June 6-11, 2019 at Hope College (Holland, Michigan)
This video provides an overview of the three scenarios for the future of the RCA that the Vision 2020 team has been exploring since being formed by General Synod last year. While the Vision 2020 team won't make any recommendations to General Synod until 2020, delegates this year will be discussing and offerng their feedback on the Vision 2020 team's work. We encourage you to take the time to watch this video and to continue to keep the Vision 2020 team and the General Synod in prayer during this process. (Click here or click the image above to watch)
Delegates to General Synod
Thank you to the following individuals who will be delegates to General Synod from Zeeland Classis. Please be in prayer for them as they travel, spend the week listening, discerning and being in fellowship with delegates from across the country.
Kurt Baird (North Blendon)
Ruth Berghorst (Second)
Rev. Tom Grabill (Foundry)
Rev. Gary Jarvis (South Blendon)
Cal Karsten (Fellowship)
Rev. Mary Merrill (Pine Rest)
Rev. Greg TenBrink (Community)
Mike Teunis (South Blendon)
Michael VanBragt (Dunningville)
Rev. Barbara Yandell (Hope for the Nations)
If you want to keep up with what's happening on the synod floor:
Watch the video feed of plenary discussions. This year, there will be a 30-minute delay on the video feed, at the instruction of the General Synod Council, to minimize outside influence on synod proceedings. (A schedule of broadcast times is posted at www.rca.org/videostream.)
Follow on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for real-time updates from synod. Or get a broader perspective from delegates, guests, and others by checking the #RCAsynod tagboard. There, you’ll find posts about synod from across social media.
Make sure to use the #RCAsynod hashtag for your own synod-related Facebook posts, tweets, Instagram photos, and videos, whether you’re at synod or following along at home.
Zeeland Classis
Classis Member Updates
Pastor Gonzalo Venegas will conclude his ministry at La Casa de mi Padre on June 9. He will be moving to Florida later in June to begin planting a church in Kissimmee.
Regional Synod Recap
As a classis in the RCA, we participate in a regional assembly called the Great Lakes Regional Synod (GLRS). This group, made up of churches from classes from throughout Michigan and Ohio (primarily), meets one time per year on the first Monday of May.
Delegates spent time together in prayer and worship led by Second Reformed Church of Kalamazoo. Looking forward to General Synod 2019 and 2020, they also spent time learning and discussing how we can be prepared for the change God may be leading us to. They also heard reports from the President of Regional Synod, Bob VanderZwag (click here to read his report) and the Executive Leader, John Messer (click here to read his report).
Thank you to the following Elders and Ministers who served as delegates to Regional Synod:
Mary Beth Gernaat (Covenant Community)
Terry Ebels (Harlem)
Glenn Kleinheksel (Overisel)
Cal Klokkert (Haven)
Rev. Rob Wondergem (Spring Valley)
Rev. Dustyn Keepers (Graduate Studies)
Rev. Brian VanderWege (Geneva Camp & Retreat Center)
Rev. John Nyitray (Harlem)
Candidate Day
Congratulations to this year's Seniors! All six graduated with a Masters of Divinity and earned a Certificate of Fitness for Ministry from Western Theological Seminary. On May 21st they sustained their final Classis exams and became Licensed Candidates, eligible for ordination as Ministers of Word & Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America.
Katlyn DeVries
Todd Eckstein
Andrew LaTeer
Jason Pierce
Eric Schrotenboer
Matt Wohlford
RCA Updates
Board of Benefits newsletter
The Board of Benefits newsletter for spring 2019 is here! You can view the newsletter by clicking here. The PDF you'll see when you click the button is also printable if you prefer to read a paper copy of our newsletter.
We hope you find the content useful and informative.
you have questions about retirement services, please do not hesitate to call the Benefits Services helpline at 866-221-5480 or contact us at retirement@rca.org.
News & Events
Prayer Walk at Camp Geneva
Thursday, June 6 at 7:15 am
You are invited to walk the grounds and pray for the ministry that will happen at Camp Geneva this summer. Meet outside the Retreat Center at Geneva Shores at 7:15 am. Breakfast with the summer staff will follow at 8:00 am. Contact Rev. John Nyitray for more information (john@harlemchurch.org).
Please RSVP to Ellie at Harlem Reformed by Tuesday at noon via email (hrc@harlemchurch.org) or by phone ((616) 399-1767).
Prayers & Announcements
For Camp Geneva Summer Staff as they share the love of Jesus with campers this summer. Grant them words to speak, energy for each day and may they come to know God more fully this summer.
For pastor Gonzalo Venegas and his family as they conclude their ministry at La Casa de mi Padre and move to Florida later in June to begin planting a church in Kissimmee.
Pray for the Reformed Church in America assembly meetings over the next month leading to, and including, General Synod. Pray for the Holy Spirit's presence and leading in these meetings. Ask God to provide listening ears and hearts in the context of decisions that the RCA is facing regarding its future.
