PRC Weekly Congregational, Denominational, and Sister-Church News - October 15, 2017

On this October 15, 2017 Lord's Day we note the following news and information from PRC congregations, classes, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• From Lynden (WA) PRC's bulletin today we read this important note: "Rev. Hanko will be preaching his farewell sermon this evening. We thank him for his labors as a pastor in our congregation. Rev. and Nancy plan to move to Spokane to be near their son Neil. We wish them God's blessing in this new stage of their life." We express our thanks to Rev. R. Hanko for his faithful ministry in our denomination and pray for him and Nancy as they transition to a new congregation and role in our churches.
• On October 8 Cand. Stephan Regnerus received the call from Lynden (WA) PRC. He also is considering the call from Southwest PRC (Wyoming, MI - received Sept.10).
• On Oct.1 Cand. Brian Feenstra ACCEPTED the call from Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB (Received Sept.3). We rejoice with this servant of the Lord and his family in God's confirmation of the pastoral call and of His provision of a place to begin his ministry.
• Last Sunday, Oct.1, the congregation of Byron Center PRC voted to call Rev. A. Lanning, corrently pastor of the Covenant ERC in Singapore. He plans to answer on Oct.22.
• Following Rev. R. Smit's acceptance of the call to serve as missionary to the Philippines on Oct.1, the Council of First PRC (Grand Rapids, MI) announced these arrangements (as found in her bulletin):
  • "The consistory approved that Rev. Smit preach his farewell sermon on October 22 in the evening service. Because Rev. Smit will be in Singapore and the Philippines on pre-scheduled work for the Contact Committee from October 25 to November 13, Rev. Smit’s installation in the Doon PRC (Doon, Iowa) as foreign missionary to the Philippines has been approved and scheduled for Sunday, November 26, in the Doon PRC in the a.m. service. May our heavenly Father abundantly bless and provide for the Smit family during their time of transition."
  • They also announced a new trio: "The Council presents to the Congregation the following names as our trio of minister nominees: Revs A. Lanning, B. Huizinga, and C. Griess. We will have our Congregational meeting to choose from these men on October 29 after the morning service."
• On August 27 Candidate Justin Smidstra ACCEPTED the call from First PRC of Holland MI. He will be examined, D.V., at a special meeting of Classis East in Georgetown PRC on October 18. We also learn this from Holland's Oct.15 bulletin:
  
  • The congregation is called to worship next week Tuesday, October 24, at 7 p.m., for the ordination and installation of Pastor-elect Justin Smidstra. The collection taken will be for the Foreign Seminary Student Fund. The inaugural sermon will be preached at the morning worship service on Sunday, October 29.
• On August 13 Candidate Joe Holstege ACCEPTED the call to Zion PRC. He will be examined, D.V., at a special meeting of Classis East in Georgetown PRC on October 18. The Council of Zion has also made arrangements for his ordination/installation:
  • "The Lord willing, a worship service will be held in Faith PR Church on Friday, October 20, at 7:00 p.m. for the ordination and installation of Minister-elect Joseph Holstege into the ministry of the word and sacraments in Zion PR Church. The worship service will be live-streamed over Faith’s website.
• Candidates Jon Langerak  and David Noorman are both assisting pastors and congregations in the Grand Rapids area (Georgetown PRC and Hudsonville PRC, respectively) while they wait for calls.

DENOMINATIONAL and SISTER CHURCH NEWS:

• CLASSIS EAST will meet in special session this coming Wednesday, Oct.18, at Georgetown PRC for the purpose of examining Pastors-elect J. Holstege (Zion PRC, Hudsonville, MI) and J. Smidstra (First PRC, Holland, MI).

• Byron Center PRC thanks Prof. David Engelsma for his well-spoken, well attended and well received speech regarding spousal abuse last Thursday evening (Oct.5). The live-streamed event was viewed throughout the country by a surprisingly large audience. The full speech along with the Q & A session is taped and available on the Byron website at www.byronprc.net. Additionally, the questions that went unanswered due to time restraints will be answered by Prof. Engelsma and available on our website by October 21^st.

• Keep in mind the upcoming PRC Seminary Reformation 500th Anniversary Conference. The latest announcement is this:

  HERE WE STAND, this seminary sponsored conference celebrating the 500^th anniversary of the Reformation is only weeks away. The first speech is at 4:00 on Friday, October 27^th with additional speeches at 7:00 and 8:15. The conference will continue Saturday morning. The speeches will be delivered by our three professors and Rev. McGeown, Rev. David Torlach, and Rev. Key. Talk to your neighbors and friends and join us at Faith PRC for this important event. The conference will be live streamed on the internet for those who are not able to attend in person. For further information see our advertisement in the Standard Bearer or visit the denominational website: www.prca.org or 500thReformation.com.

  
• Our sister church in Singapore, Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, recently celebrated her 30th anniversary as a congregation. Mrs. Stephanie Lanning did a special post about this on her blog, "Stories from Singapore." Below are a few pictures from this significant milestone in our sister's history. We congratulate her and pray that she may continue to be a true shining light of Reformed gospel in the Far East.

The congregation of CERC on her 30th anniversary.

SPECIAL NOTICES:

• If you wish to see pictures of the recent Seniors' Retreat held at Gull Lake in Michigan, sponsored by Grandville and First PRCs (Holland), visit the bulletin page for this link: 2017 Seniors' Retreat Pictures - Gull Lake, MI (registered users only).

• Reformed Book Outlet: Check out the special Reformation resources this month! Many titles to choose from - for adults and children!

• Don't forget to listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday! Todays' message by radio pastor Rev. W. Bruinsma is titled "Entrusted with the Gospel", based on 1 Thess.2:3,4.
  
  • NEW RWH Station - The Cornerstone PRC Word and Deed committee has partnered with the Reformed Witness Hour to air their messages on the radio in the Chicago area. Beginning today, September 10, the broadcast can be heard every Sunday at 4:00PM on WYLL 1160AM or on the internet at www.1160hope.com. Please tune in and encourage others to do so as opportunity arises in your personal witnessing.

 MISSION NEWS:

• From Hope PRC's (Grand Rapids, MI) bulletin we note the following special announcement re Rev. Titus and their work in Myanmar:
  • For some time the Council has been working toward bringing Rev. Titus and his wife, Certi, to the United States to visit the Protestant Reformed Churches. ...The paperwork and interviews at the US embassy in Myanmar are now complete, and Visas for both have been granted. Flights are booked, and they plan to arrive in Grand Rapids Tuesday, October 24, at 6:55 p.m. They plan to depart on Monday, November 13, at 10:00 a.m. A rather full schedule has been planned, which includes a Myanmar program, an open house, and more for everyone to enjoy. Look for additional communications from the Myanmar committees of the Council and the Reformed witness committee. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).
• On Sept.17 Rev. A. Spriensma was installed as home missionary, having been called by Byron Center PRC. He is beginning his work in the west Michigan area.
  
• On Oct.1 Rev. R. Smit (First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI) ACCEPTED the call of Doon PRC to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines. According to First's bulletin this week, "Rev. Smit’s installation in the Doon PRC (Doon, Iowa) as foreign missionary to the Philippines has been approved and scheduled for Sunday, November 26, in the Doon PRC in the a.m. service."We give thanks to the Lord of the harvest for providing this next foreign missionary for this abundant field of labor.
  

 
One of the PRCP youth meetings at the Kleyns' home.

• From the Oct.15 bulletin of Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  

  • Rev. Kleyn will preach for us in the first service today and Rev. Holstege in the second. Next week, Lord willing, Rev. Holstege will preach both times.

  • Rev. and Sharon Kleyn will travel to Negros this week to teach the pastors in Sipalay. May God grant them traveling mercies and bless their trip.

  • Let us continue to pray for Rev. Richard Smit, his wife Tricia, and their children as they transition from life and ministry at First PRC in Grand Rapids to life and ministry here in the Philippines. The Smits plan to move here, if the Lord wills, at the end of December.

• And from the Oct.15 bulletin of the Maranatha PRC in Valanzuela City we learn about these special events:
  
  • A delegation of the Contact Committee of the PRCA plans to visit the PRCP in the Philippines (and also the CERC in Singapore) this October and November. The delegation consists of Rev. R. Smit and Elder David Kregel. The visit is part of the sister-church relationship that is being established between the PRCP and the PRCA. The delegation hopes to be in the Philippines from October 26 through November 6, the Lord willing.
  • A Reformation Day Conference is being planned for Tuesday, October 31. The theme is “Reformation 500: The Anniversary.” The speakers will be Rev. Holstege, Rev. Kleyn, and Rev. Smit. The conference will be held in Provident Village in Marikina, starting at 8:00 a.m. Registration is Php 50 per person.  All are welcome. Please plan to attend, and please invite others to attend, too.  A sign-up sheet will be available soon. [cf. flyer below]

  

• Let's remember these busy pastors and missionaries in the Philippines in our prayers daily. May the Lord of the harvest give them grace for all their labors.
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