On this Lord's Day dated June 11, 2017 we may report on the following news and information from PRC congregations and mission fields:

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Rev. N. Decker (Trinity PRC) is considering the call from Southwest PRC (received May 21). He plans to answer it by June 25.
  
• Rev. C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull IA) is considering the call from Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB (received May 28).
• From its new trio of Revs. N. Decker, C. Griess (Calvary, Hull, IA), and R. Kleyn (Spokane, WA), the congregation of Zion PRC (Hudsonville/Jenison, MI) voted TODAY to call Rev. N. Decker to serve as her first pastor.
  

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• The delegation from the PRC Contact Committee and Faith PRC to the BERG in Giessen, Germany concludes its visit and labors today, returning tomorrow, D.V. May God grant His blessing on this trip and give a safe return to the couples (Rev. & Mrs. K. Koole, Mr. & Mrs. Pete Vander Schaaf, and Mr. & Mrs. Dave Bouwkamp).
  
• This second notice was also sent out this week from the Sated Clerk of Synod concerning the convening of the PRC 2017 Synod this week:

The pre-synodical service will be held Monday evening, June 12, at 7:00 p.m. in Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church. Rev. G. Eriks, president of Synod 2016, will preach.

Synod convenes Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. The seven seminarians who will be examined at synod will preach their specimen sermons on Tuesday. The oral exams will take place on Wednesday and Thursday – the schedule can be found on the prca.org website (http://www.prca.org/current/news), below in image form, and attached here in pdf.

Graduation is scheduled for Thursday, June 15, at 7:30 pm. in Hudsonville PRC. Prof. B. Gritters will deliver the commencement address on “The Ministry: An Existence, Not An Occupation.” The pre-synodical service and the graduation exercises will be streamed live at http://hudsonvilleprc.org.

Remember the synodical delegates in your prayers as they oversee the exams of the seminarians and as they deal with all the other matters brought before them. May God grant insight and wisdom in the deliberations so that the decisions  edify the church and glorify God.

MISSION NEWS:

• On May 28 Rev. C. Haak declined the call from Byron Center PRC to serve as a home missionary.
  
• On May 14 the congregation of Doon PRC voted to extend a call to Rev. H. Bleyenberg to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines. In order to properly consider this call, Rev. Bleyenberg and his wife are currently visiting the field for two weeks (June 9-22). We pray God's blessing on them as they consider this special call (for more on this, see below).
  
• From the Provident Christian Church for today we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  • We welcome everyone here today. A special welcome to any visitors. May the Lord give us joy in worship, for His glory and for our blessing. Rev. Kleyn will preach for us in the first service today, and Rev. Bleyenberg in the second. Next Sunday, the Lord willing, Rev. Holstege will preach for both our worship services.
  • We welcome Rev. Heath Bleyenberg and his wife Deb into our fellowship today. They are visiting the Philippines for 2 weeks while Rev. Bleyenberg considers the call to be a missionary here. We pray God will use the visit as a means to make the answer to the call clear. Rev. Bleyenberg plans to answer the call on June 25.
  • The Wednesday night Bible study will be held this week, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. Rev. Bleyenberg will be giving a special lecture on how to read and study the Word of God. All are encouraged to attend.
  • The Classis of the PRCP is scheduled to meet tomorrow, June 12, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela. You are welcome to attend and observe the meeting of Classis.

 Below is a picture posted recently on the Kleyn's blog (along with others) about a new young people's forum called "Reformed Discussion Table":

And this week Mrs. Stephanie Lanning (wife of Rev. A. Lanning, pastor of Covenant ERC in Singapore - blog is "Stories from Singapore") posted some recent pictures of a wedding there, as well as of the last delegation to Kolkata, India (April 2017). We include one of the latter pictures here - from the church camp that was held.

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Next week Tuesday, June 13, the PRC Synod of 2017 will begin its meetings at Hudsonville PRC. Below is the initial notice from the Stated Clerk, Rev. Ron Van Overloop.

SYNOD 2017 NOTICE:

The pre-synodical service will be held Monday evening, June 12, at 7:00 p.m. in Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church. Rev. G. Eriks, president of Synod 2016, will preach.

Synod convenes Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. The seven seminarians who will be examined at synod will preach their specimen sermons on Tuesday. The oral exams will take place on Wednesday and Thursday – the schedule can be found on the prca.org website (http://www.prca.org/current/news), below in image form, and attached here in pdf.

Graduation is scheduled for Thursday, June 15, at 7:30 pm. in Hudsonville PRC. Prof. B. Gritters will deliver the commencement address on “The Ministry: An Existence, Not An Occupation.” The pre-synodical service and the graduation exercises will be streamed live at http://hudsonvilleprc.org.

Remember the synodical delegates in your prayers as they oversee the exams of the seminarians and as they deal with all the other matters brought before them. May God grant insight and wisdom in the deliberations so that the decisions  edify the church and glorify God.

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for June 2017 on the RWH radio program.

Rev. Carl Haak, pastor of Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI will continues his four-month service for the RWH program, as he begins a series on marriage this month.

You are encouraged to listen to these important messages and to let others know about them too. Help spread the word about the Reformed Witness Hour, now in its 76th year of broadcasting the truths of God's sovereign, particular, efficacious grace!

Below are the messages scheduled for this month, also in flyer form (attached in pdf).

June 4, 2017 - In the Beginning, God Created Marriage, Genesis 2:18-25

June 11, 2017 - God's Design for Marriage, Genesis 2:24

June 18, 2017 - God's Rule of Conduct for Marriage, Colossians 3:12-13

June 25, 2017 - A Dress Code for Marriage, Colossians 3:12-13

On this Pentecost Sunday 2017 (June 4) we report on the following news and information from PRC congregations and mission fields:

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• On May 21 the congregation of Southwest PRC voted to call Rev. N. Decker (Trinity PRC, Hudsonville).
• On May 28 Rev. C. Haak (Georgetown PRC) declined the call from First PRC, Holland MI.
• On May 28 Rev. C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull IA) received the call from Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB.
• The Council of Zion PRC (Hudsonville/Jenison, MI) announces a new trio from which to call her first pastor: Revs. N. Decker, C. Griess (Calvary, Hull, IA), and R. Kleyn (Spokane, WA).

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

From the bulletin of Grandville PRC we find this news about the delegation from the PRC Contact Committee and Faith PRC to the BERG in Giessen, Germany this week:

Rev and Pat Koole with the VanderSchaafs and Bouwkamps arrived safely in Germany Tuesday morning.  Wednesday Rev. Koole gave his speech at the Seminary about the Covenant and the controversy over conditions in the covenant. They are now at a church camp in which two small Reformed Congregations will listen to 4 speeches on the importance of church membership and then will worship together at the camp on Sunday. The delegates will be discussing various and practical issues with the Elders of THE BERG this coming week.

This notice was also sent out this week from the Sated Clerk of Synod concerning the upcoming 2017 meeting of the PRC Synod:

Synod Notice:  The pre-synodical service will be held on Monday evening, June 12, at 7:00 p.m., in Hudsonville Protestant Reformed Church.  Rev. G. Eriks, president of Synod 2016, will preach the sermon.  Synod convenes Tuesday morning at 8:00 in Hudsonville PRC.  Synod is scheduled to examine seven senior seminarians with a view to declaring them eligible for a call.  They will preach their specimen sermons on Tuesday - four preaching at Hudsonville PRC and three at Providence PRC.  Their oral exams will take place Wednesday and Thursday - all at Hudsonville PRC.  Graduation is planned for Thursday evening, June 15 at 7:30 in Hudsonville PRC.  Prof. B. Gritters will deliver the commencement address:  "The Ministry: An Existence, Not An Occupation." The pre-synodical service and the graduation will be streamed live at http://hudsonvilleprc.org.

MISSION NEWS:

• On May 28 Rev. C. Haak declined the call from Byron Center PRC to serve as a home missionary.
  
• On May 14 the congregation of Doon PRC voted to extend a call to Rev. H. Bleyenberg to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines. In order to properly consider this call, Rev. Bleyenberg and his wife plan to visit the field for two weeks in June (9-22). We pray God's blessing on them as they leave this week Friday.
  
• From the Provident Christian Church for today we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  • Rev. Holstege will preach for us in the first service today. In the second service, Rev. Kleyn will preach a sermon to commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Next Sunday, June 11, Rev. Kleyn will preach in the first service and Rev. Heath Bleyenberg in the second, the Lord willing.
  • The Wednesday night Bible study will meet this week, June 7, at 7:30. Rev. Holstege will continue teaching Heads III/IV of the Canons of Dordt.
  • The Classis of the PRCP is scheduled to meet on Monday, June 12, at the Berean PRC.

 Below are a couple of pictures posted on the Kleyn's blog this past week about a new young people's forum called "Reformed Discussion Table":

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On this final Lord's Day of May 2017 (May 28) we take note of the following news and information from PRC congregations and mission fields:

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Rev. C. Haak is considering the call from First PRC, Holland MI (received April 30) and plans to answer TODAY. *Update: It was announced that he DECLINED this call.
  
• On May 21 the congregation of Southwest PRC voted to call Rev. N. Decker (Trinity PRC, Hudsonville).
• From Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, AB we find this note: In the light of Rev. Miersma’s impending emeritation, the consistory comes to the congregation with the following trio: Rev. Allen Brummel, Rev. Cory Griess, and Rev. Martin Vander Wal. The congregation will vote TODAY after the afternoon service. *Update: Rev. C. Griess has received this call.
• From several PRC bulletins we may give this update on Rev. Ron Hanko, pastor of Lynden, WA PRC (this is quoted from Grace PRC's bulletin): "Rev. Ron Hanko (Lynden, WA) was able to return home this past Wednesday and continues his long recovery there. The pathology report indicated that the cancer is removed. We rejoice in this goodness of God."

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

From the bulletins of Grandville PRC and Faith PRCs we learn about a trip to the BERG in Germany this week:

Rev. Koole and Pat will be flying to Giessen, Germany with Pete and Dorothy Vander Schaaf for two weeks on behalf of the Contact Committee to visit the little Reformed Church with whom our churches have had contact for over 10 years. A range of discussion points will be addressed about issues that separate us yet as churches as well as discussing how they can best be a witness to the Reformed faith in Germany. This coming week-end the delegates will attend a conference of a few small groups struggling to maintain a Reformed presence in Germany. Dave and Dawn Bouwkamp from Faith PRC will also be making and participating in this visit.

MISSION NEWS:

• Rev. C. Haak continues to consider the call from Byron Center PRC to serve as a home missionary. He plans to answer TODAY. *Update: Pastor Haak DECLINED this call.
  
• On May 14 the congregation of Doon PRC voted to extend a call to Rev. H. Bleyenberg to serve as a third missionary to the Philippines. In order to properly consider this call, Rev. Bleyenberg and his wife plan to visit the field for two weeks in June (9-22).
  
• From the Provident Christian Church and Maranatha PRC bulletins for today we find the following notes concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  • Provident CC:
    • Rev. Kleyn will preach during both worship services today. Rev. Holstege is preaching today in the Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela.
    • The Wednesday night Bible study will meet this week, May 31, at 7:30 pm. Rev. Holstege will lead us in a study of the Canons of Dordt, Heads III/IV.
  • Maranatha PRC:
    
    • Today, Rev. L. Trinidad will lead our First Service and Rev. D. Holstege will lead the Second Service.
    • The regular PRCP Classis meeting is scheduled on June 12, 2017 at BereanPRC at 9:00 a.m..
• The delegation of Rev. Jim Laning and elder John Van Baren (along with their wives) have now completed their labors in Myanmar and have returned safely to the States this past week. If you missed the daily reports of elder Van Baren, you can still read them on the prca.org bulletins page. Select “Mission Stations” and click on “Myanmar Memoirs” for the updates. Look for the picture links too (below are two from one of the many seminars held).

 
Group gathered for one of the seminars on the Reformed doctrine of the church.

Rev. J. Laning and Rev. Titus answering questions after a seminar of the Reformed doctrine of the church.

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