Our Church Family

Please keep Ray & Eleanor Merkus in your prayers this week.

Congratulations to Joanne van Gyssel as she celebrates her 80^th birthday this coming Friday and to Gerry Doornenbal as he celebrates his 81^st birthday this coming Saturday. May God bless you both with a special day of celebration and be with you in the coming year!

Joanne van Gyssel’s family thanks the Lord for our mother’s 80^th birthday. We invite you to celebrate with us at an Open house, April 18^th from 2 to 4 p.m. here in the church fellowship hall.

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.

Bethel Youth News

Tuesday Night Youth

willmeet this coming Tuesday, April 14^th. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Young Peoples

will have a Bible study next Sunday, April 19^th after the evening worship service at Stephanie Bouwman’s.

Attention Junior High, Senior High and Post High Youth!
Paintballing in Olds!!!

On Friday, April 24^th Junior, Senior & Post highs will be going paintballing down in Olds. We will be leaving the church at 4:45 p.m. Wolf Creek Community church will also join us for this event, but you are welcome to invite other friends. Cost will be $20 and will cover protective clothing, mask, gun and 140 paintballs each. Additional paintballs will cost .07 per paintball. We will also enjoy a BBQ together afterwards. Please bring a change of clothing and shoes as you will be a mess by the time the evening is over! You must be signed up with the $20 paid and a signed waiver by Tuesday, April 21^st so we have ample time to organized drivers. Parents, let us know if you are able to drive – you are more than welcome to paintball too! Waivers will be available at TNY or in Donna Vandenborn’s church mail box. We look forward to a fun time together in Olds! Call Donna Vandenborn at 403-782-9993 or Carina Tenbrinke at 403-782-7903 for more info.

Young Adults

Are you between the ages of 18 & 30ish? If so, there is a Young Adults’ retreat happening for you on May 8 -10 at Circle Square ranch in Halkirk, Alberta. The speaker for this event is Rick Abma and worship will be led by “North of Tomorrow”. There will be all kinds of activities to participate in like horseback riding and large group functions! For more information and registration forms, please contact your Youth Leader/pastors or Ron deVries at 780-987-0415, email mdevron@telus.net. Confirmation to attend this event by April 24^th to either your Youth Leader/pastor or Ron deVries. We look forward to seeing you there.

YC2009

Are you still undecided on whether you wish to go or not? Well you still have time until this Tuesday April 14^th to get your reservation in and your deposit of $50. Please contact Wayne or Dana to reserve your seat today!

Announcements

Next Sunday, April 19th

We welcome the Cadets as they take part in our service around Psalm 36:9 and the theme “Experience the Light.” In the evening we look at the Book of Ecclesiastes and “The Meaning of Life.” Pastor Mike will lead the services.

From the General Administration Leadership team

We would like to remind congregation members that the doors to all rooms must be closed when the rooms are not in use. Fire regulations require that we do this. We ask the leaders of Tuesday Night Youth, Cadets, GEMS, Coffee Break & Story Hour as well as Sunday school teachers to ensure that the classroom doors are closed before they leave the church facilities. Thank you.

Highway Clean Up

Last year we started this event where we were able to bless Krista in her work with YWAM Vancouver and Janneke recovering some of her costs from her work in China. We were also able to help some of the less fortunate in our area with a donation to Volunteer link. We received much help from Bethel congregation as we had 54 people show up to clean up the ditches. This year we have decided to expand our territory just a little and have taken on a second route. We are hoping for even more commitment from Bethel, as this year along with a donation to Volunteer Link we also are seeking to bless Krista once again as well we want to take the opportunity to help Steven recoup some of his expenses from his YWAM trip to Australia. Clean-up this year will happen on May 2nd. We are encouraging families to set up their own team as well as youth to pick their own teams ahead of time. At 8:30 we will be meeting at Bethel for the compulsory training session and going out to our site after. Following the clean-up we will be having a BBQ at Scholing's to cap off the day and to express our thanks to all who make this service project possible.Any questions feel free to call Wayne or Dana.

Fellowship CRC Refugee banquet

on Saturday, April 18^th has been sold out! All sold tickets and previously arranged ticket sales will be honoured but no new tickets can be provided. Please contact Dolores Huizinga (780-454-3452) 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^th in the gymnasium. Seating will be at 11:30 a.m. 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^th @ (403) 782-6531.

Gideon Banquet.

Please join us for the 3^rd annual Gideon Banquet on April 24, 2009 at 6:00pm at CACHS. A home cooked meal, Gideon Testimonies and special music by Three Strand Cord. This promises to be a great evening so call Ray and Eleanor Merkus for tickets. Cost for this event is $20.00 each.

Youth Director position available:

Do you possess a vibrant love for and commitment to Jesus as Lord of your life? Are you passionate about investing in the loves of youth and young adults and do you actively build relationships with them? If this describes you, please read on.

Wolf Creek Community Church in Lacombe is looking for a Part-time Youth Director who will foster spiritual growth in the youth and young adults of our community. Post secondary biblical training and musical gifts will be considered an asset. We invite interested applicants to send us their inquiries at:
henkjohn@woldcreekcommunitychurch.org

Closing date for applications in May 1, 2009

Denomination News

For Your Servant Is Listening:

Throughout history, all the terrible things done in the name of religion have left us with a proverbial “bad taste” in our mouths. With all the noise in our world, how do you know if the message you’ve heard is truly from God? Will God ever speak to us as clearly as he did to leaders in the Old Testament? How do we discern His voice? Find out on the April 19^th Back to God Hour. Go to www.BacktoGod.net for local stations and times.

A Cry For Help:

If Liz and his friends can raise enough money, they will be travel to Ireland to help start a Christian internet radio station. Can they do it? Find out on this week’s Kids Corner. Kids Corner is a member of the HisKids.net alliance--working together to provide quality entertainment for kids that is Christ-centered and Bible-based. Visit HisKids.net to find great Christian programs and music for kids. Visit the Kids Corner web site for more Bible stories at
www.kids-corner.org .

Take A Deep Breath:

If the “Everydayathon” is leaving you breathless, consider InterMission, a two and a half day silent directed retreat, sponsored by Centrepointe CRC, Edmonton. April 17-19 at King’s Fold Retreat Centre in Cochrane, Alberta. Cost for this event is $275. To register call Annemarie at 780-454-1936 or
info@centrepointechurch.ca.

The Persecuted Church

North Korea

has consistently topped the world’s human rights watch lists as being the most repressive and closed nation on earth. Reports of dreadful and inhumane actions, particularly towards Christians, make their way steadily to the west. Citizens are required to worship their dead leader, the "Eternal President" Kim Il Sung, and his son, the current dictator, the “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il. Kim’s lifestyle and political decisions betray his cruelty and brutality towards his own people. While the current restrictions make it impossible to determine the total number of those imprisoned, current estimates suggest that some 200,000 North Koreans are languishing in detention—many of whom are believed to be Christians. Religious prisoners are often subjected to harsher treatment, and given the most dangerous tasks, all in an effort to force them to renounce their faith. When they refuse, they are often tortured to death. Those caught praying are beaten and tortured. The Voice of the Martyrs is actively working to draw attention to the plight of the suffering church in North Korea, finding ways of letting our brothers and sisters there know that they are not forgotten, and calling upon Canadian Christians to remember them in prayer.