Reformation Weekend at Christ Reformed Church
Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 08:56AM 
Friday, October 29 @ 7:30p.m.
Lutheran theologian Robert Preus once said that one of the best ways to learn the Christian faith, was to "sing the faith into our hearts." Join us on Friday, October 29 at 7:30 p.m. for our third annual Reformation Hymn Festival as we seek to do just that.
Our hymn festival will follow the Heidelberg Catechism's three-fold division of guilt, grace and gratitude. Through the reading of Scripture and our confessions, and through singing the Psalms and the great hymns of the Reformed tradition, we'll be reminded of our guilt before God, the greatness of God's grace toward us in Jesus Christ, and having "sung the faith into our hearts," Lord willing, we will leave with our hearts filled with gratitude.
There is no cost for the Hymn Festival so come and join us for an evening of wonderful hymns, teaching and fellowship.
Sunday, October 31 @ 10:30 a.m.
Christ Reformed Church celebrates its fourteenth anniversary on Sunday. I will be preaching on Romans 4:1-8, "Him Who Justifies the Ungodly."
If you are looking for a church, come out and join us!
Reader Comments (7)
Luther always maintained that music is one of the best teaching tools that the church has. On the other hand, poor theological music can hinder your faith.
An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.
"Well," said the farmer, "it was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."
"Praise choruses?" said his wife. "What are those?"
"Oh, they're OK. They are sort of like hymns, only different," said the farmer.
"Well, what's the difference?" asked his wife.
The farmer said, "Well, it's like this - If I were to say to you: "Martha, the cows are in the corn"' - well, that would be a hymn. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:
'Martha, Martha, Martha, Oh Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows the white cows, the black and white cows, the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, the CORN, CORN, CORN.'
. . .Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well, that would be a praise chorus."
The next weekend, his nephew, a young, new Christian from the city came to visit and attended the local church of the small town. He went home and his mother asked him how it was.
"Well," said the young man, "it was good. They did something different however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs."
"Hymns?" asked his mother. "What are those?"
"Oh, they're OK. They are sort of like regular songs, only different," said the young man.
"Well, what's the difference?" asked his mother.
The young man said, "Well, it's like this - If I were to say to you: 'Martha, the cows are in the corn' - well, that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you:
'Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by to the righteous, inimitable, glorious truth.
For the way of the animals who can explain? There in their heads is no shadow of sense. Hearkenest they in God's sun or His rain unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.
Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed. Then goaded by minions of darkness and night, they all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn have chewed.
So look to the bright shining day by and by, where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn; where no vicious animals make my soul cry and I no longer see those foul cows in the corn.'
. . Then if I were to do only verses one, three and four and do a key change on the last verse, well that would be a hymn.
We look forward to being with you next Sunday.