Regionally-based anniversary events are planned for 2007. The information below gives the details that are presently available. This page will be updated as information becomes available.

Region 1

Classes B.C. North-West and B.C. South-East

Event A

Team leader: Ron Frans
Activity site: Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley of B.C.
Number of congregations involved in the event: 23
Date of event: June 3, 2007; 7:00 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Chandros Theatre, Pacific Academy, Surrey, BC
Speaker at the event: Mr. Henry Wildeboer
Additional highlights: Details to be provided as they are firmed up—we are considering a Christian School choir.

Event B

Team Leader: Dan Hoogland
Activity Site: Northern BC
Number of congregations: 5
Date of event: May 13, 2007, 11:00 AM
Location of Event: The Fall Fairgrounds, Smithers, BC
Speaker for the event: Rev. Scott Hoeze
Highlights: Following the service there will be a time of fellowship. Those attending are asked to bring food and refreshments for a picnic lunch. (more details regarding the event will come via your local bulletin)

Region 2

Classes Alberta North, Alberta South/Saskatchewan, and Lake Superior—Canadian congregations only

Event A

Team leader: Henry Vander Beek
Activity site: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Number of congregations involved in the event: 3
Date of event(s): Combined worship service on May 27 or June 24 at First CRC at 7:30 p.m.; a hymn sing of predominantly traditional hymns on April 22 at Hope CRC at 7:30 p.m.; a hymn sing of predominantly contemporary songs in the fall of 2007; a coffee/desert social in early September at Redwood Alliance in which we celebrate the history of the Christian Reformed churches in Thunder Bay through stories and power point presentation; a showing of the video “Our Church Family – The Drama” sometime during the year perhaps at Bethlehem Church.
Location where event will be held: First CRC, Hope CRC, Bethlehem CRC, and Redwood Alliance
Speaker at the event: Rev. Bruce Adema

Additional highlights: We are planning a combined choir for the combined worship service, and participation of the three church's praise teams in the hymn sings.

Event B

Team leader: John Pasma
Activity site: Edmonton and area
Number of congregations: 20
Date of event: September 9, 2007 (tentative)
Location where event will be held: Heritage Amphitheatre, Edmonton
Speaker: to be determined
Additional highlights: Service: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.; divided into three components: remembering, rejoicing, rededicating; traditional worship, hymn sing, contemporary worship, praise teams; prayer, readings with involvement of various generations; meditations by pastors/laity; Big Church Picnic/BBQ: 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Region 3

Classes Eastern Canada, Quinte, and Toronto

Event A

Team leader: Bart Velthuizen
Activity site: Greater Toronto area
Number of congregations involved: 20
Date of event: May 6, 2007 - 5 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Toronto District Christian High School (TDCH)
Speaker: Dr. Rev. John Suk
Additional highlights (if any):

• each individual or family is encouraged to bring along a stone to this service;
• the service will include a choir from TDCH and a children's drama;
• a time of fellowship, refreshments, and viewing of ministry displays will follow the service.

Event B

Team Leader: Harry Bierman and the pastors of the Maritime churches
Activity site: Maritime churches
Number of congregations involved in the event: 6
Date of event: May 27, 3:00 p.m.
Location where event will be held: All Nations Christian Reformed Church, 2535 Robie Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 4N3
Speaker at the event: To be announced.
Additional highlights about the event (if any): To be announced.

Event C

Team leaders: Brian Bylsma and Rod van Dyk
Activity site: Classis Quinte West
Number of congregations involved in the event: 12 churches west of Hwy 115
Date of event: Saturday, November 3, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
Location where event will be held:
     The Embassy (formerly Community Pentecostal Church)
      416 Taunton Road, West; Oshawa, Ontario
     (on Taunton Rd., east of Hebron and across from the airport)
Speakers at the event:
     Rev. Erick Schuringa (Immanuel CRC, Brampton)
     Pastor Bernie Bakker (Hebron)
     Pastor Martin Spoelstra (Discovery)

Additional highlights about the event:

• A combined Christian school concert band (Immanuel Christian School, Knox Christian School, and Durham Christian High School), led by Mr. Dennis Ullman, will play various gospel songs before the service begins.
• A mass choir will involve members of each church under the direction of Andrew Bouma.
• A dynamic Praise & Worship Band, under the leadership of Michael Broersma, will lead the entire worship service.
• Original drama celebrating our past will be presented by Hope Church - Port Perry, under the direction of Joanne Westerman.
• Communion celebration led by our keynote speaker, Pastor Erick Schuringa.

Region 4

Classes Chatham, Hamilton, Huron, and Niagara

Event A

Team leader: Derek Bouma
Activity site: Classis Niagara
Number of congregations involved in the event: 13
Date of event: June 3, 2007
Location where event will be held: Celebration Church St. Catharines (tentative)
Speaker at the event: Rev. Bruce Adema

Event B

Team leader: William Koopmans
Activity site: Chatham
Congregations involved: Classis Chatham
Date where events will be held: May 27, 2007, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Location where event will be held: St Paul’s Congregational Church
Speaker at the event: Prof. Jeff Weima, Calvin Theological Seminary
Additional highlights: Mass adult choir; Chatham High School Choir; celebration of the Lord’s Supper; and offering for church planting in Canada

Event C

Team leader: Al Karsten
Activity site: Classis Hamilton
Number of congregations involved in the event:
Date of event: See below.
Location where event will be held: See below.
Speaker at the event: See below.
When: During the 150th anniversary of the CRC – in the year 2007
Goal: To encourage participation of all the churches in the Classis Hamilton region to “Deepen our Roots and Extend our Branches” by joining together in (denominational) unity and excitement around the goal of:

• Celebrating and raising awareness of our ministries. This might incorporate the following:
  • Remembering our past and our contributions (January through April)
  • Rejoicing – give thanks for the gifts and challenges that mark our journey ( May through September)
  • Rededicating – recommitting to being followers of Jesus in all of life and challenging others to do that as well (October through December)
• Prayer for those both near and far that still need to experience Christ in their lives.
• Funds for local church outreach, and for existing and new church plants and church planters in Canada and around the world.

Event D

Team leader: Jane Vander Velden
Activity site: Palmerston CRC, Listowel CRC, Drayton CRC
Number of congregations involved in the event: 3

Remembering
Date of event: April 22, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Palmerston CRC
Speaker at the event: Dr. James Payron

• Comunion service
• Testimonials
• Powerpoint presentation about history of CRC
  

Rejoicing
Activity site: Listowel, ON
Date of event: July 1, 2007 from 1-5 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Listowel - at the park
Activities:

• Picnic and socializing
• Afternoon service of rejoicing and praising God in the park
• Band leading praise
• Baseball, volleyball, swimming.
  

Rededicating
Activity site: Drayton CRC
Date of event: September 30, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Drayton CRC
Speaker at the event: Pastor Jack Quartel

• Special choir presentation

Additional highlights: 150 small banners are being created, 50 for each congregation and will be displayed at all three services.
Any churches in the area are invited to come and celebrate with us on these days.

Region 5

Classes Columbia, Pacific Northwest, and Yellowstone

Event A

Team leader: Carl Leep
Activity site: Oregon CRCs
Number of congregations involved in the event: 6
Date of event: Oct.28, 2007
Location where event will be held: To be announced.
Speaker at the event: To be announced.

Event B

Team leader: Bill Heersink
Activity site: Utah region
Date of event: September 30, 2007
Location where event will be held: To be announced.
Speaker at the event: Rev. John Rozeboom

Event C

Team leader: Jack Huttinga
Activity site: Bozeman/Manhattan, MT
Date of events: March, August, October 28, 2007
Location where event will be held: To be announced.
Speaker at the event: To be announced.

Region 6

Classes California South, Central California, Greater Los Angeles, and Pacific Hanmi

Event A

Team leaders: Mark Vermaire and Nelville Koch
Activity site: San Diego CRC Churches
Number of congregations involved in the event: 5
Date of event: Sunday February 4, 2007 at 6 p.m.
Location where event will be held: San Diego CRC
Speaker at the event: To be announced.
Additional highlights: A potluck meal of diverse ethnic food and fellowship

Event B

Team leaders: Norberto Wolf and Brent Wassink
Date of the Celebration: October 7, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Location of event: The Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St. Garden Grove, CA 92842
Event Celebration:      
• 150th Anniversary of the Denomination
• 100th Anniversary of the Great Korean Revival
• local celebration of All Nations Heritage Sunday.

Number of Congregations: About 105 congregations, representing Classes Greater Los Angeles, California South, and Pacific Hanmi
Speaker of the Event: Dr. Neal Plantinga
Musical groups participating: New City Praise Team, Samoan Congregation, Korean Combined Choir, and Lightshine Choir.

Region 7

Classes Arizona, Red Mesa, and Rocky Mountain

Team leader: Ray De Lange
Activity site: First Phoenix CRC
Number of congregations: All congregations of Classis Arizona (7)
Date of event: Saturday, February 10, 2007, 3 – 5 p.m.
Location where event will be held: First Phoenix CRC
Speaker at the event: several, but the main speaker will be Dr. Roger Greenway

Region 8

Classes Heartland, Iakota, Lake Superior—U.S. congregations only, Minnkota, Northcentral Iowa, and Pella

Event A

Team leader: David Zylstra
Activity site: West Central Minnesota
Number of congregations involved in the event: 8
Date of event: April 22, 2007 at 4 p.m.
Location of event: To be announced.
Speaker at event: Rev. Howard Vanderwell
Additional highlights: Mass choir.

Event B

Team leader: John Gorter
Activity site: Pella, Iowa
Number of congregations involved in the event: 23
Date of event: October 28, 2007; Reformation Sunday
Location of event: Vermeer Pavilion; Pella, Iowa
Speakers at the event: Dr. Neal Plantinga and Rev. Kris Vos
Additional highlights about the event: Mass choir, including adults and youth from elementary schools, high schools, and home school

Event C

Team Leader: David Smit
Activity site: Pease, Bethel, Princeton & New Hope, Ogilvie
Number of Congregations: 3
Date of event: April 29, 2007
Speaker the event. Pastors Calvin Friend, Rob Braun & David Smit
Additional highlights: A time of fellowship after worship

Team Leader: Calvin Friend
Activity site: Pease, Bethel, Princeton & New Hope, Ogilvie
Number of Congregations: 3
Date of event: October 7, 2007
Speaker the event: Dr. David Feddes
Additional highlights: A fellowship supper is being planned

Event D

Team leader: Marcia Allspach
Activity site: Classis North Central Iowa
Number of congregations involved in the event: 12
Date of event: Sunday Sep 9 for south area (Ames, Ames Korean, Austinville, Holland, Lincoln Center, Parkersburg and Wellsburg); Sunday Sep 23 for north area (Britt, Hollandale, Kanawha Kanawha Wright, Mason City, Rochester, Woden)
Locations of events: Parkersburg for south churches and Kanawha for north churches
Speaker at the events: Dr James Schaap
Additional highlights for the event: Parkersburg will have their fellowship time at the local Veterans Bldg. Kanawha will have their fellowship time in their church basement

Event E

Team leader: Mark Klompien
Activity site: Classis Minnkota
Number of congregations involved in the event:

• Event #1: Minnkota Celebration – 11 churches
• Event #2: Regional Celebration: Classes Minnkota, Heartland and Iakota

Date of events:

• Event #1: June 3, 2007
• Event #2: October 28, 2007

Location where events will be held:

• Event #1: Southwest Christian High School Gym (Edgerton, MN)
• Event #2: Sioux Falls, SD—venue to be announced

Speakers at the event:

• Event #1: Minnkota CRC pastors
• Event #2: Rev. Howard Vanderwell

Event F

Team Leaders: Cal Hoogendoorn, Marion Van Soelen, Mark Klompien
Number of congregations involved in the event: Churches in Northwest Iowa, South Dakota, Southwest Minnesota
Date of event: October 28, 2007 at 3 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Western Christian High School, Sioux Falls, SD
Speaker: Howard Vander Well

In addition, Mark Klompien and Marion Van Soelen have suggested to the church councils in their area that the following groups of churches organize a joint service:

Group A

Hawarden
Ireton
LeMars

Group B

Hull-Hope
Hull-First

Group C

OC-Calvary
OC-First
OC-Immanuel
Hospers

Group D

Sanborn
Ocheyedan
Sibley

Group E

Sheldon Immanuel
Sheldon First

Group F

Lincoln-NL
Omaha
Olathe-PC

Group G

Serg.Bluff-FC
Lao Unity
Group H
Inwood
Rock Rapids

Group I

RV-Trinity
RV-Calvin
RV-First

Group J

SC-Faith
SC-Bethel
SC-First
SC-BOH
SC-Covenant
Lebanon

We leave the rest up to each group as to when and how they wish to celebrate the marvelous blessings God has given to the Christian Reformed Church in order to bring sinners to the cross and glory to the Triune God!

Event G

Team leader: Henry Gunnink; Event planner: Jim Lipscomb
Activity site: Metro Twin Cities
Number of congregations involved in the event: 7
Date of event: April 22, 2007
Location where event will be held: Calvary CRC, Edina, MN
Speakers at the event: Various local people
Additional highlights: Emphasizing congregational song and drawing on diverse music talents of all participating congregations

Region 9

Classes Chicago South, Illiana, Northern Illinois, and Wisconsin

Event A

Team leaders: Phil Leo; Herm Schutt; Lee Koning
Activity area: Classis Chicago South; Northern Illinois; Illiana
Number of congregations involved in the event: To be announced.
Date of event: May 20, 2007
Location where event will be held: Trinity Christian College
Speaker at the event: Rev. Jerry Dykstra
Additional highlights: “Chicago Celebration”

Event B

Team Leader: Duane Timmermans
Activity site: Brookfield CRC
Number of congregations involved in the event: To be announced.
Date of event: To be announced.
Location where event will be held: Brookfield CRC
Speaker at the event: To be announced.

Event C

Team leader: Nancy Sneller
Activity site: Sheboygan, Oostburg, Wisconsin
Number of congregations involved in the event: 4
Date of event: Easter evening 2007
Location: Sheboygan County Christian High School
Speakers at the event: Rev. Rob Sizemore, Rev. Les Kuiper, Rev. Kou Vang (pastors of participating churches)
Additional highlights: Each of the three pastors will take speak on one of the three themes. The Christian High School band will play the prelude and postlude. A "historical" subcommittee is compiling historical information from all four congregations and will have a display and/or presentation. Possibly we will have a joint choir. Members of the Hmong congregation will sing in their language, and will teach "Jesus Loves Me' to the congregation. A time of fellowship will be held after the service including ethnic food. A copy of the painting will be purchased and put on display.

Region 10

Classes Georgetown, Holland, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Northern Michigan, and Zeeland

Event A

Team leaders: Bob Huisman and Drew Sweetman
Activity site: Classis Georgetown
Number of congregations involved in the event: All churches in classis invited
Date of event: April 22, 2007 (evening worship)
Location where event will be held: Unity Christian High School (Hudsonville)
Speaker at the event: To Be Determined
Additional highlights about the event: Combined with annual classis-wide worship service

Event B

Team leader: Duane Timmermans
Activity site: Classis Northern Michigan
Number of congregations involved: 16
Date of event: October 28, 2007
Location where event will be held: Northern Michigan Christian School (McBain)
Speakers at the event: Dr. Joel Nederhood, Rev. Gerard Dykstra and Rev. Bert Van Antwerpen
Additional highlights: A mass adult and children's choir; a drama depicting scenes of historical interest; a processional of 150 people will holding up posters with a bold printed word or phrase capturing things for which we give praise as a denomination; and there will be special banners on display

Event D

Team leader: Milton Doornbos
Activity site: Classis Holland We will be participating in the Van Andel celebration.
Number of congregations involved:
Date of event: October or November
Location where event will be held: To be determined.
Speakers at the event: To be determined.
Additional highlights:

Region 11

Classes Grand Rapids East, Grand Rapids North, Grand Rapids South, Grandville, Lake Erie, and Thornapple Valley

In Classis Grand Rapids-North we are celebrating as individual congregations in spring, with synod at the Van Andel Arena in June, and then in natural regional clusters of our classis in autumn.

Region 12

Classes Atlantic Northeast, Hackensack, Hudson, and Southeast U.S.

Event A

Team leader: Vern Vander Zee
Activity site: South Florida
Number of congregations involved in the event: 6
Date of event: May 20, 2007
Location where event will be held: El Buen Samaritano Church at 6:00 p.m.
Speakers at the event: Rev. Ramon Borrego, Rev. Hector Garcia, and Rev. Vern Vander Zee
Additional highlights: Arlene Nyenhuis, the1962 Cuban Refugee Director, will be one of our special speakers. We will be celebrating the CRC's 52 years of ministry in South Florida.

Event B

Team leader: Doug Aldrink
Activity site: Classis Southeast West
Number of congregations involved in the event: 3
Date of event: October 28, 2007
Location where event will be held: Bradenton CRC
Speaker at the event: To be announced

Event C

Team leaders: Stan Vander Klay and Ken Nydam
Activity site: Eastern half of Classis Atlantic Northeast
Number of congregations involved in the event: 15
Date of event: October 7, 2007
Location where event will be held: To be announced
Speaker at the event: Rev. John Witvliet, Jr.

Event D

Part 1 - "Blast from the Past Bus Tour"
Team leader: John A. Algera
Activity site: Historic Bus Tour hosted by Madison Ave. CRC
Tour Sites: 1st CRC (Bridgeway CRC), Bethel CRC (Seminary Baptist Church), 3rd CRC (Gilmore Tabernacle), 2nd CRC (Serenity Baptist Church), Prospect Park CRC (El Buen pastor), Northside Community CRC, Madison Avenue CRC.
Date of event: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Departing from the parking lot of Bridgeway Community Church (Formerly 1st CRC). For reservations please call: 973-3132, ext. #11 by Sept. 28, 2007 - $10 p.p.

Part 2 – 150th Anniversary Celebration: From Dutch Immigrants to All Nations
Team leader: John A. Algera
Activity site: Number of congregations involved in the event: Goal is for all of the churches in NNJ and NY to be involved
Date of event: Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, 6:00 p.m.
Location where event will be held: Christian Reformed Church of Midland Park, 183 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432, Rev. Dr. Peter Hoytema, Pastor. Phone: 201-652-4277. Fax: 201-652-3245.
Additional Highlights: Celebration of the Lord’s Supper, All Nations Pioneer Awards, Sermon by Rev. John A. Algera, Anniversary choir, directed by Ron Foster.