Ministry Updates, page 3

Worship Coordination Team

Core Value #3 Worship as the Center of Church Life

The Westminster Catechism asks, "What is the chief aim of Man?" Most of us learned the correct response: "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever." In the Presbyterian Book of Order, worship is defined as including "prayer with thanksgiving... with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance,...the reading of the Scriptures with godly fear; the sound preaching, and conscionable hearing of the Word,... singing of psalms with grace in the heart; as, also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ." We are called to set aside "a due proportion of time... for the worship of God."

The Worship Coordinating Team has had the privilege and responsibility to see that we at Central worship God in truth and love, and with excellence. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month along with our pastor to hear concerns, joys, and efforts made in our respective services. In offering three distinctly different services, we have unique problems that sometimes require creative solutions. We try to do this with sensitivity and love.

We plan for special services such as Lent, Easter, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, as well as the weekly worship and the occasional blended service. We took a short worship survey in late August to better understand the hearts and desires of our congregation. The response from everyone was wonderful. People surprised us by writing detailed answers. We learned that the vast majority of the congregation is very happy with the service they attend. The majority of us feel Central is a welcoming place and even more are happy to belong to a church that offers three different worship choices. We received good suggestions and are working on them.

Gerry Espey is our man who knows and sees all from 8:15 am to 12:45 pm. He sees problems, offers solutions, and even implements them. He knows if the Sanctuary is too hot or too cold, if the guest parking is adequate, and at what time most of the congregants arrive. John Pusateri (the original John on the committee) reports on the 8:15 services, Tom Brantigan or Amy Killian offer the traditional perspective, and Eileen Gathman is our 11:30 representative. Our newest and greatest member is the second John - John Schmidt. We are so very happy to have him with us, to help us, to offer his leadership and wisdom. Steve Nelson, Lou Dicker, and Carol Corey round out the team.

From time to time we have needed help from those outside our committee. During the months without a pastor, Steve Simms and Dottie Jones joined to supply us with excellent preachers, week after week, dealing with all the tricky logistics involved therein. As well, Dottie has faithfully assigned elders for Communion each month.

The past three years, while we waited for John, have been difficult at times. Hopefully they helped us to examine ourselves and constantly reassess and improve our worship services so that we can offer our God and Father true worship that glorifies Him forever.

Central Lights

The Central Lights had a very busy 2003. Our programs, which are held on the second Monday of each month, were diversified. We took a Travelogue trip to the Holy Land, Egypt and other countries. Our Antique Appraisal Show was a great success. The trip to the Museum of Industry was enjoyed by all. We went to Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen and enjoyed the ballgame. We worked very hard to include people in our community as well as our own seniors. At least one third of the seniors attending the programs were from outside of our home church. Our year ended with a trip to Longwood Gardens to see the beautiful Christmas display. Our ministry donated money to the Christian Community Center to fund scholarships for needy children. We welcome all seniors 50+ from Central and the community to join us for our monthly time of Christian fellowship.

Men Of Promise

Men of Promise began 2003 with a pamphlet outlining the events planned for the year and promoting the eight men's small groups that provided opportunities for men to become involved. We sponsored an eight-week evening class on sexual purity with 12 men participating. On February 21st-22nd, 22 men traveled to the "Wild at Heart" conference in Washington, D.C. The insights gained were strengthened through the use of the "Band of Brothers" follow-up video series on Sunday mornings and in weekly small groups before and after the 40 Days of Purpose. The only Men of Promise activity during the 40 Days of Purpose involved building and staffing a display during the ministry fair. Just following the 40 Days, with minimal publicity, 45 men attended the Promise Keepers conference in Baltimore.

A mentoring program to link mature and younger men in one-on-one relationships began with three training sessions for mentors in April, June and September. The Men's Retreat in the Catoctin Mountains in September had to be cancelled in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel, and will be rescheduled. Initiation of a Prison Ministry Bible study will remain on the agenda for next year.

Men of Promise sponsored two October seminars on "Raising Boys" by Joe Ehrmann. He is known from his Baltimore Colt football days and is on the ministerial staff at Grace Church. These seminars were followed by an Adult Sunday School series on "Bringing Up Boys" using the James Dobson videos.

In 2004 we hope to begin with another sexual purity course, have a spring retreat, and build the mentoring ministry.

Presbyterian Women

With a growing church and three Sunday services, Presbyterian Women is looking for ways to relate to other women's groups and individuals. Our exciting Christmas program, "The Gift Goes On," was a cooperative effort with WOW. What a joy to gather with more than 100 women representing our entire church family. A generous offering that night was sent to the Shepherd's Clinic which serves clients who have no health insurance.

Our four circles meet monthly for Bible study, prayer, fellowship and service. Substantial financial gifts are sent to missionaries chosen by each circle. Our program year runs from July-June. Currently for our Bible study we are using the guide, Women of the New Testament by Phyllis LePeau.

Ruth Williams and Diane Carter are serving Presbyterian Women at the presbytery and synod level. We are thankful for all those who are serving and hope to involve additional women in leadership roles.

Women On Wednesday (WOW)

WOW is a dynamic, weekly, daytime gathering of women who seek to build bonds of friendship through shared praise, study and prayer. The ministry's vision is to provide a warm and comfortable place, especially for those without a church home, to make a connection with each other and with Christ.

There were several changes and program improvements to WOW, including the implementation of a children's education component. This includes an enrichment class for children who are home-schooled. WOW expanded to offer seven study opportunities in response to the varying life situations and stages that women experience. A leadership training segment was created. A music team to augment the worship time was formed. The fellowship aspect was formalized and offers support for women in trying situations.

In progress is the creation of a mentoring opportunity, based on the scriptural mandate in Titus 2:3-4 to bring together older and younger women to encourage one another. Most significant about WOW's growth this past year is the number of new faces brightening Central's doors on Wednesday mornings. God is calling us to be intentional about equipping our women to invite others and is showing us how to continue to develop WOW into a beacon in the community for women who realize they have a need that has yet to be eternally filled.

Some Community Stats for 2003

Webmaster's Note: Due to privacy concerns, this section will not list names or details on the website.

• 47 New members
• 12 Births
• 10 Deaths
• 20 Baptisms
• 7 Weddings