Charles Town Presbyterian Church

I think we all need some good news. This article is a little bit overdue, but given the nature of recent events, I had to put it aside for a little while. And even though we face some uncertainties at the moment, a little bit of good news is welcome.

Last fall, my son Alex approached the session and asked if he could make some improvements to the playground as an Eagle Scout project. His specific project would add a weed barrier, rake out the dead growth, lay down some additional mulch, and install two benches. The session heartily agreed to this project, and Alex got to work. Over the winter, Alex put his project together, got the necessary approvals from his scout leaders, and was hoping to have the project finished by Easter. Then COVID-19 happened. The date was pushed back numerous times. Finally, in early May, Alex got the green light to begin the work. The raking, installation of the weed barrier took a day. About ten days later, the holes for the benches were dug, then concrete was mixed and poured, and a couple days later the benches were assembled and installed. Even before the benches were installed, the cleaned-up playground and new mulch made for a more inviting experience. Just days after the mulch was finished, people from the community started using the playground. It was obvious that this project was a win!

Alex had to raise money for this project. Generous persons from our congre-gation gave $1250 for the project. With the church willing to foot the bill for the mulch, if needed, the project came in right around the cost projection.

I’ve attached some photos below so you can see the result. When you get a chance, as things begin to open up, be sure to come by and have a look at the playground. I’m proud of Alex, of his troop, and of our congregation’s support for the project.

Some good news, indeed!

Blessings, Pastor John

I have avoided discussing race until very recently. As many of you know, during my sabbatical last year I stumbled into the issue by means of a book, Waking Up White. I ended up reading six books on the issue, and I am still continuing that journey.

We have always had a race problem in America. We don’t like to acknowledge this, and it makes us very uncomfortable. We’d rather not have the conversation, but we have used that very tactic, and look where it has gotten us.

The Church has been silently complicit. In the nineteenth century the Pres-byterians and the Baptists recognized that slavery was a very divisive issue, and their solution was to stay silent, to not talk about it. I’m sure you can see how we still do this.

Not talking about slavery, race, etc., has allowed us to avoid taking responsi-bility and it enables us to remain in a powerful position. If we don’t acknowledge a problem, we don’t have to change.

The time for silence on these issues is over. I’m not suggesting we suddenly become a bunch of activists. But doing nothing, ignoring the problem and hoping it will go away won’t work anymore.

As the instability and anger continues to unfold, we do well to remember that Jesus dealt with racism. Numerous times people were shocked when Jesus talked to Gentiles. One of the great issues in the beginning of the Church had to do with race—Jewish believers in Christ insisted that Gentile believers obey particular parts of the Old Testament Law. This led to the first great council of the Church which we read about in Acts 15. The controversy also lead the Apostle Paul to pen these words:

There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free,
there is no male or female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

We face an historic moment. Working through it will demand our attention, our prayers, and our participation. What it does not need is our silence.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Next week, we flip the calendar into June. Can you believe it?

June marks the unofficial start of summer. But already, we can see that Summer 2020, is going to be different. Many beaches and tourist destinations remain closed or have strict rules about reopening. Pools and parks all over the country have announced closures or limitations. Camps have canceled. It is going to be a vastly different summer for all of us.

But is that a bad thing? When the quarantine started, and we all stayed home, we responded to that by baking sourdough bread, making Tik Tok videos with our kids, undertaking long-ignored projects in our home, and so on. We spent more time relaxing and enjoying our families than we had in quite a while. And yes, we got stir crazy being cooped up for so long. But we also figured out ways to connect, to worship, and to just…be.

I always find seasonal changes to be great times to step back and evaluate what is happening in my life. So, as we make our way into the summer months, I want to propose a few questions to ponder:

• What was the biggest surprise in your life during the quarantine?
• What don’t you miss about your life before the pandemic?
• How do you think the pandemic has changed you?
• What do you think you will do differently now, as a result of the coronavirus?

Evaluation like this is important for one simple reason: It helps us remember our blessings. To be sure, the coronavirus has been a difficult, challenging, and frightening time. But it has been so much more than those negative things. When we look back on this one day, we will realize that though it has been hard, and there are difficult days ahead, we will be better for this.

Especially if we pause and reflect.

Blessings,
Pastor John

Dear Church Family,

As we head into this Memorial Day Weekend, I wanted to bring you up to date on some important matters in the life of the church.

Worship
We have no plans yet to return to worship in the sanctuary. The session is well aware that some of local churches have already been worshiping in-person for a couple weeks. Some churches have yet to return. We fall into the latter category. At the session meeting this week, the elders discussed the question at length, and decided that given the accommodations required to make worship happen while the coronavirus is a threat, plus the age of our congregation, that waiting is the best the option. Earlier this past week, the church office sent a brief survey to the congregation, and that input has been forwarded to the session. Please understand that we are desperate to worship together. We all miss each other. But wisdom dictates that we must not act too hastily in this matter. In a few weeks, the impact of the opening of restaurants, shopping, and other entities will be clear, and we will hopefully have a better idea of how to proceed. [This Sunday’s Virtual Worship Program and Music attached at the bottom.]

Mission
When the mission committee met this month, it was exciting to hear the sentiment that we need to continue to be focused outward, on helping people during this uncertain time. The committee recommended and the session approved a special offering to help Jefferson County Community Ministries. There is a related article [below] explaining this offering.

Giving
The congregation has been very generous throughout this ordeal. Friends, remember, our expenses continue. Salaries, utilities, mission support are ongoing. We have cut some expenses, but these have been outpaced by unplanned repairs. Already in 2020, we have paid over $12K in unplanned maintenance expenses. I encourage those who are able to continue in their
faithfulness.

Time Off
I normally don’t announce my time off. I am taking next week off. Normally, I am back after few Year’s and I take off after Easter. With the COVID-19 pandemic, so much changed – worship, meetings, keeping the congregation connected – it just felt wrong to take my regular time off. It’s been 20 weeks since I took a week off. I am really tired and need a sabbath. David Weil will
preach May 31. I have already recorded and scheduled videos to post on the church Facebook page every weekday at 11am. We will stay connected! Pray that it is a relaxing, energizing time.

Blessings,

Pastor John

“Soul Food” Special Offering
Now more than ever our community needs our help. Volunteers are needed at Jefferson County Community Ministries. How can we help?

1. By picking up food from Martins between 8:30 and 9:30 and delivering it to JCCM.
2. By delivering food and medicine to homebound clients in Jefferson County.
3. By helping in the food pantry placing donations on the shelves and filling orders.
4. By interviewing new and repeat clients.
5. By meeting the Mountaineer Food Truck the second Tuesday of each month and unloading food and taking it to JCCM.

Of course, monetary donations are always appreciated. The Mission and Outreach Committee is beginning a “Soul Food” campaign on June 1st through June 15th. We have set a goal of $1,250. Since most of us are not eating out why not donate [online: Presbyterian Foundation or Facebook] the money you would spend dining out to JCCM? What a wonderful way to make a difference for those in need! Make your donation out to CTPC and note in memo line “Soul Food” and the church will send one check at the end of the campaign. Let’s make this another Mission Possible!

Do not neglect to do good and share what you have,
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. –Hebrews 13:16

Charles Town Presbyterian Church PO Box 89, Charles Town, WV, 25414
Jefferson County Community Ministries 238 West Washington Street. Charles Town, WV, 25414
(304) 725-3186

[Virtual Worship continues as our governing board reviews plans this coming week.]

This past week at Bible Study, we studied Hebrews 10. When I was preparing, I came across these verses below, and they kind of caught me off guard:

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treat-ed. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is prom-ised.
(Hebrews 10:32-36)

Social media have recently been filled with posts lamenting the way certain states are reopening. There is talk about personal liberty, rights, etc., and some people have even made statements indicating that the government is compromising the God-given rights of the people to have personal liberty.

I say this with absolute certainty: No person born in this country truly knows or has experienced persecution and oppression. There are places in the world where people live in constant fear of the state, and often not even for religious reasons. Our government, though far from perfect, is trying its best to keep as many of us alive and healthy as possible.

What Christians must remember is that this life is not our permanent destination. To be certain, many people have had their lives absolutely wrecked by the pandemic. But even if that is the case, no person, no event can ever remove us from Jesus. Not even death. This was the author’s point in Hebrews 10. The Christians that received Hebrews had previously endured persecution, ridicule, property confiscation, and still held on to their faith. That is what is at the heart of the verse 36,

“Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God
you may receive what is promised.”

Never lose sight of these two truths: Nothing can separate us from our salvation, and nothing can separate us from the love of God. No matter what comes next, no matter how well or how badly it goes, if we are in Christ, then we are in Christ – period.

We are not without hope.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Virtual Worship Program and Songs for Sunday May 17th:

“When are we going to get back to normal?”

I am sure we have all heard this question. I bet most of us have asked this question. If I were to wager a guess, that question comes from fear – fear of the virus, fear of the economic impact, fear that life might be forever changed. If we go back to doing some or all of the activities we were doing six weeks ago, we will feel like we beat the virus. We will feel like we won.

I want to pose a different question: What was so great about the way it was? This is an important question that I do not hear asked much, if at all. It is critical that we spend some time thinking about this, or we are going to go right back to the hamster wheel, as it were.

I am not suggesting we do not put the country back to work, or that we don’t resume worshiping in person. What I am suggesting is that the time of self-quarantine might help us to reevaluate our priorities. When is the last time you spent so much time with the people you’re “stuck” with? Many people post on social media about family game time, books they’ve read, and so on. If we go back to “normal” are those things we want to lose? I hardly think so.

But the most important question, in my opinion, has hardly been asked. So, before we sprint to the finish of our quarantine, let me encourage you with some words from Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount:

“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food,
and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not
sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds
them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by
worrying add a single hour to your life? … But seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:26ff)

If we genuinely want to learn something from this, if we want to come out of this part of our history better than we started, then we need to humble ourselves before the Lord. Ask the Lord to help you put him first in all things, to teach you during this time, to help you learn what is most important. And then when we are tempted to return to “normal,” let us, instead, return to
God.

Blessings,
Pastor John