PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for June 9, 2024

Today, June 9, is the twenty-third 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; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ...If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! ...Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ~ Psalm 139:15, 17, 18, 23, 24

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. Nate Decker (Grandville, PRC, MI) declined the call to Loveland PRC. 
  
  
• Hope PRC-Redlands' Council has formed a new trio from which the congregation will call a new pastor: Revs. J. Engelsma (Crete PRC), G. Eriks (Unity PRC) and A. Brummel (Calvary PRC– Hull, Iowa). The congregational meeting will be held after the morning worship service on Sunday, June 23.
  
  
• Lynden (WA) PRC's Consistory presents the following trio from which to call a pastor: Rev. R. Barnhill (Heritage PRC), Rev. A. Brummel (Calvary PRC), and Rev. D. Lee (Kalamazoo PRC). A congregational meeting is planned for Sunday, June 23, after the morning service to call one of these men.
  
  
• Special note: Rev. Bleyenberg and Deb leave for Singapore this week. He has been asked to speak at the CERC's annual church camp. The Bleyenbergs plan to return home, the Lord willing, on June 25. Rev. Miersma will be preaching for us the next two Sundays (Immanuel PRC's bulletin today).
  
  
• 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. R. Cammenga and Rev. J. Slopsema in Georgetown PRC; Rev. J. Marcus (2nd week) led in Hope PRC-Redlands; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. W. Langerak in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. S. Key in Loveland PRC; Rev. T. Miersma (2nd week) led in Lynden PRC; Rev. J. Maatman in Pittsburgh PRC; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. C. Haak 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:

• Hope PRC Ministry (Walker, MI) is excited to announce that it now has a new podcast channel called 'Daily Devotionals from the Psalms.' This new channel is in addition to the main channel, Hope PR Ministry, and it will solely feature the popular devotionals which were originally written by Rev. Heys. You may find this new channel by searching for 'Daily Devotionals from the Psalms' on all your favorite podcasting services. Please support this work by listening to this new channel and also the main channel, Hope PR Ministry.

Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI), host of this week's PRC Synod (see note below)

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• The Synod of the PRC will convene on Tuesday, June 11 at 8 A.M. in the Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI. The pre-synodical service will be held on Monday evening, June 10 at 7 P.M. Rev. G. Eriks, president of the 2023 Synod, will preach the sermon. Synodical delegates are requested to meet with the Consistory before the service. Please remember the delegates in your prayers as they deliberate important matters for our churches. 
  Tuesday at 8 AM, the synod will be organized, and the Seminarian Arend Haveman will give his sermon (usually about 10 AM). The rest of the day will be filled with the meetings of the five committees of pre-advice. The mornings of Wednesday and Thursday will be taken up with the oral examination of Seminarian Haveman by the professors. The seminarian’s sermon and examination are open to the public, as is most of the work of Synod.
  
  
• Domestic Missions update: Rev. and Margaret Laning are on a second mission trip to visit contacts in Hungary at present. Let us keep them constantly in our prayers! “Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations.” 1 Chronicles 16:24.
   
• 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 26. Continue to pray for faculty, students, and staff as we labor during these next months.
• Senior seminarian Arend Havemen has been preparing for his written and oral examination (including a sermon) before the PRC Synod meeting at Trinity PRC this week, June 11-14. Seminary graduation is planned for Thursday evening, June 13, in Trinity PRC. Pray for him this week as he submits to this examination.
• 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.).
• 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 available. 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. Both pastors preached today. The CERC is preparing for her annual church camp next week.
    
  • 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: 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.
  • Special note: "Our Pastor and Sis. Melody is scheduled to travel to the U.S. tomorrow early morning God willing. Rev. Ibe will attend the PRCA’s Synod this year as a visiting delegate/representative of the PRCP. The Lord willing, they will stay in the U.S. from June 10 – 19, 2024. May God’s traveling mercies be upon them throughout their trip to the U.S. and back to the Philippines."
  • Outreach news: "The visit and conference held on the Reformed Theology and the Church Order of Dort (1618-19) at Bata Community Christian Church and Canturay Reformed Church in Sipalay with the saints and pastors in these areas went very well, by the grace of God. Our Pastor and family’s flight back to Manila on Tuesday [June 4] [Ptr. Ibe was scheduled to give a Funeral message in the wake of Elder Armas’s mother at 7 PM that day] was canceled due to the “Phreatic eruption” of Mt. Kanlaon and the next available flight is on Monday [June 10]. Pastor Ibe and his family had no option but to ride a Bus to Cebu via RoRo [on Tuesday at 11:30 P.M.] and from Cebu booked a flight back to Manila on Wednesday at 2:30 P.M. Their flight to Manila from Cebu was delayed for about an hour and a half and thus finally made it home around 9:30 P.M. the same day. All of these experiences were in the hands of God to teach us patience and utter dependence upon Him for provision and care and safe travel home. The care and love shown and expressed by the saints and pastors in Bacolod were greatly appreciated and the help of our church to provide a “rescue flight” from Cebu to Manila was full of compassion and loving care. God be praised."
    
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Officebearers 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 "Ruth's Vow"based on Ruth 1:16,17.
  
• 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. 
  Special notice: "Celebrate with us! On Friday, June 21 at 7PM, the Reformed Book Outlet will be hosting an official launch party for the RFPA summer releases, Journey Through the Psalms by Mike Velthouse and Erinn Kuiper, and Songs of Our Pilgrimage by John Heys. All, especially readers age 9-13, are welcome to attend for ice cream, a scavenger hunt with prizes, and an author reading from Journey. All RFPA books (except the 2 new releases) will be 25% off for attendees. Hope to see 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

 "All of this is true, of course, because of the character of faith. Faith is a certain knowledge by which we hold for truth everything God tells us. Sarah had this knowledge. She knew God.

"Now, let us be clear, this knowledge was not mere head knowledge. It was not merely academic knowledge about God. Many, even in the church, think that knowing all the objective doctrines of the church and defending them is the same as the knowledge of faith. Neither is that to be belittled. Faith surely is objective knowledge of the truths of God’s Word. The more we know of God and of Jesus Christ the stronger is our faith. But faith is not mere intellectual knowledge by which we give some assent to what is true of God and Christ. The knowledge of faith is that which is rooted in the very spiritual center of a man or woman.

"It is a knowledge of the heart. It is an intimate knowledge by which we come to love God and fear Him. It is a knowledge by which we look to Him for all things and believe that He is capable of doing all things. When applied to the covenant and its promises, faith is that which clings to those promises of God and to His great love and fellowship as the mainstay of life. It is to long for the fulfillment of them, and it is the knowledge that God as God is able, and as Father is willing, to perform what He has promised us.

"Such knowledge produces in us one more such blessing: confidence in God. A believer clings to God and Jesus Christ (through whom God fulfills all things), with the great assurance of heart that God out of His great love will do what He says. For example: we believe that God will bring about our final salvation when Jesus Christ comes again. God will usher in the kingdom of heaven and we will dwell with Him there. We believe that. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. This is a promise God has given us. We know of it from God’s Word. Well, with confidence we trust that God will indeed work out all the affairs of this world to bring about that coming of Christ and heaven. Faith is such confidence—unwavering, patient, and sure. This is the faith that Sarah had. Through that faith she was able to conceive and bear a son. Why? Because she judged, she considered, God faithful who had promised."

~ Taken from the radio message"The Faith of Sarah" by Rev. W. Bruinsma