PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for October 15, 2023

Today, October 15, is the forty-second Lord's Day of this year of our Lord 2023. 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.

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 listen online.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! ~ Psalm 119:1-5

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS 

• Rev. D. Kleyn was installed as pastor of Doon (IA) PRC this evening, with Prof. B. Gritters leading the service. May the Lord grant him a faithful and fruitful ministry in that congregation. From Doon's bulletin today: "Today we celebrate the installation of Rev. Daniel Kleyn as our pastor! Rev. Kleyn has been our missionary in the Philippines for the past 14 years, and today will take up his calling as our pastor. We give thanks to God for providing a pastor for us! Installation is scheduled for the evening service. Coffee and cookies will be served in the basement following the service. At 7:00 P.M. in the basement, the council will make a few remarks as we welcome Rev. and Sharon to our congregation. 'How beautiful are of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!' Romans 10:15"
  
  
• Today Rev. R. Smit accepted the call to Randolph PRC (WI).
  
  
• Today Rev. M. Kortus (Hope PRC-Redlands, CA) accepted the call to Zion PRC (Jenison, MI).
  
  
• Last Sunday Georgetown PRC voted to call Rev. G. Eriks (Unity PRC-Byron Center, MI). 
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. D. Noorman (SW PRC) declined the call from Loveland (CO) PRC.
  
  
• Rev. D. Noorman (SW PRC) is considering the call to Lynden (WA) PRC  (received Oct.1). He plans to answer next week.
  
  
• On Sept.24 Hudsonville PRC extended a call to Rev. N. Decker (Grandville PRC). He plans to answer next week.
  
  
• On Sept.3 Cand. M. Koerner accepted the call from Hosanna PRC (Edmonton, AB). On Sept.27 he was examined by Classis West, which met in Crete PRC (IL). He successfully sustained this examination and Hosanna PRC was advised to proceed to his ordination and installation. His application to the Canadian government for a work permit was recently approved, and he and his wife Sharon plan to move to Edmonton the week of Oct.23. We thank the Lord for this progress and pray for them as they prepare for life and ministry there. "The Ordination Service for Pastor-Elect Koerner will be held on Thursday, November 9 at 7:30 PM at St. Albert Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC)." (Hosanna's bulletin today)

Special Congregational Notices:

• Loveland PRC (CO): "Covenant of Grace Fellowship Fund: Next week Sunday, October 22, we will be taking a collection for the Covenant of Grace Fellowship in Spokane. This will be the first of three collections we will be taking for the remainder of the year, the second collection scheduled for November 26 and the third for December 17, Lord willing. The funds collected will be used for the support of our council's and consistory's work and oversight of the fellowship that remains in Spokane, who now have their membership papers in the care of Loveland PRC. This would include funding our delegation visits to Spokane, pulpit supply, and any general expenses that the Covenant of Grace fellowship will need assistance covering. Please consider giving for this cause of assisting our fellow saints in Spokane. Our Council and the Covenant of Grace Fellowship covet your prayers as we continue the Lord's work in Spokane. To God be the glory!"
  
  
• Grace PRC (Standale, MI): "Grace PRC is hosting a speech, presented by the Trinitarian Bible Society on October 19 at 7 p.m. [This Thursday night] The topic of this speech is comparing the KJV translation of Scripture with other popular translations, and why a proper translation is needed. This presentation will be livesteamed but not recorded. We look forward to seeing you there!"
  
  
• Heritage PRC (Sioux Falls, SD): "Heritage PRC will be hosting the fall Reformation lecture on October 27, 7:00 p.m. Prof. C. Griess will deliver a speech entitled "Sexual Abuse in Calvin's Geneva." Refreshments will follow. All are encouraged to attend!"
  
  
• Randolph (WI) PRC: " Please join us next week Friday, October 27 at 7:30 PM at the Randolph Protestant Reformed Church for the fall evangelism lecture. Prof B. Huizinga will be speaking on 'Holiness in a World Filled with Violence.'”

Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs:  Prof. B. Gritters in Doon (IA) PRC; Prof. C. Griess and Rev. J. Smidstra in Georgetown PRC; Rev. T. Miersma in Hosanna PRC, Edmonton, AB; Prof. B. Huizinga and Rev. D. Lee in Hudsonville PRC; Sem. A. Haveman in Loveland PRC; Elder led in Lynden PRC; Rev. R. Smit in Randolph PRC; Sem. A. Van Dyke and Prof. D. Kuiper 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!

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• Synod 2023 appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to hire a third-party organization for a denomination-wide investigation of sexual abuse. The committee reports that it has been laboring since the meeting of Synod to come to a mutual understanding and agreement with Guidepost Solutions regarding the work. On October 5 the committee signed a contract with Guidepost Solutions and expects that the investigation will begin in the near future with the publishing of a survey.
  
  
• Home missionary speech: October 27 Rev. James Lanning will speak on the work of evangelism in the local congregations. Title: “The Church’s Calling in Evangelism.” To be held at SW PRC (Wyoming, MI) at 7:30 P.M.
  
  
• Classis East: Classis East met on Wednesday, September 13, at Trinity PRC. The delegates are scheduled to reconvene on Wednesday, Oct.25. For a summary of the actions and decisions, visit this page.
  
  
• Classis West: Classis West held its regular meeting in Crete PRC (IL) on September 27. For more on this meeting, including the stated clerk's public report, visit this page.
  
  
• PRC 100th Anniversary: With gratitude to our faithful God, the PRCA look forward to our 100th anniversary. The celebration is planned for June 23-27, 2025, at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. The various committees of the 100th anniversary steering commitee are busy preparing for this historic event, including a special commemorative book. Watch for further notices and updates!

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The PR Theological Seminary will enter its eighth week of the first semester 2023-24 tomorrow - just over the mid-point. Things continue to go well, for which we thank our gracious Father. The schedule and calendar have been posted here. ​The faculty, students, and staff covet your prayers as we continue our various labors this new school year.
• This week Joe Ophoff will lead the daily devotions. Rev. C. Haak will again lead the Wednesday chapel.
• This being Reformation remembrance month, the professors will be busy giving Reformation-themed speeches in various places in the PRC later this month. The professors and some of the students also keep busy teaching catechism and leading varous Bible studies during the week.
• Senior Sem. Arend Haveman is doing his internship this summer and fall (July-December) in Pittsburgh PRC under Rev. W. Bruinsma. He is busy with all aspects of the ministry, and is preaching a new sermon this evening in the congregation. Today he is leading both services in Loveland PRC-Colorado. After the internship is completed, he will return for this final semester next year, Lord willing.
• Prof. C. Griess gave a speech at the pre-Classis West Officebearers' Conference on sexual abuse on Sept.26 in Crete PRC (IL). Prof. Griess' speech may be found here and on the seminary's YouTube channel.
• In connection with a special conference held online for interested people in Mexico, Prof. R. Cammenga recently prepared three lectures on the errors of the well-meant offer of the gospel and the truth of the Reformed-biblical call of the gospel. You may find these lectures on the seminary's YouTube channel.
• Seminary Convocation was held on Wednesday Sept.6 in Hope PRC in Walker, MI.  The video of the convocation program is now available on the PRTS' YouTube channel.
• The Fall 2023 issue of the PR Theological Journal is currently being worked on. To read the last one (Spring 2023), visit the link provided here. 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.). 
• During normal school sessions the seminary is open daily from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (holidays excepted), including the library and bookstore. PRC members and friends are welcome to visit and make use of these resources.
• 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. Pastor Tan preached twice as Pastor Wee has some planned 'leave' time this past week.
  • The CERC is planning a Reformation Day Conference for Oct.27-28, with Pastors. S. Key and Tan speaking. The theme is "Sola Scriptura, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria - The Heart of the Reformation Gospel."
    
    
• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word faithfully in the CPRC.
  • The September 2023 issue of Covenant Reformed News was published this past week. Visit the link to read the articles on "Nehemiah's Godly Enquiry Concerning Jerusalem" and Rev. R. Hanko's answers to questions about the covenant of redemption.
    
  • The CPRC YouTube channel may be found here.

• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work in various places:
  • Berean PRC bulletin: Elders Umali and Penaverde led her worship services today. And, "Rev. Ibe and Elder Penaverde's travel and visit with the pastors in SNO [Southern Negros Occidental] went very well by the grace of God. Ptr. Ibe lectured on “The Necessity of Federation” based on John 17:21-23. In the evening on Thursday [Oct. 12], pastor and elder Alann met with Ptr. Elvis Olivares [Bata Community Christian Church] and two of their deacons. We have discussed the possibility of giving a lecture on the Reformed Distinctives. The initial plan is to give that lecture on our next visit to SNO in November, Lord willing." And, "The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship (AGPRF), Gabaldon, NE. will join us in our worship services via Livestreamed at our Facebook account."
    
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Deacon Mitch Suarez led her worship services today.

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 (October 2023) the RWH continues the series on the return of Jesus Christ by Rev. W. Bruinsma, along with other special messages. Today's message is titled "The Final Sign of Christ's Return" based on Luke 21:25-28. For the October RWH Newsletter, visit this page. 
  
• 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 does - and what should - the Reformation of the 16th century mean to the church today? Read this resource to find out! 

• 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.

• The Reformed Book Outlet (downtown Hudsonville, MI) is now operating out of its new store in downtown Hudsonville! The new location is at 3472 Harvey St. in Hudsonville. 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.

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

Luther’s Hammer

"If anyone in church history could swing a hammer it was Martin Luther. His primary hammer was not what he may have used to post his theses to Wittenberg’s church door on October 31, 1517. His hammer was Scripture: “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29). Because his voluminous writings were faithful explanations of the truth of divine Scripture, the powerful Word of God was communicated through those writings, making them many hammers to break in pieces the rock of Roman Catholic false doctrine lodged in the hearts of men. Luther’s writings were not like the fluff of many Christian publishing houses today. His writings infuriated the pope, served as kindling for the enemies’ fires, and continually jeopardized his safety. But the Reformer kept taking the hammer of God’s Word, swinging away in the service of the truth that salvation is of grace alone and, therefore, through faith alone in Christ alone.

"With his Ninety-five Theses of 1517 Luther smashed into pieces the lie of papal authority and the efficacy of indulgences captured in Tetzel’s famed jingle, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” This was only the beginning.

"With his “Address to the Christian Nobility” of 1520 Luther hammered away at the Romish doctrine of papal authority and infallibility, the sole authority of the Romish church to interpret Scripture, and the corruption of the distinction between clergy and laity. With the heavy “Babylonian Captivity of the Church” written also in 1520, Luther pounded away at the entire system of works-righteousness by smashing to pieces the Roman Catholic idea of the sacerdotal system and the sacraments—in particular the accursed idolatry that is the mass, so central to the life and work of the priests and of all the people. It is said that even Erasmus read this tract and declared that the breach with Rome was irreparable. Luther’s commentary on Galatians, published in 1535, was another heavy-hitting piece of writing."

~ Found in the article "Luther and Scripture" by Prof. B. Huizinga