COVENANT CHRONICLE Pastor`s Note

Transcription

COVENANT CHRONICLE Pastor`s Note
Covenant Chronicle
Issue 26, June 2014
COVENANT CHRONICLE
A NEWSLETTER FOR COVENANT CHURCH PCA
OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS
Pastor’s Note
Dr. Paul Sagan
Issue 26, June 2014
Cover:
Pastor’s Note
1
Inside:
The summer vacation season has arrived. There is
a great need for rest and reconnecting with family
and friends. There seems to be a slower place that
allows time for reflection and spiritual renewal.
There is also a danger in times of rest and ease to
let down our spiritual guard and give Satan a
foothold.
So in our resting and vacation times let us remember to spend time in the word and prayer personally and as families. Let us recommit to be faithful
in worship and service and these times give for our
witness to our unsaved family, friends, and neighbors. Let us pray for opportunities for divine
appointments to share the gospel with those
around us.
And let us consider how to stir up one
another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another, and
all the more as you see the Day drawing
near. (Heb 10:24-25 ESV)
CWI
2
Financial Report
2
Music Ministry News 3
Announcements
3
Session Report
4
Our purpose is to glorify God by
loving Him and loving people.
1
2
Covenant Chronicle
Issue 26, June 2014
Christian Witness to Israel
Stephen Atkinson
259 #129EE34
Stephen Atkinson will be preaching in the
following places in the month of June. Please
pray.
with Northern Irish friends until Stephen
finishes, and they shall return together, 18th
July.
June 1- Covenant Church Fayetteville, AR
June 8 - Shadycrest Baptist Church,
Pearland, Houston, TX
June 15 - Trinity Presbyterian (PCA), Boerne,
San Antonio, TX
June 22 - 2nd Baptist, La Grange, TX
June 29 - (am) Groomsport Evangelical
Presbyterian, Northern Ireland
June 29 - (pm) Bethany Baptist, Bangor,
Northern Ireland
CWI will also have a booth at the PCA
General Assembly in Houston (June 16-20),
and Stephen will be joined by his Israeli
colleague, David Zadok.
On June 23rd, the Atkinsons will fly home for
their first visit to Northern Ireland since
coming to the USA. They will be vacationing
in Bangor, and then a brief visit to London, to
see the West-End musical 'Les Miserables'.
Wendy will return to Arkansas, mid July,
while Stephen will remain in London to teach
at CWI Summer School. Esther will stay on
Financial Report
Dennis Smith
January - May
Accounts
Income
Expenses
General Fund Giving
$ 96,717
$ 107,886
Faith Promise
$ 34,619
$ 28,442
Bank Balance
Operations
2
-$2,948
1
2
Covenant Chronicle
Issue 26, June 2014
Music Ministry News
The Parable of the Volunteer Fire Department
Lee Mekkes
A certain village wanted to have their own fire
department. After talking with the residents of
the village, the village council decided that a
full-time fire department would not be feasible,
so they decided to have a volunteer fire department. This would allow the members of the
village who wanted to become part of the fire
department to participate without having to be
committed on a full-time basis. The volunteer fire
department members could live their normal
lives until there was a fire. When a fire or other
emergency arose, the volunteers who were part
of the fire department would respond immediately, and all show up when the alarm called
them into action. They would stay until the
emergency was over, and then return to their
normal lives, awaiting the next emergency. The
village benefited greatly from the establishment
of this volunteer fire department and everyone
appreciated the efforts of this group of volunteers.
The reader may ask what this parable means.
The Covenant Church Worship Committee
would like to have a choir to enhance the Sunday
worship services. Upon conducting a musical
talent survey of the congregation, the committee
determined that a full-time, regular choir would
not be the best idea. So, they decided on a parttime volunteer choir that would be called into
action at special times throughout the year. The
volunteers, who are part of this choir, would
respond whenever there was a “call to action,”
and all show up for a short period of rehearsals.
After their participation in a choir event, they
would return to their normal schedule while
awaiting the next “call to action.” The whole
congregation will benefit from the efforts of this
volunteer choir. If you have not responded to the
invitation to participate in the periodic choir
ministry when they are “called to action,” please
return your Choir Response Card to Pete
Golden, Lee Mekkes, the church office, or place
in an offering plate. Maybe you are one of those
unknown singers who would like to participate
in the part-time choir ministry, but did not
receive an invitation. If so, please contact Pete
Golden, Lee Mekkes, or the church office to join
this group of volunteers.
Announcements
Fellowship Meal: We will have a fellowship meal on
Sunday, June 22, following the 11am worship service.
Baby Bottle Campaign: Baby bottles will be picked
up on Wednesday, June 18. Be sure to turn your bottle
in Sunday, June 15. Thank you for participating!
Loving Choices effectively ministers to women in
Washington and Benton counties.
Vacation Bible School: Son Treasure Island is the
theme. Dates and times for VBS are June 24-26, 911am. Ages served are preschool to 6th grade. Sign
up with Tom Merchant to help.
Covenant Camera Club: The next meeting will be
Saturday, June 21, at 10am at the church. Please bring
your “Multi-Colors” photos to this meeting.
Musicians: Please return your Choir Response
Cards to Lee Mekkes or Pete Golden, or put them in
the offering plate. If you have questions, please see
Lee or Pete.
Youth Group: The youth will be helping decorate
and set up for VBS during the next youth group
meeting on June 18. Be prepared to help.
3
1
2
Covenant Chronicle
Issue 26, June 2014
Session Reports
Dr. Paul Sagan
The following are the significant actions of the
Session meeting from May 20, 2014.
Session members spent an hour of prayer for the
congregation and for active and inactive officers of
the church.
The Session received an abbreviated financial report
and thanked God for his provision, then received
reports from all standing committees. Session noted
that the mortgage loan with First Federal Bank is paid
off and the line of credit with Bank of the Ozarks is
approved. Loan amount of $24K is being paid off
$860 per month with a balloon at two years.
RE Golden reported that his new employment at
Ambassadors for Christ Academy has been
approved. TE Sagan thanked God for this provision
and for the steady direction of the church youth
programs. Session received a report from RE Pursley
and then interacted on the challenge to the current
outreach to the ages 13-19 year old persons in the
church and our culture. The church has historically
dealt with this age group as adults, from creation to
the late 19th century (1889). The ages 0-12 have been
treated as children, and over that age have been
dealt with as adults. Session agreed to study and
interact with how we can better minister to the 13-19
year old population as adults and how to better use
their gifts in the life of the church.
The Session added Members Lee Mekkes, Katy
Golden and Ken Hargis to membership on the
Worship committee. The worship committee is
encouraged to consider younger members of the
congregation as well to be considered for worship
committee membership.
Session appointed RE Pursley as delegate to the May
2014 meeting of Covenant Presbytery.
CONTACTS
SESSION
442-5267 Paul S. Sagan
750-4982 Jeff Chewning
521-1333 Richard Chewning
750-4127 Pete Golden
524-1873 Lee House
570-862-9256 Dow Pursley
871-1981 John Redwine
918-778-3338 Beryl Wilkie
DEACONS
283-1433 Tanner Blair
575-0022 Jim Dooley
287-8131 Mike Golden
619-7689 Mark Jamison
287-7009 David Rice
587-8651 Phillip Rouse
521-2850 Dennis Smith
751-3391 Larry Tomlinson
381-1178 Doug Nystrom,
Assistant Pastor
225-4269 Stephen Atkinson,
Assistant Pastor And
Christian Witness to Israel
(N America Inc.)
www.cwi.org.uk
sgt.atkinson@gmail.com
Home Address &
CWI Office
6401 S 50th St
Rogers, AR 72758
366-4229 Ken Hargis,
Executive Pastor
4