Sunday Worship:
9:30 AM & 6:30 PM
2: Rev. P. van der Hoek
9: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
13: Rev. D. Lipsy
16: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
23: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
30: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
We warmly welcome you to the web site of the Heritage Reformed Congregation of Burgessville, Ontario. If you are looking for the official web site of our denomination, visit HeritageReformed.com.
Out of the Protestant Reformation came the Latin phrase ecclesia semper reformans, semper reformanda, meaning "the church is always reformed and always reforming." We strive, by God's grace, to be such a church.
We bear a clear and distinctive witness to the biblical and Reformed faith as summarized in the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dordt-our official creeds. We hold two worship services each Sunday, various catechism classes as well as mid-week services and mens, ladies and family Bible Studies.
We wholeheartedly invite you to worship and study God's Word with us and that you would be blessed by God in your life and bring glory to His great name. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact a pastor or email clerk@hnrc.ca
"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!"
Sunday Worship:
9:30 AM & 6:30 PM
2: Rev. P. van der Hoek
9: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
13: Rev. D. Lipsy
16: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
23: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
30: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
"Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28
Gracious "word" of a gracious Savior, on which the soul may confidingly repose, and be at peace forever! It is a present rest - the rest of grace as well as the rest of glory. Not only are there signals of peace hung out from the walls of Heaven - the lights of Home glimmering in the distance to cheer our footsteps; but we have the "shadow" of this "great Rock!" in a present "weary land." Before the Throne above is there "the sea of glass," without one rippling wave; but there is a haven even on earth for the tempest-tossed, "We who have believed DO enter into rest."
Reader, have you found this blessed repose in the blood and work of Immanuel? Long going about "seeking rest and finding none," does this "word" sound like music in your ears - "Come unto Me"? All other peace is counterfeit, shadowy, unreal. The eagle spurns the gilded cage as a poor exchange for his free-born soarings. The soul's immortal aspirations cannot be satisfied, short of the possession of God's favor and love in Jesus.
How complete is the invitation! If there had been one condition in entering this covenant Ark, we must have been through eternity at the mercy of the storm! But all are alike warranted and welcome, and none more warranted than welcome. For the weak, the weary, the sin-burdened and sorrow-burdened, there is an open door of grace.
Return, then, unto your rest, O my soul! Let the sweet cadence of this "word of Jesus" move quietly upon you amid the disquietudes of earth. Sheltered in Him, you are safe for time - safe for eternity! There may be, and will be, temporary tossings, fears, and misgivings; manifestations of inward corruption; but these will only be like the surface-heavings of the ocean, while underneath there is a deep, settled calm. "You will keep him in perfect peace" (lit. peace, peace) "whose mind is stayed on You." In the world - it is care on care, trouble on trouble, sin on sin - but every wave that breaks on the believer's soul seems sweetly to murmur, "Peace, peace!"
And if the foretaste of this rest is precious, what must be the glorious consummation? Awaking in the morning of immortality, with the unquiet dream of earth over - faith lost in sight, and hope in fruition - no more any bias to sin - no more latent principles of evil - nothing to disturb the spirit's deep, everlasting tranquility - the trembling magnet of the heart reposing, where alone it can confidingly and permanently rest - in the enjoyment of the Infinite God. "These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace."
-John MacDuff
Sunday Worship:
9:30 AM & 6:30 PM
2: Rev. P. van der Hoek
9: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
13: Rev. D. Lipsy
16: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
23: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
30: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
Holding to the Reformed tradition, our faith is centered in Christ. Every need of ours finds its answer in Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, the final authority in the Reformed faith is Holy Scripture, the living Word of God, spoken to everyone through the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit takes this Word and makes it real and actual in our lives. This has always been and will always be the authentic wellspring of Reformed faith.
The following confessions and creeds are statements of our beliefs:
•Three historic confessions - the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Confession, and the Canons of Dort.
•Three historic creeds - the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed.
•The Westminster Standards of the 1640s: The Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger Catechism, and the Shorter Catechism.
We believe that there is one true God, and that He is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, omnipresent, independent, omniscient, indivisible, almighty, perfectly wise, just, gracious, and the overflowing fountain of all good. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen (I Tim. 1:17).
We believe that this God, though one in essence, has revealed Himself in three distinct and coequal Persons:the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:and these three are one" (I John 5:7)
We believe that God has revealed Himself to man by two means:first, by general revelation through His creation, His providence, and man's conscience;secondly, He makes Himself far more clearly and fully known by special revelation through His Word, the Holy Bible. "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead;so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26).
We believe that the Bible is not the reflection of the will of man, but that holy men of God spake as they were inspired and moved by the Holy Spirit. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (II Peter 1:21). The Bible is the complete and only infallible Word of God delivered to mankind, essential to know unto salvation. In the English language, we believe that this Word is most accurately and soundly conveyed to us by the King James Version.
We believe that this Word of God not only teaches the truth about God but also about man. We believe that God created man perfect and upright, and after His own image in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:27). "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Col. 3:10). "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and 'true holiness" (Eph. 4:24).
We believe that man willingly subjected himself to sin and fell from his holy state. Consequently all are born in sin and will die in sin, unless regenerated by the Spirit of God to find complete salvation in the one Mediator, Jesus Christ. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Col. 2:13).
We believe in the one and only Mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who in One Person is both God and man: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead, and buried:He descended into hell: The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. (Apostles' Creed) "Neither is there salvation in any other:for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Act 4:12).
Sunday Worship:
9:30 AM & 6:30 PM
2: Rev. P. van der Hoek
9: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
13: Rev. D. Lipsy
16: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
23: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
30: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
We believe:
In man's total depravity:
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). "God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back:they are altogether become filthy;there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Psalm 53:2, 3).
In unconditional election:
"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy" (Rom. 9:15-16).
In limited atonement:
"I pray for them:I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me:for they are thine" (John 17:9).
In irresistible grace:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" (John 6:44-45).
In the perseverance of the saints:
"And I give unto them eternal life:and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28).
We believe that the Word of God provides clear instruction not only for the way of salvation, but also for man's everyday life in the world. We believe that all spheres and domains of life, education inclusive, must be subject to the ordinances and glory of God. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Cor. 10:31).
We believe that although infant baptism places us under the privileges of an external (non-saving) covenant relationship with God, we need the personal regenerating work of the Holy Spirit to bring us into the covenant of grace in an internal (saving) covenant relationship with God. "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly;neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly:and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter:whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:28-29) "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
Sunday Worship:
9:30 AM & 6:30 PM
2: Rev. P. van der Hoek
9: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
13: Rev. D. Lipsy
16: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
23: Rev. P. van der Hoek / Rev. D. Lipsy
30: Rev. D. Lipsy / Rev. P. van der Hoek
God is holy; therefore we worship him reverently. You will find a quiet formal atmosphere that prevails throughout our worship service that lasts approximately 90 minutes and includes singing Psalms, prayer and reading Scripture. The worship service centers around the preaching of the Word of God, based either on a portion of Scripture or on a Scriptural doctrine as outlined in the Heidelberg Catechism. We desire to keep the Lord's Day holy in accordance with the Ten Commandments.