The Messenger - September 4, 2007

Ministries to...
• Adults
• Kids
• Students
• Sporting Types
• Everyone

Worship information...
• Choirs
• Worship Style
• Sermons

Mission...
• Thanksgiving Baskets
• Meals on Wheels
• Supported Orgs.

Leaders...
• Staff
• Session
• Deacons
• Commissions

Publications...
• Messenger
• Pastor's Corners

Heritage...
• Our History
• Reformed Theology
• Presby. Gov't

Other...
• Wedding Info
• Join Us in Prayer
• S.P. Co-op Nursery School
• Job Openings
• Mailing lists
• Web mail
• Church forms
• Contact the pastor

    Pastor Neal's Notes

Works in Progress: Us!

For the last several weeks, I have been talking about capital improvements at the church that are currently "in progress." These included air conditioning, speakers, microphones, and signs. I've also talked about technical "experiments," like video projection in the sanctuary. But the biggest work in progress is the people in the church. That's because, the Bible tells us, God is always in the business of improving us.

Sometimes, this process is so slow that we hardly notice it. At other times (particularly times of crisis), it can be remarkably fast. But it is helpful to look back from time to time and see what God has done. Here's one way to accomplish that:

Turn a a regular sheet of typing paper sideways, and make a time line (on the long side of the paper) in 5 or 10 year increments (depending on your age). Then, on the short side of the paper, make another scale from 1 to 5 (or 7), and mark this one as "intimacy with (or fidelity to) God." Then, make a line graph, starting from early childhood and proceeding to the present day.

As you are making this chart, think about the major turning points in your life that moved you closer (or farther away) from God. Then, when you are finished, turn the paper over and write the Lord a letter thanking Him for his work in your life and asking Him for His guidance in the years ahead. You might also ask God to help you see what He was doing in the "hard" years of your life, especially years when you felt disappointed in (or confused by) Him.

The first time I did this exercise, I didn't really know what God was up to in some chapters of my life. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was being faithful. I thought I was walking by faith. But it seemed like I had walked off of a pier and fell into a rip tide underneath. Then, as I prayed about this and asked God to direct me, most of these episodes were explained. It didn't happen immediately. In fact, it took several years. But, every time I wrote a new time line and asked God to direct me, certain "missing links" were filled in.

Now, I see that God was blessing me through the good times and building my character through the hard ones. But I wouldn't have seen this nearly as well without taking the time to analyze my life and pray. Nor would I have been as helpful to God's people today.

September is the beginning of a new season in our church and our community. As you plan for this season and the year ahead, perhaps it would be helpful to complete your own time line and see how God is shaping you.

Blessings and Peace,

• Sermon: If you keep my commandments...
• Scripture: Deut 28:1-1, 15-25, 45-48
• Preacher: Rev. Neal Neuenschwander

• September 9 is Church School Rally Day!
  

• Women's Bible Studies to start Mon., Sept. 10, 7 - 8:30pm and Wed., Sept. 12, 1 - 2:30pm   Studies are identical.  Contact: Kim Neuenschwander to sign up or for more information.
  

• September 16 - Children and Youth Sunday School begins
  

• Rehearsals for all youth choirs start soon.  Members or not, all youth are welcome!

• Our kids choir will sing and we will have a booth at the Light at the Lighthouse  music festival on September 22.

• You can sign up online for the new weekly church e-newsletter... or view the archives.

• Date:  September 22, 2007
• Time:  10:30am - 6:30pm
• Location:  Point Fermin Park

by Jerry Van Marter
Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Reports from the upper Midwest indicate that Presbyterian churches in John Knox and Maumee Valley presbyteries were the hardest hit by last weeks massive flooding.

This commission is responsible for all aspects of church worship and music. Through the music staff, they organize music rehearsals and plan the music for each worship service. Through designated volunteers, they furnish liturgists, ushers and sound technicians each Sunday. They organize elders to serve the elements on each Communion Sunday, and they provide a sound technician for weddings and funerals when requested. They are also responsible for banners and seasonal decorations in and around the sanctuary.

Chairperson: Paul Purdy

Inductive Bible Study or "Exegeses" is to draw out or extract what is in the text the way it was written. One attempts to find the true meaning and explain the passages of scripture from their context.  It is suggested that a translation that is close to litteral be used.