Synod Holds Service Prayer and Praise

A mixture of praise music, hymns and a simple but challenging message about God's love for his people filled the Calvin College Chapel during Sunday's service of prayer and praise for Synod 2008.

Organized and presented by River Walk Christian Reformed Church of Battle Creek, Mich., the  service drew about 400 people, including more than 180 delegates who came to Grand Rapids, Mich., from all over North America for the annual synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

The service began with words of encouragement from Rev. Jerry Dykstra, executive director.

"We are gathered here in fellowship to sing together in praise and to gather around the table and to pray," said Dykstra.

On Saturday, Synod 2008 made history by welcoming women as delegates for the first time and then electing Rev. Thea Leunk, pastor of Eastern Avenue CRC in Grand Rapids, as vice president of the assembly, which meets through June 21 on the campus of Calvin College.

During the service on Sunday, Leunk joined with Rev. Joel Boot, who was elected president of synod and who serves as pastor of Ridgewood CRC in Jenison, Mich., to lead the communion liturgy.

While Saturday was a day of change and celebration, Sunday's service was a time of praise and prayer and testimony to the Reformed faith that the delegates share and hold dear.

In his call to worship, Dykstra reminded people they are all called to serve "a great and glorious God. Lord, you are beyond our imaginations."

Delegates and visitors listened as Rev. Richard Verkaik, pastor of River Walk CRC, offered a message about the overriding need to live with the knowledge that God deeply loves his people, even when they are sinful.

Verkaik said that the Lord's love for his people is described time and again in the Bible. "We read the Old Testament and scratch our heads and we are appalled (at some of the things that God's people do). We ask ourselves how can God continue to favor his people. But God can't help himself. He loves us. He is faithful."

Addressing the delegates, Verkaik held up a copy of the book that lists all the church business they need to address this week. "You are here because of this agenda and you have to be faithful to this agenda," he said.

But he stressed that their deliberations should not ignore the most important piece of business of all: "What we are asked to do here in our church is to advance this message. Pray for God to soften your heart so you can exhibit to the world God's love."

Later in the service, Rev. Ted Verseput, a retired CRC pastor from Battle Creek, offered the pastoral prayer in which he asked God to be with the delegates and help them "to deliberate carefully and to do it with good humor, many smiles, but also with sincerity…May they make decisions for which in the end, Lord, you will nod in approval."

- Chris Meehan, CRC Communications