View From The Manse 2.0 - July 2024

 

I asked many of you to pray for our denomination (the Evangelical Presbyterian Church) and our annual meeting in the third week of June this year. I just recently returned and I wanted to share with you some thoughts.

          No denomination is perfect. We all have strengths and weaknesses. And the EPC is a young denomination which is still experiencing the growing pains of youth. That being said, what I saw this week was a tremendous blessing to me. We had moments of prayer together that revealed a deep heart for the work of God in the world. We had missionary reports that recounted miraculous, spirit-led work around the world. We had people who came into the meeting at an impasse leave with commitments to work together for the good of the church and the hope of the world.

          I am convinced that the stated clerk is committed to perhaps the most important part of the EPC; evangelism. He wants to see our denomination grow in its focus and efforts on inviting men, women, and families into the household of God. I believe that the ordained members of our denomination, ruling elders and teaching elders, are committed to the authority of scripture and the Westminster Confession of Faith. And I look forward to working alongside these brothers and sisters in the years ahead to spread the message of Jesus’ kingship across the globe; to our neighbors near and far. Thank you for sending me to GA (General Assembly). It was a blessing to see the broader work that is being done by our small corner of Jesus’ bride, the church.

                 

In the past we have done what we like to call ‘summer experiments.’ We have some ideas that we want to try out and the summer is a good time to give them a shot. Let me mention a few things that I would like to see us try in the weeks and months ahead.

          First, I would like us to try a greeting time. I know that makes some of you introverts twitch involuntarily, but hear me out. Many of you have made comments like, “there are a lot of people in this room whose names I do not know.” I want you to have time to meet your brothers and sisters in Christ, who you do not know or to greet someone who God has placed on your heart. So, we are going to place a few minutes following the children’s message to stretch your legs, talk to someone nearby, drop your offering in the offering box, and maybe even wander into McLean Hall to get a cup of coffee or water that you could bring back into the sanctuary. Then, we will call you back together to thank God for the offerings of his people and sing the praise songs before the sermon.

Second, I would like minutes for mission to be more regular. I would like to focus on ministries near and far each Sunday. I want you to hear about what God is doing in our local body and in Washington County and overseas. I hope to have regular reports about the food pantry, the soup kitchen volunteers, operation shoebox, and so many other local ministries.

          Third, I would love for testimonies to be a regular part of our worship. I would like you to consider sharing a 3-5 minute story about your coming to faith, answered prayer, or lesson from the Lord that you have experienced. I want to do this at least once a month, so if you are willing to participate, please come and see me. I look forward to these changes for the months of July and August and I hope that God will continue to impress upon our hearts His work in this world and our part in it.

Bryan Fitzgerald, Pastor (bryan@argylepresbyterian.org)

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