The Session continues to be grateful
for your prayers, service, and encouragements. The following are some
highlights of important items and actions from this month’s regular (stated)
meeting.
▪Pastor Hakim led the devotional from
Ephesians 4:17–25, noting 12 different words used to communicate the necessity
of a theologically-focused ministry. This is because the Lord Jesus—who Himself
is our only righteousness before God—is also the only source of true spiritual
life, health, growth, or goodness for us (v20–21 and “the life of God” in v18).
And, His design is that these things come to us firstly through the
understanding/mind. The outcome, when Jesus is truly working out His life in us
is a putting off of the old man, and a putting on of the new man. So, the
ministry that we elders have been called to is a Christ-sustained-and-saturated,
theologically-driven-and-focused, life-transforming-and-forming ministry.
The Treasurer reported a significant
month-over-month decrease in the checking balance. This was almost
exactly the amount of the cost of the sidewalk project. We would need a couple
thousand more dollars to be able both to side the west wall of the Chapel and to
upgrade the main entrance of the Fellowship Hall to code. We’re grateful to God
for the continued, faithful, and generous provision—including the provision of
the grace of giving—that comes in the same boundless generosity that has given
us Christ, the indescribable gift.
Although there was no official report
from the deacons, the Session noted that the sidewalk project has been
received very well and has been a great blessing to many. It was also
providentially ready for this past Lord’s Day’s Middle Tennessee monsoon.
We received a request to donate to
Bonclarken and are responding that we are praying for the camp and for all
churches that are struggling through the recent season. The Session
continues to be concerned for the effects upon faithful churches and encourage
you to keep up prayer for them. We are grateful for the Lord’s gentle mercy
to Hopewell in the midst of it all.
The Session is inviting Pastor MacClelland
back to preach on another Lord’s Day soon, October 25 if he is able.
Josiah’s teaching of the Sabbath
School class was roundly commended. We’re grateful to God for him and the
other men who are making trial of teaching gifts and joyfully looking forward
to their teaching.
We are looking forward to the
conference. The trap shoot fellowship was confirmed with alternative activities
in the Fellowship Hall. Each of you are reminded to make specific
invitations to specific people to come celebrate the Lord and His grace.
Elder Patterson is unable to make it
to this week’s Presbytery meeting, so the Session delegated Elder Mangum to go
in his place. The meeting begins with a worship service at 7p.m. at
Fayetteville ARP on Friday, and you are all encouraged to attend. 1720
Huntsville Hwy, Fayetteville, TN 37334.
As usual, there was discussion of a
number of shepherding matters, as well as much prayer. One couple
that has been struggling came and talked to the Session about it. The
Session noted the need to renew commitment to regular shepherding visits,
and are grateful for their coming. Anyone who has spiritual difficulty of any
kind is encouraged to enlist the aid of the pastor or one of the other elders
and not wait for one of the (what should be) routine visits. There is no one
who is as “for you” as these men, and especially the Redeemer whose method of
shepherding you is through them.
Thank you for praying for us!
Pastor James
Moderator
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