At the Friday night session of the PR Seminary's recent Heidelberg Catechism conference (October 17-19, 2013) the winners of the Writing Contest were announced, but only seven of the fifteen award winners could be present (see the picture). And while the others were acknowledged that night, it is also fitting that the entire group be recognized here, while also noting the categories in which they were awarded. We extend our hearty congratulations to all these winners, as well as expressing our appreciation to all those who entered the contest!

Junior High (grades 6-8)

Brett Kalsbeek (Hope PRC, GR)
Jori Baas (SW PRC)
Allen Kalsbeek (Hope PRC, GR)

High School (grade 9-10)

Lorraine Smit (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA)
Kelsey Kuiper (Faith PRC)
Rachel Rutgers (Hope PRC, GR)

High School (grades 11-12)

Elizabeth Ensink (Trinity PRC)
Gwen Van Baren (Crete PRC)
Leah Marcus (First PRC, Edmonton)

Post-High/College

Dale Schipper (SW PRC)
Sara Doezema (Hope PRC, GR)
Stephen Mulder (First PRC, Edmonton)

Adult

Sarah Mowery (Loveland CO PRC)
Shirley Casemier (First PRC, Holland)
Rick Noorman (Faith PRC)

The latest issue of the "Covenant Reformed News" has been published and made available online! The October 2013 issue includes two articles:

• Leaving Bethlehem for Moab (Ruth #2) by Rev.A.Stewart (pastor of Covenant PRC, Ballymena, N.Ireland)
• Corporate Responsibility and Ezekiel 18 by Prof.H.Hanko (emeritus, PRC Seminary)

The articles in the "CR News" are always edifying and challenging. You are encouraged to read it for your spiritual profit. You will also find attached here the pdf version of the full issue.

Saturday morning was the closing session of the HC Conference held at Hudsonville PRC. Once again there were two great speeches, with Rev.Angus Stewart of the Covenant PRC of Ballymena, N.Ireland going first and speaking on the irenic/polemical nature of the HC. Explaining these two terms, Rev.Stewart taught us that the catechism could be called a "war and peace" manual, since it teaches us both how to battle against the errors that oppose the Reformed faith (from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism to Anabaptism) as well as how to maintain true peace in the church - unity in the truth of the gospel. To listen to pastor Stewart's message, visit this page at Hudsonville PRC's Sermonaudio site.

Prof.R.Dykstra closed out the conference by addressing us on the HC’s teaching on God’s covenant. Proving that the HC is firmly grounded in the biblical and Reformed doctrine of God's sovereign covenant, even though it is only mentioned specifically four times, Prof.Dykstra also showed us the nature of this covenant doctrine: not an agreement but a relationship of friendship; not conditional but unconditional; not general (for all) but particular (for the elect). In other words, the covenant doctrine found in the HC is that of sovereign grace! And he showed us how this was in harmony with what the chief writers of the HC, Ursinus and Olevianus, openly taught, both before and after the HC was written. To listen to Prof.Dykstra's speech, visit this page at Hudsonville PRC's Sermonaudio page.

Even though the numbers were a little less for this session, we still had a good crowd, and we learned afterward that over 200 people were also listening on the live-stream! All of the speeches were also video-taped and the videos will be made available in the near future.

If you wish to find all the conference speeches in audio in one place, visit this special Sermonaudio page.

Hudsonville PRC proved to be a most gracious host for the conference and all those involved in its planning and preparation are to be thanked for all their hard work in making this PR Seminary-sponsored conference a big success.

More pictures from the final day:

Sem. Stephan Regnerus mans the Seminary tables.        Our German guests with their gifts of facsimile editions of the 1563 HC.

Last evening (Friday) was another great night as the PR Seminary’s Heidelberg Catechism Conference entered its second day. We had another good crowd (600+) and another 200 “attendees” through the live-stream – wonderfully encouraging!

The speeches were again outstanding – instructive and inspirational!Prof.B.Gritters instructed us in the history and benefits of HC preaching, showing that HC catechism preaching in Reformed churches has a long and noble history (introduced only a few years after the HC itself was published). But in defense of HC preaching he also showed us that catechism preaching itself goes all the way back to the time of Ambrose in the 4th century! And the benefitsof HC preaching? Prof.Gritters provided eight precious blessings of good HC preaching. To find out what those are, listen to his speech, which may be found here at Hudsonville PRC’s Sermonaudio page.

Rev.C.Haak (Georgetown PRC. Hudsonville, MI) gave a powerful speech on the HC’s view of the Christian life as one of gratitude. With clear proofs from Scripture and the catechism he demonstrated that the HC captures the true meaning – even the heart – of the Christian life when it teaches that the whole of our conduct is to be motivated by thankfulness to God – all because of His sovereign grace to us in Jesus Christ. Pastor Haak gave us the quote of the night when he repeatedly defined this gratitude as “the echo of praise reverberating in the chambers of the heart which knows its redemption and renewal by grace”.  You may listen to Rev.Haak’s message too on Hudsonville’s Sermonaudio page.

 

The winners of the HC Writing Contest were also announced last evening. Scott Van Uffelen, one of the four judges (along with Sue Looyenga, Liz Griess, and Trisha Haak), described the process of judging the 80+ entries and the joy of reading the essays. The entries revealed not just good writing but minds and hearts in love with the gospel found in the HC. Without revealing all of them just yet (some of the out-of-staters and Canadian winners have to be contacted yet), we can give you this picture of the local winners who were in attendance last evening (Back row -l-r: Sirley Casemier, Kelsey Kuiper, Dale Schipper, Rick Noorman; Front row - l-r: Allen Kalsbeek, Brett Kalsbeek, Sara Doezema, Scott Van Uffelen).

Here are a few additional pictures from the evening.

Friday’s full fellowship room!

Gary VDS (Credo Books) & Josh Engelsma going over books

Aaron Lim helps staff the Seminary display table

Specials guests from Mason, MI display the HC in Burmese translated by Rev.Titus

This Sunday, October 20, Byron Center PRC celebrates her 30th anniversary as a congregation. We extend hearty congratulations to this sister in the Lord. May she continue to know the Lord's sovereign care and continue to be preserved in the truth of God's holy Word.

The following note is in her bulletin this Sunday:

"We thank God for the 30 years that he has given to us as a congregation. Undeserving as we are, God is faithful to his covenant. As we read in Lamentations 3:22, 23 'It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.'"

For your information, Byron Center PRC was organized (For the second time, as they had a previous existence as a congregation from 1925-1947) in 1983 with 24 families. Today they number 115 families. In addition to their current pastor, Rev.A.Spriensma, they have had three other pastors: Rev.B.Gritters (1984-1994), Doug Kuiper (1995-2001), Rev.R.Van Overloop (2004-2008).

Special notice: For the evening service on October 20, BC PRC welcomes Rev. Angus Stewart from the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Northern Ireland to their pulpit. About 15 minutes after the service he will give a slide presentation of the work there. Please take this opportunity to get to know more about our sister church and the work in the British Isles.

The congregation of Doon (IA) PRC plans to call on October 27 from the new trio the Council has placed before them. It consists of Revs. K. Koole (Grandville, MI), W. Langerak (Southeast, Grand Rapids), and J. Marcus (1st, Edmonton). 

The PR Seminary had a great start last evening to its conference celebrating the 450th anniversary of the Heidelberg Catechism (1563-2013). And tonight we anticipate a great continuation of the conference!

Thursday night we had a fabulous crowd of people - it even over-flowed the sanctuary of Hudsonville PRC - and we learned that there were over 230 people who tuned in to the live-stream broadcast - amazing! We here at the Seminary and the committee of Hudsonville PRC were greatly encouraged by the turnout.

Dr.J.Klautke, professor at the Academy for Reformed Theology in Hannover, Germany and pastor of the Confessing Evangelical-Reformed congregation in Giessen, Germany, and Prof.R.Cammenga of our Seminary both gave stirring messages, covering respectively the history and purpose of the HC and its grand theme of comfort. These two speeches have already been posted on Hudsonville's Sermonaudio page, so click on the link to download and listen to these.

Dr.J.Klautke delivering his speech on the history and purpose of the HC

Afterward the audience mingled freely in the spacious fellowship room of Hudsonville PRC, enjoying tasty refreshments, good fellowship, edifying displays, and plenty of good books and literature.

Tonight the Conference continues with a special pre-conference music (piano) program by Bryan Westra, a member of our SW PRC (6:45 p.m.). Then Prof.B.Gritters of our Seminary will deliver a speech on systematic HC preaching and Rev.C.Haak of Georgetown PRC on the HC's view of the Christian life as gratitude. In addition, tonight the winners of the HC Writing Contest will be announced and awarded - 15 total from 5 different categories. Once, again, a special night is planned and we hope that you are able to join us at this significant and stimulating event.

But in case you cannot be there, tonight's session will also be live-streamed through Hudsonville's website. Make use of this tool too to join us in marking this historic anniversary!

Below are a few more pictures taken at last night's event.

Prof.R.Cammenga delivering his speech on the HC's theme of comfort

Attendees of the HC Conference fellowshiping after Thursday's meeting

Visitors to the Seminary display tables

Seminary students Brian Feenstra and Nathan Price help at the Seminary display tables

Special display of the HC in different languages

Our sister church in Singapore, Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, is sponsoring a special Reformation Day Conference on Friday and Saturday, October 25-26. See the attached flyer for all the details. Below is the invitation that came with the flyer. 

P.S. Now that this event is past, you may visit Mrs.S.Lanning's blog for pictures and more information on this conference.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

We invite you to join us in celebrating and commemorating the Reformation in 2013 Reformation Day Conference. Lord willing, to be held next week, we would have 3 speeches with the theme the Kingdom’s Inheritance Rediscovered by Pastor A. Lanning (Currently pastor of the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church).

Spread over 2 days, with free shuttle service, lunch and dinner provided, reformed literature for sale, free reformed pamphlets and magazine booths, we sincerely hope to have a wonderful time of fellowship around the word of God with you!

Please look in the E-flyer attached for more details. For enquiries call 9136 1854. More treasures revealed at facebook.com/ReformationDayConference

2013 Reformation Day Conference Committee

Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church