PRC Weekly Congregational and Mission News - August 27, 2017 **(Updated)

 On this final Lord's Day of August 2017 (August 27) we note the following news and information from PRC congregations and mission fields.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• This morning Candidate Justin Smidstra ACCEPTED the call from First PRC of Holland MI  and therefore DECLINED the call from Southwest PRC. We thank the Lord for leading this candidate to the sure knowledge of God's will and for giving him a place to begin his ministry in the PRC.
  
• This morning Candidate Matt DeBoer ACCEPTED the call from Edgerton PRC. We thank the Lord for leading him too and for giving him a place in the churches where he can begin his ministry.
• On August 13 Candidate Joe Holstege accepted the call to Zion PRC. We praise God for His provision of a place for this candidate and a first pastor for this new congregation. Plans are being made for him to be examined at the September meeting of Classis East.
• Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB) extended a call to Rev. E. Guichelaar (Randolph, WI PRC) on August 6. *UPDATE: Today Rev. Guichelaar declined this call. The Council formed a new trio consisting of Candidates Brian Feenstra, Jonathan Langerak, and Stephan Regnerus. The congregation will vote on Sept.3 following the afternoon service.
  
• Rev. T. Miersma (Immanuel PRC, Lacombe) continues to make preparations for his emeritation at the beginning of September.
  • He and his wife moved into their new home near Edmonton this week. His farewell sermon and program are planned for the afternoon service today.
  • Loveland PRC included this appropriate note in its bulletin today: "Rev. Tom Miersma bids farewell today to the congregation in Lacombe, AB, and lays down the active pastoral labors for emeritation. We thank God for his many years of service, including years as our missionary in Alamosa and Spokane, and pray for God’s continued blessing upon him and his wife Jan as they settle into their new home in Edmonton."
• Rev. Doug Kuiper (professor-elect at the PRC Seminary) preached his farewell in Edgerton PRC on August 13. He and his family moved to West Michigan that same week and are settling in. He is beginning to participate in the life of the seminary and will soon begin classes at Calvin Theological Seminary for his ThM degree. His installation as professor is set for Wednesday, Sept.20, in Faith PRC, 7 p.m.
• From Byron Center PRC's Council:
  • Pastor Spriensma’s farewell sermon is scheduled for September 17 during the morning worship service. His installation as home missionary is scheduled for September 17 during the evening worship service.
  • From the Council's trio chosen for the congregation to vote for a new pastor (Revs. C. Griess, Calvary PRC, Hull; B. Huizinga, Hope PRC, Redlands, CA; and A. Lanning, CERC, Singapore) the congregation voted to call Rev. B. Huizinga on August 20.
• And Covenant of Grace PRC (Spokane, WA) included this note in her bulletin, which we ought not forget: "These candidates are still awaiting calls: Brian Feenstra, Jonathan Langerak, David Noorman and Stephan Regnerus. We continue to pray for them during this time of waiting and that God will confirm their call to the ministry with the objective call from a congregation."

SPECIAL NOTICES:

• From the PRC Contact Committee comes notice of a special trip to South Korea this week by Rev. W. Langerak and Prof. R. Cammenga:
  • On August 31, Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. Wm. Langerak will leave, D.V., for S. Korea as representatives of our denomination's Committee for Contact with Other Churches, as authorized by Synod 2017.  They will be following up on contacts with individuals and with churches.  In addition they have been requested to speak at a REFO 500 conference, as well as in three different Reformed seminaries, several churches, and to various groups.  They plan to return on Monday, Sept. 11.  Pray for them and for the Lord's use of this trip to bring us into close contact with Reformed Christians in this country and in that part of the world.
• Professor David J. Engelsma will be interviewed by Christopher Arnzen on his radio program “Iron Sharpens Iron” on Friday, September 1, from 4-6 PM EST.  The subject will be his recent book, The Gospel Truth of Justification.  You can go to the website  www.ironsharpensironradio.com and click on the live stream it box to tune in and listen from any device.  The program can also be listened to by phone at (563)999-9206, press #3 for Christian Radio when prompted. Now that the live interview is concluded, you may listen to the recorded version here, compliments of the host Chris Arntzen.
• A new PRC Psalter app (Android) has been developed by Hope PRC member Jonathan Vermeer. You will find it in the Google Play store at this link. The app includes lyrics and tunes to all of our Psalter #s and links to the Psalms themselves. Plus, it has a special "night mode" setting for use in the dark (as, for example, for campfire singing).
• Don't forget to listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday! Todays' message by radio pastor Rev. C. Haak is "Christian Education is Covenant Education", Isaiah 38:19.

MISSION NEWS:

• On July 30 Rev. A. Spriensma ACCEPTED Byron Center PRC's call to serve as home missionary. We thank the Lord for providing us a home missionary once again and we pray for pastor Spriensma and Byron Center PRC as they transition to this new position. His installation as missionary is scheduled for Sept.17 during the evening service.
  
• On August 20 Rev. C. Spronk (Faith PRC) declined the call from Doon PRC to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines.
  
• From the bulletin of Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  
  

  • Rev. D. Holstege will preach for us both times today and next Sunday, Lord willing.

  • Thanks to our Father in heaven for bringing Matt and Sarah Kortus back to the U.S.A. last week. Rev. Daniel and Sharon Kleyn plan to fly home to the Philippines tomorrow, Lord willing.

  • Rev. Kleyn will start teaching the Saturday morning catechism class again on September 9. So there will be no catechism this Saturday.

  • Rev. Clay Spronk declined the call to be a third missionary in the Philippines. May the Lord prepare and send another laborer for this field soon! For the harvest is great and the laborers are few.

  Let's remember these busy pastors and missionaries in the Philippines in our prayers daily. May the Lord of the harvest give them grace for all their labors.

The Kleyns' recently posted pictures and descriptions of the summer mission internship of Seminarian Matt Kortus, which ends today. Below are a couple of samples. Find more at the link provided.

Teaching catechism in Provident CC, Marikina

Dinner with the Consistory of the PRC in Bulacan.
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