VIEW FROM THE MANSE 2.0 - AUGUST 2025

 

          As I write this month’s entry, we are part way through VBS. The energy of VBS is such a wonderful thing to be a part of. It is a delight to see volunteers from high school and senior saints working together to share the story of Jesus with our young people. Our opening and closing sessions are being led by Brian Wells Jr. He is doing a tremendous job getting us started on the right foot. His skits with his dad are playful and goofy and the kids love it. All the hours that were given to decorating the church have really made it a special place to be. Our kitchen team is crafting simple, delicious meals and no one leaves McLean Hall hungry.

          It is hard to believe we are entering August already. The summer has, once again, flown by. In the month of August, we are going to be looking at “On The Incarnation” together on Thursday nights at 7pm. You can join us via livestream or in person in McLean Hall. Our first study will be on August 7.

          If you were not able to make either of the Wednesday night dinners in July, we are going to continue the Wednesday night dinners in McLean Hall in August. We are planning them for August 13 and August 27. There will be sign up lists on the Sunday before and again, if you cannot bring anything, please come anyway.

          In September we are hosting the meeting for our presbytery (the Presbytery of the East of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church). These meetings happen three times a year (in January, April, and September). Teaching and ruling elders from our sister churches gather at one of the churches to worship Jesus, learn, discuss business, and fellowship. These meetings are always a blessing to me because I get to see men and women in person that I have been corresponding with via email or talking to through zoom calls. I am the chair of the church development team of our presbytery and I organize a book study that meets once a week via zoom.

          The church development team is responsible for supporting church health, church planting, and church transfers within our presbytery. This team is made up of ruling elders and teaching elders from across the Northeast. I have been on this team for a number of years, but the chairmanship is relatively new. I hope I am getting better at it, for it is most certainly a role that is stretching me.

          As you know, we have a committee that is helping to plan the presbytery meeting that we are hosting September 26-27. There are many parts to play for this meeting and we will be making it known what roles we need filled in this effort to bless our sisters and brothers with the hospitality of the Spirit. If you can, mark your calendars now for the worship service on Friday night. I think it will bless you to worship with folks whom you may not know, but who you are partnering with in the spread of the Gospel.

          I look forward to what God has to teach us and how he will use us in the weeks and months ahead.

          Bryan Fitzgerald, Pastor (bryan@argylepresbyterian.org)

 

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