FRC Calendar

‍🗞️ HEADLINE NEWS

Christmas Worship Preparations are a buzz. The piano keys are dancing. The organ pipes are bursting. The choir is singing. The Preacher is prepping! We hope to see you at 6 PM on Christmas Eve for our Carols & Candlelight Service and then, let’s get celebrating on Christmas morning at 9 AM! 

You Missed It…we’re so sorry to inform you that if you missed this year’s Giving Experience, you missed meeting our very own José Feliciano impersonator. There’s a video floating around but it hasn’t made it to this Editor…yet! 🪇🎤#panchojosefeliciano [Left: happy Giving Experience songsters].

Deacon’s to Debut à la carte Options for Special Offerings.  Nope, that sounds too fancy. Really, does anyone truly know what a la carte means in French? Our Investigative Reporter contacted our local and still reasonably priced Informant, Google, and found it means “according to the menu”. Yup, too fancy. Let’s try “Deacons to offer Buffet Style Special Offering Menu”. Here’s the scoop:

Over the months of January & February, the Deacons will be advertising two special offering recipients. So anytime over the course of those two months you may designate your monthly special offering to the recipient(s) that you have particular interest or passion in. Why make this change, you ask?  Well …

1. Sometimes people have missions they are particularly passionate about and would like to have more options and/or be more involved in choosing where to give,
2. There are times people miss the short window of giving and wish the special offering was open for a longer period, and
3. Over time, offering more giving options - ‘buffet style” - allows us to offer more options to assist those with ministries and/or those in need.

What’s changing for you? Starting in January you will simply need to mark your envelope (or check the appropriate box online) with which of the two missions you wish to support with your contribution - Pastor Elijah with Living Hope Uganda or Love INC’s Refugee Resettlement Program. Both organizations have critical needs and the Deacons will be providing more in depth information on both of these mission opportunities in the next few weeks. If you do not declare which ministry you wish to support, we will split the contribution equally between the two missions. We know change can be confusing but we hope you’ll go with the flow and allow us to change up the special offering program a bit to see if it meets the needs of generous donors like yourself!  This is a pilot. So help us out and give it a try!

Care Team Gears Up for 2025! You heard it here first. Well, no. You heard it first at the Congregational Meeting but this “Weekly” was a close second to describing the new Care Team structure to focus on those who choose to participate in the ministry. The initial list will include individuals in senior living residences, those 80 years of age and older, widow/ers, and those who choose to opt in. People can opt in (or out) of support from the Care Team as their needs change. So, if you are not in the designated groups, you can “Opt In”. Conversely, if you’re in a designated group, you may choose to “Opt Out”, click HERE. In either case you can also let the Office or Welcome Center know.

📰 IN LOCAL NEWS

ELDERS ELECTED…At the December 8th Congregational meeting, the following people were chosen as Elders: Jim Blok, Dean Hengst and Kathy Spencer. If you know of any biblical reasons why any of these people chosen cannot serve, please contact Pastor Bob or Pastor Brian.

PASTOR / GRANDPA BOB is making an appearance at our 6 PM Christmas Eve Service! Kids will want to come check it out! A time reflecting on Jesus’ birth with carols & candles is a great way to start off the family celebrations.

YOUTH MISSION TRIP 2025 UPDATE! Lead222's hybrid week-long leadership conference and service based mission trip will be in Indianapolis, IN the week of July 6th-12th! There are already nearly 100 people planning to attend from across the country. If you are interested (as a student in 8th-12th grade, or as a leader) in receiving more information as it comes available FILL OUT THIS 3 QUESTION FORM, by Dec. 31st! There is information in the form about the hotel we’ll stay at, the church where we’ll have our evening sessions and the cost of the trip.

🩳 NEWS BRIEFS

🎄How’s that Advent Reading Going? This week’s worship theme is Peace. Stories include the Manger, Dove, Blanket and Angel. Keep with it ya’ all!

🎄2025 Contribution Envelopes are available for those that use the number envelopes. This is week #3 of advertising… we are starting to realize who needs to start reading the bulletin! #20Left #GrabYoursToday 😆

🎄️ Attendance last week was 354 with a total offering of $14,784. December’s Special Offering is designated for the “Families In Need Fund” at Oostburg Elementary. Month-to-date the offering is at: $3,374.‍