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