Unity is looking for families who would love to host an international student for the upcoming school year. It is a one school year commitment, stipend involved, with immeasurable rewards. For more information, contact Rhonda Van Donge, Unity's International Student Coordinator, by email ([email protected]) or phone (441-3722). August is fast approaching, and we'd love to have the families available in order to offer the chance to be a part of the Unity family to students from around the world.

--HOPE HAVEN WILL BE HOLDING A BUS TOUR on Friday, July 15. Registration will be held at Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley at 7:00AM. Entry fee is $80, which includes lunch. Bus will depart at 7:30AM for Griswold, Iowa touring vintage tractor collections. Please register on or before July 6 for the bus tour. To pre-register for this event or for more information, contact Scott Koedam at 712-476-2820 or email at skoedam at [email protected].

--HOPE HAVEN ANNUAL TRACTOR RIDE will be on Thursday, July 21. Registration for this event will be held at Town and Country Implement in Rock Valley. Registration times are from 4-5:00PM. Tractors will depart at 5:00PM for Rock River Jersey Dairy east of Inwood. Supper will be provided at Town and Country Implement after the ride. There will be a freewill donation for this event. To pre-register for this event or for more information, contact Scott Koedam at 712- 476-2820 or email at skoedam at [email protected].

WORSHIP SERVICES CALENDAR July 10 9:30 AM Gale Tien 6:00 PM Combined Worship Service at Hawarden CRC July 17 9:30 AM Gale Tien 6:00 PM Gale Tien July 24 9:30 AM Gale Tien 6:00 PM Gale Tien July 31 9:30 AM Gale Tien 6:00 PM Gale Tien August 7 9:30 AM Pastor Wick Hubers 6:00 PM Pastor Doug Van Aartsen / Combined service at Ireton CRC August 14 9:30 AM Pastor Wick Hubers 6:00 PM TBD August 21 9:30 AM Gale Tien 6:00 PM Gale Tien August 28 9:30 AM Gale Tien 6:00 PM Gale Tien

Ireton Christian Reformed Church COUNCIL MINUTES – June 7, 2016

1. Call to Order:

2. Devotions and Lunch : Josh Hooyer opened with prayer. Reading from Mark 10:45

Prayer Concerns- Click Anema, De Weerds, Fannie Westra, Calvin Bootsma, Tim Vander Plas, Pastor Nathan and family

3. Approval of Council Minutes- Minutes read and approved.

4. From the Elders: Cody and Jordan Davelaar met with the council with their desire to publicly profess their faith.

5. Correspondence - Art Hamming reported on the Ruth Circle, who started a fund to enclose the front entrance.

6. Old Business: a. Classis Report: Nothing to report at this time. More will be reported in July. 7. Pastor’s Report- Gale Tien reported on his visits. The council expressed their gratitude for his help and diligence with visiting.

8. Committee Reports a. Faith & Fellowship: A good turn out for the Memorial Service and meal. 300 burgers were prepared with only 12 left. b. Building- Motion made to replace light fixtures in the parsonage for $1,300.00 for the entire cost. This was approved. Carpets have been installed. Most of the windows have been installed. A deck and patio sliding door will now be installed, as a gift was designated for this by a member of the congregation to do so. Motion made to accept buying a shed from the Vander Plas family for $100 to be used for storage. Approved. Roof bid of $67,000.00 from Four-Way Roofing was accepted, with a 25 year warranty. 9. Finance Committee Reports: See attachment. Approval of Reports - Approved 10. New Business- A. The Youth Group would like to have a Potluck the Sunday before they leave on their mission trip to Guatemala on July 17. B. Habitat for Humanity requested that they give a presentation to the congregation on July 24

11. Concept Minutes: Approved. 12. Closing Prayer- Motion to Adjourn- Don Van Sloten closed with Prayer

13. Next Meeting -- Lunch and Devotions: Willard Koopmans

JUNE OFFERING TOTALS

A. General Fund 1. Budget Checks: $12,760 2. Budget Cash: $100.00 Budget Total $12,860 3. Ken and Jennie Lee: 280.00

B. Special Funds 1. Christian Ed: $800.00 2. Young People-Guatamala Trip: $615.00

JULY OFFERING SCHEDULE

July 10 Classical Quotas July 17 Christian Education July 24 Building Fund (Roof) July 31 Back to God Ministries

AUGUST OFFERING SCHEDULE

August 7 Christian Education August 14 Siouxland Habitat for Humanity August 21 Christian Education August 28 Building Fund 2016 COMMUNION SCHEDULE

Sept 11 & Nov 27 (1st Sunday of Advent)

GREETERS & COFFEE SERVERS

July 10: Benjy & Nicki Weida Ryan & Angela Zomermaand

July 17: Bryan & Mandy Bonnema Dick & Harriet Bonnema

July 24: Calvin & Patsy Bootsma Doug & Audrey Broek

July 31: Brent & Cindy Davelaar Brad & Sheila Dekkers

Aug. 7 :Brandon & Kayla Dekkers Jim & Angela Dekkers

NURSERY ATTENDANTS

July 10: AM: Kaitlyn Lockhorst, Treyton Bonnema PM: Worship Service at Hawarden CRC

July 17: AM: Beth Faber, Kalena Dekkers PM: Carmen Noteboom, Levi Sieck

July 24: AM: Angela Zomermaand, Paige Fedders PM: Sara Hulshof, Jordan Davelaar

July 31: AM: Angela Dekkers, Lila Sieck PM: Tammy Sieck, Sydney Miedema

Aug. 7: AM: Cinda Faber, Erin Miedema PM: Marlene De Weerd, Lexi Zomermaand

USHER SCHEDULE

July 10 Brad Fedders, Brian Gradert, Kameron Gradert

July 17 Kolton Gradert, Josh Hooyer, Lynn Juffer

July 24 Jeremy Koopmans, Willard K, Mike Kramer July 31 Brady Koopmans, Scott Miedema, Don Mulder

Aug 7 Kelly Noteboom, Gerald Postma, Joey S

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

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July 8 Tim & Lori Bonnema July 11 Gerald & Rhonda Postma July 15 Justin & Raelle Dekkers July 18 Marlin & Leah Schoonhoven July 28 Randy & Tammy Sieck August 6: Scott & Jennifer Miedema

July 3: Levi Sieck July 3: Lila Sieck July 5: Angela Dekkers July 7: Breanna Bonnema July 7: Shirley Ten Napel July 9: Mary Hooyer July 11: Randy Sieck July 12: Nicole Anema July 12: Trish Anema July 12: Jordan Davelaar July 12: Emery Visser July 14: Mandy Bonnema July 15: Art Hamming July 15: Celia Ten Napel July 15: Mike Vander Windt July 16: Jackson Kramer July 16: Lynn Juffer July 16: Tim Vander Plas July 20: Jeff Statema July 20: Kelsie Van Beek July 21: Pastor Norlyn Van Beek July 26: Rylee Zomermaand July 26: Ryder Zomermaand July 27: Rachel Hulshof July 28: Doug Broek July 30: Howard Hulshof July 31: Jeannie Lee August 4: Keaven Faber August 5: Susan Ten Napel