PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for January 17, 2021

The following are special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this Sunday, January 17, 2021, the third Lord's Day of this new year 2021.

• Today we are privileged and called to meet the Lord of glory for worship and fellowship. May He alone be exalted and honored among us. If you are visiting this website and are interested in the PRC, we invite you to join us at any of our services (morning and evening). For congregations and locations, visit this page.
  

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalm 24:3-5)

• The Council of Hudsonville PRC has formed a new trio from which to call their next pastor: Revs. E.Guichelaar, J.Marcus, and J.Smidstra. A congregational meeting is set for Jan.24 after the evening service.
  
  
• The Consistory of Kalamazoo PRC has formed a new trio from which to call a pastor: Revs. M.DeBoer (Edgerton, MN), E.Guichelaar (Randolph, WI), and J. Laning (Hull, IA). A special congregational meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 31, following the evening worship service.
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. A.Spriensma was installed as Cornerstone PRC's (Dyer, IN) new pastor, but he has not yet moved and taken up his labors. That will take place, D.V., around the first of February.
  
  
• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. J.Holstege and Rev. D.Holstege in Byron Center PRC; Rev. R.VanOverloop in Cornerstone PRC; Prof. R.Cammenga and Rev. J.Marcus in Hudsonville PRC; Prof. B.Huizinga and Rev. C.Griess in Kalamazoo PRC; Prof. B.Gritters and Rev. C.Spronk  in Providence PRC. We thank the Lord for this blessing of our church federation to help one another in this need.
  Let us also remember to pray for the needs of these vacant congregations, including Wingham PRC, which cannot receive pulpit supply from the U.S. at this time (pandemic travel restrictions). At present because of the new COVID-19 lockdown orders in Ontario, the Wingham Consistory has suspended services until the congregation can gather again. Let's remember them in prayer with regard to this too.
  
  
• 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...
  • January 2021 marks 40 years in the ministry for Rev. A. Spriensma (Cornerstone PRC)? He was ordained in January 1981 in Atwood CRC (N.Michigan), and then after serving at Bethany CRC (S.Holland, IL), joined the PRC in 1992. Since then, he has served Grandvillle, Kalamazoo, and Byron Center PRCs, and served a missionary twice - to the Philippines (foreign) and in West Michigan (domestic). We thank the Lord for his faithful service in Christ's church for 40 years! May the Lord bless him in his new charge and continue to use him for good in the churches.
  • Heritage PRC has a new website for this new year? Here is the news as reported in her bulletin today: New year, new Heritage PRC website! Along with a new look you can now find us at our new personalized domain, heritageprc.org! Feedback may be given to any member of the Evangelism Committee. Please use the new site to tell your friends who we are and about opportunities to worship with us.

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• Classis East convened in Grace PRC (Standale, MI) at 8:00 am on Wednesday, January 13, and adjourned around 12:30 am early Saturday morning, Jan.16.

  Classis mandated that the stated clerk prepare (Rev. C.Spronk) a report summarizing the decisions of the meeting and submit it to the Classical Committee of Classis East for approval. The reason for this mandate is that Classis East understands the importance of providing a helpful summary for the churches. This summary will be published as soon as possible, but it may take a few days due to the length of the meeting, the weightiness and amount of material treated by classis, and the need of the pastors mandated to make and approve this summary to preach sermons today.

  We thank the Lord of the church for sustaining the delegates during these long and difficult sessions. May the Lord bless the decisions reached for the glory of His name and the good of the churches of Classis East and the entire PRC.

A beautiful winter sunrise at seminary this past week

Special PRC Seminary Notices:

• This past week seminary finished its special interim period between semesters (Jan.4-13), as Prof. R. Cammenga taught his course on the life and theology of John Calvin. Of special note is that the lectures were recorded once again and sent to the faculty of the PRC-Philippines seminary, who also viewed the lectures with the students and held their own discission sessions (see photo below under sister-church news).
• The second semester is set to begin this Tuesday, Jan.19. The schedule and calendar has been posted on the seminary's website here. Senior Josiah Tan is back for his final semester following his internship last semester. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, we are not allowing auditors this semester either. Continue to remember the seminary's faculty, students, and staff in your prayers.
• The Fall issue of the PRTS Journal is being completed and prepared for printing. The hope is for later this month.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website.

A screenshot of the PRC-Philippines seminary 2021 Interim participants (held via pre-recorded videos live-streamed through Zoom)

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSIONS NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore: 
  • Here is a highlight from our far-eastern sister this week (part of the "Pastoral Voice" in her bulletin): Exciting things are happening in 2021! We hope you will not miss it! We trust that you are already attending the worship of God at least once a Lord’s Day. Do you know several things will take place on 24 January? Firstly, the whole church will be gathering for bothServices, both morning and afternoon. No more remembering whether to go for the morning or afternoon service. Secondly, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper! And finally, on that day, a new Church theme will be launched which we will use for Pastoral visitation for 2021 and 2022. Most of these, we were deprived of due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. It’s unbelievable that we will be resuming these spiritual exercises soon. But, God is faithful. He has not abandoned His Church but He is Jehovah Jireh -God our Provider.
  • The December 2020 issue of "Reformed News Asia" was recently published (#63). Read that issue here.
  • A new issue of Salt Shakers magazine (for young people) is also out - read the December 2020 at this link.
• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland and her Limerick, Ireland mission:
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word to the saints in Ballymena as they are allowed at present to worship.
  • Be sure to read the latest issue of the "Covenant Reformed News" - December 2020!
  • While Ireland is under lockdown at present, Rev. M.McGeown once again is ministering the Word virtually.
    
  • Rev.McGeown has penned a December 2020 newsletter for his fellow saints. You may find that here.
• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work:
  
  • Berean PRC bulletin today: Rev. V.Ibe led the services today, as they are allowed to meet in person (up to 50%). The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship (AGPRF), Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija today are scheduled to join us in our worship services via streaming at Facebook live, D.V.
    
  • From Maranatha PRC bulletin today: Rev. L.Trinidad is leading the online services today (via Facebook Live). The government extended again Metro Manila and nearby provinces under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
    

  • Provident PRC bulletin: Rev.R. Smit brought the Word there today, as they meet in person.

  • PRCP Seminary News: The seminary will resume classes by Zoom this coming Tuesday, Jan.19.

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). Today he brings a message based on 1 Corinthians 4:1,2 titled "Stewards of Christ."
  
• 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.).
  

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REFORMED RESOURCES FOR EDIFICATION, EDUCATION, and EVANGELISM:

Know someone getting married soon? This title makes a wonderful gift! 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! 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:

God is exceeding in everything He is and does. But Scripture directs our attention to two particulars. First, God exceeds in grace—it is exceedingly abundant with faith and love in Christ Jesus (1Tim. 1:14). Second, God exceeds in might—which power He uses for our benefit in His exceeding grace (Eph. 1:19). God’s power exceeds all that we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20). Think of any power—creaturely, electrical, gravitational, nuclear—God’s power exceeds it. Think of the power God used to create all things in six days and think of the power God uses to uphold and govern the universe each day. God’s power exceeds all that. Think of God’s power in His Son to take our flesh, to work miracles, to suffer and die, and raise Him from the dead. God’s power exceeds that. Now think of what we ask Him to do with His power—to save us from sin; to help us in any adversity; to overthrow Satan; to perfect all things in the everlasting kingdom of Christ. God’s power exceeds all that. In Jesus God gives exceedingly of His gracious power far above all that we can ask or think. By the exceedingly gracious working of His power, God adopts us as His children and heirs. He gives to us exceedingly great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of His nature (2Pet. 1:4). Although at times we fear, He gives us a faith more exceedingly (2Thess. 1:3). Although we tremble before Him, He makes us exceeding glad with His countenance (Psa. 21:6). Times of exceeding sorrow (Matt. 26:22), He turns to exceeding joy (Ps. 43:4). If reviled and spoken against falsely, He makes us rejoice exceedingly for great is our reward in heaven (Matt. 5:12) and our momentary afflictions work a far more exceeding weight of glory (2 Cor. 4:17). Therefore, unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before His glorious presence with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Savior, be exceeding glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

(Rev. W. Langerak)

Taken from Trinity PRC's bulletin this week