CHURCH NEWS

Calls Extended

To Candidate L. Blok by the Kalamazoo Congregation.

Calls Declined

To Lethbridge, Canada, by Rev. G. J. Van Den Noord.

Minister Deceased

Rev. L. Rijksen, well known minister in the Netherlands passed away January 31st at the age of 66 years.

Change of Clerks

Consistories please note that the clerk for the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation is Mr. Marinus Westrate, 234 Plymouth, N.E., Grand Rapids, Mich., 49503. Telephone 458-0140.

GIFTS RECEIVED FOR THE MISSION FOR DECEMBER

CLASSIS FAR WEST SOURCE AMOUNT

Fort Macleod Mission Club Gift 395.00

Ladies Auxiliary Vancouver Island Gift 400.00

Ladies Society Tabitha Lethbridge Gift 86.13

CLASSIS MIDWEST

Timothy Mission Fund Gift 100.00

CLASSIS WEST

Sheboygan Church Collection 167.00

TOTAL $1138.13

We gratefully acknowledge your gifts to the Mission Fund and hope the Lord’s blessing may rest upon it. That the Lord may bless the mission work that is done, may the Lord remember the mission workers and all of us together in the New Year.

American General Mission Fund

John Spaans, Treasurer,

Plankinton R 1 Box 106, South Dakota 57368

During the first month of this year it pleased the Lord to take away three elders out of the midst of our congregations.

On Sunday, January 5, the officers were installed in Grand Rapids as usual. On the following Monday the Lord took away one of the installed elders, Mr. Andrew Van der Male, 73 years old. A heart attack caused his death. He had served the Ottawa Ave. Congregation about 20 years and later about 10 years the church on Crescent St. At times he ht testify of the grace of God glorified in him.

At the funeral on January 9 we spoke from 2 Cor. 5:4, “For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life”. For the family it is a heavy blow. May the Lord strengthen the widow and the children and grandchildren, all of which have remained with the truth in which they were brought up by their father. May the Lord sanctify this blow to their eternal welfare, and may He fill the vacated place in the congregation.

On New Years Eve Brother Jacob Minderhout, who had been elder in Sheboygan for 10 years, was taken to the hospital. Most people go to the hospital to get better, but Mr. Minderhout did not go with that thought. Two painful operations were performed, but the sickness had penetrated the body so far that on Sunday morning, January 12, it was fulfilled what we read in Job 14:10, “man dieth, and wasteth away”. The deceased brother had a large place in the congregation and in the hearts of the members. He went his way in all simplicity, adorned with the fear of God. His way was in much strife and darkness, but in his last illness the Lord gave him an opening out of Psalm 42:5, “Why are thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance”. He died with peace in his soul.

The funeral took place on Wednesday, January 16. Many were present, even friends from Iowa and Blinois, in spite of the inclement weather. We spoke out of Psalm 68:3 “But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God.” May the Lord strengthen the widow, and prepare also her soul to meet her maker. It will be an empty place in the consistory, but may the Lord be merciful in Christ Jesus, and give others endowed with grace and gifts.

The church in Rock Valley also lost an Elder with the passing away of Mr. John Van Voorst, 62 years old. Rev. Van Zweden conducted the funeral. I am awaiting a report to be placed in our church paper.

BOOK SELECTIONS

Rev. Kersten ‘s Catechism Sermons in English.Volume I — Lord’s Days 1 to 26. $4.25 Postpaid.

Remembrance of Rev. Jacob Van De Hoof and Sixteen Meditations.Several copies available of a book of one of our faithful ministers. $1.00 Postpaid.

Books For Young People

A Preacher of St. Andrews

A very interesting Reformation story. 90c a copy; 10 copies

or more 80c.

Ruth’s Reward

65c a copy

Some sermon books left containing many occasional

sermons. Price $1.00. Other books available and Bibles.

All books listed above are obtainable from Mrs. Cora

Jongetjes, 1719 Seventeenth St., Rock Valley, Iowa 51247.

The Van De Hoof book is also available from Speedee Service, P.O. Box 1507 Grand Rapids, Mich. 49501

He is too covetous whom God cannot suffice. He has all things who has Him that has all things.

ADVERTISEMENT

One of the members of our Grand Rapids congregation is offering room and board at her home. For further information those interested can reach her by calling 451-3204.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen