Workcamp Interest Meeting

It's time! Ready...set...let's go on a workcamp!

This Sunday immediately following worship the Mission Committee will host a Workcamp Interest Meeting in the sanctuary. We'll begin to think about when and where we'll go to do spread the Good News!

Last year we stayed at Avondale Pres in Charlotte, NC, and worked in the community feeding the hungry, listening to stories of folks who are homeless, assisting with a daycamp for kids, and other things we can't tell you...unless you go this year.

No commitment required! Come and explore the possibility of letting God change your life on a workcamp! Young and old, skilled and unskilled, male and female. Come!

Morning Worship, 2/8/09

We continue February's Series, For the Love of God, with this week's installment, Justice.

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Enjoy!

SUPER Souper Bowl Offering

Thanks to you and the Mission Committee, we were able to raise over $700 this past weekend (in addition to boxes upon boxes of canned food) for the Ronceverte Food Pantry! We shared a sensational meal together and gave thanks to God for our many blessings. The Souper Bowl meal is supposed to be a simple one so that we are reminded of those who do not have enough to eat. With times as tough as they are, hunger is on the rise. But so is generosity.

Jane Gillespie, John Gillespie, and Kay McCoy (of the Mission Committee) did an outstanding job providing an opportunity to give back, and all of you stepped up to the plate, serving God by serving your neighbors in need. Thanks to everyone who contributed, made soup, served drinks, washed dishes, and participated in the meal! When God's people pool their gifts, great things happen!

Morning Worship, 2/1/09

Here is the audio of this week's worship service:

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Enjoy!

Souper Bowl Offering

Each year, churches across the world participate in the Souper Bowl Offering on Super Bowl Sunday. All funds raised by a church are sent to local agencies who fight hunger. Due to increased demand on the Ronceverte Food Pantry in this year, our Mission Committee has organized a huge Souper Bowl Offering to benefit the Food Pantry. You can support this cause in several ways.

1) The Mission Committee is hosting a soup luncheon this Sunday following worship in Fellowship Hall. Donations are accepted but not required. All donations will benefit the Ronceverte Food Pantry. Homemade soups include: potato, tortilla, vegetable, chicken, chili, taco, and bean. Grilled cheese sandwiches and cookies from Paulette's Pastries will also be served.

2) Bring canned food to the church and it in the boxes stationed throughout the building. In addition to normal canned items, the Food Pantry needs diapers, baby food, and formula.

Thanks for supporting the needs of your community! See you at the Souper Bowl!

Difficult Dialogues

During last week's Session meeting, a theme emerged: Today's church needs to talk about several difficult issues it faces, but we're a bit confused about how to do so. In response, Stephen agreed to lead two 4-week classes as part of a Difficult Dialogues series. Both will occur during the adult Sunday School Gathering on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:30am in Fellowship Hall. The first session will begin February 1 and involves the role sexual orientation plays in the church: To what extent should sexual orientation affect one's participation in the church, and on what theological basis? The second session involves evangelism: How can we practically spread the Good News to our neighbors (despite our reservations and nervousness), and what is our theological basis for doing so?

February's Difficult Dialogue comes at a pivotal time for our denomination. In March, the Presbytery of WV will vote on a variety of amendments proposed by the General Assembly (as other Presbyteries across the nation are doing), and at the root of several amendments is a question: To what extent should sexual orientation affect one's participation in the church? This issue divides the church deeply, as people of good faith sit on both sides of the fence (while many more straddle it). Our plan is to dialogue about sexual orientation and the church. In Week 1, we'll agree to some guidelines for a healthy dialogue and familiarize ourselves with the topic by looking at a case study. In Week 2, we'll examine the point of view that non-heterosexual orientations are sinful, including Biblical interpretations which support this position. In Week 3, we'll examine the point of view that all of God's children, including people of various sexual orientations, ought to be included fully in the life of the church, including Biblical interpretations which support this position. In Week 4, we'll engage in another case study where we must pastorally respond to a family in crisis. After four weeks, we may or may not reach conclusions; that's not our aim. Our aim is to faithfully discern God's will for this world by enegaging in dialogue with each other.

The members of the Session will be present for this important dialogue, and we hope you will be too. Stephen will facilitate, making every effort to ensure a safe and fair space for talking and listening to each other's stories.

Morning Worship, 1/25/09

Yesterday we received two new members during worship, Marge Farren and Tom Long. Both are fine folks whom we are fortunate to count as part of our church family! The audio of the service can be played below:

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The sermon is titled, "Come and See."