PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for March 14, 2021

The following are special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this Sunday, March 14, the eleventh Lord's Day of this year 2021.

• Today is the Sabbath day fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead to give all who believe on Him rest from the burden of their sins and the hope of perfect rest in heaven. Remembering and celebratiing our Lord's saving work, we worship our triune God and Father in Christ and by His Spirit on this day. In doing so, we also hear the gospel of our Lord, by which we are built up in Him and by which sinners are saved (Rom.1:16).
  
  If you are visiting this website and are interested in the PRC, we invite you to join us at any of our services (morning and afternoon/evening). For congregations, locations and times, visit this page.
  

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. ~ Isaiah 58:13,14

• Last Sunday Rev. J.Engelsma received the call from Byron Center PRC.
  
  
• The Council of Hudsonville PRC has formed a new trio from which to call a pastor: Revs. C. Griess (First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI), E. Guichelaar (Randolph PRC, WI), and R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA). The congregational meeting to call one of these men is planned for March 28, after the evening service.
  
  
• Rev. J.Smidstra (First PRC, Holland, MI) is considering the call to Wingham PRC (received Feb.23).
  

• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Prof. D.Kuiper and Rev. G.Eriks in Byron Center PRC; Prof. R.Cammenga and Rev. J.Mahtani in Hudsonville PRC; Prof. B.Huizinga and Rev. J.Smidstra in Kalamazoo PRC; Prof. B.Gritters and Rev. ? in Providence PRC. We thank the Lord for this blessing of our church federation to help one another in this need.
  
  Let us also continue to pray for all the needs of these vacant congregations, including Wingham PRC, which cannot receive pulpit supply from the U.S. at this time (pandemic travel restrictions), though she has resumed in-person worship services.
  
  
• For those who may still be limited to house worship, whether completely or partially, we invite you to visit the PR churches page and follow the links to the websites where the churches' livestream may be found. Or you may visit the selected audio sermon page and listen to one of your choice there.
  
  
• Did you know that...

  • The Combined Men's Society meeting is planned for March 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Hull PRC? Bible study will begin at Hebrews 10:7. For after recess, the Doon men present for discussion Rev. Engelsma’s article in the SB, “A Servant Leader” (June 2018, Vol 94, No. 17). Looks to be a good evening of fellowship around the Word!

  • The Protestant Reformed Student Orchestra (PRSO) will hold its annual concert this Friday, March 19 at 7 PM (EST), at Trinity PRC?  Due to Covid restrictions, the concert will not be opened to the general public, but will be livestreamed.  To view the livestream, go to Nick Kleyn's YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/user/Nicholaskleyn.  This link will also be posted on our PRSO facebook page. If you've never heard one of their concerts, now is your chance to do so!

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• Classis West met March 3-4, in Peace PRC, Dyer, IN. For a summary of the decisions, visit this news report. May the Lord be pleased to use these decisions for the good of the churches and the glory of His name.
  
  
• From the Consistory of Bethel PRC: It is with sadness that we announce to the churches that we will be disbanding in the near future, with our final worship services scheduled for Sunday June 27. We also inform you that our pastor, Rev. Dennis Lee, is presently available for a call to any one of our sister-churches.
  
  
• Need for Ministers of the Word: For several years our synods have asked the congregations to remember the need for young men to pursue the calling to serve as ministers of the gospel.  Consistories and parents are urged to encourage young men in whom they see the beginning of the gifts necessary for the ministry. The greatness of the message of the gospel and the greatness of the need for that gospel to be proclaimed makes the need urgent. Also, there is an urgent need for young men because of the number of vacant congregations and the number of current ministers retiring because of increasing weariness of age. Cease not to ask the King of the church to provide.
  
  
• Future Teachers and Ministers: Information for the 2021 PR Scholarship Fund essay competition is now available. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive the essay topics and submission requirements. Completed essays must be submitted by May 31st. 

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The seminary has now completed eight weeks of its second semester, and things continue to go well, for which we give our faithful Father thanks. Students have been taking mid-term exams in some of their classes. The schedule and calendar have been posted on the seminary's website here. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, we are not allowing class auditors/visitors again this semester, which we deeply regret. Continue to remember the seminary's faculty, students, and staff in your prayers.
• The professors and licensed students (J.Tan and M.Wee) have been very busy with pulpit supply the last few months. In addition, all of the professors and some of the students teach catechism classes each week.
• Sem. Marcus Wee (finishing his junior year) will be doing his internship this summer and fall in Faith PRC (Jenison, MI) under Rev. C.Spronk and the Consistory.
• The print version of the Fall 2020 issue of the PRTS Journal is now available. The digital copies (pdf & epub) have been posted on the seminary website. If you wish to be added to our mailing list, please call or email the seminary.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website.

See what this congregation is doing today in the news below - a first in PRCP history!

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore: 
  • From the "Pastoral Voice" in her bulletin today: Today is a special service where 6 infants will be baptised! It is not every Lord’s Day that we can witness this! This is especially so when the last time this sacrament was administered was in January last year. Thus, this is an occasion for great rejoicing. Let us count our blessings and praise the Lord.
    
  • The December 2020 "Reformed News Asia" is the most recent issue published (#63). Read that issue here.
  • A new issue of Salt Shakers is out - February 2021, #64! Be sure to read the varied and profitable articles - especially the young people!
• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland and her Limerick, Ireland mission:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word to the saints in Ballymena.
  • Read the latest issue of the "Covenant Reformed News" - February 2021!
  • Rev. M.McGeown continues to minister the Word in Limerick until he is able to come to the U.S. to serve Providence PRC.
    
  • Sadly, because of COVID uncertainty, the British Reformed Fellowship Family Conference has been rescheduled from this summer (2021) to July 9-16, 2022. Profs. David Engelsma and Brian Huizinga will develop the glorious truth of "Union With Christ" at Castlewellan Castle, N. Ireland. More details are online (http://brfconference.weebly.com).
• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work:
  
  • From Berean PRC in Manila: Rev. D.Kleyn is leading her in-person services today. The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship (AGPRF), Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija will join us in our worship services via livestreaming at Facebook live, the Lord willing.
  • From the Bulacan PRC: The PRC in Bulacan’s Council formed the following duo from which to call for first missionary of the PRCP: Rev. J. Flores and Rev. V. Ibe. We plan to call on Sunday, March 14th 2021 after our second service.
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Rev. Ibe is scheduled to preach in both of their worship services today.
    
  • PRCP Seminary News: Because of the ongoing quarantine restrictions, face-to-face classes in our PRCP Seminary are not yet possible, thus the instruction will be provided to the students via the Internet.
  • The Classis of the PRCP met on Thursday, February 25. The Classis was not able to complete its work and plans to meet again on April 1, D.V.

Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!

• Rev. R.Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC in Spokane, WA) has returned to the program (for the next four months) and begins a series on the Gospel According to Mark. Today's message is based on Mark 1:21-28 and titled "Jesus Demonstrates His Authority."
  
• Listen to the broadcast on the station near you, on your favorite podcast (Google Music, Spotify, and iTunes), or visit the links provided here to listen to this program. Have you listened lately?
• The Reformed Witness Hour publishes each month's messages in an attractive booklet (*see the attachment to this news post for the latest one). These printed sermons are a great blessing to many and are distributed all over the world, including to many prisoners in the U.S. If you or your Evangelism Commitee would like to receive these, let the RWHC know and they will add you to the mailing list (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
  

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REFORMED RESOURCES FOR EDIFICATION, EDUCATION, and EVANGELISM:

It's the season of courtship and marriage - are you prepared and preparing? Check out this new title from the RFPA here!

• Want to learn more about the doctrines and practices of the PRC? Or, are you in need of some pamphlets and/or articles published by the PRC for use in evangelism and/or witnessing? Or are you simply interested in growing in your faith and walk with the Lord? Visit the Resources pages of this website and the PRCA Evangelism page for a complete list of materials available in digital format or by order from the publishing church.
  
  
• Do you need some catechism materials for use in your church or family? The PRC publishes catechism materials on Bible history and Reformed doctrine, for children of all ages. Visit this page for more information.
  
  
• For sound, distinctively Reformed literature on a variety of subjects and for all ages - including church history and Bible study materials - visit the Reformed Free Publishing Association website or stop in at their Jenison (Michigan) location.
  
  
• Reformed Book Outlet news:

  The Reformed Book Outlet has reopened and you are welcome to shop the store in downtown Hudsonville (MI). If you have any needs during this time, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This Week's Thought for Contemplation:

Article 6

And, whereas many who are called by the gospel, do not repent, nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief; this is not owing to any defect or insufficiency in the sacrifice offered by Christ upon the cross, but is wholly to be imputed to themselves.

Article 7

But as many as truly believe, and are delivered and saved from sin and destruction through the death of Christ, are indebted for this benefit solely to the grace of God, given them in Christ from everlasting, and not to any merit of their own.

Article 8

For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.

Articles 6-8 of Head II of the Canons of Dordt (1618-19), "Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby"