PRC News Highlights for August 23, 2020

The following are special highlights of PRC News for this Sunday, August 23, 2020, the thirty-fourth Lord's Day of this year.

• This morning Rev. G. Eriks was installed as Unity PRC's (Byron Center, MI) pastor, with Rev. J. Slopsema leading the service. We thank the Lord for providing this new congregation her first pastor. May the Lord grant him a fruitful ministry in her midst.
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. M. Vanderwal (Wingham ON PRC) accepted the call to First PRC, Edmonton, AB. According to Wingham's bulletin today, he plans to preach his farewell on Sunday, Sept.13.
  
  
• Rev. M. DeBoer (Edgerton PRC) is considering the call from Cornerstone PRC (Dyer, IN - received August 9). May the King of the church guide him in his consideration of this call.
  
  
• Let us remember in prayer the needs of Rev. J. Marcus, who awaits a call to the churches, of Rev. M. McGeown, who awaits permission to enter the States to be installed in Providence PRC, and of Covenant ERC, our sister church in Singapore, as she awaits both pulpit supply from the PRC and a call for minister-on-loan through Grandville PRC - both on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions.
   
• For those who may still be limited to house worship, whether completely or partially, we invite you to visit the PR churches page and follow the links to the websites where the churches' livestream may be found.
  
  
• Did you know... that
  • our Pittsburgh PRC recently received an interesting and generous donation? Here's the notice as it appeared in her August 16 bulletin:

    The consistory has just received word that the church building of Franklin Reformed Fellowship has just come into our possession.  It was donated to us by the members of the church there when they disbanded.  In the next few weeks, we will clear the church of what is useful and then probably put the building up for sale.  We will keep the congregation informed as we proceed.

    And today's bulletin carried this follow-up note: Our consistory is planning a trip to Franklin, PA to view the church there and remove from it any items that many be of use to us (e.g., Bibles and Psalters, etc.) Franklin is about an hour and 45 minutes away.We plan on leaving at 9 AM on Saturday, September 5. Anyone from the congregation is welcome to join us. ...The plans are to empty the church of what we can use and then put it up for sale.

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• The 2020 PRC Acts of Synod has arrived from the printer and is in process of being distributed to the congregations. If you haven't received yours yet, be patient - it will arrive soon!
• Classis East is scheduled to meet in Byron Center PRC on Wednesday, September 9.
• Classis West is scheduled to meet in Edgerton (MN) PRCon Wednesday, September 23.

Special PRC Seminary Notices:

• Seminary will begin its first semester of the 2020-21 school year this week. Pray for the professors, students, and staff as they take up a new season of training for the ministry of the Word.
• Due to the current restrictions on indoor gatherings in the state of Michigan, the Theological School Committee has cancelled the 2020 seminary convocation (usually held in early September). Please continue to pray for the Lord’s blessing upon the work of our seminary, especially the labors of the professors and students.
• For several years,the seminary faculty have permitted auditors to audit some classes. The presence and input of the auditors has been appreciated. With regret, because of COVID restrictions, the faculty is not inviting any auditors this semester.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website.

SISTER-CHURCH NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore: We thank God the COVID 19 situation in Singapore is improving. Recently the authority has allowed a few religious organisations to conduct their meetings with 100 people instead of the 50 allowed. We pray that this arrangement will be opened to our church soon. We can then come to worship the Lord every Sunday at one of the Services. In the meantime, Session has made a provision of an extra 10 persons to join each of the Worship Services on the Lord’s day.
• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland: Be sure to read the latest issue of the "Covenant Reformed News" - August 2020 (new this past week)!
• PRC in the Philippines: Beloved, MM [Metro Manila] and other nearby provinces are reverted to GCQ (General community quarantine) from August 19 – 31, 2020. We pray earnestly to God that in soonest possible time, He may be pleased to lift us up from this crisis so that our regular corporate public worship services are restored, the Lord willing. (Berean PRC bulletin)

Listen to the Reformed Witness Hour each Sunday - on a radio station near you or on Sermonaudio wherever you are!

• Currently Rev. A. Spriensma (PRC home missionary) is delivering the messages, and this month he is focusing on the truth of God's covenant of grace. Today's message is titled "Walking with God in Obedience" based on Amos 3:3. Listen to the broadcast on the station near you, on your favorite podcast, or visit the links provided here to listen to this program.

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REFORMED RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION, EVANGELISM, and EDIFICATION:

• New RFPA Resource: Preparing for Dating and Marriage: A 31-Day Family Devotional

• Are you desirous to learn 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.
  
  
• And don't forget the great materials at the Reformed Book Outlet in Hudsonville, MI! The store is open again, with temporary limited hours: Tuesday, 10am - 1pm, Wednesday, 1pm - 6pm, and Saturday, 10am - 1pm. As always, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any orders as well!

This Week's Thought for Contemplation:

So who is this righteous man? It is so easy to think that it is you and I. Notice, it is singular. Some like to translate this verse as saying, “Blessed are those people”. They want to use more inclusive language. The Hebrew word is not a generic word that refers to all human beings. There is one particular man in view. Who is he? It is the Lord Jesus! You see, this Psalm is Messianic. Jesus Christ did not walk in counsel with the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scorners. Rather, Jesus said of Himself, “My food is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work.”

You and I need to look by faith to Jesus as the one righteous man to save us. He will not only save us, but will fill us with His Holy Spirit and enable us to be like Him. Only in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can you and I approach the instruction of God and delight in it. Only in Christ can we be fruitful like the tree planted by streams of living water.  Jesus taught in John 15, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

From this past week's special meditation by Rev. A. Spriensma, PRC home missionary - "The Righteous Man" (Psalm 1)