We welcome all members and visitors to our services today.  Today is Mother’s Day.  Let us use this day to give God thanks for the mothers He has given to us.

Today we welcome Gary Maas who will lead us in our worship services.

We invite each one to join us after the morning service for fellowship and coffee.

The May 20 special evening service (see announcement) and the May 27 morning services are in the North Church.  The May 13 and 20 morning services are in the South Church.  The May 27 evening service will be announced later.  The services are at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  (NOTE CHANGE OF DATES DUE TO THE SPECIAL MORNING SERVICE ON MAY 27 AT DCS.)

OPPORTUNITIES OF SERVICE:

Greeters: May 11:  Leonard De Vries

                 May 20:  Keith and Norma De Waard and family

                 May 27:  Carl & Lisa Hoogers Family; Rich & Char Uilenberg

                 June 03:  Eltha Wolbrink/Marilyn Vanden Hoek; Doug and Sherryl Plooster Family 

Nursery:  This week:  AM:  Crystal DL, Tucker DL 

                 Next week:  AM:  Cassie E, Cameron K 

Children’s Church:  (For children 3-5 years of age)

    This week:  Teacher:  Cindy W  Helper:  Alex M

    Next week:  Teacher:  Ruth W  Helper:  Michael M

Bulletin/Mail Delivery:  May 13 - Daryl, May 20 - LaRoy, May 27 - Randy, June 03 - Wayne

Ministry of Music: May 27: Robert P

                               May 20: Evan B

                               June 3 or 17: Todd P

                               June 10 or 24: Rod DL

Write to Missionaries:   Allen VH to Michelsons 

North Church Offering:  This week:   General Fund

                             Next week:  General Fund

South Church Offering:  This week:   Bethany Christian Services

                                         Next week:  DCS

CALENDAR:

Sunday:  The library will be open following the morning service.

Tuesday:  Council/Consistory Meeting, 8:00 p.m., North Church

Thursday:  Ascension Day Service, 7:30 p.m., Aurora Reformed Church

Friday:  DCS Graduation Ceremony, 6:00 p.m., DCS gymnasium

ADVANCE NOTICE:

*May 20-Graduation Lunch

*May 20-VBS signup deadline

*May 26, 27-100 Years of Christian Education Celebration

*June 4-8-VBS at Aurora Reformed Church

*July 11-RCYM summer program and silent auction

PRAYER REQUESTS:

       *Please pray for Kim M as she is on her mission trip to Tanzania. 

       *Please pray for healing for Ted and Aletha M, Arvin VB, Mabell DJ, LaRoy L, Barb DV, Brent DL and Arlene P.

       *Please pray for our missionaries: the Michelsons, the Selemanis,  the Wunderinks and J Wiersma.

       *Please continue to pray for those who are battling cancer:  Barb S, Pastor Kevin K, and others in this area who struggle with cancer.

       *Please continue to pray for the safety and good morale of all our military personnel.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY/ANNIVERSARY NEWS: We wish Happy Birthday Blessings to Rich U and Leroy VH who are both celebrating their birthday today, May 13, to Bud N who will celebrate his birthday Tuesday, May 15, and to Clayton VH who will celebrate his birthday on Thursday, May 17.

A COMBINED ASCENSION DAY SERVICE will be held on Thursday evening, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Aurora Reformed Church.

DAKOTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL invites you to attend its Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium.

GRADUATION PRAYER CHAPEL:  I would like to bring to your attention a Prayer Chapel that will be held in honor of the graduating seniors from DCS and PGHS. It will be 36 hours of prayer for guidance for their futures and all areas of their lives. It will start at noon on Friday, May 18 and end at midnight Saturday, May 19.  I am asking for volunteers from the community to take one or more of the 36 hour time slots that will be needed to make this Prayer Chapel function. Send your seniors out into the world by asking God to guide their lives through the power of prayer. To sign up for a time slot or for more information, please call or text Christin Vander Pol: (605) 243-2282 or cell: (605) 680-3970. *1 Thes. 5:16-18*

THE MOVIE "October Baby" will be showing in Platte on May 18, 19, 20 and 21.  The Platte Ministerial Association supports this film and is encouraging all those of youth group age to attend.  They will be giving out free tickets to 200 youth.

GRADUATION LUNCH:  Come and join us for a graduation lunch of a sandwich and cake and ice cream to be served right after the morning service to honor our college, high school and 8^th grade graduates in the South Church on Sunday, May 20.  Our college graduates include: Jessica DeLange, (USD Law School) Dan Baas and Rachel De Waard , (Dordt College) Anthony Plooster, (USF) and Dena De Lange and Brian Hoogers, (Lake Area Tech). Our high school graduate is Sara De Waard (DCS).  Our 8^th grade graduates are Abbi Baan Hofman (DCS) and Carson Kostal (Corsica).  Congratulations graduates!  We pray for God’s blessings as you begin a new period of your life.

SPECIAL MAY 20 EVENING SERVICE:  Kevin Rogers, the son of Mae and Bud Niewenhius, was killed in a bicycle-pickup accident August 18, 2010.  Pastor Kevin Schnieder from Good News Reformed Church in Sioux Falls is coming to First Reformed in Harrison to tell how God is using Kevin's death to touch lives for His kingdom.  The Singspiration praise group from Stickney, "As Is," will also be leading a time of praise.  Be in Harrison (North Church) May 20 at 7:00 p.m. for a service of praise and worship followed by a time of fellowship. 

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:  The Aurora Reformed Church Vacation Bible school will presenting GO FISH - Backstage With the Bible June 4-8 from 6:15 till 9 daily.  Parents are requested to register your child(ren) by calling Linda at 680-4620.  To order supplies in time, contact her by May 20.  Children age 4 (by June 1) to children going into the 8th grade are welcome.  All participants will need to bring a Bible every day.

SPAGHETTI SUPPER:  The Sr. RCYF of Aurora Reformed Church along with the youth group of St. Mary's Catholic Church is serving a spaghetti supper fund raiser on Wed. May 23.  Supper will be ready at 6:00 at the AC fellowship hall.  All proceeds will go to the Sr. youth mission trip to Chicago.

100 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: Dakota Christian School will be celebrating 100 Years of Christian Education over Memorial Day weekend.  On Saturday, May 26, from 3-6 p.m., DCS will host an open house, including tours of the school and displaying memorabilia from the current school and the previous Christian schools that combined to form DCS.

On Sunday, May 27, we will gather at Dakota Christian School for a service of praise and worship at 10 a.m. After the service a catered meal will be served with entertainment and activities to follow.  The offering received will be for the DCS debt reduction.  Everyone is welcome to attend. Please RSVP for the catered meal and direct questions to JoEllen Dykstra (joellendykstra@gmail.com) or Lisa Spoelstra (243-2223). The cost of the catered meal will be covered by your freewill offering.

DO SOMETHING ETERNAL WITH YOUR FAMILY THIS SUMMER!  Enroll each of your children (7-18 yrs old) in the 2012 National Bible Bee and begin a lifelong habit in God’s Word.

The 300 top-scoring contestants will be invited to compete in the National Competition for prizes totaling $260,000.  Get details and register at www.BibleBee.org . 

MASTER’S WORKERS: If anyone would like to join us, Masters Workers is starting a new book "Bad Girls of the Bible".  Our first lesson will be June 6.

BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES will be holding their 15^th ANNUAL GOLF BENEFIT on Friday, June 15, 2012 at Spring Creek Golf Course. The format will consist of an 18 hole, four-person, shotgun start at 12:00 with registration beginning at 11:00. Appetizers and an awards ceremony will follow the tournament. Registration is available by calling Bethany Christian Services at 336-6999 or online at www.bethany.org/siouxfalls. Come enjoy food, fellowship, and golf!!! All proceeds go to benefit children and families in Eastern SD.  See the brochure on the bulletin board in the Faber Center.

TEENS ENCOUNTER CHRIST:  Plans are underway for the 1st Teens Encounter Christ in Platte on June 29 - July 1. Missouri Valley TEC is in need of assistance from the area communities. At the current time, the areas of need include being a prayer partner, various supplies (see bulletin board in the Faber Center), and financial assistance. There are many supplies that will need to be purchased before holding the first weekend. Please prayerfully consider assisting in this mission. If you have questions, please contact Dan Daum or Shawn Wynia. As other needs arise, we will keep you updated.  You can also check out our website movalleytec.org

ADVANCE NOTICE:  On July 11 the RCWM will meet for their summer program.  A silent auction will also be held to raise money for improvements in the kitchen.  Additional information will be given to the chairman of each work group about the items to be donated.

THANK YOU:  Many thanks to those of you who came and enjoyed the "Beautiful Africa" concert by the Watoto Children's Choir at First Reformed Church last Sunday. The choir treated us to a wonderful program of singing, dance, and testimony to the goodness of our God! Thank you too for your generosity in supporting them financially through the offering, product sales, and sponsorships. If you weren't able to attend you can go to www.watoto.com to hear some of their music. You can also go there for more information on the choir, find out how to sponsor a child, or contribute to Watoto. Contributions can also be mailed to: Watoto USA, PO Box 1320, Lutz, FL 33548

MICHELSON’S UPDATE:

Dear Prayer Supporters,
We arrived safely back in Kayes, Mali, at 1:30 p.m. Wed.  Thank you for your prayers.
Gene and Dawn Michelson

CALL FOR CAMPERS:  Midwest B.A.S.I.C. Youth Bible Camp is July 16-20, 2012.  All graduates of grades 6-12 are encouraged to attend.  Plan now to attend and ask a friend to join you.  REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN THE FABER CENTER

(pink sheet).  If more are needed, talk to Beth Markus.  Our speaker is Pastor Brandon Early from Illinois and there are lots of fun activities planned.  For more information, check out the camp’s website at http://pinelakecamps.org or search for “Midwest Youth Bible Camp” on Facebook.

BACK TO GOD MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL:  Please join Back to God Ministries International in giving praise to God for the appointment of our new director, Dr. Kurt Selles, pending ratification by Synod 2012. Dr. Selles brings a wealth of mission experience to Back to God Ministries and looks forward to working with the CRC’s worldwide media outreach. Pray for Dr. Selles and his family during this time of transition. For more information, visit BackToGod.net.

So Blessed by You, Mom
A mother who always cares,
A mother who’s always there.
A mother who always prays,
A mother who always stays.
When things get rough,
When life gets tough,
When all is just too much to bear,
God’s Word she shares.
God’s light she shines.
So blessed God made this mother mine.
Author Unknown