This Week's PRC and Sister-Church News, December 1-7, 2019 *(Updated)

On this forty-eighth Lord's Day of 2019, December 1, the following news and information concerning PRC congregations, the Seminary, sister churches, and mission fields may be reported.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

…So Jesus Christ is said to be their consolation, signifying that although the world may hate and detest us, although we may be poor simpletons whom others rob, devour, and gobble up, although men may abuse and revile us, Christ alone is sufficient to console us. Every sadness will vanish when we understand that God sent his Son so that we might share in his blessings. That is the meaning of the word ‘consolation’. ~ John Calvin, Sermon "Christ Our Consolation" (Luke 2:25-28)

CONGREGATIONAL NEWS:

• On November 24 Rev. R. Barnhill (Peace PRC) declined the call from Immanuel PRC (Lacombe, AB). Today Rev. T. Miersma is once again bringing the Word in Immanuel PRC.
  
  
• The Consistory of Kalamazoo PRC has formed a trio for calling a new pastor (with a view to Rev. M. DeVries approaching emeritation): Rev. Ryan Barnhill, Rev. Heath Bleyenberg, Rev. Erik Guichelaar. A congregational meeting is scheduled for today after the evening service D.V. UPDATE: Rev. E. Guichelaar has received this call.
  
  
• On Nov.3, Rev. J. Mahtani (Cornerstone PRC) accepted the call from Grandvillle PRC to serve as minister on loan to Covenant ERC in Singapore. Next Sunday (Dec.8) he will preach his farewell sermon at Cornerstone. Grandville PRC will install Rev. Mahtani as minister-on-loan to Singapore on Sunday morning, December 29 and he will preach at the evening service. The Mahtanis hope to leave for Singapore shortly after the new year. May the Lord bless all these plans and preparations.
  
  
• The Council of Cornerstone PRC has formed a trio from which to call a new pastor, now that Rev. J. Mahtani has accepted the call to serve in our sister church in Singapore:  Revs. J. Engelsma, G. Eriks, and R. Kleyn. The congregational meeting is planned for December 8.

• The Council of the newly organized Unity PRC has formed a trio of Revs. J. Engelsma, E. Guichelaar, and R. Van Overloop.  The congregation plans to call on December 18.

• Rev. M. Kortus (Hope PRC, Redlands, CA) is leading the services in First PRC, Edmonton while Rev. A. Spriensma (PRC home missionary) is in Hope PRC (Redlands, CA) bringing the Word.

DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

A recent seminary Friday lunch discussion centered on PR Christian School teacher training with administrator Rick Noorman

PRC Seminary News:

• The seminary is now entering its fourteenth week of the first semester in the school year, and faculty, students, and staff remain busy with their various tasks. The students had the first draft of their maor papers due this past week, as the semester winds down and exams loom. Continue to pray for the seminary in your daily prayers.

• The faculty announces that Sem. Josiah Tan (CERC-Singapore) has been licensed to speak a word of edification in the churches. Contact Prof. B. Gritters (rector) for scheduling.
  
  
• The Fall 2019 issue of the PRT Journal is being completed and should be available in December. Watch for articles based on presentations given in Mexico this past summer and plenty of profitable book reviews.
  
  
• Remember the Seminary's Dordt400 Conference in April of this year? The speeches and presentations given at this event have now been compiled, expanded, and edited (by Prof. R. Cammenga) and form the newly published RFPA book, For God's Glory and the Church's Consolation: 400 Years of the Synod of Dordt. Visit the website to order your copy, or come to the seminary bookstore to find one! And if you are looking for the videos and audios of the speeches, visit this page.
  
  
• Looking for some good Reformed books to read, Bible study materials or seminary publications to use, or perhaps some gifts for the holiday season? Come and visit the seminary's bookstore! We have a variety of Bibles, commentaries, and good books - used and new (including Reformation titles!) - for our members and friends. And you may also make use of our library - here's the link to our online catalog if you wish to search for something to read or use.
  
  
• Need for Ministers: Synod 2019 took a decision to place the urgent need for seminary students before our churches. Please remember in your prayers to petition the Lord of the harvest for pastors, and please encourage young men, whom you observe to have the gifts, to consider the ministry. If you wish to listen to a couple of sermons by our professors that address this need, listen to "The (Suffering) Minister's Steadfast Confession" and "The Beautiful Feet of the Gospel Preacher."

• For more seminary news and information, visit the PRC seminary website! 

*The November issue of "Covenant Reformed News" was published this week - be sure to read it! (see below)

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS:

• Concerning our sister church in Ballymena, N. Ireland, Covenant PRC, we may note the following:
  • Rev. A. Stewart led the services today.
  • Covenant PRC's last church newsletter was received and posted (August 2019).
    
  • Read the latest issue of the "Covenant Reformed News"! Find the November 2019 issue here.

• Concerning our sister church in Singapore, Covenant ERC, we may note the following:
  
  • Rev. A. denHartog and his wife continue to serve the CERC while she is vacant. They plan to be there until Sunday, January 12, 2020.
    
  • Concerning Rev. J. Mahtani's acceptance of the call to serve them: "Please continue to keep Rev Mahtani and his family in prayer as they make the necessary preparation to relocate from the US to Singapore. There are many changes that the Mahtanis need to make, in order to adapt and adjust to the life in Singapore. But first and foremost, pray that the local authorities in Singapore will grant a favourable reply to Rev Mahtani’s Employment Pass application."
  • Her latest newsletter (October 2019) - Reformed News Asia - was posted recently and may be found on this page. 

• Concerning the PRC in the Philippines, we may note the following from the bulletins of the Berean PRC, PRC in Bulacan, Maranatha PRC, and Provident CC:
  • Berean PRC: Rev. R. Smit (PRC missionary) led the worship services today. "Rev. Ibe will lead our brothers and sisters in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija in their worship service today."
  • Maranatha PRC: "Rev. L. Trinidad, our Pastor will lead us in both services. He will teach us the Canons of Dordt. D. V."
  • Denominational News:

~ The PRCP Classis held their continued meeting yesterday (November 30) in Provident PRC.

~ A new mission newsletter was published and distributed this month. You may find that October 2019 update here.

~ And for more on the life and work of our "sisters" in the Far East read the news under Philippine missions.

• *The PRC also has a "corresponding relationship" with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) of Australia. We remember these brothers and sisters in our prayers and labors also.
  • This year the EPC has a new student attending the PRC seminary. Isaac Peters along with his wife Rebeka and four children are living in West Michigan and Isaac is in the first year of a three-year program.

Don't forget to include the Reformed Book Outlet in your gift-giving this month!

SPECIAL NOTICES:

• Do you have an interest in good Reformed literature and a solid Reformed and biblical magazine? Visit the Reformed Free Publishing Association's website (www.rfpa.org), where you will find information on books in all major Christian categories, as well as on the bi-monthly periodical, the Standard Bearer.  Don't forget that these books and magazine make for great gifts!
  
  
• If you are in need of some pamphlets and/or articles published by the PRC for use in evangelism and/or witnessing, visit the PRCA Evangelism page for a complete list of materials available in digital format or by order from the publishing church.

• Looking for a study Bible or Bible study resources this Fall? What about ideas for the holiday season? Visit the Reformed Book Outlet in downtown Hudsonville! The bookstore has plenty of other good reading materials too, as well as music and cards.
  

• Remember to listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you or on Sermonaudio wherever you are!
  • From October to January (2020) the RWH welcomes Rev. W. Bruinsma of our Pittsburgh PRC to the microphone. He is doing a series on women in the Bible, with today's message being "Ruth's Vow," based on Ruth 1:16,17. Listen to the broadcast on the station near you or visit the links provided here to listen to this program.
    
  • From the Reformed Witness Hour Committee:

~ Have you seen our recent flyer passed out last month in the PRC? If you haven't, you may find a copy attached to this news post.
~ Special RWH newsletter note: Did you know that Reformed Witness Hour messages are downloaded each month by saints all over the world—saints living in South Africa, Cambodia, Nigeria, and China? If you would like to stay informed about the reach of this distinctly Reformed radio and internet ministry and about ways you can support this witness, sign up at http://eepurl.com/gikNsL for a bimonthly newsletter.A new Spanish edition of the RWH has been produced and may be found on this YouTube channel (PRC Espanol). Why not check it out - and help spread the word!

 
There's a new issue of Salt Shakers out - November 2019! Have you started reading it yet?

ESPECIALLY FOR PRC Young People and Young Adults:

• December 15: The Young Calvinists will be host a Christmas singspiration for young people and young adults in Trinity Protestant Reformed Church at 7:45 p.m. There will be food in the narthex afterwards. Come celebrate the birth of our Savior with us!
  
  
• Please make note of next year's Protestant Reformed Young People's Convention date and location to be hosted by Georgetown PRC. The convention will be held Aug 10-14, 2020 at the Lake Williamson Camp in Carlinville, IL. Visit prcconvention.com for more information. Chaperone registration will open January 1, and conventioneer registration opens March 15.

• THE EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA would love to invite any young people and young adults, aged 13 and up, to their biennial youth camp. This youth camp will be held in Brisbane, Australia from the 28^th of December 2019 – 3^rd January 2020. Rev. Martyn McGeown from the Limerick Reformed Fellowship of the Republic of Ireland will be our guest speaker, taking the camp on the topic of ‘The Christian’s Armour’ (From Ephesians 6). Amongst other activities, the theme night will be on the “Australian Bush”. The cost for the camp is $250 AUD (approx $170 USD). This is a great time to meet other young people, fellowship with them and learn about our Saviour. Please contact Megan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the full flyer + registration form, or for any additional questions/information.

Fellowship dinner with saints in Southern Negros Occidental on a recent visit of the Kleyns (Ocotber 2019)

PRC MISSION NEWS:

Domestic Labors:

• Remember in prayer our home missionary, Rev. A. Spriensma, who continues to labor in the West Michigan area and beyond through Byron Center PRC, the calling church. According to BC-PRC's bulletin this week, "The Dorr Bible Study meets this Thursday, December 5, at 7:30 PM. We plan to take up our discussion beginning at John 9:8. Please join us and bring friends or neighbors along to the library in Dorr!"

• Limerick Reformed Fellowship News:
  • Rev. M. McGeown is preaching the gospel in the LRF today.
  • From the LRF bulletin: "The special lecture on "The Canon of Sacred Scripture" is now available on our website."
  • The latest mission newsletter from the Limerick Reformed Fellowship is now available! The September 2019 edition may be found here.

Philippine Missions:

• The newest Philippines mission newsletter has been published and posted! The October 2019 issue may be read here.
  
• For more on life and activities in the Philippines from the personal perspective of the missionary's, visit the Kleyn's blog, the Holstege's, and the Smits!
  

Let us continue in prayer to the Lord for the fulfillment of the needs of these busy pastors and missionaries in the Philippines. May the Lord of the harvest give them grace to be faithful and encouraged in all their labors.

India:

• Let us remember to pray for the Lord's blessing on Georgetown PRC's labor in Vellore, India.
• And we remember our sister church's work (Covenant ERC in Singapore) in Kolkata, through Rev. E. Singh.
  

Myanmar:

• Let us also remember Hope PRC's (Grand Rapids, MI) support of and involvement with Rev. Titus' work in Myanmar; for his latest report, visit this page.