This Week at Calvin

Calvin Christian Reformed Church, located at 326 7th St SE, welcomes all to their Lenten services.  Lent began on Ash Wednesday.  There are 6 Sundays in Lent ending on Palm Sunday morning.  Calvin Church is using the Lenten Triad to visualize the marking of time.  A familiar feature of Advent and Christmas worship at church is the Advent wreath.  Each Sunday of Advent another candle is lit, culminating in the lighting of the Christ Candle on Christmas Day.  Less familiar to many is the Lenten triad - an adaptation of the Advent wreath that can also be incorporated in congregational worship.  A Lenten triad has two purple candles along each of the three sides.  The Christ Candle is in the middle.  A black cloth covers the base symbolizing the ashes of death and our dying to self throughout the Lenten period.  It culminates in the death of Christ on Good Friday.

The purple colored candles are also used during Lent to signify repentance.  The center candle is white, the color of purity, and represents Christ.  All candles are lit the first Sunday of Lent.  On each of the Sundays, we snuff out one purple candle.  On Palm Sunday, we extinguish the final purple candle, leaving only the white Christ candle burning.  On Good Friday, when we remember Christs death on the cross, the white candle will be extinguished leaving darkness.  On Easter morning , we will relight the Christ candle to symbolize Christ's resurrection.

 

This Sunday we celebrate communion.  We invite all who are truly sorry of their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and who desire to live in obedience to Him are invited to come with gladness to the table of our Lord March 17th at 10:15 AM.  As is tradition, members of Calvin are encouraged to contribute to the Christian Needs Center/  Their March needs include:  Pancake Mix, syrup, jelly, rice, shampoo and  4 pack toilet paper. These items can be placed in the blue barrel in the narthex.  Dave Hector will deliver them on Wednesday.

 

This Sunday a special offering will be collected for ZESTOS, Le Mars.  

Pastor Rev. Dr. Nevada DeLapp will use Luke 13: 31 - 35 for his text on Loving Enemies with Jesus.  Ina Bjorge will read Genesis 15: 1 - 12, 17 - 18.  Psalm 27 will be read responsively. Greg Smidt will read Philippians 3; 17 -4:1.  

Miriam Hector will lead all into a spirit of worship with a piano solo "In the Name of the Lord".  She will also accompany the singing of "Better is One Day", "In Christ There is No East or West", Break Now the Bread of Life' and "Sent Forth by God's Blessing." Others serving this week include the Greeters: John & Judy Klocksiem, Coffee Servers: Pete & Mary Attema, Usher: Fred Vollink, Nursery: Troy & Elisa Hughes, Sound System: Bruce Smit and Power Point: Jeremy Kamp.  

Sunday morning always begins with Sunday School for all ages in the basement at 9:00 AM.  Join Sharon Zomermaand in the teaching of the pre-schoolers, Pastor DeLapp teaching the Heidelburg Catechism for the young people and "The Mission of God's People" for the Adults.  Coffee is prepared.  Come and join this opportunity to grow in a relationship with Christ.

Look at your calendar for joining The Youth For Christ Teen Center in the annual Spring Banquet on March 25.  Contact Elaine Van Otterloo for more information and to sign up.  

During the week our church is joining our friends from First Baptist Church in delivering Meals on Wheels.  Each church does a route. We meet at the Senior Center at 10:50.  Developing a heart for our neighbors leads us to serve and reach out to them for Christ.  Sign up is in the narthex.  

The Afternoon Women's Bible Study meets on Wednesday, March 20th at 1:30.  We are on Lesson 3 "How Does the Holy Spirit Help Me Grow?" Join this fun group of women committed to prayer, Bible reading and fellowship.  It is never too late to join this group of women filled with wisdom and insight in Biblical teaching. 

Calvin Church, on 4th Ave SE with the new digital sign, welcomes all to join them in experiencing God's life changing love.  Past sermons can be heard on our website: calvincrclemars.org.