First Presbyterian Church of Holland Michigan (PCUSA)

First Sunday After Christmas

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Click the audio icon above to play the service or you can click here to play or download the service.
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You can play or download the Sermon Singing in the Reign: The Other Wise Man (excerpts) by Henry Van Dyke as read by Rev. Linda Knieriemen.

Henry van Dyke (1852 – 1933) was an American author, educator, and clergyman. He graduated from Princeton University, 1873, and from Princeton Theological Seminary then served as pas­tor of the Brick Pres­by­ter­i­an Church in New York City. Se­ven­teen years lat­er, he re­turned to Prince­ton as a pro­fes­sor of En­glish lit­er­a­ture. Af­ter­ward, he held a num­ber of em­i­nent posts: Amer­i­can am­bas­sa­dor to the Netherlands and Luxembourg, mod­er­a­tor of the General Assembly of the Pres­by­ter­i­an Church, Com­mand­er of the Legion of Honor, and Pres­i­dent of the Na­tion­al In­sti­tute of Arts and Let­ters. He chaired the com­mit­tee that com­piled the Pres­by­ter­i­an Book of Com­mon Wor­ship in 1905, and helped pre­pare the re­vised in edit­ion in 1932. He chaired the committee that wrote the first Presbyterian printed liturgy, The Book of Common Worship of 1906. Among his popular writings are the two Christmas stories The Other Wise Man (1896) and The First Christmas Tree (1897).

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Participating in Worship: Rev. Linda Knieriemen, Liturgist: Rev. Dr. Rich Lichti

Habitat for Humanity needs workers for the McGraw House. If you are able to help at all during the week, please call Shannon Morton at 393-8001 x103. She works 9:30-2:30 or you can just leave a voice mail. They especially need help the week of Dec. 30 – Jan. 4. If you have any questions, please contact Jen or Mike DeWaard (738-2658) or visit the website Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity and click on Current Project Work Schedules. Watch for more information coming soon!

ATTENTION: Chili Chefs and Consummate Chili Coinsures, mark January 13th on your calendars! Sunday, January 13th the High School Youth Group is hosting a Chili Cook-Off and Cake-Walk. So if you have a favorite Chili Recipe or wish to share your favorite cake with your fellow members, or if you simply want to join in fellowship while tasting ‘oh so many wonderful bowls of chili, then plan on being in the fellowship hall on January 13 at 6:00 pm. All money raise will go toward the Youth Group Mission fund. Sign up to bring a crock pot of chili on the bulletin board.

CARE CLOSET needs this week are liquid household cleaner, laundry detergent, plastic wrap, liquid hand soap.

Don’t forget the First Presbyterian Endowment Fund. These funds allow your gift to fund the work of your church year after year. Gifts of stock may give you some great tax benefits!

January 27th book is Empire Falls by Richard Russo.

Our January newsletter is available for download. Please click on the link below.

Profiles January 2008

The Monthly Calendar and Sunday Schedule are now available for download. Click the links below.

January 2008 Calendar

January 2008 Sunday Schedule

The Middle School Youth Group, having illumined our lives on Christmas Eve (they helped make all 300 luminaries for the Christmas Eve services), are not slowing down in the New Year. As Sunday school continues to inform and inspire these young students, Wednesday night youth group members look to continue applying their faith each day as well as learning some new games. You may even want to ask them about the game GROG or even BLOB. Look forward to these young men and women sharing some of their drama skills and creativity in March. Trust me; you won’t want to miss this one.
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