Ash Wednesday Reflections…

Tod a pastor friend of mine talks about his Ash Wednesday service at his church and its meaning for us as followers of Jesus here.

Ash Wednesday

It was a joy for me to lead you all in our first Ash Wednesday service in a long time in our church and my first Ash Wednesday service as your pastor. Everything from communion by intinction to the prayers and the imposition of ashes. Thanks to Ad for the smile he brought us during the end our service. Don’t forget friends, “live like you’ve been forgiven.” See you Sunday!

New Bible Update…

8:15pm. My son and I just got back from the book store. New Bibles have arrived. In my car for church in the morning in case any of you were wondering. Thank you God for new Bibles!!!

New Members Classes

It’s time folks. If you are interested in joining the church and are curious of what it means to be a Presbyterian and a follower of Jesus I invite you to come to our inquirers classes on March 4th from 12:00pm until 2:00pm, March 8th at 7:00pm until 8:30pm, and again on March 11th at 11:30am for a lunch with our church elders.

In case you are wondering, there are different ways of joining the church;  

Profession of faith:  If you have never been a member of any church, you must profess your acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  If you have not been baptized, the Sacrament of Baptism will be administered.

Letter of Transfer:  If you belong to another church, you may ask us to request a letter transferring you into our fellowship at Community Presbyterian Church of Littlerock.  Our church office will handle the paperwork once our clerk of session has received the name and address of your present church.

Reaffirmation of Faith:  If you have let your membership in another church lapse, you may, upon reaffirming your faith, you may unite with Community Presbyterian Church of Littlerock.

Affiliate Membership:  If you are temporarily living in this area and wish to retain active membership in a church elsewhere, you may unite with this church as an affiliate member.  Affiliate membership must be renewed every two years.  

We practice “open membership” which means that we accept your baptism/confirmation from other Christian traditions. I hope you will prayefully consider participating in our three classes. I’m a firm believer that membership is an important part of our faith journey. It’s vital to our relationship with Christ that we belong to a community of faith that will walk with us in the joys and struggles of our life and who will pray for us. I challenge you to look at Paul’s words from Hebrews 10:24-25, “So, let us consider how may, spur one another toward love and good deeds, let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another for all the more as you see the day approaching.” Call me at the church if your interested in prayerfully considering church membership. I look forward to hearing from you or if you know someone who might be interested pass the word.

Season of Lent

On February 21 at 6:30pm we will have an Ash Wednesday Service to start the season of lent together as a church community. Ash Wednesday falls forty-six days before Easter although its forty days long. The imposition of ash in the form of a cross on a persons forehead by a minister signifies the repentance from sin before God.  The season of lent  was a time for new converts to be instructed in baptism and also for believers to come to grips with their sins and to focus on repentance. It was a time for folks to fast as a spiritual discipline to help them become closer to God and to get things right. Although we don’t fast much anymore as a spiritual discipline we begin the season by giving something up. Whatever it might be it’s something that might keep us away from what God wants for us and for our lives. Please come and worship with us on this day of preparation and reflection.

February Newsletter

I love the holiday season. I’ve always loved the Christmas season and what it means to the church and to our walk with the Lord. What I really love is the New Year and what it brings and means for us as children of God. It’s our chance to get a fresh start. It’s our chance for a New Beginning.

For over a year we’ve all prayed for wisdom in where the Lord was leading in regards to Community Presbyterian Church of Littlerock finding a new pastor. My family and I prayed and I know you all prayed. The Lord brought us together for a purpose and what a great new beginning in the life of our church as we begin serving the Lord in ministry together.

Just for fun I looked up the word beginning. It means “first part: the first part or early stages of something.” Isn’t this true for where we are at in the life of the church? I’m confident that we are in the early stages of God and his plans for our church and our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11) When I think of new beginnings I think of what the Lord does for each of us on a daily basis. The light of the world that has come into being restores our souls and gives to us the very strength we need to get through our day. Most of all the Lord in his goodness and grace covers us with his love and forgiveness. This love he’s blessed us with allows us to know with confidence that we are a forgiven people and a forgiven community. This forgiveness then shines into the world, a chance for the world to have a new fresh start, a new beginning.

Friends, I really look forward to meeting you if I haven‘t already. I’ve already set up camp in my office. If you ever would like to get together I invite you to call me at the church. I’ve already visited the Tuesday night food pantry. What a powerful ministry we have in our midst. If you’ve never volunteered I challenge you to come and help as a response to Jesus and his words, “Go out into all of the world and make disciples of all nations.” (This includes our neighbors next door) Debbie and I have attended the Wednesday night Marinership group. I encourage you all to come and be in fellowship together with your brothers and sisters on the first Wednesday of the month. I’ve also attended Rick Whitehouse’s Thursday night Bible study. Friends, I encourage you to come and participate in the study of God’s Word. It starts at 5:30pm sharp! If you’re a guy and like food I’ve found a place to get fed with not only good food, but spiritual food. Join us the third Saturday of the month. There are other groups I look forward to spending time with like the youth led by Caleb and our children’s ministries led by Annie.

Finally, I’m most of all thankful for the work and the prayers of the PNC who felt that the Lord was bringing us together for this new beginning in the life of our church. I look forward to our years of ministry together and watching with anticipation for what the Lord is getting ready to do. I again stand on the words of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord…praise God for new beginnings. Amen?