PRC and Sister-Church News for the Week of March 18, 2018

On this eleventh Lord's Day of 2018, March 18, we note the following news and information concerning PRC congregations, the Seminary, mission fields, and sister churches.

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• From Calvary PRC in Hull, IA:
  • A congregational meeting will be held after the Thursday evening service on March 29 to call a new pastor from the trio presented by the council. The trio consists of Rev. Allen Brummel (Heritage PRC, Sioux Falls, SD), Candidate Jonathan Langerak, and Rev. Jonathan Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC, Dyer, IN).
  • Rev. S. Regnerus (Lynden PRC) lead her worship services today. Next week Sunday morning the morning service will be led by an elder and the second service will be at 2:00 led by Rev. J. Laning (Hull PRC).
  • Advance Notice: Our Good Friday worship service will be held on Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m. Rev. A. Brummel will be filling her pulpit that evening.
• California Summer Retreat: Hope Redlands is hosting a retreat this summer, July 2-5, 2018. Registration will open March 31st at 8am PST, with a limit of 69 attendees, ages 18-35yo. We hope you can attend! For more details and to find the link to register, please visit hopeprc.org and view the Retreat tab. If you have any additional questions, please email either Brad Potjer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kayla Feenstra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (registration details).
• First PRC in Edmonton, AB has this special notice concerning a significant event this summer: "The dates for the 2018 Family Conference have been finalized! First PRC in Edmonton, AB plans to host the conference July 20-22, 2018 D.V. Hear from our speakers: Rev. B. Huizinga, N. Langerak and J. Marcus on the topic of 'Seeking The Lord'. Mark your calendars and plan to attend what promises to be a spiritually encouraging time of growth and fellowship with saints from Canada and abroad, as well as an opportunity to see some of the beauty that God has created here in Canada. For more information or to register, please visit our website https://edmontonfamilyconf.wixsite.com/conference2018, or contact Scott Ferguson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "

Hudsonville PRC, host of the recent meetings of Classis East (cf. below)

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS

• Classis East met on January 10 and February 28 in Hudsonville PRC. The stated clerk submits this report on the second session (both reports may also be found here):
  

  Classis East Special Meeting Report – February 28, 2018

  This special meeting of Classis East was required for two purposes. The first order of business was the examination of Pastor Elect David Noorman. In the afternoon Classis met to treat the appeal of a member against the member’s pastor and consistory.

  After preaching his specimen sermon and upon receiving the approval of his preaching from Classis East and the Synodical Deputies from Classis West, the Pastor-elect Dave Noorman was examined extensively on the six loci of Reformed Dogmatics, and his knowledge of the scriptures, confessions, controversy, and practica.  Pastor-elect Noorman gave an excellent demonstration of his knowledge and training in all these areas. Classis voted unanimously (and the Synodical Deputies concurred) to approve of his examination, recommending that SW PRC proceed to his ordination and installation. With much thanksgiving to God, we rejoice in His provision of this minister of the gospel to the PRCA. SW PRC sent a letter of thanks to Classis for pulpit supply during the time they were vacant. 

  Classis then, treated a lengthy appeal of a member against the member's pastor and consistory. That appeal was rejected. Also, the pastor and consistory were given instruction from Classis.

  Special thanks should be given to Hudsonville PRC for their hosting both the January and the Special meeting of February of Classis East. They went above and beyond to care for the delegates. The expenses of the meetings were $3,823.65.

  Classis will next meet on May 9, 2018, Lord willing at Faith PRC, Jenison Michigan.

  Gary Boverhof, Clerk
  
  

• Classis West met on Wednesday, March 7, in Loveland, CO PRC. The report of the Stated Clerk has been posted here.
  
  
• From the PRC Seminary comes this March news:
  • The seminary has now completed eight weeks of the second semester. Mid-term exams have been given. The first practice preaching sessions were held on Monday, Feb.26 and Monday, March 5, with the second round scheduled for April 16 and 23. Besides their daily work, both faculty and students stay busy with preaching, teaching catechism, and leading  Bible societies in the churches. Continue in prayer for the seminary and its precious work.
    
  • The upcoming internships of Seminarians Matt Kortus and Jacob Maatman have been confirmed and announced. Sem. Kortus will be interning at Trinity PRC under Rev. N. Decker and his Council and Sem. Maatman will intern at Hudsonville PRC under Rev. G. Eriks and his Council. The internship program runs from July 1 to December 31.
  • *FUTURE TEACHERS AND MINISTERS: Information for the 2018 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 31.

The magazine of the Covenant ERC Young People (cf. below)

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS

• Concerning our sister church in Singapore, Covenant ERC, the following may be noted:
  • Rev. A. den Hartog and his wife Sherry are serving the CERC until at least June of this year. Read the "Pastor's Voice" part of her bulletin to learn more.
  • Her latest newsletter (February 2018) - Reformed News Asia - was recently posted and may be found on this page.
  • The latest young peoples' magazine, Salt Shakers, was received and posted recently (January 2018). Check that out on this page.
• Concerning our sister church in Ballymena, N. Ireland, Covenant PRC, we call attention to the following:
  • Covenant PRC's latest newsletter was received and posted recently (Feb. 2018). And don't forget her other publication - Covenant Reformed News! That latest issue (Feb. 2018) may be found here.
  • Join Reformed believers from around the world at the 2018 British Reformed Fellowship family conference at Hebron Hall in South Wales from Saturday, July 21, to Saturday, July 28. Our speakers, Prof. David Engelsma and Rev. Andy Lanning, will lecture on "The Reformed Family—According to the Word of God." More information and booking forms are available at http://brfconference.weebly.com or contact Briana Prins (616-214-2779; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

SPECIAL NOTICES:

• Registration for the 2018 PRYP Convention opened March 15! Convention will be held August 13-17, 2018 at Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, MN. The hosting churches of the Midwest are excited to have you join us for an upbuilding week of fellowship and fun! For more information and to register, please visit prcconvention.com.
  
• Busing to Convention from Michigan: due to housing limitations in Iowa, the Iowa convention steering committee has asked that the people coming from Michigan go directly to the camp on Monday. Busing is lined up to leave the Grand Rapids area Monday morning around midnight to get to the camp in time for registration. Cost to ride the bus is around $100. To register or for more information contact Chris Dykstra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• 2018 YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONVENTION CHAPERONE & NURSE REGISTRATION is now open!  The convention, hosted by the five Midwest churches, is planned for August 13-17, at Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria, MN.  To register, go to prcconvention.com, and follow the instructions under the chaperone or nurse tab.  If you have any questions, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  
• Reformed Book Outlet: The March 2018 newsletter (see attached pdf!) includes a special offer of a free Psalm Choir CD and specials on a Christian biography series for children.
  
  
• Looking for pamphlets published by the PRC? Visit the PRCA Evangelism page for a complete list of materials available in digital format or by order from the publishing church.
  
  
• Psalm Choir - The latest CD, Volume 20, ‘Sweet Refreshment’ is now available. There are over 25 selections from the past two seasons.  Please visit the website www.psalmchoir.com to order.

• Don't forget to listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday! Today Rev. R. Kleyn (Covenant of Grace PRC, Spokane, WA) continues a series on the OT book of Ruth. His message is "Boaz: A Willing Redeemer," based on Ruth 3:11-18.
  • 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:

• Have you read Rev. Titus' latest report on the work going on in Myanmar? Find that on this page.
• The February/March 2018 newsletter of the Limerick Reformed Fellowship mission station is now posted on this page.
• The last Philippines mission newsletter is dated November 2017 and may be found on this PRC webpage. The annual Doon/Foreign Mission Committee delegation visit to the Philippines took place from February 15-27. This year's delegation was Rev. C. Griess (FMC) and Joel Van Egdom (Doon PRC), along with his wife Michelle (see picture above).
• Don't forget to follow the Kleyn's blog on life and activities in the Philippines. And that also includes the Holstege's one!

• From this Sunday's bulletins of the Provident Christian Church in Marikina, the Philippines and the Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela 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 in the first service today, then teach the Church Order, Articles 65ff. Rev. Kleyn will preach in our second service. Next Sunday, Lord willing, Rev. Smit will preach both times at PCC.

    • The Children’s Catechism class will meet today during the CO class. Rev. Kleyn will teach Lessons 21-22 in the OT History for Juniors.

    • Next Sunday, Rev. Holstege plans to preach for a congregation called “Bearers of Light Community Church” in Guiguinto, Bulacan. We had some contact with them recently and they asked us to teach them the Reformed faith. For now, we are just exploring the possibility of working with them.

    • This week, Revs. Kleyn and Smit will travel to Negros for the monthly pastors’ classes in Sipalay. Let us remember them in prayer for this important work.

  • Maranatha PRC:

    • Our Pastor, Rev. L. Trinidad will lead our both services and after the second service he will continue the Lesson #47 of the Book Revelation.

    • Next Sunday Rev. D. Kleyn will lead our both services and he will be teaching the lesson of the Belgic Confession.

    • The June 2018 Synod of the PRCA will officially ratify our sister relationship with PRCA, also with the concurrence of the CERC of Singapore and CPRC of Northern Ireland. The recent meeting of the Classis of PRCP has moved and approved the recommendation to send Rev. Leovino A. Trinidad, as the official PRCP delegate to the June 2018 Synod of the PRCA, D.V. Likewise, Rev. Daniel Holstege will also attend the Synod while he is on furlough in June of this year. Please include them in your prayer.

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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