December was a very exciting and joyful month over all.
Beginning with the Installation Service on Dec 1 of Rev. John A. Bouwers to Hope Reformed Church of Brampton! "... for I have many people in this city". Acts 18:10
Then Sunday, his first sermon as our pastor "Speak, and do not Keep Silent!" from Acts 18:9-10 was very challenging yet encouraging!
Followed by a welcome evening for him and his wife, Julie by our church
complete with delicious dinner and a little program of speeches, games, singing - very special & fun!
So 2017 ended with renewed hope and Hope (Reformed Church) restored! And much celebration of God's goodness and love and all His blessings especially the gift of His precious Son!
Christmas celebrations:
Thurs - Grand-daughter's Day - and Christmas flower basket arranging then sleep overs and a number of fun events for the girls.
Sat - Our family's celebration and Pakjes
Ralph & Sharon generously hosted this year.
line up for dessert!
Great Oma snuck in a present she made for the Great-grand-daughters
Grandson Nathan enjoying it too :)
The basement was large enough for the whole
clan (+ Becca, - Mark, Elisabeth & Damon).
(thankful that Becca returned safely from her Switzerland trip and joined us again)
Everyone’s
creative wrapping and poems /songs were fun even those done last minute!
All the hidden talent that comes out with this family tradition - quite amazing! If we had voted for the best, likely Maurice would've won with his rendition of Rich Mullin's song reworded to fit the Luimes family! The kids did great jobs too - special mention: Josiah's poem & Joanna's aquarium!
Tia's happy with her new dog house ;)
Fun! We also enjoyed the music and singing (and even little Lydia sang with Joanna W!).
Mon Dec 18 Immanuel's Christmas program: "Christmas in Heidelberg" was very well done involving the (H.Catechism). Christine
directed the choir and some of our grandchildren participated as Cadets & Kingdom Seekers and YPs.
Thurs Dec 21 Hope's Christmas Program - a joyful occasion, inviting and somewhat informal, with a Q&A type program explaining the meaning of Christmas & Jesus' coming, and lots of singing (Thanks Sharon for these photos)
"Away in a Manger"
Catechism Choir
Fullness of Grace in man's human frailty; This is the wonder of Jesus...
Fullness of grace - the love of the Father, Shown in the face of Jesus...
Fullness of hope in Christ we had longed for: ...
Through His obedience we are forgiven...
Fullness of life and joy unspeakable...
Wow!
YP's sang Embrace the Cross - so beautiful and heart-stirring!
Also
5 of our grandchildren played a beautiful rendition of a Carol on piano & strings
Mon Christmas Day we celebrated Christmas as our own pastor preached "Come and Worship"!
That afternoon M&C and Kenny came for a quiet turkey dinner with us.
(sorry, a closed-mouth-full shot!)
couldn't resist...
Once in David's Royal City
...
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
For He is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us, He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears, and smiles, like us He know;
And He cares when we are sad,
And He shares when we are glad!
And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in Heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He has gone.
