The Latest News

Synod 2010

Administrator — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:45:43 +0000

Please continue to pray for the delegates (pastors and elders) of Synod who are meeting in London, Ontario this week. Listed below is the most recent press release from the URCNA website. For additional updated information please visit the URCNA website at: www.urcna.org

Press Release #2 – July 28, 2010

Synod spent the entire morning working as Advisory Committees completing most of the work that was given to them.

The afternoon session began by taking up the report of the Songbook Committee. Synod adopted the proposed process for evaluating the hymn suggestions for the new songbook, which says that recommended changes to the list of hymns will be processed through classis to synod. With regard to the Liturgical Forms Committee, synod voted to encourage the churches to utilize the new forms and prayers that have been presented and to continue to give feedback to the committee.

Synod then turned its attention to the report of the Proposed Joint Church Order Committee. The synod accepted for continued study the PJCO 2010 and instructed the churches that changes should now be directed to the synod by way of overture, rather than to the committee.

The relationship between our churches and the Canadian Reformed Churches took up the rest of the afternoon session and most of the evening session. Synod explicitely reaffirmed without dissent our conviction that the Canadian Reformed Churches are a federation of true faithful churches of Christ, whom we love and respect as fellow-workers in the kingdom. Synod encouraged the churches to facilitate further opportunities for our churches to interact with Canadian Reformed Churches.

In a related matter, the synod voted to receive and approve the work of the Theological Education Committee and to declare that their mandate has been fulfilled and then dismissed the committee with thanks. However, synod did not accept the model proposed by the committee suggesting the use of independent seminaries as well as a seminary under the governance of a Regional Synod. Churches which wish to recommend a model may do so by way of overture.

An amendment of the Church Order was adopted which affects the timeframe for when ratified changes of the Church Order will take effect. Previously, any changes to the Church Order that had been ratified by the consistories of the federation took effect after the next synod. The synodically adopted change will take effect after it has been ratified by the churches, rather than waiting until the next synod.

A number of decisions were made with regard to the website of the federation (www.urcna.org) and its operation and oversight. We trust these will help the website to continue to be an effective tool used for the glory of God and the edification of the churches.

Throughout the day, synod received greetings from a number of guests. Fraternal delegates Rev. Vernon Pollema of the Reformed Church of the United States, and Rev. John Hilbelink of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church brought greetings from their denominations. Two church planters gave updates on their work: Rev. Spencer Aalsburg of the Sioux Falls United Reformed Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Rev. Dr. Brian Lee of Christ Reformed Church, Washington D.C. Representatives from two seminaries brought us updates about their institutions: Rev. Steven Oeverman from Westminster Seminary California, and Dr. Gerhard Visscher from the Seminary of the Canadian Reformed Churches. Rev. Richard Bout gave a report of the mission work going on in Tepic, Mexico. Rev. Tony Zekveld spoke of his work among the Sikh at The Center of Hope in Toronto, Canada.

Synod recessed at 10:00 p.m., and will take up its work again tomorrow morning at 8:00.

Bulletin for Sunday - August 1, 2010

Administrator — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:34:19 +0000

The bulletin for Sunday

Ladies Book Club - Stretch the Mind in 2010

Administrator — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:34:05 +0000

The ladies book club will meet on the following dates in 2010. We are looking forward to an excellent year of fellowship as we read through these books together.

February 6 – Augustine and His World by Andrew Knowles

March 27 – Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. Bainton

May 22 – John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor by Dr. W. Robert Godfrey

July 24 – Making Sense of It All: Pascal and the Meaning of Life by Thomas Morris

September 18 – J. Gresham Machen: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought by Stephen J. Nichols

November 13 – Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis

Wednesday Night Bible Study - Summer Break

Administrator — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:02:05 +0000

There are no Wednesday Night Bible Studies during the summer break. Dr Riddlebarger will resume the series entitled "The Person and Work of Christ" (using materials from the course he taught at Westminster Seminary California last spring) in September.

Christ Reformed Church Picnic

Administrator — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:04:37 +0000

Picture slide show from the 2009 Christ Reformed Church picnic. This years pincic is Saturday June 26th.

Annual Church Picnic and Fundraiser - Saturday, June 26

Administrator — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:28:00 +0000

The gauntlet has been thrown down and the challenge is on for the Elders to beat the Deacons at the 2010 annual church picnic.

The 2^nd Annual Christ Reformed Church picnic and fundraiser for our benevolence fund will be held on Saturday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pearson Park in Anaheim. We need helpers for all the activities that day such as gamekeepers, silent auctioneers, etc. We are also in need of items to borrow for the day like sporting equipment. Donations of goods or services for the silent auction are still needed. Silent auction items/services must be submitted by June 13. For more information please call the church office (714) 538-1057 or send us an E-mail at urcanaheim@aol.com.

Update on the URC in Milan, Italy

Administrator — Wed, 19 May 2010 02:10:17 +0000

Scott Clark posted this update on the URC work in Milan. (h.t. http://heidelblog.wordpress.com/)

"The Rev Dr Andrea Ferrari was recently ordained and installed as pastor of the first United Reformed congregation in Milan, Italy. They have a new website and blog. Just as you’ve been praying for the return of the Reformation to Germany please also pray for the advance of the Reformation to Italy.

As you might imagine the fortunes of the Reformed faith and churches in Italy have not hitherto been glorious but God is gracious and this new congregation (under the oversight of Christ URC, Santee) constitutes a great new opportunity for the evangelical faith as it has been understood and confessed historically to gain a new foothold in Italy. To learn more about this work see Pastor Mike Brown’s powerpoint presentation."

Congratulations to Brian and Tobi Enell

Administrator — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 21:11:02 +0000

Photo courtesy of Ricky Havlik

Congratulations to Brian and Tobi Enell who were married on April 11, 2010.

Ladies Spring Luncheon - April 10, 2010

Administrator — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:36:46 +0000

The Ladies spring luncheon will be held at the home of Mimi Shanahan on Saturday, April 10, beginning at 11:00 a.m. All ladies of Christ Reformed church are invited to attend with their daughters. We hope you can join us for a beautiful spring day filled with great food, fellowship and laughter. For more information please call the church office at (714) 538-1057.

Segerstrom Science Symposium: Can Theology Inform the Practice of Science? -- Friday, March 19, 2010

Administrator — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:59:28 +0000

Azusa Pacific University continues with the third and final symposium in its three-part series on issues in the world of science with “Worldviews in Tension: Can Theology Inform the Practice of Science?,” a conversation with scholars about the latest in theology and science. The symposium takes place on Friday, March 19 at 1:00 p.m. The lecture will be held at Perry Lecture Hall, Segerstrom Science Center, West Campus

Kenneth Richard Samples, M.A., a senior research scholar at Reasons to Believe, will present the keynote address.