PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for December 13, 2020

The following are special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this Sunday, December 13, 2020, the fiftieth Lord's Day of this year.

• Last Sunday (Dec.6) Rev. C.Spronk declined the call to Hudsonville PRC.
  
  
• Rev. D.Holstege (PRC missionary to the Philippines) is considering the call to Kalamazoo PRC (received Nov.29). He plans to answer by Dec.20.
  
  
• Rev. J. Engelsma (Doon PRC) is considering the call to Wingham PRC (received Nov.25). He plans to answer by Dec.20.
  
  
• Rev. A.Spriensma (PRC home missionary) is considering the call to Cornerstone PRC (Dyer, IN). He plans to answer by Dec.20.
  
  
• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. J.Maatman in Cornerstone PRC; Prof. D.Kuiper and Rev. N.Decker in Hudsonville PRC; Prof.R. Dykstra and Rev. D.Noorman in Kalamazoo PRC; Prof. B.Gritters and Rev. W.Langerak in Providence PRC. We thank the Lord for this blessing of our church federation to help one another in this need. And may we also remember to pray for the needs of these vacant congregations, including Wingham PRC, which cannot have pulpit supply from the U.S. at this time (pandemic travel restrictions).

• For those who may still be limited to house worship, whether completely or partially, we invite you to visit the PR churches page and follow the links to the websites where the churches' livestream may be found. Or you may visit the selected audio sermon page and listen to one of your choice there.
  
  
• Did you know that:
  This is the time of year that most of our congregations hold their annual meetings to elect officebearers, adopt budgets, and consider other special proposals? But did you know there is a special resource page just for officebearers on this website? Especially for the newly elected men and those serving for the first time, the materials available here may be invaluable to you. Check it out, and reference it often as needed!
  
  

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• Prof. R. Dykstra and his wife Carol leave tomorrow for their extended stay in Singapore to assist our sister church there, Covenant ERC. After arrival, they must quarantine for two weeks. We pray for safe travels for them and to be used of the Lord for the good of our sister church.
  
• Rev. D. Holstege, along with his wife and children, will be leaving the Philippines this week Wednesday, Dec.16, for his missionary furlough in the U.S (until June 30, 2021). According to Doon's bulletin today (calling church), "During this time they plan to live in the Grand Rapids, MI area while Rev. Holstege spends the bulk of his time preparing for future seminary courses he will teach." May the Lord also grant them safe travels and a time of refreshment while here.
• Rev. J. Marcus continues to stay busy with preaching and teaching assignments as he awaits a call to one of our churches.

Special PRC Seminary Notices:

• Seminary has now completed its fifteen weeks of the first semester. Exams will be held this week. Continue to remember the seminary in prayer as they finish this aspect of the first semester. Christmas/New years' break will be from Dec.19-Jan.3.
• Prof. R. Dykstra and his wife Carol will be leaving for Singapore the week of Dec.14 for an extended stay to serve our sister church there (into May 2021). The other professors will pick up his classes to assist him while he is gone.
• Prof. R. Cammenga will be teaching the special Interim course in January 2021 (4-13). It will once again be on the Life and Theology of John Calvin. Regretfully, the seminary will not be allowing auditors for this course this year.
• Notice of Licensure: The faculty has licensed student Marcus Wee to speak a word of edification in our churches.  Brother Wee is a member of our sister church, Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church in Singapore.  We rejoice at this milestone in the brother’s preparation for the ministry of the gospel.  Any scheduling of him to lead worship services will be through the seminary faculty.  This also provides us with an opportunity to impress upon our churches and sister churches the great need that we have for students for the ministry.  Let us pray the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers in His vineyard, Matthew 9:37-38.  For the faculty, Prof. Ron Cammenga, Rector.
• The Fall issue of the PRTS Journal is being planned and prepared. In the meantime the Spring issue may be found at the link provided, with plenty of good reading material in it.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website.

Let us not forget the work of Rev. Titus with the saints in Myanmar.

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSIONS NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore: 
  • From this week's "Pastoral Voice" in her bulletin: We are thankful to God that this coming Wednesday, 16th December we can receive Prof and Mrs Dykstra into our midst. We are again thankful for their willingness to come here to assist us for Pulpit supplies and other labors in our midst. They will have to serve a 14 days Stay Home Notice (SHN) upon their arrival. Pray that the Lord will keep them in good health as they take the trip to Singapore and serving the SHN. The two Sundays which they are serving the SHN, Prof will lead us in the morning and afternoon worship services and preached the word of God through on-line means. Do pray for our Audio Team as they work this out with Prof to make all the necessary technical arrangements.
  • The October 2020 issue of "Reformed News Asia" was recently published (#62). Read that issue here.
  • A new issue of Salt Shakers magazine (for young people) is also out - read the October 2020 at this link.
• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word to the saints in Ballymena after another recent lockdown.
  • Missionary-pastor M. McGeown continues to bring the gospel to the saints in Limerick. After a two-week lockdown, he reports on a happy development in last week's bulletin: The Irish government has relaxed some of the COVID-19 restrictions so that for the next five Sundays we are permitted to gather for public worship with a review in January. We are thankful to our heavenly Father for this development and pray for our brethren still under restrictions.
  • Rev.McGeown also penned a December 2020 newsletter for his fellow saints. You may find that here.
  • Rev. Stewart has produced a new newsletter on life and labors in CPRC. You may find that November issue here.
  • Be sure to read the latest issue of the "Covenant Reformed News" - November 2020!
    
• PRC in the Philippines:
  
  • From Maranatha PRC bulletin today: The government put Metro Manila and nearby provinces under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) up to December 31, 2020. We are praying that the Lord will lead us to resume our public worship services on January 3, 2021. D. V.
    

  • Provident PRC bulletin: Rev. Holstege and his family plan to leave for their furlough on December 16 and to return on July 1, D.V.

  • PRCP "Classis met last Monday in the building of the PRC in Bulacan and finished their agenda. We thank God for the brotherly cooperation and love shown by the delegates."
  • PRCP Seminary News: Let us continue to pray for our seminary instructors and students. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15). [Provident PRC bulletin]

Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you, on Sermonaudio, or on your favorite podcast - wherever you are!

• Rev. W. Bruinsma (Pittsburgh PRC) is delivering the messages on the program at present (Oct.2020 - Jan 2021). During December he will deliver some Advent messages as well as an end-of-the-year message. Today he speaks on "Doubting Zacharias" - based on Luke 1:18-20.
  
• Listen to the broadcast on the station near you, on your favorite podcast (Google Music, Spotify, and iTunes), or visit the links provided here to listen to this program. Have you listened lately?
• 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 Commitee 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.).
  

--------------------------------------------------------------------

REFORMED RESOURCES FOR EDIFICATION, EDUCATION, and EVANGELISM:

Looking for some good Christmas devotional reading this month? Or a gift to bless someone else? Check out this title at the RFPA website,, as well as others!

• 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.
  
  
• Be sure to check out the Reformed Book Outlet in downtown Hudsonville, MI and online!

  *The Reformed Book Outlet is running a 25% sale during the month of December! We will also have the store open from 5-8 PM on December 10 for our annual Winter Shopping event, that will include a gift card giveaway and some other sales!

  As a reminder, their hours of business are currently Tuesday 10-1, Wednesday 1-5, and Saturday 10-1, or send your order to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• Want to learn more about the doctrines and practices of the PRC? Or, are you in need of some pamphlets and/or articles published by the PRC for use in evangelism and/or witnessing? Or are you simply interested in growing in your faith and walk with the Lord? Visit the Resources pages of this website and the PRCA Evangelism page for a complete list of materials available in digital format or by order from the publishing church.
  

This Week's Thought for Contemplation:

What did the Apostle Paul ask for God’s family? Let me list them briefly in this meditation.

First, it is that believers may be strengthened internally through the Holy Spirit. Paul had been talking about suffering for God’s cause. It is in suffering that the grace of God is manifested. But who has strength for suffering? We certainly do not choose suffering. We shrink from it. But it is not only in times of suffering that we need to be strengthened. We need strength every day of our lives and in every circumstance. Is it in temptations, the needed strength to resist it and be victorious? Is it in tough moral choices at work, that you need the strength to do the right thing, so that Jesus is honored? What about the strength that the busy wife and mother needs to do all the chores around the house without complaining or becoming weary is well-doing? Do not we all need strength to be powerful and faithful witnesses, speaking and living the truth?

Second, Paul prayed that believers may be indwelt with Christ by faith. Oh, may Christ abide mightily in our hearts and lives! Do you see here the concept of the covenant? Christ not only dwelling with us, but He dwells in us! The result will be that as believers, we will be rooted and grounded in love. There are two figures used here, one from agriculture and the other from architecture. Love is pictured as something that nourishes us and then also is pictured as a solid foundation.

Third, Paul prayed that believers may be able to grasp the fullest dimensions of Christ’s love, a love that surpasses our full knowledge. It is a prayer that we may know the breadth and length and depth and height. May we grow in our awareness of that love, particularly through the routine hardships, sufferings, and persecutions of our lives.

Fourth, Paul prayed that believers may “be filled with all the fullness of God.” This is the climax, the top of the ladder in the prayer. In other words, the knowledge just described is transforming in character. We, beholding as it were in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit (II Cor. 3:18). Contemplating the love of Christ’s love means that we are increasingly transformed into that image!

What a prayer! How I need that prayer! How God’s family needs that prayer! May God give us pastors that are in prayer, praying these things for us!

From Rev. A. Spriensma's meditation on Ephesians 3:14-19, "A Pastor's Prayer for God's People"