From Faith to Faith
June 2005 VOL. XXI No. 6
PASTOR: Dr. Carl W. Bogue
Service of Ordination and Installation
for Bruce G. Buchanan
On Sunday evening, June 5th, at 6:00 p.m., the Presbytery of the Ascension will be present through its commission to ordain and install Bruce Buchanan as assistant pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church. All are invited and encouraged to be present for this service.
In addition to the Presbytery representatives, two outside guests have been invited to participate. Bruce’s father, the Rev. Donald G. Buchanan, Stated Clerk of the Southern California Presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, will be preaching. Also participating is Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, a PCA teaching elder and current president of Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, will be giving the charge to Mr. Buchanan, a graduate of GPTS.
This is a special time in the life of the Buchanan family as well as the church family at FPC. Let us praise God for this occasion
Following the ordination and installation service there will be a reception in the fellowship hall to welcome Bruce and Donna into our church family. Finger foods and cake will be served and everyone is encouraged to stay and meet our new Assistant Pastor.
WIC will be sponsoring a baby shower for Donna Buchanan and new baby Benjamin on Thursday, June 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Gift suggestions would be baby wipes, diapers, socks, or small, quiet toys. If you wish to purchase clothing, Benjamin will be wearing a 3-6 month size in summer clothes and a 6-9 month size in fall and winter clothing. Every day clothing would be helpful. Larger items she could use, if you would like to combine your gift with someone and go together on this, would be a Maya Wrap or a Boppy Pillow. If anyone has any questions please see Avone Blasiman.
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Nursery Policy Change Approved At the request of the mothers most immediately involved with the oversight of the nursery during morning worship, Session approved a change in the current policy. The nursery room will still be available to any parents who need or desire to utilize this facility. A speaker is in the room so one may listen to the service.
The primary change is that the nursery will not be staffed by volunteers, but the children involved will be the responsibility of the parents utilizing the room. As always, we encourage where possible, families to worship together and train their children to be able to behave appropriately during the worship time and participate where appropriate.
As a general exhortation and request, Session encourages our members who are familiar with the facility and the care of children to be alert to visitors with small children who may not be use to having their children in worship and may need help with their children so that the parents might participate in the service.
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Welcome new covenant child Hannah Joy Lewis. Hannah was born to Rich and Jennifer Lewis on April 26th. Hannah was presented for infant baptism on May 22, 2005. We praise God for this new covenant child!
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Faith Church would also like to welcome Benjamin Craig Buchanan who was born to our New Assistant Pastor Bruce Buchanan and his wife Donna on May 10th. We praise God for this new covenant child and hope the Buchanan’s move here to Akron is a safe and speedy one!
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FUN, FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP FOR ALL! A new activity has been planned for Faith Church to help us all get to know one another and spend time in good Christian fellowship. On Saturday, June 11th, from 5:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. everyone is invited to join in for a time of fun, food and fellowship at the church. Please bring your favorite games and a covered dish and/or a snack to share. This “fun” night will be every month on the second Saturday of the month from 5:00-8:00 p.m.
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Prayer Chain Requests
March 21: Missionary to a country in Europe G. J. asks for prayers for him and his family as they travel back to a country in Europe from a visit home to the US. Their church in Tranas is doing well.
March 22: Our sister church, Covenant Presbyterian, asks for prayers for one of their church family, the Herrick family. Their 3 year old daughter, Abigale, was run over by a car and killed.
March 26: Rol Richards’ brother, Art, had more tests and they found a large tumor in the small of his back.
March 31: Dawn Duff’s friend, Michelle, fell and broke her leg. While they were working on that they discovered she has bone cancer. She was battling lung cancer last year. Please pray for her and her family.
April 16: Jim Bruder went to the doctor and further tests were ordered. He has a mass in his abdomen which the doctors was to keep an eye on. He is being admitted to Akron General.
April 18: Kalynn Oldaker’s surgical breast biopsy and excision of the original node was performed last week which resulted in a negative pathology report. Thank God for his grace in this matter.
April 19: Jim Bruder had a CAT scan this morning. All indications point to some type of cancer. Jim will have an MRI tomorrow morning for further evaluations. He is resting comfortably. Please pray for God’s mercy and for a favorable outcome.
April 20: Jim Bruder had the MRI but no results yet. Continue to pray for positive test results.
April 22: Jim Bruder will be having surgery to remove his kidney sometime next week. No other test results at this time. Please continue to keep Jim and his family in your prayers.
April 24: Barb Imke, a new attender here at Faith, has been sick all week with bronchitis and needs our prayers. Pray for speedy healing and that it does not turn into pneumonia.
April 26: Dr. Bogue’s appointment with the cardiologist went well. However, there is a leak in two heart valves and they will do another test next week.
April 26: Carl Bogue Sr. fell and passed out and was bruised and bleeding. He was taken to the emergency room where he was treated and released.
April 26: Praise! A new daughter arrived for Rich and Jennifer Lewis. Hannah Joy Lewis weighed 7 pounds 1 oz and is doing well.
April 26: Jim Bruder had a veinogram/heart test, but no results yet. Also Jim Bruder’s mother’s cataract surgery went well.
April 28: Jim Bruder’s test results indicate that the tumor has not entered the artery to the kidney. Pray for Jim as he is getting anxious regarding all the testing.
April 29: Jim Bruder’s surgery has been scheduled for May 2nd. Pray for strength and guidance.
May 1: Dr. Bogue will be having a heart test done Tuesday to take a better look at his heart to investigate the leaking heart valves. Pray for God’s guidance for the doctors and that further procedures are not necessary.
May 1: Myrna Best is still fighting a chronic illness since January and her doctor has placed her on some very strong antibiotics. Please pray that this round of treatment is successful and that she feels much better soon. Also, their dog of 13 years passed away this morning and Myrna could use some uplifting prayers today.
May 2: Jim Bruder had his surgery to remove his kidney and the tumor attached to it. The tumor was intertwined securely in the blood vessels and removal would have caused Jim to bleed to death. So, the doctors removed what they could and left the rest. Possible options and prognosis will be discussed with Jim and his family shortly.
May 3: Dr. Bogue had his heart test today and things went well. The cardiologist wants to monitor his heart once a year, but no action needs to be taken at this time.
May 11: Jim Bruder is recovering well from surgery. He was up walking and eating soft foods. His first round of radiation will begin on May 24th.
May 12: Our new Assistant Pastor and his wife have a new son!
Benjamin Craig Buchanan was born May 10th and is healthy and happy.
May 13: Jim Bruder will be released from Akron General sometime today and will be transferred to Rocky Knoll Health Care Center for a few days to get some physical therapy. After that he will be allowed to go home.
May 13: A lady Karla Richards works with – that lady’s mother – Loretta Knopp has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had surgery to place a stint in a bile duct to keep it open and it is not going well. Another surgery has been scheduled soon. Pray for God’s guidance and healing.
Vacation Bible School is quickly approaching on August 1-5th. You ask how you can help? There are several ways you can help to make VBS a success!
✦Vacation Bible School needs Lunch money donations. If you can donate funds to help supply lunches for our workers this relieves a big burden off our workers so they can focus all their energies into making VBS a success. If you can make a lunch money donation please see Melinda Althuis.
✦VBS needs One Day Volunteers. If you can’t help all five days, then consider helping just one day. If you would like to help spread the gospel and can come for one day, we can use you. One Day Volunteers aren’t in charge of a class or anything like that, but you would be a helper in an area that needs assistance for that day. If you would like to be a One Day Volunteer please see Dave Rastetter.
✦VBS Planning Meetings: June 5, July 17
✦VBS Workday July 30th: 9:00 to noon
From the Pastor’s Study
In wisdom Solomon tells us, “There is an appointed time for everything . . . . A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted . . . .” His list includes a series of contrasts which are representative of contradictory things, or opposites. It struck me that there is also a time for moderating without an absolute change, at least if there are compelling reasons to do so.
The past two years has not only taken me up to the traditional retirement age, but has been a period of some of the greatest changes in my life. Two years ago this summer, stranded in a hospital in Scotland, Rosalie began her final chapter in her battle with cancer. We were graciously permitted to get her home and even have a few very good months, but six months after getting her home, she received her glorification grounded in the perfect righteousness or Christ.
For the next few months I struggled as all of us would with that loss. And while God was gracious beyond measure, I suddenly was dealing not only with the loss of my lifetime “suitable helper,” but with household management that had been so competently done by Rosalie. Again, God was faithful, and I was lifted up by a loving family, a supportive church family, and my son Andy, who suddenly began to demonstrate just how much he had learned from his mother.
Then, almost a year ago, and to my utter amazement, God brought into my life an entirely new and uncharted path for me, as Deborah and I began six months of courtship and a December marriage. God gave me what I most needed, and when I thought I could not possibly have any new blessings, having been blessed so fully, He worked out everything for this amazing new venture.
Through this whole time, my ministry to this congregation suffered. Not too deeply, I hope, and never begrudgingly on the part of the congregation. And session was helpful and understanding in every way imaginable. They did whatever was necessary to see that the work did not suffer too much and that I had time for what I needed to do. But through all this I also became aware many things I still need to do that impinge upon all that needs to be done. In fairness to the congregation it was important to me to see this need met.
I began quite a few months ago to speak with the elders about how best to serve the church. Of the three possible solutions, perhaps none of them perfect, we opted for a plan that seemed best in the short term, namely, for me to go into something of a “semi-retirement,” adding an assistant pastor to share the load. On June 5th, Lord willing, this plan will become reality as Bruce Buchanan will be ordained and installed as Assistant Pastor for Faith Presbyterian Church.
I would like use this occasion to thank all those who have supported me in these recent years, especially the elders as they spent a lot of time debating this and working through the options. But also, most importantly, I want to encourage the congregation to receive Bruce into your midst, to let him, with me, minister to you, the community,
and the Kingdom. He has had excellent training and some good life experience, and with your support, he will enable me to spend some more time working with this body of Christ I have loved through the years before it is time for you to seek and call a new senior pastor.
I hope to be in the pulpit about as often as I have been in recent months, as well as doing much of the leadership activities. Bruce will be very busy in establishing relationships, teaching and preaching, counseling, and hopefully giving the members more frequent contact with the church leadership. Please welcome him into your homes, listen to his counsel, hear his preaching, and permit him to contribute as he is able to our life together.
Above all, undergird him with prayer, along with his wife, Donna, and their four children. I hope they will know the love I have enjoyed from this congregation, and if so, I know he will serve you well.
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Session had approved this policy previously and occasionally this needs to be placed before the congregation again to remind everyone of church policy.
Dear Faith Family Members:
Session is addressing this message to all church members because it is a matter of concern to all members.
It has become evident to the elders, and has been specifically brought to the attention of both elders and deacons by individual church members, that children are increasingly roaming about the church property, inside and outside, unsupervised and in inappropriate ways.
Not only is it inappropriate to have children running wildly about, chasing each other, and screaming in the church building, it is also dangerous to both the children and adults, particularly to elderly adults who may be unsteady on their feet.
Likewise, it is unsafe to have children wandering about in the parking lot, chasing or simply not paying attention. No matter how careful and alert drivers may be, having unsupervised children in the parking lot, in daylight or after dark, is an invitation for an injury or death which none of us wish to see.
Here are a few rules and principles of which we should all be aware, and in which parents should inculcate their children.
(1) No child should be upstairs in the church building except at the express direction of an adult, or under direct adult supervision.
(2) While some youthful exuberance is expected, no child should run, play tag, chase, wrestle, shout, scream, or generally speak above a normal conversational tone of voice in the church building.
(3) No child should be in the kitchen or food preparation areas except at the express direction of an adult.
(4) The kitchen is not to be used as a passageway from one part of the building to another.
(5) In order to be good stewards, and to avoid undue waste of food, parents should accompany their children through the serving lines to assure that the food taken is appropriate, and is not wasted. Children must also be supervised at the dessert table.
(6) Children should be trained to take their used plates and utensils to the appropriate receptacles. Parents are responsible for cleaning up after their children.
(7) Food and drink should not be taken outside of the dining area except at the express direction of an adult or under adult supervision.
(8) In good weather use of the outdoor area is appropriate, but children should be instructed to stay out of the parking lot and driveways except when going to or coming from a vehicle with an adult.
(9) While we recognize the need for occasional exceptions, children should use the restroom before rather than during the worship services.
(10) In worship, children need to be quiet and attentive, and where possible to participate, such as following scripture reading and singing.
While parents are primarily responsible for the discipline and supervision of their children, all of us are responsible to aid and nurture in the rearing of covenant children. Therefore any adult member should feel free to call a halt to inappropriate actions by children of the congregation, and to admonish them as appropriate.
June Preaching Schedule
June 5: AM: Guest Preacher: Dr. Joseph Pipa
President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
PM: Ordination Service for Bruce Buchanan
Preaching: Rev. Donald Buchanan, Jr.
Stated Clerk of South California Presbytery, OPC
June 12: AM: “What a Fellowship”; Mark 14:25
PM: Rev. Jim Kobb
June 19: AM & PM: Rev. Bruce Buchanan
June 26: AM: #115 “Does God Have Grandchildren?”; Ps 78:1-7
PM: #116 “Is God Dead?”; Psalm 79
The church is looking for men who could help out as “door greeters”. There is a sign up sheet on the vestibule table. You would sign up for one month and for that month you would greet people at the door of the sanctuary and pass out bulletins. If there is a meal planned for that day please remind any visitors they are welcome to stay. After the announcements are completed you may shut the sanctuary doors and sit down. After morning worship it would be your responsibility to change the hymn numbers on the wall putting up the numbers for the evening worship. If you would be willing to help out in this area please sign up. If you have any questions please see Dave Rastetter.
We would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Abi Sevcik for all her hard work in graduating from high school this spring. We know Abi will succeed in whatever area of study she undertakes in the future. Way to go Abi!
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Attention to all the young people in the church...A Junior Choir is about to begin! There will be a junior choir starting this month. Any children (ages 5 thru high school) interested in singing are invited to join. We will meet to practice on the 3rd and 4th Sundays of each month immediately following the lunch meals. The first practice will be June 26th following the congregational meal and then each month on the 3rd and 4th Sundays after that. The practices will only last about 30 minutes. This is an opportunity for the children to learn more about music, how to improve their singing skills, and how to worship God in music. If you have any questions please contact Jennifer Stone.
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Missionary Information
David and Marcia Jones - Africa: The Jones’ are currently on leave in Pensecola, Florida. David is requesting prayer for the three churches in Abidjan, which are at a crisis point. He is asking for prayer and repentance, confession and reconciliation between those in conflict. Also he asks for protection from discouragement for the leaders and church members. Please pray for two men who left May 19th for Abidjan, for their safety and that God will give them wisdom and grace to understand the issues that need addressing and that they might help minister to a hurting people.
Jack and Sherri Campbell - Spain: The Campbells will probably be returning to Spain in December 2005. They have most of the support they need to return, however there is still some need. Sherri’s father has Parkinsons Disease and is getting weaker. Jack’s father, who has also been ill, seems to be doing better. Please pray for both their fathers.
Bill and Susan Carr - South Africa: Bill and his family have returned to South Africa (April 27th). He will continue teaching biblical studies to pastoral students at the seminary. He will also be working as a resource person for some of the church planters that they have trained. He asks for prayer for their daughters who are in school in the U.S. for the Lord to make His presence known to them, to lead and protect them. Pray for provision of a car in South Africa. The cost of living has drastically increased in the past three years and has greatly hindered all the missionaries there.
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Nominations for Deacons and Elders Open
Having been discussed for some months, the Session at its May stated meeting approved the following actions regarding the nomination, election, and ordination/installation of church officers:
✦ that Session open nominations May 22, 2005, for the offices of Deacon and Elder. These nominations are to be in writing to the Clerk of Session and will be signed by both the nominator and the nominee, indicating his agreement;
✦ that nominations for the offices of Deacon and Elder close on June 19, 2005.
✦ that a meeting of Session be called for July 23, 2005 to examine nominees for the offices of Deacon and Elder.
✦ that a congregational meeting be called to follow the morning worship on August 28, 2005 for the election of Deacons and Elders from the approved field of nominees.
✦ that those officers elected on August 28th be ordained, as needed, and installed on September 4, 2005.
A nomination form is available on the table in the vestibule. All nominations must be signed by the nominee, implying his willingness to serve, and the one nominating the candidate for office. These are to be given to the clerk of session, Richard Roach, or to Dr. Bogue who will get them to the clerk.
It is of the utmost importance that prayerful consideration be given to this right of members, as the future of the local church will depend very much on the care of selecting truly able men. To guide you in this process, we are including the portion of the Book of Church Order which lays out the procedures and qualification for office.
From the PCA Book of Church Order
24-1. Every church shall elect persons to the offices of ruling elder and deacon in the following manner: At such times as determined by the Session, communicant members of the congregation may submit names to the Session, keeping in mind that each prospective officer should be an active male member who meets the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. After the close of the nomination period nominees for the office of ruling elder and/or deacon shall receive instruction in the qualifications and work of the office. Each nominee shall then be examined in:
a. his Christian experience, especially his personal character and family management (based on the qualifications set out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9),
b. his knowledge of the system of doctrine, government, discipline contained in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America (BCO Preface III, The Constitution Defined),
c. the duties of the office to which he has been nominated, and
d. his willingness to give assent to the questions required for ordination. (BCO 24-5)
If there are candidates eligible for the election, the Session shall report to the congregation those eligible, giving at least thirty (30) days prior notice of the time and place of a congregational meeting for elections.
(If anyone is interested, the entire BOCO may be accessed at our denominational web site, or go directly to the following:
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The Lord’s Supper will be celebrated during morning worship on June 12th. Please prepare your hearts and minds to come to His table.