Charles Town Presbyterian Church

Friends, I am interrupting my planned newsletter topics to address the coronavirus. By now, you’ve heard that this novel disease is a global pandemic, with the number of cases growing daily. As of this past Thursday when I wrote this, Jefferson County had no known cases. I expect that change any minute.

There have been so many cancellations at this point that it’s honestly hard to keep up with all the different organizations who are self-sequestering. I know it may seem like an overreaction, but there is actually some sense to this. Covid-19 is a social virus. To catch it, a person has to be in contact with or in the vicinity of someone who has it. Since the virus can live outside the body for days, in some cases, limiting exposure is key to avoiding it and slowing its progress. When we are able to slow the progress and limit the number of people who get sick, that has the effect of NOT overwhelming hospitals and other medical providers. But if we continue with business as usual, we risk overwhelming the system, which will, in turn, cause even more people to be sick (see the image below). This is called “flattening the curve.”

To that end, every social organization has some responsibility to act in the best interest of others. So far, we are not considering cancelling any event or worship service. I consider that a kind of “last option.” For now, we encourage the following:

Use Your Discretion. If you’re nervous about going out, don’t feel obligated to come to worship or any other church activity. If you’re worshiping under compulsion and all you can focus on is everything BUT worship, it would be better to stay at home. If you don’t want to miss the message but feel more comfortable staying home, you can listen here.

Wash Your Hands. We’re clear on this by now, right?

We are suspending communion. In recent days, you may have heard me say that I’ve never heard of anyone getting sick from the Lord’s Supper. I still believe that. However, there are people who are really anxious about this pandemic. And though I had hoped to celebrate communion every service during Lent, and while I still believe that no one would get sick from the sacrament, I do not wish for any worshiper to have the physical intimacy of the Lord’s Table be a hindrance to their worship. When the threat of Coronavirus has diminished, we will resume a regular observance.

Observe Social Distancing. Social distancing is exactly like it sounds. If you are not staying home, avoid physical contact with others. People who know more than I on this matter recommend a six-foot distance between people. That’s hard to maintain, especially when we are “family,” like church. At a minimum, don’t hug or shake hands.

If you are sick, stay home. Any of us who has compromised immunity for any reason has a significantly higher risk of contracting coronavirus, the flu, and other illnesses.

Continue to Trust the Lord. God is bigger than this pandemic. And while the immediate threat is very real and very frightening, we must continue to trust in the God who has saved us. I offer these comforting words from Psalm 46:1-5

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

Of course, if it seems prudent to cancel services, or if government leaders mandate such an action, we will abide by such wisdom. But until such a time, as long as I am able, I will be present to lead worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30. If anything should change, we will notify the congregation as quickly as possible.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Last week in my newsletter, I began a Lenten series on the different elements in a typical worship service. I am hoping that by elaborating on these in this format that I will be able to help each reader appreciate more deeply why we do the different parts of worship the way we do.

This week, I want to focus on the confessional part of our worship service. Typically, early into the worship service, we have the prayer of confession. This is both corporate and personal. We read a printed prayer together, and this prayer usually connects to the pastor’s message in some way. This is followed by a silent prayer of confession, which allows each worshiper to confess their sins before God in a more personal way.

Confession is a very important part of worship. It reminds us many things – that we need God’s forgiveness, most of all. In 1 John 1:8,9 we read, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The prayer, the actual act of confessing, is the first part, the one that brings us to a place of humility seeking forgiveness. The second part is the assurance of pardon. The assurance reminds us that God has forgiven us. After speaking words of assurance (typically from scripture), there is this response – Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel; Congregation: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Then comes the response. This has two parts. Usually we sing some rousing, affirming chorus. Then we pass the peace. The passing of the peace is important. God’s reconciliation with people is best seen among God’s people. So, we pass the peace, and this is meant to be a little symbolic. We are celebrating what God has done for us in Christ. Of course, this can get a little out of hand, so it is important to remember that when we pass the peace, it should be done with our nearest neighbors. It is not a time to catch up with friends on the other side of the sanctuary. One of the reasons we have a time for connecting with others between Sunday school and worship is precisely so we can catch up. Passing the peace is meant to be a worshipful celebration with those worshiping nearest to us. Be sure to notice the flow – corporate confession, individual prayer, corporate assurance, corporate celebration.

This is actually one of the most important aspects of our worship service. It is meant to prepare us to receive God’s Word and the working of the Spirit. And so, I encourage all of us to remember to take the confession and the responses seriously, and to remember to keep the passing of the peace, “local,” as it were.

Next week I will cover offering and its significance.

Have a Blessed Lent,

Pastor John

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On Worship

For the season of Lent, I am going to use my newsletter space to give deeper explanations of the different elements of our worship service. Sometimes, we forget why we do certain activities in worship, or we simply don’t know. Today I want to focus on scripture. Scripture is central to worship for one reason: It contains the very revelation of God. It is from scripture we learn the gospel, that God loves us. It is through scripture we experience the grace and mercy of Jesus.

There are several places in worship where we hear scripture, and sometimes, we are unaware that’s what we are hearing. Obviously, when the pastor reads from the Bible and then expounds upon what is read, we know that we are hearing God’s Word. We also use scripture as part of the opening moments in worship. For the Call to Worship we use selections from the psalms, usually three to five verses. The call is almost always responsive, meaning the leader reads a sentence or phrase, then the congregation reads. This may seem like an “old school” or old-fashioned way of doing worship.

However, this kind of format allows us to read and speak the words of scripture. By using two senses, vision and speaking, and allowing our brain to process what we are reading, we reinforce the message of the Call to Worship.

There are other places we hear scripture. In the assurance of pardon, which I will address next week, we always seek assurance from scripture. Many of the anthems sung by the choir are based on scripture. Many of our hymns and songs come right out of the Bible. The sung responses after the offering and assurance of pardon are also from the pages of scripture.

Scripture is so important. As I said, it shows us the very revelation of God. But more than that, it serves as an important tool in our spiritual growth. Writing to his young friend, Timothy, the Apostle Paul says,

“All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16).

In other words, we can’t have too much scripture in worship. And if you really want to enhance your own worship experience, be sure to read the Bible regularly. You will be surprised how frequently you hear the Word of God in worship!

Blessings,

Pastor John

In a couple of weeks, Lent begins, and with it, a sermon series I am very excited about. frequently, it seems like Christians have an easy answer for some of life’s more difficult issues. That is due, in part, to our discomfort with particular subjects, and also the fact that some of life’s challenges are hard, and we hate the idea of people struggling.

There are plenty of topics I could have picked and narrowing it down was not easy. I chose issues that are important to us now, issues that affect the majority of us in some way. The series is called “Facing Faithing Our Fears,” and I will address addiction, suicide/mental health, intimacy, disease, and grief. That will take us to Palm Sunday, where will focus on the Passion of Christ.

I’m still praying about how to address these topics. There are several things I don’t want to do. I want my messages those Sundays to be based on Scripture, but I don’t want to simply throw verses at these issues. I don’t want to explain away the problems, nor do I wish to over-simplify these matters. I am not interested in blame-shifting, shaming people, or demeaning those for whom these issues are significant and challenging.

Some thirty years ago or so I spent spring break in Chicago on a mission trip to an urban ministry setting. One night, a group of us collected homeless people and got them into shelters. It was sub zero weather, and the people we helped would have likely died from exposure. In the van, I got into a conversation with one of the gentlemen. I told him why I was in Chicago and how the trip connected to my faith in Christ. He asked me what I thought he should do, and I told him (very naively, I might add), to “turn it over to Jesus.” His response was pointed and angry, “Turn it over and then what? THEN WHAT?” Since that day I have tried to be genuine about my faith. The good times are good, the hard times are hard, and we must learn to find Christ in the midst of them.

I hope you are excited about this series. I invite you to pray for me and all who are connected with planning worship. This series feels important and special. I am hoping we are able to reach people with the gospel in a way that is meaningful and helpful.

I hope we are able to answer the question, “Then what?”

Blessings,

Pastor John

One of the best things that happened for our congregation while I was on sabbatical had nothing to do with me. We sent out a mission team to Webster Springs, WV. What a great moment for our congregation, that significant ministry did not come to standstill during that time! It says so much about what’s important in our congregation.

The Missions and Outreach committee met this past week, and one of the questions they have for the coming year is this: Do we want to do another mission trip? I certainly hope the answer is yes, because I am hoping to go!

Mission trips fall into two basic categories: work trips, and outreach trips.

Outreach trips tend to focus on program – worship services, Vacation Bible School, other ministry events, etc., and they are usually done in places where churches lack the resources to do such ministry ventures.

Work trips are different. When Jesus shares the parable of the sheep and the goats, he says this about those who do God’s work,

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ -Matthew 25:37

This is why we do work trips – to help those who need help, and in so doing, we model the love of Christ to them.

If you are interested in a mission trip this summer, please let me know. At the March mission and outreach committee meeting we will decide if we are able to do a trip this year. We will likely go back to Webster Springs. A few years ago, that area was inundated with heavy rainfall that resulted in massive flooding that caused extensive damage. The need for repair is still great. If you are interested in a trip like this, please email me.

It’s very exciting to see this kind of ministry in the life of our church, and I am eager for it to continue. I look forward to hearing from you!

Blessings,

Pastor John