CHERRY FORK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
November, 2011
From the Pastor's Study
We have been talking about when a
person begins being a church member. We
said it begins in baptism. And that means
church membership includes our children.
Some churches teach that children can only
become church members when they
become like adults (able to choose their
faith intellectually). As Presbyterians, we
believe that adults can only become church
members when they become like children
(simple and trusting in their faith -- even if
they don't "intellectually" understand it all).
But when does a person cease
being a church member? I have been
amazed at the number of churches where,
when a person becomes "house-bound,"
they are no longer recognized as a part of
the congregation! Our covenant to a
husband or wife is until "death." But our
covenant with God's Church goes beyond
that.
We believe that the church does not
just exist in this world -- but is the basis for
our life in Heaven. We talk about the
church militant (for the church on earth is
always at war against the powers of evil)
and the church triumphant (for the only time
we don't have to fight evil is when we are
safely in Heaven). We believe that those
Christians who die simply move from the
church in this world to the church in the
world to come.
But even though we are separated
by death, we are still one church -- one
Body of Christ, one family of God. That is
why we continue to remember and give
thanks for the believers who have left this
world. There is one special day when we
do that -- it is called "All Saints" Day,
November 1st. But we also try to remember
the Christians who have died on the
anniversary of their death. The Church has
long chosen that day to celebrate as the
"birthday of the saints." Just as we celebrate the day on which a person is born into
life here on earth, the Church celebrates the
day on which a saint is born into the life of
Heaven.
At the time of the Reformation, the
Church was trying to remember so many
saints that there was a danger of letting the
many, many saints take all the attention
from God's Gospel. As a result, many of
the Protestant churches began to ignore the
saints -- no matter how faithful and Christlike they had been. Personally, I feel the
were "throwing away the baby with the
bathwater!" Because we can only worship
one God and Savior, it does not mean that
we cannot honour the Christians who have
helped, encouraged, and set us an example
of faithfulness.
I think we all have our own list of
"saints:" our family members, friends,
teachers, loved ones who have led us in the
Christian way. There are other saints who
have left us their books and teachings and
lives -- even though we may have never met
them. I have some favourites: St. John, St.
Francis, St. Columba, C. S. Lewis, Mother
Teresa, Martin Luther to name just a few. I
hope you have your own list and turn to
them from time to time for help and
inspiration.
In our Sunday worship we want to
remember a few of the many "saints of the
ages" who are part of God's Church with us
-- apostles, missionaries, reformers, evangelists, teachers and preachers as well as
Check out the church website at www.cherryforkpresbyterian.org
members of our congregation who have
lived and died in their Christian faith. If
there are any special "saints" you would like
remembered, let me know so we can
include them, too.
Pastor Robert
Session Minutes
September 20
The Session held its regular meeting
in the social room of the church at 6:30.
The meeting was opened with prayer by
Rev League, moderator. Elders present
were Jackie DeAtley, Ryan Wagner, Jane
Leonard, Linda Purdin, Diana Shreffler, and
Betty Beam, clerk. Harry Leonard presented
a report from the trustees. It was decided to
ask the Seaman Methodist Church
members if they are interested in participating with us in a Christmas cantata. The
clerk and treasurer reports were read and
approved.
Committee reports: Linda Purdin reported
that the church picnic was a success.
Diana Shreffler reported that the Bible study
is still meeting every Sunday from 8:30 to
9:15 before church services. Jane Leonard
reported that the Women's group Thank
Offering service will be November 6. Ryan
Wagner reported the Food for the Soul will
serve vegetable soup, pimento cheese
sandwiches and drinks on September 30.
New Business: We discussed the annual
session minutes review. Rev. League will
contact Presbytery to ask them to let us
know in advance of the review in the future.
Rev. League will be teaching a communicants class for anyone interested in joining
the church. The Session elects the Stated
Clerk of Session.
A motion was made to hold the
Annual Congregational Meeting and the
meeting for the purpose of electing officers
for 2012 on January 8 during worship
service and to hold the ordination and
installation of officers on January 15. The
Session meeting will be held on January 17.
The budget committee consists of
Lucinda Raines, Ryan Wagner, and Jackie
DeAtley. They are to present the budget for
2012 at the November Session meeting.
Ryan Wagner and Jackie DeAtley
will serve on the nominating committee for
officers for 2012 with one from the trustees,
one from the women's group, Carolyn Work
and Colleen Shoemaker from the congregation. The election of the clerk of session
will be reported at the November session
meeting.
After the present stickers are
used up, the church will change to the
Pike County trash pick-up every
Thursday.
It will be announced at church to see
if anyone is interested in directing a
Christmas program for the youth.
A congregational meeting will be
called to form a pulpit nominating
committee.
The following are decisions made by
the Session regarding articles from the
Book of Order: A moderator and any
number of members present for a congregational meeting consists a quorum.
Congregational meetings will be announced
one Sunday prior to and the Sunday of the
meeting. The Session decided to not adapt
Robert's Ruled of Order as parliamentary
authority. The congregational nominating
committee will be composed of two from the
Session, two from the congregation, one
from the trustees and one from the women's
group. A list of inactive members will be
kept. A communicants class to prepare
people for membership will be held. The
nominating committee will report to the
Session before election those to be elected
as deacons and ruling elders, and the
examination should take place out of the
public's eye by the session The Session
clerk will be an ordained inactive elder and
will be elected for an undetermined number
of years. A committee will be elected each
year for the financial review and will develop
a manual of operations at a later time. The
church has property and liability coverage.
One over one-half of the session members
and a moderator will determine for quorum
for Session meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00
until the next regular meeting to be held
October 18 at 6:30. The meeting was
closed with the Session praying the Lord's
Prayer.
Betty Beam, clerk
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Cherry Fork Presbyterian Women
The Cherry Fork Presbyterian
women met in the social room of the church
on October 5 at 7:00 p.m. Penny Tolle,
hostess, read from the Mission Yearbook for
Prayer and Study about domestic violence
month and from Philippians. She read a
story about stress and closed with prayer.
The secretary and treasurer's reports were
read. Thirteen members answered the roll
call by bringing boxes of tissues for the
teachers.
Penny, Sue Fulton, and Carolyn
Work attended the Fall Gathering. Penny
reported that 18 churches with 80 members
were represented.
The Oyster Supper will be
Saturday, November 19 at the Wayne
Township Community Center at 5:00
P.M.
Sue, moderator, lit the Christ
candle and had prayer. Cards were signed
for the ones named. Betty Jo had our
lesson "Greatly Honored Are the Poor!"
The scripture was from Matthew 5:3 and
Luke 6:20, 24. We closed the meeting with
the prayer in our lesson, and as Sue extinguished the Christ candle, we repeated "Go
in peace and be happy, Amen."
Penny served delicious refreshments. The next meeting will be November
3, with Jane Leonard as our hostess.
Corresponding Secretary, Sarah K. Blythe
Fair News
Jacob and Madison Jones recently
had a busy week at the 2011 Brown County
Fair. Jacob started out his week getting 3rd
place with his team in the Beef Grooming
Contest. He won 1st place in the Beef Skilla-thon in the 12 year old division. He
showed his Feeder Calf (Cooter) in the
Open Show on Tuesday Night and was 1st
place in his class. On Wednesday, he won
Reserve Champion Born and Raised
Feeder Steer with Cooter, and on Thursday
in the Jr. Fair Show he won 4th overall
Feeder Steer. He also showed his Market
Steer (Gilbert) on Thursday and was 2nd
place in his class.
Madison started out her week
getting 1st place with her team in the Beef
Grooming Contest. She won 1st place in the
Beef Skill-a-thon in the 10 year old division.
She was also recognized with 3 other
children as having a perfect score in the
Jr. Division of the Beef Skill-a-thon. She
also received 2nd place on her cooking
project this year. She showed her feeder
heifers (Miss Sophie and Miss Cecelia)
in the Open Show on Tuesday Night and
was 1st in class with Sophie, and 2nd in
class with Cecelia. On Wednesday, she
won Champion Born and Raised Chianina
with Miss Cecelia, and on Thursday in the
Jr. Fair Show she won Champion Shorthorn
Plus Heifer with her big breeding heifer,
Miss Camille. She won Champion Maine
Heifer with her big breeding heifer, Miss
Claire, and won Reserve Champion
Chianina Heifer with her little heifer, Miss
Cecelia. All in all, they had a great week at
the fair! Jacob and Madison are the children
of Jennifer and David Jones, and the
grandchildren of Nancy and Nelson
Atkinson.
Natalie had a good week at the
Brown County Fair. She was Reserve
Champion in the Born and Raised with her
big heifer, Razzy. She was also Reserve
Champion in the Feeder Heifer Division with
Lilly. She was 3rd Overall in the Intermediate Showmanship. She was 1st in her
age group in Beef Skillathon and 8th in the
Obstacle Course. Natalie was also on
the 1st place team in the grooming
contest. In her foods - she was 1st place
in Quick Breads. She went to the
State Fair in July and had an
"Outstanding of the Day". Natalie also
won 1st place in the Interme-diate Level
Skillathon and Intermediate Level Nutrition
Knowledge. She was also Grand Champion
with her Treasurer Officer Book. She
received many nice awards for all her hard
work. Natalie is the daughter of Pete and
Janet Wagner, and the grand-daughter of
Nancy and Nelson Atkinson.
Check out the church website at www.cherryforkpresbyterian.org
Thank You
Food for the Soul
Thanks to everyone for their prayers,
cards, and to the Caring Committee for the
beautiful flowers and visit while I was in the
hospital, and to my Sunday School Class for
their gift. May God bless each one.
Pauline Mathias
Free meal for the church and
the community on November 8th,
Election Day) from 12 noon to 8:00
p.m. with chili, peanut butter
sandwiches and drinks on the
menu. Come and enjoy the
fellowship!
Nelson and I want to express our
appreciation for the visits, phone calls, the
many cards and prayers during our recent
stays in the hospital. We thank Pastor
Robert for visiting with us several times.
Thanks to our children who were there to
help.
We also thank the Caring Committee, Betty Jo Baldridge and Jane Hesler, for
the beautiful mum and flower arrangement.
Nancy and Nelson Atkinson
Food for the Soul
In September we served 39 meals.
The homemade vegetable soup was
donated by Jim Work and Sarah K. Blythe.
It was delicious! Pimento cheese sandwiches were also served. Desserts were
donated. On October 28th, we will be
serving pizza, chips, and drinks. Serving is
from 5-7 p.m. On November 8th (Election
Day), we will serve chili, peanut butter
sandwiches, and drinks. Serving will be 12
noon to 8 p.m. December's menu will be
potato soup, peanut butter sandwiches, and
drinks, and will be served on December 9
from 5-7 p.m.
Upcoming Events
Greeters for November:
11/6: Dan Raines family
11/13: Phil Shreffler family
11/20: Joseph Wright family
11/27: Russell Blythe family
11/8: Food for the Soul 12 noon-8:00 p.m.
Caring Committee for November: Penny
Tolle and Brittany Whalen
Prayer Joys & Concerns
Randy Edgington
Karen Armstrong
Robert League
Amberlee Miller
David Work
Clarence Hayslip
Jo Miranda family
Dorothy McIntire
Pauline Mathias
David Glancy
Vickie Whitley
Larry Jimison family
David Young
Sarah Rogers
Deborah Collins
Jason Shoemaker
Earl Sininger
Nelson Atkinson
Nancy Atkinson
Honor Guard
Kenny Thompson
Fall Gathering
Mike Gelp
Chloe Patterson
Gary Dearth
Tripp Hamilton
Michael Lightle family
Gary Novaria
Karen Kennedy
Brittany Whalen's student
Hospital Gala Supporters
Boy with brain tumor
Nick & Paige Shreffler's wedding 10/15/11
Homer Eldridge - 87th birthday
Alter Flowers for November: Shrefflers
Check out the church website at www.cherryforkpresbyterian.org
Check out the church website at www.cherryforkpresbyterian.org
Check out the church website at www.cherryforkpresbyterian.org