wfn.org | [CRC NEWS] Synod Delegates Gather for Prayer and Praise

["Henry Hess" <hessh@crcna.ca>]

June 12, 2005  Palos Heights, Ill. - Synod 2005 delegates and Christians
from the surrounding community gathered in Trinity's Ozinga Chapel on
Sunday afternoon for a service of prayer and praise. The blended service
was staged by synod's convening church, the Palos Heights Christian
Reformed Church.

Rev. Sam Hamstra Jr. preached on Matthew 16:18: "You are Peter, and on
this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
overcome it."

Hamstra sketched a picture of the church as a people, not a collection
of facilities, that belongs to Christ and is built on a foundation of
apostolic teaching. He urged the leaders and believers to continually
re-focus their ministries around Christ, never leaving him at the door
knocking to get in.

He closed with the encouragement that Christ's church - not just the
Christian Reformed Church but Christ's one holy, catholic, apostolic
church - will endure whatever powers are mustered against it.

More than 60 volunteers from the host church - including a thirty-voice
choir, worship leaders, elders, technicians, coordinators, and a very
busy accompanist - had worked since February to design and produce the
service.

Delegates concluded their Sabbath with a celebration of the Back to God
Hour's 65th anniversary and a viewing of the CRC video, "Our Family
Album."

Synod resumes with a brief plenary session on Monday morning, after
which delegates will resume meeting in their advisory committees.
Another plenary session is scheduled for Monday evening.

Contact Henry Hess, Synod News Officer, at 708-293-2108.