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Church Life

All believers come together to share in the communion of saints. Since Christ has shared with all believers his treasurer and gifts, so too should believers use their gifts readily and cheerfully for the benefit and well-being of others. There are many ways which one can participate in or contribute to the communion of saints.

  • Learn more about the Word of God in an informal setting by attending bible study or instruction classes along side peers.
  • Get involved with local outreach initiatives.
  • Participated in organized social activities.
  • Use skills and talents to serve on various committees.

Instruction

Catechism Instruction

Starting at age 12, the youth attended catechism instruction. Classes are led by the minister or an Elder, and take an in depth look at the Word of God as summarized in the Heidelberg Catechism.

Private instruction is also provided for those who want to learn more about the Word of God who are new to the faith and want to learn about God.

Junior – 12 & 13 years
Tuesday | 3:30 pm | CCS
Q. Harthoorn

Intermediate – 14 & 15 years
Tuesday | 3:30 pm | CCS
H. Voorhorst

Senior 16 Years and Over
Tuesday| 8:00 pm | Church
D. Mackay

Pre-Confession Classes

Those seeking to become communicant members of the congregation through public profession of faith will take an in depth look at the Word of God as summarized in the Belgic Confession and the Cannons or Dort. Anyone interested in attending pre-confession classes should contact their elder or the minister.

Tuesday| 8:00 pm | Church
D. Slomp

Group Bible Studies

Evening Mixed Bible Study

There are a number of groups the come together as singles or couples.  Meetings take place every other Wednesday at 8pm in various homes.  Checked out current church directory for a list of contacts.

  • Coaldale East
  • Coaldale North
  • Forward in Faith
  • Together in Faith

Evening Bible Study for Men

Men have an opportunity to come together to study the word of God and reflect on their roles of leadership; in their families, church and the community. Meetings are held every other Wednesday in our church building at 8 pm.

Evening Bible Study for Women

A group of women get together Thursday evenings to study the Bible and the doctrine that flows from it. Meetings start at 7:30 pm and members take turns hosting in their homes. There is no babysitting provided.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study for Women

Meetings are held every week in our church building’s at 10 am. Babysitting is provided and a “Story Time” is done for the preschool age children. Women of all ages are welcome to enjoy an hour of study and reflection on God’s word.

Evening Bible Study for Young Adults

Anyone 18+, married or single, who go to a reformed church are welcome to join!  Meeting take place on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm at the Trinity Reformed Church in Lethbridge. 

Young People’s Society

This group is open to all teenagers and young adults (16 years and older.) They meet every second Sunday right after the worship services in one of our auxiliary rooms. When the YP’s are not studying, they are taking part in fun activities, such as barbecues, soccer, skating, hockey, and the like! There are also a number of opportunities to travel to different cities and provinces to get together for a Study Weekend. During these weekends they take part in workshops, listen to speeches, enjoy entertainment, singing, and eat meals together.

Youth Society

Youth between the ages of 14-15 gather together after the second worship services, every other Sunday, in one of our auxiliary rooms.  There are two men from the congregation who leads the bible study and facilitates the discussion.  This group is overseen by the Parent Committee.

Church Life Activities

Church Life
Committee

Keeping Church Members Connected

The Church Life Committee is dedicated to fostering the communion of saints through both action and engagement. While this committee coordinates many activities, other groups and individuals have also stepped up to host events. Below are some of the activities that have taken place in the past.

Seniors Coffee Fellowship
Refreshments, games and social time are provided for seniors from the Coaldale and Taber Canadian Reformed Church. Takes place the first Wednesday of every month at 10:30 am in the church foyer.

Seniors Dinner
A warm dinner is served at the Seniors Coffee Fellowship in December and March.

Church Picnic
The church comes together for a potluck BBQ that takes place in the fall at various locations in Coaldale.

Christmas Skate
This leisure event takes place in December at the local indoor arena. Snacks and refreshments are provided.

Dine & Dash
This event offers appetizers, entrees and desserts, all in different locations! This is a great way to engage with the church community!

Swim Night
This leisure event takes place in the spring at the Taber indoor pool.

Thanksgiving Praise and Fellowship Night
Everyone is invited to participated with these evenings to praise God with the singing of new and old Hymns accompanied by music. Refreshments and socializing conclude the evening.

Host Family
Consider signing up to be a church Host Family. Host families seek out visitors, provide direction, and offer hospitality to those who are in need of a place to go.

Coffee Fellowship
Coffee is served after the first service on the first Sunday of the month. Families are scheduled for cleanup duties.

Secret Sisters
Targeting women of the congregation, this fun activity has been developed as a means to encourage through prayer, notes, cards, baking and more.

Committees

Evangelism Committee
Meeting six times a year, this committee manages various groups and coordinates activates that aim to touch people’s lives spiritually both outside and inside the church. These include managing the outreach Cross Cultural Bible Study (CCBS) which meets every other Friday evening. Hosting fellowship meetings at the Coaldale Sunny South Lodge, a seniors care facility, as well as the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. Organizing a Vacation Bible School, a bible program meant to engage children. Coordinating Christmas hampers to donate to the Coaldale Food Bank. The committee also provides opportunities for personal and congregational renewal as well as spiritual development through guest speakers and workshops.

Committee of Administration
Manages the general operations of the church.

Organist Committee
Oversees all musical accompaniment.

Ladies Aid
A group of women who fundraise for the church and local community. Meetings take place every other month.

Helping Hands Committee
Managed through the deacons, this committee coordinates support to those in the congregation who are in need of practical help such as meals, childcare, yard maintenance, etc.

Library Committee
The Coaldale Canadian Reformed Church library exists to provide edifying Reformed literature for the members of our congregation. We seek to promote books that are in line with Biblical teaching and Reformed confession. We have something for everyone, from young readers to old! Our diverse offering includes devotionals, study guides, children’s books, biographies, Bible reference books, church history, and more. Our library is located in the room on the east side of the foyer. Choose what interests you, fill out your withdrawals in the sign-out binder, and place in the returns basket when you are done. 
 

More resources for these committees can be found by logging into Church Social.

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Copyright © 2024 Canadian Reformed Church of Coaldale

The Athanasian Creed

This creed is named after Athanasius (A.D. 293-373), the champion of orthodoxy over against Arian attacks on the doctrine of the Trinity. Although Athanasius did not write this creed and it is improperly called after him, the name persists because until the seventeenth century it was commonly ascribed to him. It is also called the Quicunque, this being its opening word in the Latin original. Apart from the opening and closing sentences, it consists of two sections, the first setting forth the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity (3-28), and the second dealing with the doctrine of Christ, especially concerning the two natures (29-41). The teachings of Augustine (A.D. 354-430) in particular form the background to the section on the Trinity, and the decision of the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451) forms the background to the Christological section. The creed itself appears for the first time in the first half of the sixth century, but the author is unknown. It is of Western origin, and is not recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

(1) Whoever desires to be saved must above all things hold to the catholic faith.

(2) Unless a man keeps it in its entirety inviolate, he will assuredly perish eternally.

(3) Now this is the catholic faith, that we worship one God in trinity and trinity in unity, (4) without either confusing the persons, or dividing the substance. (5) For the Father’s person is one, the Son’s another, the Holy Spirit’s another; (6) but the Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is one, their glory is equal, their majesty is co-eternal.

(7) Such as the Father is, such is the Son, such is also the Holy Spirit. (8) The Father is uncreate, the Son uncreate, the Holy Spirit uncreate. (9) The Father is infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite. (10) The Father is eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal. (11) Yet there are not three eternals, but one eternal; (12) just as there are not three uncreates or three infinites, but one uncreate and one infinite. (13) In the same way the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty; (14) yet there are not three almighties, but one almighty.

(15) Thus the Father is God, the Son God, the Holy Spirit God; (16) and yet there are not three Gods, but there is one God. (17) Thus the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, the Holy Spirit Lord; (18) and yet there are not three Lords, but there is one Lord. (19) Because just as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge each person separately to be both God and Lord, (20) so we are forbidden by the catholic religion to speak of three Gods or Lords.

(21) The Father is from none, not made nor created nor begotten. (22) The Son is from the Father alone, not made nor created but begotten. (23) The Holy Spirit is from the Father and the Son, not made nor created nor begotten but proceeding.

(24) So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. (25) And in this trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, (26) but all three persons are co-eternal with each other and co-equal. (27) Thus in all things, as has been stated above, both trinity in unity and unity in trinity must be worshipped. (28) So he who desires to be saved should think thus of the Trinity.

(29) It is necessary, however, to eternal salvation that he should also believe in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. (30) Now the right faith is that we should believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is equally both God and man.

(31) He is God from the Father’s substance, begotten before time; and he is man from his mother’s substance, born in time. (32) Perfect God, perfect man composed of a human soul and human flesh, (33) equal to the Father in respect of his divinity, less than the Father in respect of his humanity.

(34) Who, although he is God and man, is nevertheless not two, but one Christ.

(35) He is one, however, not by the transformation of his divinity into flesh, but by the taking up of his humanity into God; (36) one certainly not by confusion of substance, but by oneness of person. (37) For just as soul and flesh are one man, so God and man are one Christ.

(38) Who suffered for our salvation, descended to hell, rose from the dead, (39) ascended to heaven, sat down at the Father’s right hand, from where he will come to judge the living and the dead; (40) at whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies, and will render an account of their deeds; (41) and those who have done good will go to eternal life, those who have done evil to eternal fire.

(42) This is the catholic faith. Unless a man believes it faithfully and steadfastly, he cannot be saved. Amen.

Apostles' Creed

This creed is called the Apostles’ Creed, not because it was written by the apostles themselves, but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings. It sets forth their doctrine, as has been said, “in sublime simplicity, in unsurpassable brevity, in beautiful order, and with liturgical solemnity.” The Apostles’ Creed is based on the creed used in Rome around A.D. 400, which in turn goes back another two hundred years. It is typical of the creeds used in the western part of the Roman empire.

I.     1.  I believe in God the Father almighty,
               Creator of heaven and earth.
II.   2.  I believe in Jesus Christ,
               his only-begotten Son, our Lord;
        3.  he was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
               born of the virgin Mary;
        4.  suffered under Pontius Pilate,
               was crucified, dead, and buried;
               he descended into hell.
        5.  On the third day he arose from the dead;
        6.  he ascended into heaven,
               and sits at the right hand
               of God the Father almighty;
        7.  from there he will come to judge
               the living and the dead.
III.  8.  I believe in the Holy Spirit;
        9.  I believe a holy catholic Christian church,
                the communion of saints;
      10.  the forgiveness of sins;
      11.  the resurrection of the body;
      12.  and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed, also called the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is a statement of the orthodox faith of the early Christian church, in opposition to certain heresies, especially Arianism. These heresies concerned the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person of Christ and were refuted at the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325). Yet it was not this Council but the Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381) which adopted the Nicene Creed. This Council incorporated into its creed various formulations from the decisions of Nicea and expanded the confession concerning the Holy Spirit. The Nicene Creed is typical of the creeds used in the eastern part of the Roman empire. Both the Eastern and the Western church held it in honour, although with one important difference. The Western church included the phrase “and the Son” (known as the Filioque) in the article on the procession of the Holy Spirit, a phrase which to this day is repudiated by the Eastern church.

We believe in one God, the Father almighty,
        Maker of heaven and earth,
        of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
        begotten of the Father before all ages;
        God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God;
        begotten, not made,
        of one substance with the Father;
   through whom all things were made.
   Who, for us men and our salvation, came down from heaven
        and became incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
        and was made man.
   He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
   he suffered and was buried;
           and the third day he arose, according to the Scriptures,
           and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father,
           and he will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead;
   whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life,
        who proceeds from the Father and the Son;
        who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified;
        who spoke through the prophets.
And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins;
and we look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.