WORSHIP NOTES​

• Series: The Easy Yoke

• Sermon: Prayer

• Scripture:

• Summary: Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus meant those words. His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and He wants you to experience that. He wants you to become like Him—a gentle and humble shepherd. This summer, we want to pursue that together. In our summer series, The Easy Yoke, we’ll explore what Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28–30 really mean. Together, we’ll learn how to take on the yoke of Jesus through spiritual disciplines and experience the light, easy, restful, and abundant life He offers. Each week, you won’t just hear a message—you’ll also receive a resource to help you practice a spiritual discipline and respond to Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me.”

• Offerings: The General Fund and Royal Family Kids Camp/Foster Hope.  Foster Hope NWIA, Inc encompasses Royal Family Kids Camp (a 5-day summer camp for children ages 7-11 in foster care), as well as new opportunities for teenage foster kids in NW Iowa including one-day events and a weekend camp. Your financial support will help to offset the cost of these events, enabling these children the opportunity to see and hear about the love of Jesus.

• Second offerings in August:

  • Next Sunday, August 2, our second offering will be for the Ministry Center/Building Fund. An offering for this fund is taken the first Sunday of each month. While the Ministry Center was paid off in 2023, ongoing expenses occur and with increased staff and the potential of additional office and storage space, it’s important to keep looking to the future as we grow and have adequate funds available to expand if needed. While we aren’t actively raising money for the purpose of a future permanent home for Bridge of Hope, building money in this fund, along with equity in the Ministry Center, would someday help fund a permanent location.

  • August 9, 16, 23: Winter Warm Up, a non-profit ministry that provides winter gear for those in need from infants to adults, strives to make sure everyone in our community has access to warm clothing for free during Iowa’s bitter cold months.

  • August 30: Christian Education. This offering is for the purpose of further supporting Christian Education. Although Christian Education is a large part of BOH’s budget, the Service Shepherds are offering this opportunity to give as you feel led to support the impact Christian Education has had in the lives of many of our church body. This offering will specifically go towards the Christian Education share of the budget.

• Bridge of Hope, a few Sunday nights each year, all the CRC churches in Sioux Center gather to worship together. The next service is August 9 at 6:00 p.m. at Faith CRC and Pastor Sam will be preaching. Join us as we worship together as the body of Christ in Sioux Center!

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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​​​​​CONNECT & UNITE (Youth Group for 6th-8th grade {CONNECT} and 9th-12th grade {UNITE})​​

• Please pray for the group of UNITE kids & adult chaperones as they are in El Salvador this week learning more about ministries that are happening there. They will return home on Friday, July 31.

• Please prayerfully consider being a CONNECT leader this coming year! Two male and two female leaders are still needed. We are looking for adults who are willing to intentionally walk alongside students for the year, if not longer. Reach out to Kira (kira@bridgecrc.org) with questions or if you are interested!​​

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From the Council

Over the last several months, a group of Bridge members have been participating in a Physical and Internet Safety Team. Bridge of Hope looks different than it did five or six years ago, as does the environment we operate within. For that reason, Council decided to take a proactive look at assessing safety within the church and pulled in a group of individuals with expertise and skills in this area. We are looking at our current safety protocols related to medical, fire, severe weather, internet safety, and more. There will be more information on this in the coming months. If you have any questions in the interim, please reach out to Christina Postma at 712-240-0155.

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First Friday Diners

Join other adults on Friday, August 7, to eat at the Cedar Rock Grill in Rock Valley. Meet at the Ministry Center at 5:30 pm to carpool to Rock Valley or join us at the restaurant at 6:00 pm. The Cedar Rock Grill is a locally-born establishment that offers American cuisine. Please send a “Coming!” text to either Miriam Buss (712-578-1227) or Cindy Groeneweg (712-441-4336) by Wednesday, August 5.

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​​​​​​​​​​Sunday Morning Announcement Form

Would you like an announcement made on a Sunday morning before or during the worship service? If so, please fill out the Sunday morning announcement form. Please submit the form by the Thursday before the Sunday you would like the announcement made, preferably earlier if possible. The form can be found here.

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Koinonia Prayer Requests

Prayer requests on Sunday mornings at Bridge of Hope have historically been taken verbally during worship. To help make sharing requests more accessible to all, a google form has been created so that people can share requests at a different time and method than verbally on Sunday morning. Prayer requests submitted this way will be included in the email that gets sent to the body each week on either Monday or Tuesday. (Please note: Any prayer requests submitted after the Koinonia Prayer email has been sent that week will wait to be emailed out until the following week. Also, requests made here will not be verbalized on Sunday mornings by the Pastoral Shepherd leading Koinonia Prayer.) Submitting an online prayer request can be done by following this link: https://forms.gle/bryoqnHv7zjy5cyj7.

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OUR CHURCH FAMILY

This week, the community of believers in Sioux Center is praying for the congregation of Centerpoint Reformed and Pastors Chris Godfredsen and Jamie Dykstra.

 

​​​CONGREGATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

TODAY, July 26

Nursery: Alicia B, Kaelen V, Brielle P

Coffee Service Setup (before church): Cindy G

Coffee Service Cleanup (after church): Van Middendorp

Shepherd Duties: Angela P, Reggie H

Outside door greeter:

Additional Mic Runner: Dave R

Check-ins: Cindy G, Aimee VM, Ruth R

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Next Sunday, August 2

Nursery: Angela P , Sawyer O, Reese M

Coffee Service Setup (before church): Miriam B

Coffee Service Cleanup (after church): Ter Horst

Shepherd Duties: Christina P

Outside door greeter: Zach P

Additional Mic Runner:

Check-ins: Jena D, Lindsey VP, Carla VDZ

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​​​BRIDGE CONNECTION GROUPS

The body is divided alphabetically (by last names) into groups with an assigned Pastoral & Service Shepherd to offer care and support.

Feel free to contact your Shepherd should a need arise. The groups are as follows:

A-B: Angela Perigo & Reggie Hostetler

C-G: Christina Postma & Brandon Huisman

H-M: Daren Dieleman & Jay Ouwinga

N-T: Henry Vander Pol & Koty Vande Griend

U-Z: Ellen Korver & Tom Coulander

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STAFF

Sam A, Pastor of Preaching & Community Engagement

Gail A, Pastor of Preaching & Discipleship 

Ruth R, Administrative Assistant 

Kira O, Youth Director 

Sarah S, Sunday School Director 

Aimee VM, Congregational Caregiver

Mark B, Congregational Caregiver 

Becky R, Worship Coordinator 

Cindy G, Treasurer

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Sunday Worship • 9:30am • Intermediate School Gym • 950 4th Ave NE

Office Hours ● Tuesday and Thursday 9-12 & 1-4

Mailing address ● 43 2nd Street NE, Sioux Center, Iowa 51250

Offices located 1 block south & ½ block east of the downtown stoplight.

Like us at www.facebook.com/BOHMinistry

Website ● www.bridgecrc.org

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GIVING BACK / WAYS TO TITHE

1.   Online: go to Bridge’s website (www.bridgecrc.org) and hit the “give” button on the home page; or go to https://bridgecrc.churchcenter.com/giving

2.   Giving App: Instructions on how to use the online giving app: https://pcogiving.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/217380608-Give-Online-with-Church-Center

3.   Text-to-give: First time users: Text 84321. Click on the link sent back to you, select Bridge of Hope, add an email address, and enter your payment information. Or follow these instructions: https://pcogiving.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/217380608-Give-Online-with-Church-Center. After the initial set up, just text 84321, enter in the amount you would like to give and hit send. (Only the dollar amount is needed if it is to the General Fund. If it’s to the second offering indicate dollar amount and “second” {i.e., $10 second}; if it’s to the Building Fund indicate amount and “building” {i.e., $10 building}.)

4.   E-tithing: Contact a Service Shepherd to get set up. (bohss@bridgecrc.org)

5.   Drop off at or mail to: Bridge of Hope; 43 2nd St NE; Sioux Center

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NOTE: At the Intermediate School, a First Aid kit can be found on the small table near the entrance to the building. An AED (automated external defibrillator) can be found on the wall near the entrance.