First Church of Grand Rapids has placed the following on trio, from which one will be elected July 19: Revs. M. Schipper, H. Veldman and G. VanBaren. 

Seminarian Robert Decker is in receipt of his first call and it was from our church in the far northwest, Lynden, Wash. 

Rev. H. Hanko, of Doon, Iowa, has received and accepted the Synodical call to professorship in our seminary. He will occupy the Chair of New Testament, taking the place of Rev. H. Hoeksema, who resigned his position due to illness.

The Reformed Witness Hour radio sermons for August finish the series on “The Lord’s Prayer” as presented by Rev. J.A. Heys, of South Holland, Ill. The topics are as follows: Aug. 1—”Fear of the Fiery Trial”; Aug. 8—”Freedom of Religion”; Aug. 15—”A Firm Foundation”; Aug. 22—”Leaving With Confidence.” Copies of the sermons may be obtained by writing to The Reformed Witness Hour, Box 1230, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49501.

Rev. H. Hoeksema’s health is failing rapidly. He is now entirely unable to communicate due to throat and tongue paralysis. It is the hope of his devoted congregation that this faithful servant of God may have an abundant entrance into the glory awaiting the saints.

Synod joyfully noted the fact that two more of our churches have become self-supporting, no longer needing synodical subsidy. The churches: Hull, Iowa, and Redlands, Calif.

Edgerton sponsored an Independence Day picnic for the churches in Northwest Iowa. Rev. J. Kortering, of Hull, was scheduled to speak on, “Persecution in Democratic America.” The offering received was for The Reformed Action Society, and the canteen proceeds were slated for Edgerton’s P.R. Christian School.

Sunday evening, June 20, the Grand Rapids area churches’ services were canceled because of a tornado warning. The evening Communion service of First Church was celebrated the next week, including the post communion applicatory sermon. The atmospheric conditions which produce tornados, so common in Iowa and Illinois, have crossed the big lake, and “tornado alerts” are becoming commonplace in Michigan. It is indeed good that we may recognize these storms as “The Voice of the Lord” of Psalm 29, knowing also that these voices will increase until that Great Day of the Lord.

Adams St. School has adopted a financial setup which intends to abolish yearly deficit drives and special collections. The plan provides for the receipt of the people’s pledges on a weekly basis, using a double envelope in conjunction with the church’s budget envelope. Southeast Church and First Church began using the new envelopes July 4.

“Quiet Thought” found in Southeast’s bulletin: “The church is like a bank—the more you put into it, the more interest you have in it.”

. . . . see you in church.

—J.M.F.