PRC Weekly News for January 7, 2018 - Congregational, Denominational, and Sister-Church *(Updated)

On this first Lord's Day of 2018, January 7, we note the following news and information concerning PRC congregations, the Seminary, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• Rev. C. Griess (Calvary PRC, Hull, IA) is considering the call from First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI (received Dec.14). He plans to answer TODAY. *UPDATE: It was announced this morning that Rev.Griess has ACCEPTED this call.
  
• Candidate David Noorman is considering the call from SW PRC (Wyoming, MI - received Dec.17). He has up to six weeks to consider this call.
  
• With many officebearer installations taking place, our elders and deacons are reminded of the resources available to them on this special section of the PRC website.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• CLASSIS EAST Meeting this week:
  • Classis East will meet this week Wednesday, 8 A.M., at Hudsonville PRC. [This note appears in one PRC bulletin] "The agenda is full and weighty issues will be dealt with from a number of our sister congregations. Voting for Synodical delegates will take place as well as other standing Committees of Classis. Pray that the Lord grant wisdom to the Classis that our congregations be preserved in the peace, unity, and love of the Lord."
  • ADVICE FOR ELDERS ON FAMILY VISITATION:  Hudsonville PRC is hosting this winter’s Classis East Officebearers’ Conference Tuesday, January 9, at 7:30PM.  Prof. B. Gritters will speak on our practice of Family Visitation.  We want to keep this beloved practice as our Church Order requires, but how will we do it most profitably for all our homes?   After explaining the important principles of family visitation, Prof. Gritters will address questions like:  Should there be a theme or special topic each year?  What is the difference between family visitation and a Bible study?  How much should elders speak and how much should they listen?  How to ask questions so that the people speak?  At the end of the speech, there will be time for questions and discussion.   Everyone is welcome, both officebearers and members. The speech will also be live-streamed on Hudsonville PRC's website.

From the PRC Seminary comes this January news:

• The Seminary has completed its two-week holiday break and will now hold its 8-day Interim course (cf. note below). Second semester will begin on Tuesday, Jan.23. That schedule may be found on the seminary's homepage (cf. link above).
• Interim Course: The seminary’s interim course this year will be “The Theology of John Calvin” and will be taught by Prof. R. Cammenga.  Classes will meet from Monday, January 8, 2018 through Wednesday, January 17, 2018, in the morning, 9:00 A.M. to 11:30 A.M.  Any who are interested in attending are welcome.  Please call the seminary (531-1490) before January 5 so that your name can be added to the class list.
• The latest issue of the PR Theological Journal (Fall 2017) is now available in print form and in three (3) digital forms. Visit the Seminary's Journal page to download the digital editions and contact the Seminary if you would like to receive a print copy. At the Journal page you may also find all the back issues as well as an index to past issues.

 SISTER-CHURCH NEWS

• Concerning our sister church in Singapore, Covenant ERC, we have this news:
  • Candidate David Noorman and his wife are serving the ERCS for three Sundays following the recent departure of the Lannings for his new charge in Byron Center PRC.
    
  • Following Cand. Noorman's work there, Rev. A. denHartog and his wife will be there for an extended time, as requested by the PRC Contact Committee. The den Hartog's are planning to be in Singapore at least until after this year's Synod makes a decision on the CERCS calling a minister-on-loan from our denomination.
• The latest newsletter from our sister church, Covenant PRC in Ballymena, N. Ireland, was received and posted recently (for Dec. 2017). You may find that on this page.
  

SPECIAL NOTICES:

• Rev. Martyn McGeown, missionary-pastor of Limerick Reformed Fellowship, was interviewed by Christopher Arnzen on his radio program, “Iron Sharpens Iron”, this past Friday, January 5. The subject for this interview was Rev. McGeown’s recent book, Called to Watch for Christ’s Return. If you missed the live program, you may still listen to the mp3 recording of it found on the Covenant PRC website.
   
• Are you a Standard Bearer subscriber? Why not begin the new year by becoming one and feeding your soul with solid Reformed and biblical articles in 2018 and beyond!

• Reformed Book Outlet: The January 2018 newsletter notes that you may find many devotional books for the new year and that officebearers may find many resources for their work (cf. attached pdf.).

• THE HOPE HERALDS 2017 CD ENTITLED, “OUR GOD IS GOD” is available for $10 in the main offices of Covenant Chr. High School and Heritage Christian School and also at the Reformed Book Outlet and the PR Seminary bookstore. If you are not able to pick up your copy at any of these locations, please call or text Karen Daling (616-662-0784) or Dan VanDyke (616-610-3276) and we will mail the CD for $12. Thank you!

• Don't forget to listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday! Todays' message by radio pastor Rev. W. Bruinsma is a special New year's one, titled "Confidence in Christ's Coming," based on Hebrews 10:35-37.
  
  • NEW RWH Station - The Cornerstone PRC Word and Deed committee has partnered with the Reformed Witness Hour to air their messages on the radio in the Chicago area. Beginning today, September 10, the broadcast can be heard every Sunday at 4:00PM on WYLL 1160AM or on the internet at www.1160hope.com. Please tune in and encourage others to do so as opportunity arises in your personal witnessing.

 MISSION NEWS:

• From Georgetown PRC's bulletin we learn about an upcoming trip of a delegation to Vellore, India: "Pastor and Mary Haak and Bruce and Cherie Jabaay plan to leave on January 17 for a three week visit to the PRCV of India. They hope to continue the work of our previous delegation, i.e. meeting with the Tamil and English Church, assisting in the Sola Gratia Program, working with the GFH, visiting with members of the church and the Consistory of the PRCV, teaching and preaching, etc. While we would have liked to arrange for one delegation to spend a few months time with the PRCV, due to the current opposition toward Christianity it was deemed [better] to send another delegation for a shorter period of time. Pray for the Lord’s blessing."
• The last Philippines mission newsletter is dated November 2017 and may be found on this PRC webpage.
• The December 2017 newsletter of the Limerick Reformed Fellowship mission station was received and posted recently. You may find that on this page.

• From this Sunday's bulletins of the Maranatha PRC and the Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines we find the following notes concerning their pastors as well as concerning our missionaries and their labors today and in this coming week:
  • Provident CC: 

    • Rev. Holstege will preach both times today. Next Sunday, Lord willing, Rev. Smit will preach for PCC while Rev. Holstege preaches in the PRC of Bulacan.

    • The Wednesday night Bible study will begin again this week, January 10 at 8:00 pm. We will begin a study of Matthew 24-25. Please be prepared to discuss the Word of God together. Recommended reading is the new book by Rev. Martyn McGeown entitled Called to Watch for Christ’s Return, a commentary on Matthew 24-25. You can get this book from the bookstore in the Kleyns’ house. All are warmly invited to come to Bible study.

  • Maranatha PRC:

    • Today, our Pastor, Rev. L. Trinidad will lead our first service and in our second service our Missionary, Rev. R. Smit will give a message re on “True Thanksgiving” then to be followed by luncheon fellowship and also our Buenvenida for the Smit’s family.

    • The Church Visitation in MPRC is scheduled for Sunday January 14, 2018.

• Let us remember and continue to lift up the needs of these busy pastors and missionaries in the Philippines. May the Lord of the harvest give them grace to be faithful in all their labors.
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