PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for February 20, 2022

Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this eighth Sunday of our Lord's year 2022, February 20. We thank the Lord for these weekly spiritual rest stops on our pilgrimage to our heavenly home. May our worship today rise up to our faithful God as a sweet-smelling sacrifice through Jesus Christ our Savior.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? ...Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. ~ Psalm 42:1,2; 5-8

If you are new to this website and are interested in the PRC, we invite you to join us at any of our services (morning and afternoon/evening). For congregations, locations and times, visit this page.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS

• This past Wednesday, February 16, Rev. C. Spronk (Faith PRC) received the call from Grace PRC.
  
  
• Today Rev. M. Kortus (Hope PRC-Redlands, CA) declined the call from Doon PRC.
  
  
• On February 6 Rev. R. Barnhill accepted the call from Heritage PRC (Sioux Falls, SD). As of now, his farewell at Peace PRC is planned for March 13. 
  
  
• Rev. J. Langerak and his wife Sarah moved to Spokane this past week. He will be installed in Covenant of Grace PRC next Sunday, Feb.27, by Rev. R. Hanko, D.V. 

• First PRC Edmonton's Consistory has formed a trio from which to call a pastor again: Revs. A. Brummel (Calvary PRC , Hull, IA), E. Guichelaar (Randolph PRC, WI), and S. Regnerus (Lynden PRC, WA). The congregation plans to vote on Feb.27 after the evening service.
  
  
• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. R. Hanko in Covenant of Grace PRC (Spokane, WA); Rev. J. Marcus in Doon (IA) PRC; Rev. T. Miersma in First PRC, Edmonton, AB; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. J. Smidstra in Grace PRC; Rev. M. DeVries in Heritage PRC; Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. J. Holstege in Hudsonville PRC.  What 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.
  
  
• For those whose in-person public worship may still be limited, 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.

Part of the crowd at Grace PRC's "Night of Praise" last evening - a wonderful night of God-glorifying music!

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• Classis West: Classis West will convene on Wednesday, March 2 in Hope PRC, Redlands, CA. There will be an officebearers' conference on the Tuesday before.
  
  
• Future Teachers and Ministers: Information for the 2022 PR Scholarship Fund essay competition is now available. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to receive the essay topics and submission requirements. Completed essays must be submitted by May 31st.

Rev. J. Holstege led the seminary's chapel this past Wednesday.

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The second semester of the 2021-22 school year is now five weeks in. Things are going well, for which we thank our faithful Father. The schedule and calendar have been posted on the seminary's website and the PRC website. (see special calendars on the right side). 
• The first round of practice preaching will be held on the Mondays of Feb.21 and 28. Pray for the students as they prepare their latest assigned sermons.
• Rev. J. Holstege (PRTS Class of 2017, pastor of Zion PRC) led the chapel this past Wednesday. In his back-to-back chapels he spoke on Samson. Aaron Van Dyke led the daily devotions. This week Marcus Wee will lead them.
• The seminary is open daily (8-5), including the library and bookstore, for our members and friends. The staff is available to assist with any other needs you may have as well. Feel free to call in advance for help with any questions.
• The printed edition of the Fall 2021 issue of the PRT Journal was recently mailed out. The digital editions (pdf and ePub) are also available on the seminary's website. If you want to be added to our mailing list (either print or digital) or wish to pick up a copy, contact Sharon, the seminary secretary.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website.
  
  

A special luncheon was held at the seminary this past Friday for local PRC pastors with Rev. D. Higgs of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore and her Kolkata, India mission work:
  • Pastor J. Tan is busy serving the CERC faithfully each week.  His "pastoral note" to the congregation includes these good words: "...the truth that God is sovereign must be understood in light of the truth of God’s covenant or else there will be no comfort for God’s people. It is not enough to know that God is sovereign, but as my covenant God, He has given Himself to us His people and swore to us that He will ever be our God, and we will ever be His people. God is not just Sovereign. He is my Sovereign friend. Christ is not just Lord of the heaven and the earth, but he is also my Elder Brother that loves me and gave Himself for me. Now my Lord sits at God’s right hand, and sovereignly works all things for my highest good, for my salvation. This is the God that we worship today. This is the God that we love. This is the God that we confess in all of our lives."
  • The most recent issue of "Reformed News Asia" is available - December 2021 - #65. Be sure to check it out for the latest news from our sister!

• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  
  • Rev. A.Stewart continues to minister the Word faithfully to the saints in Ballymena. 
  • Sign up for the 2022 British Reformed Fellowship family conference at Castlewellan Castle in Northern Ireland from Saturday, July 9, to Saturday, July 16. The speakers, Prof. David Engelsma and Prof. Brian Huizinga will lecture on "Union With Christ." For information see the website (http://brfconference.weebly.com).
  • The newest issue of "Covenant Reformed News" is out - check out the February 2022 edition here. Follow the link to read the latest profitable articles by Revs. A. Stewart and R. Hanko.
• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work:
  • The latest Philippines Newsletter is available - January 2022 (visit the foreign missions page and see the download at the top of the right-hand column).
    
  • Berean PRC bulletin: "Rev. V. Ibe led the worship services today. The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship (AGPRF), Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija will join us in our worship services today via live streaming at our Facebook page, D.V."
    
  • Provident PRC bulletin: "Rev. D.Kleyn will preach and lead our worship services today. A livestream of our services will be provided at the “PPRC and Friends” Facebook page."
    
  • Classis of the PRCP convenes on Friday (February 25, 2022) at 9 AM at Provident PRC in Provident Village, Marikina City.
  • The PRCP seminary has resumed in-person classes for the second semester at the Seminary Library in Beverly Hills, Antipolo. 

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

• Currently, Rev. W.Bruinsma (Pittsburgh PRC, Pennsylvania) is the featured speaker, with focus on a series on Hebrews 11. Today's message is based on Hebrews 11:31 and titled "By Faith Rahab Received the Spies."
  
• 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.).
  

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REFORMED RESOURCES FOR EDIFICATION, EDUCATION, and EVANGELISM

Struggling to know which Bible version to use? Read this pamphlet for help answering this question.

• The Reformed Book Outlet (downtown Hudsonville, MI) is open four days a week and features Reformed publications, good Christian music, and other practical items (cards, etc.) Come visit the store Tuesday - Friday from 10am-5pm, or Saturday from 10 am - 1pm!
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Are you interested in learning 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.
  
  
• Do you need some catechism materials for use in your church or family? The PRC publishes catechism materials on Bible history and Reformed doctrine, for children of all ages. Visit this page for more information.
  
  
• The PR Sunday School Association also publishes complete OT and NT Bible Story Lessons for young children and older children. Visit this page to learn more.

This Week's Thought for Contemplation

"There is no essential difference between the faith of God’s people in the Old Testament and in the New Testament!

"Hebrews 11:13 says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” The only difference between their faith and ours is that we, by faith, have seen the beginning of the fulfilment of these promises in the coming and work of Jesus Christ, though we too still see the completion of those promises “afar off” but that is not an essential difference.

"Jehovah’s people in the Old Testament believed, loved and embraced God and His promises, for they were all promises of Christ. For the sake of these promises, they were willing to live as strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Believing these same promises, we trust in the same God that they did, the God of Israel. Like them we, by faith, love these promises more than we love anything else and love the Christ of the promises. It is to those promises that we cling in the darkest times, as they did, and it is these promises that make us, with them, strangers and pilgrims on the earth (I Pet. 1:1; 2:11).

"The whole of Hebrews 11 shows that their faith is the same as ours. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (1). Faith is its own evidence and, therefore, also its own assurance of things that eye hath not seen or ear heard or that have entered into the heart of man to understand. Faith needs no more proof than itself and needs no “scientific” proof that “the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (3). It does not need such proof today and never did. As it was both evidence and assurance for the “elders” (the saints of the Old Testament), so it is for us (2).

"Faith for us is everything that it was for the Old Testament people of God. It offers “a more excellent sacrifice” to God (4), though no longer the animal sacrifices that pointed ahead to the sacrifice of Christ. Out of gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice, faith offers “the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (13:15). Faith still translates us, as it did Enoch (11:5), so that “whosoever liveth and believeth in [Jesus] shall never die” (John 11:26), whether we go to heaven in the way Enoch did or in the ordinary way."

~ Rev. R. Hanko in the February issue of "Covenant Reformed News"