National Gathering 2019 - Gearing Up!

What a privilege it has been to lead worship, teach and perform songs in so many CRC churches across Canada this year as a part of the I Am Not My Own Tour!

As many folks know, the Heidelberg Catechism is a large part of my faith journey and since my early twenties, I have been comforted in particular by the words of the Catechism’s Question and Answer #1.  As I share how these words affect me, I learn from so many others how impactful these words have also been for them.

In every single stop—and I literally mean every stop—someone inevitably shares a story about how the Catechism has comforted them.  Countless times I’ve heard how at times such as the death of a loved one or the start of a new job or a time of great joy and thankfulness, the words of the Catechism have been there.  I am often moved to tears at the testimony of so many because I see how real Jesus is to them.  I get to see how Jesus has worked in the lives of so many through this and it is an absolutely humbling honour to be able to bear witness in this way.

I am greatly encouraged, inspired and delighted by God’s people in the CRC and I believe that I should pass on that encouragement to you all as well. God is moving and it is amazing!  Although the worshiping style of each community varies, as does the perspective on how to “do church,” I have found in the Catechism’s first Question and Answer a common thread that binds us all together.  

We are currently at over 6000 voices recorded on the chorus of this song and by the time we celebrate at the CRC Canadian National Gathering in May 2019, we’ll have well over 10,000 voices.  I am already overwhelmed at what it ACTUALLY sounds like to hear our church, our denomination, our seniors and our children all proclaiming in song that we belong to Jesus.  I hope that when we are finished we can share this beautiful confession beyond the walls of the CRC and offer the unique voice of the Reformed tradition into the world of worship music!

I will sign off for now and say thank you to all those across the country who have taken us in and treated us like brothers and sisters.  I look forward to meeting many more of you and hopefully seeing many familiar faces at the National Gathering in Edmonton in May 2019!

In Christ,

Jeremy Benjamin Zeyl