Friday, June 14, 2013: The last day of synod was another day of giving thanks to God for His great goodness. The morning devotions began with Psalm 145, a Psalm of praise to God. Every session of synod begins with prayer. The many heartfelt prayers of the delegates focused on giving thanks to God for His undeserved goodness.
When synod made decisions regarding the work in the Philippines, Rev. Smit, one of our missionaries in the Philippines, addressed synod. He expressed the gratitude of the missionaries to the churches for their interest in and support of Christ’s work in the Philippines. Rev. Smit also brought the greetings of the churches with whom they work in the Philippines by reading a letter of greeting from the combined consistories of the Berean PRC and the First Reformed Church of Bulacan. Rev. Van Overloop expressed words of thanks for the dedicated labors of Rev. Smit, Rev. Kleyn, and their families, on behalf of our churches.
Thursday, June 13, 2013: Today was a day of continued gratitude to God. Mr. Erik Guichelaar successfully sustained his examination before synod. He was examined in Church History, Church Polity, OT History, NT History, and Practica. With thanks to God, synod approved his examination and declared Mr. Guichelaar a candidate of the ministry of the Word and Sacraments eligible for call on or after July 13, 2013. As churches we have many reasons to give thanks – for the truth of God’s Word, the gifts God has given to this young man who confessed the truth so beautifully, and a seminary which faithfully teaches these truths so the church receives the truth each Sunday. (Picture is of Sem.E.Guichelaar with his wife Cherith and daughter Kennedy, and his parents, Gerry and Alice Guichelaar, from Wingham, ON.)
Monday, June 10, 2013: The pre-synodical service was held at Hudsonville PRC. Rev. Steve Key, the president of Synod 2012, preached a sermon on Psalm 133, reminding us to celebrate and give thanks to God for the unity He has given to our churches, as is evident from the items in the agenda of synod. There was also a time for prayer to thank God for our denomination and to ask God’s blessing upon the work of synod and our denomination. The sermon will be available on 
On Tuesday morning, June 11, 2013 the synod and its visitors assembled in the sanctuary of Hudsonville PRC to hear the sermon of Mr. Erik Guichelaar. Synod unanimously approved his sermon, stating that the sermon demonstrated that Mr. Guichelaar has the gifts to preach a sermon for the edification of God’s people. Synod took this opportunity to thank God for the sermon and to thank the seminary faculty for their faithful labors.
The pre-synodical service will be held on Monday, June 10, at 7:00 P.M. in Hudsonville PR Church. Rev. S. Key, last year's President, will give the sermon.