Vacation Bible School

Vibrant Witness – Sardis Presbyterian Church, Linden, NC - 2016

As still a fairly “new” pastor I am finding there is still much I continue to learn, and one of those things I’m learning more about is risk-taking.  In the last year or so the folks as Sardis Church in Linden have taken some risks, and God has proven faithful in SO many ways!

What I see as risk-taking is doing or taking on those projects or events or ministries that are bigger than what we may believe we have the resources to handle.  So it takes first some discernment on the part of the church to decide if this is something God is directing us to do.  Second, trusting that if God is leading then God will also provide what is needed – whether that be money, people, materials, venue, participants, whatever – a church (or individual) then has to go ahead and go for it.

We’ve seen some of these risks as “experiments” that we’re trying out.  Sometimes looking at it that way can help us put things in their proper context – if things don’t go exactly as planned, what needs to be tweaked or adjusted…  It’s not a pass/fail kind of thing!

So Sardis has tried some things.  We hosted a vacation bible school the last two years on our own for the very first time.  (We have a total of seven children in our church and just over sixty members.)  Last year we had twenty-five kids attend and this year sixteen, and almost half of the church was involved in the preparations and hosting.  We went into this event with lots of prayer trusting that God would bring the children who needed to learn about Jesus and experience His love through His people.  We also took note that this time wasn’t just about the kids.  We saw that really, one of the best reasons to host VBS is that it brings a lot of the church together, every day for a week!  What other event does that?  Brings us together for that amount of time, working towards a common goal, helping each other and doing whatever needs to be done?  The gravy is the kids learning more about Jesus!  Both years, doing VBS has created an energy and buzz in our church that has carried through the fall, and it encourages us to continue “experimenting” with other things as well!

We’ve also experimented doing some simple things like hosting a night of Christmas caroling at a parishioner’s barn.  We brought yummy desserts and had hot drinks and sang Christmas carols together.  It was a fun, low-key event to invite friends and neighbors to who may not have a church family. 

Whether they were “big” risks or small ones, the folks at Sardis have found that the more we trust in God’s leading and provision, the more God leads and provides.  Go figure!  We’re also learning that things don’t have to be perfect, and that even if they don’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean it’s a failure.  We’re constantly learning and adjusting as we go, and aim to abide with Jesus more and more, looking for Him to lead and guide us to the next thing He might have us do, the next people He might have us help, the next steps He might have us take in faith.  It sure makes living the faithful life much more vibrant!  Maybe your church can be encouraged to do some experimenting as well and then see what God will do with your mustard seeds of faith.

Rev. Sally Henry

Faith Responses to Cancer

Please see how Rev. Andrew Purves is using his journey with cancer as a launching pad for a program on faith responses to cancer at the Bridge Presbyterian Church in Leland, NC near Wilmington.

www.starnewsonline.com/news/20160826/cancer-survivor-to-lead-program-at-bridge-in-leland


What: "Difficult Journey: Faith and Cancer" with the Rev. Andrew Purves

When: 7 p.m. on Sept. 15, 2016

Where:
The Bridge Presbyterian Church, 497 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 105, Waterford Commons, Leland

How much:
Free; pre-registration required

Information, registration:
910-604-6444 or info@thebridgepres.org

Youth Claim Regular Leadership in Worship

“Can we lead in worship more often?” asked the middle school Logos Bible study. “What do you mean by more often?” I asked. “How about every week!” So began the youth liturgist ministry. They had led in worship before on the annual youth Sunday, but now through the Logos ministry, they were becoming personally involved in weekly worship and their responsibility in it.

Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church has had a history of strong ministries with music, children, youth, and Wednesday night meal. But each ministry stood isolated and alone. Could the ministries be linked and relationships be built across generations?

I had seen the Logos Ministry in other congregations build bridges among generations and ministries of the congregation. I thought the same could happen in Elizabethtown. After a year of discernment with the congregation’s leadership and an additional period of training, I helped launch a Logos ministry. Now in 2016 we are beginning our fourth year of Logos at Elizabethtown.

I see success each Wednesday when 40+ youth and children and 80+ adults gather for Bible study, great fun, serving God, and a shared meal. I see success when I watch a retired banker shooting hoops with an energetic second grader. I see success when a rambunctious boy reports that his favorite thing was kneading the communion bread with Ann, a seventy year old who bakes the bread for each Lord’s Supper.

I see success when new families join the church because their students were welcomed at Logos. I see success as relationships are being built across the generations among the Children of a God of all ages.

I see success when the middle school Bible class asks their pastor if they can lead in worship “more often,” and we say, “Yes! Every week!”

Wildwood Presbyterian Church offered an “old country tradition”, during its annual 1^st Sunday of Advent fellowship gathering.  After a meal together, each person had an opportunity to walk an Advent Spiral Garden.  This garden recaptured, for our modern world, the Advent mood of serenity and quiet anticipation, “as the deepening outer darkness calls our inner light to emerge to shine ever more brightly.”  Individuals, children and families started in the dark of the night, prayerfully walking a labyrinth like spiral, made of pine and cedar limbs.  In the center, you pick up a little battery operated tea light candle.  Then spiral out, with the light of Christ, in your cupped hands.  Each person then walked into the Sanctuary for Christmas Carols, decorating and lighting of the Chrisman Tree.  We began the Season of Advent with the true meaning of the season.  It was a wonderful way for families and individuals to experience peace amid the chaos of the season.  We had a deeply spiritual reminder to slow our pace during the season of Advent, so we may receive the Spirit of Christ’s peace.  It was a prayer filled, multi-sensory, contemplative experience for all ages.   

Grace and Peace,
Rev. Robbie C. Phillips

Pastor of Wildwood Presbyterian Church

Newport, NC

54 Member Church offers Free Meal on Wednesdays

Look what Cameron Hill Presbyterian Church members in Harnett Co. (Johnsonville) are doing to connect with the community by offering a free noon meal each Wednesday of the summer. Members see how this hospitality is an opportunity to share grace and gospel with neighbors,  construction workers and families.

In the Presbytery records this church shows as having 54 members. 

Look at the article from August 4, 2016 in the Fayetteville Observer by Myron B. Pitts about Cameron Hill Presbyterian Church.

Read the article at this link
www.fayobserver.com/opinion/myron_pitts/myron-b-pitts-harnett-county-church-gives-out-food-fellowship/article_63337bf1-2c71-5adc-a727-e39aa2552287.html

Cameron Hill Presbyterian Church

Teaser:

 "The first lunch drew 32 people, Donna McNeill says. From there, word spread through the community with the help of posted signs out front that were donated by VLO, a Sanford company. Recently, they served 92 people, McNeill says.

"The kitchen volunteers are tickled as they tell about four young men, working nearby, who came in as the volunteers doled out chicken and dumplings."

If you want to visit...
the church is located at 467 North Carolina 24, Cameron, NC 28326 and is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CameronHillPresbyterianChurch/

This church is located directly on HWY 24 and has an historic marker in the front lawn about Flora McDonald. 


Submitted by Laura Lupton 

What Is vibrantwitness?

vibrantwitness is a collection of stories describing the Holy Spirit in action in the midst of Presbyterian congregations throughout North Carolina's Presbytery of Coastal Carolina.

Presbyterians value the interconnectedness of congregations because each is an important part of the greater universal church of God (Romans 12:5).  We can appreciate God's grace and power on an even greater scale when we share and see the many ways God continues to be at work in our various congregations and communities.

Do you have a story of church folks leaving their comfort zones? (see Luke 4:1)
Do you have a story that brought new meaning to old Gospel teachings? (see John 14:26)
Do you have a story of something amazing happening? (see Acts 2:4-5)
Do you have story of an experience that felt like "God's love was being poured into your heart"? (see Romans 5:5).

Scripture shows how many of these are Spirit sightings. Share your glimpses of the Triune God in our midst: Creator, Risen Christ, and Holy Spirit at work in your congregation and community. Next time you feel like beating your head against a wall, visit this blog and realize the Spirit is still at work.

"Witnessing" involves both seeing and sharing (see Acts 22:15).
Be part of this vibrant witness by:
1) sharing stories
2) reading stories here month after month
3) pointing others here to read and share stories

Please send stories from your congregation to Rev. Evan Harrison at pastor@sspchurch.org along with your name, and congregation's name.  Thanks for your witness!

an Empty Pantry

Praise be to God!  We have a sighting of the HOLY SPIRIT in the EMPTY food pantry.  How? Because Sunday, July 31st, members of Sunnyside Presbyterian condensed worship to 35 minutes and then transported every morsel of food in our food pantry to the local elementary school parking lot down the street for a food drop off we had advertised at 12 noon.  Fifteen of us who were willing and able to stand out in the heat helped load up all the food into the beds of two pickup trucks.  When we pulled in, there was already a line of more than twenty people waiting in the hot sun for us to arrive.  We had a blank sheet of chart paper on a stand where one of us invited each person to write down the names of anyone we could be praying for, and offered prayer then-and-there for anyone that wanted it.  The sheet of paper was covered with family names, prayers that God reunite certain people and put forgiveness into hearts, prayers for "Peace in the world" and "less killing, racism and more love for all children."  One put "prayer for every man, woman and child...pray for love." The people in line came from all walks of life, many ages, heights, shoe sizes, skin colors.  Everyone was polite.  They gave their prayers, and when mentioning a clothes closet opening soon, one person asked when she could bring clothes to donate.  Our vision poem at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church: "trusting and giving thanks whether vessels are empty or full, offering our loaves and fishes, we provide the substance for a miracle in the hands of Christ."  Did we provide the substance?  Actually most of the food came from Mary, a woman in our community who donated a huge box of food each week after she heard our church was starting a pantry.  She knew of our church because we tutored one of her grandchildren last summer in a special Summer Tutoring instead of doing a more traditional Vacation Bible School.  God provided the bread.  God provided the crowds.  Here we are in the middle as a church who can relate to both.  Maybe this is is part of being "the hands and voice of Christ empowering people to shine," as our vision says.  Praise be to God, "church" is fun!

Please share HOLY SPIRIT sightings in YOUR community and congregation.  Let's proclaim the vibrant witness already at hand! As we kick of this blog, send your posts to pastor@sspchurch.org and include your congregation's name and sender's name.

Rev. Evan

teaching elder at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church www.sspchurch.org in Vander, an unincorporated town on the east side of Fatyetteville, NC.