Vol 96 Issue 14

Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Luke 24:5–7 Early Sunday morning a small group of women left the city of Jerusalem. This group included Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Solome, Joanna, and others—all followers of Jesus. On Friday, they had witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Now, on the third day, they set out at...

Below you will find some unusual items related to God’s ‘frowning providence’ of sending the coronavirus worldwide. In order to fit these special items, we delay printing of other articles that were planned for this issue. We trust the reader understands the appropriateness of addressing the current issues in the church and world. We did not ask anyone to produce special articles. Rather, we noticed what pastors and consistories were doing to care for their flocks in these unusual times, and then asked for permission to print what they had produced: A special sermon, “Coronavirus and the King,” edited for...

March 17, 2020 at Hudsonville PRC At the request of the Consistories of Faith, Grace, and Hope, the Classical Committee of Classis East called for the convening of a meeting today to consider the request of Rev. David Overway to be released from the ministry according to Article 12 of the Church Order. Rev. Bruinsma led in opening devotions and declared classis properly constituted. Rev. N. Decker, by rota­tion, presided as chairman of the meeting. Because Michigan’s governor signed an executive order banning assemblies of more that 50 people effective at 9:00 a.m. on March 17 until 5:00 p.m. on...

Trivia question In which year was Randolph, WI PRC organized and who was their first installed pastor? Answers in the church profile section below. More trivia next time. Sister-church activities The CERC of Singapore enjoyed pulpit supply from the following: Rev. K. Koole, in February; Prof. Dykstra, March 1 and 8. But future supply was closed due to the coronavirus outbreak there and here in the U.S. (cf. note later in this report). From the Doon, IA bulletin: Missionary pastor Rev. Daniel Holstege requested that he might baptize his daughter, Violet Joy, in Provident PRC in the Philippines. This is...

In July of 1942, Rev. C. Hanko came to the Randolph area and began to give speeches. Later, Rev. H. Hoeksema came with him and the Reformed truth was expounded. The church was organized in August of 1943 with eight families and several individuals. Worship services were held in the Congregational church in the afternoons and evenings. Special meetings and catechism classes were held in various homes. Later, a “ basement church” was purchased from the CRC and was used until 1974, when a new building was built beside the basement church. That building was outgrown and a new sanctuary...

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 As Christians, you and I cannot help but be impressed by COVID-19. The words of Jesus Christ throughout Scripture ring in our minds as we witness the latest developments in the world around us. The question we face is: what is our reaction to these events? Do we react with fear? Are we filled with anxiety and worry and maybe even dread? Do we wonder what the government or maybe our employers...

March 21, 2020 Dear beloved congregation of Provident PRC, In times like this, the Lord might give opportunities to let our light shine before men by our good works. I pray that your neighbors will notice that you do not fear COVID-19, but you have hope, and that they ask a reason for your hope (I Pet. 3:15). Be ready to give an answer! We are going through a strange and uncertain mo­ment in our lives! We did not expect the pandemic of COVID-19. Just a few weeks ago, we observed the hand of God in the eruption of Taal...

March 16, 2020 Dear Zion Congregation, It has been quite a weekend and week beginning! Just a few days ago we were going about our lives as normal and coronavirus was something we heard about on the news. It was a matter for shrugging shoulders or even jokes about the panic and hysteria into which some were descending. But now we are at home with our children looking ahead to days and even weeks of disrupted plans, changed schedules, and isolation. Now we are beginning Monday without the blessing of assembling in God’s house on Sunday. Now our lives are...

* Adapted from a sermon preached March 22, 2020 in First PRC, Grand Rapids And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. Revelation 5:6-7 It is very tempting to just say “coronavirus,” and leave it at that. But it...

In this matter, which has always produced many conflicts in the Church, we teach that a threefold condition or state of man is to be considered. What Man Was Before the Fall. There is the state in which man was in the beginning before the fall, namely, upright and free, so that he could both continue in goodness and decline to evil. However, he declined to evil, and has involved himself and the whole human race in sin and death, as has been said already. The threefold condition of man is his condition before the Fall, his condition after the...