PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for May 26, 2024

Today, May 26, is the twenty-first Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2024, and another rest stop on our pilgrim journey through this world. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

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.

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. ...For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy. ~ Psalm 137:1,3-6

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-MN) declined calls from Georgetown PRC and Hope PRC-Redlands, CA.
  
  
• Today Rev. J. Maatman (Southeast PRC) declined the call from Hudsonville PRC.
  
  
• Rev. Nate Decker (Grandville, PRC, MI) is considering the call to Loveland PRC (received May 12).

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs:  Prof. C. Griess and Rev. M. McGeown in Georgetown PRC; Elder led in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. E. Guichelaar in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. A. Brummel (1st week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. M. Koerner (2nd week) led in Lynden PRC; Prof. R. Dykstra in Pittsburgh PRC; Sem. A. Van Dyke and Rev. J. Laning 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!

Special Congregational/Evangelism Notices:

First PRC-Grand Rapids Mexico Trip: This past week a group of four men – Bryan Pastoor, Rev. Holstege, Prof. Gritters, and seminary student Bruce Feenstra – traveled to Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiapas, Mexico to visit with the brothers and sisters of Amazing Grace Presbyterian Reformed Church, to give a conference on the topic “What Does It Mean to Be Reformed?” and to preach the gospel on Sunday. They left Thursday and will return home tomorrow. Pray for God's blessing on their visit and on their travels tomorrow.

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• The 2024 PRC Synod will meet June 11-14 in Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI. The pre-synodical worship service will be held Monday night, June 10, in the church beginning at 7 p.m.
  
  
• Domestic Missions update: Rev. Jim Laning (PRC home missionary) and his wife Margaret were in Texas this past week, visiting contacts in the Dallas area for a second time. “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” Matthew 24:14.
  
  
• Classis East met Wednesday, May 15, at Byron Center PRC. The public (limited) report may be found here. The minutes of the meeting have been posted on the church bulletin page (for registered users only). Most of the matters treated at Classis were done in closed session. May the King and Shepherd of the church bless the decisions made for the good of the church and the glory of His name.
  
  
• Synod 2023 mandated the Psalter Revision Review Committee "to familiarize the denomination with the final product that is to be presented to Synod 2024…” To that end, we have produced a pamphlet and given apresentation that details the history of this project and the principles that guided the revision, as well asshowing the results with both data and sample songs. You are encouraged to listen to the presentationat https://www.youtube.com/@2024Psalter. If you do not have a hard copy of the pamphlet, you should begetting one soon. You can also find a link to a pdf of the pamphlet beneath the video. (cf. image above for booklet cover)
   
• 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 has now completed its second semester and entered its summer break. Faculty, students, and staff will be busy with normal and special duties during these months, all in preparation for a new semester, which will begin, D.V., on August 27. Continue to pray for faculty, students, and staff as we labor during these next months. "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
• Mexico Trip: This past Thursday through tomorrow (May 23-27) a group of four men (two from First PRC-Grand Rapids) including Prof. B. Gritters and seminary student Bruce Feenstra traveled to Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiapas, Mexico to visit with the brothers and sisters of Amazing Grace Presbyterian Reformed Church, to give a conference on the topic “What Does It Mean to Be Reformed?” and to preach the gospel on Sunday. We pray for safety in travels and for a profitable visit.
• With joy the faculty of the Protestant Reformed Theological Seminary announces that it has licensed second-student Bruce Feenstra to speak a word of edification in the churches. We are grateful for the brother’s progress to this point in his training. All scheduling of Mr. Feenstra must be done through the seminary, either by sending a request to the seminary secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or the rector, Prof. R. Cammenga (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
• Senior seminarian Arend Havemen has begun preparing for his written and oral examination (including a sermon) before the PRC Synod meeting at Trinity PRC June 11-14. Seminary graduation is planned for Thursday evening, June 13, in Trinity PRC.
• Prof. B. Huizinga's first book has been published - Crowning His Gifts: Gracious Rewards in the Reformed Tradition (RFPA, 2024) - the fruit of his studies for the ThM degree through Calvin Theological Seminary. We thank the Lord for this work and pray that it will have wide readership. To order your copy, visit the publisher's website linked here.
• The Spring 2024 issue of the PR Theological Journal is now out and has been mailed. The digital editions (pdf and epub) have been posted on the journal page (visit the link here). This latest issue features three main articles, one dealing with the history of common grace at the1924 Synod in the Christian Reformed Church (which led to the formation of the Protestant Reformed Churches), one involving another translation of H. Bouwman's work on the Reformed Church Order, and another chapter from Prof. D. Kuiper on the history of Classis West in the PRC. Plus, there is a good number of book reviews again, on a variety of subjects. 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.). 
• On May 6, Dr. N. Willborn, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge, TN and faculty member of Greenville Presbyterian Seminary, gave two lectures at PRTS on Northern Presbyterianism, especially the old Princetonians - Archibald Alexander, Samuel Miller, Charles Hodge, James Alexander, and B. B. Warfield. The lectures are now available on the seminary's YouTube channel.
• Advance Notice - Fall Seminary Conference: In 1924 the CRC Synod developed the Three Points of Common Grace. What are they? What led to their development? Why are they wrong? Is the early opposition to them by leaders of the PRCA relevant for us today, or is it merely a matter of past history? The seminary faculty would like to announce a fall conference observing the centennial of the development of the Three Points. This conference will be held the evenings of Thursday, October 31, and Friday, November 1, and the morning of Saturday, November 2, at Grace PRC. More details are coming.
• 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" explains why both pastors are "off" today: "This Lord’s Day, the worship services will be led by Elders Chew and Wee, respectively. The elders will lead in every element of worship except for the sermon, the Scripture reading before it, and the prayer after it. Instead of reading sermons, we will screen recordings of video sermons from PRCA ministers. Why this arrangement? In God’s providence, both our pastors are on leave—Pastor Tan on annual leave, and myself on paternity leave (my wife delivered a baby boy, this past Tuesday)."
  • A latest issue of Salt Shakers is available - #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 - and beyond!
    
  • 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 Facebook account, the Lord willing. We pray for God’s blessings and spiritual sustenance upon them as they hear the Word of God."
  • Outreach news: "Rev. Ibe [and family] is scheduled to visit the pastors and saints in Bacolod and SNO on May 29 – June 04, 2024, God willing. Our pastor will lead both groups to a monthly lecture on Reformed Dogmatics [Soteriology] and the Church Order of Dort 1618-19 for the saints and pastors in SNO on Friday [May 31] at 9 AM at Canturay Reformed Church and on Saturday [June 1] for the saints and pastors in Bacolod City, to be held at Bata Christian Community Church at 9 AM. Our pastor [with the approval of the Consistory] is also scheduled to preach at Bata Christian Community Church on June 2 in their morning worship service at 9 AM., all the Lord willing. May God’s blessings rest upon the labors of our pastor in their midst on behalf of the Protestant Reformed Churches in the Philippines. Soli Deo Gloria. “And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south” [Psalm 107:3].
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Elder Mitch Suarez led her services today. Let's remember this vacant congregation and her needs in our prayers.

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 - May 2024 -  the RWH is broadcasting four gospel messages by Rev. W. Bruinsma, continuing his series on women in the Bible. Today's message is the first of Rev. Bruinsma's and titled "The Faith of Rahab" based on Hebrews 11:31.
  
• 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.).

What is marriage and how does it reflect Christ and His church? How does this impact how we live together in this holy union? Read this RFPA resource for answers to these and other questions.

• 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. 
  Special note: RBO welcomes any Senior Ladies for morning coffee on Wednesday May 22 and 29. Please come to the backroom anytime afterRBO welcomes any Senior Ladies for morning coffee on Wednesday May 22 and 29. Please come to the backroom anytime after10:15 to enjoy coffee and fellowship with each other. Looking forward to seeing you there!

• 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

 "Pentecostalism is fundamentally man centered and not God glorifying, and does violence to the doctrine of Holy Scripture. It adds to and takes away from the Word of God. Pentecostalism adds to the Scripture by seeking direct revelation of God apart from the Bible. It is very common to heat the Pentecostal say, "God told me to do this or that; to go here or there." That is patent proof of a false prophet. The writings of the Pentecostal leaders are considered by many Pentecostals to be on a par with the Bible. Pentecostalism takes away from God's Word by denying or ignoring clear Scriptural teaching. God says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Eph. 2:8) Pentecostalism says, "You need more." The Scriptures emphasize that salvation is freely of God's grace, but Pentecostalism emphasizes all that man can do and must do. When the truth of Scripture is distorted then God is not honored. 'Therefore, we reject with all our hearts, whatsoever doth not agree with this infallible rule, which the apostles have taught us, saying, Try the spirits whether they are of God. Likewise, if there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house.' (Belgic Confession, art. 7)"

Taken from "Pentecostalism - A Foe of the Reformed Faith" by W. Bekkering, a featured resource this month