THE CHIMES

HAPPY JULY BIRTHDAY!

Please double check your information on the poster in the narthex to be sure that we have your info

ter/summer address and phone number, cell phone number, email address, and college address.
correct in our records. This includes you and your children’s home address and phone number, win-

The directory is only printed once a year so please let the church
IT WILL SOON BE TIME TO PRINT THE 2010-2011 CHURCH PHONE/ADDRESS DIRECTORY.
1 Megan Fritz 14 Dorothy DeRoo
Scott Hamberg Lynda Hoffman
Eugene Raywood Catherine Ristola Bass
Michelle Timmer
2 Taylor VanMalsen
16 Beryl Walkotten
4 Thomas Bossardet, Sr.
Lia Stronks 17 Helen DeWitt

(lriemersma@firstchurchofholland.org) know if your info needs updating!

June 2010
Doris Weller Betty Luth
Kathleen Rosendahl
5 Ava Powers
19 Mark DeHaan COME ONE, COME ALL

CHURCH PICNIC - JUNE 13

6 Jessica Klooster
Tom Mieras
Greg Reifsnyder TO A COMBINED WORSHIP SERVICE & PICNIC
Joshua Wierenga

7 Ray TerBeek ON JUNE 13, 2010 STARTING AT 10:00 AM

21 Robert Weller

8 Rob Buit
22 Jim Aalberts On June 13 we will revive the tradition of a First Church All Church Picnic
Sarah Eckert
Lenora Ridder 23 Christian Hoeksema
and it will be with our daughter church ‘Embody’ at their site (4608 66th
Street, Holland, MI 49423).
9 Peggy Ebels 24 Melissa Bussies
Brian Geerlings
25 Laurilee Etterbeek
Egbert Texer
Norma Parker
Here is what you need: Lawn chairs and/or blankets
Darren VanOrder Dish to pass
Tucker VanRegenmorter 26 Alexei Etterbeek Here is what is provided: Main meat dish, table service and drinks
Jeane Walvoord Deane Tubbergen
Carpooling and rides (if you need one) will be leaving
First Church at 9:30 am
Richard Wyman Lawn Chairs (if you need them)
11 Bruce Eckert FRIEND!
BRING A A tent for those who can’t be in the sun
Barbara Kleinheksel 27 Mercedez Silva
Tammy Toth-Powers
28 Mary Venhuizen
Paige Weersing
29 Becky Pratt
Mark your calendars for an exciting event that is both a return to a great
12 Dick Doeden piece of First Church history AND a part of our vital future.
30 Jeffrey Nykerk
Austin Durfee
Kelly Wierenga
Howard Topp
…………………….now if we can just get rid of these pesky picnic ants!
31 Keith Walker

July anniversaries are located on page 11. The Chimes is published by First Reformed Church ● 630 State Street, Holland, MI 49423 ● 616-392-8085 ● www.firstchurchofholland.org
Volume 29, Number 6 ● Submit articles to te.delong@sbcglobal.net by the 20th of each month ● Editor: Ellen DeLong
• 12 •
 HAPPY JUNE ANNIVERSARY!

Shawn & Moira Green 6/1/2001 Paul & Marsha Northuis 6/26/1958
Paul & Doris Boerigter 6/2/1950 Andrew & Heather Bossardet 6/28/2008
David & Peggy Ebels 6/2/1971 Robert & Julia Cosgrove 6/29/2002
Jeffery & Katherine Welch 6/3/2006 Don & Sharon Frantz 6/29/1991
Donald & Beth Dickens 6/4/1983 Mark & Phyllis DeHaan 6/30/1973
         June 6:       Dan Gillett, preaching      John 1:1‐5      “Even A Little Light Always Beats Darkness”    Christopher & Joy Koopmans 6/4/2005 Harold & Dorothy DeRoo 6/30/1949
                Graduation Sunday and Communion  Donald & Lavina Barkel 6/7/1957 Marty & Margaret Miller 6/30/1950
  Kirk & Pam Johnson 6/8/1996 Robert & Bonna Weller 6/30/1950
        June 13:      Combined worship service and church picnic at Embody Christ Fellowship  Darren & Marcy VanOrder 6/8/2002
Lou & JoAnn Benes 6/9/1955
 
Chad & Michelle Hoffman 6/9/1995 HAPPY JULY ANNIVERSARY!
        June 20:      Dan Gillett, preaching      John 2       “Wedding Wine:  Little Thing, Real Love”  
Chad & Nikki Kleinheksel 6/10/2000
                             Installation and Ordination of Elders and Deacons 
Shawn & Sarah Rozeboom 6/10/2006
  Gary & Linda Speet 7/3/1965
Larry & Loretta Horn 6/11/1977
        June 27:     TBA  Scott & Jill VanderStoep 7/9/1988
Bill & Diane Keizer 6/11/1959
Bob & Maggie Larson 6/11/1983 Duane & Jeanne Rumrill 7/10/1976
Robert & Libby Riemersma 6/11/1994 Tom & Paige Weersing 7/11/2009
FROM THE SUNDARARAJANS Tom & Jess Scholten 6/12/1999 Keith & Cari Cravotta 7/15/2006
How long will you be here? When is your next trip? I never would have imagined that I Charles & Rachel Blodgett 6/14/1952
would spend so much time responding to these questions of location and transit. I kind of Randy & Wendy Schregardus 7/16/1988
like to imagine myself as a homebody. I like to think that I have normal routines in my life- Bill & Amy Houskamp 6/14/1997
Glenn & Ginger Chittenden 7/17/1993
beyond laundry, that is. And, if truth be told, I sometimes wish that “staying in touch” Darrell & Debra Koopmans 6/14/1975
wasn’t such a daily and worldwide task. John & Cheryl Russcher 7/17/1992
David & Loretta Sue Krieger-Baxter 6/15/1985
Nevertheless, these questions of arrivals and departures keep coming up, pointing to our uniquely transient Paul & Marilyn Dunning 6/16/1989 Richard & Cheryl VanOss 7/17/1976
lifestyle. After all, we are gone a lot, making our home in many places. “Good bye” and “Hello” are words
Daniel & Christina Voss 6/16/2007 Steve & Stacy Wiegerink 7/18/1998
and actions that are deeply embedded in our routines. And, thankfully, the world wide web is a generous
coping mechanism-- and a total God-send in the realm of grandparents and grandbabies. Thom & Barb Coney 6/17/1967 Craig & Darlene Kleinheksel 7/19/1975
Matthew & Christine Immink 6/17/2006
Questions about our travel itinerary surround us when we’re in Holland, India, or elsewhere. And, really, Mark & Deb Neitzel 7/20/1996
don’t be afraid to ask! These questions remind us that we are loved, and that people in this place expect Tom & Mary Ann Mieras 6/19/1964
us to come home and hope that our time here will be long enough. Paul & Doris Alderink 7/21/1950
Matt & Julie Sall 6/20/1998
Tom & Raemichele Arnold 6/22/1991 Chris & Deborah Proper 7/21/2007
JP, Leila, and I came home to Holland about 1 1/2 months ago. Jet lag makes those first couple of weeks
a bit hazy, but before we have had much opportunity to think about it, we’re back in the swing of things. JP John & Rose Mieras 6/22/1991 Gordon & Trudy Smith 7/21/1951
has been very busy as he continues to raise funds for the new Ministry Center that is about to begin con-
struction in India. Also, if you haven’t already heard, JP is seeking ordination with the RCA, and so is pre- Joel & Amy Seguna 6/23/2007 Jerome & Marilyn Wassink 7/21/1962
paring to take his oral Classis examinations. Leila and I manage to find about 1,000 things to do every Peter & Jennifer VanRegenmorter 6/23/1989 Larry & Lynne Vork 7/23/1993
day, only some of which involve getting into daddy’s hair at the office.
Keith & Dana Walker 6/23/1990
Scott & Jillaine Vereeke 7/28/2007
We are grateful to be in Holland as summer approaches, and as of right now, our next trip to India as a Russell & Thelma Hopkins 6/24/1960
family is not set. We will determine those dates as the completion of the Ministry Center in India ap- Justin & Jennifer Goebel 7/29/2006
Robert & Sue Carlson 6/25/1977
proaches. Until then, it looks like JP will make at least one trip back to India, and it is likely that some or all
of us will travel the nation hither and yon, sharing about all the great things that God continues to do Mark & Nancy Schrotenboer 6/25/1982 Jeff & Jill Raywood 7/31/1999
through audio Scriptures.
Todd & Dawn Mulder 6/26/1993

•2• • 11 •
 HAPPY JUNE BIRTHDAY!

1 Loretta Sue Krieger- 13 Benjamin Ashby 26 John Amaya

Baxter I know that most of you are here primarily on Sundays. Did you ever wonder how often or how much our
Beth Poll Jeff Nienhuis building is used throughout the week?
Kathy Krol
Merle Prins
William Mulder 27 Beatrice Serne Recently, I arrived at church to discover Black River Charter School students arriving so they could take
Christopher Timmer
Zachery Neitzel some Advance Placement tests in our basement. We might’ve put them in the Family Life Center but there
Daniel Voss Jean VerHulst
was voting going on in there. Or course, we had to also move the Evergreen Commons exercise classes
Adriana Prins
downstairs as well. They use our Family Life Center during Tulip Time. So they also had to be relocated to
14 Chasten Griep 28 Cari Kleinheksel
the basement for that particular day. The kids of the “Moms in Touch” were in the nursery and so that
2 Trevor Bussies Lois Kleinjan
Harvey Laman space was bustling as well. People were in and out to meet with staff. I saw someone arrive with bags of
Kevin Krol 29 Joel Seguna items for the care closet. I saw a mailperson deliver the mail to the office and grab a drink and use the
15 Sage Doeden restroom. Our one glitch was having the guys arrive in the early evening to play basketball, but the voting
3 Jack Doeden
Jeff VanFossan was set up in there and we’d forgot to let the guys know.
Todd Mulder JUNE ANNIVERSARIES
The above may not be typical, but it’s not necessarily atypical either. We have a busy church fellowship,
16 Xander Fredericksen ARE ON
4 Chuck Kleinheksel but we also have a busy building that is being used by our community. My devotions today took me to 2
THE NEXT PAGE Cor. 1 where it talks about our God being a God who says yes. The ultimate yes we know from God is
17 Matthew Okkema
5 Andrew Bossardet through his Son Jesus Christ.
Melanie Zwyghuizen
Ruby Klooster Somehow it seems right to therefore be a part of a church that constantly finds a way to say yes to our
Ellie Norden 18 Charlotte Lance neighborhood and community.
The following names are
Anne Thielman Blessings,
6 Gabrielle Hoffman in addition to those listed
Shelby VanDyke Pastor Dan
in the May Chimes as hav-
Thelma VanderPloeg
ing served in the Armed BTW (short for by the way) the Black River kids just finished a cooking class in one of our kitchens. Guess
Jackson Wiegerink 19 Shirley O'Brien
Forces: who got to be one of the official ‘taste judges’ for the class????? Serving Jesus can sometimes be very
William VanLangevelde
7 Joseph Slenk sweet!!!
KOREAN WAR
Madelyn Timlowski 20 John Mieras
Terry Prins, Jr. Irv Steketee
8 Marlene Mokma COME
Gabriel Zwyghuizen 21 Bruce Alderink VIETNAM WAR CHEER ON THE BOATERS
Alexander Daniels Dave Weersing FIRST CHURCH
9 Todd Billings & JOG-
Ken Strabbing 23 Barb Coney Loren Redder MEN’S SOFTBALL TEAM! GERS
Lavina Weerstra Leona Texer
Paul Wiegerink All games are played on Monday nights on
10 Leah Simmons
SUNDAY SERVICE
Field #3 at the Matt Urban Sports Complex
24 Becky DeVries
(32nd St.).
11 Andrea Henry Marilyn Tate Want an early, casual church service?
Andrea Meurer When on vacation, be Schedule:
25 Brian Evenson with us in spirit.
Amber Tejeda June 7 at 6:30 p.m. June 21 at 7:30 p.m. Come to our 8:00 a.m. service here at First
Will Houskamp The rest of the summer Church
12 Cody Slenk be with us in person. June 14 at 6:30 p.m. June 28/July 5 - byes
Wendy Schregardus This abbreviated service will include a mes-
Jennie Zweering

• 10 • •3•
 NEWS & NOTES FOR THE CONGREGATION
Design a tee shirt for your Dad for Father’s Day.
Color the shirt with his favorite colors and deco-
NEWS from Sandra Wisner rate it with things that remind you of him - like

Site Volunteer Coordinator, Cusco, Peru golf, fishing, baseball, football, favorite foods and

Wycliff Associates maybe his high school or favorite college colors.

Dear First Church,

I continue to host teams that come to work with the ministry of ATEK and translating materials that come
and go in the office. I have also taken on new responsibilities within the ATEK organization using my
educational background to help develop scope and sequence of teaching materials. The most significant
news I have to share this month is my engagement to Albino (Ahl BEE no) Rodriquez.
Albino and I first met when I arrived in Peru in June 2008. We work together at ATEK. He’s the coordina-
tor of publications and authors. Our wedding date is set for July 29 in Cusco. We know that God has
great plans for our future, and we desire to honor and glorify Him in our relationship. For now, I will re-
main as support staff with Wycliffe Associates; Albino will continue to work with ATEK.
Prayer requests that we ask you to lift up:
**for our language acquisition. I need to continue working on Spanish and now Quechua. Albino is
learning English.
**that we are able to raise 100% of the financial backing that will consistently sustain us. Albino’s
salary supplements the required support amount, but it is not enough to support us both.
**for our new life together as a married couple. That we would continue to put our Lord and Savior
first in everything and that all we do would bring glory to Him.
Thank you for your support.
In Him,
Sandy Wisner and Albino Rodríguez

For English communication: E-mail:

sandyjoy98@hotmail.com;
Pictures: http://sandyjoy98.spaces.live.com
For Spanish communication: E-mail:
atek_albino@hotmail.com
Our blog (under construction):
What do you know?
http://lacasadelmaestro-rodriguez.blogspot.com
Michigan in Peru!
(Check out the image on the rock.)

The Chimes newsletter will not be printed in July.

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20. Don’t let Dad see your drawing till then!
See you in August!

•4• •9•
 What’s Next: We’ve been working on doing a few things and doing them
1. What’s Happened

DAT E well. We feel as though the relationships are being built and that trust is being
established. The summer will be a time of relationship building and doing life

UP
2. A Few Stories
3. What’s Next
Greetings, friends and family! It is definitely time to let you know how things are going
for our new church plant. God is doing some amazing things here south of Holland, MI.
We have seen a slow and steady growth in many ways. Before I share with you about
some of those ways let me tell you how our family is doing: Great. We’re doing great.
We feel as though we are starting to find a really good stride and are finding terrific joy
in our work as well as our new friends and fellow worshipers.
together. Also...planning for fall.
• In the Fall we will begin Children in Worship: an opportunity for kids to
worship in an authentic and very hands-on way. 3 adults will be trained to
lead our children through stories of the Bible and how to respond to God.
• Our space fits about 90 people...so...something will have to give. We don’t
know how, but this is what is next.
• We have spent a lot of time building relationships and establishing trust.
This summer will be a continuation of that, but it will also be preparation for
building opportunities for discipleship: chances for people to take the next step in their faith...whether the first step
or the 302nd step.

How You Can Pray:

What’s Happened: Since our launch in September, 2009 we have grown from a group of 45 or so to a group of Potluck Lunches • You can get a good look at what to pray about on a regular basis
75. This is very encouraging and exciting. It’s good to see that God is blessing our work and our willingness to follow by following my blog: www.embodying.wordpress.com. It has
God’s plan for our congregation. Numbers are great, but not the main thing; the main thing is finding that people’s info on our church as well as life at the Daniels’ home.
lives are being changed by meeting Jesus Christ. What else has happened: we have found that we are moving from
being individuals who happen to worship in the same place to becoming a family where joys are celebrated, concerns • Pray that God will give us opportunities to share good news with
are heard, and life is shared in every day circumstances. people in our neighborhoods, both in word and in deed.
• Pray that hundreds of people will come to know who Jesus truly
is and to have a new relationship with Him. We see a lot of people
Women are gathering and finding a place for open and honest conver- who have been hurt by the church...so pray that we can be a place
sation about the intersection of life and faith. There are many who call of healing and hope.
themselves “seekers” or “non-religious”, but they are essential to our • Pray for Dana and Jim. This is a big leap of faith, and while God
family at Embody. Here’s a recent quote from one of the gatherings of is faithful and we trust Him, this kind of exciting venture can
Commissioning our First Missionary cause stress on any marriage. Pray that God will continue to put
women, “I just feel like my life is changing for the better.” We can see
His hedge of protection around our family.
many who are meeting the risen Christ and it makes a difference in
their lives. • Pray for marriages in general in our area. The stresses of jobless-
ness and fear of the unknown causes difficulties and many families
are struggling right now.
We celebrated Easter together for the • Pray for God’s guidance and open doors regarding our worship
first time. It was a joyous time and space. There will be large choices to make in the near fu-
full of gratitude for a place and a peo- ture...please pray for clarity.
ple where such a diversity of people “Can I help organize?” Those are the most
can celebrate the resurrection of Jesus beautiful words spoken to a church planter—
together. especially one who is not gifted in admini-
stration. But that’s exactly what Abbie asked
me last month. She’s joyfully putting to-
Food has become a great opportunity for us to fellowship together. gether outreach activities as well as large How You Can Help: First Church has been a great “mother” church and has been an incredible help as we have
We are finding any opportunity to have a potluck. As a matter of fact, event planning. It’s her thing. God made her gotten started. Your prayers and financial support are invaluable. The paper you’re holding in your hand is the same
we tend to have communion monthly followed by a meal together. with the ability to organize and she’s now thing I am sending out to my friends and family around the country. The “How You Can Help” section, however, is
Like the two men on the road to Emmaus, Christ can be recognized using her gift for God’s glory and the encour- different. You are able to do something that they can’t. And that thing (aside from praying) is the most useful thing:
when bread is broken. Good news: I need to purchase a few more ta- agement of the body of Christ. Invite a friend to Embody. Bringing a friend to Embody who might not feel comfortable in a traditional church setting is
bles! the single biggest help you can give.
Of course, we are still in the expensive “start up” phase of our new church, and any financial support you can give
would be greatly appreciated. We are seeing an increase in our own giving, and this is encouraging...in fact we are pres-
Things We Need: Lawn Mower, Tables, Chairs, Sound System, Kids’ tables/chairs, ently able to cover roughly half of our own costs (a good place to be after only 9 months). Please prayerfully consider
how God wants you to help us move forward. Every size gift is helpful. If you can’t give, and even if you can...please
pray. Thank you immensely. (Check out the “Things We Need” line at the bottom of the other page. Used, New, or $ to
Embody Christ Fellowship Mailing Address: 630 State St., Holland, help purchase these things is needed.)
MI 49423
Love and Gratitude - Jim, Dana, Alex and Madalyn Daniels
Web: www.embodychrist.com Email: im@embodychrist.com

•6• •7•

YOUTH NEWS ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
ADVENTURE!
The Senior High youth group will be traveling to the
Red River Gorge in Kentucky for a wilderness adven-
ture trip June 20-26. Rustic camping, rock climbing/
rappelling, day hiking, rafting, non-commercial caving
and showering under a waterfall are some of the things
in store for us during the week. The bigger picture how-
ever, is that in being withdrawn from the technology
and the normal comforts of life that we would be drawn
closer together in our relationships. Also
that we would gain a greater appreciation
for God’s magnificent creation, and that
we would be tested both physically and
mentally throughout the week. Please pray
for safety, and for God to have a significant
impact on the group.
Josh Gillett, graduating from Zeeland West and going to
Central Michigan University
Jeff Horn graduating from Holland High and going to Hope
College
MEET OUR Jennifer Tiethof, graduating from Holland High and going to
GRADUATES Grand Rapids Community College
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES FOR YOUR FUTURE!
•8•
THE BIG RED TULIP AWARD As you walk into the school room, usually
most of the students are busy doing reading
or working on a project that the teacher has
given them. Then one of the students spots you and announces “David, your tutor is
here!” And that is all it takes, everyone looks up or stops what they are doing until David
has left the room. Needless to say, the smile on David’s face as he proudly walks out
leaves a few of those left behind students a little envious and wondering why they can’t
have a tutor also. As for this tutor (Larry DeVries), seeing that smile on his face is worth
the effort of leaving whatever else I was doing to spend one, fast hour with him. The
teacher usually gave us spelling words to work on and a couple of books we could read.
Sometime he needed some help on simple math problems too. But whatever it was, we
had a good time doing it. As a tutor, I have seen many different ways the tutors interact
with their students and that is what makes it work. There is no written law that says you
must do the work this way or you must do the work that way. You just do what works for
you and your child. Some weeks nothing gets done and that’s OK too. For those who
have given their time this year as a volunteer in the Kids Hope program and their prayer
partners, we’d like to honor you with this month’s award. They are: Jo Benes (Lou
Benes), Sue Carlson ( Judy Bylsma), Judy DeVries (Don Frantz), Larry DeVries (Dale Nienhuis), Pam John-
son (Jane Lindemuth), Lois Kleinjans (Pastor Mary), Loretta Sue Krieger (Sue Liang), Jane Lindemuth (Pam
Johnson), Margy Larson (Marianne Daubenspeck), Judy Unema (Nick Unema). Wouldn’t you like to be a
part of this wonderful program? Talk to any of these tutors or see Margy Larson so she can get you on the list
for next fall. There is a ‘special’ child waiting to meet you.
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE...
That the Kleis family can trace 7 generations
involved in First Church all the way back to a
relative that came over on the boat with Dr. Van
Raalte.
That this year’s senior class is the 'low' census
group of our young people. Graduating classes
will now start getting significantly bigger.
That Josh Gillett won the all conference champi-
onship in high jump at the height of 6’2”.
That on May 4 Jason Naber (in his own
“masterful” way,) declared that it was Star Wars
Day and came up with this original quote “May
the fourth be with you!”
Life is fragile
Father’s Day
Handle with prayer
June 20 ……….as seen on a church sign along the road
•5•