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October 01, 2006
October Newsletter
Pastor's Pen
I mentioned in last month’s installment of Pastor’s Pen the name of George MacDonald. I have written to a fellow who has made available to the general public a number of George MacDonald’s novels, removing some of the Scottish lingo that is a mite hard for our American eyes to read. I am hoping we may get his man, Michael Phillips, to come speak to us about the remarkable Victorian novelist and pastor whom many of us first came to know of from C.S. Lewis’ comments about him.I am nearly finished reading Phillips’ biography of MacDonald. It has brought me much refreshment. I discover I share many inclinations with MacDonald in his view of God and the Godly life. I want to share with you an excerpt from a letter he wrote to someone who was ill, who unfortunately died before this letter arrived at his door. I too try to write to people I have met who are taken with severe illness. Here is a letter of a kind I would be pleased to write.
Beloved Friend—Do not start at the warmth of my address, for brief as was our opportunity of knowing each other, it was more than long enough to make me love you. I write because I hear you are very ill. I know not a little about illness, and my heart is with you in yours. Be of good courage; there is a live heart at the center of the lovely order of the Universe—a heart to which all the rest is but a clothing form—a heart that bears every truthful thought, every help-needing cry of each of its children, and must deliver them.
All my life, I might nearly say, I have been trying to find that one Being, and to know him consciously present; hope grows and grows with the years that lead me nearer to the end of my earthly life, and in my best moods it seems ever that the only thing worth desiring is that his will be done; that there lies before me fullness of life, sufficient to content the giving of a perfect Father, and that the part of the child is to yield all and see that he does not himself stand in the way of the mighty design.
But why do I write thus to you who may know all this, tenfold better than I? Just because I want to come near to you in your illness…Christ speaks of the world’s goods as not ours—as things that cannot be ours, but are in their nature foreign to power of possession. Our own things are the riches toward God. What I may have in this kind I offer you, in love and sympathy with you and yours.
May the great life whose creating power of Love be with you and make you strong and comfort you…
May be make you triumph over pain and doubt and dread, and restore you to perfect divine health.
Pastor Robertson
Committee Established
"It was moved and seconded to establish a Committee, appointed by the Session, with the following charge: "In light of the recent PUP report, and given our goal of preserving the unity of the Faith Presbyterian Church family, a Committee is to be set up to explore possible options and consequences associated with Faith Presbyterian Church leaving the PCUSA; similarly, the Committee is to explore the options and consequences associated with continuing its affiliation with the PCUSA while working towards reform of the leadership of the PCUSA. The Committee will report its findings to the Congregation in January 2007". This motion was approved unanimously."
Also would you please add this to this statement: The Committee consists presently of David McKinnis, Chair, Glenn Sparks, Elaine McVay, Jane Stewart, Grieke Toebes, Don Gentry, and Pat Kain. We hope two more of us who have been approached to serve, and are considering serving, will accept a place on this committee so that it will consist of seven people.
Worship Information
Oct. 1st – Sermon: “Dining on Jesus”
OT: Exodus 16: 4 - 8
NT: John 6: 51 – 60, 66
Communion
Oct. 8th – Sermon: “The Great Feast of Tabernacles”
OT: Leviticus 23: 33 - 43
NT: John 7: 1 - 9
Oct. 15th – Sermon: “Jesus, the Fountain of Living Water”
OT: Zechariah 14: 6 – 9, 16 - 21
NT: John 7: 14, 37 - 39
Oct. 22nd – Sermon: “Jesus and the Adulteress”
OT: Leviticus 20: 1 - 10
NT: John 8: 1 - 11
Oct. 29th – Sermon: “Jesus, Light of the World”
OT: Isaiah 60: 1 - 7
NT: John 8: 12 - 20
Reformation Sunday
A Word of Explanation
Some of you have asked why our organist, Marilyn Sameh, does not play while the elders are breaking the bread when we take The Lord’s Supper. This period of quiet is an opportunity for prayer and reflection as the congregation prepares to receive the sacred feast.
Pastor Robertson
Clerk's Corner
At its September 5, 2006 meeting the Session passed the following resolution:
"In light of the recent PUP report, and given our goal of keeping the Faith Presbyterian Church family united, a Committee is to be set up to explore possible options and consequences associated with Faith Presbyterian Church leaving the PCUSA; similarly, the Committee is to explore the options and consequences associated with continuing its affiliation the PCUSA while working toward reform of the leadership of the PCUSA. The Committee will report its findings to the Congregation in January 2007".
The committee charged with this responsibility consists of ....... Please acquaint this committee with any inputs you wish to convey.
J.M Honig, Clerk of Session
Women's Bible Study
The Tuesday morning Bible study group will meet at Deb Johnson's house this school year. The day and time will change to 1:00 every 2nd and 4th Thursday beginning September 28. We will study "Women in the Bible" (Old Testament women). All interested women, including their children, are welcome to attend.
Life Path seeking Administrative Assistant
Life Path, a newly forming church on the south side of Lafayette seeks part-time administrative assistance which includes record-keeping, organizing, budget tracking, creating reports and flyers, updating website, and perhaps setting up and purchasing equipment. Must be mission-minded, Christ follower with knowledge of ministry as well as computers (MS Office software at least). Awareness of "Emerging Church" mind-set would be a plus. Contact Rev. Nancy Mockros for more details: lifepath@insightbb.com or 765-427-2891
When Calling Elders and Deacons
Each year we choose from our number persons to serve a new class of Deacons and Elders. We believe that because we ask for the aid of the Holy Spirit that the ones who are finally selected are not only the result of our choice, but of the Holy Spirit’s guidance too.
Choosing church officers is not a popularity contest. It is not a matter of choosing people with the best administrative gifts alone, though it is helpful to have elders and deacons who serve on our boards with a good sense of how to get things done. Our input, after praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is to choose people who have been faithful in their lives before us for long enough that we feel we know them well, people of good judgment and upright character, with a sincere faith in Jesus Christ, a love for His Church, and an unqualified devotion to the life and ministry of Faith Church.
Those who serve as Deacons and Elders must be collegial, able to work with fellow Elders and Deacons for the common good. They are to be good listeners, cooperating with others in achieving goals that their particular boards are convinced are for the good of Faith Church.
Elders and deacons are spiritual leaders. Spiritual leadership involves leading others in following Christ by what we say and by what we do. Our primary goal as spiritual leaders is to build up the church to become more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and actions while at the same time preserving the unity of the body of Christ by being concerned not to be hurtful to others and by being forgiving and gracious when others are hurtful to us.
Deacons and Elders, while not specifically superintended by the Pastor, have the duty of cooperating with the Pastor, accepting the Pastor’s leadership and counsel. The Pastor is moderator of the Session. This means that it is the pastor’s duty to let the gifts and wisdom of all the elders find a place in the spiritual leadership of the congregation. Deacons choose their own moderator. The Session has the final responsibility for the governance of the congregation, but deacons and elders share a common task of serving in such a way as to harmoniously further the cause of the Gospel in the congregation.
In the Presbyterian system of government, the lay officers in the congregation have great responsibility to serve with the Pastor in leading the congregation. The future as well as the present of Faith Church depends heavily on the excellence of our Board of Deacons and Session.
Pastor Robertson
Birthdays
Oct. 2 Amanda Bosler
Oct. 3 Nathan Parker
Oct. 4 Trent Tyler
Oct. 5 Stanley Hem
Oct. 5 Zoe Taylor
Oct. 5 Shirley Bosler
Oct. 6 Matthew Stith
Oct. 8 Sarah Wilcoxson
Oct. 9 Lola Miler
Oct. 10 Dustin Kirby
Oct. 11 Jane Papsdorff
Oct. 14 Matthew Kain
Oct. 15 Iain Donkin
Oct. 16 Nicholas Anderson
Oct. 16 Barbara Wiggs
Oct. 19 Peggy Housley
Oct. 19 Kris Stith
Oct. 19 Katie Wark
Oct. 23 Mary Mason
Oct. 23 Hannah Old
Oct. 24 Bonnie Robertson
Oct. 25 Kesler Paul
Oct. 25 Lois Wark
Oct. 26 Alexander Mason
Oct. 26 Thom McKay
Oct. 27 Bethany Lockwood
Oct. 28 Jessica Mason
Community Worship Services
• Sun., Oct. 1 St. Mary’s Healthcare 2:30pm
• Sun., Oct. 8 Tippecanoe Villa 1:30pm
• Sun., Oct. 8 Friendship House 3:00pm
• Sun., Oct. 15 No Davis Manor
• Sun., Oct. 15 University Place 4:00pm
• Sun., Oct. 22 Rosewalk Commons 2:30pm
The Deacons invite you to become a part of this ministry
Schedule Information
You can contact Pastor Robertson by calling the office, 743-3683, on Wednesday mornings 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pastor Robertson's day off is Monday. Outside of office hours please feel free to call Pastor Robertson at home at 497-2162.
Worship With Us
We invite you to join in the worship of God each Sunday morning at 9:30am and each Wednesday morning at 7:00am. We also invite you to participate in the prayers, fellowship, work and activities of this church.
For more information about this opportunity to be involved at Faith Presbyterian Church, please call or talk to any member of Session, Pastor Robertson or call the church office at 743-3683.
Posted by faithpres at October 1, 2006 08:11 AM