The special committee of Classis West announces that a special Officebearers' Conference on preaching will be held September 23, 2014 in Peace PRC, Lansing, IL, the day before the next meeting of Classis West (See note below about links to the audio versions of these speeches.)

The public is invited, but especially area officebearers - elders, deacons, and pastors are encouraged to attend. Lunch will be provided. Please contact the church or Rev.C.Spronk for more information.

The special flyer prepared for this event is posted below, as well as a pdf version of it for your own publication and posting.

*Note: The four speeches of this conference are now available in audio form on Peace PRC's Sermonaudio page. The links are provided here:

1. Developing Your Preaching Beyond Seminary - Missionary-pastor W.Bruinsma
2. The Important Place of Application in Reformed Preaching - Prof.B.Gritters
3. The Art of Making Christ-Centered Sermons, with Biblical Illustrations - Prof.R.Dykstra
4. The Elders' Supervision of the Preaching - Prof.R.Cammenga

Our sister church in Northern Ireland, Covenant PRC, Ballymena, has just released her latest newsletter. In the September 2014  Rev.Angus Stewart reports on the latest activities inside and outside the congregation, with special focus on the recent British Reformed Conference.

Be sure to read this newsletter to be better informed of what our "sister" and her pastor are doing in the British Isles. This newsletter is also attached here in pdf form (see below).

The September 1, 2014 issue of The Standard Bearer is presently out in print and being read by many. Are you one of them?

To find out the contents of this latest issue and discover what you may have been missing, see the cover image below. For subscription information, visit the "SB" website linked here.

First PRC of Grand Rapids, MI and the Reformed Witness Hour Committee announce the messages scheduled for September 2014 on the RWH program. 

Rev.Carl Haak, pastor of the Georgetown PRC in Hudsonville, MI, will complete his series on the OT prophecy of Jonah and give a special message in living a renewed life as baptized member of Christ and His church.

Below is the schedule of messages, which you will also find attached in pdf form.

For stations and times for listening to the RWH program, visit the RWH website.

The ninth issue of "Reformed News Asia" has been released by the Christian Literature Ministry of our sister church in Singapore, the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church, and it is another issue filled with informative and edifying content (for information on the previous issue, #, visit this page)!

One of the special features of this issue is once again the devotions on the Belgic Confession, covering Articles 26-27 (see pdf attachment) on the topics of Christ's intercession and the holy catholic church. Written by Missionary-pastors M.MeGeown (Limerick Reformed Fellowship, Ireland) and D.Kleyn (the Philippines), these devotions on the BC take you through the month of September (Sept.4 - October 1) for the beginning of Sept., see issue 8). You will find great spiritual profit in using these devotions day by day.

In addition, the newsletter also contains information about the CLM's pamphlet and book ministries and about activities going on in the CERC, including some recent weddings and a special note of thanks to Prof.R.Dykstra and his wife Carol for their extended stay there this summer while Rev.A.Lanning was on furlough. (see picture below).

For more information on how to subscribe to this newsletter, visit this page on the CERC website.

Covenant PRC, our sister church in Ballymena, N.Ireland has recently published her August issue of "Covenant Reformed News". This issues contains edifying articles on "Hating Your Own Life" and "Is Grace Resistible", written by Rev.Angus Stewart, pastor of Covenant PRC, and emeritus Professor H.Hanko respectively.

You are encouraged to make these part of your regular reading, so that you may grow spiritually in the truths of God's Word and the Reformed faith.

The articles are posted separately on our website and are listed here along with the link to it:

"Hating Your Own Life" (1) - Rev.A.Stewart

"Is Grace Resistible? (2) - Prof.H.Hanko

This issue of the "CR News" is also attached here in pdf form.

In addition, below you will find information on obtaining and watching (videos) the speeches given at the recent British Reformed Fellowship Conference on the subject of sanctification.

2014 BRF Family Conference Box Set
“Be Ye Holy: The Reformed Doctrine of Sanctification”

9  lectures and 2 sermons plus a bonus disk
on 12 CDs or DVDs in an attractive box set
 
(1) Zealous of Good Works - Rev. McGeown
(2) The Calling to Work Out Our Own Salvation - Prof. Hanko
(3) Only the Holy Shall Inherit the Kingdom - Prof. Engelsma
(4) John Knox: Scotland’s Reformer - Rev. Stewart
(5) The Divine Work of Sanctification - Prof. Engelsma
(6) Sanctification and Justification: Relation and Difference - Prof. Hanko
(7) The Role of the Law in Sanctification - Prof. Engelsma
(8) A Scottish Classic on Sanctification: James Fraser of Alness’
“Explication” of Romans 6:1-8:4 - Rev. Stewart
(9) The Imperfection of Sanctification in This Life - Prof. Hanko
(10) “A Faire and Easie Way to Heaven:” The Threat to
Sanctification of Antinomianism - Prof. Engelsma
(11) The Victorious Christian Life - Prof. Hanko
Bonus Disk: Author Interviews with Profs. Hanko and Engelsma
 
£12/set (inc. P&P)

Watch free on YouTube or
Send orders to:  CPRC Bookstore, c/o Mary Stewart,
7 Lislunnan Road, Kells, Ballymena, BT42 3NR
Phone: (028) 25891851 ~ E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Make cheques payable to “Covenant Protestant Reformed Church” (not just “CPRC”). Thank you!

Back row (L-R): Profs.R.Dykstra, R.Cammenga, B.Gritters; Sems. David Noorman, Justin Smidstra, Jon Langerak, and Matt DeBoer
Front row (L-R): Sems.Aaron Lim, Brian Feenstra, Joe Holstege, Nathan Price, and Stephan Regnerus

This past Monday, August 25, 2014 the PRC Seminary opened its doors anew for another year of instruction of young men for the ministry of the Word. Our three professors, Seminary students, and pre-Seminarians (not all could be here for "registration") gathered in the assembly room for devotions and initial instructions. Following that, the students began the search for course materials and commenced their studies.

Classes began on Tuesday morning, August 25, for both pre-Seminarians (five for Greek and Hebrew) and Seminarians (nine Sophomores). Senior Ryan Barnhill is taking his internship in Edgerton MN PRC until the end of this year.

This semester marks the beginning of the 90th year of instruction by our Seminary (1925-2014). The Seminary faculty, staff, and students covet your prayers as they take up their work anew this year.

May God grant us all His rich grace to carry out our callings in faithfulness to Him, so that our churches and sister churches may continue to have men to proclaim the glorious gospel of sovereign grace into all the world.

On Sunday morning, August 24, 2014, Cand. Joshua Engelsma announced that he was led by the Lord of the church to accept the call to Doon (IA) PRC. This also means that he was led to decline the calls from Faith PRC of Jenison, MI and First PRC, Grand Rapids, MI.

We rejoice with Josh and Courtney and family and with Doon PRC in God's provision, and pray that God will bless their plans as they prepare for his examination at Classis West on Sept.24 in Peace PRC, Lansing, IL.

Additional notes from Doon PRC's August 31 bulletin re Classis West and ordination/installetion: 

The sermon he preaches as part of his examination is planned for the evening of September 23 at Peace.  The oral examination is scheduled for the following day, September 24, while Classis is in regular session. Upon his successful completion of the examination, Doon will be instructed by Classis West to proceed with his ordination and installation. In anticipation of such, the consistory hereby issues a call to worship to the congregation for the anticipated ordination and installation of Pastor-elect Joshua Engelsma into the office of Minister of God’s Word for the evening of Friday, October 3, 2014, at 7:00 pm. Prof. David Engelsma will conduct the service. Prof. Engelsma has also graciously agreed to preach for us the morning service of October 5. Pastor-elect Engelsma plans to preach his inaugural service for us the evening service of October 5.

Let us also remember to pray for Faith and First PRCs as they await their own undershepherd from the chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.