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November 23, 2024
Dear Rockford Reformed Church family and friends,
Here’s a few things to note for this weekend leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday week and beyond… As I noted last week, this Sunday’s worship will be centered on Thanksgiving as we consider 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Genesis 50:15-21. Our worship gathering will close with time set aside for you (all ages) to come up to the front to share gratitude and thanksgiving for God’s goodness over the past year.
You are also encouraged to give toward a Thanksgiving offering that will be designated for our benevolent fund. The benevolent fund is stewarded by our deacons to care for people in and outside of our church family who are in need for a season. It may include some groceries, getting caught up with utilities, rent, or assisting with vehicle repair. We have been blessed with a several opportunities to come alongside those in need and so, a resupply of this fund will enable us to continue with caring well for other needs as they arise. We will collect this offering along with our tithes and offerings during worship and so, make sure that your Thanksgiving/benevolent fund offering is labeled in that way. If you give with the church-provided envelopes, there is a pink “Special Offering” envelope that would serve well for this offering.
Advent (which means "coming") begins a week from Sunday and so, our worship and focus will turn toward celebrating the first coming of Jesus and preparing for his second coming. We are providing a few devotional helps for your preparation. Beginning tomorrow, in the fellowship lobby, you will find a Lifetree family-oriented holiday planner as well as an Advent Family Devotional (also available to download below). We are also providing free copies of the “Everyday Gospel Christmas Devotional” by Paul David Tripp (ebook version below). And finally, you can simply click this link to sign up to receive a daily email advent devotional from Tim Keller’s ministry, Gospel in Life.
Mark your calendars for our annual congregation meeting scheduled for December 8, after our worship gathering. Our agenda will include new elders and deacons, budget, year-end reflections, and looking forward to the New Year.
I am glad to be sharing God’s Word with you each week and look forward to hearing from many of us how he has been graciously providing and working throughout this past year.
Grace, peace, and love,
Pastor Tim
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