Our Church Family

Please keep Gord & Chelsea Bos and their family in your prayers this week.

Our sympathy goes to John & Dana van Gyssel and family with the passing of Dana’s grandmother, Irene Moller this past week at the age of 90 years. Please keep John & Dana and family and the extended Moller family in your prayers.

Congratulations to Tilly Biel as she celebrates her 76^th birthday this coming Friday, April 3^rd. In honor of this event the flowers this week will be delivered to you. May God bless you on your birthday and in the year to come.

Tilly Biel was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. She will be having surgery sometime in the first part of April. We pray that God will be with both Tilly and Albert and bless them with his peace as they face this difficult situation.

Annette and Lawrence Sackmann would like to thank the congregation for their cards and visits while Annette was in the hospital. She was able to return home this past Wednesday and is doing much better.

Please remember those on the C.A.C.H.S. Europe trip which left this past Thursday, April 26^th. Those from Bethel on the trip are Peter & David Hoekstra, Wayne & Stephanie Bouwman, Michele & Meaghan Noort, Craig, Marcella & Kristen Van Stryland, and Brittany Brander. They will be arriving home on April 4^th.

Also on a mission trip is August Luymes to Mexico with the Youth for Christ team.

Do remember our seniors and shut ins in prayer: Tilly Biel, Lea Dykstra, Tena Ellen, Wigger Meindersma, Theresa Salomons, Ruth Sluys, and Ann Swier.

Remember our missionaries around the world.

Next Sunday, April 5th

Is Palm Sunday and we remember that Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey in “Prophetic Obedience.” In the evening we read from the book of Proverbs and consider “How to be Wise.” Pastor Mike will lead services.

Bethel Youth News

Tuesday Night Youth will NOT meet this coming Tuesday

April 1^st and 7^th due to spring break and a leaders meeting. Study’s will resume on April 14^th.

A Young Peoples social is being planned on April 5^th at Rob deRegt’s home after the evening service.

All Senior & Junior Youth:

There will be chicken pickin’ at the Van Stryland’s on Wednesday, April 8^th at 7:00 p.m. If you need a ride, please be at the church by 6:30.

YC2009

You have one week to confirm your attendance. After April 5^th all remaining tickets will be sold to other churches in the area. If you haven’t already booked your seat, we ask that you prayerfully consider it. This year we will be asking for a $50 deposit by this deadline, and the remainder of the fee will be due by May 17^th. Please note these changes are due to a growing concern over monies that don’t come in on time. For more information about this event or the payment changes please contact Wayne or Dana as soon as possible, time is running out!

BelieveFest 2009

This event is a one day music and speaker conference in the great outdoors in Drumheller, AB. The Youth MLT would like to promote this event and if you are at all interested in attending this event, Dana can get you the information to get you going. For general insight there is a sheet posted on the youth bulletin board.

Announcements

Congregational Meeting April 1, 2009

Notice is hereby given that a general meeting of the members of Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Lacombe will be held April 1, 2009 to approve a special resolution to our Articles of Incorporation. Members will be voting on an updated version of the Articles in addition to the regular Congregational meeting items. There are copies of the Articles to review on the table in the foyer or contact Donald Wildeboer (403) 755-1729 for more information.

Just a reminder to all Ministry Leadership teams:

Don’t forget to put your annual report together about your team. Be prepared to share it with the rest of the congregation at the April 1^st congregational meeting! All the other groups and committees and Bible Studies etc. are asked to submit a written report for the April Newsletter to share the details of their work with the congregation.

Yearbook 2009

We are taking orders for the 2009 Yearbooks.The cost for the books will be $12.35 and you must order by March 29^th. Contact Cindy or Dana for your order.

The church treasurer

August Luymes will be away for a mission trip and will not be here for Sunday, March 29^th and Sunday, April 5^th. If you are ordering Bethel collection notes on those days, there will be a bit of a delay in receiving your order!

Bethel Newsletter

It is time for the April Newsletter already. All those who have articles and contributions for the next issue of the newsletter are asked to have them in by the 30th of March - absolute deadline! We are finding we have to work frantically to fit in late contributions. Your co-operation in this is greatly appreciated!! You can email your contribution to any of the newsletter team or place it in the Newsletter mailbox - bottom row of mailboxes in the foyer. We look forward to receiving reports from all of the various groups and Bible studies. The council is asking you to hand in written reports for the newsletter rather than reporting directly at the next congregational meeting. Thanks so much for all of your input. Check the April issue for an upcoming contest for our youth to be involved in!! From the Newsletter editors, Laura Duckett, Anita Geldof & Harriet Luymes. (Ann Wildeboer is away this month).

Highway Clean Up

To the congregation an invitation goes out to you to join the 2009 clean up team. Please mark May 2^nd on your calendar as the day we gather together and clean up the highway. The distance has increased but so has the rewards, monies raised in this event will be given out to three different recipients. More information will follow at a later date.

Fellowship CRC Refugee Benefit Banquet

will be held at the Hellenic Canadian Community hall, 10450 116 St. complete with Silent auction, Cuban dinner, music and dancing. Doors open a t 5:30 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 18^th. Tickets are $60 ($30 tax receipt). Please contact August Guillame at 780-475-8031 or email aguilla1@telusplanet.net for tickets.

Volleyball Tournament:

A fun and competitive co-ed (three guys and three gals) volleyball tournament will take place on Saturday, April 18^th at the C.A.C.H.S. gym. Cost per team will be $60. Call Jen Zuidhof at 782-6672 by April 9^th to enter your team or for more information.

Lacombe Christian School

In thankfulness for your contributions to the children we invite our Grandparents and Senior Supporters to join us for lunch @ 11:45 on Monday, April 20, 2009 in the gymnasium. Seating will be at 11:30. A short program will follow @ 12:30 after which we encourage you to visit with the children. If you are able to join us, please reply to the office by April 13, 2009 @ (403) 782-6531.

Ponoka Christian School

Is now accepting applications for two full-time positions for the 2009/2010 school year. One position is for early years and the other is for a middle year position.

Please send cover letter, Statement of Faith, résumé, and letters of reference to: Mr. Robert Morris, Principal, 6300 – 50 St, Ponoka AB T4J 1V3 or to office@ponokachristianschool.com Closing date is Wednesday, April 22, 2009.

Gideon Banquet:

Please reserve Friday April 24th for the annual Gideon Banquet. It will be held at C.A.C.H.S. at 6:00 p.m. Contact Ray or Eleanor Merkus for info and tickets. The cost is $20.00

Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage

is a seminar coming to Crossroads Church in Red Deer on April 24^th & 25^th. This is a wildly entertaining and informative marriage event designed to bring hope & positive changes, better communication, and more romance to marriages. The seminars will even appeal to husbands! For more information or to register, go to www.heritagefamilyservices.com.

Young People of the 40's 50.s & 60's

please keep JUNE 17 open for our annual get together in Edmonton. Please bring your friends and your talents for a good day. More information at a later date. Your contact in Edmonton is Grace Nicolai 780 454-5004

Denomination News

From the Cuba Connection Committee:

There are a few ways for you to take part in growing the relationship with our Cuban friends. The first way is just to help in some small way with our upcoming container project. One of these shipping containers went two summers ago and it was a roaring success. Or you can pray for the ‘meals on wheels’ program that many of the churches in Cuba participate in. In the 90’s, when the Soviets pulled out, the Cuban government encouraged the churches to take a more active role in social services. The CRC in Cuba responded to this, big time. And one of the ways is by providing meals to seniors in the churches and in their communities.

And motorcycles? Only three were purchased. But wait! That’s because of a special request from our Cuban brothers and because your generosity would have provided more motorcycles that they needed. They asked if they might buy small used cars instead. So now they have a fleet of three motorcycles and three small cars. Making missions mobile. That’s what it’s about isn’t it?

Volunteer Opportunities

Do you have a heart to serve, would you like to volunteer right here in Canada or overseas? Check out the new ServiceLink Hot List on the bulletin board or the website at volunteer@crcna.ca. ServiceLink links volunteers with opportunities through C.R.C. agencies.

CRWRC:

April 5th is Refugee Sunday! An insert will be placed in your bulletins or mail slots. More than eleven million refugees in the world have fled their homes due to persecution and war. Many of them have no hope of ever returning home and desperately need a new homeland. Canada is one of the world's countries that welcomes refugees. Please phone Rose Dekker or Rebecca Walker at 1-800-730-3490 for information. You can help one family out of the millions in need.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN:

Withdraw with Jesus to a solitary place. “Intermission is a 2 and a half day silent directed retreat sponsored by Centrepointe CRC, Edmonton. April 17-19, King’s Fold Retreat Centre, Cochrane, AB. $275. To register call Annemarie at 780-454-1936 or e-mail info@centrepointechurch.ca.

Persecuted Church

Uzbekistan

Six Christians were detained after police raided a home in Uzbekistan, where believers had gathered to share a meal together. Three Christians were detained for not having their identification documents with them. One was released on March 6^th for health reasons while the other two were released on March 13^th. Three other believers were sentenced to a 15-day jail terms for allegedly violating procedures for teaching religious doctrines. According to Russian Ministries, the persecution of Christians is increasing throughout Uzbekistan. Officials often charge believers with fabricated violations of the country's religion law or accuse Christians of attempting to start an uprising. Pray that the imprisoned believers will be released. Ask God to give Uzbek Christians the endurance to stand firm despite the opposition.