"Be still and know I am God." Psalm 46:10

July 27, 2014

The more I read the Psalms… the more I appreciate David.

David sought to live with integrity.  He sought to be accountable to God.  For example Psalm 26 starts:

Vindicate me, O Lord,

for I have walked in my integrity,

 and I have trusted in the Lord without

wavering.

Prove me, O Lord, and try me;

test my heart and mind.

For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

And I walk in faithfulness to you.

 

Being open to God allows David to grow and serve well.

 

Reflecting on the Psalms allows us to grow and serve well too.  I hope you are continuing in your reading and reflection.  Over the years, when I work with leaders and we pray, listening for God’s Word, what is often heard is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”  What an affirmation of God’s protection and power… that as we quiet our lives and put them before the Lord, God will be present!  Sometimes that’s all we need to know to journey forth from fear to faith… from chaos to peace.

 

Another  leader that benefitted from Psalms, is Martin Luther, a guiding light in the Protestant Reformation.   Luther was assailed by critics as he promoted reforms based on scripture, faith, and direct connection with God through Jesus Christ.  In the midst of grief and chaos, Luther wrote many hymns.  Perhaps one of his most famous is based upon Psalm 46 which we examine today.  It is title is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”  I commend verse 2 to you for comfort and confidence today:

 

Did we in our own strength confide,

Our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side,

The Man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus it is He.

Lord Sabaoth His name,

And he must win the battle.

 

God may we present ourselves to you, be still and know you are God, and from that experience be serve as you lead, knowing the battle has already been won.

 

Blessings,

Tim

July 13, 2014

Tim’s Tidings

“This is the Day the Lord has made!  Let us rejoice and be glad in it!”  So goes the call of the Psalmist as God’s people gathered for worship in the time of David.  Today we still gather to praise God, and we have many reasons for rejoicing.

In that light, as part of our offering today, there are yellow stars or “bright spots” inserted in your bulletin.  You are encouraged to write a joy or thanksgiving you have in your life on the “bright spot” and put it in the offering plate along with your offering.  Your bright spot might relate to the ministry of Eastminster Presbyterian Church.  It might be a member or staff person who shows compassion, a Bible study or program that enriches you, the feeling you receive being on the grounds, the beauty of music and worship, a mission outreach we have.  Your “bright spot” might be a family member or friend who has been there for you and shown you love.  God might be the bright spot in your life as God has sustained you.  Pick one “bright spot” today and offer it to God.  We will collect the bright spots and post them in the Christian Ministry Center, creating a wall of joy.

One way God is using this church is in reaching out to children and youth.  Today we will receive a report from Steve and Tamara Correll on mission work done in El Salvador with the Compassion International children which a good number of members of EPC support.  We also welcome back the youth who went to the Montreat Youth Conference and the Fruitland Park Music Conference last week.  They will be sharing some of their experiences next week.  Finally, note that there are just a couple of weeks left in our collection of school supplies for Master’s Workshop.  The deadline is Monday July 28.

In every year there are bright spots and challenges.  This year is no exception for Eastminster. Your session has called a Congregational Meeting at 11 a.m. next Sunday July 20 to present a mid-year review of our ministries.   All members and interested guests are encouraged to attend this meeting, which will last about 30 minutes.  The Congregational Meeting will provide a snapshot of our giving, outreach, educational and worship ministries.  Our goal is to move forward together in revival and revitalization with honesty, transparency and love.  It is a joy to me to be on this journey together!

Blessings,

Pastor Tim

July 6

Tim’s Tidings

As you read this we will have finished a very full week!  My view of summer is that it is “opportunity time” rather than down time.  We take a break from some of the usual things we do… yet we also do things we couldn’t during the other seasons of the year.

Last Sunday our church commissioned youth to go to the Montreat Youth Conference and to the Leesburg Choir Camp.  They are there now, and they will have a full week of growth.  A recent survey of ministers revealed that fully 40% of them were influenced in their calls to Christian service at events such as these.  Please remain in prayer for Christ to transform our youth and their leaders… and in turn influence our faith and the spiritual life of our church as they return.

Wednesday night your Session held a Congregational Forum to report on and discuss recent actions of the General Assembly.  There were about 70 members in attendance… all who offered prayer and encouragement as we wrestle with being faithful in an age of change.  It was affirmed that what will not change is:

1.       The Lordship of Jesus Christ—he is Lord and head of the church … our one foundation.

2.       The Authority of Scripture as guide to the Christian life.  It’s through Scripture, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, that we know God in Christ and grow best.

3.       Belief in God, Father, Son, and Spirit as expressed in the Apostles Creed and other Creeds contained in the Book of Confessions.

4.       Belief that God is the judge not us, but we are to prayerfully seek to live righteous lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture.

5.       The fact that our church has the ability to determine the ways in which this church is used, who our officer’s are, and how we invest our human and financial resources in the ministry of God.

Flyers on the key actions of General Assembly are available at pcusa.org.  White sheets on the issues of marriage and divestment researched and written by our Clerk of Session, Jack Rowley, are available on the information table.  These are reliable guides to understand issues and to share with friends who may be misinformed by less reliable reporting.

Finally, thanks to the many who worked to make the Fourth of July a key outreach for Eastminster.  We were able to show hospitality and love to hundreds of people in the community through wonderful music by a 60 member choir led by Kyle Jones, a 40 member band led by Stacie Cleveland, and ice cream, water and use of restrooms provided by our church and generous individuals.  We also passed out newly created church brochures made by our Outreach Team to those in attendance.  Thanks to Steve and Anne Adams, Nancy Fowler, and Bill McCaslin for serving as leaders of large teams, and to Sexton Art Paddock and the rest of our staff for being patient and helpful through the many events this week. 

Great ministry church!

Tim