Womens

Offering opportunities to connect, learn, serve and grow.

WEEKLY AND REGULAR EVENTS

  • Wednesday Women’s Bible Studies | Two studies are available, meeting every Wednesday morning at 9:30am at Thornapple (starting Sept. 11). Learn more and sign up here.
  • MOPS | Mothers of Preschoolers meets two Thursdays each month September through early May. Learn more and sign up here.
  • Moms on a Mission | For moms of school age children. Learn more and sign up here.
  • WholyFit | Devotional exercise Fridays at 9:30am (meeting times change around holidays, school vacations and during the summer). Learn more here.
  • Hearts for Sewing | Sewing and fellowship for women on projects benefiting charitable organizations. The group meets the third Thursday afternoon of each month from Noon to 4:00pm, starting Oct. 17.
  • Retreats | Retreats are offered periodically. There is a denominational retreat offered to all women in our Covenant conference every fall. Thornapple Women’s Ministry is hosting this year. If you would like to be involved with the planning, please contact Sarah DeBaets or Diane Kunkler. And save the date on your calendars to join us at Portage Lake with women from Great Lakes Region: Oct. 6-8, 2019. You can register now.

If you have questions about Women’s Ministries and events, or if you would like to help with women’s ministry events, please contact lay-leaders: Sarah DeBaets or Diane Kunkler or staff leader, Lynne McLaughlin.

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Women’s Retreat at Portage Lake | Oct. 4-6

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Men’s Retreat at Portage Lake | Sept. 27-29

Mens

Are you interested in connecting further with the men of Thornapple? Growing in your faith? Discovering new ways to Serve? Men’s Ministries is on the move.

MEN’S MINISTRY WEEKLY PROGRAMS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Men’s Breakfasts | Multiple times throughout the year. For more details and online registration for the next breakfast, click here.
  • Monday Mornings Men’s Study | 6:30am (all year). We eat breakfast, discuss the sermon, share and pray together. Join us! We meet at church on all Mondays EXCEPT the first Monday of the month when we meet at The Gathering Place Restaurant at 6886 Cascade Rd. SE. For more information or with questions, contact Kirk Mortenson.
  • Small Group Studies | Groups meet throughout the week, learn more here.
  • Men’s Fall Retreat at Portage Lake. Learn more and register here.

If you have questions about Men’s Ministry contact:
Jim Knight, Ryan Russell or Doug Datema

Young Adults

Thornapple Young Adults ministry is for 20 somethings, college students and grads, and post high school adults.

Our goal is to provide a church home where you can worship, serve, be challenged to grow in your faith and find community – with others in your same stage of life as well as people from all generations. If you are interested in learning more, contact Cory Hendrickson.

Small Group | The Young Adults small group meets the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 7:30pm to 9pm. They meet offsite at 6578 Brookhills Ct. SE, in Grand Rapids. All are welcome! If you have questions, contact Shalini Bennett.

College Students | Many college students make Thornapple their home church while attending colleges in the Grand Rapids area. We periodically offer brunches on Sundays for college students, goody bags during exam weeks and opportunities to serve.

Calvin Sunday Transportation | Thornapple picks up students at Calvin on Sundays for the first service September 9 through early May. A Thornapple van will be at Calvin (at the end of Knights Drive by the dorms) on Sundays at about 8:35-8:40 to bring students to the 9:00 service and then it brings the students back after the service. The van does not come during school vacations or during the summer.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Horizons

ALWAYS BEFORE US, ONLY CHANGING WHEN OUR DIRECTION SHIFTS

Are you an empty nester, thinking about retirement, recently retired, not planning to retire, and/or changing your work focus? While committed to inter-generational opportunities, Thornapple recognizes there are good reasons to gather people in the same age or stage of life. The goal for this new group is to provide connection with people facing new horizons, to create space for support through transitions, to encourage spiritual growth and to give opportunities for service.

If you have questions, contact Pastor Karen.

Prime Timers

OUR MINISTRY TO OUR OLDER AND WISER ADULTS.

There are opportunities for fellowship, fun, spiritual nurturing and service throughout the year including twice a month “Soup and Study,” a Christmas brunch in December, and periodic day trips (plays, concerts, etc.). Older adults are an important part of our community. There are many opportunities for them to serve in the church such mentoring younger members of the church, teaching or helping in our children’s ministry classes, making meals for new moms, reaching out to shut ins, doing jobs around our facility, and more. If you have questions about Prime Timers or Soup and Study, contact Pastor Andrew. You can also call the church office with questions at 616-957-0580.

The Soup and Study program takes place from late September through May on the first and third Fridays of each month from 10:00am to 12:30pm. Adults gather for fellowship, singing, a special program and a delicious lunch. No RSVP is necessary. The schedule for each Soup and Study is 10:00am to 10:15 gathering, coffee and fellowship; 10:15 to 11:25 program in the lounge including hymn singing, humor, prayer, “getting to know you” (a member of the congregation comes to share briefly about themselves), followed by a program or talk given by a guest pastor or presenter; and after the program at 11:30 lunch is served in the community room. There is no need to RSVP. Just come! If you have any questions, contact Pastor Andrew Vanover.

2019/20 SOUP AND STUDY SCHEDULE
September 20 | Michael Weller
October 4 | Chuck Hahn
October 18 | Karen Ingebretson
November 1 | Cory Hendrickson
November 15 | Rick Ostrander
December 6 | Jim and Sharon Oudman

SPECIAL EVENTS

  • Christmas Banquet (NEW DATE) |
    Saturday, Dec. 14 | 11am-2pm

Weather note: If Forest Hills Schools close due to weather, there will be no Soup and Study that day.