PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for September 11, 2022

Below you will find special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this thirty-sixth Sunday of our Lord's year 2022, September 11.

Because our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead on the third day - as He promised - and because He is returning in glory for our everlasting worship - as He has also promised - today, on this first day of the week, we gather in worship as members of our living Savior's church. With gratitude and gladness we bring our praise to our triune God for fully accomplishing our salvation in His Son and by His Spirit. We cordially invite you to join us in worship on this day and on any Sunday.

Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. ...But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. ~ Psalm 69:6-9,13

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 morning Rev. W. Langerak (Trinity PRC, Hudsonville, MI) announced his decline of the call from Doon (IA) PRC.
  
  
• Today Rev. D. Noorman (Southwest PRC-Wyoming, MI) announced his decline of the call from Hudsonville PRC.
  
  
• Georgetown PRC held a congregational meeting this morning to call a new pastor (with Rev. C. Haak becoming emeritus Sept.1.). From the trio of Revs. A. Brummel (Calvary PRC-Hull, IA), M. Kortus (Hope PRC-Redlands, CA), D. Noorman (SW PRC-Wyoming, MI), Rev. Kortus received the call.
  
  
• The Council of Randolph PRC (WI) has announced the following trio for the congregation's consideration: Rev. M. DeBoer, (Edgerton), Rev. J. Holstege, (Zion), and Rev. J. Smidstra, (Holland). The congregational meeting is scheduled for September 25 after the morning service.
  
  
• Rev. A. Brummel (Calvary PRC) is considering the call from Hosanna PRC (Edmonton, AB) voted to call  He plans to answer the call on September 18, Lord willing.
  
  
• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. A. Brummel in Doon (IA) PRC; Prof. C. Griess and Rev. C. Haak in Georgetown PRC; Rev. T. Miersma in Hosanna PRC, Edmonton, AB; Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. J. Maatman in Hudsonville PRC; Rev. K. Koole in Randolph 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.
  
  
• Special Evangelism/mission notices:
  • First PRC-Holland, MI: "The next Outreach Bible Study is this week Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Howard Miller Library [Zeeland]. Rev. Smidstra will lead on the topic of 'Jesus: the Light of the World.'”
  • Kalamazoo PRC (MI): "Amazing Grace: The Life of John Newton." When: Friday, September 23, 2022, at 7 p.m. Where: Kalamazoo Protestant Reformed Church
    4515 Green Acres Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Who: Speaker: Rev. Steven Key, Loveland (CO) Protestant Reformed Church
  • Loveland PRC (CO): "Fall Lecture: Mark your calendar for an Evangelism Committee sponsored fall lecture by Rev. Ron Hanko entitled “Conditions or Means,” a theme that touches the recent controversy affecting the churches. The lecture is scheduled for 7 pm Friday, Sept. 23. Invite a friend and anyone you think may have interest."

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

Classis East: Classis East will meet in regular session this week Wednesday, September 14, 2022, beginning at 8:00 AM at Byron Center PRC. May God give wisdom and grace to all the delegates as they go about His work.

General Notes:

• PRC Synod 2022: The 2022 Acts of Synod & Yearbook have arrived and are being distributed in the churches. If you are in need after this distribution, please contact the stated clerk, Doug Mingerink, Sr.

Group picture taken of faculty and students this past week at PRC Seminary Convocation (Trinity PRC, Hudsonville, MI).
Back (l-r): Profs. Griess, Gritters, Kuiper, Cammenga; Front (l-r): Prof. Huizinga, Bruce Feenstra, Arend Haveman, Matt Koerner, Aaron Van Dyke

PRC Seminary Notices:

• The seminary has now completed two weeks of the first semester of the 2022-23 school year, and things go well. Seminary Convocation was held this past Wednesday evening at Trinity PRC (Hudsonville, MI). Prof. Kuiper spoke on “Defending Christ’s Church by Knowing Her History: Jephthah’s Example” and Prof. R. Cammenga (rector) introduced the students. (see photo above)
• Fall 2022 classes open to auditors: Two of Prof. Cammenga’s classes are open for auditors: NT History and Dogmatics. NT History begins with the intertestamental period and extends up to the passion week. Dogmatics will treat Ecclesiology, the doctrine of the church. Prof. Kuiper’s classes of Ancient Church History (a study of the history of the church and the development of doctrine from AD 100-590) and Hermeneutics (a study of the principles of Bible interpretation) are open as well. If you are interested in attending, please contact the seminary secretary at 616-531-1490 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out the day and time the class you are interested in will meet.
• In July Sem. M. Koerner (4th year) began his internship in Hope PRC-Grand Rapids under Rev. J. Mahtani. May the Lord use this to further his preparation for the ministry of the Word.
• This summer Prof. D. Kuiper taught a class on the history of the PRCA from 1924-1949.  If you wish to watch the six classes, the videos are available on the seminary’s YouTube channel. A pdf of the class handouts is available from Prof. Kuiper by request.
• The print edition of the spring 2022 issue of the PRT Journal was recently mailed (end of July). The digital editions are on the seminary's website (use the link provided here). This issue features the speeches from the seminary's fall 2021 conference on preaching, plus numerous book reviews. 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 (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
• 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 faithfully serving the CERC each week as her pastor. Today, Cand. M. Wee led the morning service and Rev. Tan the second service. In her bulletin today was this significant note: "Dear CERC, we're turning 35! CERC 35th Church Anniversary Date: 17 September 2022 (Saturday) Time: 9.45am- 1.30pm Theme: Not I, but Christ (Gal 2:20)."
  • There was also notice of a special congregational meeting: "God willing, Session will hold the 2nd ECM of 2022 on 18 Sep 2022, Sunday, 11.30 am in church. The purpose of the 2nd ECM is to vote... to extend a call to Candidate Marcus Wee to be CERC’s second minister."

• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  
  • Rev. A. Stewart continues to minister the Word faithfully to the saints in Ballymena.
  • The latest CPRC newsletter has released! The August 2022 issue contains reports on the BRF Conference held in July and much more.
  • For recordings of the recent British Reformed Conference held last month, visit this BRF webpage.
  • The August 2022 issue of "Covenant Reformed News" has now been published. Follow the link to read the latest profitable articles by Revs. A. Stewart and R. Hanko.
    
    
• PRC in the Philippines and her mission work:
  • Berean PRC bulletin: Rev. V. Ibe led her services today. "The saints in All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship (AGPRF) will join us in our worship services this morning through live stream via Facebook live, God willing."
    

  • Provident PRC bulletin: Rev. R. Smit led her worship services today. Also, "Rev. D. Kleyn and Sis Sharon are scheduled to visit the Bearers of Light Community Church in Guiguinto, Bulacan today, the Lord willing, in order to preach and teach there."
    

  • PRCP Seminary: The classes for 2022-2023 began August 30, 2022. "We are grateful to the Lord for His sustaining grace upon the labors of our instructors, [Rev. Smit and Rev. Kleyn] and to Seminarian Ace Flores. We pray that God will bless their faithful labors and that they may be encouraged even more as we look to God for another fruitful year of dedication and devotion to this cause of God’s Kingdom. God be praised!"

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. C. Haak (Georgetown PRC - Hudsonville, MI) is continuing to speak for the RWH program. He will be delivering some messages from Romans. Today's message is based on Romans 8:38,39 and titled "Christ's Inseparable Love."
  
• 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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RFPA September Sales!

The Sixteenth-Century Reformation of the Church is written to remind the reader who is familiar with the Reformation of its glories and worth; and to ground the believing reader in the truth of the Reformation confessed, as well as to help him or her in the holy life the Reformation called for. Especially the young people will benefit from this book. 

Prosperous Wicked and Plagued Saints: An Exposition of Psalm 73 sets forth the truth of God’s goodness to his people in their trouble and of God’s curse of the wicked in their prosperity.

• 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.
  
  
• 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) has now opened its new store in downtown Hudsonville! The new location is at 3472 Harvey St. in Hudsonville. Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The website has also been redone to make it easier for customers, especially those who aren’t local, to browse our inventory, see descriptions of most of the items, and choose between shipping or local pickup at our store during business hours. Be sure to check it out!
  
  
• 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

“Sometimes we are left speechless.  We simply cannot find words to express how we feel.  This can happen after a blow, or the weight of sorrow, has shattered our life and left us speechless.  David speaks of this in Psalm 39:9:  “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.”  Whatever that horrible experience was for David, he had this comfort, that it was not by chance but by the gracious hand of a sovereign Father in heaven.

 But there are other times when we are left speechless before an undeserved and unimaginable kindness and love shown to us.  We simply do not know what to say.  Have you ever experienced that?

When the apostle Paul, in Romans 8:28-30, finished writing those verses, when the reality of what he had said in those verses fell upon his mind and heart, he said:  “What shall we then say to these things?”  What things?  Amazing, wondrous things!  Romans 8:28-30, the truth that God has foreknown His children in love and predestinated, predetermined from all eternity, that we should be conformed to the image of His Son (v. 29); that God went on to call us irresistibly, by the power of His grace, out of the darkness of death and sin, to the light of Christ; that He justified us freely in the blood of Jesus and is now glorifying us, and will give us bodies like Christ’s in eternal glory.  And, therefore, that God now is working all things together for our good, that by His sovereign hand everything in the life of the child of God serves God’s gracious purposes. This leaves Paul speechless!  “What shall we then say to these things?  How do we respond to them?”

It left him almost speechless.  For the connection between Romans 8:30 and 31 is that the apostle Paul will summarize what appears to him so great, beyond the ability of words to express.  What can we say to the eternal, matchless, gracious love of God who elects, calls, justifies, and glorifies and who now works all things, everything, both good and evil for our good?  What shall we say to that?  Well, we will say this:  Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

~ Rev. Carl Haak in his Reformed Witness Hour message, "God Did Not Spare His Own Son."