PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for June 2, 2024

Today, June 2, is the twenty-second 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.

I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. ~ Psalm 138:1-5

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 

• Last Sunday Rev. M. DeBoer (Edgerton PRC-MN) declined calls from Georgetown PRC and Hope PRC-Redlands, CA.
  
  
• Last Sunday 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). He plans to answer next Sunday, June 9.
  
  
• Rev. J. Mahtani's installation in Pittsburgh PRC is scheduled for July 7. He and his family plan to move the end of this month after his farewell at Hope PRC on June 30.

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs:  Prof. C. Griess and Rev. J. Smidstra in Georgetown PRC; Rev. J. Marcus (1st week) led in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. D. Lee in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. A. Brummel (2nd week) in Loveland PRC; Rev. T. Miersma (1st week) led in Lynden PRC; Rev. D. Noorman in Pittsburgh PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. M. DeVries 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:

• Byron Center (MI) PRC: "The Community Bible Study meets this Thursday, June 6, at 7:30 PM at church to continue our study of the book of Philippians. Discussion will begin at chapter 2 verse 14. You would be welcome to join us!" 

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• Domestic Missions update: Rev. and Margaret Laning are leaving on a second mission trip to visit contacts in Hungary this week. Let us keep them constantly in our prayers! “Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations.” 1 Chronicles 16:24.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
• 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 or visit the seminary bookstore.
• 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.). 
• 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.
• 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" gives all of us a good reminder in the midst of life's busyness: "In all of our busyness, let us find time to commune with God, in our daily devotions and prayer. Let not the hustle and bustle of our activities take away from our quiet time and spiritual rest. Even as we make all sorts of plans and fill up our schedules, let us intentionally plan and schedule spiritual activities, to grow in grace and knowledge of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Not first of all piling on the external events (although these have their place), but being faithful in our spiritual disciplines, finding time not only to read God’s Word, but also to meditate on it, and to pray over it. And let us not neglect that chief of all spiritual activities, the worship of God. Let us not forsaking the assembling of ourselves for the worship of God, in a true church of Jesus Christ. Let us ensure that we have sufficient rest to prepare ourselves to worship God, each Lord’s Day."
  • A new issue of Salt Shakers is available - May 2024, #72, the second of this year!  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: Elders Penaverde and Espiritu 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] are visiting the pastors and saints in Bacolod and SNO from May 29 – June 04, 2024. "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 and Deacon Ruel dela Fuente led her worship 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 - June 2024 -  the RWH is broadcasting five gospel messages by Rev. W. Bruinsma, continuing his series on women in the Bible. Today's message is titled "Jael, Blessed Above Women" based on Judges 5:24-27.
  
• 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 Reformed magazine the Standard Bearer is in its 100th year of publication? The RFPA (publisher) just came out with a new design this month. Now would be a great time to subscribe and become a regular reader of the SB!

• 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

 "“Throughout this land, in a day when the Sabbath is sold over to man, when men call Sunday ‘my day,’ and where men rush on Monday, bumper to bumper, to work, believing that it is all about the great American dream, it is all about checking your stock portfolio, it is all about considering yourself decent folks, being a good guy, and dreaming about Friday night and how drunk you can get — right there, in that land, Jesus Christ, out of the human dunghill, is building His church. The enemy rages. The fangs of the dragon are bared. A screech is heard from the bowels of hell: ‘That church again!’ Christ builds His church. Does Christ flinch before the devil? Oh, no. He speaks and judgments fall on them who tempt His wrath and scorn His love. Buildings will collapse. Economies will utterly fail. The best-laid plots of men in welfare and social security and health care are all going to be ruined. And man in his mightiest estate is going to be cast down. But the church will never go under. It shall never be overcome. ‘I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’” ~ Rev. C. Haak (quoted in Loveland PRC's bulletin today)