Calvin Info for week on 12-21-2025
Calvin Announcements…
- Early Morning Coffee is available every Sunday starting at 9:00 AM.
- Join us for Coffee Fellowship in the Family Life Center following worship this morning.
- The Winter Calvin Callers are available at the Info Center.
- The December Banners are available at the Info Center.
- If you have a spoken announcement for next Sunday morning, please submit it to the church office by Tuesday. Thank you!
- The church office will be closed on the following dates: December 24,25,31, and January 1. In observance of Christmas and New Year’s.
- Next Sunday, John Konyndyk will be sharing a message from the Psalms. New Series begins… Psalms: God Sings to the World
Ministries this week…
- Christmas Breakfast Café: today, 8:30-9:45 AM.
- Prayer Group: today, 9:30 AM.
- Blue Christmas Service: today, 4:00 PM.
- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: December 24, 5:00 PM.
- Euchre Night: Saturday, 5:00 PM.
Upcoming Events…
- Gospel Music Night: Saturday, January 17. Details to follow.
- Family Game Night: Wednesday, January 28, 6:00 PM.
Offerings of the Day…
- December 21 – Love INC: Helping churches distribute their skills, gifts, resources, and love to communities in need – In the Name of Christ.
- December 28 – Western Michigan Christian Schools.
- January 4 – Supper House: Feeding the hungry in our community by providing evening meals as a cooperative effort among area places of worship. Calvin serves on the first Monday of each month.
Unspecified offering donations will be placed in the General Fund.
Giving Update: Through last week (December 14), general fund offerings totaled $528,597 compared to our 2025 annual budget of $590,621. We are behind the budget for the year by $62,024. As we reflect on the past year, please consider an extra gift to the general fund if God leads you in this direction. We are thankful for the faithful support of the ministries of Calvin Church, and we are grateful for your continued support.
– The Finance Committee
Please take a moment to fill out a Connection Card if you… are new to Calvin; would like more info on a ministry; have a prayer request; or have change in contact info. Connection Cards are located in the pews, at the Info Center (by kitchen), or click the QR code → Please place your printed card in the offering plate.
Activity Tote Bags are available for kids during worship today and are located in the narthex. Feel free to grab one as you head into worship. Before you leave, please return totes with books/toys.
Hearts & Hands has placed a basket in the narthex for Special Friends Christmas Cards. A list of names and addresses can be found in your mailbox or by the basket. Place your signed, sealed and addressed cards in the basket (only Special Friends cards please). Monday, December 22nd is the final day. Postage will be added and the cards will be mailed shortly after they are placed in the basket. We appreciate your thoughtfulness knowing your love will be felt by those receiving these cards.
All are invited… We are offering a Blue Christmas Service on Sunday, December 21, at 4:00 PM. This service will offer community, space for lament, shared experience, and the acknowledgment of sorrow, while offering a space for reflection, prayer, and healing. Please join us if you are experiencing the loss of a loved one or any type of grief during this Christmas season. Also, please invite along anyone who may need to be reminded that they are not alone (invites at the Info Center).
You are invited to our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service this Wednesday, December 24th at 5:00 PM as we celebrate Jesus’ birth. This worship service is for the entire family. All ages are welcome and encouraged to participate. NO nursery available.
Euchre Night meets this Saturday, December 27th. Everyone is welcome! You may want to bring a snack to share. Come, have fun playing tournament style euchre on the last Saturday of each month in the Family Life Center from 5-8 PM. Any questions, see Brian Dirkse.
Our sanctuary is equipped with an Induction Loop Assistive Listening System. To utilize, switch your hearing aid, cochlear implant, tactile device to “T” (Telephone) or contact your provider for assistance.
With the colder weather upon us, we would like to remind everyone that all Calvin Ministries cancellations will be posted to FOX 17, FOX17online.com, WZZM TV, WZZM13.com, WOOD TV, WOODTV.com and also on Facebook.
Your 2026 Offering Envelopes are in your mailbox. If you don’t yet have envelopes and would like them, let Vickie in the office know. Please take a moment today to empty your mailbox.
Another way to give at Calvin is through VENMO. Go to our website, calvin-crc.org, click on the GIVE tab and follow the steps. Or go to your Venmo app, search for the Profile Name, Calvin-Muskegon (make sure it is the correct Calvin by looking for the tree) and follow the steps.
Prayer Opportunities…
Do you have a prayer concern, praise, thanks, or an update? If so, please let us know by filling out a Connection Card (see QR Code above) or you may visit/call/email the church office 231-737-5207 / info@calvin-crc.org so we may lift you and your loved one(s) up in prayer.
Attention Men: You have an open invitation to join us for
breakfast at Russ’ Restaurant on Henry St. on Thursday mornings at 8:00 AM and to pray for the needs of the congregation while enjoying Christian fellowship.
Prayer Group meets in the Fireside Room every Sunday morning beginning at 9:30 AM. You have an open invitation to join us as we pray over the following concerns/praises. All ages are welcome!
Please Pray for…
- John Dood (& Vonnie) as he is now in Hospice Care at the Poppen House.
- Barb Bartkowiak as she continues her battle with cancer.
- Jim Graves as he continues his battle with cancer.
- Don & Juanita Fowler as Don continues his recovery at Heartwood Lodge.
- Bob Keessen, Earl & Pat Lewis, along with our other Special Friends.
Praises to Our God for…
- The gift of Love. May we be a shining example of that love to others.
- Family and friends of our church: Bradey Grimm, Sherry Apostle, Jan Weiden, Dava Marion, Nick Brown, Sue VanRandwyk.
Opportunities to Serve…
The New Coffee Fellowship schedule is complete. If you are on the schedule from January to June a copy is in your mailbox. Please make sure to read the To-Do-List on the back as your time approaches. Thank you so much for serving in this way!
Want to take a turn sharing a story with our young ones? Children’s Messages are a part of worship on Family Worship Sundays. A new sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the drinking fountain. Family Worship Sundays (No Children in Worship) are Communion Sundays… Holidays… Summertime. If you have questions, see Courtney Kingshott.
Requested Announcements…
Give the hope of Christmas with a gift for a person in need through the World Renew Gift Catalog (located at the Info Center). This year’s catalog includes many great gift choices for families, congregations, schools, and groups. Clean water, a goat or chicken, medicine or food may be the powerful opportunity someone needs to take the next step out of poverty. Change a life for good this Christmas with a tangible gift from World Renew.
Help Families Affected by the Pacific Northwest Flooding – Beginning December 8, heavy nonstop rains have led to record flooding in western and central parts of Washington state, killing at least one person and forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate due to profound damage to homes and communities. World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) is preparing a response to help flood survivors, including communities already recovering from severe flooding in 2021. Please join us in prayer and donate to help flood survivors at worldrenew.net/northwest, by calling 1-800-552-7972, or by mailing a check made out to World Renew, with “Pacific Northwest Floods 2025” in the memo line, to: World Renew, 8970 Byron Commerce Dr SW, Byron Center, MI 49315.
Are you interested in going on a trip to the Holy Land in 2026? You have an opportunity to join a group that is sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church in Muskegon lead by Pastor Dennis Lassanske and his son, Dave in October of 2026. The trip and accommodations would be made available through the travel company, GTI (Go To Israel) in Holland, MI. Any questions about this potential trip can be answered by Dennis Berens or Henriet Meyers.
RightNow Media is a streaming library of the world’s largest biblical video resources for the entire family that inspire faith every day of the week. To sign up, click the QR code in the printed bulletin or text CALVINCRC to 49775 for easy access to the video library anytime, anywhere, browse the content available to you and find series that are relevant to your life. See Vickie in the office, if you have any questions.
Order of Worship
Rev. Mark Milkamp, leading
Acoustic Guitar: Craig Folger
Piano: Lucile Hackett
Percussion: Erik Bean
Organ: Joni Wagenmaker
Trumpet: Meredith Best
Praise Team: Craig Folger, Jessica Russell, Lucile Hackett
Opening Song: “O Come All Ye Faithful”
Welcome & Announcements
* Call to Worship
Advent Candle Lighting/Reading: The Jansen family
* Songs of Praise & Worship: “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “Good
Christian Men Rejoice”
Offertory Prayer/Offering of the Day: Love INC (In the Name of Christ)
Offering
Song: “A Christmas Hymn”
Faithful Family Verse for December: John 1:1,4&5
Morning Prayer: Paul Wilson
Advent Series: “The Heart of God on Display”
Scripture: 1 John 4:9-12
Message: “Love”
* Song: “Joy to the World”
* Words of Blessing
* Closing Song: “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”
* Parting Music
* Please stand if you are able.