CHURCH NEWS

Calls Extended:

To Rev. D. Hakkenberg of Dordrecht, the Netherlands, by the Sioux Center, Iowa Congregation.

To Rev. L. Blok of Beekbergen, the Netherlands, by the Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, Congregation.

Calls Declined:

To the Leerdam, the Netherlands, Congregation, by Rev. W. C. Lamain of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

To the Norwich, Ontario, Canada, Congregation by Rev. L. Blok of Beekbergen, the Netherlands.

MAILING ADDRESS OF REV. W. SUIJKER

The consistory of the Unionville, Ontario, Canada, Netherlands Reformed Congregation advises that the residence address and telephone number of their newly installed pastor is as follows —

Rev. W. Suijker

14th Avenue, R.R. 1

Milliken, Ontario

Canada

Telephone: 416/294-5673

MAIL TO NEW GUINEA

In order to speed delivery of mail to our missionary workers in New Guinea, until further notice, please use the following address —

Netherlands Reformed Congregations

Via N.A.F.

Box 99

Wewak, T.P.N.G.

Australia

REV. A. W. VERHOEF INSTALLED

Rev. Verhoef delivered his farewell sermon to the Lethbridge Congregation on August 22, 1972.

In the afternoon of August 30, 1972, he was installed as Pastor of the Chillewack Congregation by Rev. W. C. Lamain. This ceremony took place in the English language. On the evening of the same day Rev. Verhoef preached his inaugural sermon in the Holland language.

IN MEMORY OF ELDER CORNELIUS J. MARKUS

On Wednesday August 2, 1972, it pleased the Lord to remove out of our midst by death, our brother Elder Cornelius J. Markus at the age of 63 years. Death came suddenly while at work, when a severe heart seizure brought an end to his earthly career in a moment of time. He had served the congregation of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, faithfully as an Elder for thirty years. Just two months ago on June 6th this event was celebrated with an appropriate service by the Pastor Rev. L. Kieboom and tokens of appreciation by the congregation.

At the time of his nomination for Elder in 1942 he was much exercised as to his calling for this office. In this exercise he was given an opening to the throne with this prayer, “Lord, if Thou hast given me one talent, do not let me bury it in the earth.” He was given the freedom to accept his office and served continuously until the day of his death. His strength was spent in the service of the Lord.

On Saturday Aug. 5, we carried his mortal remains to its final resting place in a sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection in the day of Jesus Christ. Rev. Kieboom spoke to a filled church from the words found in Psalm 90, verse 23, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

He spoke of the knowledge that the dear man of God, Moses had concerning death. How when leading the children of Israel through the wilderness, hundreds of thousands had died upon the way and a continual trace of graves were left behind in their forty year journey. Therefore Moses, having a true insight into the mortality of man, prayed that prayer, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

The minister noted that we too shall all die, and death means that we must meet our God. He spoke of the urgent need for all of us to be taught by the spirit to pray that prayer, the necessity of true conversion and that our souls may be purchased, not with gold and silver but with the price of Christ’s precious blood.

Our dear departed brother knew something of the reality of these things, and though his death was sudden and unexpected, it meant for him life forever more.

At the graveside the minister spoke a comforting word from Revelations, chapter 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.”

He quoted a saying of one of our old Divines, “Sudden death — Sudden glory.” This was also the portion of brother Markus. Death is swallowed up in Victory. He has now been transferred from the church Militant to the church Triumphant.

His loss will be felt by many, especially his widow, the children and the consistory, yet we sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The Consistory

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