CHURCH NEWS

Calls Extended:

To Rev. A. W. Verhoef, of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, by the Bodegraven, the Netherlands, Congregation.

Calls Declined:

To the Sunnyside, Washington, Congregation, by the Rev. J. VanHaaren, of Amersfoort, the Netherlands.

To the Bodegraven, the Netherlands, Congregation, by the Rev. A.W. Verhoef, of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.

YOUTH DAY FAR-WEST

The Sunnyside Congregation will be the host for the “Youth Day Conference” on August 5, 1978; the Lord willing.

Program schedules and pre-registration forms will be mailed to the congregations in the Classis.

For further information regarding “Youth Day” you may contact:

Mr. John Van Wingerden

Rt. 2 Box 1 C

Sunnyside, Wa. 98944

Phone (509) 837-2353

REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR

On Thursday, April 20, 1978, the mortal remains of Leola Corrinne Guliker was found at the mouth of the Fraser River near Vancouver, British Columbia. She Was the victim still missing after the terrible incident that shocked Chilliwack and other congregations.

The Lord gave that in his providence the body could still receive a decent and honourable funeral. Therefore, there is still honey on the rod. Now the remains of the four young lives lie next to each other in their graves on the cemetery in the mountains until the youngest day when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God. Their graves mark a continual testimony to remember our Creator in the days of our youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when we shall say, We have no pleasure in them.

Since Rev. A.W. Verhoef was in the Netherlands on behalf of the Mission Board and to visit relatives, Rev. M. Heerschap was found willing to come and conduct the funeral services. This took place on Wednesday, April 26.

The service was opened by singing Psalm 103:8 (Dutch version). Rev. Heerschap read Job 14 and followed with prayer. He then spoke first of all to the family and wished them the comfort from on High. He took for his text Isaiah 26:16 : “LORD, in trouble have they visited Thee, they poured out a prayer when Thy chastening was upon them.”

After explaining this portion of Scripture, Rev. Heerschap changed to English and enlarged a little on Deuteronomy 31:15a : “And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud.” A short prayer and the singing of Psalter 245:3 concluded the gathering in the church building.

As at the first two funerals, so many were present that some had to sit in the basement. And again, nearly all went along to the cemetery.

At the grave, Rev. Heerschap spoke briefly in Dutch about II Kings 4:26 where the prophet Ehsha instructs his servant Gehazi to ask the Shunammite: “Is it well with thee?” He stressed that this question is asked of everyone and that one time an answer must be given. Only if it is well with us can we meet the Lord.

An uncle of the deceased thanked the minister, remembered Rev. A.W. Verhoef, and expressed gratitude to the funeral director, the P.C.M.P., and all those present.

May the Lord remember all the bereaved parents, brothers, sisters, and other loved ones. He alone can fill the empty places with Himself.

AHV

A WORD OF THANKS FROM CHILLIWACK, B.C., CANADA

On behalf of the consistory of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation and the School Board of Timothy Christian School at Chilliwack, we wish to wholeheartedly thank our congregations, schools, students, PTAs, auxiliaries, ladies aids, many friends, and a gezelschapje for the support we have received to rebuild our school.

The help was beyond our expectation. The LORD, indeed, still is mighty. He is faithful to His Word for He made true the promise, “Maar de Heere zal uitkomst geven” (Psalm 42: “But the Lord will send deliverence”).

We hope that our congregation here in Chilliwack may become humble before God because He has given many undeserved blessings.

Here follows a list of gifts and collections:

Alberni $ 2,200.00

Artesia $ 1,120.10

Bradford $ 908.65

Corsica $ 900.00

Edmonton $ 440.00

Franklin Lakes $ 6,599.00

Fort Macleod $ 4,216.47

Grand Rapids $25,339.25

Hamilton $ 910.00

Kalamazoo $ 7,050.00

Lethbridge $ 9,927.58

Lynden $ 4,066.00

Norwich $ 8,157.00

Rock Valley $ 1,815.74

Sheboygan $ 1,046.00

Sioux Center $ 3,720.00

Sioux Falls $ 253.80

St. Catharines $ 3,970.50

Sunnyside $ 4,624.00

Unionville $ 1,038.91

Waupun $ 1,237.80

These figures show the gifts from congregations, schools, groups of children, PTAs, auxiliaries, ladies aids, and so on. In addition we have received many personal gifts, especially from Michigan and Alberta. We like to mention in this regard the students of Rehoboth Christian School in Norwich, Ont., Canada, who helped to give our new library a good start by collecting many books.

The secretary of our School Board has sent a letter of thanks to everyone, so we will not list all the names here.

In total we received more than $125,000. From the Netherlands we received a large amount, about $325,000 which was collected by the Deputies for Special Needs of the Gereformeerde Gemeenten. Even from Australia and New Zealand money was sent. Together with money collected here in Chilliwack, including the local Reformed Congregation in North America, plus the money received from churches and schools other than our own, we are nearing the total needed to finish our new building.

The contractors are hard at work. At the moment, the bricklayers have finished the elementary wing of eight rooms and are completing the secondary wing of six rooms. They will move next to the office and auditorium. Finally they will put up the separate industrial arts building. Subtrades follow as soon as possible. In this way we try to keep as many people at work as we can. We hope, the Lord willing, to be able to use the educational wings by September.

Let us seek the Lord that we may honour Him, Who has dealt us a heavy blow, but so far is helping us over and above what we deserve. And let us learn to trust Him, Who can take care of whatever is still needed.

On behalf of the Netherlands

Reformed Congregation at Chilliwack and on behalf of the School

Board of Timothy Christian School at Chilliwack:

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