Session Report for February 23, 2010
Dear Congregation,
The session has decided to use the website to regularly update the church on some of the important items that were discussed at our monthly meeting. This will consist of news, items for prayer, the monthly treasurers report etc.
- We are pleased to announce that Jon Kamerman has begun elder training. Pray for Jon in his training, that he will be able to balance family, work and study. Pray for wisdom for Jon and the session as we consider future ordination. Encourage Jon and give the session your thoughts on the possibility of Jon becoming an elder in the church.
- We are also pleased to announce that, Lord willing, Nathan Tomlinson will be serving a pastoral internship at APC this summer. Nathan is attending Mid-America Reformed Seminary (MARS). He is the son of Pastor Allen and Ann Tomlinson from First Congregational Church in Merrimack, NH. The session will be seeking the necessary funds to make Nathan’s internship possible. The OPC Committee on Christian Education (CCE), which runs the internship program, will match contributions up to $3,300. The internship will run from June 1 – Aug. 22, 2010, that is 12 weeks. We will seek to raise $3,300 from other Reformed Churches and individuals, which matched by the OPC, will give us $6,600 to cover the cost of the internship. Pray that we are able to raise the necessary funds. Pray for Nathan as he continues his studies this spring and that the Lord will prepare him for this internship. Pray for Pastor Reynolds as he prepares to mentor Nathan this summer. Speak to an elder or the pastor if you have any questions.
- Our monthly prayer meetings have been very encouraging. Attendance at our evening service could be better. Coming to evening worship is a great way to end the Lord’s Day.
- You can see the treasurers report for January here. As you can see, the church is already $2,265 under budget. Pray that the church’s giving in the coming months can make this up and that we will be able to meet all of our financial commitments.
- Pilgrim may face financial challenges in the future due to some families having to move on for different reasons. Pray for the ministry of Pastor Holmlund and the congregation as they face the unique challenges of being a mission church. Remember that the adversary does not want this mission to succeed and will fight to prevent it, yet God is sovereign and Jesus Christ is Lord!
- Encourage the congregation to use the website, particularly for the church calendar, worship bulletin, session reports etc. Email the church when there are important updates to the site.
- Many in the congregation have said that they find the sermon outline helpful. The outlines are not inserted into the bulletin. If you want one, be sure to pick it up with your bulletin. The session would like to get more feedback on the outlines and any other suggestions to help hearers of God’s Word. The session asks the congregation to pray regularly for Pastor Reynolds as he prepares each week to preach the Word of God and that the ministry of the Word be effective in the lives of the congregation. Emphasize the priority of prayer for God’s blessing on his church.
- Consider questions 159 & 160 from the Westminster Larger Catechism concerning the minister of the Word and the hearer of the Word. The answers to these questions will guide us in prayer and in how we can encourage our pastor and one another as we share in the ministry of God’s Word.
Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.
Q. 160. What is required of those that hear the word preached?
A. It is required of those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation, and prayer; examine what they hear by the Scriptures; receive the truth with faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the Word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives.
For the session,
Elder Graves