Communing and Celebrating Together
Throughout the year, we offer many events to enhance and connect our greater community. From special gatherings for children and teens to concerts, mission trips, and special Sunday worship events, there are ways for everyone to get involved.
Advent Brunch
Sunday, December 7, 2025
11:30 AM
Join us for a festive brunch after our 10:00 AM service to celebrate the Advent season. We will gather over a meal for conversation and connection as we prepare our hearts for Christmas.
Family-Friendly Christmas Celebration
Sunday, December 21, 2025
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
On the Sunday before Christmas Eve, we offer a 10:00 a.m. intergenerational service ideal for families with small children. A bright and festive ambiance with celebratory music will capture the spirit of the season and is always a joyful experience for all in attendance. Between the impromptu Nativity populated by volunteers from the congregation to the post-service hot chocolate social, children and adults alike join in the celebration of the coming of Christ. The day is highlighted by singing Christmas carols around a fire pit in the Central courtyard.
Christmas Eve Traditional Candlelight Service
Tuesday, December 24, 2025
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Our traditional candlelight service will take place at 7:00 p.m. in our sanctuary. Several lessons will accompany Christmas carols presented by gifted musicians from our congregation. At the end of the service, the entire sanctuary is filled with candlelight as we lift our voices to sing “Silent Night.” It is always a joy to welcome dozens of visitors each year, and we hope you will be one of them!
Ecumenical Good Friday Worship
Friday, April 18, 2025
12:00 PM
At noon on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, we gather for an ecumenical worship service, commemorating Jesus Christ’s Passion, crucifixion, and death. Through the readings, we feel the feelings of the day Christ died, acknowledging the ugliness of sin and our own participation, through our sins, in Christ’s death. As God meets us in our suffering, we are reminded that there is nowhere we can go where God is not with us. Each year, this service rotates among the downtown churches. 2025 Location - First (Park) Congregational UCC.
Easter Sunrise Service
Sunday, April 20, 2025
7:00 AM
For several years now, Kent Country Club (1600 College Ave NW) has graciously hosted us for our Easter Sunrise Service. The service will take place at 7:00 a.m. on the patio overlooking the 18th green and 1st fairway. This unique experience leaves participants both spiritually uplifted and deeply moved by the news of the morning: Christ Is Risen! The agony of the cross is replaced by the joy of the Resurrection as we gather with our brothers and sisters in worship.
Belize Mission Trip
Summer 2026
Interested in giving back and spreading the word of God around the world? Join us in Big Falls, Belize, as we help with painting, construction, and hosting a Vacation Bible School. In our downtime, we are able to enjoy games of volleyball, share meals together, and devote time to discussing God’s word and presence in our lives. Cost to participate is ~$700. If you’d like more information, please speak with Pastor Matt Shults.
Children's Service Week
July 2025
During Children’s Service Week, children from 4 years old through 6th grade (middle and high schoolers can serve as volunteers) are invited to learn the joy and satisfaction of giving yourself to others. While the week centers on service projects, we also schedule nightly group activities and dinner so kids can have fun and enjoy their time with friends. Typical service projects include making lunches for Mel Trotter, writing letters to homebound seniors, working with our gardening team, and putting together hygiene kits for our food pantry. For a full week of participation, the cost is $100 or $25 for single evenings. If you have any questions, please contact the church office.
Kickoff Sunday
Sunday, September 7, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Just as people reset their rhythms and routines after the summer months, we do the same on the Sunday after Labor Day weekend with a service launching the new ministry year. After worship, the congregation joins for a picnic on the College Avenue lawn. Members are welcome to invite neighbors, friends, and family and introduce them to our faith community. Our ministry (“program”) year runs from September to May, and Kickoff Sunday sets the stage, inviting people to participate and become involved in the life of our community.
The Jack Van Ess Golf Outing
Fall 2025
In memory of a long-time member of our congregation, the Jack Van Ess golf outing is held each fall, giving our community a chance to come together with friends old and new.
All Saints Day
Sunday, November 2, 2025
10:00 AM
All Saints Day takes place on the first Sunday of November. We remember all of those who have come before us as examples of God’s love. Members and friends of our church are invited to bring a remembrance of a loved one (like a photo or small memento) to worship with them. After worship, all are invited to brunch in the fellowship hall, where we enjoy a meal and keep the memories of our loved ones alive through meaningful tributes, personal reflection, and storytelling.
Ingathering Sunday
Sunday, November 16, 2025
10:00 AM
On Ingathering Sunday, we collect personal care items for Addie’s Pantry. These items are not available from Feeding America West Michigan and must be purchased on behalf of our pantry clients, including bar soap, body wash, children’s diapers, wet wipes, deodorant, feminine care items, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, toilet paper, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. During worship, we bring our gifts forward and place them on the chancel in front of the communion table.
Community Concert Series
We have a long history of hosting professional musicians and performers, all open and free to our community in and outside this church. From the works of Beethoven and Bach to Morricone and Desmessieux, you can hear our sanctuary filled with joyous sounds throughout the year.
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Central's Chancel Choir with local guest singers and a chamber orchestra will present a concert on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 4 p.m. The program will highlight the Music of Vienna in the classical period (late 18th through the early 19th century) featuring W.A. Mozart, J. Haydn, and F. Schubert. The program will include Haydn's Organ Concerto, Hob. XVIII:8 in C Major, Trumpet Concerto, Hob. VIIe:1 in E-flat Major, and Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo, Hob. XXII:7 in B-flat Major (Little Organ Mass) under the direction of Central's Director of Music Ministries, Taemin Han.
For the concert, two guest solo musicians will be with us: organist Dr. Caroline Robinson from the University of Michigan and trumpeter Dr. Alexander Wilson from Grand Valley State University. Dr. Robinson became a new addition to the organ faculty of the University of Michigan in the fall of 2024. Two days prior to the concert at Central (on Friday, May 16), she will give an organ recital at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids sponsored by the Grand Rapids Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
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The Central Reformed Chancel Choir along with The Choral Scholars, professional guest vocal soloists and instrumentalists presented this All-Bach Concert under the direction of Taemin Han, director of music ministries. In addition, two talented church music directors and keyboardists, Dr. Julia Brown from Mayflower and Dr. Gregory Crowell from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church brought their own harpsichords to perform the Bach Concerto for Two Harpsichords, BWV 1060.
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This all-Beethoven program featured Dr. Dmitri Vorobiev, an internationally recognized concert pianist and music educator. Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 and Choral Fantasy, Op. 80 comprise the main program. Additionally, the concert featured six vocal soloists, the community chorus, and a 25-piece orchestra, all under the direction of Taemin Han.
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The Central Chancel Choir was joined by guest vocalists and by instrumentalists from the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Holland Symphony, all accompanied by special guest organist Dr. Julia Brown. Director of music ministries Taemin Han led them in stirring performances of Handel, Buxtehude, and Bach.
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Each year, in collaboration with the American Guild of Organists, we host a free organ concert to ring in the New Year. This is a special tradition that highlights the importance of the arts at Central Reformed Church.