Welcome to the Newsletter for the Burns Flat
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
September 2009
In our First Light contemporary worship service, we have been exploring the Sermon on the Mount. These straight forward, no holds barred teachings from the Master surely came as a surprise to many Jews that believed they were faithful to what God wanted. After a few "you have heard it saids" followed by the "but I tell you" revelations, you might think that the disciples would not be surprised by anything.
Jesus was just getting warmed up. His "love your enemy" directive surely must have caused some to question whether this was even possible and other disciples must certainly have been waiting for the punch line to a terrible joke. Wrong again. Jesus meant it. Just as God loved us and Jesus was the incarnation of that love while we chose sin over God; we are to love those who hate us.
Among all of this teaching in this fantastic sermon is something that we just stopped doing as a matter of our faith--fasting. Well, that's because fasting is Old Testament stuff. Right?
Yes, we see much fasting for various reasons in the Old Testament, but Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. I'm thinking if Jesus thought it was a good practice, I might want to consider it. Paul fasted and provided counsel on fasting in his letters. Jesus taught on fasting in the context of three of the most basic duties of any self-respecting Jew: charity, prayer, and fasting. He taught don't do any of these for your fellow man to see, but do them in private as something special between you and God. Don't put on a show, show God where your heart and your treasure is--with him.
You might think that we don't have any religious duties today. Everything we do is in response to God's grace. I think that is a fair statement, but I think perhaps we may want to incorporate fasting into our responses to God's irresistible and incredible grace so that when combined with prayer, we might grow closer to our Creator.
Oops, it's almost time for lunch...or not. Consider starving your body for a day just to give your spirit a chance to seek God's Holy Spirit in a more personal encounter.
Some Fasting Links (supported by advertising)
http://positiveprayers.com/fasting.htm?gclid=CI6SkPf2vpwCFQ_yDAodakcmnw
Message in Drama.
We are underway at last with taking our worship and sermons
to a new level--the dramatic level. Why do this? Let's look at how
we express ourselves and how we understand others. Many are auditory
learners and many prefer to express themselves in words alone, but most of us go
beyond this in our day-to-day communication. We smile and frown, talk with
our hands, walk towards people or away from them. Yes, we use the full
range of audio, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic modes known to most trainers
and educators. But we go beyond this to emotional appeal or withdrawal,
conceptualization, and thoughts so general that at best we could call them
approaches. Our lives have a dramatic element and so too can our worship
and preaching.
The Good News in spoken word will never be replaced. This is the meat and potatoes of preaching, but sometimes a high fiber, low fat, really healthy meal is in order too. Sometimes you need some steamed broccoli.
Our
youth were the first to break the ice here and did so with a lesson from the
Parable of the Talents. This was not just
a skit. It involved a time of studying the scripture lesson (Matthew
25:14-30), a time of prayer for preparation, and then some work on the script.
The Drama Team--composed of all ages--will present a short message on Sunday, 27 September 2009. If you are interested in being a part of this, please contact Desarae Simmons in time to begin the spiritual preparation that begins the process.
Volunteers Needed.
We are looking for volunteers of all ages to work a
Friday evening fundraiser after the football game on
25 September. We will offer a sub sandwich, chips, cookie, and a
soft drink after the game. We need people to help at the event and to sell
tickets in advance. Some fundraisers only reach out to the congregation. This
one is intended to reach out to the community and it meets a local need without
competing with local businesses or the concession stand.
Session Meets
The session met at 6:00 p.m. on 9 August 2009 with a full agenda of items. Gene
Reeves provided the devotion and read the minutes which were approved. Phil
Delp provided the treasurer’s report which was approved. Income for July 2009
was $7034.00 and expense was $7,782.38. The treasurer’s report was followed by
a Mid-Year Financial Review. Phil noted that offerings had been staying roughly
the same, but that expenses had gone up. Tom had graphed the monthly balances
from 2007 to the present. The data indicated that balance-wise, the church was
at the exact point that it was at the beginning of 2007. Budget and fundraising
changes were not made at that time as the church was soon to lose its pastor and
saved money during this search period. Phil noted that the last time the church
paid a pastor for a full year was 2006.
Of specific note in the budget was the increase in the cost of literature, which
corresponded to increased numbers and finally funding educational literature for
the young adults’ class. The session also increased the insurance coverage in
2008 and the increased premium had an impact. Other minor increases across the
board also came into play over the previous year. Also of financial note was
the fact that the fundraising activity of the church had declined over the past
three years and efforts to generate income for specific budget line items needed
to include fundraising again.
All of the session was of one accord that the preaching and teaching of the
church leadership would not be governed by the budget, but that we were a
congregation of many gifts and talents and we would surely use those to meet our
funding needs. One need met early was that Kendra Walker accepted the challenge
of being the junior/senior youth fundraising director and project planning is
underway. The session agreed that we were financially sound but that some steps
needed to be
taken to reverse the current trend.
All committees except the building and grounds committee met the previous Sunday
and those reports were reviewed, concurred in, and recommendations approved. Of
note were that the education committee recommended
30 August as promotion Sunday and Sunday School/F-4 Teacher Recognition
Sunday. The committee also recommended a special interactive Christmas play
that involved a meal and they will plan a fundraiser to help defer the cost of
that meal.
The missions committee offered a recommended schedule for the
Thanksgiving and Christmas
food drives and Angel Tree Gift programs.
Prior to the session meeting, the Ministerial Alliance had concurred in this
schedule.
Thanksgiving and Christmas Food Drives and Angel Gift Dates (Recommended)
November
6 Target Date for Name turn in (with as much info as possible)
13 Deadline for Name turn in (yes I know that we will make some exceptions)
16-20 Probable BFDC school food drive
TBD Boy Scout Food Drive in BF & DC
22 Sorting/boxing at CPC
24 Issue
2-6 pm from CPC (final purchases in a.m.)
December
6 Names to Churches for Angel Gifts
20 Angel Gifts to CPC for sorting and grouping by family (please make
this deadline)
23 Issue 2-6 pm from CPC (final purchases in the a.m.)
Recommendations from previous drives
All turkeys for Thanksgiving/All hams for
Christmas
40% of non perishable food for Thanksgiving/60% for Christmas
We will probably deliver some baskets (need help)
Get as many phone #s and contact numbers as possible
Sorting can be done piecemeal. Surge efforts of help are needed on distribution
days.
Sorting of gifts is tedious work and is best done with a small group.
The fellowship committee met and planned a meal Schedule for September. The
planning factor was increased by 15% due to increased attendance over the past
few weeks.
Tom provided the Ministerial Alliance report. The alliance treasury was almost
empty but several families had been helped since last month’s meeting. The
alliance agreed to hold the Thanksgiving service on
22 November 2009 at Living
Waters. Dwight Shephard is also working to set up an
October 2009 MA Golf
Tournament. The tournament would be mainly for the purpose of fellowship
with some fundraising potential. Tom introduced the Walk a Block for Jesus
idea to the alliance and asked that it be considered as a MA event at the next
meeting.
The final report to the session was Tom’s PAS report. He had taken 9 courses
this summer and had completed 2 to date.
Under the heading of old business, the session agreed to continue seeking
estimates for making the manse carport into a functioning garage, but decided
not to fund until a later date. Phil updated the session on his conversations
with our insurance company and the session decided to authorize the contractor
to begin work on both the church and manse roofs. The session also discussed
asking Sunday school teachers to tidy up their rooms as there had been much use
and traffic over the summer. Junior Delp was asked to convey this message the
next Sunday.
In new business, the session approved continuing the insurance in its current
form, which includes a small premium for terrorist protection (some
exclusions). Tom also noted that we needed to submit information on anyone that
drove the van to the insurance company. Tom also noted that he was working
on some fundraisers and on finding fundraising directors. Also in new business
was the ACT 2009 to be held in
Richardson, Texas on
26 September 2009. ACT stands for Activating Congregations for
Transformation and is an educational curriculum provided in a single day format
provided by the Grace Presbytery and
Red River Presbytery of
the Presbyterian and
Cumberland Presbyterian Churches. Tom has the course catalogue in his
office.
The session was asked to be in prayer for the nomination of an elder for a term
to begin in 2010. Gerald Stegall’s term expires at the end of 2009.
Nominations were not requested, but all are asked to be in prayer that God
reveal to us the man or woman that should fill this leadership position.
The session reviewed and approved the September – December calendars and
adjourned with prayer at the altar.
The next session meeting is 20 September 2009
Calling All Drivers! If you have occasion to drive the church van, please stop
by and fill out a short form for our insurance company. The form is on the
conference table in Tom’s office.
Serious About Your Education? Then spend a single day in
Richardson, Texas with
those of like hearts and minds. The ACT 2009 – Activating Congregations for
Transformation – is a ministry of Grace and
Red River Presbyteries of
the Presbyterian and Cumberland
Presbyterian Churches. Follow these links for more information and
curriculum. Tom also has a course catalogue in his office. Registration
deadline for anyone desiring to travel as a group is
16 September 2009. If you plan to register individually, check online
for prices based on your registration date.
The cost for those desiring to attend as a group is $40.
http://www.gracepresbytery.org/index.php?n=13
http://www.gracepresbytery.org/upload/docs/act_2009_brochure.pdf
Youth to Sell CPC Tee Shirts! More
to follow, but expect tee-shirts and hoodies with the CPC cross and something
related to God’s
Love in Action.
See Laci Stegall for more Information.
Stop by the Church for a Sub Sandwich After
the Game!
Football season is finally just around the corner. The weather has been
Oklahoma hot but finally there is that hint of fall in the evening air. What
more could you want than a
Friday night at the football game with family and friends. How about a
place to go eat afterwards.
On
25 September, September Sandwiches will be offered at the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church from
9:00-11:00 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $6 or at the
door for $7. The meal will be a hearty Dagwood Sub Sandwich, chips, cookie, and
a drink. Why was this time and event selected as a church fundraiser?
Because it meets a community need, does not compete with local businesses or the
concession stand, and because it’s just a good idea.
Support your team, feed your stomach, and help local ministries. The
Cumberland Presbyterian Church plans one of these fund raisers each month during
football season. As the weather gets colder, look for more stick to your ribs
late night meals on 23 October and 6 November 2009.
There is no reason to go hungry after the game.
Committees to meet on 13 September 2009
Due to the holiday weekend on the 6th, we are asking committees to meet on the 13th. Please come to worship, but take the evening off to rest from the labors of your meeting. Just a Labor day pun about the meetings be laborious. Most people leave these meetings renewed from spending an hour or so making purposeful plans to bless others.
Let’s Golf! The Ministerial
Alliance will be hosting a community golf tournament in October. This will be a
very reasonably priced event for the primary purpose of Christian fellowship.
We will have some prizes, but mainly we just want a chance to enjoy the company
of other believers in an enjoyable sport on an October day.
If you or your business would like to donate prizes, please contact Dwight
Shephard at 515-4319 or Tom Spence at 515-2995. Look for details in the October
Edition of The Burns Flat News.
Promise Keepers
This year’s PK theme is
ignite
and
unite.
All men of all ages and all denominations are invited to our monthly meetings
held on the 4th Saturday of each month. The Next meeting is
at :
9 a.m.
26 September 2009
Eagle’s Nest
Bring your Bible & $5
It’s finally online! Follow this link to the
2009 Yearbook. Not recommended for
slower computers or dial up connections. Go direct to the Yearbook in .PDF
format:
http://www.cumberland.org/gao/yearbook/2009/2009_YRBK.pdf
Constitution Corner
We continue our review of the polity of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
with a look at our judicatories.
3.00 JUDICATORIES OF THE CHURCH
3.01 Since the government of the church should have order and be effective, it
is necessary that it possess clear and reasonable form. The legislative,
administrative, and judicial bodies, sometimes referred to as judicatories, are,
in regular gradation, session, presbytery, synod, and the General Assembly.
3.02 The connectional nature of the church is expressed in the following governmental structure. The session exercises pastoral oversight and jurisdiction over a particular church; the presbytery over ordained ministers, sessions, and churches within a prescribed area; the synod over presbyteries, ministers, sessions, and churches within a prescribed area; and the General Assembly over synods, presbyteries, ministers, sessions, and churches.
3.03 The authority of each level of church government is limited by the stated provisions of the church's constitution. Although each judicatory exercises exclusive original jurisdiction over all the matters specifically belonging to it, the lower judicatories are subject to the review and control of the higher judicatories in regular gradation.
3.04 Every properly constituted unit of church government on any level has the
right to resolve questions of doctrine and discipline properly and seriously
proposed, and in general to maintain truth and righteousness, and to condemn
erroneous opinions and practices which would injure the peace, purity and
progress of the church.
3.05 All meetings of judicatories shall be opened and closed with prayer.
3.06 Called meetings of presbytery, synod, and the General Assembly shall be
composed of the same representatives, or their alternates, who constituted the
preceding stated meeting, unless the judicatory elects someone else as its
representative. An elder whose tenure of office on the session has expired is
not eligible to serve as a representative to a called meeting of a judicatory. A
called meeting of a judicatory may be rescinded when a majority of those signing
the request for the called meeting communicate in writing with the Moderator, or
in the Moderator's absence or illness the Stated Clerk, their desire to rescind
the call. This request must be made in writing at least five days before the
called meeting.
3.07 Other ministers [who are not members of the body], who are present in a
meeting of presbytery or synod may or may not be seated by the action of the
body as advisory members, which if granted gives them the privilege to speak to
any matter before the body. Persons so seated shall be introduced to the
presbytery or the synod by the moderator.
3.08 Minutes and all other official records of sessions, presbyteries, synods,
and
general assemblies are the property in perpetuity of said judicatories or
their legal successors. When congregations, presbyteries, or synods are
dissolved, their records are held for them by the next highest judicatory within
whose bounds they were before dissolution. All minutes and other official
records of existing and dissolved sessions, presbyteries, and synods, or copies
thereof, are to be deposited for safe keeping in the
Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. It is the responsibility of
the clerk of each judicatory to make recommendation to the judicatory for the
permanent safe keeping of that judicatory's records.
3.10 Committees and Commissions of Judicatories
3.11 Each judicatory may, in order to exercise its proper oversight and
authority, form standing and/or ad hoc committees as it deems appropriate and
elect or appoint persons to such committees. Such committees shall examine,
consider, and recommend to the judicatory various measures for promoting the
work of the judicatory.
3.12 Each judicatory may appoint commissions which are authorized to deliberate
upon and conclude the business submitted to them, subject to the review of the
judicatory. Full records of a commission's proceedings must be submitted to the
appointing judicatory, and, if approved, may be entered in the minutes of that
judicatory. A majority of a commission shall constitute a quorum. Commissions
may be appointed for purposes such as the following: a. Ordination of ministers,
in which case the commission must contain a quorum of the presbytery, including
two ministers;
b. Installation of pastors and associate/assistant pastors;
c. Organization of new churches;
d. Taking testimony in or conducting disciplinary hearings;
e. Visitation of congregations experiencing disorder;
f. Hearing appeals;
g. Investigation of any specified problem in the church.
3.20 References
3.21 Each judicatory except the highest may seek the formal advice of the
judicatory immediately higher through reference. A reference is a
representation, in writing, to the judicatory immediately higher, of a matter
not yet decided by the lower judicatory. A judicatory which makes reference must
have all the testimony and documents duly prepared and in readiness for the
action or counsel of the higher judicatory. A reference shall be made by vote of
the judicatory.
3.22 A reference may be appropriate in cases which involve new, difficult, or
delicate matters about which the lower judicatory may be undecided or of divided
opinion.
3.23 References may be made for the purpose of counsel, preparatory to a
decision by the lower judicatory, in which case the reference suspends decision
of the matter in the lower judicatory; or references may submit the entire case
to the judgment of the higher judicatory for ultimate decision by it.
3.24 The judicatory receiving a reference is not required to give counsel or
make a decision but may remit the matter to the judicatory by which it was
referred.
3.25 References may in some cases be proper; yet it is generally for the good of
the church that every judicatory exercise its own judgment.
Elder of the Month
October – Junior Delp
November – James Hendrix
December – Rick Ellis
The elder of the month is the liturgist for the month and prepares the devotion
for the session meeting. Those elders that are not session members will still
have a chance to be active in leading worship and in meeting with the session
once each year.
PROMISE KEEPERS
26 September 2009
9:00 a.m.
Eagle's Nest
$5
MEN OF INTEGRITY
I like to know what's going on. Where can I get more information? Read the Spring Update that we sent to the Red River Board of Missions.
One Year Ago This Month...
Do you remember what you were doing one year ago. We just concluded our Breaking Away from Busy Wednesday night Bible Study. Seven individuals kicked off our fall F-4 with a September Revival on the seven I Am statements in the Gospel of John. Want more? Take a peek at the September 2008 Newsletter.
BABES ARE BACK! The BABES group for women's fitness--spiritual and physical--has begun once again. Just ask anyone that participated last spring or talk with Kathy Stegall for details.
Follow those links!
If you are looking for local news, follow the links to the old community newsletters. This same link is found on the home page of our website www.burnsflat.org. Note: The August 2009 Issue was a transition Issue. The What's Up newsletter is no more. We are in the big time now. The Burns Flat News is our modern electronic and print news media for the Town of Burns Flat.
For those that choose to read ahead in the lectionary, here is one of many links that provide a glimpse of what is to come in the August traditional services.
Announcement!
Burns Flat AA Groups welcome Newcomers and Oldtimers at the following locations:
New Leaf Group, meets on Tuesday at 7pm at the Cumberland Presbyterian church, 205 hwy 44 (west door)
Broad Highway Group, meets on Wednesday at 8pm at 310 Pueblo Street
Countdown to 200 Years! On February 4th, 2010 our denomination will be 200 years old. Yes, that’s just over a year away. We will certainly do something here locally and I am sure that the denomination will have some special activities as well. It’s OK to celebrate our uniqueness and history as long as we always remember we are part of the Body of Christ. Check out the Birthplace Shrine: http://www.cumberland.org/hfcpc/birthp.htm Interested in our history now? Here’s an outside-in look at the CPC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Presbyterian_Church or talk to Tom if you want to do some serious reading.
Wouldn’t it be Cool if… Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a public bulletin board for folks in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church where we could exchange items of interest, prayer requests, or just something that’s worth sharing. There is. It is called the Cumberlist. Essentially, it is a listserv (OK, flashback to the 1990s to remember what that was now that the web and weblogs are our primary online vehicles). Actually, the Cumberlist is web based now as well, but you may also subscribe and have emails delivered to your mailbox as they are posed. Beware, some days 100+ entries are posted. Want to know more? Go to: http://groups.google.com/group/cumberlist?lnk=srg
Wouldn’t it be Cool if… Wouldn’t it be cool if there were a website that had a bible verse that corresponded to your birthday. Check this link out and see what you think. http://www.birthverse.com/mybirthverse.cfm
F-4 Begins on 9 September 2009! It's a ways off, but this is so exciting that you won't want to wait to hear how we will kick off our fall session of F-4. Our elementary youth will be learning songs this August and presenting a musical worship special on 9 September. We will meet at the church at 6:00 for a meal and then move to the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m.
Remember, this is not an entertainment program like our talent show. This is a chance for our young people to lead worship in song much as they led the worship service on Pentecost Sunday. That doesn't mean that you won't enjoy it. You will! Joyful noises make for joyful hearts.
Check out this link for community telephone numbers.
AA now meeting in the Fellowship Hall. The New Leaf Alcoholics group meets each Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. We ask that if you are at the church during this time, that you respect their privacy and confidentiality. Thanks!
GOT PRAYER?
Do you have prayer requests? Email them to Tom Spence for inclusion on the prayer list or to Kathy Stegall to be circulated via the electronic prayer chain.
Do you have the Spiritual Gift of
Intercession? Follow this link to our prayer list.
Want More?
Check out God's Yellow Pages
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