Trivia question

At which of our churches is a Pinewood Derby car race held each year as an activity of fellowship and fundraising? Answer later in this column.

School activities

The junior-high band and choir students from the Hull Protestant Reformed Christian School and the Northwest Iowa Protestant Reformed School held their annual combined program on Monday, November 19, at 7:00 p.m. at Calvary Protestant Reformed Church. Refreshments and a time of fellowship followed the program.

Heritage Christian School Foundation sponsored an “Evening of Praise” at Grandville High School’s auditorium on Saturday, November 24. Sponsorship and general admission tickets included a dessert reception following the concert. All were invited to join as God was praised through the gift of music—a wide variety of vocal and instrumental music, we might add.

Advance Notice—Federation Summer 2019 Seminar: The Federation of PR School Societies is planning a Summer Seminar on June 20, 2019 at Faith PRC. The title of the topic for the seminar is: “When Your Student is Hurting: Biblical and Reformed Counseling.” The Federation especially encourages all teachers to attend and benefit from this important and timely seminar, but school board members, parents, and anyone interested in this theme are welcome to attend. There is no cost to attend but you are asked to register at www.prcs.org and click on the Summer Seminar tab. Please keep your eyes and ears open for more information.

Young people’s activities

The Calvary PRC Young People’s Society in Hull, IA invited members of the five Siouxland area churches to join them for their annual Thanksgiving Singspiration on a Sunday evening in November. A collection was received to offset costs of attending the 2019 YP’s Convention. Singing praise to God is always a great way to end a Sabbath day! The annual Christmas Singspiration of the tri-state area was held in Edgerton, MN on December 23.

The Young People’s Society of Immanuel PRC of Lacombe, Alberta invited the congregation to their annual Soup Supper and Pie Auction on Friday, November 30, at Genesis School. Supper began at 6:30 p.m. with a pie auction following. Anyone could donate a pie for the auction. A great activity on a cool evening! Sample all the delicious soups and purchase a pie for dessert! There are not many pies that I don’t like.

Senior activities

Senior Retreat: Save the dates September 17-20, 2019 for the Senior Retreat at Gull Lake Ministries in southwest MI. The retreat is sponsored by Faith and Zion PRCs.

Minister activities

Grandville PRC’s Council formed another trio from which the congregation would call one to serve as minister-on-loan to Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church in Singapore: Pastors G. Eriks (Hudsonville, MI), E. Guichelaar (Randolph, WI), and S. Key (Loveland, CO). On November 25, Grandville called Rev. Steven Key to serve as minister-on-loan to the CERC.

On November 18 Rev. Joshua Engelsma (Doon, IA) announced that God had led him to decline the call extended to him from Immanuel PRC in Lacombe, and Rev. Brian Huizinga (Redlands, CA) announced God’s will that he decline the call from Trinity PRC in Hudsonville, MI. We trust the King of the Church has the best in mind for all involved. May they be at peace with these decisions.

Immanuel subsequently announced a trio of Revs. W. Langerak, J. Laning, and M. VanderWal. On December 2 Rev. Langerak (Southeast PRC) received that call.

Trinity PRC’s Council formed a new trio consisting of Rev. J. Engelsma, Rev. G. Eriks, and Rev. W Langerak. On December 9 the congregation voted to call Rev. Eriks (Hudsonville PRC).

Mission activities

From the bulletin of the Maranatha PRC in Valenzuela City, the Philippines:

In commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the Synod of Dordt, a conference will be hosted by the consistory and congregation of Provident Christian Church (Reformed) on Friday, December 28, beginning at 9:00 a.m. until about 4:00 p.m. in their church building in Provident Village, Marikina. Rev. Holstege plans to speak on Dordt and the doctrine of grace, Rev. Ibe plans to speak on Dordt and the preaching of the gospel, and Rev. Smit plans to speak on Dordt and its concern for faithful Sabbath keeping. For the fourth segment of the conference the three speakers will also participate in an open forum Q/A session. The conference will include a morning merienda, an afternoon merienda, and a lunch meal. The “Reformed Book Shelf” will also be selling RFPA books at the conference. Rev. D. Kleyn plans to serve as moderator. The registration fee for the conference was set at P50 per person. If there are any questions about the conference or the books to be sold at the conference, then please contact our conference moderator, Rev. D. Kleyn. Please plan to attend, and bring a friend.

Sister-church activities

From the bulletin of the Covenant ERC in Singapore:

Evangelism Committee will be organizing the Christmas Gospel meeting on December 25. The committee has chosen the title of the Gospel meeting as “The Wise Man Gospel” based on Mathew 2:1-12, which speaks of the wise men from the east seeking to worship the newborn king in Jerusalem. Prof. Cammenga has willingly agreed to speak in this gospel meeting. As the world celebrates the season of Christmas eating and drinking in darkness, let all us take this opportunity to be a light unto our non-Christian relatives, friends, and colleagues by sharing with them the true meaning of the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ. As we desire our loved ones to be called out of darkness into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ, pray that the Lord will kindle in our hearts a zeal and boldness to invite our non-Christian relatives, friends, and colleagues to this gospel meeting; for faith cometh by the hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Trivia answer

The 3rd annual Pinewood Derby Event is scheduled to be held in Heritage PRC of Sioux Falls, SD on February 23. All are invited to compete, watch, have lunch, and fellowship. A free-will donation will be taken to defray costs and support the Association for Protestant Reformed Education there. More trivia next time.