Sunday, August 2, 2026, 9:30 am Pastor Jeff Vanderhooft will be leading our worship service. The Scripture Passages is Matthew 14:13-21 and the sermon title is “You Do It.”
Sunday Morning Volunteers
Nursery – Amy Rottman, Please sign up HERE to help
Little Lambs – Marijo Knoll, Annika Bolt, Taylor Rottman
Coffee – Steve & Pat Hirdes
Congregational Life
Office Hours: Office hours are Tuesday – Thursday, 9 am – 2 pm.
Birthday Blessings – August! Let’s celebrate with our Covenant friends as they celebrate another year of God’s faithfulness and love!
Marilyn Zuiderveen – August 3
Jim Tiesma – August 8
Joe Smidstra – August 10
Virginia Huizenga – August 11
Bev Berghorst – August 19
Alyce Huizenga – August 22
Millie Scheltema – August 24
Vivian Waite – August 26
Betty Grasman – August 27
Madelon Gelder – August 29
Ruth Vander Wal – August 31
Registration Forms for Children and Student Ministries Students and parents, we are looking forward to the upcoming year of ministry at Covenant Church. To help us prepare, PLEASE fill out the 2026-2027 Children and Youth Registration Form. All students participating in children’s and student ministries need this form completed. This includes nursery, Little Lambs, Sunday School, GEMS, Discipleship Journey, Youth Group, and Cadets (at First Cutlerville CRC). You can find the form on the Sign-Up tab on the church app or by clicking HERE. Thank you for taking the time to fill this out before the ministry year begins!
Save the Date of Sunday, September 13 for the church picnic at Creekside Park. Details will be available soon!
Wednesdays on the Lawn – Join us for a variety of Wednesday Nights on the Lawn community-building gatherings this summer for both Covenant Church and the neighborhood on June 17, July 15, and August 19. These community-building gatherings are open to everyone. Bring a neighbor. Meet a neighbor. Specific details can be found on the church app calendar and sign-up tab, or at this webpage: https://covenant-crc.org/onthelawn/.
Our third gathering is coming up on Wednesday, August 19. Join us at 6:30 PM for a “Back to School Inflatable Bounce House Obstacle Course.” Invite a friend to come with you and find out which one of you will be able to make your way through a 40-foot-long inflatable obstacle course first. Participants, both children and adults, will race side-by-side through a series of inflatable challenges that test speed, agility, and determination. Refreshments and drinks will be provided too. Come join the community-building fun!
FINANCIAL
Total Offering Received: July 19: $7,712 July 26: $6,804
This week’s offering is for: Ministry Fund
August Offering Schedule
August 2 – Ministry Fund
August 9 – Volunteers in Service
August 16 – Mission Fund
August 23 – Hand 2 Hand
August 30 – Benevolent Fund
Adult Discipleship
Higher Ground – Men’s Bible Study – We have wrapped up our meetings for this season, but we will plan to meet a handful of times over the summer for coffee, pie, or ice cream. Keep an eye out for meetup details in future News & Notes.
The Well – Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study – We hope you will consider joining us in the fall!
Women in the Word – Thursday evening Women’s Bible Study – We hope you will consider joining us in the fall!
Youth Discipleship
Wednesdays on the Lawn – Students, join us for a variety of different Wednesday Nights on the Lawn community building gatherings this summer for both Covenant Church and the neighborhood on June 17, July 15, and August 19. These community building gatherings are open to everyone. Bring a neighbor. Meet a neighbor. Specific details can be found on the church app calendar and sign-up tab, or at this webpage: https://covenant-crc.org/onthelawn/.
Our third gathering is coming up on Wednesday, August 19. Join us at 6:30 PM for a “Back to School Inflatable Bounce House Obstacle Course.” Invite a friend to come with you and find out which one of you will be able to make your way through a 40 foot long inflatable obstacle course first. Participants, both children and adults, will race side-by-side through a series of inflatable challenges that test speed, agility, and determination. Students, do you think you can beat Pastor Henry? Come and find out. Refreshments and drinks will be provided too. Come join the community building fun!
Furniture Ministry
We are looking for the following household items:
Twin Sheet Sets
Full Sheet Sets
Bath Towel Sets (body, hand, and face)
Bathroom Rugs/Mats
Kitchen and/or Steak Knives
Cutting Boards
Silverware Sets
Pots/Pans (no scratches please)
Toasters
Coffee Pots
Mixers
We are open at storage for drop-offs on Thursdays at 3 pm or Saturdays at 10 am. Please call Kari if you would like to drop off any of the following items:
Couches
Loveseats
Kitchen Table with Chairs
Dresser
Nightstand
End Table
Coffee Table
Mattress
Thank you for your continued support!
This summer, we are collecting food items for our Hand2Hand Program.
We have a new food guideline requirement for the Hand 2 Hand Program. We need to include 2 fruit items in the bag each week.
Please keep in mind that when you purchase Fruit Cups, we need them to be in 100% Fruit Juice, not in syrup, to count as a fruit item.
Bear Fruit Rolls or Bear Fruit Splits, Good & Gather Twisted Fruit Rolls, Members Mark Fruit Twists or Pure Organics Twisted Fruit Bites are good 100% fruit items.
For more information on the new guidelines, please check out the Hand2Hand board in the Narthex.
Thank you!
Any questions? Ask Heidi Westra
Please pray for wisdom for school leaders and teachers planning for next school year.
Thank you for continuing to lift up Streams’ neighbors, volunteers and staff in prayer. Pray that Streams would continue to be a place of hope, belonging, and tangible care, and that their volunteers and staff would be strengthened as they faithfully serve.
Prayer Requests
Do you have a prayer request or a praise / thank you? Call your Pastoral Elder or Pastoral Care Assistant, leave a message on the church office phone at (616) 455-5120, or send an email to prayer@covenant-crc.org.
Prayer Requests
Deb DeKam had major spinal surgery on Thursday. Recovery and rehab are expected to be very extensive and painful. Please pray that this surgery was successful, for pain relief, and for complete healing for Deb. Please also pray for Doug as he is by her side and cares for her. For updates, you can follow Deb’s Caring Bridge page HERE. (Elder: Jammal)
Thank you, Covenant family, for remembering us with your cards, calls, cookies, and flowers. We appreciate it very much. I (Ruth) am staying about the same, although oxygen all the time is somewhat tiring. Dan has had a rough several months with balance trouble and the ability to swallow. He is on meds now and his eating is improving. Since we don’t drive any more, we wondered if a few of you would be able to take us to doctor appointments or errands to free up our family from taking time off work. We would appreciate it. If you can help, please call Dan at 616-890-5570. Thank you! Dan and Ruth Huisman (Elder: Vander Weide)
Russ Jansen is having heart valve issues and had a heart cath on Wednesday. Please pray that the surgery was successful in helping identify the correct treatment for Russ and for complete healing. (Elder: Vander Weide)
Ann Cool had heart surgery on Wednesday. Please pray that this surgery was successful and for complete healing. (Elder: Brinks)
Please Continue to Pray For
Dave Scheltema continues his rehabilitation at The Oaks of Byron Center. He still feels weak and tires easily. Visits in the late afternoon on weekdays and anytime on Saturdays and Sundays would be welcome. Thank you for your concern and continued prayers. (Elder: Vander Weide)
We express our sympathy to Bill & Carole Weaver in the passing of Bill’s mom Beatrice Weaver. Please pray for God’s comfort and peace to surround Bill and Carole and their family during this time. (Elder: Vander Weide)
Please continue to pray for Libere Dusabe as he is in Burundi. Pray for God’s wisdom, guidance, and protection for Libere while he does his work there. Pray for fruitful meetings with staff, community leaders, and program participants. Pray for good health and strength during his trip. Please also pray for Donate and their girls as he is away – that the Lord will watch over them, encourage them, and give them peace until Libere returns home. (Elder: Brinks)
Click HERE for the August Prayer Newsletter
Please Pray for Our Missionaries
We support several missionaries and mission groups who serve in the United States and in other countries. Through our prayers and gifts, we help them bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to people throughout the world.
Click here to see information from our missionaries on the website.
Requested Announcements
Volunteers In Service (VIS) is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. You are invited to join VIS for a picnic celebration at Calvary CRC (3500 Byron Center Ave SW, Wyoming) on Wednesday, August 5 at 6pm for a time of celebration and praise as we thank God for 40 years of faithfulness! Program and dinner start at 6:15pm. RSVP HERE or on our website at www.visgr.org/pages/40th-anniversary-of-vis. Questions, call 616-459-7500.
Covenant Council Corner
Council Members
Chair of Council: Jaci Lubbers
Vice-chair of Council: Michelle Vonk
Clerk of Council: Dave Geldersma
Chair of Pastoral Elders: Matt Brinks
Chair of Deacons: Tom Wolffis
Council
Administrative Elders
Pastoral Elders
Deacons
Mission Team
Click HERE for Archived Minutes