PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for April 10, 2022

Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this fourteenth Sunday of our Lord's year 2022, April 10. We thank the Lord for these weekly spiritual oases on our pilgrimage through this weary world on the way to our heavenly home. May our worship this day be a sweet incense before our faithful God through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) ...But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.  ~ Psalm 49:5-9, 15

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

• In commemoration of the atoning death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the PR churches will be holding Good Friday services on Friday, April 15. Most are in the evening (7 p.m.), but a few are at other times, including in the morning. Visit the website of the church near you for details. You are cordially invited to attend this service in worship of the Lord Jesus and to hear the gospel of His saving sacrifice accomplished on the cross.
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. E. Guichelaar (Randolph PRC) declined the call from Peace PRC (Dyer, IN). 
  
  
• Today Rev. D. Kleyn (missionary to the Philippines) declined both the call to Doon PRC and the call to Hudsonville PRC, being convicted that the Lord wishes him to remain on the mission field at this time. May the Lord continue to bless him and Sharon in that devoted labor. And may the Lord encourage our vacant congregations, assuring them that, as the Great Shepherd of His sheep, He cares for them in perfect wisdom and will provide for them in the days ahead, including the provision of an undershepherd once again.
  
  
• Today Grace PRC voted to call Prof. B. Gritters (PRC Seminary) to serve as her next pastor. May the Lord give him the wisdom of Christ as he considers this call.
  
  
• First PRC-Edmonton's Consistory announces a new trio from which to call a pastor: Revs. S. Regnerus (Lynden, WA), R. Smit (Philippines), A. Stewart (Covenant PRC, Ballymena, N. Ireland). The congregation will vote on the trio next Sunday, April 17, after the PM service.
  
  
• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. R. Hanko (2 Sundays plus Good Friday) in Doon (IA) PRC; Rev. T. Miersma in First PRC, Edmonton, AB; Prof. B. Gritters and Rev. D. Holstege in Grace PRC;  Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. J. Mahtani in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. J. Engelsma (Rev. J. Marcus for Good Friday) in Peace 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.
  
  
• Upcoming PRC Easter/Spring Singspirations and Choir programs:
  • Hull PRC (IA): The Hull Young People’s Society invites everyone to the Resurrection Singspiration tonight at 7:45 p.m.
  • Loveland PRC (CO): Spring Choir Concert: "Please plan to stay after the evening worship service tonight to attend our church’s choir concert. Should you not be able to attend, or if you know of others who could benefit from these expressions of faith by way of song, the concert will be livestreamed. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. or shortly thereafter. We especially encourage you to invite others to the worship service as well as the concert."
  • Zion PRC will be hosting an Easter Singspiration (April 17) that will feature a few choir numbers and a couple special numbers as  well. The program will be held next Sunday evening beginning at 7:30 pm here at Zion. Refreshments will be served after  church. Friends and family are more than welcome!
  • The Peace Young People (Dyer, IN) invite you to a Singspiration on Sunday evening, April 24. Please join us as we glorify God in singing praises to Him.
  • Georgetown PRC: Her choir will present a program on Sunday night May 1.
  • Grandville PRC: The young people are hosting a singspiration May 1 after the evening service.
• Special PRC Evangelism/missions notices:
  • Zion PRC (Jenison, MI): Community Bible Study will meet this Wednesday (April 13) to finish John 5. It will meet in the conference room of the Georgetown Library this time due to the regular room being unavailable.
  • Loveland PRC (CO): The Bible study on the CSU campus [Colorado State University - Ft. Collins] is this Wednesday [April 13] at 6:00 p.m. in room 378 (notice room change) of the Lory Student Center. "Our congregation's students are encouraged to invite classmates as God gives opportunity to you."
  • Hope PRC Ministry podcast: for April 15, Rev. J. Slopsema's sermon on Despondency will air. The following Friday, a new series will start with Rev. Bruinsma on the Signs of Christ's Coming. "Thank you for listening in and making us a part of your day! Please share this podcast with your friends and acquaintances."
  • Hope PRC-Grand Rapids, MI: The congregation is invited to an evening of fellowship and praise on Tuesday, April 19 at 7:30 at our church. Seth Kalsbeek is going to deliver a presentation on the past year of turmoil in the country of Myanmar with refreshments to follow. Visitors are welcome."

• Young People's News!
  
  • Registration is now open through April 30 for the 2022 Young Peoples Convention hosted by Faith PRC? "We have a great week planned at Camp Cedarmore in Kentucky from August 1-5, 2022. Registration is fully online this year, so get started at https://prcconvention.com/registration/. Note that the registration process includes waivers, so parents should register for their young people who are minors. We can't wait to see you at convention, Lord willing!"
  • After two years of no PRYP's conventions, we are hoping to fill the camp with young people hungry for opportunities for spiritual growth in Christ and good Christian fellowship - besides delicious southern food! Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Psalm 63:3

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• Rev. J. Marcus continues to serve the churches with preaching and teaching. He is in Randolph PRC today and will lead the Good Friday service in Peace PRC. He remains eligible for a call to the churches. Let us remember him and his family in our prayers.
• 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.

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The seminary enjoyed its spring break this past week. Classes resume this week Tuesday (April 12). There are four weeks remaining in this second semester of the 2021-22 school year. 
• The second round of practice preaching was held on Monday, March 28, and continues tomorrow, April 11, with I.Peters and A. Haveman delivering sermons.
• 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. Work is being done on the Spring 2022 issue, which will feature the speeches from the seminary's fall conference on preaching. 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.
• The seminary is open daily from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 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.
  
  

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSION NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore and her Kolkata, India mission work:
  • Pastor J. Tan is busy serving the CERC faithfully each week as her pastor.  His "pastoral note" to the congregation this week includes this note: "Today we welcome our dear Seminarian Marcus Wee to our pulpit to give us a Word of Edification. May God be pleased to receive our worship for Christ's sake and use His word to build us up in that most Holy Catholic faith. May God be pleased to use this spiritual exercise to further encourage our dear seminarian of his call to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament." [*Sem. Wee delivers the sermon Saturday evening via livestream from the PRC Seminary's assembly room.]
  • The congregation is again hosting their annual Good Friday Gospel Meeting this Friday morning, April 15. Here is the message they are sending out: "When we look around us, we know that there is something deeply wrong with this world. Everywhere we turn, there is suffering with the COVID Pandemic, wars in Ukraine, death, and injustice. As we look deeper at the problem, we see that the problem lies in each and every one of us. That is the problem of sin. We are sinners that have gone against what God has commanded us, namely, to love Him the one who created us and all the world, and to love our neighbour, all the people that God has placed around us. The Bible tells us, that because of sin, we rightly and justly deserved eternal damnation in hell. For the wages of sin is death. We know that is true. But the Bible also tell us there is one way out and only one way out of this death and unto salvation and life everlasting. That Way, is not some ritual, or superstition, or some action that must be done. That way is a person, that way is Jesus Christ. Come this Good Friday to hear the gospel of the only Way out of death unto life eternal."
  • The last issue of "Reformed News Asia" was published in 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. 
  • A March newsletter has been released by the CPRC. Visit this page to read it and catch up on all the exciting news out of 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).
  • A new issue of "Covenant Reformed News" has been published - check out the March 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:
  • Today Rev. D. Kleyn (missionary to the Philippines) declined both the call to Doon PRC and to Hudsonville PRC, being convicted that the Lord wishes him to remain on the mission field at this time. May the Lord continue to bless him and Sharon in that devoted labor.
  • 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 via live stream at our Facebook page, D.V."
    
  • Provident PRC bulletin: Rev. R. Smit preached and lead her worship services today. The services are being livestreamed at the “PPRC and Friends” Facebook page." And in other news, "Rev. D. Kleyn and Elder Bien Montoya will be visiting the Bearers of Light Community Church in Guiguinto, Bulacan today to preach and teach there. Also, in the afternoon, they will meet the leaders of Kapatiran Kristiano sa Baliwag, the Lord willing."
  • The PRCP Seminary continues with its regular course work in its second semester.

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 Rev. R. Kleyn (First PRC-Grand Rapids, MI) continues speaking for the RWH. The focus will be a series on the life of Joseph, with other special messages interspersed. Today's message is based on Genesis 40 and titled "Joseph in Prison."
  
• 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

Why did God send His only begotten Son into the world to die on the cross? Because He loved the world! But what does this mean? And how does one receive the gift and benefit of Jesus' death on Calvary? Read this resource for the answers.

• 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 temporarily closed while it moves into a new building that is being renovated. See the following notes for details.
  Special notices re the RBO! Reformed Book Outlet is moving! We have found a new building for our store in downtown Hudsonville on Harvey St. after needing to move out of our current location in Keegstra’s Dollar Store. We need to do some renovations to the building before we can move in, and we are holding a drive to help raise $49,200 to do these renovations. We would like to raise $26,400 before starting the renovations on March 26. If you would like to give, you can do so at our website www.reformedbookoutlet.com and typing in Donate to the search bar, or you can send a check made out to Hudsonville PR Church with RBO Drive in the memo, and send to Hudsonville PRC. We could also use some help moving out of our current store on March 30, day or evening. Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let us know you’re able to help us move or with any questions!
  The last day Reformed Book Outlet will be open in their current location is March 26. We will not be able to move directly into our new location due to the renovations that need to take place, so watch the bulletin or our social media pages for updates on when we will open in our new location. In the mean time, our website will still be open for ordering, for shipping or for local pickup (more details on this to come)!
  
  
• 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

"It was time to speak. Heavenly wisdom demanded this of the obedient servant. 

Why? Indeed because it was demanded of Him, but there is much more. Not only must it be established that He is innocent and His accusers are guilty, they must execute their evil intent, they must act according to their evil design, they must in their guilt kill the innocent, for the Just must die for the unjust. 

This is divine wisdom. In the midst of confusion and wrangling, Jesus sounded forth in words that harbor no doubt, nor becloud any issue; He told them, “1 am the Christ the Son of the Living God, and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 

Behold Him as He stood in the midst of His accusers. He who is the natural Son of God, Who dwelt in the bosom of the Father before the worlds were framed. He came in the fullness of time to assume the task of the obedient servant having upon His shoulders our guilt in order that He might carry it all away. He never faltered a moment. He knew no sin, but He became sin for us that we might obtain the righteousness of God in Him."

~ Jason Kortering in "Jesus, Silent and Speaking," one of this month's featured articles