John Calvin Newsletter Online

~for May 2009~ 

Here you will find a few of our monthly newsletter articles.  If you would like to receive the newsletter via US Mail, please contact us.

 



 

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MUSINGS

by the Rev. Dr. Malcolm McQueen

 

As you may know, the Session (elected elders serving on the governing board) is responsible for the overall ministry of JCPC. To that end, we meet monthly to pray, discern, discuss, and decide matters of importance to our faith family. You might think the Session spends its time dealing with typical business stuff. Not so. In reality, our time is spent seeking God’s will and lifting up to God our ministry work as an offering. One of the benefits of being on Session is to hear stories of God at work through JCPC. I want to share with you how, over the past month in particular, we are witnessing God’s work so that you can be as excited as the Session is over what the Spirit is doing.

 

  1. Enthusiastically endorsing Nathaniel McQueen to serve as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Nathaniel has been accepted to serve in this mission work for a year starting this August. He will join with other YAVs assisting local Presbyterian congregations in Belfast.

 

2. Enthusiastically receiving new adult disciple-members. When a new disciple-member comes before the Session, they are asked to respond to these questions: How did you first find your way to JCPC? What got you back? Why do you desire to live out your Christian discipleship through JCPC? Who is Jesus Christ to you / What does Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior mean to you? When we listened to these faith stories, we heard about a particular person at JCPC who made an invitation to attend JCPC and another person who exhibited warm hospitality when the new person first visited JCPC. It is a witness to the importance of “walking across the room” and inviting someone to JCPC; and when you are at worship to have “hospitality hearts” – taking the risk to approach someone you don’t know and introduce yourself or sit with someone in worship.  

 

3.  Enthusiastically endorsing Gordon Ringler to enroll in Mission Presbytery’s Commissioned Lay Pastor program. The purpose of the CLP program is to train laypersons to serve local congregations in particular ways, including churches without the services of a pastor. Gordon shared how the Spirit is working on him to explore serving God in the capacity of a CLP. We’re excited to see if this is one of God’s purposes for Gordon. And we are reminded of God’s call in every one of our lives.

 

4.  Enthusiastically receiving seven of our high school-age youth as our newest disciple-members through the confirmation class process and approving the baptism of one of those confirmands. What a joy it is when youth make a decision to connect with the faith family through membership. Listening to their faith stories and to the adult mentors who spent time with each of them, renews the reasons we strive for excellence in youth ministry and youth disciple-making classes.

 

In Acts 14:27, Luke tells us, “ … they gathered the church together and declared all that God had done with them … ”  It is important to see “God-things” going on and to talk about them because it encourages us.  What God-thing do you see going on through JCPC? What God-thing is going on with you?  Please share it with your small group or Disciple-making class or next ministry meeting. 

 

 

Outreach & Missions Ministry

  by Patrick Hutzler & Michelle Walter

 

In the name of the Lord, greetings from Outreach & Missions !!!

 

We thank you for your constant and uplifting prayers to the Lord on our behalf.  As you seek God’s will with respect to where you can serve Him, please consider the following volunteer opportunities:

            1)  the Agape Ministry located on Lanark near Austin Hwy (see Don Diers for details)

 

They are in need of undergarments for men & women, men’s shorts and shirts, sandals, tennis shoes and work boots.   They also need the following for their food pantry:  macaroni and cheese, individual cups of canned fruit, Vienna sausages, canned soup, toothpaste, combs and toilet paper.

 

            2)  JCPC Carnival and Concert planning group (see O&M chair Michelle Walter),

            3)  Faith Builder’s Luncheon Tuesday, May 12th at Trinity Baptist Church from 12 pm-1pm,

            4)  Habitat for Humanity (call 210.223.5203 ext. 160) for project schedules and volunteering opportunities

5)  Meals for the Homeless – donate non-perishables such as zipper sandwich bags, canned tuna, fruit, bottled water, pack-size chips, cheese / peanut butter crackers or help with preparations

 

We pray in the name of Christ that you become the hands, feet, arms, and heart of Jesus as you serve God in His mission field.