During worship the congregation remains silent and respectful. Women wear headcoverings in accordance with 1 Corinthians 11. The intention of preaching a topical sermon guided by the Heidelberg Catechism is so that each of the various doctrines taught within Scripture will be covered at least once every year. The Netherlands Reformed Church recognizes two Sacraments: Holy Baptism and Lord's Supper. Children of members are usually baptized in the weeks or months following birth. The Lord's Supper, on the other hand, is usually held about four or five times per year although this may vary among individual churches. Only members who are (1) truly repentant for their sins, (2) have fled to Jesus Christ for salvation, and (3) are purposed from the heart to live in true thankfulness to God, are welcome to participate. Creeds and confessions The church subscribes to the Three Forms of Unity, which are as follows: Belgic Confession of Faith (1561) Heidelberg Catechism (1563) Canons of Dort (1618/19) The church adheres to the five Solae of the Protestant Reformation. Scripture alone Faith alone Grace alone Christ alone Glory to God alone History Before emigration to North America This church originated in the 1834 Dutch Reformed Church split, when a small group in the Netherlands called the Reformed Congregations (Gereformeerde Gemeenten) broke away from the state church. Emigration to North America Distancing themselves from their fellow secessionists of Albertus van Raalte and his associates Cornelius Vander Meulen and Hendrik Scholte due to doctrinal disputes, they led their own emigration first to South Holland, Illinois, in 1865 and then to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1870. Post emigration 1972 status In 1972, there were fourteen Netherlands Reformed Congregations in the United States, most still conducting their services half in Dutch and half in English, with over five thousand members. 1993 church split In 1993, there was a split in the Netherlands Reformed Congregations resulting in a new denomination by Joel Beeke called the Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregations, which was renamed the Heritage Reformed Congregations in 2005. The two denominations, although split, continue to co-operate with the running of schools founded by the NRC. As of 2008, the Heritage Reformed Congregations has five churches in the United States and five in Canada. The denomination is one of the "governing denominations" of the Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Current status In 2001, there were 26 churches and 9,395 members in Canada and the