Pathfinder

  Summer is nearly upon us! Some of us have been waiting many months for sweaty, barefoot mornings in the garden and hot afternoons on the porch. We are so grateful for the changes that come with this season. We might watch some baseball or go swimming. We have some vacations planned and some family picnics in our future and we are excited.           As the season changes, may I make some suggestions as to how you might continue to grow spiritually this summer?           First, stay in the Word. Some of you are in Bible studies that take a summer break. And while I am glad that you have a little latitude in your schedule now, may I encourage you to find time to be in the Bible on your own? Read a short book of the Bible over and over this summer. Or get to know the pastoral epistles inside and out (1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy, and Titus). Download an app that will guide you ...

  When we gathered as a session at the end of April, we began with prayer and spent time reflecting on what it looks like to be a healthy church. In our study of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship , the authors keep emphasizing: if a church is going to be a place where people can be honest about their lives, that kind of vulnerability has to be modeled by its leaders. It isn’t something we can ask for if we aren’t willing to live it ourselves. We then moved into the sanctuary and took time to pray. We walked through the room, pausing in different places and praying for people where they sit each Sunday. For me, that was a needed moment. I realized I mostly sit in the front corner. And while I recognize faces and I know names, I don’t always know which names belong to which faces—especially those behind me. In that moment, I was able to more effectively pray for those who sit in proximity to where I normally sit. It was a simple reminder that being the church means we move toward ...

  You have to admit that Mother Nature has a sense of humor. I find her teasing us with the thought of Spring actually happening this year kind of comical. Sometimes things that have always been a certain, predictable way can suddenly, and without warning, change their pattern and in the process, ours also! Almost makes you want to look up into the sky and shout, “C'mon!” even though you know that is nothing more than a futile exercise. When things are out of our control, there are other options. We don't have to solve every problem. We just have to recognize it as a problem and rely on our faith and belief in God to figure out how to deal with it. Most times the best action is none; the recommended approach, patience! Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher during the 6 th century BC, wrote, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished”. While we're waiting on her to sashay her way into full Spring, always remember that the Deacons are present and working on behalf...

  We had a great spring workday on May 2. The trustee workdays wouldn’t be complete without an “all hands” effort. Folks from the congregation came in and did jobs to get us ready to open up the building for the warmer season. Brian Burch put a new railing on fence at the Barkley Ave parking lot, removed brush, and trimmed trees. Jordon Dennis did a great Spring clean-up; we are blessed to have him as our groundskeeper! Jim Stott and Joe Lohret’s toilet repair at the “Yellow house” proved to be successful. When we received our water bill, the water usage was dramatically reduced from over 3600 cubic ft to less than 50. Thanks Jim and Joe. We found a contractor that is willing to help us with the new kitchen hood inspection (mandated from the county fire inspection). This normally would cost around $800 a year but we were fortunate to get a reduced rate. You might see the sticker on the side of the hood; it must remain there. We applied for and received an ongoing donation of paper ...

  Shepherds & Servants: How Christ Orders His Church At our February Session meeting we revisited Scripture’s teaching on the two biblical offices— Elders and Deacons —and why they matter for the health of our church. Elders are called to spiritual oversight: prayer, teaching, and shepherding the flock with character and maturity. Deacons lead us in practical mercy: meeting needs with hands‑on care and encouraging generous service. Together, these roles help us follow Jesus with both wisdom and compassion . We also celebrated a joyful moment: Session approved believers’ baptism for Sam and Jonah Seeger . Please join us in praying for them as they publicly profess faith in Christ and for all who are exploring the gospel in this season. Two simple ways to help the body right now: we’re praying for a Children’s Ministry Coordinator and a few additions to the music team (a drummer and a bass guitarist would be a gift). If the Lord is nudging you—or if you’d like to learn...

  With the cooperation of the USPS, most of you will more than likely have this month's Pathfinder in hand prior to Easter Sunday. I'll take that timetable and use it to wish you all a somewhat early, blessed Easter! Acknowledgment that Christ willingly gave up his life for us in a brutal and painful manner; and then, a mere three days later, resurrected from the dead to summarily re-balance the world order by forgiving its sins and definitively defeating death, is the faith that forms and defines the collective, passionately beating heart of Christianity. While we celebrate these amazing gifts that Father God has bestowed upon us, we ought to also take away a realization that we, as Christians, have a reciprocal obligation to help keep our world in the state that THE resurrection returned it to.          In an article on the website Christianity.com, Brian G. Hedges, lead pastor for Fulkerson Park Baptist Church in Niles, Michigan wrote: “The res...

  It’s that time of year when we start our annual inspections.  Last month the fire protection system was inspected, a sensor was repaired and the battery backup was replaced.    Soon the elevator and stair lift will be inspected, along with the fire extinguishers.  This year we will add the kitchen hood to the mix since its now mandated by county code enforcement who will be in to check the building as well.  Last year the “Kitchen committee” requested that we put an outlet in the floor under the banquet serving area to help with warming and crock pots – we finally completed that request.  With Fuel prices up, it reminds us to keep watch on the thermal boundaries, and secure lights when not in use. Folks have been doing a fantastic job of conserving and we thank you.  Finally, we plan on having a “Trustee Workday” May 2 nd , with a rain date of May 9 th . The trustee workdays wouldn’t be complete without an all-hands effort. Here we invite the co...

  The other night, my wife and I had a fight. It was loud enough that the 2 oldest kids heard us upstairs (or they snuck down and sat on the stairs, I’m not sure which- I was busy fighting).     When my wife went upstairs after the fight, she was met by the two of them. They expressed their concern to her. She told them, “We disagree sometimes. We fight sometimes. But neither of us is going anywhere.” My 12-year-old responded, “That’s what I told Lily.”      The next morning, my son and I sat down to read the Bible and pray together and I asked, “Did you hear us fighting last night?” “Yes,” he replied, “But I know everything’s ok.” And I said, “Yeah. It is. Sometimes, mommy and I fight. Just like sometimes you and I fight, but you and I aren’t going anywhere either, are we?” “No.” he said. “And I love you, right?” I asked. “Yes.” he said. “When I got upstairs, I had to say sorry to mommy,” I told him. “Because I was wrong.”     We would rather our...

  What’s your next step? At Argyle Presbyterian Church, we exist to make disciples who make a difference. Being a disciple of Jesus means following where he leads us. And what is the next step that you might take as you follow him? Here are some ideas: 1.              Get Baptized. Baptism is a gift from God to his people. In Acts 2, Peter says, “ Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” If you have never been baptized (you only get baptized into the name of the triune God once), this is a gift that Christ commands you receive. At APC, we baptize babies and we baptize adults. The question for adults pursuing baptism is essentially this; ‘Are you trusting in Jesus for salvation and are you desiring to, by his grace, follow him in obedience?’ If you can answer yes to that question, it is time for you to get bap...

  Each January your Session holds an extended meeting over two days to pray, study, reflect, and get our hearts aligned for a new year of ministry. It’s always a meaningful time for the Session, and I want to share a few highlights with you. We spent time in God’s Word—especially in Titus —and were reminded again how much we depend on His grace. Themes of repentance, encouragement, and perseverance kept surfacing. Pastor Bryan led us in prayer that our love, steadiness, and endurance would grow as we serve the church family. We also shared our praises—like the growth among young families, strong fellowship, faithful studies, generous service, and the many ways God is at work in our community. And we shared our laments—the losses and illnesses, the people we miss seeing, the needs of our town, and the places where we long for more connection and spiritual courage. These honest conversations always shape the way we pray for you. We reviewed ministries, talked about hospitality ...

During the period of time between AD 85 and 90, the disciple John wrote his first letter (1 st John) from Ephesus. His purpose was to guide Christians back to the tenet of Christ's command to love God and each other.   Over a decade earlier, in AD 70, Jerusalem had been destroyed scattering Christians in every direction of the Roman Empire. In fact, by the time John penned his letter Christianity had already endured over a generation filled with persecution and waning commitment. In Chapter 4, John cuts right to the heart of the matter by reemphasizing that, “...God IS love.” (verse 8). He punctuated that truth in verse 9 by reminding the church that God sent his only son into this world so, “...that we might live through Him” . It is, however, Verse 11 that drives his point home and the one that I wanted to build on: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another”. That is a practice AND a concept that the faithful of APC embrace and live. It is what drives ...

This year, the trustees welcomed Brian Burch and Duane Flower to the crew. The “Pew crew” de-waxed and vacuumed all of pews. Thanks to Kim, Chase & Astrid Atkins, Gabe Johnson, Barry Karhan, and Jenn Gonzales for their hard work removing the wax that gets dripped during the candle light service. The downstairs toilet project was completed after thorough research and development by Mark Boyce and his son. Duane Flower painted the floor, and Mary Ellen Bain added the finishing touches by painting the areas that required sheet rock work. The new toilet works great and we ask that everyone takes care to flush only toilet paper in all of our toilets. Joe Lohret and Jim Stott replaced the toilet at the yellow house with a more efficient modern unit. We met February 19th and discussed our projects and planned maintenance for the year. Lou Hoffis for the Trustees

  We ran out! For our most recent fellowship dinner we had two large pots of sauce and two large pots of noodles and both of them ran dry! I love that so many of you showed up for a meal on a Tuesday night (and, fortunately, we had extra sauce and extra noodles that helped cover the spread). It was a wonderful time and I don’t think anyone left hungry. We are planning another fellowship meal for Tuesday, February 10 at 6:15pm. It will be a carry-in crockpot meal. If you want, pick your favorite crockpot recipe and bring it in. We would love to have you join us. Look for a sign-up list in the weeks ahead.           Some of you have been attending APC for a few months now. We would like to get to know you better and offer you a chance to get to know us. On Saturday, February 21, from 9-1, we will be offering a new members class. During this class we talk about what our church believes, it s history, and what is required to become a membe...

  Much to my parents' chagrin, mostly my mom's, I was always curious and highly inquisitive about things that presented a challenge to my knowledge and imagination. That said in introduction, I have remained that person who wants to know more when a concept or a particular subject nudges my curiosity. Saint Valentine is one such subject so I went looking. Turns out, “yes Virginia, there really was a Saint Valentine”... and he was Italian! More accurately he was an Italian doctor who later became a Catholic priest in third century Rome and, as a collateral effect of his ministry, inadvertently inspired the inception of what became known as Valentine's Day. According to author Whitney Hopler, communications director at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University, “Saint Valentine is the patron saint of love. Believers say God worked through his life to perform miracles and teach people how to recognize and experience true love.” Valentine f...

  Trustees serving in 2025 were Ken Bain, Mark Boyce, Jordan Tuttle, Joe Lohret, Scott Burnham, Scott Lufkin, Guy Wilson, Jim Stott and Lou Hoffis. In 2026, we welcome Duane Flower and Brian Burch to the team. We would like to thank Ken Bain and Jordan Tuttle for their service as they rotate off the board. We are very fortunate to have people who like to do things that others don’t find appealing. Here our friend, Mark Wohlleben, helps us to keep bees, mice, and bats in check. Our friend Barry Karhan takes care of all of the cardboard recycling. The friends of the trustees, “Kitchen committee” and various “Trustee emeriti” continue to keep stuff stocked, stored, uncluttered, and clean. In the coming weeks we hope to have a couple of aged and broken toilets replaced.

  This past fall was a blur. It is hard to believe that we are already putting out the welcome mat for 2026. I am so grateful for all those who taught our Sunday school classes this fall and those of you who started Bible studies this year or joined Bible studies for the first time. It is obvious that the Lord is doing something in our community and I am so grateful to partner with you in that work.           Laurie McWhorter and Lou Hoffis did a wonderful job connecting with women and men in our congregation. I am amazed at all the creative ways the women found to come together and encourage each other in the Lord this year. In 2026, Laurie is stepping down from her role as Women ’s Ministry Coordinator. I am very grateful for how she hit the ground running with this position and continued to encourage the women in our church in all the things that they felt called to do. When Lou and Laurie and I got together, I invited them, not to ...

  As we look to the year ahead, we give thanks to the Lord for raising up women and men to serve His church. We also want to express our gratitude to the nominating committee for their faithful work in discerning and presenting the following nominations for congregational leadership: Session (Elders): Bob Black, Jereme Randles Deacons: Judy Liddle, Kate Griffin, Linda Burch Trustees: Brian Burch, Duane Flower Please join us in praying for these brothers and sisters as they prepare to step into their responsibilities. Leadership in Christ’s church is a joyful calling and a weighty stewardship. Let’s surround them with encouragement, practical help, and steady prayer. How You Can Pray ·       Wisdom & Discernment: That the Lord would give clear minds and unified hearts as they make decisions for the good of the congregation. ·       Servant Hearts: That each leader would reflect Christ’s humility and love in every...

  As a direct result of having been designated to pen this article each month, I have a distinctly unique observational perspective on the activities of the church's various groups, and the participation of its congregants, in pursuit of our goal of “making disciples who make a difference”. Within that context, I am ever impressed with the selfless enthusiasm of our members to give generously and willingly to the Deacons' and other groups' various charitable endeavors. According to the website “Bible Study Tools”, when the Apostle Paul penned the Book of Romans in roughly AD 56 or 57, his primary theme was “God's plan of salvation and righteousness for all humankind”. In chapter 12, Verse 13 of that book he wrote: “Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” As we enter a new year, it is admirable that as a church this is what we do! On the 7 th of December the Deacons turned McLean Hall into a welcome station for over 170 visitors who ...