Prayer Newsletter

Congregational 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.‍ ‍

Clare and Marly Baar are thankful to God that Marly is feeling stronger, breathing better, and can be more active. Her upcoming appointments are mainly for maintenance of her current health status. They appreciate all the prayers and support from their Covenant Church family. (Elder: Vander Weide)

Linda Coleman is continuing to struggle with leg weakness and pain. Please pray for strength, pain relief, and healing. (Elder: Padding)

Ann Cool went to her cardiologist and found out she will have surgery to find out why her heart is beating too fast. Please pray for patience for Ann as she awaits this surgery and for healing. (Elder: Brinks)

Gord DeBoer is continuing to undergo treatments for his cancer. Please pray that the treatments are successful, for minimal side effects, and for healing. (Elder: Patterson) 

Madelon Gelder has returned home to Breton Living Center after her stay in the hospital and surgery for her broken hip. Please continue to pray for pain relief and complete healing. (Elder: Patterson)

Jan Haan fell and broke her shoulder and has also had two mini strokes. All the tests have come back good after her strokes and she has no paralysis or other side effects. We give thanks to God with Nels and Jan for His continued care and faithfulness. (Elder: Brinks)

Hussein Hasan fell and broke his pelvis. Please pray for complete healing and patience for Hussein. (Elder: Jammal)

Please keep Gerry Hoekema in your prayers as he continues his cancer battle. (Elder: Jammal)

Please keep Virginia Huizenga in your prayers as she is experiencing severe pain. Please pray that the pain will be relieved and that God will surround her with His comfort and peace. (Elder: Padding) 

We express our sympathy to Claryce Klaassen in the passing of her son-in-law, Max Brail. Please pray for God’s comfort and peace to surround Claryce, her daughter Sue, and their family. (Elder: Brinks)

We express our sympathy to the Lubbers family in the passing of Clay’s mom, Judy Lubbers. Please pray for God’s comfort and peace to continue to surround Clay, Jaci, Maggie, Seth, Christian, and the rest of their family. (Elder: Patterson)

Because of the war, our missionaries, David and Jill Martin, have lived and worked in Romania but kept their apartment in Odesa in hopes of returning to Ukraine to begin the Anchor School again. Recently their apartment in Ukraine was severely damaged by a water leak, so they must vacate it. Many 9-hour trips were necessary, each one complicated by border crossing difficulties. Please pray for an end to the war, their eventual return to Ukraine, and success in finding another place to live.

Jay Morren has moved to Breton Woods Assisted Living and is under hospice care for congestive heart failure. Please be in prayer for Jay and Toots as well as the extended Morren and Heidmann families at this time. You are encouraged to show love to Jay and Toots with a card, a call or a visit. His address is Breton Woods Assisted Living, 2565 Breton Woods Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, room #1013. Please pray for God's comfort and peace to surround Jay, Toots, and their family during this time. (Elder: Jammal)

Michele Neuberg’s facial surgery last week went very well. Her follow-up appointments have gone well and she will have another on Monday, June 8, in Ann Arbor to see what the next steps might be. Give thanks to God for a successful surgery and please pray for complete healing for Michele.  (Elder: Padding)

James Ngabonziza continues with weekly kidney dialysis and remains on the kidney transplant list. Please pray for patience and strength for James and his family during this process. (Elder: Padding)

Karrie Noble continues to work with her doctors to manage her high blood pressure and chronic migraines. Please pray for patience and wisdom during this process. (Elder: Padding)

We give thanks to God that Ethan Schaiberger has returned home safely after his honorable discharge from the Army. (Elder: DeVries)

Judy Schut’s parathyroid surgery went well. Please pray for complete healing for Judy. (Elder: Padding)

Please continue to pray for minimal side effects, strength, peace, and healing for both Jeff and Tammy Todd as they continue their fights against cancer. Thank you for all your prayers! They are deeply needed and appreciated! Bob and Bev VanderHeide (Elder: Jammal)

2026 Living Water Bike Trip – From June 7-10, 19 people [Amy, Christian, Dori, Julie, Mark, Sabrina, Bella, Brayden, Emmaus, Erich, Gloriana, Jase, Josiah, Kruesie, Kyleigh, Lisa, Mars, Taylor, and Pastor Henry] will be participating in the 2026 “Living Water” Bike Trip. During our time together, we will be learning about our fresh water here in West Michigan; learning about the importance of Jesus, the Living Water; and learning about / raising funds for clean freshwater projects that Impact Burundi is doing in Burundi. Please pray for safety as they bike more than 100 miles over three days and that the Spirit of God would be at work in their midst during their time together.

Pray for Synod as they begin their meetings on Friday, June 12 at Calvin University. 

Please keep our shut-ins in your prayers. Many of them struggle with loneliness and/or other health concerns that we are unaware of. Please keep them in your prayers.

Please keep the members of our congregation who are fighting cancer in your prayers.

Pray for the Furniture Ministry that they will have enough volunteers to continue to serve the people in our community who need furniture.

Please keep the students, mentors, and prayer partners who are part of our Kids Hope program at Southwood School in your prayers. Pray that the students have a good summer vacation from school. Pray for their safety, protection, and for fun and healthy activities for them during the summer days.

This month, pray for your neighbors who live closest to you. Pray for the households that live around you on your street, in your condo community, or in your apartment complex. This summer, walk your neighborhood and pray for your neighbors as you walk.

Pray for our elders and deacons as they seek to follow God’s will as they make plans for our church. Give thanks for our new elders and deacons who will be installed this month and begin their terms in July. Our new Administrative Elder is Peter DeKievit. Our new Pastoral Elders are Steve Hirdes and Cheryl Kruithof. Our new Deacons are Ken Cope and Jon Kwekel. Thank God for our retiring elders and deacons, Dan Vander Molen, Bill Padding, Brad Patterson, Bob Higgins, George Spates, and Joel Theule.

Pray for our staff that they will remain energized and encouraged in their daily work here at Covenant Church.

Pray for all the churches in our Classis, Classis GR South.

Pray for the various ministries of the Christian Reformed Church using the guides found HERE.