ISSUE Highlights and Monthly News From Happenings: May Calendar of Events Grace Orthodox May 3rd : Prayer Meeting, 7pm Presbyterian May 9th : Men’s Bible Study, Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 38 6:30pm Church 1 2 3 4 5 6 May Full“My grace is sufficient for you, f ofor my power is made perfect in Grace weakness.” ~ 2 Cor 12:8‐9 May 10th : Ladies’ Bible Study, 2017 10:30am May 14th : Patriot Heights Prayer Meeting Ministry, 2:45pm 7pm May 19th: Spaghetti Dinner and 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Talent Show Worship th May 20 : Ladies Fellowship 11a & 5:00p Men’s Bible Ladies’ Bible Brunch at the Voeller’s 10 ‐ Study 6:30pm Study 10:30am this issue noon 14 15 16 17 Spaghetti18 Dinner 19 20 The Belgic Confession P.1 May 21st : Patriot Heights Worship and Talent Show Ladies Ministry 2:45pm For Youth Camp Through Many Hymn Notes P.2 rd 11a & 5:00p Fellowship May 23 : Men’s Bible Study, May 19th 630pm 6 – 8 pm Brunch Dangers Kids’ Corner P.3 May 24th : Ladies’ Bible Study, 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 “…Through many dangers, toils and The Matter of “Amen”P.4 10:30am Worship snares; I have already come; th May 28 : Agape Fellowship 11a & 5:00p Men’s Bible Ladies’ Bible 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus Church News and Notes P.5 Lunch Study 6:30pm Study 10:30am far; and Grace will lead me home…” “People seem to think that the masses Calendar of Events P.6 28 29 30 31 are outside the Christian church This month’s image (courtesy of because our evangelistic methods are Worship not what they ought to be. That is not 11a & 5:00p Cowper & Newton Museum, UK) is a the answer. People are outside the Lunch: stained glass window at the Olney church because looking at us they Agape Fellowship say, "What is the point of being Parish Church depicting the famous Potluck Christians? - look at them!" They are hymn by John Newton (Amazing The Belgic Confession judging Christ by you and me. And you cannot stop them and you cannot Grace). other Reformed pastors and theologians, including blame them.” Dr. Cornelis P. Venema is president and Francis Junius, who was later to become a well‐known John Newton (1725-1807) was the professor of doctrinal studies at Mid- America Reformed Seminary and Reformed professor at the University of Leiden, son of a commander in the merchant ~Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Welsh associate pastor of Redeemer URC in contributed to the final, received form of Protestant Minister, service engaged in the Mediterranean Dyer, Ind. He is author of many books, the Confession. 1899-1981 trade. His mother, who gave him some religious training, died of First written in 1561, copies of the Confession were sent to Geneva and other Reformed churches for Full of Grace Issue 38 May 2017 consumption 11 July 1732. The Belgic Confession is one of the best known and approval. The present form of the Confession stems Thereupon his father married again, most loved of the Reformed confessions. Philip from the time of the great Synod of Dordt in 1618–19, and John was sent to school at Schaff, the venerable historian of the church and her when the text was revised and officially approved in Stratford, Essex, where he learned confessions, observes that it is “upon the whole, the four languages (the original French, Latin, Dutch, and Grace some Latin. When he was eleven best symbolical statement of the Calvinistic system of German). Not long after it was first written, the Belgic Orthodox doctrine, with the exception of the Westminster Confession was presented to Philip II of Spain, who Presbyterian (1736) he went to sea with his father, Confession.” This Confession is known most exercised sovereignty over the Netherlands at the time, Church and made six voyages with him commonly as the “Belgic” confession because it in the vain hope that toleration would be extended to before 1742. Subsequent voyages, emerged from the French‐speaking Reformed the Reformed faith. From the beginning, this confession 5602 Utex Blvd. work on a slaver ship in Sierra Leone churches in the southern “Lowlands” or “Nether‐ enjoyed ready acceptance among the Reformed San Antonio, TX 78249 and many other “adventures” ensued. lands” (now Belgium). It has served historically as one churches of the Netherlands. 210.690.6360 www.sagrace.org of the three confessional symbols of the Dutch During his wandering life he had lost Reformed churches. Affection for this confession Shortly before his death as a martyr, the principal all sense of religion, and afterwards among these churches stems as much from the author of the Belgic Confession, Guido de Brès, wrote accused himself of degrading poignant circumstances suffered by its original author from prison the following words to his wife Catherine: debauchery. But the dangers of the and subscribers as from its rich statement of the “Your grief and anguish, troubling me in the midst of my Reformed faith. joy and gladness, are the cause of my writing to you this homeward voyage, when Newton present letter. I most earnestly pray you not to be was set to steer the ship through a In our brief sketch of this confession, we will address grieved beyond measure.… If the Lord had wished us to storm, suddenly awakened in him both of these features: first, the background and live together longer, He could easily have caused it so strong religious feeling. To the end of setting within which the Belgic Confession was to be. But such was not His pleasure. Let His good will his days he kept the anniversary of produced; and second, the distinctive content of its be done then, and let that suffice for all reason…. I pray his 'conversion,' 10 March 1748, as a classic statement of the Reformed faith. you then to be comforted in the Lord, to commit yourself and your affairs to Him, for He is the Husband day of humiliation and thanksgiving Background and Setting of the widow and the Father of the fatherless, and He for his 'great deliverance.' The Belgic Confession was originally written by a will never leave nor forsake you….Goodbye, Catherine, French‐speaking, Reformed pastor, Guido de Brès, my well beloved! I pray my God to comfort you, and Are you interested in contributing? who had been a student of Calvin’s in Geneva. Though give you resignation to His holy will. Your faithful Send me your ideas! ~Jill Karr de Brès was principal author of the Belgic Confession, husband, Guido de Brès.” [email protected] CONFESSIONS Continued on Page 2 00000000000000000000 Hymn Notes By Mark Moody Red Trinity Hymnal 506 Water in the Bible… Isaac Watts, 1709, Test Your Knowledge Church news and notes… Scottish Paraphrases, 1781 From which verses come these Church Elders: Test your brain and see if quotes? PRAYER MEETING – Mark Moody 210.379.8606 [email protected] As when the Hebrew prophet NEW DAY!! you can guess the 1. I am poured out like Vernon Jackson 830.931.4720 [email protected] raised the brazen serpent high, Join us for prayer the first Joel Granados 210.389.1618 [email protected] The wounded looked, and straight answers… water… Wednesday of every month Angie Meyer May 3rd Church Deacons: were cured, the people ceased to 2. I baptize you with water… from 7 – 8 pm. Prayer is Greg Karr May 5th 3. Where do you get that “the powerhouse of the Fernando Prendez 210.413.1823 [email protected] die; (The answers are at the bottom of Ted Haynes 210.380.1456 [email protected] Cristina Zepeda May 13th living water… church” as Spurgeon said. this page). Mike Holcomb 210.330.4434 [email protected] Haley Lewis May 17th So from the Saviour on the cross 4. …and he will guide them to The success of the church’s Greg Karr 210.204.9452 [email protected] Stephen McKinney May 18th a healing virtue flows; springs of living water… ministry depends on it. th Who looks to him with lively faith Cadyn McKinney May 20 nd is saved from endless woes. Did you know… You can download past Sunday sermons L[^i_s Who Brun]h! Du Anne Hamby May 22 th from our website: www.sagrace.org/media. You can also Please make plans to join us on Robert Hampe May 28 For God gave up his Son to death, th The Belgic Confession (continued) request a CD via the Media Request Form in the foyer or on Saturday, May 20th from 10am – Maximus Miller May 29 so gen’rous was his love, the website: www.sagrace.org/mediarequest noon at Amy Voeller’s home for a Bill Buell May 31st That all the faithful might enjoy These moving words of de Brès were written shortly before he was martyred by hanging for his faith and witness to the Vernon Jackson May 31st eternal life above. wonderful Ladies Fellowship great suffering on the part of evangelical and Reformed believers in the Netherlands. These sturdy believers, who could Brunch. More details to come! speak of “joy and gladness” even in the midst of severe persecution, declared in the preface to the Confession that they Not to condemn the sons of men would “offer their backs to stripes, their tongues to knives, their mouths to gags, and their whole bodies to the fire,” rather the Son of God appeared; than deny the truth of the Gospel. That these words were no idle boast is attested by the fact that an estimated 100,000 No weapons in his hand are seen, nor voice of terror heard; Reformed believers lost their lives during the struggle for the Reformation of the church in the Netherlands.