January 11, 2012

Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church

Classis East met in regular session on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at the Hudsonville PRC. Each church was represented by two delegates. The session was chaired by Rev. Daniel Holstege.

The January session is the time for voting. Elected to serve as synodical delegates are the following: MINISTERS: Primi: C. Haak, K. Koole, A. Lanning, J. Slopsema, R. VanOverloop; Secundi: M. DeVries, G. Eriks, W. Langerak, A. Spriensma, M. VanderWal. ELDERS: Primi: Nick Kleyn, Howard Pastoor, Dave Rau, John VanBaren, Pete VanderSchaaf; Secundi: James Lanting, Joel Minderhoud, Ted Pipe, Kevin VanOverloop, Deane Wassink.

In other voting, Rev. K. Koole was elected to serve a three-year term as a primus delegate ad examina and Rev. A. Spriensma as a isecundus delegate ad examina. Rev. W. Langerak was elected to serve a three-year term on the Classical Committee. Revs. Koole and VanOverloop were elected as church visitors, with Revs. DeVries and Slopsema as alternate church visitors.

The classis approved subsidy request for 2013 for Cornerstone PRC, Kalamazoo PRC, and Wingham PRC. These requests will be forwarded to Synod 2012 for approval.

The church visitors reported to the classis that all the consistories were visited. The visitors report a time of peace and unity among the churches and in the consistories.

The expenses of classis amounted to $138.13. Classis will meet next on May 9, 2012 at the Georgetown PRC.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon J. Huisken, Stated ClerkMinister Activities

Rev. Carl Haak, pastor of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, declined the call that was extended to him to serve as the next pastor of the Hope PRC in Walker, MI.

The Council of the Loveland, CO PRC granted the request of our Seminary to sponsor the intern-ship of Seminarian Eric Guichelaar, beginning July 1, 2012, God willing, with Loveland’s pastor, Rev. Steven Key, as his mentor.

As Rev. Key supplied pulpit for the Edgerton, MN congregation in January, Loveland PRC welcomed to their pulpit and fellowship Seminarian Vernon Ibe, who comes from the Berean PRC in Manila, the Philippines. Seminarian Ibe filled their pulpit January 8 and 15. Mr. Ibe, his wife Melody, and their infant son, were scheduled also to be in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, Janu-ary 29, where Mr. Ibe was to bring a word of edification to the Heritage congregation while their pastor, Rev. Allen Brummel, filled a preaching assignment in Edgerton, MN.

While in Colorado, Seminarian Ibe also kindly consented to speak at a chapel service at Loveland Christian School on January 13. Chapel was held in the sanctuary of Loveland PRC and everyone was invited to attend.

Congregation Activities

Saturday morning, January 14, the members of the Hudsonville, MI PRC came together for a dedication of the recently completed addition to their church building. Rev. Garrett Eriks, pastor in Hudsonville, gave a brief meditation based on Ephesians 2:19-22. Hudsonville’s choir sang three numbers, there was audience singing, and a prayer of thanksgiving was offered. After the dedication, Hudsonville enjoyed fellowship and held an open house for the surrounding community as well as others from nearby PR congregations.

The city of Randolph, WI held their annual blood drive on January 9 at the Reformed Church. Not only were the members of Randolph PRC invited to “roll up their sleeves” and donate, but this year they took their church’s turn providing the bars and cookies that are needed while one “recovers” from donating.

Denomination Activities

This year our Seminary offered an interim course on “Contemporary Roman Catholic Theology.” Prof. Ron Cammenga taught the course, examining the central teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church. It was also the purpose of this course to assess the current movement within Evangelical and Reformed churches that seeks closer relations with Rome. The last class featured a presentation by our home missionary, Rev. Wilbur Bruinsma, on witnessing to Roman Catholics. The class met mornings from Monday, January 9, through Wednesday, January 18. We thank the Seminary for thinking about those of us who could not attend the course in person. Beginning on January 9, the Seminary posted an audio version (MP3 format available for download) of each day’s lecture and discussion on the Seminary’s “Faculty” page through the PRC website. There will be a special notice and link to it on the home page (www.prca.org). Look for it and participate in the Interim in this special way.

The Reformed Doctrine Class meeting at Faith PRC in Jenison, MI under the leadership of Prof. David Engelsma, met January 11. The topic for that evening was a discussion concerning the distinction between the church visible and invisible, including the question whether one can be a member of the church invisible if he is not a member of the church visible.

Mission Activities

The Tuesday Night Bible Study of the Berean PRC in Manila, the Philippines, started the new year by meeting January 10, 17, and 24, viewing via DVD and discussing the three lectures given by the professors of our Seminary on the subject of the King James Version of the Bible, in this the 400th-year anniversary of its publication. The first lecture, on January 10, was “Restoring the Bible to the Believer: The Reformation’s Concern Over Bible Translation.”

School Activities

The parents and teachers of the PTA of Hope PR Christian School in Walker, MI held one of their meetings on February 9. Several teachers and volunteers gave a presentation on “Motor Movement: Why So Important.”

Supporters of Hope PR Christian School were invited to an upcoming travelogue series sponsored by the Hope Foundation. This year the Foundation is scheduled to host three travelogues, one in January, one in February, and one in March. The first in that series took place on January 14 and was entitled, “Jordan/Israel, More Stories from the Holy Land,” by Sandy Mortimer.

Young People’s Activities

The Young People of the Hudsonville, MI PRC were able to enjoy a night of bowling at Hudsonville Lanes on January 19. By coincidence, that night was dollar night, so every game, etc., was only a dollar. So not only could the young people enjoy an activity together, they could save some money at the same time.

The Young People’s Society of the Byron Center, MI PRC took part in a fundraiser at a nearby Culver’s restaurant on January 11. Money raised that evening went towards this year’s Young People’s Convention.

January 14, preceding the Hope Foundation’s travelogue, the Young People’s Society of the Hope PRC in Walker, MI sponsored a soup supper, with proceeds going to this summer’s YP Convention, of which Hope is this year’s host society and congregation.