Bethel United Reformed Church
2025 Baldwin Street
Jenison MI 49428
p: 616.457.4001
f: 616.457.4193
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Home
Welcome to Bethel URC
Come worship with us on Sundays
Morning: 9:30a
Evening: 4:00p
This week's bulletinDirections to Bethel United Reformed Chruch
We are located on the corner of Baldwin and 20th in Jenison.
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Programs
Programs and Activities
Bethel Educational Programs Sept 2011 - April 2012
Sunday School/Catechism
10:55 to 11:05 AM Singing led by Anne VanNoord and Judy Veldink
11:05 to 11:40 AM Sunday School Class Time
Preschool - Beth VanNoord
Kindergarten - Amy Prins
1st Grade - Afton Austin
2nd Grade - Lynda DeVries
3rd and 4th Grade - Sue VandenBerge
11:00 to 11:40 AM Catechism Class Time
5th and 6th Grades - Life in Christ - Not My Own: Intro course on the Heidelberg Catechism - Brian Timmer
7th and 8th Grades - Life in Christ - The Doctrines of Grace: A course on the Canons of Dordt - Paul VanNoord
9th Grade - Louis Berkof-Summary of Christian Doctrine - Rev. Travis Grassmid
10th, 11th and 12th Grades - Heidelberg Catechism interspersed with apologetics - Rev. Jason Tuinstra
Family Night
Family Nights are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evening starting September 21, 2011. The nursery is available during scheduled Family Nights. The nightly schedule is as follows:
6:00 - 6:45 PM Catered Dinner(1st)/Potluck(3rd) in the Fellowship Room
6:30 - 8:00 PM Girls Club - Christine Dykstra - Head Counselor
2nd through 8th grade girls - Agape Love
6:30 - 8:00 PM Cadets - Brad VandenBerge - Head Counselor
4th - 8th grade boys - Calvinist Cadet Corps
6:45 - 6:55 PM Clean-up
6:55 - 7:10 PM Singing and Prayer
7:10 - 8:00 PM Combined Bible Study - Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate - Rev. Jason Tuinstra
Adult Sunday School/Sermon Discussion Group
Meets Sundays in October, December, February and April
10:55 to 11:30 AM Location to be deterined
October - Reformational theme on Canons of Dordt
December - Advent theme tied to morning sermon
February - to be determined
April - to be determined
Men's Leadership Training
Meets Sundays in September, November, January and March
10:55 to 11:30 AM Location to be determined
September 18 - What do Bethel Elders actually do?
September 25 - What do Bethel Deacons actually do?
Other months - topical issues from Sittema's book concentrated into three class sessions
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Beliefs
Beliefs and Creeds
What We Believe
What We Believe The Word of God: The Bible is the true word of God. It is without error and was written by men under inspiration from the Holy Spirit of God. The Bible has supreme authority in all matters of faith and life. The Trinity: There is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, each equal in divine perfection. They have distinct yet harmonious roles in the work of creation, providence and redemption. God the Father: God the Father is an infinite and personal spirit perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, mercy and love. He concerns Himself mercifully in the lives of all believers. By His grace, He saves from sin and condemnation all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is the only Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. We believe in His sinless life, miracles and teachings. His death on the cross and bodily resurrection atones for the sin of all who believe in Him. He ascended into heaven where he intercedes for His people and from where he will visibly return to judge the world and gather all those who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, its need for righteousness and the coming judgement. He empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit lives within every believer. He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide. Justification: Justification is a legal declaration by God pronouncing the sinner righteous. As Louis Berkhof states: “Justification is a judicial act of God, in which He declares, on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, that all the claims of the law are satisfied with respect to the sinner.” A “blessed exchange” takes place in which the sinner’s sin is imputed (credited, accounted) to Jesus Christ, and His righteousness, both active and passive, is imputed to the sinner as if it were his own. The sinner receives this blessing and makes it his own “in no other way than by faith only.” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 61) Regeneration: All mankind are sinners by nature and by choice. All are under condemnation by a Holy God. But, those who by God's grace repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior are forgiven their sins. They avoid condemnation and are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Sacraments: Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper as a commemoration and visible proclamation of his death. The Lord's Supper is a means of grace, uniting partakers in the bond of the Spirit. Christ also commanded us to administer baptism to believers and their children. God includes the children of believers in His covenant - all of God's promises are for them as well as us. Christian Conduct: All believers are to live for the glory of God and are to be concerned for their fellow men, be Christlike in all actions, blameless before the world and faithful stewards of all God has given us.
Apostles Creed
This Creed is called the Apostles' Creed, not because it is a production of the apostles themselves, but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings. It sets forth their doctrine, as has been well said, "in sublime simplicity, in unsurpassable brevity, in beautiful order, and with liturgical solemnity." In its present form it is of no later date than the fourth century. More than any other creed of Christendom, it may justly be called an ecumenical symbol of faith.
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
2. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord;
3. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary;
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell;
5. The third day He rose again from the dead;
6. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
7. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit.
9. I believe a holy catholic Church, the communion of saints;
10. The forgiveness of sins;
11. The resurrection of the body;
12. And the life everlasting. AMEN.
learn moreNicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. AMEN.
learn moreAthanasian Creed
This Creed is named after Athanasius (293-373 A.D.), the champion of orthodoxy over against Arian attacks upon the doctrine of the Trinity. Although Athanasius did not write this Creed and it is improperly named after him, the name persists because until the seventeenth century it was commonly ascribed to him. Another name for it is the Symbol Quicunque, this being its opening word in the Latin original. Its author is unknown, but in its present form it probably does not date back farther than the sixth century. It is not from Greek Eastern, but from Latin Western origin, and is not recognized by the Greek Church today. Apart from the opening and closing sentences, this symbol consists of two parts, the first setting forth the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity (3-28), and the second dealing chiefly with the incarnation and the two natures doctrine (29-43). This Creed, though more explicit and advanced theologically than the Apostles' and the Nicene Creeds, cannot be said to possess the simplicity, spontaneity, and majesty of these. For centuries it has been the custom of the Roman and Anglican Churches to chant this Creed in public worship on certain solemn occasions. 1) Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; (2) Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. (3) And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; (4) Neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance. (5) For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son and another of the Holy Spirit. (6) But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. (7) Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Spirit. (8) The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Spirit uncreate. (9) The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. (10) The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. (11) And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. (12) As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensibles, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible. (13) So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty; (14) And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty. (15) So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; (16) And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. (17) So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; (18) And yet they are not three Lords, but one Lord. (19) For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every person by himself to be God and Lord; (20) so are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say: There are three Gods or three Lords. (21) The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. (22) The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten. (23) The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. (24) So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. (25) And in this Trinity none is afore, nor after another; none is greater, or less than another. (26) But the whole three persons are co-eternal, and co-equal. (27) So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. (28) He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
(29) Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. (30) For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man. (31) God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and made of the substance of His mother, born in the world. (32) Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. (33) Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood. (34) Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ. (35) One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God. (36) One altogether, not by the confusion of substance, but by unity of person. (37) For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; (38) Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; (39) He ascended into heaven, He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; (40) From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. (41) At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies; (42) And shall give account of their own works. (43) And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. (44) This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.
learn moreAbout Us
Our Ministers
Rev. Jason Tuinstra - Word and Sacraments
Rev. Jason Tuinstra | Email
More About Us
Directions to Bethel United Reformed Chruch
We are located on the corner of Baldwin and 20th in Jenison.
Sermons
Listen to Sermons
Local TV Broadcasting
Worship services are broadcast on Public Access Channel WCET (25) on Sundays at 11:30 am and Wednesdays at 5:00 pm. In the northern viewing area we are also on Channel 38 WMKG out of Muskegon, and Comcast Cable Channel 295 at 6 pm on Sunday evenings.
The WMKG Service AreaMissions
URC Missions
Asia - Rev. Allen Vander Pol | Email
Calling Church: First United Reformed Church, Chino, CA
Telephone: (239)574-5360
Financial donations may be sent to:
Vander Pol Support Fund
First United Reformed Church
6159 Riverside Drive
Chino, CA 91710
Costa Rica - Rev. Bill Green | Email
Calling Church: Bethany United Reformed Church
Address:
Apdo 20770-2100 Guadalupe, Costa Rica
Telephone in Costa Rica: (506)2285-3307
Financial donations may be sent to:
Bethany United Reformed Church
5401 Byron Center Ave.
Wyoming, MI 49519
Italy - Rev. Andrea Ferrari | Email
Filadelfia Reformed Church
Via Bixio 29, Bollate, Milano
Italia 20021
Telephone: 011 39 02 350 22 33
U.S. contact: Rev. Mike Brown (619)258-8500
Financial donations may be sent to:
The deacons, Christ United Reformed Church
10333 Mast
Santee, CA 92071
Hawaii - Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen | Email
Calling Church: Oceanside URC, Oceanside, CA
Kauai Reformation Church
Worshipping at the Kauai Veterans’ Center (Rooms 3 & 4)
3215 Kapule Highway, Lihue, HI 96766
Programs/Activities:
-Home Bible studies
-Two worship services
-Men’s leadership class
-Regency Retirement Home
-(CHOK) Christian Homeschoolers of Kauai
Website: www.kauaireformation.com
Contact information: | Email
Telephone:(808)431-4574
contact@kauaireformation.com
Financial donations may be sent to:
Oceanside United Reformed Church
Attn:Kauai Mission
4318 Forest Ranch Way
Oceanside, CA 92057