| |
|
|
 |
Compiled by the Faith Newsletter editor: Burt Pearson
Contents:
From your Pastor
Do You Have a Kayak or Canoe?
News from the Youth Group
Ladies Luncheon
Help Needed
Mark The Following Dates!
Family Worship
Want the Best of Everything?
Core Issues (Part 1)
Thanksgiving Reminder
|
| |
From your Pastor |
On Sunday, October 26th many churches across America, and all over the world, will acknowledge, and even celebrate Reformation Sunday as an essential part of their heritage. As many of you know, our own Faith Presbyterian, as part of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church had its beginnings in the Scottish Reformation and in the preaching of John Knox. Knox is considered to be the greatest Reformer in the history of Scotland. Knox was born about 1514 just outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and was discipled by John Calvin.
In the early 1540s, John Knox came under the influence of converted reformers, and under the preaching of Thomas Guilliame, he joined them. Knox, who was a large man at 6’-2”, became a bodyguard for the fiery Protestant preacher George Wishart, who was speaking throughout Scotland. John Knox started studying under a guy named George Wisher, until Wisher was burned at the stake, after which Knox answered a call into ministry. (How many of us would do that after they burned your mentor at the stake?) Soon after Knox became a protestant pastor, he was arrested as a slave, and spent two years on an oar in the hull of a disease infested galley ship.
Back in John Knox’s day, the church in Scotland was very corrupt. In that day the government ran the church, and the government would appoint the Christian pastors in the churches. (Imagine if the state of Florida appointed who would teach the Bible.) So you would get pastors who weren’t committed to Jesus as king; they were committed to the nation, and to supporting political rulers. Needless to say, this was a very unhealthy situation. Hence, John Knox pulled together some other pastors [5 of them], and together they wrote up the Scots Confession of Faith. They wanted to start a new church in Scotland that would be based upon the Scriptures, the doctrines of the Reformation, and the teachings of Jesus. As a result, these men had to resign their posts as priests, and had to give up their homes, and their churches, and their incomes. Shortly thereafter they were declared enemies of the state and a death bounty was put on their heads.
Protestant pastors in those days were put in the “covenanters prison” for preaching the gospel. It was a place where they had to live in a graveyard, out in the elements, with minimal food and water (some records say 4 oz. of bread and water per day). Nevertheless, these faithful men kept preaching the gospel, and if a pastor was killed, someone else would become the pastor, and the ministry would continue. Furthermore, it wasn’t just the pastors, but faithful Christians all over Scotland paid the ultimate price for the sake of the gospel.
At just 58 years of age, John Knox died at home, as his wife read Scripture to him.
Today there are 600,000 Presbyterians in Scotland, and over 3 million Presbyterians in America who trace their spiritual lineage back to John Knox, including we in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Knox was buried in St Giles' graveyard. Due to modern constructions, there is no marked grave or tombstone for Knox other than a small golden plaque on the ground next to the church. If you didn’t have a good tour guide, you wouldn’t even know how to find it. Apparently when the automobile was invented, the church needed parking, so they chose to pave over his grave. There is nothing to mark his grave except a simple stone set in the ground of a square in Edinburgh, Scotland, commemorating the traditional spot of an uncertain grave. Inscribed on the stone is only "I.K. 1572" (for Ioannes [John] Knox).
What that tells us is that in this life, you’re probably not going to get the “atta-boys,” and the external motivation and encouragement to keep going. But our Lord promised that he would complete the work he began in us. John Knox is a great example of a faithful Christian. However, let us always remember that we need more than an example to follow; we need the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who was the only faithful covenant keeper. We can take great comfort in the truth that as we rest in the finished work of Christ on our behalf, God will preserve us to the end and keep us faithful.
|
Grace and peace,
Pastor Adams |
| Back to top |
| |
Do You Have a Kayak or Canoe? |
Canoe? That’s what the Youth Group is planning to find out on November 8 (November 15 is the backup date…) Currently we plan on leaving from the Richardson’s dock late morning with a tour into Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary.
If you have a canoe or kayak that you are willing to loan to the youth group, or if you would like to help with the outing and see for yourself who can canoe, please contact Steve or Mari Richardson (453-5191 or 960-6772).
|
| Back to top |
| |
News from the Youth Group |
“To know Jesus & make Him known.”
What We Are Studying
On Sunday evenings, we are studying the Covenant and our purpose in it.
What We Are Doing
October Youth Group Friday Milkshakes & a Movie
Friday, October 17, 7:00 p.m. @ the Church
Bring a friend!
How We Are Serving
Reformation Night
Service Project
More info to follow!
What We Need
We need ideas for a youth group t-shirt design!
|
Interested in helping us?
Call Joaquin Hall @ 806-4083 |
| Back to top |
| |
Ladies Luncheon |
Reminder: Ladies Luncheon on Saturday, October 25th at noon.
We will be having a salad luncheon at Jean Poole's house. Her address is 149 Cove Loop Drive, Merritt Island.
Just bring a salad to share. We will also have a speaker, Nancy Kennedy. Her topic will be, "Prayers God always answers". |
There is a sign up sheet in the narthex |
| Back to top |
| |
Help Needed |
With the remodel, new sets will be needed for the Children’s Christmas Play this year. If you are interested in helping with the designing and/or building of sets that will be “friendly” to our new stage, please see or call Mari Richardson. 321-453-5191 or 321-960-6772.
Additionally, if you would like to participate in the Christmas Program with a special piece – voice, instrumental, reading, etc – please see or call Mari at your earliest convenience. |
| Back to top |
| |
Mark The Following Dates! |
As we go into fall, it will be the holidays before you know it! Please mark these dates on your calendars to help plan this busy time of year!
Children of all ages are welcome in the Christmas Program. Attendance at all rehearsals is optimal, of course, but if you need to skip one or two rehearsals, it isn’t a problem. Please make all efforts to ensure your children are at the dress rehearsal on Saturday, the 13th if at all possible.
11/09/08 Sunday: Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal at 6:20 p.m.
11/16/08 Sunday: Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal at 6:20 p.m.
11/23/08 Sunday: Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal at 6:20 p.m.
11/30/08 Sunday: Thanksgiving – no rehearsal
12/06/08 Saturday: Greening of the Church
12/07/08 Sunday: Children’s Christmas Program Rehearsal at 6:00 p.m.
12/13/08 Saturday: Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal at TBD (likely 9 a.m.)
12/14/08 Sunday: Children’s Christmas Program at 6:00 p.m.
12/21/08 Sunday: Carol Sing at 6:00 p.m.
12/24/08 Wednesday Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service |
| Back to top |
| |
Family Worship |
For my newsletter article this month I am submitting an article written by Rev. Donald Whitney. This article comes from the rymonline.org website and I encourage our youth and parents to use that site for other wonderful resources like this.
Simplify Family Worship
A man who is like a spiritual father to me began what he called a family altar with his wife before they were married, and has faithfully continued the practice through the arrival of children and grandchildren for more than fifty years. Sadly, it seems that few men among the even the best evangelical churches today could speak of daily worship in their home. In the minds of some, active church involvement eliminates the need for family worship. For others, Bible reading, prayer, and singing praises to God together as a family have been crowded out by the television, the internet, and a non-stop schedule that makes even meals together a rarity.
But the father has the responsibility from God to provide spiritual leadership for his household. As He did with Abraham, the Lord wants every father “to command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord” (Genesis 18:19). Each one should raise his children “ in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Every husband should love his wife as Christ loves His Bride-the Church-and follow Christ’s example of washing his wife with “the washing of water by the word” of God (Ephesians 5:26). While it isn’t the only way, the simplest method of applying all these texts in a steady, practical way is through daily family worship. This is how generations of Christians have understood them. For instance, both Baptists and Presbyterians in the 1600’s saw this biblical teaching, and incorporated identical language about the expectation of family worship into the most influential confessional statements in their respective histories. To this day, many churches still maintain (at least officially) that, “God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and truth; as in private families daily.
Somehow, though, many men have gotten the idea that family worship is complicated, or that it requires time-consuming preparation. But it need not require any more preparation than your personal worship of God. And the entire experience can be reduced to three simple elements: read, pray, sing.
Read
The centerpiece of family worship is the Bible. Read a passage of appropriate length for your family, making any impromptu comments that come to mind. Those with younger children should emphasize the narrative portions of Scripture, and possibly the Proverbs. Eventually, most seem to work up to about a chapter a day, reading consecutively through a particular book of the Bible. I recommend that you ask a few questions to determine comprehension, or just ask the children to repeat what they remember.
Pray
Let the words of the passage you read suggest matter for prayer. The husband/father should pray, and perhaps one or all the rest of the family members. Most days this will be brief.
Sing
Use a hymnal and sing cappella, or sing along to a recording, or let a family musician lead the way. Sing as little as one verse, or for as long as the family enjoys it. Any order of “read, pray, sing” is fine. It doesn’t have to be long to be effective. Be patient with the interest and attention span of the younger ones. Remember that you’re not only fulfilling a responsibility to God by leading family worship, you’re also introducing your children to Him. In these moments together, your children can see your love for God and for His Word, and some of the most teachable moments of their childhood will occur. So start family worship in your home today. It doesn’t matter when you have worship. For some, early is best. For others, it’s mealtime and for still others , it’s bedtime. Just start. Whether you’ve been married fifty years or newly engaged, just start. Keep it simple, and keep it up.
Rev. Donald Whitney is the Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality and the Senior Associate Dean at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
|
Submitted by
Rudy Seiffer |
| Back to top |
| |
Want the Best of Everything? |
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate ... In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups ... And then you began eyeing each others' cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in
society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly ... And enjoy your hot chocolate! |
Submitted by
Brenda Crooker |
| Back to top |
| |
Core Issues (Part 1) |
As we evaluate many of the troubles in life we often focus our efforts and attention on the
symptoms rather than the core issues. Perhaps this is because the surface issues are more evident and appear easier to deal with. Perhaps it is a fear of the resulting
consequences when dealing with core issues. Or, perhaps it is simply an unwillingness to admit our mistakes and make the changes
necessary to correct the problem. Whatever the situation, when the core issue is not addressed it will result in a return to more problems. We can clear away the mold and mildew but it will return if there is nothing done to provide better air circulation and get rid of the dampness.
When you pick up an apple with a worm hole in it, you are inclined to think that a worm crawled onto the surface, liked it, and bored a
hole from the outside. However, this is generally not the case. Rather, the worm lays an egg in an apple blossom and the egg is
hatched in the core of the apple. The hole you see indicates that the worm has bored its way out from within.
In a very similar way we see many issues of
society being addressed with the premise that the transgressor is boring its way in from the outside when in reality the real culprit is hatching from within. We swat away at flies as they buzz about because they are annoying and bothersome. As we rid ourselves of a few pesky ones it seems there are others waiting to replace them. It is only when we destroy
their breeding grounds that we can really get control of the situation. Swatting them one by
one is a losing battle that will, in the very least, provide a temporary reprieve. May I suggest then some core issues that I believe are plaguing our society today and will continue to do so unless we address them.
#1. Lack of Respect for God
- Someone once said, God said it, I believe it, and that settles it, but the reality is this, God said it, that settles it, and I believe it. When
God says something, it is settled regardless
of whether or not it fits our way of thinking. God is sovereign. You can choose to disregard Him, you can choose to dishonor Him but ultimately you will bow at His feet. He is your creator, the potter who gives you life and breath. You are simply clay, a miracle of life in His hands. Lack of respect then, for God and His authority on our life permeates
the blood stream in every element of society. It affects our attitude toward the laws of the country, the role of the church, the responsibility of the home, the lessons that are taught in our schools, etc. Lack of respect for the school teacher, the parents, the police officer, the government official, etc., is a direct
correlation of a lack of respect for God.
#2. Dishonesty
- The idea that I can get away with it by fooling society has caused many to forge the path of dishonesty. It is a quest for promotion of self through a reckless abandonment of godly principles. You can fool
people, but you can't fool God. He is the author of truth and requires it of all people. As disgusting and obnoxious as they are, cheating, stealing, lying, etc., have all weaseled their way into the highest dictates of authority including the church and government. That doesn't mean they will
go unrewarded. The criminal may go to his grave thinking he has outsmarted the magistrates but his guilty conscience will
incriminate him when he stands before God in judgment. In all his recklessness he forgot that God must be reckoned with and he would ultimately pay an awful price for his foolishness.
|
From the Fishwrapper
as provided by Marian Sweigart |
| Back to top |
| |
Thanksgiving Reminder |
Our annual Thanksgiving dinner will be held on Saturday, November 22.
This year the congregation is only being asked to sign up for cooking the turkeys and bringing desserts. All the other items will be prepared in the church kitchen. More information will be provided in the November Newsletter. |
| Back to top |
|
|
|
