PRC and Sister-Church News Highlights for October 11, 2020

The following are special highlights of PRC and sister-church news for this Sunday, October 11, 2020, the forty-first Lord's Day of this year.

• Rev. J. Engelsma (Doon PRC) is considering the call to Hudsonville PRC (received Sept.20). He plans to answer on or before Oct.18. May the Lord guide him into the certain knowledge of His will concerning this new call.
  
  
• Rev. C. Spronk (Faith PRC) is considering the call to Wingham PRC (received Sept.28). May the Lord show him His way with regard to this call.
  
  
• Last Sunday Rev. R. Kleyn announced his decline of the call from Kalamazoo PRC. We continue to pray for this vacant congregation, that God may soon send them a pastor to go in and out among them again.
  
  
• Classical appointments and pulpit supply for today in the vacant PRCs: Rev. C. Spronk  in Cornerstone PRC; Prof. R. Cammenga and Rev. J.Holstege in Hudsonville PRC; Prof. R.Dykstra and Rev. N.Decker in Kalamazoo PRC; Prof. B.Gritters and Rev. J.Mahtani in Providence PRC. What a blessing that our PRC federation gives such help to these churches! May we also bring to the throne of grace the needs of these vacant congregations, including Wingham PRC, who cannot have pulpit supply from the U.S. at this time (pandemic travel restrictions).
  
  
• Let us not forget to pray for 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:
  
  • The Canadian PRCs will celebrate their Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, October 12? The congregations of First PRC in Edmonton (AB), Immanuel PRC in Lacombe (AB), and Wingham PRC (ON) will gather for worship in the morning and then enjoy family and church family get-togethers much as we do in the U.S.
    
  • Some PRCs have been able (allowed) to open up their church buildings to other church functions and fellowship on Sundays and during the week, from basements to classrooms - for catechism classes, Bible studies, nurseries, and more. May the Lord continue to provide for all the churches, no matter our allowances and privileges - or lack thereof.

PRC DENOMINATIONAL NEWS:

• The 2020 PRC Acts of Synod is now available and has been distributed to the congregations. If you have not yet received yours, seek out your congregation's clerk, the stated clerk (Rev. R. Van Overloop), or contact the seminary.
• 2020 edition of the Church Order: The 2020 edition of the ring-bound Church Order book is now available and may be ordered through the PRC Seminary (616-531-1490). As per synodical decision, these books are updated every five years to incorporate new synodical decisions affecting them. In addition to the Church Order, this book also contains such things as the Constitutions of all synodical committees, the Rules of Synodical Procedure, the Explanation of the Rules for Protests/Appeals/Overtures and the denomination's Articles of Incorporation and By-laws. All these are of most practical use to the office bearers. But, all of our families would do well to cultivate a knowledge of and interest in Protestant Reformed church polity. If you already have the six-ring green binder, you need only order the new inserts ($4.00). The inserts with the binder with the 2020 edition is $10.00. Payment can be made to the PRCA after you receive your materials.

Special PRC Seminary Notices:

• Seminary has now completed seven weeks of its first semester - nearly half way through the semester already. Remember in prayer the professors, students, and staff as they labor in the task of training men for the ministry of the Word. And remember to petition the Lord of the harvest to send us more men who heed to call to serve as His ambassadors.
• The first round of practice preaching continues tomorrow (Monday Oct.12), with Sem. M. Koerner delivering his first 'PP' sermon. Pray for all these students as they prepare for this vital part of their training.
• 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. This decision will be reviewed at the end of the semester with a view to Interim 2021 and the second semester.
• For the latest seminary news and information, visit the seminary's website.

Read about what's happening with the Limerick Reformed Fellowship in Rev. M.McGeown's latest newsltter from Ireland (see note below under CPRC News)

SISTER-CHURCH/MISSIONS NEWS:

• Covenant ERC, Singapore: 
  • From today's "Pastoral Voice" in her bulletin: This is the second week we are having a maximum number of 100 worshippers at each worship service. Let us be very thankful to God for this provision despite the various restrictions placed on us. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to come together to worship His great and glorious name. ...The PRCA, through its Contact Committee, has graciously proposed to provide every Sunday morning pulpit supply to CERC via online means from USA. The online worship services, conducted by Professor Dykstra, require as many as three audio team members and even Seminarian Marcus Wee in USA to facilitate the proceedings as opposed to only one audio team member needed for ‘Reading Sermon services’ conducted by our Elders. Session will be meeting to deliberate and decide if we have the necessary resources and means to continue the online Sunday morning worship services conducted in USA. Do pray for us.
  • The last issue of "Reformed News Asia" is the August 2020 one, #61). Read that issue here.
• Covenant PRC, N. Ireland:
  • Rev. A. Stewart brought the Word there today.
  • Missionary-pastor M. McGeown continues to preach the gospel in Limerick, Ireland until he can enter the U.S. and be installed as Providence PRC's pastor. This week he published a new newsletter with important information about what is happening to the group as well as to his immigration process. For that news, visit this webpage.
  • Be sure to read the latest issue of the "Covenant Reformed News" - September 2020!
• PRC in the Philippines:
  
  • With strict government limitations on public gatherings still in place due to the pandemic (Metro Manila and nearby provinces are now under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) through October 31), the PRCP pastors and the PRC missionaries carry on with livestreaming of services as well as with online catechism classes and Bible studies.
  • PRCP Seminary News: Last week, our seminary instructors and students took a one-week break. The second quarter of the school year begins this Tuesday, October 13.
  • The PRCP Classis is scheduled to convince on October 31, 2020 at the Provident PRC Marikina City at 9:00 in the morning. Lord willing.
  • The latest PRCP newsletter was recently published - don't forget to read the August 2020 report!

• Are we continuing to pray for our dear brothers and sisters throughout the world as they also face trials and tribulations? Let us show the communion of saints also in this way.

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

• Rev. W. Bruinsma (Pittsburgh PRC) has begun delivering the messages on the program for the next four months. Today's message is titled "The Blessings of Fearing Jehovah" and is based on Psalm 25:12,13.
  
• Listen to the broadcast on the station near you, on your favorite podcast (Google Play, Spotify, and iTunes), or visit the links provided here to listen to this program.
• The Reformed Witness Hour publishes each month's messages in an attractive booklet. These printed sermons are a great blessing to many and are distributed all over the world, including to many prisoners in the U.S. If you or your Evangelism Commitee would like to receive these, let the RWHC know and they will add you to the mailing list (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
  

• Special notices for October: 

  The Reformed Witness Hour is pleased to announce that beginning this month we are adding a new broadcast time on Wednesday evenings at 8PM on WFUR-FM 92.9/AM1570 (Grand Rapids, MI).  The RWH will also continue to broadcast at our normal time slot on Sundays at 4PM. We encourage you to listen if you are able, and to promote the broadcast to family and friends when you have the opportunity.
  

  The Reformed Witness Hour is pleased to announce that beginning this month we are adding a new broadcast in the Kalamazoo area at 4PM each Sunday on WKPR-FM 105.1/AM1440. We encourage you to listen if you are able, and to promote the broadcast to family and friends.

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REFORMED RESOURCES FOR EDIFICATION, EDUCATION, and EVANGELISM:

Looking for things to read in this Reformation remembrance month? Check out this section of articles on the website, all devoted to the Reformers and God's work through them in His church.

• Be sure to check out the Reformed Book Outlet in downtown Hudsonville, MI and online! As a reminder, their hours of business are currently Tuesday 10-1, Wednesday 1-5, and Saturday 10-1, or send your order to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• 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.
  
  

This Week's Thought for Contemplation:

God raised Jesus from the dead. What power on earth could possibly accomplish this miracle? Obviously, there is none. Only a heavenly power could and did raise Jesus on the third day. God thus vindicated Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah and declared that Christ’s atonement for sin was accepted. As God raised Jesus from the dead, so also by His Spirit He raises us from the dead with a birth from above. As Jesus Christ was victorious over Satan, sin, and death, all those who are united to Christ by faith can live triumphantly through that power!

What a sinful world we live in which tempts us to join in its wicked ways and persecuting those who refuse. How are we victorious over that great enemy? The answer is, we can only gain the victory through the power of God that transforms us “by the renewing of our minds” (Rom. 12:2). It is what makes us “new creatures” (II Cor. 5:17).

Our second great adversary is our own flesh, that sinful nature that you and I must fight against day and night. What an enemy it is! So often we are not active as we should be in reading God’s Word, praying, or performing good works. Our sinful nature also locks us into sinful patterns of behavior. How can we triumph over these strong forces? It is only by the power of God displayed in the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Our third enemy is the devil and his host of fallen angels. No wonder Peter writes, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil ,as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he might devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith…” (I Pet. 5:8). Because of this, we need to be enlightened with respect to the power of God working in us. Nothing else can enable us to stand against the wiles of the devil.

From one of Rev. A. Spriensma's meditations on Ephesians 1 this past week, "Knowing God's Power in the Exaltation of Christ."