PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for April 28, 2024 *(Updated)

Today, April 28, is the seventeenth 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.

Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. ~ Psalm 134

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 

• Rev. J. Mahtani (Hope PRC-Walker, MI) is considering the call to Pittsburgh PRC (received April 7). He plans to answer by May 5.
  
  
• This morning Hope PRC-Redlands, CA called from the Council's new trio of Revs. M. De Boer (Edgerton PRC), G. Eriks (Unity PRC) and A. Brummel (Calvary PRC). UPDATE: Rev. DeBoer has received this call.
  
  
• Tonight Hudsonville PRC called from the Council's new trio of Rev. W. Langerak (Trinity PRC-Hudsonville, MI), Rev. J. Maatman (SE PRC-Wyoming, MI), and Rev. J. Smidstra (1st PRC-Holland, MI). UPDATE: Rev. Maatman has received this call.
  
  
• Georgetown PRC's Council has formed a trio of Revs. A. Brummel (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA), M. De Boer (Edgerton, MN), and D. Noorman (SW PRC). A congregational meeting to vote for one of these men will be May 5 after the morning service.

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs:  Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. C. Haak in Georgetown PRC; Rev. W. Bruinsma (3rd week) in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. D. Noorman in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. R. Smit (1st week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. K. Koole (1st week) in Lynden PRC; Rev. J. Holstege 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!

Georgetown PRC fellowship addition (back view, right side) - see note below

Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:

• Georgetown PRC: "OPEN HOUSE: Please join us April 28 after the morning service in the fellowship hall to celebrate the completion of the new addition and dedicate it to the service of our heavenly father! There will be cake and a short dedication by Rev. Haak. This is the perfect time to walk through the new addition, if you haven't already!"
• First PRC-Grand Rapids, MI: "The Community Bible Study meets this Wednesday [May 1 at the church] to discuss Jesus' resurrection. This will be the last meeting for the season."
• Zion PRC (Jenison, MI): Community Bible Study will meet for the final time this season this Wednesday [May 1] with Dan Pastoor leading."
• Byron Center PRC (MI): "The Community Bible Study meets this Thursday, May 2, at 7:30 PM at church to continue our study of the book of Philippians. Discussion will begin at chapter 2 verse 6. You would be welcome to join us!"
• Wingham PRC (Ontario, Can): "The Evangelism Committee is serving lunch at the Salvation Army again on May 1. On Tuesday, April 30, the Evangelism Committee would like to invite you to help prepare soup and buns at the church...."
• 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

• Classis East will meet Wednesday, May 15, at Byron Center PRC. The agenda, which only includes a list of the matters to be dealt with (the rest is private), has been posted on the church bulletin page (for registered users only).
   
• 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.
  
  

Mr. Doug Start's presentation on coins of the biblical period was given this past Friday after lunch at the PRC Seminary (see note below)

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The PR Theological Seminary enters the fourteenth week of the semester tomorrow. A regular week of classes is planned. Pray for faculty, students, and staff as we complete the final weeks 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
• Prof. B. Gritters, who gave a lecture in Randolph, WI PRC Friday night, is leading both services there today.
• This past Friday, Mr. Doug Start (Georgetown PRC) once again gave his presentation on coins from the biblical period (Old and New Testaments) after lunch on Friday. This is a fascinating look at real coins (on descriptive slides as well as on display and passed around) produced during the major periods of world history as they intersect with Bible times.
• Isaac Van Baren leads in devotions this week; there is no chapel scheduled on Wednesday.
• The Spring 2024 issue of the PR Theological Journal is at the printer and should be ready for mailing this week. The digital editions (pdf and epub) have been posted on the journal page (visit the link 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.). 
• 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's "pastoral note" by pastor Wee speaks to their help with the sister churches in the Philippines: "Today, Pastor Tan will be preaching twice, as I will be in the Philippines for pulpit supply. Next Lord’s Day, Lord willing, the both of us will swap roles. Specifically, we are/ will be providing pulpit supply for Provident PRC, located in the city of Marikina. She is one of the two churches that make up the denomination of the Protestant Reformed Churches in the Philippines (PRCP), the other church being the Berean PRC, pastored by Rev. Vernon Ibe. Since the withdrawal of the PRCA missionaries from the Philippines last year, the PRCA has been sending ministers over to provide pulpit supply for Provident, which remains vacant. However, there are still many weeks when Provident does not receive any pulpit supply, and we are glad to be able to help our sister church in this manner. May God use such trips to foster a closer bond between us and the saints in Provident, as well as with our sister churches in the Philippines."
  • 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 April 2024 issue of "Covenant Reformed News" is now available! Read the articles by Rev. A. Stewart on "The Truth Is According to Godliness" (3) and Rev. R. Hanko's response to a question about David, Amasa, and Joab.
    
  • 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, via livestream at our official Facebook account. 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 visited the saints and pastors in Bacolod and Sipalay area. Rev. Ibe conducted a day of the conference on Reformed Dogmatics [Soteriology] and the Church Order of Dordt 1618-19, respectively. All went well by the grace of God. Let us remember the saints and churches in these fields of labor so that God may bless the Word in their hearts and comfort us with them for His glory and for Jesus’ sake alone." 
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Rev. M. Wee of the CERC-Singapore led both worship services today.
  • Other mission labors: On May 1,2 the Berean Council will visit the saints in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur to discuss the Reformed distinctives and other pertinent sujects related to Reformed doctrines. We pray for God’s blessings upon this trip that God may guide us and prosper the labors of our pastor with them, all, the Lord willing."

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 the first of Rev. Bruinsma's and titled "The Faith of Sarah" based on Henrews 11:11,12.
  
• 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.).

Need help preparing to date with a view to marriage in the Lord? Let this book from the RFPA be a tool! 

• 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

 "Since indifference of this sort [as in the days of Noah and Sodom] will exist at the time of the last day, believers ought not to indulge themselves after the example of the multitude…When Christ says that men were giving their whole attention to eating, drinking, marriage, and other worldly employments at the time when God destroyed the whole world by a deluge and Sodom by thunder, this means they were fully occupied with the conveniences and enjoyments of the present life as if there had been no reason to dread any change…Certain that the condition in which they then were would remain unchanged…with gross stupidity they opposed the judgment of God and rushed, with closed eyes, to unbridled iniquity, as if there had been no Judge in heaven. So Christ declares that the last age of the world will be in a state of stupid indifference, so that men will think of nothing but the present life and will extend their cares to a long period, pursuing their ordinary course of life, as if the world were always to remain in the same condition…

The source and cause of their ignorance was that unbelief had blinded their minds; as, on the other hand Noah beheld at a distance by the eyes of faith the vengeance of God…And it must be observed that the reprobate, at that time, were hardened in their wickedness, because the Lord did not show his grace to any but his servants by giving them a salutary warning to beware in proper time…Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life. Certainly he who, by living in intemperance, has his senses overloaded with food and wine, will never elevate his mind to meditation on the heavenly life.

But as there is no desire of the flesh that does not intoxicate a man, we ought to take care in all these respects not to satiate ourselves with the world if we wish to advance with speed to the kingdom of Christ. Watch denotes that uninterrupted attention which keeps our minds in full activity and makes us pass through the world like pilgrims…And pray, first, that God may be pleased to rescue us from so deep and intricate a labyrinth; and next, that he may present us safe and sound in presence of his Son; for we shall never be able to reach it but by miraculously escaping innumerable deaths. And as it was not enough to pass through the course of the present life by rising superior to all dangers, Christ places prayer as the most important, that we may be permitted to stand before his tribunal.”

~ John Calvin (as quoted on Trinity PRC's bulletin today)