PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for April 14, 2024

Today, April 14, is the fifteenth Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2024. 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.

We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. ~ Psalm 132:7-9; 13-14

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 you may listen online through one of the PRC's livestreams.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS 

• Today Rev. M. DeBoer (Edgerton PRC) declined the call from Lynden (WA) PRC.
  
  
• Hudsonville PRC's Council announces a new trio from which to call a pastor: Rev. W. Langerak (Trinity PRC-Hudsonville, MI), Rev. J. Maatman (SE PRC-Wyoming, MI), and Rev. J. Smidstra (1st PRC-Holland, MI). The congregation will vote April 28 after the evening service.
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. A. Brummel (Calvary PRC-Hull, IA) declined the call to Loveland PRC.
  
  
• Last Sunday Pittsburgh PRC extended a call to Rev. J. Mahtani (Hope PRC-Walker, MI).

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs:  Prof. C. Griess and Rev. G. Eriks in Georgetown PRC; Rev. W. Bruinsma (1st week) in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Prof. R. Dykstra in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. S. Key in Loveland PRC; Rev. C. Haak (1st week) led in Lynden PRC; Rev. ? in Pittsburgh 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!

Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:

• Loveland PRC (CO): "Our church choir will be presenting their Easter concert in the Spiritual Life Center (located inside the Welcome Center) at the Loveland Good Samaritan Village today at 3:00 p.m. Afterwards, we plan to serve sweet treats and have opportunity to visit with the audience. We encourage you to attend and to join us in our witness! The words of the songs express our deep faith as well as the joy we experience in believing the marvelous gospel message. Pray that the Holy Spirit will bless those words to the hearts of those who hear them, even as He has done for us as we have rehearsed the songs this season."
• Byron Center (MI) PRC: "The Community Bible Study meets this Thursday, April 18, at 7:30 PM at church to continue our study of the book of Philippians. Discussion will begin at chapter 2 verse 1. You would be welcome to join us!"
• Zion PRC (Jenison, MI): "Zion Mission Committee: Rev. Laning [PRC home missionary] has been busy following up with contacts that he made in both Texas and Hungary. He is able to hold classes via Zoom with these contacts regularly. He has also been preaching and giving lectures, helping to make podcasts, continuing his class work, and assisting in work on the PRCA website. Rev and Margaret will be making a return trip to Texas on May 15, and to Hungary on June 5. Please pray for God’s continued blessing on their work, and that the good news of the gospel might reach those who are lost!"
• Randolph (WI) PRC: Spring Lecture: A lecture has been scheduled by the Evangelism Committee for Friday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. here at our church building. Prof. B. Gritters plans to speak on the subject "Our Unchanging God in an Ever-Changing World."
• From the Faith PRC Evangelism Committee: We want to thank all of those who were able to attend the Financial Seminar in January. If you were not able to attend or didn't make all the sectionals, we have put together a summary of the sectionals as well as the sample spreadsheet that was used in the breakout sectional about budgeting. You may reach out to the speakers if you have any questions. The summary can be found on the Faith Church website at faithprc.org. If anyone is interested in a CD of the keynote speeches, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.."

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• Psalter Revision: The Psalter Revision Review Committee appointed by Synod, invites you to attend a presentation/singspiration TONIGHT, at 7:00 pm at Crete PRC. Come join us to see the results of the revision and to sing Psalms, old and new. To see the complete revised Psalter, visit thepsalter.net (web version) and “Download Psalms 1-150” at the bottom of the page. [One was held in Randolph PRC last night.]
  
  
• Denominational Website Logo Design Contest: The denominational website is currently being redesigned to improve our evangelism efforts and to make it more user friendly for all who visit the website. As part of this effort, we would like to create a new PRCA.org logo and we would like to have a contest so that anyone within the denomination can try their hand at designing our new logo. You may send your designs to the website committee (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) before June 30, 2024. The winner will receive a gift.

• AD-HOC COMMITTEE of Synod 2023 reports it will deactivate the Guidepost hotline (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) effective April 5. The reasoning is that after this date Guidepost will be unable to investigate and report on information collected through the hotline in time to meet the deadline for the synodical report. Instead of using funds for the hotline, the committee has directed Guidepost to focus on compiling and distributing reports to consistories. The hotline may be reactivated in the future depending on the decisions of Synod 2024.

• PRC 100th Anniversary Celebration: All the members of the PRCA, our sister churches, and close contacts are encouraged to come together at Calvin University from June 2-6, 2025 (note the new dates) to participate in this commemorative week. Visit prca100.org for basic event information and to sign up for email updates.
  
  

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The PR Theological Seminary enters the twelfth week of the semester tomorrow. Pray for faculty, students, and staff as we enter the final third of the semester. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." ~ 2 Tim.2:15
• Arend Haveman leads in devotions this week; due to practice preaching tomorrow there is no chapel scheduled on Wednesday.
• The second round of Practice Preaching for this semester will be held the Mondays of April 15 and 22, with Sems. B. Feenstra, A. Van Dyke, and A. Haveman (his final one!) delivering new sermons.
• The seminary wives will meet at 10 a.m. Friday morning at the home of Mrs. Lori Gritters.  Karen Langerak will join us to share her experiences as a minister's wife.
• The Spring 2024 issue of the PR Theological Journal was submitted to the printer this week and should be ready for mailing in about three weeks. In the meantime, if you haven't read the Fall 2023 issue, visit the link here to do so. 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.). 
• Future Teachers and Ministers: Information for the 2024 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 essaysmust be submitted by May 17.
• 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. Today both pastors preached. Today's "pastoral note" by pastor Tan contains four principles about our giving as members of the church, the first of which is this: "First, all that we give, we have first received from God. As David prayed to God in 1 Chronicles 29:14: “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” God has first given to us all things that we have, and in our giving, we merely return to Him, a little."
  • A new issue of Salt Shakers is now out - #71, the first of 2024!  Once again you will find a variety of articles on timely subjects in this issue! Written especially for young people and young adults, SS is edifying for all adults!

• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word faithfully in the CPRC, Ballymena, N. Ireland. 
    
  • 2024 BRF Family Conference: Join Reformed believers from around the world at the 2024 British Reformed Fellowship family conference at Cloverley Hall Conference Centre in Shropshire, England, from Saturday, August 3, to Saturday, August 10. Our speakers, Prof. Brian Huizinga and Rev. Ron Hanko, will lecture on “Then Comes the End: The Reformed Doctrine of Eschatology.” For information and booking forms, see the website ( www.brfconference.weebly.com ) or contact Briana Prins (616-214-2779; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
  • The March 2024 issue of "Covenant Reformed News" is now available! Read the articles by Rev. Stewart on "The Truth Is According to Godliness" (2) and Rev. R. Hanko's response to a question about the four rules for Gentiles in the early NT church. Look for the April issue soon!
    
  • 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 services today. And, "The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Gabaldon Nueva Ecija will join us in our worship services today, God willing. We pray for God’s blessings and spiritual sustenance upon them as they hear the Word of God." Also, "On April 22-23, 2024, Elder Espiritu, and Rev. Ibe are scheduled to visit the saints and pastors in Bacolod and Sipalay area to conduct a day of the conference on Reformed Dogmatics [Soteriology] and the Church Order of Dordt 1618-19, respectively. We pray for God’s blessings upon this trip and the saints there."
    
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Elder Mitch Suarez led both worship services today through PRCA’s recorded video sermons.
    
  • This past Tuesday (April 9), the PRCP commemorated God’s goodness and faithfulness in her 10th year of existence as a Federation of churches (see photo above). We join in thanking our faithful covenant God for blessing and preserving them in the truth of His gospel.

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 (April 2024) the RWH is broadcasting two gospel messages by Prof. D. Kuiper on the Ten Commandments (completing this series) and two by Rev. W. Bruinsma that begins a series on women in the Bible. Today's message is titled "The Tenth Commandment: The Righteousness That God Requires" based on Matthew 5:20.
  
• 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.).

On sale this month from the RFPA at 50% off!

• The Reformed Book Outlet (downtown Hudsonville, MI) is now operating out of its new store in downtown Hudsonville (3472 Harvey St.). 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.

• 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.

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

 "So let us consider from this passage and the eighth commandment the right use of our possessions.

        "First we must see that we are called to obtain them lawfully. The eighth commandment forbids stealing. By implication, all other unlawful means of obtaining possessions is declared to be off limits. And by implication, the positive keeping of the eighth commandment is that we come by our possessions in a lawful way.

        "In Ephesians 4:28 the apostle Paul teaches the two main ways in which God ordinarily provides for our needs: work, and gifts. Paul says, “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” So ordinarily a man obtains by working. Strong, able bodied men who work for other men gain income as an exchange for labor; or they find food by growing crops and cattle. But some are unable to work; the wife and children at home depend on the husband and father to provide, and others cannot work due to handicaps, sickness, or old age. Those who do work are to care for those who cannot, by giving gifts. These gifts might come from individuals, or from the church, which is taught to care for its own who have needs. Sometimes these gifts come in surprising or miraculous ways; think of the way in which God fed the Israelites in the wilderness by giving manna from heaven every day.

        "Regardless of the specific way in which we receive possessions, Jesus teaches us in Luke 12 that it is God who provides. Just as God clothes the lilies of the field and gives food to the birds of the air, so He gives us our possessions. He uses the means of work, and of other people, to do that—but in heaven, He controls and directs history so that our needs are supplied. This the rich fool forgot: he had obtained in his own strength and by his own wisdom, and forgot that another gave him, and that other could take his life away in an instant.

        "Several basic truths govern how we are to obtain our possessions. First, we are to remember that God created all things, and therefore owns them; they are not ultimately ours. Second, by the means we mentioned (work and gifts), He distributes His wealth to us, giving to each of us whatever portion He desires, just as an employer distributes to his employees. Third, the portion that God gives each of us is different from person to person, and yet is enough for each—enough, that is, for one to serve God in the place in which He puts us."

~ Taken from the radio message "The Eighth Comandment: The Right Use of Our Possessions" by Prof. D. Kuiper