Parkland Reformed Church of Ponoka      Lord’s Day: May 11, 2008

 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24.

We extend a hearty welcome to all visitors who have joined us for worship on this Pentecost Sunday.

May God be praised as we worship His Most Holy Name.

TODAY: Greeters:                     Darryl and Danna Hoeksema

Nursery AM  Infants:     Bonnie Van’t Klooster, Vanessa Thalen, Jessica Faber

Toddlers:                     Elaine Makkinga, Leanne Walls, Dianna Both

PM  Infants:                  Mariette Pols, Sophie Stolk

            Toddlers:                     Martha Otten, Nynke Miedema, Rachel Rodenburg

Library Attendants:       Grace Stolk, Shanae Vander Ploeg, Emily Miedema

Offering: The Mustard Seed ( Edmonton ) has been dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of people in Edmonton 's inner city since 1988. Although TMS parishioners include a large aboriginal and metis population we do not turn anyone away. Those with substance abuse problems; ex-inmates trying to reestablish; the poor and homeless looking for acceptance; and others disadvantaged due to lack of education, behavioral problems or physical impairments all frequent our community drop-in. TMS offers the ability to explore spiritual issues and participate in Christian community. They also provide personal assistance like household goods, clothes and emergency food and community activities like cooking and sport programs.

Announcements from Council

Church Family: Mrs. Barb Hoogstra is at home again. Her dizziness, caused by an inner ear infection, is still present. She also suffered a mild angina attack. We give thanks to our ever-faithful Father for watching over her during this time. As the weather warms up and work days lengthen and pick up speed, let us keep each other in prayer. May the Lord continue to bless the mothers among us- with their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Remember our summer student and his family as final exams begin at MARS, and as they prepare for their assignment here…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). 

Reformed Perspective Magazine: On the back table you will find free sample copies of the Reformed Perspective Magazine which were sent to us. This is a “Reformed Social-Political Magazine” put out by the Association for Reformed Political Action (ARPA), a new Christian political advocacy group. The mission of the ARPA is “to serve as a centre for coordinating political action among Reformed Churches- providing news, research, support, and motivation” (p.10).  Please help yourself to a copy if you so desire. The Consistory.  

Summer Student: With thankfulness to the Lord for His provision, we are happy to report that accommodations for our summer student and his family have been found. A list of things needed to furnish and equip the house in preparation for the Lievaarts is forthcoming. Any questions, please call Doris at 782-0556.

Mustard Seed Volunteers Needed: On Monday May 26th we hope to prepare and on Tuesday May 27th we hope to serve a meal for the Mustard Seed D.V. Please contact your deacons to help out this wonderful cause with your cooking or serving skills!!

Offering next week: Next week Sunday, May 18th, during the morning service we would like to have a special collection for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Mynamar ( Burma ). We cannot begin to imagine how much help and donations are needed here.  Please pray for the thousands of victims and homeless. Word and Deed North America has a program set up to make sure the help arrives where it should. (We will inform you of what this will do to your collection schedules). Some info from Word and Deed follows:

Word & Deed has been in touch with various Christian organizations to see if we can partner with them in bringing much needed relief and development to the victims of this horrible disaster. One potential partner involves Woord en Daad and Zoa Refugee Care (both in the Netherlands ). Zoa has an experienced disaster relief couple in Rangoon , the capital of Burma , who have been given permission by the government to set up a relief office and hire workers. The couple is currently in the rural areas most affected by the cyclone doing a needs assessment. All aid however is contingent on the cooperation of the Burmese government. There is also serious concern about how funds may be handled in Burma . We will want to ensure that the funds go directly to the team in Rangoon rather than through the government which is notoriously corrupt.

Thank you from the Deacons

Council Notes in brief: May 7, 2008

New elders Morris Thalen and Matthew Stolk absent with notice.

Welcome to new elder and deacon

- Old Business: a) Church sign cost proposal discussed for sign at Hwy 2A and  spruce road. 

$3000.00 approved.

b) Church plant committee. Some members will be approached to serve on this

committee. Job description discussed.

c) Financial statement of 1^st quarter presented by Garth Pol.

      - New Business a) Election of new Executive

                                    -Chairman: Stu Vander Ploeg

                                    -Vice-all: Gerry Makkinga

                                    -Clerk: Johan Feitsma   Re-election done with motions

                                    Sarris Vander Scheer takes Wim Schakel’s list.

                                    Morris Thalen takes Garry Stolk’s list.

                                    Matthew Stolk takes John Lindemulder’s list.

                                    Some minor changes might be made to elders lists.

                        b) Retiring Office bearers were given a thank you for their service and were

excused.

                        c) Appointments and re-appointments for committees dealt with.

       - Correspondence: a) Cornestone Bible Institute – approval for volunteers.

                                        b) Credentials for Classis. Stu Vander Ploeg and Gerry Makkinga

                                    appointed as delegates and Matthew Stolk and Pete Ellens as back up.

                                        c) Motion to have an extra collection for cyclone victims in Burma on

                                                Sunday May 18. Carried

Mon. May 12                 VBS Volunteer meeting @ 7:30 at the Meinen’s

Greeters:                      Darcy and Eileen Ingold

Nursery AM  Infants:     Sandra Thalen, Margrietha de With, Alana Overeem

Toddlers:                     Gerda Both, Evelyn Pol, Dakota Den Oudsten

PM  Infants:                  Valerie Ingwersen, Jessica Van Ginkel

            Toddlers:                     Jolanda Rodenburg, Joanne Walls, Emily de With

Mother of the month:    May: Andrea Thalen

Library Attendants:       Betty and Michelle Vande Pol, Lisa Ellens

Offering:                       Aid for Cyclone victims in Burma /Mid-America Reformed Seminary

Coffee Schedule:          H&L Overeem and R&H Pikkert

Texts for next week:      am: Judges 8:1-32        pm: Belgic Confession Articles 30-32

May 26&27        Preparation and Serving at Mustard Seed

June 1              Coffee Schedule: G&H Pol and H&M Pols

July 19              Church Picnic (more details to follow)

Requested Announcement: The Young People's Society of the Canadian Reformed Church at Calgary would like to invite you to our annual Calgary Study Weekend. This year the weekend will be held from August 15th through to August 19th. The topic and speaker are yet to be confirmed, but we are working on several exciting opportunities.  We will keep you informed as we finalize our plans. Some of the events we are planning for this weekend include Bible studies, races, speeches, communion of saints, team and sports activities, and a kangaroo kort. If you would like to participate by leading a Bible study or making presentation/speech, please contact us before June 30^th. Registrations will be accepted on a first come first serve basis, so don’t delay: save your spot now. The cost of the weekend is $85.00, which includes all your meals, snacks, beverages, entertainment and lodgings. Please note that all participants must be at least 16 at the time of the camp. To register or for further information, you can contact the CSW planning committee in any of the following ways: Email: calgarystudyweekend@hotmail.com

Phone: 1-403-934-6665

Mail: Calgary Study Weekend

         Box 28 Site 17 RR2

         Strathmore , AB

         T1P 1K5

Mustard Seed: On May 27d.v. we are to serve a meal for the less fortunate in the Mustard Seed church in Edmonton . The Neerlandia church has shown interest in giving us a hand this time around. The young peoples from Neerlandia are coming out to help serve on Tuesday night and we would love to see a few young people from our church be a witness too! We do not want to chase any of our other faithful and steady volunteers away and still ask that if you have time to come and join us. Write your name on the sheet at the back of the church if you can help out and we will contact you where to meet etc. Thank you so very much for your continued support!

Attention all V.B.S. volunteers: On May 12 @ 7:30 pm we would love to have you come to the Meinen’s to review the material for this year’s Vacation Bible School program. If you cannot make it call Inge @ 783 2423. We would love to see new faces even if you have not signed up. Thank-you for your support, Jolanda and Inge

Kindergarten Orientation Day @ Lacombe Christian School

L.C.S. invites parents and children of Kindergarten age to our orientation on May 23, 2008. If you have not yet received an invitation and you have registered or are planning on registering your child for the 2008/2009 program, please feel free to join us by phoning the school office at 782-6531.

Babysitter Needed: Hello. We are two little girls aged 4 and 2 who are moving to Ponoka with our parents and are looking for someone to care for us while our daddy goes to school and our mommy works. Maybe there are two stay at home moms or a mom with kids in school who can each do a few days a week. If you are interested you can phone our mommy at 780-487-0239 (Candace) in the evenings or email her at canslo23@yahoo.ca. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you!

Whitehorse Inn Topics

May 11, 2008: The Case for Theology & Apologetics (Part 2)

On this edition of the White Horse Inn the hosts continue to interact with recent polls taken at a pastors convention on the importance of understanding theology and Biblical terminology. They also respond to the great number of pastors who preferred the sharing of one's personal testimony over the use of apologetics to reach outsiders.

May 18, 2008 Selling Jesus

On this edition of the White Horse Inn the hosts take a look at the ways in which consumerism and market values have influenced contemporary Christian thought and practice. This program also features special guest R. Scott Clark, and was recorded before a live audience in Oceanside , CA .

May 25, 2008 Radical Informality

Previous generations wore suits to baseball games. Now many Americans show up at church in blue jeans and T-shirts. How has the cultural shift toward informality affected American Christianity over the last few decades? Join the White Horse Inn hosts as they evaluate the effects of "radical informality" on contemporary Christian thought and practice (Originally Aired Nov. 27th, 2005).

June 1, 2008 The Theology of N.T. Wright

On this edition of the White Horse Inn the hosts discuss the views of popular theologian N.T. Wright, focusing in particular on his understanding of the covenant, his ideas concerning the "new perspective on Paul," and even his view of the gospel itself. Where do the hosts agree with Bishop Wright? Where do they disagree? Tune in to find out!

Can be heard on Edmonton : CJCA, 930AM: Sunday, 8:30AM and High River : CHRB, 1140AM: Sundays, 9pm live, or if you missed it can be heard online from: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/The_White_Horse_Inn

LARGE PRINT bulletins available, please ask the ushers