PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for August 22, 2021

The following are special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this Sunday, August 22, the thirty-fourth Lord's Day of this year 2021.

Today on this new Lord's Day, as redeemed and renewed members of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, we gather publicly in worship to bring our praise and thanks to our triune God for all His gifts, especially the gift of salvation full and free through His Son. By the Holy Spirit's work in our hearts and minds may we give our glorious God the honor due His name. May this confession of the psalmist be ours:

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. ...Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:9-11

• If you are new to 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.
   
• Today Rev. R. Kleyn accepted the call to First PRC (Grand Rapids, MI) and declined the call to Hudsonville PRC. We rejoice with First PRC even as we too experience the disappoinment of Covenant of Grace PRC (Spokane, WA, where Rev. Kleyn has labored since 2009) and Hudsonville PRC. May the Lord give grace to Rev. Kleyn and his family and to these congregations as they rest in God's will and prepare for this change of life and labor.
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. R. Barnhill (Peace PRC, Dyer, IN) received the call from Doon PRC.
  
  
• Rev. M.DeBoer (Edgerton MN PRC) is considering the call from Kalamazoo (MI) PRC. He plans to answer by Sept.5.
  
  
• Rev. M.McGeown and his wife Larisa arrived safely from the UK to the U.S. this past Tuesday. They are settling into Providence PRC's parsonage and west Michigan life, and are thankful and excited to be in their new church home. Plans are for him to be installed on Sunday, Sept.5. He is leading their evening service today. We rejoice in God's goodness in opening the way for them to finally come to Providence.
  
  
• Rev. J. Smidstra's time serving the CERC in Singapore has come to an end and he has his wife will return this week. Here's the note in First PRC's (Holland, MI) bulletin: Our pastor’s work in Singapore came to a close today with the installation of Rev. Tan as a minister of the gospel in the congregation there. The Smidstras plan to arrive home tomorrow. We are thankful that they were able to be used by the Lord in Singapore and are now eagerly looking forward to their return.

• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. J.Laning in Doon (IA) PRC; Rev. C.Griess and Prof. B.Huizinga in First PRC-Holland; Rev. D.Holstege and Sem. M.Wee in Grace PRC; Prof. R.Cammenga (both services) in Hudsonville PRC;  Prof. B.Huizinga and Rev. C.Griess in Kalamazoo PRC; Rev. B.Gritters and Rev. M.McGeown in Providence PRC. Let us thank the Lord for this blessing of our church federation and the privilege to be able to help one another in this need.
  
  
• 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...
  • there's a new Protestant Reformed Christian school starting up this year (and this week!)? Here's the special notice in Heritage PRC's bulletin today: The Lord willing, Sioux Falls Protestant Reformed Christian School will begin the 2021-2022 school year on Tuesday, August 24. Everyone is invited to attend our convocation exercises at 1 pm at the Heritage Protestant Reformed Church. Rev. Brummel will be the speaker with an open house of the school, fellowship, and refreshments to follow!
  • the men's chorus, the Hope Heralds, has been able to have a full season of singing this year after an empty season last year (due to the pandemic)? They are again allowed to sing at area nursing homes and retirement villages, sometimes outside and sometimes in an empty chapel broadcast to residents by internal AV, but are grateful to be able to minister to God's elderly saints in this way once again. They have two large end-of-year concerts planned in the Grand Rapids area - Sept.12 in Trinity PRC and Sept.17 in First PRC. Watch for the livestream of these events!

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• Although the furlough of Rev. D. Holstege and his family came to an end on June 30, they are not able to enter the Philippines right now due to an immigration problem related to COVID restrictions. The council of Doon PRC and the FMC have approved a plan which has the Holsteges staying in the States for a few more months and seeking to return to the mission field, if the Lord wills, no later than December 10. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:6).
• PRC Synod 2021: The delegates and advisors met from June 9-17. For the daily reports on synod's work and decisions, visit this page. The printed PRC Acts of Synod 2021 and Yearbook are due to delivered early this week.
• Synod 2021 instructed the Stated Clerk to include in his letter to the churches a notice of the urgent need for seminary students (Art. 73). The urgency arises from the number of vacant churches, the need for our denomination to fulfill the calling of home missions, the age of some of our older ministers, and the next potential graduate from our seminary is two years away. Let us remember this need for men to proclaim the good news of forgiveness in Jesus Christ in our public and private prayers. Also, consistories should always be ready to encourage any young man in your congregation who has some of the gifts for the ministry.
• Revs. D. Lee and J. Marcus (both now living in West Michigan) are eligible for calls in the PRC and her sister churches. Let us remember them in prayer as they await new charges.

PRC Seminary Notices:

• This Tuesday, August 24, the seminary begins its first semester of the new school year (2021-22). The semester schedule and calendar have been posted on the seminary's website.
• Profs. D. Kuiper and B. Huizinga will be teaching new courses as they gradually take over the work of the men they are replacing (Prof. R. Dykstra and Prof. R. Cammenga, respectively). Prof. R. Dykstra will be teaching his final courses this year, while also serving as Byron Center PRC's new pastor. Rev. C.Griess (to be installed as professor in a few weeks) has already started taking his Th.M. classes through Puritan Reformed Seminary in Grand Rapids. Continue to pray for the seminary in all her needs, especially as we begin this new term.
• There is one new incoming student this year, Aaron Van Dyke (Faith PRC). Senior Marcus Wee (Covenant ERC, Singapore) is doing his internship this summer and fall under Rev. C.Spronk at Faith PRC. Sem. Isaac Peters (EPC of Australia) is in the final year of his special three-year program.
• The seminary faculty invite interested persons to audit three classes this semester: Christology (Prof. Cammenga; Tuesday and Thursday, 11:10 AM), New Testament History (Prof. Cammenga; Wednesday and Friday, 7:50 AM); and Reformation era church history (Prof. Kuiper; Wednesday and Friday, 11:10 AM). Classes begin on August 24 and 25. A limited number of auditors are welcome, so long as stricter COVID restrictions are not imposed. Call Sharon at 531-1490 to indicate your interest.
• Don't forget that the seminary library and bookstore are open daily (M-F, 8-5) for any of your book and Bible needs. The staff is available to assist with any needs you may have.
• On Wednesday, September 15, a special worship service for the installation of Rev. C. Griess as professor of theology in the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary will be held in Southwest PRC at 7 p.m. Prof. B. Gritters will lead the service. Seminary convocation will also be included with a time of fellowship afterwards. The link to the live-streaming of the service can be found at southwestprc.org.
• Coming this Fall! Seminary Conference:  What is preaching?  What does it mean to preach the gospel?  How does one preach the commands of Scripture?  What is application in preaching?  Make plans now to hear four speeches by the seminary professors, under the conference theme "The Lord Gave the Word: Preaching the Gospel."  The conference will be hosted by Trinity PRC, on the late afternoon and evening of October 28 and 29.  More details will follow.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website.

PRTS graduate Josiah Tan at hus graduation program. See the good news on his acceptance of the call from Covenant ERC in Singapore below.

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore and her Kolkata, India mission work:
  
  • We rejoice in the wonderful news from our sister in the Far East that Cand. Josiah Tan accepted her call last Sunday and was ordained into the gospel ministry by Rev. J. Smidstra this morning. This is the special notice she had in her bulletin today: 22 August 2021. Not just another day in 2021. Ordinary for many perhaps, but for CERC, a momentous day. Certainly, a very special and unforgettable day for our new pastor Josiah Tan. In His perfect time and according to His perfect will, our faithful covenant God has provided us with another under-shepherd today. This day the Lord of the harvest sends forth another servant-shepherd, called and equipped by none other than the Chief Shepherd Himself, to proclaim the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ in and from our midst. While Josiah and his wife Hui Qi are no stranger to us, nevertheless we want to welcome him and his family warmly into our fellowship as our pastor. As Rev Josiah Tan moves in and out among us, may the Lord build up the bonds of love and friendship between us as shepherd and sheep. As we rejoice in the Lord’s provision for our congregation, may He also renew our zeal to bear witness of His grace in saving us from all our sins and be faithful in the work of His kingdom according to the place He has given each one of us in this body.
  • The CERC also had a special note of thanks to the Smidstras: While we welcome Rev Tan, we also bid farewell to Rev Smidstra and his wife Kelly. We thank God for
    bringing them to us in His providence, that we may experience the reality of the catholicity of the church even while yet on this earth. We are especially thankful for Rev Smidstra’s ministry over the past 3 months preaching and teaching in our midst. We pray we have been a blessing to them as much as the Lord have blessed us abundantly through them.

• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  
  • Rev. A.Stewart and his wife have returned home after vacationing in the U.S. for a few weeks.
  • Be sure to check out the last edition of "Covenant Reformed News" (June 2021). Follow the link to read the latest profitable articles.
    
    
• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work:
  
  • Berean PRC bulletin: Rev. V.Ibe will lead us in the preaching of the Word today via live streaming, D.V. ...In line with the restriction (MECQ) imposed by the National government in NCR from Aug. 21 to 31, 2021, we are not still able to meet and worship God in our church building, today and thus, the preaching of God’s Word will be live-streamed on our Facebook page.
    ...The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship (AGPRF), Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija will join us in hearing the preaching of the Word of God via live streaming on our face book page today, D.V.
    
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Due to the ongoing COVID quarantines, we are unable to meet in person today. The elders have selected two recorded worship services from the PRCA. Both were originally conducted in the Lynden PRC and the links are provided above. May God be pleased to nourish our souls through His gospel and
    by the powerful work of the Spirit of Christ.
  • A new PRC missions newsletter is available - July 2021. Read it at the link provided!
  • PRCP Seminary Instruction: A new semester of seminary instruction began recently on August 10 for our seminary student, Bro. Ace Flores. However, because of ECQ in Metro Manila from August 21-30, and possibly longer, the original plan for this semester has been reorganized into two parts by Committee 1. In the first part of the semester from August 10 to October 1, Bro. Ace is taking two courses with Rev. Holstege via Zoom, and fulfilling some take-home assignments and review work with Rev. Kleyn and Rev. Smit. Then, in the second part of the semester from October 12 until December 3, Bro. Ace will continue his two courses with Rev.
    Holstege via Zoom and will also receive three courses from Rev. Kleyn and Rev. Smit in-person at the seminary library in Antipolo. Although the plan for this semester has been disrupted and revised, may the Lord bless the instruction that we can still give to Bro. Ace in the next several months for his preparation to serve in the ministry of the Word and Sacraments in the PRCP, if the Lord so wills. Please remember our student and instructors in fervent prayer before the Lord for His indispensable blessing upon them.

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

• For the months of July, August, and September Rev. C.Haak (Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI) is the featured speaker, with focus on his series on the book of Nehemiah. Today's message is based on Nehemiah 7 and titled "Putting Things in Order."
  
• 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. Are you are regular listener? If not, why not start today!
• The Reformed Witness Hour publishes each month's messages in an attractive booklet. 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 Committee 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

Are you reading the Standard Bearer this summer? Each issue is packed with edifying articles for adult readers. If you are not yet a subscriber, why not become one this week!  For a glimpse of one article in the August 2021 issue ("But" by Rev. W. Langerak), visit this link.

• 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.
  
  
• The Reformed Book Outlet is open and you are welcome to shop the store in downtown Hudsonville (MI). Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (10-5), and Saturday (10-1).

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

The Reformed faith holds to the great truth of the “covenant of grace.” We briefly state our own convictions concerning Scripture’s teaching in this regard.

The covenant of grace must be understood in light of the Trinity. The Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) eternally communes within Himself perfectly. It is a communion which beggars human description and goes beyond human understanding. Yet that truth of covenant communion with Himself is the basis of the covenant of grace. The Triune God eternally determined to reveal outside of Himself the glory of communion as it exists within Himself. He determined to show in the highest possible way a communion with an elect people chosen eternally in Christ,

A proper understanding of this work of God ties together the various wonderful truths of Scripture. The word of God shows that this covenant is “unilateral,” that is, established not between two parties, but by God Himself directly (Gen. 15:17-18). It is an unbreakable covenant in that when God establishes it with His people, it continues to all eternity (Gen. 17:7). This covenant is not some sort of arrangement whereby God gets His people to heaven, but it is the end or goal which God has in mind (Gen. 17:7). It is the covenant which God is pleased to establish in the line of generations (Gen. 17:7). It has been truly said, “He gathers His seed from our seed.” Not all born of believing parents are part of that covenant (Rom. 9:13). But the spiritual seed are saved (Rom. 9:7). God does bring in others from heathendom—but then incorporates also their spiritual seed into the body of Christ (Acts 16:27-33).

Taken from Rev. R.Hanko's pamphlet "What Is the Reformed Faith?"