January 16, 2022

TODAY

This Sunday Pastor Dan will begin the new series: I AM.  His message, I AM will be from John 8:51-59.

The second offering will be for Hope Unexpected. 

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will continue the series: I AM.  His message, I AM The Bread Of Life, will be from John 6:25-59.

The second offering will be for Benevolence.

CHURCH FAMILY

Please keep Jim Kok’s brother Wayne in your prayers – Wayne has struggled with cancer of one kind or another for several years and has recently had to spend some time in the hospital. Please pray for relief from cancer complications.

Doug Howerzyl was recently in a snowmobile accident and broke his leg- please pray for quick healing. 

THANK YOU

I just wanted to say Thank You from both of us for the beautiful poinsettia which blessed us with a note of cheer through the holidays.  We don’t get out much now and so it continues to add color and brightness to these dreary January days. -Dale and Willa Verburg

Thank you very much for the Meijer gift card.  I so appreciate this generous gift.  Also, I would like to thank you, Kids Hope and Westend Church for all you do and the positive impact you have and all the lives you touch daily!  -Lindsay Storey

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Stay in the loop by signing up to receive text messages!

The Feeding America truck will be here this Wednesday at 4:30pm.   Helpers are always needed! Please sign up at the Welcome Center if you are able to help.

Kids Hope Mentors: Reminder- No School Monday January 17th!

REQUESTED ANNOUNCEMENT

From all of us at Hope Unexpected, we want to thank you for adjusting your church’s schedule to accommodate the needs of our program.   It is such a blessing for the women and their children to be able to meet in a place where they feel safe.  

Our program currently has 15 moms and 28 children, and are getting calls each week of more moms that want to join.  They love the time they spend together having dinner, and actively participate in the Faith talk each week.  Their children are learning about how much Jesus loves them.  

In addition many of our moms are participating in professional mental health counseling, which has been very beneficial as many of our moms have struggled with depression and anxiety during covid.   We also have 8 moms currently matched with a volunteer mentor.  Our car care program is regularly utilized to help women achieve self-sufficiency by having transportation to be able to maintain their employment.  

We are in need of additional volunteers to provide meals on Monday nights as well as child care volunteers and mentors.  If you know anyone that is interested in learning more please have them email Connie at connie.hopeunexpected@gmail.com

JROCK 

Join us tonight for the first JROCK of the year will!  We will be meeting here at Westend from 3:45-5:30pm! 

LIFE

Join us tonight from 6-8pm in the gym area for some food, games and a bible lesson.

Save The Date: 

Join us for a tubing adventure at Cannonsburg on Friday February 11th!

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 1/16

   9:15 AM    Prayer Time

   9:45 AM    Morning Worship

 11:00 AM    Discovery Hour

   3:45 PM    JROCK

   6:00 PM    LIFE

   6:00 PM    Bible Study

TUESDAY – 1/18

  6:30 PM   Divorce Care

WEDNESDAY – 1/19

  6:30 AM   Men’s Bible Study

  8:00 AM   Men’s Life

  1:00 PM   Cafe

  5:00 PM   Feeding America

  5:30 PM   Community Dinner

  6:30 PM   Westend Wednesday: GEM’s, Cadets, Bible Study

THURSDAY – 1/20

  6:30 PM   Women’s Seamless Bible Study

NEXT SUNDAY – 1/23

   9:15 AM    Prayer Time

   9:45 AM    Morning Worship

 11:00 AM    Discovery Hour

   5:30 PM    Romans Bible Study

   6:00 PM    LIFE

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, January 16th

Nursery- Holly Milanowski

Children’s Ministry- Wendy Burghgraef

Coffee Servers- Bill & Karen Winegar

Welcome Center-Jeni Verbeek

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Andrew Rodenhouse

Sound- Linda Vanderlaan

Video- Kristen Adrianse

NEXT WEEK, January 23rd

Nursery- Holly Milanowski, Jaime Thomasma

Children’s Ministry- VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Coffee Servers- Al & Margie Broene

Welcome Center-Diane Maat

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Nichole Quigley

Sound- Linda Vanderlaan

Video- Micah Graybill

January 9, 2022

TODAY This Sunday Pastor Dan will bring us a message from Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23, titled Soil Analysis.

The second offering will be for Christian Education. 

NEXT SUNDAY

Who Do You Say That I Am?  So often, we go through life with limited, or preconceived, notions about who Jesus is.  Much of the world has an idea, opinion or story about Jesus, even those who don’t follow Him.  

Yet who does Jesus Himself say He is?  Join us for our new “I AM” series as we seek to know Him better.  Why he came.  What he offers us.  Who he still is.  And why we need him.

The second offering will be for Hope Unexpected. 

CHURCH FAMILY

Our prayers go out to Dave Pam Visser in the death of Dave’s mom, Ginny Boonstra.  She passed away this past Sunday morning.

If inclement weather warrants the cancelation of our worship services or Westend Wednesday activities, announcements will be made: on TV13, TV8, the Westend Facebook page, in the church center app, via text message and the church answering machine.

Are you unable to make it to church?  Would you like to receive a copy of the service on a CD each week? Contact Nichole in the office to get put on the mailing list for service CD’s!  

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 Help needed! We have a gentleman through VIS that lives on Richmond by Alpine NW that is unable to clear his sidewalks when there is a substantial amount of snow.  Is there anyone in the area who would be willing to shovel for him this winter?  The city requires they be cleared within 24 hours of snowfall.  This would be a shared duty with another volunteer.  Please contact Renee Maat if you are willing and able!  

Thank you Westend Family, for thinking of me.  Your thoughtfulness every Christmas time with a beautiful poinsettia plant and a bag full of lovely cards and notes.  I enjoyed every one!  I miss Sunday services and seeing you in person.   -Betty Cooper 

Thank you so much Westend Family for the cards and poinsettia plant! -Jeanne Besteman 

 Thank you for the numerous Christmas Cards and the beautiful plant.  -Phil Vanheest  

JROCK: First JROCK of the year will be next Sunday January 16th here at Westend from 3:45-5:30pm!  

LIFE: There is no meeting tonight!! Join us next Sunday from 6-8pm in the gym area for some food, games and a bible lesson. Save The Date: Join us for a tubing adventure at Cannonsburg on Friday February 11th! 

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Offerings           1/2/22            wkly goals 

Ministries       $14,160.84        $12,228

Chr Ed            $1,417.50         $1,308

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 1/9   

9:15 AM    Prayer Time   

9:45 AM    Morning Worship 

11:00 AM    Discovery Hour   

5:30 PM    Romans Bible Study 

TUESDAY – 1/11 

6:30 PM   Divorce Care 

WEDNESDAY – 1/12 

6:30 AM   Men’s Bible Study 

8:00 AM   Men’s Life 

1:00 PM   Cafe 

THURSDAY – 1/13 

9:30 AM   Knit & Crochet             

NEXT SUNDAY – 1/16   

9:15 AM    Prayer Time 

 9:45 AM    Morning Worship 

11:00 AM     Discovery Hour   

3:45 PM    JROCK   

6:00 PM    LIFE   

6:00 PM    Bible Study  

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, January 9th

Nursery- Jill Verbeek, 

Children’s Ministry- Jill Helms         

Coffee Servers- Jim & Grace Cremer, Barb Groenendyk

Welcome Center-Diane Maat

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Ben Cleveland

Sound- David Riley

Video- Micah Graybill 

NEXT WEEK, January 16th

Nursery- Holly Milanowski

Children’s Ministry- Wendy Burghgraef

Coffee Servers- Bill & Karen Winegar

Welcome Center-Jeni Verbeek

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Andrew Rodenhouse

Sound- Linda Vanderlaan

Video- Kristen Adrianse

January 2, 2022

TODAY

This Sunday Pastor Dan will bring us a message from Matthew 2:1-12, titled Light For The New Year.  During the service we will celebrate communion.  If you are worshipping from home, we encourage you to have communion elements ready.  

The second offering will be for Faith Promise. 

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will bring us a message from Matthew 13, titled Soil Analysis.

The second offering will be for Christian Education.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

There will be NO Children’s Worship today! Kids ages 3 & 4 are welcome to play in the nursery.  Children’s Worship and Sunday school will resume January 9th.

We are in need of many volunteers to keep running the nursery and Children’s Worship each week.  Please consider volunteering!  Contact Alisha Myers with any questions.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Offerings         12/26            wkly goals 

Ministries       $17,283.91        $12,228

Chr Ed            $16,497.50         $1,308

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 1/2

  9:15 AM         Prayer Time

  9:45 AM         Morning Worship

WEDNESDAY – 1/5

  6:30 AM   Men’s Bible Study

  8:00 AM   Men’s Life

  1:00 PM   Cafe

  5:30 PM   Community Dinner

  6:30 PM   Westend Wednesday

                   GEMs

                   Cadets

                   Bible Study

THURSDAY – 1/6

  6:30 PM   Women’s Bible Study

NEXT SUNDAY – 1/9

   9:15 AM    Prayer Time

   9:45 AM    Morning Worship

 11:00 AM    Discovery Hour

   5:30 PM    Romans Bible Study

   6:00 PM    LIFE

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, January 2nd

Nursery- Nancy Veenstra, 

              Lisa & Tre Verbeek

Coffee Servers- Dick & Kathy Myers

Welcome Center-Sue Mellema

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Mike Quigley

Sound- Jamison Niezurawski

Video- Kristen Adrianse

NEXT WEEK, January 9th

We need volunteers for Nursery and Children’s Worship next week!  Please sign up if you are able!

Coffee Servers- Jim & Grace Cremer, Barb Groenendyk

Welcome Center-Jeni Verbeek

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Ben Cleveland

Sound- David Riley

Video- Micah Graybill

CHRISTMAS DAY

Join us Christmas morning at 9:45am to celebrate our Savior’s birth!  Pastor Dan will preach the message Who’s Lying in the Manger?

The offering will be for Bethany Christian Services.

THIS SUNDAY (Dec 26th)

This Sunday Pastor Brian’s message, Hope Is Born, will be from Luke 2:1-20.

The second offering will be for Benevolence.

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will bring us a message from Matthew 2:1-12, titled Light For The New Year.  During the service we will celebrate communion.  If you are worshipping from home, we encourage you to have communion elements ready.  

The second offering will be for Faith Promise.

CHURCH FAMILY

Ginny Boonstra’s health is declining and she has been put into hospice care.  Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

THANK YOU

Thank you Westend family, for the love you show to our mom, Phyllis Flietstra, through your notes, thoughts & prayers and also with your Christmas cards and wishes. Mom may struggle a bit with remembering whom they are from, but it gives her so much joy in looking through each and every one of them. Thank you all for remembering her!  Merry Christmas, from Phyl and her family!

Thank you, Westend Family for thinking of me during this time of isolation and brightening my day with a beautiful red Poinsettia delivered by Mike Koning.  We are blessed to have a wonderful staff and Council that are working to keep this flock together.  Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words which inspire me to carry on.   Sharon Bajema

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Office Hours: The office will be open Monday-Wednesday 9am-3pm next week.

There will be NO Children’s Worship on Sunday January 2nd.  We are still in need of a volunteer in nursery on January 2nd.  Please contact Alisha Myers or the office if you are able to help out.

We are in need of many volunteers to keep running the nursery and Children’s Worship each week.  Please consider volunteering!  Contact Alisha Myers with any questions.

Pop Can Fundraiser: Next Sunday (Jan. 2) the CEMC will be collecting your clean, returnable bottles and cans.  Collection bins will be located in front of the double stall garage by the Church Office.  Thank you for your continuing support! 

Thursday evening ladies Bible Study will be starting a new study January 6th at 6:30pm.  We will be using the study “Seamless” by Angie Smith, which shows how the whole bible connects as one beautiful seamless thread!  If you would like to join us, or have questions, contact Faye Kragt.

Our next community dinner is January 5th!  Join us for a delicious chicken dinner.

JROCK / LIFE / AfterLIFE:

LIFE

Our next Sunday meeting will be Sunday January 9th from 6-8pm.  Can’t wait! 

OFFERINGS UPDATE 12/19:

Ministries       $11,561.25          Christian Educaiton    $510

Ways To Give

In Person: Drop your gift in one of the offering boxes

By Mail: Mail your gift to 1015 Westend Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Text: Text the amount you want to give to 84321. (ex. $10 in the message field)

Online: Go to: www.westendcrc.org/giving and donate online!

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 12/26

  9:15 AM    Prayer Time

  9:45 AM    Morning Worship

 11:00 AM     Discovery Hour

TUESDAY – 12/28

  12:00 PM   Christmas Break 

                   Chill Out

WEDNESDAY – 12/29

   6:30 AM   Men’s Bible Study

   8:00 AM   Men’s Life

   1:00 PM   Cafe

NEXT SUNDAY – 1/2

   9:15 AM    Prayer Time

   9:45 AM   Morning Worship

  11:00 AM   Discovery Hour

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, December 26th

Nursery- Christina Harms

Children’s Ministry- Tyler Harms

Coffee Servers- Al & Margie Broene

Welcome Center- Sue Mellema

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Nate Verbeek

Sound- Jamison Worst

Video- Kristen Adrianse

NEXT WEEK, January 2nd

We need volunteers for Nursery next week!  Please sign up if you are able!

Coffee Servers- Dick & Kathy Myers

Welcome Center-Jeni Verbeek

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Mike Quigley

Sound- Jamison Niezurawski

Video- Kristen Adrianse

JANUARY SCHEDULES:

SERMON SCHEDULE

JAN 2    Light For The New Year

JAN 9    Soil Analysis

JAN 16  New Series: I AM 

JAN 23  I AM:

JAN 30  I AM:

COLLECTION SCHEDULE

JAN 2    Faith Promise

JAN 9    Christian Education

JAN 16  Hope Unexpected

JAN 23  Benevolence

JAN 30  Cadet Sunday

COMMUNITY DINNERS

JAN 5    Chicken Dinner

JAN 19  Taco Night/Feeding America

December 19, 2021

TODAY

This Sunday Pastor Dan will conclude the Advent series Songs of Christmas.  His message, Simeon’s Song, will be from Luke 2:22-35.

The second offering will be for Edison Christian Life Services.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Join us Christmas morning at 9:45am to celebrate our Savior’s birth!  Pastor Dan will preach the message Who’s Lying in the Manger?

The offering will be for Bethany Christian Services.

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday we will hear a message from Pastor Brian.

The second offering will be for Benevolence.

CHURCH FAMILY

We would like to give a huge thank you to everyone who showed up to help with food prepping, cooking, setting up, serving and making this week’s Westend Wednesday a success! We couldn’t have done it without our church family!  

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

The Hallelujah Chorus walkup choir will be practicing after the service today!  We need at least 10 people in order to make it work this year! 

Have you been financially blessed this year?  Would you consider a special gift to be shared as a Christmas Blessing with those of our church family who haven’t been so fortunate?  You may place donations in the offering boxes, labeling them Christmas Blessings.  Thank you!

If you would like to remember our shut-ins with Christmas Cards, please put your cards in the decorated bags in the fellowship center today! 

Get your bids in!  Today is the last day to bid on the final pair of mittens!  The mittens are on display as you exit the sanctuary and are filled with wonderful surprises from the committee!  Forms for bidding were placed in your mailboxes last week.  Today is also the last day to place orders for mittens! 

Help needed! We are in need of volunteers for Nursery and Children’s Worship for the next couple of weeks! Please contact Alisha Myers or the office if you are able to help!

Offering envelopes have been placed in your mailboxes! If you did not receive envelopes but would like them, please contact the office!

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Offerings         12/12             wkly goals 

Ministries        $13,802           $12,228

Chr Ed            $4,544             $1,308

Ways To Give

In Person: Drop your gift in one of the offering boxes

By Mail: Mail your gift to 1015 Westend Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Text: Text the amount you want to give to 84321. (ex. $10 in the message field)

Online: Go to: www.westendcrc.org/giving and donate online!

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 12/19

  9:15 AM    Prayer Time

  9:45 AM    Morning Worship

 11:00 AM   Discovery Hour

 11:00 AM  Hallelujah Chorus Practice

  6:00 PM   Candlelight Service 

SATURDAY –12/25

  9:45 AM   Christmas Day Service

NEXT SUNDAY – 12/26

   9:15 AM  Prayer Time

   9:45 AM   Morning Worship

  11:00 AM  Discovery Hour

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, December 19th

Nursery- Rog & Sue Mellema

Children’s Ministry- VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Coffee Servers- Bill & Karen

Welcome Center- Kathy Myers

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Ben Cleveland

Sound- Linda Vanderlaan

Video- Micah Graybill

NEXT WEEK, December 26th

We need volunteers for both Nursery and Children’s Ministry!  Please sign up if you are able!

Coffee Servers- Al & Margie

Welcome Center- Sue Mellema

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Nate Verbeek

Sound- Jamison Worst

Video- Kristen Adrianse

December 12, 2021TODAYThis Sunday Pastor Dan will continue the Advent series Songs of Christmas. His message, Angel’s Song, will be from Luke 2:8-20.

The second offering will be for Christian Education.

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will continue the Advent series Songs of Christmas. His message, Simeon’s Song, will be from Luke 2:22-35.

The second offering will be for Edison Christian Life Services.

CHURCH FAMILY UPDATE

Mary Jane Timmer had a successful hip replacement surgery on Wednesday. We are grateful that things went well and she is at home recovering! Please pray for a smooth recovery.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Did your mailbox move? We are excited that new members are coming to Westend! In order to add new names to our mailboxes, many existing names have shifted, so please look carefully when you take your mail. 

If you would like to remember our shut-ins with Christmas Cards, there are decorated bags in the fellowship center for each of them that the deacons will deliver. Paper copies of the shut ins list is at the Welcome Center.

The Westend Kids Christmas program is THIS SUNDAY December 12th during the 9:45am worship service. We would like Young Fives through 5th grade students to get to church by 9:00 am. Please help your child get into their costume when they get to church. We would like kids ages 3 & 4 to get to church by 9:15.  Please meet us downstairs.

Have you been financially blessed this year? Would you consider a special gift to be shared as a Christmas Blessing with those of our church family who haven’t been so fortunate? You may place donations in the offering boxes, labeling them Christmas Blessings. Thank you!

If you took a tag from the Christmas tree, the unwrapped gifts are due today! Please place all unwrapped gifts with the tag under the tree in the fellowship center

Join us for a Carols and Cocoa night TONIGHT! Join us for an informal time of fellowship as we sing carols and enjoy hot cocoa together! We will have fire pits and heaters to keep warm, please bring chairs and blankets with you. Please park in the SOUTH parking lot and walk to the NORTH side of the building.

Do you want to be a blessing during the Christmas season? Join the Hallelujah Chorus walkup choir in preparing for the Christmas Day service! We will be practicing December 19th after the service- we need at least 10 people in order to make it work this year.

Our next Community Dinner is Wednesday December 15th, and it will be a delicious, youth-sponsored Christmas ham dinner! Today the last pair of mittens made by the Christian Ed. Committee are up for silent auction. They are on display as you exit the sanctuary and are filled with wonderful surprises from the committee. Forms for bidding are in your boxes today. Thank you for your continued support of Christian Education! We will continue to accept orders for mittens through December.

Thursday evening ladies Bible study will be starting a new study January 6 at 6:30pm, and will meet the first, third and fifth Thursdays for 7 sessions. We will be using the study “Seamless” by Angie Smith, which shows how the whole Bible connects as one beautiful seamless thread. Books are $14 each. If you would like to join us or have questions, contact Faye Kragt.

Offering envelopes have been placed in your mailboxes! If you did not receive envelopes but would like them, please contact the office! 

Divorce Care is a caring group of people who will walk alongside those who are experiencing one of life’s most difficult experiences. The 13-week program is a Christ centered way of navigating through the process of recovery. It includes a video series and workbook featuring experts on divorce. The cost is $15. We encourage you to invite friends or family who may be experiencing a divorce or separation to join us. The next class starts Tuesday, January 11, at 6:30pm in the Cafe at Westend Church. For more information you can email Deb Stapley, or go to divorcecare.org

YOUTH

LIFE: 
Join us tonight for a fun night as we hang out outdoors with the rest of the church community starting at 6pm. We will have fire pits, s’mores & hot chocolate and sing some Christmas Carols. Hope to see you there! This Wednesday (December 15th) will be our next fundraising dinner! We will need your help as we put together a ham dinner & celebrate the Christmas season. Please contact Brian if you haven’t signed up for a work shift yet!
SPECIAL SERVICESKids Christmas Program – TODAYCarols & Cocoa – TONIGHT @ 6 PMCandlelight Service – Dec 19th @ 6 PMChristmas Worship – Dec 25th @ 9:45 AMWEEKLY PRAYER FOCUS

This week, please pray that the Westend Congregation, as “good christian friends”, will, in the words of a familiar Advent hymn, “rejoice, with heart and soul and voice” as we wait in expectation to celebrate the birth of our Lord and anticipate his coming again.

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 12/12

9:15 AM Prayer Time

9:45 AM Morning Worship

11:00 AM Discovery Hour

6:00 PM Carols & Cocoa

MONDAY –12/137:00 PM Ad Board 

WEDNESDAY –12/156:30 AM Men’s Bible Study

 8:00 AM Men’s Life

1:00 PM Cafe
5:30 PM Community Dinner
6:30 PM Westend Wednesday: GEMs, Cadets, Bible Study

THURSDAY –12/16

6:00 PM Kids Hope Wrap Party

NEXT SUNDAY – 12/199:15 AM Prayer Time

9:45 AM Morning Worship 

11:00 AM Discovery Hour

6:00 PM Candlelight Service

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, December 12th

Nursery- Lynn Bengelink

Children’s Ministry- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Coffee Servers-Jamie & Rene Mata, Mary Ouwinga

Welcome Center- Jeni Verbeek

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Andrew Rodenhouse

Sound- Ryan Faber

Video- Micah Graybill

NEXT WEEK, December 19th

Nursery- Rog & Sue Mellema 

Children’s Ministry- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Coffee Servers- Bill & Karen

Welcome Center- Kathy Myers

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Ben Cleveland

Sound- Lind Vanderlaan

Video- VOLUNTEER NEEDED

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Offerings 12/5/21 wkly goals 

Ministries $5,784 $12,228

Chr Ed $690 $1,308

Ways To Give

In Person: Drop your gift in one of the offering boxes

By Mail: Mail your gift to 1015 Westend Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Text: Text the amount you want to give to 84321. (ex. $10 in the message field)

Online: Go to: www.westendcrc.org/giving and donate online!

Meet or Exceed

The end of the year is fast approaching and is a time of Thankfulness and Remembrance. Thankfulness and Remembrance for the gifts God has given us, most of all His Son. As we celebrate this Christmas season the Ad Board and Council ask you to prayerfully consider West End in your giving plans for the year. In the past we have given a specific dollar amount we were targeting to raise but I thought it would be more appropriate to let you know where the church could use help. 

Ministry Fund: This is a fund that helps with operating the facilities, staffing and general ministry operations. Giving to this fund will help make sure we are able to meet our commitments agreed to by the congregation when it approved the budget for the 21-22 fiscal year. Last year we ended behind by about 40,000 and it would be great to meet our commitments.

Facilities Fund: Monthly our church saves money to help with potential repairs or upgrades to our church. This fund has been utilized quite a bit this last year for things like roof leaks, parking lot up keep and other miscellaneous items. There are many things other things coming that need to be addressed in our church facilities and extra funds would help greatly.- Fire suppression system maintenance/possible replacement – Remodel completion of Woman’s bathroom in the basement- Roof/ Shingle replacement – will need to be done in the near future

Christian Education Fund: This is a fund where we support the families who would like to send their kids to Christian Schools. This is an annual need that can always use funds to help.

Outreach Fund : Helping our community with programs and services that show the love of God.- Kids hope- Feeding America Truck- Benevolence needs

Youth programs – The Youth group is considering a major mission trip this summer and could use your helpTHANK YOU – for prayerfully considering an opportunity to help in whatever way that you can. 

Blessed to be a Blessing!

Note from Administrator:

To ensure that we continue to provide a safe church environment for all who attend Westend CRC, we know it is important for us to stay informed and up to date on how covid is currently impacting our community. As you are likely aware, the covid positivity rate in Kent County remains significantly elevated and we would like to remind everyone to keep this in mind when making decisions about worshipping at Westend. If you are sick, please stay home until you are feeling better. Masks are not required to attend church, however if you are willing to wear a mask, please wear one. We will continue to keep an open dialogue with our WE community and allow you to make the decisions that are best for you and your family.

TODAY

This Sunday Pastor Dan will continue the Advent series Songs of Christmas.  His message, Zechariah’s Song, will be from Luke 1:67-69.

During the service we will celebrate communion.  If you are worshipping from home, we encourage you to have communion elements ready.

The second offering will be for Faith Promise.

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will continue the Advent series Songs of Christmas.  His message, Angel’s Song, will be from Luke 2:8-20.

The second offering will be for Christian Education.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you would like to remember our shut-ins with Christmas Cards, there will soon be decorated bags in the fellowship center for each of them that the deacons will deliver.  A list of shut-ins was placed in your mailbox today.

Westend’s Kids Christmas Program is next Sunday, December 12.  We will be having a dress rehearsal for all kids ages 3 – 5th grade following the morning service TODAY.

Have you been financially blessed this year?  Would you consider a special gift to be shared as a Christmas Blessing with those of our church family who haven’t been so fortunate?  You may place donations in the offering boxes, labeling them Christmas Blessings.  Thank you!

There are still some tags left on the Christmas Tree in the Fellowship Center- please feel free to grab a tag or two, buy the gift listed, and return the unwrapped gift to church by next Sunday December 12th

Join us for the last Zumba of the year! Monday night at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Center.

Join us for a Carols and Cocoa night next Sunday! 

We are excited about getting together as a Westend Family to sing carols and enjoy hot cocoa and fellowship!  You are welcome to bring chairs and blankets with you.  We are looking forward to celebrating together! 

Thank you everyone for supporting the CEMC and their efforts to provide mittens for children who need them.  Orders for mittens are due TODAY, but will be accepted anytime before Christmas since we have a supply of them.  We have saved the best pair of mittens for last! Next week (Dec 12) there will be the last pair of mittens on display in the back of church- they will be up for silent auction!  They are filled with wonderful Christmas surprises from our committee.  There will be a slip in your box next week for you to fill out with the amount that you would like to bid for those mittens!  You will NOT be disappointed!  Check them out next Sunday in the back of church and out your winning bid slips in the box- we will let you know the winner the following Sunday!  Thank you so much for all of your support! 

Do you want to be a blessing during the Christmas season?  Join the Hallelujah Chorus walkup choir in preparing for the Christmas Day service! We will be practicing December 19th after the service- we need at least 10 people in order to make it work this year!

Our next Community Dinner is Wednesday December 15th, and it will be a delicious, youth-sponsored Christmas ham dinner!  

Kids Hope Mentors: The last day of school for Shawmut Hills before Christmas break is December 15th.

THANK YOU

We would like to give a huge thank you to everyone who showed up to help make this week’s Westend Wednesday and Feeding America Food Truck a success! We couldn’t have done it without you!  

JROCK (6th-8th graders)

Bundle up for a JROCK Winter Party!  We will have a bonfire, food and laser tag in the Westend parking lot TONIGHT from 3:45-5pm!  This is our last event for the year! We will be outside so dress warm! 

LIFE (9th-12th graders)

Join us tonight from 6-8pm in the church basement for a night of Christmas fun!  We will play some games, eat some food & discuss the joy of Christmas! 

Join us next Sunday for a fun night as we hang out outdoors with the rest of the church community.  We will have fire pits, s’mores, hot chocolate and sing some Christmas Carols!  Hope to see you there!  

Save The Date! Wednesday December 15th will be our next fundraising dinner!  We will need your help as we put together a ham dinner as we celebrate the Christmas season.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Offerings       11/28/21       wkly goals 

Ministries        $6,757         $12,228

Chr Ed             $555           $1,308

WAYS TO GIVE

In Person: Drop your gift in one of the offering boxes
By Mail: 
Mail your gift to: 1015 Westend Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Text: Text the amount you want to give to 84321. (ex. $10 in the message field)
Online: Go to www.westendcrc.org/giving and donate online, or find out more ways to give!

SPECIAL SERVICES

Kids Christmas Program – Dec 12th @ 9:45 AM

Carols & Cocoa – Dec 12th @ 6 PM

Candlelight Service – Dec 19th @ 6 PM

Christmas Worship – Dec 25th @ 9:45 AM

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 12/5

   9:15 AM Prayer Time

9:45 AM  Morning Worship

  11:00 AM  Christmas Program  

    Practice Ages 3 – 5th grade!

  11:00 AM  Discovery Hour

   3:45 PM  JROCK Winter Party

   5:30 PM  Romans Bible Study

   6:00 PM  LIFE                

MONDAY –12/6

  6:30 PM   Zumba 

TUESDAY –12/7

   6:30 PM  Divorce Care

WEDNESDAY –12/8

   6:30 AM   Men’s Bible Study 

   8:00 AM   Men’s Life 

   1:00 PM   Cafe

   7:00 PM   Council

THURSDAY –12/9

   9:30 AM   Knit & Crochet

NEXT SUNDAY – 12/12

   9:15 AM Prayer Time

9:45 AM  Morning Worship

  11:00 AM  Christmas Program  

  11:00 AM  Discovery Hour

   6:00 PM  Carols & Cocoa

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, December 5th

Nursery- Holly Milanowski, Michelle Terrell

Children’s Ministry-Staci Carroll

Coffee Servers-Dick & Kathy Myers

Welcome Center- Jacki Baker

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Micheal Quigley

Sound- Linda Vanderlaan

Video- Kristen Adrianse

NEXT WEEK, December 12th

Nursery- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED      

Children’s Ministry- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Coffee Servers-Jamie & Rene Mata, Mary Ouwinga

Welcome Center- Jeni Verbeek

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Andrew Rodenhouse

Sound- Ryan Faber

Video- Micah Graybill

November 28, 2021

TODAY

This Sunday Pastor Dan will begin the Advent series Songs of Christmas.  The first message will be Mary’s Song from Luke 1:46-56.  During the service, Chad VanderWilp will be installed as a deacon.

The second offering will be for Audio Scripture Ministries. 

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will continue the Advent series Songs of Christmas.  His message will be Zechariah’s Song from Luke 1:67-69.

During the service we will celebrate communion.  If you are worshipping from home, we encourage you to have communion elements ready.

The second offering will be for Faith Promise.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Westend’s Kids Christmas Program is Sunday, December 12.  We will be having a dress rehearsal for all kids ages 3 – 5th grade following the morning service on Sunday, December 5.  

CEMC will meet November 30th at 7pm in the Church Office Conference room.  There will be no December meeting!

Join us for a Carols and Cocoa night! We are excited about getting together as a Westend Family to sing carols and enjoy hot cocoa and fellowship!  You are welcome to bring chairs and blankets with you.  We are looking forward to celebrating together!  Save the date: Sunday December 12th at 6pm.

The Christian education committee will be collecting your clean, returnable bottles and cans next Sunday! Collection bins will be located in front of the double stall garage located by the church offices. Thank you for your continuing support!

Cozy Christmas Fundraiser! In your mailbox today is an order form that you can use to sponsor fleece mittens! The profits go to Christian Education, and the mittens may be for your personal Christmas giving or to sponsor those in need!  Please turn your order form with payment to the box near the Welcome Center by Sunday December 5th!  

There are tags on the Christmas Tree in the Fellowship Center- please feel free to grab a tag or two, buy the gift listed, and return the unwrapped gift to church no later than December 12th.

SAVE THE DATES!

            Kids Christmas Program – Dec 12th @ 9:45 AM

            Carols & Cocoa – Dec 12th @ 6 PM

            Candlelight Service – Dec 19th @ 6 PM

            Christmas Day Service – Dec 25th @ 9:45 AM

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Offerings       11/21/21         wkly goals 

Ministries        $2,376         $12,228

Chr Ed             $175           $1,308

WAYS TO GIVE

In Person: Drop your gift in one of the offering boxes
By Mail: 
Mail your gift to: 1015 Westend Ave NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Text: Text the amount you want to give to 84321. (ex. $10 in the message field)
Online: Go to www.westendcrc.org/giving and donate online, or find out more ways to give!

JROCK (6th-8th graders)

Our next meeting will be December 5th! We will meet downstairs 3:45 – 5:30 pm for food, games and a Bible lesson.

Save the date! Friday December 10th will be our next JROCK activity! More details to come.

LIFE (9th-12th graders)

Our next meeting will be December 5th!  We will meet in the church basement from 6-8pm for dinner, Bible lesson and other group activities.

This week, please pray that The Holy Spirit will enable all involved with serving in our worship services to be able to do it skillfully so that our worship is God-glorifying and a blessing to the congregation.

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 11/28

  9:15 AM    Prayer Time

  9:45 AM    Morning Worship

 11:00 AM   Discovery Hour

  3:45 PM   JROCK 

  5:30 PM   Bible Study

  6:00 PM   LIFE            

MONDAY –11/29

  6:30 PM   Zumba 

TUESDAY –11/30

   6:30 PM  Divorce Care

   7:00 PM  CEMC Meeting

WEDNESDAY –12/1

   6:30 AM   Men’s Bible Study 

   8:00 AM   Men’s Life 

   1:00 PM   Cafe

   5:00 PM  Feeding America

   5:30 PM  Community Dinner

   6:30 PM  Westend Wednesday:

        -Cadets, GEMS, Bible Study

THURSDAY –12/2

   6:30 PM   Women’s Bible Study

NEXT SUNDAY – 12/5

   9:15 AM  Prayer Time

   9:45 AM   Morning Worship

  11:00 AM  Christmas Program  

    Practice Ages 3 – 5th grade!

  11:00 AM  Discovery Hour

   3:45 PM  JROCK

   5:30 PM  Romans Bible Study

   6:00 PM  LIFE

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, November 28th

Nursery- Nancy Veenstra

Children’s Ministry- VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Coffee Servers- Al & Margie Broene

Welcome Center- Kathy Myers

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Kristen Adrianse

Sound- Jamison Worst

Video- Micah Graybill

NEXT WEEK, December 5th

Nursery- Holly Milanowski

              Michelle Terrell

Children’s Ministry- VOLUNTEER NEEDED

Coffee Servers-Dick & Kathy Myers

Welcome Center- Jacki Baker

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Micheal Quigley

Sound- Linda Vanderlaan

Video- Kristen Adrianse

November 21 2021

TODAY

This Sunday Pastor Dan will conclude the series Prayer: Nurturing a Relationship.  His sermon, from 1 Thessalonians 5:17, will be Pray Continually.

The second offering will be for Christmas Blessings.

THANKSGIVING

We gather with grateful hearts at 9:45 Thursday morning to praise God for his many blessings.

Our offering will be for the Northwest Food Pantry.

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will begin the Advent series Songs of Christmas.  The first message will be Mary’s Song from Luke 1.

The second offering will be for Audio Scripture Ministries.

THANK YOU!

We would like to give a huge thank you to everyone who showed up to help with food prepping, cooking, setting up, serving and making this week’s Westend Wednesday a success! We couldn’t have done it without our church family!  

Thank you for supporting our first bottle/can collection!  The first collection netted over $120 for Christian Education!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Join us for a Carols and Cocoa night! We are excited about getting together as a Westend Family to sing carols and enjoy hot cocoa and fellowship!  You are welcome to bring chairs and blankets with you.  We are looking forward to celebrating together!  Save the date: Sunday December 12th at 6pm.

Alpha Grand Rapids, a pregnancy resource center, is in need of children’s, women’s & men’s winter coats, boots, and hats & mittens to get families ready for winter.  If you are sorting through winter clothing and wondering where to bring them, there will be a tub in the back of church for donations.  Or call Luanne Hoeksema at 616-460-3318 for pick up. 

CEMC will meet November 30th at 7pm in the Church Office Conference room.  There will be no December meeting.

Cozy Christmas Fundraiser! In your mailbox today is an order form that you can use to sponsor fleece mittens! The profits go to Christian Education, and the mittens may be for your personal Christmas giving or to sponsor those in need!  Please turn your order form with payment to the box near the Welcome Center by Sunday December 5th!  

JROCK (6th-8th graders)

Join us tonight from 3:45-5:30pm!  We will meet downstairs 3:45 – 5:30 pm for food, games and a Bible lesson.

LIFE (9th-12th graders)

Join us tonight from 6-8 pm.  We will meet in the church basement for dinner, Bible lesson and other group activities.  

Join us this Saturday, Nov. 27 for Broomball!  We are going to have our Sr. High students compete against our recent graduates for a night of slip-sliding fun!  Cost is $5. 

afterLIFE

Join us Saturday November 27th for our Sr High vs Post High Broomball challenge!  We will meet at church at 7pm and wrap up around 9:30pm.  The cost is $5.

THIS WEEK

TODAY – 11/21

  9:15 AM    Prayer Time

  9:45 AM    Morning Worship

 11:00 AM   Discovery Hour

  3:45 PM   JROCK 

  5:30 PM   Bible Study

  6:00 PM   LIFE                        

MONDAY –11/22

  6:30 PM   Zumba 

TUESDAY –11/23

   6:30 PM  Divorce Care

WEDNESDAY –11/24

   6:30 AM   Men’s Bible Study 

   8:00 AM   Men’s Life 

   1:00 PM   Cafe

   7:00 PM   Bad Girls of the Bible 

   7:00 PM   Council   

THURSDAY –11/25

   9:45 AM   Thanksgiving Service

SATURDAY –11/27

   7:00 PM   LIFE vs afterLIFE 

                  Broomball

NEXT SUNDAY – 11/28

   9:15 AM  Prayer Time

   9:45 AM   Morning Worship

  11:00 AM  Discovery Hour

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

TODAY, November 21st

Nursery- Stephanie Payton

Children’s Ministry- Wendy Burghgraef

Welcome Center- Jacki Baker

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Nate Verbeek

Sound- David Riley

Video- Matt Falk

NEXT WEEK, November 28th

We need volunteers for both Nursery and Children’s Ministry!  Please sign up if you are able!

Welcome Center- Kathy Myers

Audio/Visual:

Slides- Kristen Adrianse

Sound- David Riley

Video- Micah Graybill

FINANCIAL UPDATE

Offerings       11/1 – 11/14   wkly goals 

Ministries        $23,457          $12,228

Chr Ed            $1,450             $1,308

November 14th 2021

TODAY

This Sunday Pastor Dan will bring us a message from Matthew 7 1-11 titled Ask and You Will Receive. 

The second offering will be for Christian Education.

NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday Pastor Dan will bring us a message titled Pray Continually from 1 Thessalonians 5:17. 

The second offering will be for Christmas Blessing.

Our prayer focus this week is that God will help Westend Church to be a welcoming congregation where visitors and seekers, as well as members, feel loved and supported.

Did you know? We have a prayer line that you can call at any time to request prayer for yourself or someone else. Thanks to our faithful volunteers, the prayer line recording is updated regularly so you can also find out about prayer requests from others in our congregation. The phone number for the prayer line is listed on the front of the bulletin every week.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS 

This Wednesday is Westend Wednesday!  Join us for a turkey dinner at 5:30, stay for GEMS, Cadets and Ladies’ Bible Study.

It’s not too late…Youth group is selling apple pies to raise money for their summer mission trip.  Pies are $10 each or $5 for a personal sized pie.  They will be made and available for pick up on Saturday – just in time for the holidays!  Order forms are due by Tuesday and are available in your church mailbox or by the welcome center.

What are you thankful for?  We would like you to record a short video telling us what you are grateful for and send that video to worship@westendcrc.org.  We will then compile those video clips into a video that we will share at our Thanksgiving service next week.  Please send those videos in by this week Wednesday!  

Looking Ahead…

As we enter the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, here are a few dates to keep in mind in addition to our regularly scheduled events:

November 25 Thanksgiving Day Service

December 12  Children’s Christmas Program (AM)  Cocoa & Carols (PM)

December 19 Candlelight Service (PM)

December 25 Christmas Day Service

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday morning coffee servers are still needed! If you could volunteer for 1 Sunday a month or every other month, that would be very helpful!   We need 3 people for each Sunday. Please call Kathy Myers or sign up at the Welcome Center if you are able!

JROCK (6th-8th Graders)

• Join us next week for our next Sunday meeting.  We will meet downstairs 3:45 – 5:30 pm for food, games and a Bible lesson

• Join us ths Saturday, November 20 as we volunteer with Sus Manos Gleaners, a ministry based out of Jenison that processes locally grown produce and sends the food to countries around the world. We will meet at Westend at 8:30 am and volunteer from 9-11. Parents and other family members are welcome to come and serve with us! 

LIFE  (9^th-12^th graders) 

• Join us tonight from 6-8 pm.  We will meet in the church basement for dinner, Bible lesson and other group activities.  
• We will be making apple pies this weekend.  We are looking for volunteers to help from 3-5 on Friday and from 9-1 on Saturday.  Even if it’s just for a little bit, we can use your help!
• Join us Saturday, Nov. 27 for Broomball!  We are going to have our Sr. High students compete against our recent graduates for a night of slip-sliding fun!  Cost is $5.    Save the date!

AfterLIFE (High school graduates)

• Come join us tonight for our Sr. High meeting and join us for Broomball