PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for October 22, 2023 *(Updated)

Today, October 22, is the forty-third Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2023. Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news. It is our hope that these reports not only inform you but also give you opportunity to pray for the needs of these churches and mission fields throughout the world.

If you are new to this website and the PRCA, we invite you to join us in worship today or on any of the Sunday's of this year at one of our local congregations near you, or listen online.

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. ...Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. ~ Psalm 119:18-20, 23-24

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS 

• Today Rev. D. Noorman (SW PRC) declined the call to Lynden (WA) PRC.
  
  
• Today Rev. N. Decker (Grandville PRC) declined the call from Hudsonville PRC.
  
  
• *Last evening Loveland PRC voted to call Rev. G. Eriks from the Council's new trio that included Revs. Allen Brummel (Calvary PRC, IA) and Jacob Maatman (Southeast PRC, MI).
  
  
• Last month Rev. D. Kleyn marked 25 years in the ministry in the PRC (September 1998), which was also noted and celebrated last Sunday in Doon PRC at his installation. We thank the Lord for the faithful ministry of this servant and pray for continued grace for him and his wife Sharon as they serve Christ's church in Doon and the PRC. Today he preached his inaugural sermon in his new congregation.
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. R. Smit accepted the call to Randolph PRC (WI). In her bulletin today we find this note re tentative plans: "All dates are subject to change but currently this is the plan. They plan to move here on December 22. This date works well for the children’s break from school, as well as the current employment of the older children. Reverend and Trisha Smit will be moving here with at least five children. Installation is set for January 7. Until then, Reverend Smit has agreed to fill our pulpit as needed as much as he is able. For this we are very thankful."
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. M. Kortus (Hope PRC-Redlands, CA) accepted the call to Zion PRC (Jenison, MI).
  
  
• Rev. G. Eriks (Unity PRC-Byron Center, MI) is considering the call from Georgetown PRC (received Oct.8). He plans to answer next Sunday (Oct.29).
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. D. Noorman (SW PRC) declined the call from Loveland (CO) PRC.
  
  
• Pastor-elect M. Koerner and his wife Sharon plan to move to Edmonton this week. Plans are for him to be ordained and installed as Hosanna PRC's pastor on Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 PM at St. Albert Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Special Congregational Notices:

• Loveland PRC (CO): "Covenant of Grace Fellowship Fund: [This] Sunday, October 22, we will be taking a collection for the Covenant of Grace Fellowship in Spokane. This will be the first of three collections we will be taking for the remainder of the year, the second collection scheduled for November 26 and the third for December 17, Lord willing. The funds collected will be used for the support of our council's and consistory's work and oversight of the fellowship that remains in Spokane, who now have their membership papers in the care of Loveland PRC. This would include funding our delegation visits to Spokane, pulpit supply, and any general expenses that the Covenant of Grace fellowship will need assistance covering. Please consider giving for this cause of assisting our fellow saints in Spokane. Our Council and the Covenant of Grace Fellowship covet your prayers as we continue the Lord's work in Spokane. To God be the glory!"
  
  
• Faith PRC-Jenison, MI: "Reformed Doctrines Class meets this Wednesday, October 25 at Faith Church at 7:30 PM, God willing. The vitally important subject is “The Fall of Man,” in Adam’s disobedience, as taught in Genesis 3 and in Romans 5. All are welcome to attend."
  
  
• Heritage PRC (Sioux Falls, SD): "Heritage PRC will be hosting the fall Reformation lecture on October 27, 7:00 p.m. Prof. C. Griess will deliver a speech entitled "Sexual Abuse in Calvin's Geneva." Refreshments will follow. All are encouraged to attend!"

• Randolph (WI) PRC: " Please join us next week Friday, October 27 at 7:30 PM at the Randolph Protestant Reformed Church for the fall evangelism lecture. Prof B. Huizinga will be speaking on 'Holiness in a World Filled with Violence.'”
  
  
• Pittsburgh PRC (PA): "Don't forget to reserve Friday, November 3 at 7 PM for our annual Reformation Day lecture. Pastor Bruinsma will speak on the subject 'Was the Reformation Necessary?'"

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs:  Prof. C. Griess and Rev. M. McGeown in Georgetown PRC; Rev. T. Miersma in Hosanna PRC, Edmonton, AB; Prof. B. Huizinga and Prof. R. Cammenga in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. S. Key in Loveland PRC; Rev. H. Bleyenberg in Lynden PRC; Rev. S. Regnerus in Randolph PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev.  in Zion PRC.  May we count it a blessing of our church federation that we can help one another in these needs. Let us remember to pray for the men who supply these pulpits and for the vacant congregations. And may we continue to pray for men to hear the call to serve as pastors and missionaries!

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• Synod 2023 appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to hire a third-party organization for a denomination-wide investigation of sexual abuse. The committee reports that it has been laboring since the meeting of Synod to come to a mutual understanding and agreement with Guidepost Solutions regarding the work. On October 5 the committee signed a contract with Guidepost Solutions and expects that the investigation will begin in the near future with the publishing of a survey.
  
  
• Home missionary speech: October 27 Rev. James Lanning will speak on the work of evangelism in the local congregations. Title: “The Church’s Calling in Evangelism.” To be held at SW PRC (Wyoming, MI) at 7:30 P.M.
  
  
• Classis East: Classis East met on Wednesday, September 13, at Trinity PRC. The delegates are scheduled to reconvene this week Wednesday, Oct.25. For a summary of the actions and decisions, visit this page.
  
  
• PRC 100th Anniversary: With gratitude to our faithful God, the PRCA look forward to our 100th anniversary. The celebration is planned for June 23-27, 2025, at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. The various committees of the 100th anniversary steering commitee are busy preparing for this historic event, including a special commemorative book. Watch for further notices and updates!

Rev. C. Haak led the chapels on the last two Wednesdays at the PRTS

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The PR Theological Seminary will enter its ninth week - a partial week - of the first semester 2023-24 tomorrow. Thursday and Friday (Oct. 26,27) are days 'off' for the "reading recess" break, which allows students 'extra' time to work on their special assignments and faculty an opportunity to travel for special lectures (Reformation). May the Lord bless the labors - and travels - of the week.
• This week Aaron Van Dyke will lead the daily devotions.
• Senior Sem. Arend Haveman is doing his internship this summer and fall (July-December) in Pittsburgh PRC under Rev. W. Bruinsma. He is busy with all aspects of the ministry, and is regularly preaching new sermons. This week he will travel to Hudsonville for the Classis East meeting at Trinity PRC. After the internship is completed, he will return for this final semester next year, Lord willing.
• Prof. C. Griess gave a speech at the pre-Classis West Officebearers' Conference on sexual abuse on Sept.26 in Crete PRC (IL). Prof. Griess' speech may be found here and on the seminary's YouTube channel.
• In connection with a special conference held online for interested people in Mexico, Prof. R. Cammenga recently prepared three lectures on the errors of the well-meant offer of the gospel and the truth of the Reformed-biblical call of the gospel. You may find these lectures on the seminary's YouTube channel.
• Seminary Convocation was held on Wednesday Sept.6 in Hope PRC in Walker, MI.  The video of the convocation program is now available on the PRTS' YouTube channel.
• The Fall 2023 issue of the PR Theological Journal is currently being worked on and should go to the printer this week. To read the last one (Spring 2023), visit the link provided here. If you want to be added to our mailing list (either print or digital) or wish to pick up a copy, contact Valerie Kleyn, the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). 
• During normal school sessions the seminary is open daily from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (holidays excepted), including the library and bookstore. PRC members and friends are welcome to visit and make use of these resources.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website - and don't forget the blog!
  
  

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore and her Kolkata, India mission work:
  • Pastors J. Tan and M. Wee are faithfully serving the CERC. Pastor Tan preached twice as Pastor Wee has some planned 'leave' time this past week.
  • The CERC is planning a Reformation Day Conference for this weekend (Oct.27-28), with Pastors. S. Key and Tan speaking. The theme is "Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria - The Heart of the Reformation Gospel."

• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word faithfully in the CPRC.
  • The September 2023 issue of Covenant Reformed News was published earlier this month. Visit the link to read the articles on "Nehemiah's Godly Enquiry Concerning Jerusalem" and Rev. R. Hanko's answers to questions about the covenant of redemption.
    
  • The CPRC YouTube channel may be found here.

• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work in various places:
  • Berean PRC bulletin: Rev. V. Ibe led her worship services today. And, "The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship (AGPRF), Gabaldon, NE will join us in our worship services via Livestreamed at our Facebook account."
    
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Deacon Ruel Dela Fuente led her worship services today.

REFORMED RESOURCES for EDUCATION, EDIFICATION, and EVANGELISM

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

• This month (October 2023) the RWH continues the series on the return of Jesus Christ by Rev. W. Bruinsma, along with other special messages. Today's message is a special Reformation one and titled "The Scripture, God's Word" based on 2 Peter 1:20-21. For the October RWH Newsletter, visit this page. 
  
• 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.).

Did you know that the great Reformation of the 16th century was a return to biblical worship? Find out how and why in this resource!

• In need of sound biblical and Reformed catechism materials for children and young people? Check out the PRC's full curriculum of materials here. Call the PRC Seminary for help with any of these materials (616-531-1490).
  
  
• 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 (downtown Hudsonville, MI) is now operating out of its new store in downtown Hudsonville! The new location is at 3472 Harvey St. in Hudsonville. Visit the store and browse the variety of resources for your Reformed-Christian faith and walk, including many children's titles. They are open Tuesday-Friday, 10-5, and Saturday 10-1.

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

Luther’s "Here I Stand" Moment

"The spokesman was not interested in an answer like  this. All he wanted to hear was, “revoco.”7 Yes or no,  Martin Luther? Do you, or do you not, retract? And then  the monk, before emperor, electors, lords, princes, and bishops, a silence filling the hall, breathless anticipation,  the eyes of all fixed upon him—then the monk spake those  words that reverberated through that assembly, and have  reverberated through the hundreds of years since:

"Since then your serene majesty and your lordships seek  a simple answer, I will give it in this manner…. Unless  I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or  by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or  in councils alone, since it is well known that they have  often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound  by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is  captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not  retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go  against conscience. I cannot do otherwise, here I stand,  may God help me, Amen.

"Again an attempt was made to get him to budge, but  Luther remained firm. The diet recessed, and he returned  to his lodging.

"Scripture—that was the refrain that continued to be  heard the days following, when various persons and delegations  tried to negotiate with him. “Then began the  attempt to break Luther down through a committee.”9  But he was resolute: he could only agree to submit his  case to the judgment of another, including a council’s, if  Scripture would be the standard of judgment and the final  authority. The negotiations fell flat. April 26, several  days after his second appearing, Luther departed for  home, the emperor honoring the promised safe conduct.

"This history exemplifies that great Reformation principle—  and one that grated upon the ears of Rome during  Luther’s time at Worms—of sola Scriptura...."

~ Found in the article "Here I Stand" by Rev. J. Maatman