Third Reformed Ministries
- 3rd Helpings
- Shelley Millen
- 3rd Helpings has a two-fold mission: to get to know and love fellow Third Reformed Church members better through an excellent community building activity AND, as a by-product, to assemble nutritious meals for you to put in your freezer for that time when you are too busy to prepare a meal for family and friends. We meet once a month from September through June for about 2 hours starting at 7:00 p.m. We invite you to join us for food, fun, friend- and fellowship.
- Adult Education
- Kama Jongerius Zuidema
- Adult Education classes are offered in the chapel from 9:40-10:40 a.m. each Sunday throughout the school year.
- Children and Worship (4 yrs-2nd grade)
- Marcia Floding
- Children in Worship is an approach to worship for young children ages four through 2nd Grade that helps them to experience God through worship at their age level. Children learn about a fourfold worship experience through approaching God, praising Him in song, listening to God's word through age appropriate storytelling, and respond to God through art and other hands-on options. Children also learn to worship through prayer, a "feast" (a time of giving thanks), and conclude by going in God's name. At TRC, we have three worship centers during the school year. One is at the 8:30 a.m. service, and two are at 11:00 a.m.
- Congregational Care
- Dee Bechtel
- There is a clear Biblical mandate in Galatians 6 concerning Congregational Care: "Bear one another's burdens...do good to all men..." At TRC, we care for one another through CareLine, Parish Elders, Stephen Ministers, and prayer groups. We provide transportation, hospital equipment, sermon tapes, and meals. We organize fellowship events (Pizza Sundays, Mindings, receptions, caroling, etc.), arrange visits in homes and hospitals, and many other things. The coordinator forms a network of communications to enable members of the congregation to receive and give care.
- Headstart
- Health Ministry at TRC
- Jennifer Boersen
- The mission of the Health Ministry at TRC is to express God’s love and care for all ages, promote health in a holistic manner through prayer, education, support, prevention and providing referrals to resources within the congregation and our community. We are closely allied with the Congregational Care Coordinator and seek to meet the health needs of our congregation spiritually, physically and emotionally.
- L.I.F.T. ( Living In Faith Together) Small Groups
- Katherine Hunsberger
- All believers in the Lord Jesus are members of his body, the church, and members of one another. (Romans 12:3-5) The Small Group Ministry is a resource at Third Church which provides the opportunity for participation in a series of weekly meetings offered from September through November each year. The intention of LIFT is to bring persons together in small groups to become better acquainted and to fellowship in Christ while studying and praying together. The groups meet in homes or at the church. Most are scheduled on Sunday evening or Wednesday evening. LIFT groups are open to members and friends of Third Church. For further information or to register for a LIFT group, please contact Carl or Lucille Schroeder at 616-396-7048 or call the church office at 616-392-1459.
- Men’s Bible Study
- Al Osman
- Middle School Youth Group
- Nate Schipper
- Senior High Youth Group
- Nate Schipper
- Special Education Ministry
- Barb Van Til
- At TRC, there are over 30 active, trained Stephen Ministers who walk beside assigned members and community folks who are hurting. They are ready to provide confidential, one-on-one Christian care to help during a difficult time. This is a quiet, but powerful, ministry as the Stephen Minister walks beside, listens to, focuses on, and confidentially meets with a person as often as once a week as long as the need persists.
- Sunday School (3 yrs-12th grade)
- Marcia Floding
- Sunday School at TRC happens at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning for children ages three to 12th Grade. Our focus is learning most of the Bible stories, and both the New and Old Testaments are covered on a 2 year rotation. Children use the CRC/RCA new curriculum Walk With Me in grades Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Our goal is to know God by learning not only about how he has worked with his people in the past, but how he works with us today.
- Sunrise Saints
- Bill Unzicker
- Every Wednesday morning from September to May a group of men meet at the church at 6:30 a.m. After a light breakfast prepared by one of the men, they discuss a chapter in a selected book and then spend time in prayer. New members are always welcome. It is a wonderful time of food, fellowship, discussion and prayer.
- Third's After Supper Club (T.A.S.C.)
- Kama Jongerius Zuidema, Marcia Floding
- Committing key scripture verses to memory is the goad of our Wednesday night TASC sessions that run for 1 hour for 10 weeks each semester. Approximately 40 children ages four through Fifth Grade share a homemade meal at 6:00 p.m., prepared by the TRC Men's Bible Study Group. From 6:30-7:30 they experience scripture set to music, then a lesson focus, followed by games to reinforce the scripture. Children conclude the program by singing what they have learned to the congregation in the spring.
- Wednesday Morning Prayers
- Kama Jongerius Zuidema
- Every Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m., a group meets in the chapel to pray for our church, community, and world. All are welcome to participate.
- Women’s Ministries
- LaVerne Lievense
- Women's Ministries of Third Reformed is a program for all women in the church. One goal of the organization is to deepen and strengthen the spiritual life and faith of women through Bible studies, prayer groups and special programs throughout the year. Fellowship is fostered through the monthly circle meetings, which also form support groups for membrs in need. A second goal is to provide services for the church, community, and the world. These are supported by our offerings, the birthday cakes for Hope College students, Tulip Time meals, and other special projects.
- Women’s Prayer Group
- Lucille Schroeder
- A core group of 8 women who meet for prayer on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel. The group shares a desire for intercessory prayer for our homes, our church, our community, our nation, the worldwide church, and world needs. Participation is open to all women who share the desire for communal intercessory prayer. Contact the church office for further information.
- Young Disciples (3rd-5th grades)
- Shelley Millen
- Young Hearts
- Dee Bechtel
- Six times a year, our senior members and friends meet at the church for fellowship around a noon meal. This is followed by a program that is sometimes entertaining, sometimes challenging and sometimes new and stimulating. The cost of the meal and program is $4.00 and reservations are made by calling the church office.