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Compiled by the Faith Newsletter editor: Burt Pearson
Contents:
From your Pastor
Faith Youth Group News
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Update
From Your Choir Director
The 2009 Diaconate
Triumph Over Tragedy
Leadership Principles
One Day at a Time
When Do We Steal
2008 Was Quite A Year For Faith ARP Church
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From your Pastor |
Many people in our culture find it amazing that anyone would actually want to go to church both in the morning and in the evening on Sunday. Some have asked “why?” “Why do you go to church twice on Sunday?” “Is’nt once enough?” In an effort to answer this question, I’d like to suggest a few reasons, some directly biblical, others very practical but equally true.
First of all, the need for the frequent preaching and teaching of God's Word is the primary reason for maintaining both morning and evening worship services. The apostle Paul urges Timothy: "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Tim. 4:2) Most would agree that there is a famine of biblically-based preaching / teaching in our society, and Evening Worship gives believers the opportunity to sit under the preaching / teaching of the Word, not just once, but twice in the week. Granted, this principle might be fulfilled at other times than Sunday evening, but experience has shown this to be the time that best suits most Christians. Throughout the years, an evening worship service has been regarded as standard practice for Bible-believing churches and went almost unchallenged for nearly four centuries.
Second, having a time of Evening Worship helps believers to better observe the Lord’s day. When there is only one gathering of the church on the Lord’s day it becomes a great temptation for all of us to limit the extent of the Lord’s Day to the morning hours of Sunday. When an evening service is attended it helps believers keep their focus on honoring the call of the Lord to keep the Sabbath holy (Ex. 20:8-11).
Third, when you survey the great and wide history of the church of Jesus Christ it becomes apparent that a great number of the most vibrant and Christ-centered churches gathered for worship, not only in the morning and evening on the Lord’s day, but on a number of other occasions during the week. John Calvin was known to preach almost every day, at least once, in the church at Geneva, which was the seat of the Reformation. The same was true of Knox and Wesley and Whitefield, as well as many others. As a result, the people in their churches were regularly fed rich spiritual meals that sustained and encouraged them to face difficulty, persecution and even success, in a manner honoring to Christ.
Some object that there is no command to gather for Evening Worship in the Bible. But listen to the response of a PCA pastor who recently wrote on this topic.
“True, Sunday evening worship is nowhere specifically prescribed by Scripture—but then, neither is Sunday morning worship. Both services are established at the discretion and on the authority of the elders of the church on the basis of such texts as Hebrews 10:25–26 and 13:17. The historic fact is that the practice of worshiping twice on Sunday is a firmly established tradition in evangelical and Reformed churches. What has changed that would warrant a departure from the wisdom of our godly forefathers, who established and maintained this practice for so many centuries?” (Rev. Paul Alexander)
More than anything else we hope you will consider making attendance at Evening Worship a priority for you and your family this coming year because worship is the highest calling and greatest privilege in the life of the believer. We pray that you (and your children—if applicable) will come because you feel that you are being fed and strengthened spiritually. We pray that you will come because you are enriched by the fellowship of the believers who assemble with you, and you sense the blessing of being together for the unity and purpose of the church. In the month of January, we will resume our teaching on “How to live the Christian life with freedom, and joy, and faithfulness to Christ.” Hope to see you there.
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Grace and peace,
Pastor Adams |
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Faith Youth Group News |
What We Did: We had a great time rescuing two snowman at our Christmas party on December 19.
Thank you to the Holmes, the Caylors, Mrs. Banks, and Mrs. Lemons for all of your help and energy. We also thank the Kostners for hosting the after scavenger hunt party at their home. We all enjoyed and can’t wait until next year…..
What We Are Studying: We just finished a study on Christian Leadership and will start a new study on Sunday, January 4.
What We are Going to Do: We have a Regressive Dinner planned for Friday, January 16….more info to follow.
How We are Serving: Our next service project is the Annual Sweetheart Dinner. We are forming a committee to create a proposal to present to the Deacons and Session of our ideas for the event. Stay tuned!
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Thank you and Merry Christmas |
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Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Update |
Fifty-two boxes were donated from the congregation with thirteen additional boxes filled by the youth! Thank you to everyone who participated whether you shopped, packed, donated supplies and money, or all of the above! Continue to pray for the children around the world as well as for the child that will receive YOUR box.
*Pray especially that many hearts will be opened to god's love and the Good News of Jesus Christ.
*Pray that God will meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
*Pray for the follow-up and discipleship programs.
*Pray that doors will be opened, so the Good News can be shared.
*Pray that our children see that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.
*Pray for the timely delivery of the gifts and Samaritan's Purse staff and volunteers all around the world.
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Submitted by
Chris & Wendy Bergstrom |
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From Your Choir Director |
Dear Faith Family,
Barbara and I want to thank all of you for the generous Love Offering we received on Christmas Eve. Your kindness goes beyond words.
Barbara and I have truly been blessed ever since God has allowed us to be a part of this wonderful church. This past year, as I have served as your Choir Director, has been amazing. I cannot describe how awesome it is for me to be allowed to work with your choir. These people are truly wonderful to work with. I cannot imagine another group I would pick to serve the Lord with. Your choir works very hard. They also understand the ministry God has placed them into. Our joy comes from serving God as He uses us to minister to you each Sunday.
I am looking forward to 2009. The choir has grown quite a bit in 2008 and we are not done yet. I believe God is going to begin using us in new ways. I am very excited.
Once again, thank you for your generous gift. We love you all very much.
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In His service,
Tom and Barbara Ferraro |
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The 2009 Diaconate |
The title “deacon” comes from the Greek words "diakonos" ("servant") and "diakonia" ("service"). The Bible consistently teaches that deacons should be godly men who are above reproach. Although the Bible doesn’t list specific responsibilities for deacons, it does list their qualifications.
In 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Paul says, "In like manner must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Faith’s Diaconate has six active members each serving a three year term, with two rotating off each year. Replacements are nominated annually by the Nominating Committee, with the committee’s prayerful recommendations being presented to the Session and then to the congregation in the fall for their election. This past year, in early November, the congregation voted on approving Steve Caylor and Carl Thornton replacing the vacancies of the departing Mike Gallogly and David McMillan.
Diaconate responsibilities are divided into six major categories: Chairman, Secretary, Mercy and Benevolence, Finance, Interior and Exterior.
Each deacon also serves on at least one of six committees: Administration, Christian Education, Activities, Outreach, Discipleship and Worship.
Faith's Diaconate meets the second Monday of each month. The agenda for each meeting contains as a minimum the following topics:
• Opening with prayer
• Approval of Treasurer’s report and previous months Diaconate minutes
• Devotion
• Report of each functional area
• Old items
• New items
• Closing with prayer
Additionally, each of the deacons is scheduled to submit articles for the Faith Newsletter and present a devotional for their meeting twice a year. A report is presented to the Session at their monthly meeting, usually by the chairman, containing the latest Diaconate minutes and monthly financial report.
Meet Your Deacons:
• Chairman (Al Spengler – 2007/2008/2009)
• Secretary (Rudy Seiffer – 2008/2009/2010)
• Mercy and Benevolence (Tom Ferraro – 2008/2009/2010)
• Finance (Chris Bergstrom – 2007/2008/2009)
• Interior (Carl Thornton – 2009/2010/2011)
• Exterior (Steve Caylor – 2009/2010/2011)
Each deacon also serves on at least one of six committees:
• Administration (Al Spengler)
• Christian Education (Chris Bergstrom)
• Activities (Carl Thornton)
• Outreach (Steve Caylor)
• Discipleship (Rudy Seiffer)
• Worship (Tom Ferraro)
The unity of Faith’s Diaconate has paved the way for conducting business with mutual respect, friendship, and integrity. A spirit of teamwork embodies your diaconate with each deacon actively pursuing the fiscal and financial health of the church in addition to meeting needs of mercy and benevolence. Please contact any of the deacons with your concerns, ideas or needs.
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Submitted by
Al Spengler |
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Triumph Over Tragedy |
In the town of Port Hope, Canada, there stands a monument, not for the leading citizen who just died, but for a poor, unselfish working man who gave most of his life and energy to help those who could not repay him.
Joseph Scriven was born in Dublin in 1820. In his youth, he had the prospect of a great citizen with high ideals and great aspirations. He was engaged to a beautiful young woman who had promised to share his dreams, but on the eve of their wedding her body was pulled from a pond into which she had accidentally fallen and drowned.
Young Scriven never overcame the shock. Although a college graduate and ready to
embark on a brilliant career, he began to wander to try to forget his sorrow. His wanderings took him to Canada where he spent the last forty-one of his sixty-six years. He became a very devout Christian. His beliefs led him to do servile labor for poor widows and sick people. He often served for no wages.
It was not known that Mr. Scriven had any poetic gifts until a short time before his death. A friend, who was sitting with him during an illness, discovered a poem he had written to his mother in a time of sorrow, not intending that anyone should see it. His poem was later set to music and has become a much-loved gospel song. It is said to be the first song that many missionaries teach their converts. In polls taken to determine the popularity of hymns and gospel songs, his poem set to music is always near the top. What was his poem?
What a friend we have in
Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to
bear.
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often
forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we
bear,
All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in prayer.
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From the Fishwrapper
provided by Marian Sweigart |
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Leadership Principles |
Leadership is an important aspect of any business or organization. Without leadership things quickly fall apart. Without leadership
there is indecisiveness, there is uncertainty, there is loss of communication and a lack of a
sense of responsibility. Successful businesses or organizations have a leader who says yes or no, who makes decisions whether right or wrong and stands by them, is willing to accept responsibility for personal mistakes and frequently praises his or her subordinates for their personal accomplishments. Leadership
requires a visionary approach, a willingness to try new ideas, and the courage to test uncharted waters. A leader is one who is not
afraid to attempt something for fear of failure because he knows that it is far worse to fail because you never tried. Good leaders surround themselves with others who have a similar vision and motivation. Many failures have come as a result of divided loyalty and vision within the organization. Good leaders will recognize the value of diversity and prod it
in the right direction. At the same time they are alert to dangerous undercurrents and have the courage to subdue them before they
have an adverse effect. In short, a good leader will align his or her team so that they are united in their vision, united in their efforts,
and are equally devoted to the cause. Leader-ship is not doing everything yourself but it is using the resources around you, disciplining,
educating and motivating those resources to accomplish far more than you could individually. A good leader will never become
complacent but will continue to seek and find ways to improve.
Here is a list of things a good leader should do so that he or she becomes an even better leader.
1. Seek self-improvement
Continually strengthen your attributes through study, classes, and interacting with others.
2. Be proficient
Have a good knowledge of and be familiar with the operation and functions of the organization.
3. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions
Search for ways to guide your organization to new heights. When things go wrong, they always do sooner or later -- do not blame others. Analyze the situation, take corrective action, and move on to the next challenge.
4. Make sound and timely
decisions
Use good problem solving, decision making, and planning tools.
5. Set the example
Be a good role model for your employees. Don't just tell them what to do but be willing to lend a hand and show them you know how to get your hands dirty too.
6. Know your people and look out for their well-being
Know human nature and the importance
of sincerely caring for your workers.
7. Keep your workers informed
Communication is always important. Keep others abreast of the details rather than
making them second guess as to what is going on.
8. Develop a sense of responsibility
in your workers
Help to develop good character traits that will help them carry out their professional responsibilities.
9. Ensure that tasks are understood,
supervised, and accomplished
Communication again. Assign tasks, lend support and do follow up. Assumptions
will get you in trouble.
10. Train as a team
Good leaders see the need for ongoing training and refresher courses throughout the organization. Every
team member is an important and integral part of the finished product.
11. Use the full capabilities of your organization
By developing a team spirit, you will be able to employ your organization to its fullest. Leadership principles will thread their way through the channels of any organization. They reflect the integrity and values that are at the very heart of the organization. Croft Pentz in his book "The Complete Book of Zingers", has this quote, "A good leader inspires others with confidence in him - a great leader inspires them with confidence in themselves."
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From the Fishwrapper
provided by Marian Sweigart |
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One Day at a Time |
Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy Sight -Matthew 11:26
In almost everyone's life there are things
which he never would have chosen, which he would like to be rid of, but which can never be changed. There is the matter of physical impairments or abnormalities. Or it may be a chronic, low-grade illness that will not leave us alone. Again it may be a nervous or emotional disorder that lingers as a most unwelcome guest.
So many defeated lives, dreaming of
what might have been, if only .... If only They were taller. If only they were better looking. If only they had been born in a different family, race, or even sex. If only they were built to excel in athletics. If only they could know perfect health.
The lesson that these people should learn is that there is peace in accepting what cannot be changed. What we are. we are by the grace of God. He has planned our lives with infinite love and infinite wisdom. If we could see as well as He, we would have arranged things exactly as He has done. Therefore we should be able to say, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight."
But there is a step further. We don't have to accept these things in a spirit of meek resignation. Knowing that they were permitted by a God of love, we can make them the cause of praise and rejoice. Paul prayed three times that his thorn in the flesh might be removed. When the Lord promised grace to bear the thorn, the Apostle exclaimed, "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9).
It is one of the signs of spiritual maturity when we can rejoice in the seemingly adverse circumstances in life and use them as means of glorifying God. Fanny Crosby learned the lesson early in life. When she was only eight. the blind poetess wrote:
Oh, what a happy child I am!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don’t;
So weep or sigh because I’m blind
I cannot, and I won’t!
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Submitted by
Linda Hatcher |
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When Do We Steal |
BY JAMES M. BOICE
The following article should prompt us all to give thanks for the Grace of God that resulted in the sacrifice of our Savior and Lord at the cross. If we agree with Dr. Boice’s definitions of stealing, we could possibly feel that we are without sin.
The view that one should not steal is a generally accepted standard of the human race, but only biblical religion shows why stealing
is wrong. What the other person rightly possesses has been imparted to him or her by God: "Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father." Therefore, to steal from another person is to sin against God.
Of course, theft is also an offense against others. Theft always diminishes them, for it treats them as being unworthy of our respect or love. Even in this, we sin against God, since it is He who has given value to the other person.
We are not to think that we have kept this Commandment just because we have not broken into a home and walked off with someone else's possessions.
There are different subjects from whom we can steal: God, others or ourselves. There are many ways to steal: by stealth, violence or deceit. There are many objects that we can steal: money, time or a person's reputation.
We steal from God when we fail to worship as we ought or when we set our own concerns ahead of His. We steal from Him when we spend our time in personal self-indulgence and do not tell others of God's grace.
We steal from an employer when we do not give the best work of which we are capable or when we overextend our coffee breaks or leave
work early. We steal when we waste the raw materials with which we are working. We steal when, as merchants, we charge too much for our products. We steal when we sell inferior products, pretending that they are better than they are.
We steal from our employees when their work environment harms their health or when we do not pay them enough to guarantee healthy,
adequate living. We steal by mismanaging others' money. We steal when we borrow but do not repay loans on time or at all. We steal from ourselves when we waste our resources, whether time, talents or money. We steal when we indulge ourselves in material goods while others go without the necessities of existence: food, clothing, shelter or medical care.
The positive side of this Commandment is obvious: We are to do everything in our power to prosper others, helping them to attain their
full potential. The Lord God captures this duty in the Golden Rule: "Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets."
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Submitted by
Peg Krieg |
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2008 Was Quite A Year For Faith ARP Church |
The year began with Bobby Adams becoming our pastor.
We lost a good adult Bible teacher and gained a great one.
We gained a choir director, who has significant musical training in choir direction and who obviously loves the job and the choir members.
We have been blessed with a number of new families, many of which are young.
Jack Poole led many faithful workers to build a beautiful sanctuary. New carpeting, chairs and hymn books were added.
We lost a great young pianist to college but God provided another equally great pianist.
We had a great Reformation Celebration, the best Thanksgiving dinner and the best Children’s program ever.
We had four great young people make their Confession of Faith and become full members of Faith Church.
The choir presented a Cantata that some said was the best ever.
We can all be thankful for the way God continues care for our congregation. I, for one, am very excited about the number of younger families who have been faithfully attending and often serving. I am anxious to see what new ideas they may bring and I anticipate that they will be an effective part in carrying out what Jesus has said is our responsibility - reaching out to those who don’t yet know Jesus as their personal savior.
I know I have missed some of the high points of 2008 at Faith Church. Perhaps you, as the reader, can think of others.
Let’s all pray that 2009 will be the year we all become much better at carrying out our marching orders.
And, may we all have a blessed 2009 or, as Tiny Tim would say, “May God bless us, everyone.”
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Submitted by
Burt Pearson |
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