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PRC Weekly News for January 14, 2018 - Congregational, Denominational, and Sister-Church

Heb12 2On this second Lord's Day of 2018, January 14, we note the following news and information concerning PRC congregations, the Seminary, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

  • On Sunday January 7, Rev. C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA) announced his acceptance of the call from First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI. According to their respective bulletins, Rev. Griess plans to preach his farewell in Calvary on Jan.28 and move to Grand Rapids that week. Because of a previous commitment to the Philippine mission in February (annual visit of the Foreign Mission Committee), he will not be installed in First until March 4, D.V. May the Lord oversee for good all these plans and preparations.
  • Candidate David Noorman is considering the call from SW PRC (Wyoming, MI - received Dec.17). He has up to six weeks to consider this call.
  • The Council of Calvary PRC announces a new trio of Revs. B. Huizinga, J. Mahtani, and Cand. D. Noorman.
  • With many officebearer installations taking place, our elders and deacons are reminded of the resources available to them on this special section of the PRC website.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

  • CLASSIS EAST Meeting this week:
    • Classis East met this week Wednesday at Hudsonville PRC. The following is an unofficial summary of the work done and decision reached (look for the stated clerk's official report soon):

      Two appeals were not treated because classis judged that the matter was not finished in the consistory. Another appeal was given to a committee of six men who will report to a continuing meeting of this classis on February 28. Classis adopted an overture to limit the distribution of the agendas of classical meetings to current council members. The church visitors gave a favorable report of their work in 2017. Rev. Slopsema and Rev. Koole were chosen to be church visitors in 2018. Elected to represent Classis East at Synod 2018 were: Revs. Eriks, Haak, Langerak, Spronk, and Van Overloop; Elders Pete Adams, Gary Kaptein, James Lanting, Howard Pastoor, and Pete VanderSchaaf. Three subsidy requests were sent with approval to Synod 2018.


      ADVICE FOR ELDERS ON FAMILY VISITATION:  If you missed Prof. B. Gritters' speech on Family Visiting this past Tuesday (Jan.9) at Hudsonville PRC (Classis East Officebearers’ Conference), the audio version has now been posted on Hudsonville PRC's Sermonaudio channel.

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From the PRC Seminary comes this January news:

  • The Seminary has completed its two-week holiday break and is now holding its 8-day Interim course (cf. note below). Second semester will begin on Tuesday, Jan.23. That schedule may be found on the seminary's homepage (cf. link above).
  • Interim Course: The seminary’s interim course this year is “The Theology of John Calvin” and is being taught by Prof. R. Cammenga.  Classes will meet from Monday, January 8, 2018 through Wednesday, January 17, 2018, in the morning, 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. If you would like to watch/listen to the videos of this course, they are being posted daily on the Seminary's main page.
  • Second semester classes begin for the seminary on January 23.  If anyone would like to audit classes, the following classes are offered to auditors:  Reformed Symbols (discusses the nature of confessions and includes a treatment of the Lord's Days/Articles of both the Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession); Dogmatics (Anthropology); and New Testament History (Passion week through the ministry of the apostle Paul).  If you are interested in attending, please call the seminary (531-1490) tomorrow to find out day and time the class you are interested in will meet.
  • The latest issue of the PR Theological Journal (Fall 2017) is now available in print form and in three (3) digital forms. Visit the Seminary's Journal page to download the digital editions and contact the Seminary if you would like to receive a print copy. At the Journal page you may also find all the back issues as well as an index to past issues.

 SISTER-CHURCH NEWS

  • Concerning our sister church in Singapore, Covenant ERC, the following may be noted:
    • Candidate David Noorman and his wife are finishing today their service in the ERCS following the recent departure of the Lannings for his new charge in Byron Center PRC. Rev. A. Lanning plans to be back in Singapore this week for a wedding and to preach for them.
    • Rev. A. denHartog and his wife will be serving this congregation for an extended time, as requested by the PRC Contact Committee. The den Hartog's are planning to be in Singapore at least until after this year's Synod makes a decision on the CERCS calling a minister-on-loan from our denomination.
  • The latest newsletter from our sister church, Covenant PRC in Ballymena, N. Ireland, was received and posted recently (for Dec. 2017). You may find that on this page.
  • This note found in Trinity PRC's bulletin concerns the annual delegation from the PRC to the CPRC: "This Wednesday, Rev. Decker will be traveling with Sid Meidema to Northern Ireland as a delegation of the Contact Committee. The primary purpose of the visit is to conduct church visitation with the council of our sister congregation, the Covenant PRC of Ballymena and visit the Limerick Reformed Fellowship.  Rev. Decker [and Mr. Miedema] will be gone for two Sundays and be returning on Monday, January 29, the Lord willing."
  • Join Reformed believers from around the world at the 2018 British Reformed Fellowship family conference at Hebron Hall in South Wales from Saturday, July 21, to Saturday, July 28. Our speakers, Prof. David Engelsma and Rev. Andy Lanning, will lecture on "The Reformed Family—According to the Word of God." More information and booking forms are available at http://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.).

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SPECIAL NOTICES:

  • Rev. Martyn McGeown, missionary-pastor of Limerick Reformed Fellowship, was interviewed by Christopher Arnzen on his radio program, “Iron Sharpens Iron”, on Friday, January 5. The subject for this interview was Rev. McGeown’s recent book, Called to Watch for Christ’s Return. If you missed the live program, you may still listen to the mp3 recording of it found on the Covenant PRC website.
     
  • Are you a Standard Bearer subscriber? Why not begin the new year by becoming one and feeding your soul with solid Reformed and biblical articles in 2018 and beyond!
  • Reformed Book Outlet: The January 2018 newsletter notes that you may find many devotional books for the new year and that officebearers may find many resources for their work (cf. attached pdf.).

  • THE HOPE HERALDS 2017 CD ENTITLED, “OUR GOD IS GOD” is available for $10 in the main offices of Covenant Chr. High School and Heritage Christian School and also at the Reformed Book Outlet and the PR Seminary bookstore. If you are not able to pick up your copy at any of these locations, please call or text Karen Daling (616-662-0784) or Dan VanDyke (616-610-3276) and we will mail the CD for $12. Thank you!
  • Psalm Choir - The latest CD, Volume 20, ‘Sweet Refreshment’ is now available. There are over 25 selections from the past two seasons.  Please visit the website www.psalmchoir.com to order.

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  • Don't forget to listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday! Todays' message by radio pastor Rev. W. Bruinsma is "Arming Ourselves for Christ's Return" (1), based on 1 Thess. 5:8-10.
    • NEW RWH Station - The Cornerstone PRC Word and Deed committee has partnered with the Reformed Witness Hour to air their messages on the radio in the Chicago area. Beginning today, September 10, the broadcast can be heard every Sunday at 4:00PM on WYLL 1160AM or on the internet at www.1160hope.com. Please tune in and encourage others to do so as opportunity arises in your personal witnessing.

 Gospel to all nations

 MISSION NEWS:

  • From Georgetown PRC's bulletin we learn about an upcoming trip of a delegation to Vellore, India: "Pastor and Mary Haak and Bruce and Cherie Jabaay plan to leave this Wednesday afternoon [Jan.17] for a three week visit to the PRCV of India. They hope to continue the work of our previous delegation, i.e.; meeting with the Tamil and English Church, assisting in the Sola Gratia Program, working with the GFH, visiting with members of the church and the Consistory of the PRCV, teaching and preaching, etc. While we would have liked to arrange for one delegation to spend a few months time with the PRCV, due to the current opposition toward Christianity is was deemed to send another delegation for a shorter period of time. Pray for the Lord’s blessing. You will be able to follow their visit on our church face book page and via congregational email updates."
  • The last Philippines mission newsletter is dated November 2017 and may be found on this PRC webpage.
  • The December 2017 newsletter of the Limerick Reformed Fellowship mission station is now posted on this page.
  • From this Sunday's bulletins of the Maranatha PRC and the Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines we find the following notes concerning their pastors as well as concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
    • Provident CC: 
      • Rev. Smit will preach both times today. Rev. Holstege is preaching in the PRC of Bulacan today. Rev. Holstege will preach both times for PCC next Sunday, Lord willing.

      • Family visitation will continue today and this Wednesday [Rev. Holstege is participating in these.]. Please see the schedule on the bulletin board to know when your family will be visited.

    • Maranatha PRC:

      • Today, our Missionary, Rev. D. Kleyn will lead the first and second services. Rev. Kleyn will begin teaching a class today concerning the special offices of Elder and Deacon in the church. Today’s topic will be: “Desiring to be an Office-bearer."

      • Today, Rev. L. Trinidad will conduct the Children Catechism.
      • The Church Visitation in MPRC is scheduled for Sunday January 14, 2018.
  • Let us remember and continue to lift up the needs of these busy pastors and missionaries in the Philippines. May the Lord of the harvest give them grace to be faithful in all their labors.
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Last modified on 18 January 2018

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