NEWS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

CHURCH NEWS

MINISTERIAL CALLS

Extended:

To Rev. J. den Hoed of Rock Valley, Iowa, by the congregation of Clifton, New Jersey.

To Rev. M. Mondria of Waardenburg, the Netherlands, by the Covell Avenue congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

To Rev. C. Vogelaar of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, by the congregation of Sioux Center, Iowa.

To Rev. C. Van Dieren, of Stolwijk, the Netherlands, by the congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Declined:

By Rev. C. Vogelaar of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, to the congregation of Capelle a/d IJssel-West, the Netherlands.

By Rev. M. Mondria of Waardenburg, the Netherlands, to the congregation of Covell Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

OBITUARY

MIDDENDORP, William — Age 64, November 1, 1993; Hull, Iowa; Wife - Nellie; Sons and Wives - Jerry and Pattie; Wilmer and Donna; Brother -Cornie; 11 grandchildren. (Rev. J. den Hoed, Ecclesiastes 12:5c.)

MOL, John — Age 76, October 27, 1993; Midland Park, New Jersey; Wife - Julia; Sons -Henry, & Philip: Daughters - Mary Anne (Vahalla), Cornelia, & Cynthia (Ardolino); Brothers - William, Meeuwis, Leonard, Michael; Sisters - Wilhelmina (Den Herder), Ada ( Hawkins), Marie (Prol), Lorraine (Vroegindewey), 11 grandchildren. (Rev. C. Vogelaar, Psalm 84:2-4.)

VAN GINKEL, Mary — Age 86, October 29, 1993; Rock Valley, Iowa; Children - Edwin & Alice Van Ginkel, Gerry & Marcia Van Ginkel, Wilma & Meese Van Beek, and Loela & Henry Bakker; 20 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren. (Rev. J. den Hoed, Matthew 24:44a.)

DEN HARTIGH, Donald — Age 65, November 2, 1993; Waupun, Wisconsin; Wife - Lillian (Derksen); Daughters - Linda (Otte), Laurie (Ryan), Lana (Navis), Lisa (Alvarez), and Beth; Sons - Mark, Michael, David, and Donald; 11 grandchildren. (Student A. Vergunst, Galatians 6:7-8.)

VAN DER STAD, Johanna — Age 74, November 12, 1993; Paterson, New Jersey; Brother - Jacob; Sisters - Maude, and Nellie (Calie). (Rev. C. Vogelaar, Isaiah 49:16.)

HUISMAN, Lyntje — Age 82, November 16, 1993; Chilliwack, British Columbia; Husband - Tony (deceased); Children - Jan & Wilma Huisman, Lynn & Theresa Huisman, Bill & Penhy Huisman, Oen & Mary Ann Huisman, and Terry & Maria (deceased) Frey; also preceded in death by a son Marius; 12 grandchildren. (Rev. H. Hofman, Psalm 23:4.)

In Memoriam

Rev. D. Rietdijk (1929-1993)

Moerkapelle, the Netherlands

After a richly blessed life in the service of the Lord, it has pleased the Lord to take away Rev. Dirk Rietdijk out of this life. It is the Lord who determines where, for how long, and by whom His Word shall be brought. After a serious sickness of a few months, the end of his earthly journey came. His sickbed was a testimony of God’s mercy to a poor sinner. His life was Christ, and his death gain. The Lord has blessed his service to the upbuilding of the body of Christ, and the center of his preaching and teaching was always Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Rev. Rietdijk was born on February 11, 1929, in Rotterdam. In 1967 he was accepted at the theological school and became eligible for a call as candidate to the holy service in 1971. He served the congregations of Veenendaal, Vlaardingen, Middelburg-Zuid, and Moerkapelle. With the love of his heart he served in a number of denominational committees, and also outside of the circle of our congregations he worked together with organizations of Reformed persuasion.

The Lord blessed brother Rietdijk with rich gifts, which he, as long as he was enabled, used in His service. His active life has come to an end. He left an empty place in the hearts and lives of his wife and children, the congregation of Moerkapelle, and in the midst of our congregations. May the Lord fill the empty place and comfort them with the knowledge that the Word of the Lord endureth forever.

The funeral service was held on November 8 in the church of Moerkapelle. This solemn event was opened by Rev. Kattenberg with the singing of Psalm 89, verse 7, Scripture reading out of John 19:25-30 and Revelation 22:1-5, and prayer. This was followed by the singing of Psalm 116, verse 1. Rev. De Gier then spoke a few words of comfort and gratitude in behalf of the denomination, Prof. Dr. W. H. Velema spoke in behalf of the interdenominational organizations, and Elder Van Noort in behalf of the congregation of Moerkapelle. These addresses were followed by the singing of Psalm 84, verse 6.

Rev. Kattenberg then spoke from Revelation 22:3b, “And His servants shall serve Him.” After the sermon and prayer, the ninth verse of “Het Gebed des Heeren” was sung, and during the singing of Psalm 43, verse 4, the mortal remains were carried out by the consistory of Moerkapelle.

After the interment, the moderator of Moerkapelle, Rev. Zippro, spoke a few words of comfort out of Matthew 28:20, and a son of Rev. Rietdijk then thanked everyone for all the love and help received during the past months. The service was ended with the singing of Psalm 72, verse 11.

As I write this “Memoriam,” my thoughts multiply. On June 12 of this year both of us presented a topic at the annual youth day in the Netherlands. We did not think that it would be the last time we meet on this earth. His earthly journey is completed, and he may now serve God in His temple. May the Lord fill the empty place in the family and congregation.

— Rev. H. Hofman

CURRENT EVENTS

Jews Are Most Unchurched Americans

The National and International Religion Report cites a new study that shows that Jews are among the United States’ most “unchurched” people. The survey of 2,500 Jewish households, researched by Brandeis University, found that only 25% of American Jews attend services at least once a month. (About 40% of Christians make the same claim.) Only 39% of Jews are synagogue members, which the report says may be inflated since many of these may not pay dues. Approximately 33% attend on High Holy Days or other religious observances, and 23% go for rites of passage.

Landlords May Refuse to Rent to Unmarried Couples

The California Supreme Court reversed itself October 4, and decided to let stand a Court of Appeals ruling in favor of a Catholic couple. The ruling stated that landlords who view sex outside of marriage as sinful may refuse to rent to unmarried couples. In 1987 Agnes Donahue and her late husband, John, turned down the housing request of a woman and her boyfriend because of religious convictions. The Fair Employment and Housing Commission had ordered the landlords to pay the unmarried couple damages, but the owners appealed on the grounds that their religious views were protected by the First Amendment.

The Hyde Amendment Passes

In a recent issue of the National & International Religion Report it is reported that the House of Representatives voted 311 to 115 to keep restrictions prohibiting federal funding of abortions for poor women unless their lives were endangered. As a compromising gesture, the legislators widened the law to allow abortions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. On a related subject, Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders urged women to vote against legislators who try to remove abortion coverage from the Clinton health plan. She said she hoped members of Congress would not be so “narrow-minded” as to “deny a complete range of reproductive health services” to women. Any prohibition against “an approved medical service is absolutely wrong,” since abortion decisions should be left to the “discretion of a woman, her doctor, and her God.”

House Approves NEA Funding

In a recent issue of Washington Watch it was reported that the U.S. House voted 340 to 119 to reauthorize the National Endowment for the Arts. Representatives Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) and Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) attempted to amend the bill to bar use of funds for materials that are either sexually explicit or depict excretory activities, but maneuvers by the House leadership blocked the effort. Representatives Phil Crane (R-Ill.) and Bob Dornan (R-Calif.) offered amendments, respectively, to defund the NEA completely or reduce funding by 40%, both of which failed. Debate now moves to the Senate. We should contact our Senators soon and urge them to defund this ungodly federal agency. We should remind them that the U.S. Constitution was not set up to take taxpayer dollars and fund art — good or obscene.

In Memoriam

Donald Den Hartigh

On November 2, 1993, Deacon Donald J. Den Hartigh passed away at the age of 65 years. He had served as deacon in the Waupun congregation for almost four years. As an office-bearer, his words were few, but seasoned with salt.

Student A. Vergunst conducted the funeral service, taking his text from Galatians 6:7-8, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

May these fitly spoken words be a means to cause us to sow the seeds of righteousness, and not the seeds of sin. The mortal remains of our dear friend and deacon were laid to rest at the Waupun cemetery, where we were reminded, “This is not the end, but only the beginning.” May the Lord strengthen the sorrowing ones, lifting their eyes up unto Him who rose from the dead and liveth and reigneth to all eternity.

— B.A.K.

60th Wedding Anniversary

The Lord willing, on January 10, 1994, our dear parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Harskamp hope to commemorate their 60th wedding anniversary. It is our wish and prayer that the Lord may be near and dear unto them in the evening of their lives.

1020 North Main Sioux Center, Iowa 51250

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