December 20, 1959 

Rev. G. Lubbers, our Missionary, declined the call extended him by the church in Edgerton, Minn. Rev. R. Veldman has received a call from Grand Haven. Rev. G. Vanden Berg has declined the call from Hull. 

The December Beacon Lights Hymn Sing was held at First Church, Dec. 13. Edw. Ophoff led the singing of selected Psalter numbers and Christmas Carols. The ardor of the singing audience was not abated when the offering was taken, as evidenced by the $79.00 contributed to the support of Beacon Lights. Featured were a vocal duet by Mr. and Mrs. C. Jonker, and a piano-organ duet by Mary Pastoor and Bonnie Bylsma, both being of the high quality expected from them. 

The Hope School children rendered their annual Christmas program at First Church, Dec. 19. They presented a message in word and song based on the Heidelberg Catechism. The theme throughout was, “God’s Way Out.” The program was dedicated to Miss Alice Reitsma, principal of Hope School, who wrote and arranged the contents of the presentation a few years ago, and who led the school in its rendition at that time. Miss Reitsma who is also well known to us as the editor of the Church News Column in Beacon Lights, is at this writing critically ill and very weak, but, according to today’s bulletin, witnesses that her faith in God’s promises remains firm. (P.S. Miss Reitsma passed away Dec. 21.) 

The Protestant Reformed Men’s Chorus gave another outstanding program Sunday evening, Dec. 20, at First Church. The program consisted of a baritone horn solo by Robert Decker, a vocal solo by Arnold Dykstra, congregational” singing, and ten numbers by the chorus. The choral numbers sang the praises of the God of our Salvation, Who sent His Son into our flesh that first Christmas Day, They did so with arrangements of traditional carols such as, “Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring,” “A Child This Day Is Born,” “Silent Night,” and other favorites. The closing number, “Bless the Lord, O My Soul !” was a fitting climax to the evening, an evening of true spiritual joy. 

The installation of Rev. G. Lanting into his Holland pastorate is scheduled to take place Dec. 22, with Rev. C. Hanko preaching the sermon, and Rev. A. Mulder reading the form for installation. Rev. Lanting’s new address will be: 111 E. 22nd St., Holland, Michigan. 

The text of Rev. Heys’ farewell sermon was taken fromActs 20:32, “And now brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His Grace.” The text of his inauguration sermon in South Holland, scheduled for the 27th were the words: “. . . and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints,” taken from the 11th and 12th verses of Ephesians 4. 

Did you know . . .

That the Rev. C. Hanko was the speaker at the Dec. 11th meeting of Hope P.T.A.?

That Hudsonville’s Sunday School children gave their Christmas program Sunday evening, Dec. 20? 

That the ninth graders of Adams School, with the assistance of parents and teachers, served a fish supper to several hundreds of hungry patrons in the school are all purpose room, Dec. 11? 

That Hull’s congregation scheduled a farewell program in honor of Rev. Heys and family on Dec. 17; and, that South Holland planned a welcome social for their new minister Dec. 28; and that after Dec. 21 his new address will be: 463 East 164th Place, South Holland?

That Seminarian J. Kortering has been very busy supplying the pulpits of ministers away on Classical appointments? 

That Hope’s Choral Society scheduled their Christmas Program for Dec. 27? 

The after recess program of the Doon’s Ladies’ Society was a discussion on, “What is the Second Part of the examination which we must perform before we partake of the Lord’s’Supper?” The subject was treated by answering the three questions: “What is the heart that must be examined?” “What must one truly believe?” “How is this confession opposed to Arminianism?” One wishes that their bulletin would also print the answers given to these questions so we could pass them on to you for our mutual benefit. 

The December “Indian Summer” weather enjoyed in Michigan gladdened the hearts of Southeast’s Building Committee, for the builders were able to accomplish much in that unexpected warm spell. The church, when completed, will be furnished with pews designed to seat 317 worshipers. 

Do you agree, that we have again been guilty of robbing God of His reasonable service in the season just past, being swept along with the world in her empty celebration which succeeds in covering up the blessedness of our joy announced by the angels in the fields of Ephratah? 

Let this be our New Year’s prayer for one another : “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” 

―11 Thess. 2:16-17 

. . . . see you in church. 

J.M.F