Sunday, December 14, 2025, 9:30 am Pastor Jeff Vanderhooft will be leading our worship service this morning. We are continuing our series focusing on the Psalms, with an Advent focus. The Psalms we will be looking at will all have a Messianic theme. This week’s sermon title is “Anticipation” and the Scripture passage is Psalm 22.
Bible Pastor Jeff is challenging us this Advent season to bring our own, personal Bibles to worship with us.
This education and worship year, as a congregation we will immerse ourselves in the voice and language of the Psalms. We will learn the languages of lament, wisdom, royal, thanksgiving, hymn, trust and praise which will lead us into a deeper and fuller relationship with Christ.
Sunday Morning Volunteers
Nursery – Laura Geldersma, Katelyn Hulst SIGN UP HERE TO HELP
Little Lambs – Kim DeVries, Annika Bolt, Emmaus Bulthuis
Coffee – Brad & Faythe Patterson
Congregational Life
Office Hours Office hours are typically Tuesday - Thursday, 9am – 2pm. Thank you for your patience and understanding with potentially changing hours. If you need something and the office is closed, please call and leave a message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Things Coming Up This Week
December 14 - Worship Service, 9:30am
Discipleship Journey & Sunday School, 10:45am
December 16 - The Well, 9:30am
Council Meeting, 6:30pm
December 17 - GEMS, 6:30pm
Worship Choir, 6:30pm
December 11 - Praise Team, 6:15pm
Women in the Word, 7pm
Shofar Brass, 7:45pm
Upcoming Dates
December 21 - Christmas Candlelight, 4pm
December 25 - Christmas Morning Worship, 9:30am
Birthday Blessings – December! Let’s celebrate with our Covenant friends as they celebrate another year of God’s faithfulness and love!
Marlene Phillips - December 4
Carol Hulst - December 6
Glen Van Dyk - December 15
Carol Schaafsma - December 17
Marly Baar - December 22
Upcoming Dates Please join us on Sunday, December 21 at 4pm for our Christmas Candlelight Service and on Thursday, December 25 at 9:30am for our Christmas Morning Worship Service.
Snow Pants for Southwood Thank you all so much for the clothing donations for Southwood! They are very appreciative of them! They shared this week that there is a need for snow pants, especially sizes 6/7, 8, and 10/12. Any donations can be placed in the bin by the office. Thank you in advance for helping keep the students in our community warm in the snow and cold this winter.
Mobile Food Pantry Discovery Church is having their next Mobile Food Pantry (MFP) this coming Wednesday, December 17 from 5:00-6:00 PM. They need several volunteers starting at 3:30 PM to help with registration, greeting our guests, set-up, and parking lot attendees. If you are able to help next Wednesday, please sign up online by clicking HERE or by calling Sara Barnaby at 616-554-1440 so they know who is available to come and serve. Thank you!
Winter Jam 2026 – Winter Jam is coming to the VanAndel Arena on Sunday March 8. For more details about Winter Jam, visit: https://jamtour.com/03-08-grandrapids.html Are you interested in attending the Winter Jam concert on March 8? If we get more than 15 students and adults to sign up by February 4, we will go as a group. Details and sign up can be found by clicking HERE or by signing up on the Covenant Church app. Contact Pastor Henry with any questions.
Neighborhood Community Building Gatherings Join us this fall on the 4th Sunday afternoon of the month from 4:00 – 6:00 pm for a variety of different community building gatherings.
Our next neighborhood community building gathering will be Christmas Candlelight Service and Cookies on Sunday, December 21, at 4:00 PM at Covenant Church. During our time together, we will be celebrating the expectation of the birth of Jesus. Remember, these neighborhood community building gatherings are open to everyone. Bring a neighbor. Meet a neighbor. Who could you invite to join you?
For more information about these gatherings, please visit: https://www.covenant-crc.org/on-the-lawn
FINANCIAL
This week’s offering is for: ReFrame Ministries
Total Offering Received: $22,010
December Offering Schedule
December 7 - Ministry Fund
December 14 - ReFrame Ministries
December 21 - Mission Fund
December 25 - World Renew
December 28 - Ministry Fund
Adult Discipleship
Higher Ground – Men’s Bible Study – We meet Monday evenings at 7:30pm in the Covenant Room. Plan to join us! We will resume meeting January 12, 2026.
The Well – Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study – We meet Tuesdays at 9:30am. Plan to join us!
Women in the Word – Thursday evening Women’s Bible Study –We are beginning a new study on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. Our next meeting is Thursday, December 18. Contact Kim DeVries for more information.
Youth Discipleship
Youth Group Dinners Each year, we invite youth group parents to sign up to help prepare one of the dinners at our youth group gatherings. If you would like to help with an upcoming dinner, click HERE to sign up.
Youth Group Gathering Our next youth group gathering is Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 4-6pm at Covenant Church. Join us for group games, discipleship time, small groups, and dinner. Youth group is open to all 6th – 12th grade students. We hope to see you there!
Youth Group Overnight Winter Retreat Youth group students, the overnight youth group winter retreat is coming up on January 31-February 1. Retreat details and a sign-up can be found on the youth group webpage or on the Covenant Church app. Registration is now open! Don’t delay. Sign up today.
Winter Jam 2026 – Winter Jam is coming to the VanAndel Arena on Sunday March 8. For more details about Winter Jam, visit: https://jamtour.com/03-08-grandrapids.html Youth Group students, are you interested in attending the Winter Jam concert on March 8? If we get more than 15 students and adults to sign up by February 4, we will go as a group. Details and sign up can be found by clicking HERE or by signing up on the Covenant Church app. Contact Pastor Henry with any questions.
Furniture Ministry
Be sure to check out the Furniture Ministry Giving Tree in the narthex, take an ornament(s), and bless someone this Christmas season! A flyer was in your mailbox with more information or click HERE.
Food Donations needed for the January Packings:
Mixed Fruit Cups - need 21
Cookie Pouches - need 109
Nutri—Grain Bars - need 71
Tropical Fruit Cups - need 54
Canned Peas - need 110
Canned Corn - need 62
Tropical Fruit - need 54
Pudding Pouches - need 82
Belvita Bars - need 16
Goldfish Crackers - need 15
Tuna Cans - need 5
Please place any donations on the black cart in the Narthex.
Any Questions? Ask Heidi.
Please pray for the health and safety of the Kids Hope students and mentors.
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
Millie Lanser has moved back to Byron Manor into assisted living. Please pray that this transition goes well for Millie and for continued healing. (Elder: Brinks)
Michele Neuberg will have a doctor’s appointment on December 18 to check the results of her MRI and hopefully schedule her face surgery. Please pray that the MRI shows favorable results for Michele. (Elder: Padding)
Please pray for Jeff and Tammy Todd, Bev and Bob VanderHeide’s stepson and his wife. Jeff had a scan on Thursday. Please pray that the scans show improvement and that the chemo has been effective. Tammy has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will begin chemo treatments. Please pray for strength and peace as they face this new challenge as a family. (Elder: Jammal)
Becki Vander Molen's procedure to remove the Spinal Cord Stimulator this week went well. Please give thanks that the surgeon’s schedule opened and she can have the Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted on December 29. Please pray for pain relief for Becki and for peace as she awaits her upcoming procedure. (Elder: DeVries)
Ann Cool went to the heart doctor and will need to have a CAT scan on December 19. As of right now she does not need surgery. Please give thanks for the good report Ann received at the doctor and pray for peace as she awaits the next test. (Elder: Brinks)
Please Continue To Pray For
Thank you for all the prayers and many thoughtful texts. Matt DeVries’ recovery is going well and he’s feeling good following surgery. We really appreciate the support. (Elder: Patterson)
Berdena Ham's surgery went well and she is doing as well as can be expected. She thanks you for all the prayers offered on her behalf. Please continue to pray for healing and strength for Berdena. (Elder: Padding)
Please pray for peace, patience, and healing for Hussein Hasan. (Elder: Jammal)
Click HERE for the December 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.
Streams has been abundantly blessed over the last six weeks with food and diaper donations. We thank all our partner churches and businesses for helping us fill our shelves for the holidays and well beyond into the new year! At this time we do not need food or diapers but we would benefit from your monetary donations to help cover costs of our educational programs. Thank you very much!
Covenant Council Corner
Council Members
Chair of Council: Dave Ballast
Vice-chair of Council: Jaci Lubbers
Clerk of Council: Dave Geldersma
Chair of Pastoral Elders: Matt Brinks
Chair of Deacons: Tom Wolffis
Council
Administrative Elders
Administrative Elder Minutes, October 2025
Pastoral Elders
Pastoral Elder Minutes, August 2025
Pastoral Elder Minutes, October 2025
Deacons
Deacon Minutes, July 15, 2025
Deacon Minutes, August 19, 2025
Deacon Minutes, September 16, 2025
Deacon Minutes, October 21, 2025
Mission Team
Mission Team Minutes, July 2025