Along with the report of Classis West which was printed in our April issue, Rev. Engelsma sent the following informative paragraph: “On the day before Classis, a large group of ministers, elders, missionaries, professors, seminarians, and visitors participated in an Officebearers’ Conference arranged by the committee from the West, Rev. W. Bekkering and Rev. R. Cammenga. There was excellent representation from both Classis and from the Seminary.
The calls of our Redlands and Isabel congregations to Rev. Van Baren and Rev. Slopsema respectively have been declined.
Hull Protestant Reformed Church has made a change in the conclusion of their worship service. “After the singing of the last Psalter number will follow the pronouncement of the benediction and then the singing of the closing doxology. While the doxology is being sung, the pastor will come to the consistory’s bench, shake hands with the consistory members, the elders filing to the back of church, the deacons to the front.
We begin this column with a word of sympathy for those of our Grand Rapids area churches who are responsible for typing up bulletins. It’s the time of the year when they must squeeze in all those announcements about school activities and programs, Mr. & Mrs. Society league meetings, Men’s Society and Ladies’ Aid special programs, Young People’s banquets and special activities, programs presented by the various choral groups in the area, etc. etc.!
The latest news we have from our calling churches is that Redlands has extended a call to Rev. Slopsema. Though without a pastor of their own, Redlands has continued to receive pulpit supply with considerable regularity. From Redlands’ bulletins of May 17, 24, and 31 we learn that, following Rev. Veldman’s extended visit, Rev.
Following Rev. Kuiper’s decline of their call, Redlands has extended a call to Rev. Flikkema, from a trio which included also Reverends Bekkering and Prof. H. Hanko.
“Where’s my Standard Bearer?” was a familiar refrain in the ears of our business manager when answering the telephone in early January. These calls were a result of the fact that the January 1 issue wasn’t its usual punctual self. Although most of us would have soon tired of listening to these complaints, it was music to Mr. VanderWal’s ears, for each call was another positive (or would we call that negative?) evidence that S.B. is read, appreciated, and even anticipated.
The calls of Redlands, California and Isabel, South Dakota to Reverends Slopsema and Bekkering, respectively, have both been declined.
Of the calls Rev. Flikkema has received as reported in our last issue, he has accepted the call of our Hope congregation of Walker, Michigan. As a result there will be no need for many of the classical appointments listed in the accompanying Report of Classis East. From a Kalamazoo bulletin we learn that Rev. Woudenberg, Rev. Van Overloop, and Rev. Bekkering gathered in Houston, Texas during the week of January 25 for a “study session on proper Reformed methods of doing church extension work.”
Rev. den Hartog and I have a similar problem. The letter he sent to First Church started out with the date March 26, 1983. Half-way through the letter he writes, “Well believe it or not it is April 4 and this letter is still lying on my desk.” Here are a few excerpts from this letter found in Across the Aisle, May, 1983. “. . . The session. . . decided last week not to ask for another missionary for Singapore from our churches in the U.S.A. at this time. . . . The session feels that the situation here is...
