Happy 100th Anniversary!

It is a big year for our church.  Central Reformed is celebrating 100 years!  You can't let that milestone go by without a party.  A year-long one at that.  We've had several events take place already this year.  There will be more to come, too.  This weekend was the biggest of them all (May 5 & 6).  A nice catered banquet on Saturday night.  Those pictures are at the end of the post.  

A verse shared during the service: Romans 12: 10-13 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality."  

Sunday morning was also a morning of celebration.  

Here is a picture of the kids out front.

You can't have a party without cake and friends:  my children with Levi & Allie, Micah & Becca.

Eden & Eliza enjoying their cake.

And the boys enjoying their cake.  It was delicious!

"That's what faith can do"  A wonderful special music piece by 4 outstanding singers in our congregation.  Our praise team also did a great job.

A few words from previous pastors.  The lady at the podium is the wife to a previous pastor who has passed away.  Huitinks, on the left, were here in the late 80s.  Pastor Gil, on the far right, was here in the early 90's.  And then Pastor Don came around 1998.

Seth's Aunt Beth playing the prelude on the piano.  It was a beautiful duet with a guest organist for this special day.  The quilt on the right was made for our 100th Anniversary.  The quilt on the left was made for our 75th Anniversary.

The sermon was based on Hebrews 10:19-25 ". . . let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith . .  . Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how e may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another . . . ."


Saturday night was a special banquet for 350 people.   We arrived early for appetizers and a time of visiting.  The supper was catered and DELICIOUS!  While we waited to eat and while we ate, we watched a nice DVD of past and present pictures.

At this point, the kids were able to leave for the play gym (they were super excited, except for Eden, who didn't last long in there).  For the adults, it was time for the program.  A little praise & worship.

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, all fear is gone."

A little bit of history.  And then there was a hilarious improv skit.  The actors were just winging it and they did great.  It was SOOO funny.   And I even knew one of the questions that no one else knew.  The question was "When did our church go to 2 services?"  I happen to remember that week well . . . it was the 2nd week of October 2007, just after the girls were born and we had to miss this monumental occasion.


The skit was a game show type with a pretend Dutch family verses a pretend family of seminarians.

The whole evening was very enjoyable.  We've been celebrating for 6 months and we've still got 6 more months of celebrating.