SERVING AT EBENEZER EBENEZER REFORMED CHURCH

SERVING AT EBENEZER
Sunday December 21
Greeters:
Bill & Willie Kruizinga
Nursery:
Jerry Keunen & Kim Van Geel
Deacons:
Anne Meinen & Magda Byker
Elders:
Jerry Keunen
Organist:
Jeannette Buursma
Audio/Video: Richard Balt
December 24 – Christmas Eve
Greeters:
Everyone
Nursery:
Ed Keus & Jannie Balt
Deacons:
Jannie Balt & Josh Keus
Elders:
Peter Balt
Organist:
Ed Zwart
Audio/Video: Josh Labrie
December 25 – Christmas Day
Greeters:
Pastor Dave & Heather
Nursery:
Volunteers
Deacons:
Anne Meinen & Magda Byker
Elders:
Harry Keus
Organist:
Jeannette Buursma
Audio/Video: Hannah Vandervelde
Sunday December 28
Greeters:
Peter & Fran Balt
Nursery:
Ed & Mary Keus
Deacons:
Jannie Balt & Josh Keus
Elders:
Corinne Sprong
Organist:
Ed Zwart
Audio/Video: Hannah Vandervelde
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Greeters:
Everyone
Nursery:
Volunteers
Deacons:
Anne Meinen & Magda Byker
Elders:
Corinne Sprong
Organist:
Ed Zwart
Audio/Video: TBA
EBENEZER REFORMED CHURCH
621 Highway 8
Stoney Creek, ON, L8G 5G2
905-643-2041
www.ebenezerreformed.ca
Minister: Rev. David Vandervelde
pastor@ebenezerreformed.ca
December 21, 2014
4th unday of Advent
Welcome! We are glad you have chosen to
worship with us.
Pastor David Vandervelde will lead us in
worship.
May God bless him as he seeks to teach us from God’s word.
If anyone would like a CD recording of today's service,
please contact Gerry Spekkers at 905-662-3045.
PRAYER CONCERNS
Elderly & Shut ins:
Mrs. Balt,
Gerry & Toni Piersma,
Mrs. Peterson,
Mrs. Tuk,
Mrs. Woldhuis.
Healing:
*Simon Heeringa is struggling with headaches and abdominal
pain.
*Henny Amama continues to suffer with her health.
*Rene Smid is struggling with Parkinson’s.
ORDER OF SERVICE
4th Sunday of Advent
* Please Stand If Able
WE GATHER IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
*Lighting of the Advent Candles
*Hymn # 92 - Love Divine
Prayer & God’s Blessing
Congregational Greeting
Children leave for Sunday School
* Hymn # 123 - O Come, O Come Emmanuel
* Hymn # 134 - Emmanuel
* Hymn In Christ Alone
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS WORD
Confession of Sin & Assurance of Pardon
Hymn # 143 - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Scripture Ephesians 4:17 - 5:2
Message ADVENT AT THE MOVIES –
THE SANTA CLAUSE
Prayer
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD
*Hymn # 148 - O Holy Night
Congregational Prayer
The Lord’s Tithe and Our Offerings
* Offertory Prayer
* Hymn # 620 We Give Thee But Thine Own
WE GO OUT TO LIVE OUR FAITH
*The Benediction
*Closing Hymn # 132 - Angels We Have Heard on High
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Please join us after the service for fellowship and refreshments.
BULLETIN NOTES
Sunday School
Please note there will be a full dress rehearsal for our
Christmas program today in the sanctuary following the
service. The children will also be served a hotdog lunch
following the practice.
THANK YOU to those who have volunteered their time
and talents to help with the stage set-up for the Christmas
Program.
Tuesday December 23 at 7 pm
Last Christmas Choir practice.
Financial update
December 1-14
$ 6,533
Total todate
$113,009
Budget todate
$125,000
Shortfall todate
$ 11,991
2nd collection for Hamilton Food Share $201.60
Consistory asks that we all please prayerfully consider offering
an extra contribution during the month of December to help
meet our 2014 budget obligations.
To us a child is born, to us a son is given.
And He will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!
Celebrating with you the birth of Christ our Lord,
and wishing you all the blessing of His love.
We are grateful for the gift you have been and
continue to be to our family.
Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year to Ebenezer!
Love from Pastor David, Heather, Hannah and Rebekah
Vandervelde
Bulletin announcements are due by Wednesday
evening. Call 905-664-6786 or email csprong@cogeco.ca
Christmas at Ebenezer
Intercessory Prayer
Offering Our Prayers as Christmas Gifts
As Herod killed too many innocent babies in an obsessive attempt
to kill baby Jesus, so today’s Herods--terrorists and communists—
mass murder and behead those who don’t share their beliefs.
While we are celebrating the birth of our Savior at our
comfortable homes, at this moment so many believers are facing
terrible suffering and sorrows. Christ entered the suffering of the
world to redeem us and so we should also participate in His
suffering as an act of love and concern. This Christmas season,
why don’t we spend more time to cry out to the Lord for our
persecuted brothers and sisters? “When we work, we work. When
we pray, God works.”
NIGERIA: On Sunday, Nov 22, Christians were brutally attacked. A
3 year-old child, Joel was running back home holding onto his
Children's Bible when 3 Islamic insurgents grabbed him.
According to an eyewitness, one of them tried to take the Bible
from him but the little boy refused. The insurgent snatched the
Bible by force and threw it into a nearby burning fire. Joel ran
toward the fire to rescue his beloved Bible. While struggling with
a stick to remove his Bible from the fire, Joel was hit on the head
with the butt of an AK-47 and pushed into the fire. The insurgent
stepped on the child's head, pressing it into the burning flames, all
the while railing curses and abuses, calling him a "stubborn
infidel." Then, he callously walked away, leaving the wounded
child at the scene. Let us ask the Lord to bring justice in such an
unjust world and heal Joel.
Christian Tragedy in the Muslim World: The largest
persecution of Christians in history, worse even than the famous
attacks under ancient Roman emperors like Diocletian and Nero.
Nigeria and Kenya: Islamists’ constant attacks
Egypt: 1 year after the historical attacks by Muslims, Churches
have been struggling to rebuild the ruins.
Mark your calendars for this year’s Christmas services.
It’s not too early to invite your friends and family.
Christmas Eve at 6pm - Candlelight Service
Christmas Day at 10am - Christmas Day Service
New Year’s Eve at 6pm - Prayer & Praise Service
UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
Dec. 23
Philip Balt
Dec. 28
Jerry Keunen
Dec. 28
Harry Keus
Dec. 29
Johanna Meijerink
Dec. 31
Paul Huisman
Jan. 1
Jadyn Westenberg
Jan. 4
Sally Blomberg
Jan. 5
Betty Keus
Jan. 5
Brandon Rijgersberg
Jan. 5
Devin Van Der Marel
Jan. 8
Blake Harrod
Jan 10
Johanna Peacock
Jan. 12
Joshua Labrie
Jan. 19
Henk Meijerink
Jan. 20
Chris Piersma
Jan. 22
Ken Klunder
Congratulations!
May the Lord bless you on your special day.