OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Please remember our church family in your daily prayers, at mealtimes and during your personal devotions. Continue to remember those young and old with ongoing physical, spiritual, and emotional struggles.

Pastor Mike and Barb are with a CRC Pastors and spouse’s Middle East study tour focusing on the biblical events of the Old Testament. Please pray for travel safety and for growth in Bible knowledge and faith in Jesus as Messiah. While Pastor Mike is away (May 14^th - June 5^th) please call your district Elder if you have any spiritual concerns.

From Roger & Anita Swier and family: We will once again be joining the MS society for the MS Walk/run this Sunday, May 31^st at Great Chief Park in Red Deer. We have been busy fundraising and if anyone from our congregation would like to support us in this way please go to the MS Walk/Run Red Deer 2015 and you can donate online under “Swier Supporters”. We pray that one day a cure can be found! Roger is now unable to work due to the fatigue in his legs, so are adjusting to the new normal. We appreciate your prayers!!

Do remember those who are unable to worship regularly with us: please keep Albert & Tilly Biel, Klaas Boskers, Gerry Doornenbal, Lea Dykstra, Lillian Mercier, Ernie Stebner and Grace Vander Veen in your prayers.

Pray for our missionaries around the world.

PRAYER ITEMS

Bethel Cadets 

are away this weekend for their annual camp-out. Please pray for safety and a wonderful time for all.

VBS needs YOU! 

We are looking forward to an amazing year at VBS this August 10^th to 14^th, but we need YOU to make it happen. Anyone who has finished grade 5 or higher can help. We need a ton of Crew Leaders (no prep, just show up and keep your group of 5 interested and involved), as well as several teachers for the different stations (Bible story, a science experiment station, games, a movie center, snacks, and opening/closing sessions) as well as a photographer. Check out the bulletin board at the bottom of the stairs to see a more detailed listing of what we need. Then contact Erin Lewin, Steeve Sainte, or sign up on our website -- www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/LacombeBethelCRC.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Drama 20/30 class 

will be presenting And A Child Shall Lead by Michael Slade on June 3^rd and 4^th. The play will be presented in the CACHS Gym with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the play beginning at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 each and are available through the school office at 403-782-4535.

And A Child Shall Lead “…

is the heroic and true story of children coming of age in Terezin, the “Jewish city” established by the Nazis near Prague as a way station before the death camps. In the face of unspeakable horror, these children use their determination and creativity to build lives filled with hope and beauty – playing, studying, making art, and writing an underground newspaper – all at the peril of being executed. Their actual poems and stories are woven into a fast-paced drama, evoking the universality of children caught in the insanity of war.”

PERSECUTED CHURCH

Syria 

Intense fighting between Islamic State (IS) militants and government forces erupted on May 4^th in Damascus, prompting media outlets to warn Christians living in the area to evacuate immediately. Last month, it was reported that IS had moved into a part of Damascus that is less than a mile from several Christian neighbourhoods. A VOM contact, whose family lives in the area, has requested prayer for the many believers residing there. "They can't go anywhere at this point," he explained. "Pray for the safety of our family and churches all over Damascus and Syria." Please join our brother-in-Christ by praying for the persecuted church in Syria, specifically asking God to shield each believer from resulting danger or harm. May those who have recently fled from Damascus soon find safe havens in which to live. For others who must remain in the war-torn city, pray that they will entrust themselves and their loved ones entirely to our faithful Lord. Despite the present bleakness in this beleaguered area of the world, ask that the Holy Spirit will minister daily to Syria's suffering Christians, while also moving mightily in the hearts of those who do not yet know Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.