Sister-Church Activities

The Covenant Keepers (young people) and Covenant Keepers Seniors (young adults) of our sister church in Singapore, the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, celebrated their anniversaries on January 25. It was fourteen years for Covenant Keepers and six years for Covenant Keepers Seniors. The celebration began with the singing of some Psalter numbers, and an exhortation by Elder Felix Chan based on Romans 11:36-12:2, in which he spoke of using everything in this life to serve Christ. This was followed by an address by one of the young people, Marcus Wee. Fol­lowing that, there was a welcoming of new members to each group, and the giving of gifts of appreciation to Bible study leaders and committee members. We could not help but be reminded of the words of Genesis 17:7 while writing this. Not many years ago there were no children or young people in Covenant. Now, we see this remarkable evidence there of God’s establishing His covenant with believers and their descendants after them. To God be the glory!

The Consistory of the Grand­ville, MI PRC recently approved of their pastor, Rev. Ken Koole, along with Elder Dave Kregel, traveling to Singapore at the end of February. This trip was made on behalf of Grandville, as the calling church, for our denomination’s work there, and our churches’ Contact Committee. Plans called for the men to conduct church visitation, to visit with the Lanning family, as well as to discuss with the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church their calling Rev. Lanning to be their pastor later this year. The delegates planned on being in Singapore the Sundays of February 23 and March 2, return­ing home, D.V., Monday, March 3.

Young People’s Activities

The Young People’s Society of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI sold homemade soup by the quart for a fundraiser toward this sum­mer’s convention. The soup choices were split pea with ham, chicken chili, vegetable beef, and chicken fa­jita. The soup was delivered frozen the first week of March.

If you preferred your soup fresh and not frozen, there were plenty of other opportunities available for the soup connoisseur. One was a soup supper sponsored by the Young People’s Society of the Hull, IA PRC on February 11 at the Hull Community Center. If the soup wasn’t enough to draw you to Hull that night, there was also a basket­ball shooting contest for all ages, held the same night at the same lo­cation. There were prizes, including gift certificates for pizza and subs, but none for leftover soup.

The newly organized Young People’s Society of the Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA is in the process of holding their first fundraiser for this summer’s convention. Instead of a Yard Sale this spring, the young people are planning a craigslist sale. Members of Covenant of Grace were asked to donate anything they thought could be sold on craigslist. The advantage to this type of sale is, of course, that the sale can continue over a longer period of time, instead of just a couple of days, and, besides, there seems to be no limit of just what can or cannot be sold on craigslist these days.

The Young People’s Society of the Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI reminded their congregation to continue to save returnable bottles and cans. The young people were only too happy to return those empties for them. Cans could be brought to Trinity during catechism classes on Monday night. The money earned from those returns (10 cents a bottle or can) was meant to help get the young people to this summer’s convention.

The Young People of the First PRC in Edmonton, AB, Canada sponsored a fundraiser for this year’s convention entitled, “Piece of Cake and Silent Auction” for February 7 at their church. The congregation was encouraged to enter a baking contest. Members could submit an entry in three dif­ferent categories; cake, torte, and pie. There was also an entry fee of $5 for each item submitted. There were judges who handed out 1st and 2nd place ribbons for each cat­egory. Opportunities were given to sample the baked goods that were submitted. The young people were also looking for items to be sold in a silent auction taking place at the same time that the baking contest was being held.

The Young People’s Society of the Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB, Canada invited everyone in their congregation to a skating party at Michener Park on Family Day, Monday, February 17.

Evangelism Activities

The Evangelism Committee of the Southwest PRC in Grandville, MI recently placed an announce­ment in a bulletin asking their congregation if there was a topic on which they would like to hear a lecture or that could be the sub­ject of a seminar. The committee wanted to hear suggestions from their congregation for lectures or other major projects for them to work on this year. In other words, if you have any ideas, please share them. A reminder for all of us. If you have any thoughts or ideas, let your Evangelism Committee know. They will appreciate it.

Congregation Activities

The Council of the Faith PRC in Jenison, MI invited all the members of their congregation to join them for a lecture following their annual Council dinner on February 6. Dr. Brendan Looyenga, a member of Faith, spoke on the topic, “Teaching About Evolution and Evolutionists Within a Biblical Framework.” The congregation was also invited to join the Council for refreshments following the lecture.

Young Adult Activities

The Young Adults Retreat Com­mittee of the Loveland, CO PRC hosted a Recital/Dessert night on January 31. The recital began at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary, and des­sert was served after the program. Donations went to help fund the upcoming young adults retreat planned for early April.

Minister Activities

Rev. Ron Van Overloop, cur­rently pastor of the Grace PRC in Standale, MI, declined the call extended to him to serve as the next pastor of the Doon, IA PRC.