Charles Town Presbyterian Church

This week I am continuing my return visit to our core values. This week, we are concerned with the core value Christian Education: Deepening our understanding of Jesus Christ through life-long learning and discipleship.

I want you to notice what the core value doesn’t say, “Sunday School.” This core value was worded very intentionally. Often, we think of Sunday School as something for kids. Just over a hundred years ago, the Sunday School movement was strong in this country, and the focus was on children, and using Sunday School programs to reach young people in neighborhoods, towns and cities. Ever since that movement, people have come to think of Sunday morning classes as something for kids.

But Christian Education is far greater than that. Once we come to faith in Christ, we start on a journey that takes the rest of our lives. It is on that journey that we learn about our relationship with God, who God is, and all manner of things relating to our walk with God.

To that end, churches regularly offer opportunities for Christians of all ages to engage in Christian education – Sunday School, prayer groups, Bible Studies, youth ministry, etc., are all designed with an eye toward the discipleship of those who participate. Christian Education has always been a priority for Presbyterians, and the congregation of Charles Town Presbyterian Church is not different. I encourage you to attend one of our Sunday School classes, or some other periodic learning opportunity. These ministries are designed so that those who attend will grow in their faith.

If you have any questions, you may contact me or Molly Rogers, our Director of Children’s, Youth and Family Ministries. We would be happy to help you find the tools you need to deepen your relationship with Christ.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Last week, I began a series on the core values of Charles Town Presbyterian Church. It is good for us to have a refresher as to what is important to us as a congregation. This week, I am going to be concerned with the Lordship of Christ – Honoring Jesus Christ as Lord through worship, prayer, and sacrifice.

This core value is a confession of sorts, with three points of action. In this core value, we acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, which includes us. Philippians 2:5-11 reminds us that one day all the earth will confess Christ as Lord.

The Lordship of Christ in our lives is demonstrated in three responses:

• worship,
• prayer, and
• sacrifice.

Last Sunday, while teaching confirmation, I was able to share an important point about worship: God is the audience, not us. Sitting in the congregation, focusing on what is happening “up front,” might make it feel like we are the audience, but in worship, we are the ones appearing before God. So, whatever we bring – our attitude, our prayers, our musical offerings, our monetary offerings, our sermons – should be done in a way fitting for the One who receives them. Christ is more than worthy of our worship, having given his life so that we could have eternal life.

Prayer teaches us dependence on God, and this is a key part of understanding the Lordship of Christ. When we say, “Lordship of Christ,” we are speaking of the process of yielding control of our lives – every part of it, to the will of God. Prayer gives us a place to cast every care and joy before Christ our Lord, and in the process, we learn to trust him and depend on him in all things.

Sacrifice is how we model our faith to others. This involves giving our time, talent and treasure to the purposes of God. Everything we have comes from God, and when we sacrifice, we are returning to God that with which we have been entrusted. God is pleased to use our sacrifices to further his kingdom. Engaging in work for Christ’s kingdom, which we call ministry, takes time. There are specific works requiring specific kinds of skills, abilities and service (talents). And, finally, it requires giving of resources (treasure), which is also a part of our worship.

All of this is done because once we profess faith in Christ for salvation, we are no longer our own, we belong to God. We were ransomed by Christ unto God, and as children of God, we must learn how to live for God.

May God continue to bless each of us as we learn how to submit to Christ’s lordship.

In Christ,

Pastor John

Last Saturday, the session spent several hours together learning about healthy leadership, which is essential for any congregation, and critical when looking toward a future that most certainly requires change. During the conversation, it became apparent that we have forgotten our core values. For the next few weeks, I plan to revisit the core values that were adopted by the session over ten years ago. Those core values are:

• Scripture,
• Godly Relationships,
• the Lordship of Christ,
• Christian Education,
• Outreach, and
• our Reformed Heritage.

The official definition of our core value reads thus: Discovering God’s truth through biblically-centered preaching and teaching. Scripture is the keystone core value. This is the core value that informs the rest of our core values, and much of the way we live out our faith in Christ. What this core value means is that as a church, we view preaching centered on scripture, and Christian education that thoroughly teaches the scriptures, to be a centerpiece to our life as a church. For the Christian, scripture must inform how we live out our faith in every arena of our life. From home, to work, to school…in friendships, in community, and when we meet a stranger, God’s Word informs how we should live.

Therefore, intentional study of God’s Word is essential. We proclaim God’s Word in worship. It is taught to all ages during the Sunday School hour. It is expounded upon in Bible Studies and small groups. It is also important because it serves as an objective check for us. We might feel a certain way about something, even convinced, but we must check with scripture, and let God bend our will to what we find when we read.

I encourage every one of us to be sure that God’s Word is filling our life in some way, and not only on Sunday mornings. Listen to sermons when you have the time, read the Bible, and learn what God’s Word is teaching. As you do so, you will discover why it is the bedrock core value of CTPC!

Blessings,

Pastor John

There has been a great deal of anxiety and divisive behavior leading up to the inauguration of our nation’s forty-fifth president. Some of the actions and attitudes of people in leadership has been very puzzling, and I have been left wondering what kind of example we are leaving to our children.

Allow me to share with you three “goods” that stand the test of time:

• Good Manners
  The winner of any election should not be an excuse for us to engage in bad behavior. Some people have responded to the election with harsh words, vandalism, and other unkind actions. Some of our congressional leaders are boycotting the inauguration. What kind of example does that set for our children? Remember the golden rule – Do to others as you would have them do to you. Adults should always model good manners – it is how our children learn to treat others. People are more often remembered for having good character than bad.
• Good Practices
  We should always pray for the leaders of our country. Even if you are the complete political opposite of someone in power, pray for him or her. Every person we meet is the creation of a holy God, and even if a politician is described in the worst kind of way, it does us well to lift him/her up in prayer. There is no greater thing we can do for our leaders. If we are worried about their behavior, a piece of legislation, anything they do – we can bring it before God!
• Good Perspective
  Years ago, someone at CTPC told me that getting riled about political matters over which I have very little control is pointless. I was taken aback when it was said to me, but it is true. Or, as the great theologian Kenny Rogers once sung, “You’ve got to know when to fold ‘em…” What’s more, we Christians must remember this: Our true home is heaven. It’s great to be patriotic, and we should all strive to be good citizens here and now. But this world is temporary. One day our Lord Jesus will return and will make all things new.

I know some of you don’t like the pastor talking about politics. The reality is, though, that our political life is not separate from our spiritual life. We are Christians 24/7. What I hope I am conveying here is that we should all, as Christians, be demonstrating behavior that transcends the political.

Blessings,

Pastor John

“We need to grow the church.” Yes, yes we do.

Today I want to share with you one simple way you can help – Facebook. This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to get the word out about our church. We saw the fruit of an intentional Facebook effort this past Christmas Eve.

About ten days before Christmas, our Outreach and Communications committee created two advertisements on our church Facebook page – one for each worship service. They quietly encouraged people to keep “sharing” the events. Within days, our information reached about 1,000 people, and it literally only took a few minutes (or less) for each person who helped share the events. Thus, we had the best attendance at Christmas Eve we’ve had in years, even with changing the time of the later service. In fact, at the later service, I introduced myself to some guests, and when I asked them how they heard about the service times, they said, “It was all over Facebook.”

Here is how every person with Facebook can be part of helping to grow the church. First, if you have not done so, like the church Facebook page. This will immediately cause you to “follow” the church page. Every time something is posted on the page, you will be notified. When a new post for an event pops up on your feed, click on the post. Like it (this is important), but don’t stop there. Click the “share” button in the lower right corner of the post. This will put the event on your timeline and will likely lead to other people sharing it from your timeline. You can also go back and reshare the event. Remember that old shampoo commercial with the tagline, “And they’ll tell two friends, and they’ll tell two friends, and so on and so on?” That’s exactly how it works. It’s also super-easy! In fact, it takes longer to read how to do it in this paragraph than it does to share the event on Facebook.

We have some new events coming up, – the Women’s Retreat, the M.U.M.s group, the No BS Bible Class – have or will have postings on our Facebook page. Please like and share these (and don’t forget, when the “routine” posts are shared, the church benefits), and you will be helping in a small way to grow the church.

Like. Share. Repeat.

Blessings,

Pastor John

[To see the Charles Town Presbyterian Church Facebook page, either scroll down to the bottom or click here.]

Happy New Year!

As we get into this new year, I want to tell you about three important things coming up.

1. Ordination and Installation – The ordination and installation of officers is an annual event in the life of the church. It is the end of the process that begins with the work of the nominating committee. At our 11am worship service this Sunday, those persons beginning terms of service on the diaconate and session will come forward, will be asked the constitutional questions, and we will pray for them. I love ordination and installation and this is one of my favorite services each year!
2. Confirmation – Elsewhere in the newsletter is information about confirmation. I have already taught the confirmation class numerous times over the last twelve and half years, each time with a different curriculum. This year I have found a curriculum that I can settle on. It is based on the Westminster Confession of Faith shorter catechism, and covers a great deal of material, doctrine and issues that young Christians should consider before joining a congregation. The class will have its first meeting on Sunday, January 22, and any student in grades 7-10 is welcome to attend. Parents are expected to come to the first meeting. We will meet in the Voyagers room.
3. The No BS BC –  For this I am asking for prayer and help. I came up with an idea for an outreach – the “No B(ible) S(tudy) Bible Class.” This class will meet for six weeks beginning in February. It is for anyone who is curious about the Bible. It is not a traditional Bible Study; it is for those who have questions and little to no knowledge of the Bible. We will not meet at the church, we are going to meet at Skippers Deli, in downtown Charles Town. This class will begin February 18.  Please spread the word about this (more information coming soon) and please pray for this outreach!

We’re starting the year off on a very positive note, and I pray that God will bless us as we seek to be faithful to him!

Blessings,

Pastor John