H U N the T E R S V I L L E A R P C H U R C H F E B R U A RY 2 , 2 0 1 2 HARP NOTES I N F O R M I N G T H E R E F O R M I N G OUR PURPOSE It is the purpose of Huntersville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church to deeply CELEBRATE the person and work of our Savior, to diligently COMPREHEND God’s word, to develop rich COMMUNITY among our church family and to demonstrate practical COMPASSION to a hurting world. IN THIS ISSUE... On Prayer “God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.” - Oswald Chambers SUNDAY PREP During your personal studies this week, meditate on the words of the hymns and scripture verses that will be sung & preached. Handbell Choir Rehearsals Women’s Ministries Conference The Song and the Story - In Christ Alone Sanctity of Human Life Week - Baby Bottle Boomerang Reading the Tea Leaves? By Harry Reeder THIS SUNDAY’S VOLUNTEER TEAM Sunday School Nursery Lia Jackson Worship Nursery Karin & Erland Stevens, Andrew Evans Children’s Church Renee Maddox Deacon Rotation: Erland Stevens (Lead), Patti Snyder, Mike Ingram, Jill Gazzaway SUNDAY’S HYMNS I. Holy, Holy, Holy II. In Christ Alone III. Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands SERMON MARK 1:1-15 Four Voices Redeeming Your Time in the Life of Your Church F R I DAY WEEKLY EVENTS: S U N DAY 9:45AM: Sunday School (All Ages) 10:30AM: Fellowship 11:00AM: Worship 4:00PM: Handbell Quartet (Recess) 5:00PM: Handbell Choir (Resumes 2/5/12) 6:00PM: Choir Practice 7:00AM: Men’s Fellowship Breakfast @ The Cookhouse (Exit 28) MONTHLY EVENTS: T U E S DAY 1:00PM: Pastoral Prayer Team 10:00AM: Women’s Bible Study Lord’s Supper: 1st Sunday even months Men’s Breakfast: 2nd Saturday Friendship Circle: 7pm, first Monday Circle of Grace: 7pm, third Monday Covenant-McDowell Circle: 3rd Thurs. Session Meeting: First Monday Deacon Meeting: Second Tuesday W E D N E S DAY 12:00PM: Men’s Lunch (Recess) HANDBELL REHEARSALS COME MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE WITH US! The HARP Handbell Choir will be resuming its rehearsals in February. Anyone who would like to join is welcome! No prior music experience is required (about half of last year’s choir had no musical background before they started playing!) If you have any questions, ask Dot, Larry, or anyone in the handbell choir. We’ll be happy to answer them and welcome you into the group! WOMEN’S MINISTRIES CONFERENCE Re-Thinking the Ministry of Women – Synod’s Women’s Ministries is holding a seminar in conjunction with the Elder/Deacon Training on February 18 at Gastonia ARP, this is a seminar for all women of the ARP to understand better the unique role they fulfill in our church, our families, and Christ’s kingdom. Contact Patti Snyder if you are interested in attending. HARP will cover the costs of registration and lunch! UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 29-... Inquirer’s Class Begins WELCOME TO HARP FEBRUARY 5 Handbell Choir Resumes FEBRUARY 6 Session Meeting FEBRUARY 6 Friendship Circle FEBRUARY 12 Return Baby Bottle Boomerang donations FEBRUARY 18 Elder / Deacon Training and Women’s Ministries Conference at 1st ARP Gastonia THE SONG AND THE STORY In Christ Alone from the age of seven began to play the One false assumption about Hymns is that piano. they have to be several hundred years old to Enjoying a career as a Christian music be called a “hymn”. That they have had to producer for many popular British worship“stand the test of time” to qualify leaders, what will be his lasting contribution themselves as worthy of inclusion in the life is that of a songwriter. Songs such as “How of the church. Many popular hymns have Deep the Father’s Love,” “My First Love,” been written in this century, and in our own “The King of Love,” “Who Paints the generation. Dr. R.C. Sproul, founder of Skies” and “Lord, How Majestic You Are” Ligonier Ministries, has penned several are favorites in churches worldwide, and “In beautiful hymns in the reformed tradition, and one hymn, In Christ Alone, written by Stuart Townend in 2002, is one of the most beloved of our contemporary hymns. (Note as well, that every hymn, at one time, was ‘contemporary’!) Stuart Townend is the youngest of four children raised in a Christian family in West Yorkshire, England. Stuart’s father was a vicar in the Church of England. Being raised in a family of music lovers, Stuart Christ Alone,” has taken its place among modern worship classics. Townend collaborated with songwriter Keith Getty in 2002. In an interview describing the writing process, Townend remarked, ““Keith and I met in the autumn of 2000 at a worship event, and we resolved to try to work together on some songs. A few weeks later Keith sent some melody ideas, and the first one on the CD was a magnificent, haunting melody that I loved, and immediately started writing down some him through the enormous pressures and lyrical ideas on what I felt should be a dangers of life in a war zone. timeless theme commensurate with the As I drive down the highway with my M-16 melody. So the theme of the life, death, pointed out the window and my 9MM pistol resurrection of Christ, and the implications tucked in my flak jacket pocket. I can tell you of that for us just began to tumble out, and that I feel more secure in claiming the promise when we got together later on to fine tune it, "No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand till he returns or calls we felt we had encapsulated what we me home" than I do with that rifle and pistol." wanted to say.” In Christ Alone resonates in particular to The song’s impact has been felt throughout the world. One U.S soldier the people of the Western world today. With serving in Iraq described in an email of how life’s foundations shaken everywhere from he prayed daily through the verses of the war, to the economy, and the failing of the song, resting confidently in the promises of traditional family and the overall lack or loss God’s protection and grace described in of certainty in a relativistic world, In Christ those lyrics. In Christ Alone helped to sustain Alone gives the listener a solid place to stand - in Christ. Alone. Meditate on the words of this hymn today so you may lift these petitions up in prayer as well as in song this Lord’s Day. In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid Ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ. In Christ alone! – who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save: Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied – For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live. No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand! The Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 162. What is a sacrament? Q. 163. What are the parts of a sacrament? A: A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church, to signify, seal, and exhibit A: The parts of a sacrament unto those that are within the covenant of grace, are two; the one an outward the benefits of his mediation; to strengthen and and sensible sign, used increase their faith, and all other graces; to oblige according to Christ's own them to obedience; to testify and cherish their love appointment; the other an and communion one with another; and to inward and spiritual grace distinguish them from those that are without. thereby signified. SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE WEEK Last Sunday began National Sanctity of Human Life week, where we recognize the tragic loss of over fifty million babies aborted since the legislation of Roe v. Wade passed in our nation. Got questions? Contact Mike or Krista and they’ll be glad to help! How You Can Help Last Sunday we also began our annual Baby Bottle Boomerang drive, which benefits the Mooresville Community Pregnancy Center. The Baby Bottle Boomerang involves three steps: ✴ Get a bottle at one of the church entrances ✴ Fill a bottle (with change cash, or a check) ✴ Return the bottle to the church by Feb 12 PASTOR LEE’S NEXT WEEK’S OFFICE SCHEDULE Tuesday: 9-6 Office and Visitation Wednesday: 2-6 Thursday: 9-6 Office and Visitation Friday - 9-12 Pastor Lee will be teaching at Greyfriars Academy on Monday and Wednesday, between 10:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. All other times you can reach him at 704-796-7315. READING THE TEA LEAVES? by Harry Reeder …THE SECRET THINGS BELONG TO THE LORD OUR GOD BUT THE THINGS THAT ARE REVEALED BELONG TO US AND OUR CHILDREN FOREVER THAT WE MAY DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW FOREVER. Who among us have not found ourselves confused and overwhelmed at times attempting to understand the circumstances of life while simultaneously pursuing God’s will for our life? Our hearts and minds become overwhelmed in this sin-cursed and broken world as we contemplate life’s challenges and disappointments while battling our ever-present doubts, confusion and fears. We have fully e m b r a c e d t h e s ove r e i g n t y o f G o d a n d acknowledge the providence of God. We even know the Christ-affirmed Biblical and benevolent promises toward us. Yet, disharmony of a broken world impinging upon us easily produces confusion with hesitancies, doubts with chaos and fears with paralysis. Is there a way to erase sin’s cacophony of confusion and despair and embrace the symphony of God’s grace and mercy enabling us to live confidently for Christ in a broken world? Many believers are subtly drawn to solving the dilemma of doubts, confusion and fear by “reading the tea leaves” of life’s circumstances. This endeavor is usually pursued in the name of discerning God’s guidance. The reality is, it only furthers our dilemma by consigning us to the vagueness and instability of speculation while detouring us from the stability-giving dynamic of embracing the inerrant and sufficient gift of Divine revelation-God’s Word, by which life’s circumstances can be accurately interpreted. Simply put, “reading the tea leaves” of life’s circumstances will not dismiss doubts, confusion and fears nor give the knowledge of God’s will for our life. On the contrary, to understand “the secret will of God” for our lives we must know the “revealed will of God” – His Word. God’s Word revealing God’s will gives us the ability to understand life’s circumstances to make Godcentered and Kingdom-advancing decisions. The patriarch Joseph provides a marvelous example of a believer being informed by God’s Wo r d when inter preting and responding to life in a broken world. This man received dreams and visions r e v e a l i n g G o d ’s promise and purpose to place him in a position of power and authority to benefit God’s people as well as others. Yet in the circumstances of life, the very opposite seemed to be the reality. He was betrayed by the conspiracy of his brothers, treated unjustly as a slave by his master Potipher, even though he had been faithful in servitude and resistant to the temptations of Potipher’s wife. Adding to the confusion, he was forsaken by a fellow-prisoner he had comforted. Yet, knowing God’s Word and therefore God’s covenant promises he interpreted the circumstances of life with clarity and confidence instead of despair and discouragement. Joseph not only avoided the despondency of self-pity but he was able to decisively respond to life’s challenges and opportunities ~ whether in the House of Potipher, Pharaoh’s prison or Pharoah’s palace ~ Joseph lived with God-centered consistency and a servant’s heart. Amazingly, he was even able to comfort his brothers in their fear as they found themselves at his mercy with the words ~ “what you meant for evil God meant for good” ~ the good was referring to the salvation of God’s covenant people as well as God’s common grace overf lowing to others in the midst of a Divinely appointed famine judgment. By k n ow i n g G o d ’s Wo r d a n d H i s promises, he was liberated to make life decisions embracing the ministry of grace t o h i s b ro t h e r s instead of personal revenge as they arrived vulnerable and needy. God’s Word positioned him to interpret the Life’s circumstances confidently as the Hand of God’s providence. The result was an effective and God honoring ministry of grace and wisdom. Because he knew God’s Word and that He would fulfill His promises, he interpreted enslavement, unjust treatment and betrayals as God’s will calling him to suffer so that through his suffering, the Lord would bring the blessing of life to His Covenant people and mercy to others. Even more significantly this short narrative of Joseph’s life points to the greater narrative of Christ’s life. Our Redeemer, willingly submitted to God’s will, humbled Himself to suffer death on a cross that we might have life eternal instead of the Divine judgment of a forever hell. In Christ, the glorious, Divinely-designed pattern of taking the “catastrophe of sin” in a fallen world and accomplishing the “eucatastrophe of redemption” for the world to come is displayed. Dear friends, follow the path of Joseph to Christ and trust Him who defeats the malevolent designs of the evil one. Then, follow the Joseph model of knowing the Word of God to give perspective on life and direction for life in a fallen world. God’s covenant people are not victims in a broken world; they are victors, walking in the triumph of Christ. Christ-followers are not the overwhelmed, but the over-comers. Informed by God’s i n e r r a n t Wo r d , they put life in B i b l i c a l perspective, making decisions for life with clarity, confidence and courage. Eradicating doubt and its hesitancy, r e m o v i n g confusion and it’s chaos, banishing fear and its paralysis, comes not by gazing at the “tea leaves of life” to know God’s “secret” will, but by knowing God’s “revealed” will through His allsufficient Word. Searching God’s Word and surrendering to God’s Spirit enables Christfollowers to understand and respond to the circumstances of life in a broken world. Doubt is banished by confidence, confusion is replaced by clarity, and fear gives way to courage as we anticipate the expansion of God’s Kingdom in this world and the glory of the King in the world to come. Dr. Harry Reeder serves as senior pastor of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, birthplace of the PCA denomination. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Birmingham, Alabama. They have three children and six grandchildren. H U N T E R S V I L L E A R P C H U R C HARP NOTES HUNTERSVILLE ARP CHURCH 201 North Old Statesville Road PO Box 316 Huntersville, NC 28070 First Name Last Name Home Street Home City, Home State Home ZIP eMail [email protected] to receive this newsletter by email each week. Visit http://www.huntersvillearp.org/newsletter for past editions H
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