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The Centinel - February 1999, Issue 5
Central Presbyterian Preschool
Pilot Opening in March
by Rhonda Herman
Central Presbyterian Church is planning now for a
preschool program for
twos, threes, and fours beginning in the fall of 1999. Our vision is to
provide not only Central's children but the young children in our
community, with a loving, Christ-centered environment where they may
grow and develop.
The initial phase-in is a pilot program commencing this spring. We are
offering a Tuesday/Thursday class for children ages two and three, from
9:00-11:30a during the months of March, April and May. The teachers will
provide planned educational activities that seek to meet the emotional,
physical, mental, social, and spiritual needs of each child within a
caring, Christian atmosphere.
The total cost for the 3-month (24-session) program is $240, which
includes a $25 registration fee and $215 tuition. For more information
or to receive a registration form, please call program coordinators
Kris Bailey or Debbie DeSmit.
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The Session has authorized a Y2K Task Force to address the challenges
and ministry opportunities presented by the coming year 2000. Ten
Central members met in January and plan to meet monthly in order to
discern our proper response and preparation for possible disruptions
resulting from microchips and software incorrectly handling the year
2000. Some devices only store the last 2 digits of the year and might
read 2000 as 00, thus causing some incorrect calculations and
comparisons.
The task force wants to present a balanced view of possible preventative
and contingency measures so that we, our church, our community, and our
missionaries are ready for Y2K. We do not want to be indifferent and we
do not want to overreact. Actions currently in process are
- contacting mission agencies and individual missionaries,
- surveying the readiness of church infrastructure,
- contacting our vendors;
- and setting up a Y2K information center in the form of reading
materials, seminars, web site material, etc.
We have just begun and much needs to be done. Please ask God how you
might help. Then, consider coming to the next Y2K Task Force meeting on
February 22, 7:15-9:00p in Covenant/226. Please contact Paul Bender with
your thoughts and ideas on how we might be used by God to radiate His
light and bring Him glory.
by Rev. Jerry Cooper
Islam is a major force in the world today, and it is not confined to the
Middle East. In fact, Indonesia has more Muslims than most of the Middle
East put together. There are even millions of Muslims living in the US,
and some are probably your neighbors. As Christians, we should both
understand who they are and what they believe, as well as how to love
and share the good news with them in ways that will lead them into a
relationship with Jesus Christ. Come learn some of these things at our
special Missions Celebration this Jubilee year, on February 27 & 28.
Don McCurry, president of Ministries to Muslims, and
B. Wilson, church planter among Muslims are our guests.
Central was replanted 50 years ago with a heart and passion for
missions, by a pastor who was passing time until he was called to the
mission field. And Central continues, to this very day, carrying that
same flame: that all people, near and far, might come to know Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord.
Don McCurry came to Christ 48 years ago
through the ministry of Murray
Smoot's brother, Bob. When he and Mary Jo left for mission work in
Pakistan in 1956, Central took them on as our own missionaries. Since
that time, Don has risen to be one of the world's foremost authorities
on Christian witness to Muslims. He travels 6 months of the year to
countries on every continent to train missionaries and church leaders in
missions.
B. Wilson grew up at Central, while his
mother, Mary-Lou was the
Missions Coordinator here in the 1970s. Since then he found his way onto
the mission field, where together with his wife, name-removed, (and now two
children) he has been working to plant churches among one of the largest
Muslim people groups in the world. They are currently on furlough,
preparing to return to the field this summer.
- Saturday, February 27:
- 9a - 1p - Reaching Your Muslim Neighbors - Don McCurry
- Sunday, February 28: Morning:
- 8:30 and 11:00a - Don McCurry, Preaching
9:45 - B. Wilson, Combined Adult Sunday School
- Evening:
- 7 - 8:30p - Islam in the Current World Situation - Don McCurry
Join us at Skateland on February 6, 1999 from 4:30-6:30p when we have
the entire rink to ourselves! Come and skate to contemporary Christian
music for the small cost of $1.00. You can bring your own in-line skates
or rent roller skates for $1.25. Skateland is on Orchard Tree Lane just
off Joppa Road in Towson.
by Jeff Wilkinson
New on the website in the last few months...
- 6 new sermon transcripts (more soon)
- Proposed preaching schedule for 1999
- Updates from the Music Search Committee on the search for a Director of Music Ministries.
- Rhonda and Ron now have email addresses
- New info and
links concerning
persecution of Christians and praying for the persecuted church. Please
read this and pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Info about the Social Action Committee's efforts with our adopted families
- Info about a Ministry to Expectant Parents
- What's new in Central's Library Feature of the Month
- All the normal updates every week that keep the site current ...
In addition, the team (Jeff, Rob Smith,
Jerry Cooper and Karen McCaffrey) has given a whole
new look and organization to the site.
It should be even easier to use, more attractive, and easier to navigate.
Come see and let us know what you think. (Suggestions and feedback are always welcome!)
by Chuck Trader
The Social Action Committee
(SAC) has begun adopting needy families
through a newly-formed relationship with the Baltimore County Department
of Social Services (DSS). The goal is to help them be less dependent on
social services. The highlight is the involvement of individuals and
eventually small groups at Central as a partner in providing the support
to adopted families.
After DSS refers a family to SAC for consideration, the SAC meets with
the family and social worker to lay out a plan tailored for that family.
Through steady contact, SAC members and the partner group provide
physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual support to the adopted
family according to the plan. The SAC gradually steps back as the
partner group builds their relationship with the family, and supports
them as needed.
To date, we have worked with two families: single mothers, one with 5
and one with 7 children. Their circumstances were often very harsh and
heartbreaking but the process of standing with them and helping them
back on their feet has been extremely rewarding. We have first tried to
address their physical needs and show Christ's love. (Remember hearing
about the shopping trip to buy winter coats for one set of children or
school supplies for the other?) One of our primary goals has been to
have them worship with us and meet all the people who have developed a
vested interest in their well-being. As our relationship with these
families has grown, we have been able to talk more personally with them.
We have tried to help them design a lifestyle that allows them to live
within their means and break the cycle of dependence. It has been
gratifying to see a renewed dignity and healthy countenance as some of
these burdens are lifted.
We are assembling an army of individuals willing to do as little as
provide a ride to the store, develop a budget, or repair a porch
railing. We have over 20 Central members lined up and may be calling you
soon. We are very sensitive to everyone's busy schedule and are
determined not to abuse any volunteer's time. We are especially looking
for small groups or families to partner with us.
Consider joining that army in some capacity, getting your small group
involved, or joining the SAC. All you need is a willing heart, which
will be warmed as you improve the quality of life and show the love of
Christ to people who are used to experiencing life's down side. If
interested, call me or any other SAC member.
Central celebrates 50 years on York Road this year! Our congregation
will mark this momentous occasion with a whole weekend dedicated to the
celebration. Save Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 on your calendar for
Central's Jubilee Weekend. There will be a barn raising from 8a-5p on
Saturday with a congregational gathering at noon, which will include an
all-church picnic. Watch for details.
The Centinel will publish a special issue with a history and stories
over the past 50 years. We need your help. Bring your short stories,
funny or serious, or quotes. Suggest people and we will interview them
and write their stories. Leave suggestions and ideas in the Centinel
mailbox or e-mail them to Newsletter AT centralpc.org by March 15.
Possible topics are:
- How people came to Central (I'll never go back there again!)
- Disasters (the flood during Session meeting)
- Construction stories (and just how many construction projects were there?)
- Love stories - how couples met at CPC (their eyes met across the table while cleaning it!)
- Sermon quotes - life changing, funny
- Faith or salvation stories directly tied to CPC
- Amazing coincidences (whose father was Ron Scates' Sunday School teacher?)
by Nancy Nasrallah
The Great Commission is based on God's commission in the first books of
the Old Testament. There God reveals Himself as our Creator, tells us
what He wants from us, and makes various covenants with the fathers of
the faith. His law is nicely summed up in Deuteronomy 6: 4-9:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your
hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you
get up. Tie them as symbols on... (you). Write them on the doorframes of
your houses and on your gates. (NIV)
After his resurrection, Jesus Christ told us:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28: 19-20 (NIV)
This command is really a variation of the Deuteronomy passage. First it
summarizes the 'talk, tie, walk' instructions into the word 'go'. Then
it expands the directive of 'impress them on your children' into 'make,
baptize, teach' people of all nations. Thus, when you love the Lord, you
tell and teach others about Him.
In our lives, we are to love God totally as we go through life, telling
those we meet about God (Creator, Lord, Savior). We are to tell those
who are nearby and those who are far away. We want to have impressed on
them, by the Holy Spirit, what the Lord wants: our love, our coming to
Him. The church baptizes those who respond and we continue teaching
them, by our words, deeds, and lives.
Central Church attempts both to equip us so that we can teach others and
to provide means for others to hear about God and be in a place where
they can be impressed with God's love and commandments. There are Sunday
School classes for children and adults. The 11a worship service is
broadcast over the radio, and both services have invitations at the end
and evangelistic messages, such as on Friendship Sunday. Finally, there
are various missions education and service opportunities.
But the church cannot obey these commissions; it only provides the ways
and means. It is we the believers in Jesus Christ who are the ones who
'go' and who must obey. Pray for those opportunities to speak and then
act. Pray for the Spirit to provide the words and bring to memory Bible
stories and verses. Pray, and wait and see what the Lord will do!
(You can find more info about Central's Core Values
here)
- A Personal Relationship with Jesus as Savior, Lord, and God
- Commitment to the Truth of God's Revealed Word
- Worship as the Center of Church Life
- The Great Commission - Near and Far in Word and Deed
- A Biblical World View that Speaks to Our Culture
- Kingdom Vision - We are One Part of the Whole Body of Christ
- Growing Mature, Ministering Disciples
- A Diverse, Loving Community
- The Nurture of Children and Youth
- Servanthood & Stewardship Inside and Outside of Central
- Prayer
by Denise Simms
Dottie Davis, the Acting Parish Nurse Coordinator, heads Central's
Parish Nurse Program. In place since October 1997, it is part of St.
Joseph Hospital's Parish Nursing Program. Dottie leads a team from our
congregation comprised of eight nurses, a pharmacist, a physical
therapist, and two physicians. These health care professionals serve our
congregation and the community at large on a volunteer basis to fulfill
the C.A.R.E. mission of parish nursing. They counsel (C), screening for
illness concerns; they advocate (A), centering on spiritual, faith, and
healing issues; they are referral agents (R), acting as liaisons and
coordinators of care; and they are educators (E), stressing preventive
concepts.
To date the program has offered flu shots, blood pressure screenings,
heart screenings, home visitations for assessments, hospital
visitations, the maintenance of first aid boxes at the church, and the
opportunity to ask questions about medical issues accessed via Dottie's
voicemail at Central (extension 236). The Paraclete and Parish Nurse
programs also refer to each other.
Dottie invites your calls and questions about health issues as well as
the program in general. Dottie is a Registered Nurse working in St.
Joseph Hospital's transitional care unit. She has worked in nursing for
more than 20 years, gravitating to the pastoral end of nursing - its
human side, ministering to one's needs as a whole. Born in Baltimore,
Dottie currently lives in Rodgers Forge, has two grown children and has
been a member of Central since 1992. Dottie acknowledges that there are
many needs within our parish that go unmet when only traditional medical
routes are taken. The Parish Nurse Program exists to support our members
throughout the life long process of health maintenance.
"O how abundant is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for those
who fear Thee!" - Psalm 31:19
by Scott Corey
In the book of Central, the next verse might read, "O to minister
for Thee, how faithfully and sacrificially they gave from Thy
abundance." Not only has the congregation exceeded the original
Beyond These Walls... pledges, they are again
showing a dependability for the Lord that surpasses the Energizer Bunny
and your Timex.
Forty-five members/families have pledged an additional $191,177 toward
our goals of reducing the burden of debt on our ministry, and proceeding
with Phase Two of the Building Program as quickly as prudent. This is
expected to reduce our debt from building Phase One to $388,500.
If you haven't yet made a pledge to Close the Gap,
it's not too late. Faith pledges not only reduce our debt; they also
enable good planning. If only half of those giving to Beyond These Walls...,
who have not yet pledged to Close the Gap, would pledge to continue their
giving, our debt would be reduced to $204,900.
Pray about it. It's for the glory of the Lord.
Questions, call Scott Corey.
"How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!""
- Isaiah 52:7
The FOLD: News about our Central Family
by Kathy Vaselkiv
The Central family has recently served as the hands and feet of Christ
in two significant ways. First, Central members and friends filled 125
gift bags for AIDS patients in December. Barbara Ellingson, director of
the Baltimore Chapter of Love & Action and a Central member, sent
Ron Scates the following note.
... I want to extend a big "thank you" to all the folk at
Central who participated in the AIDS gift bag project this Christmas.
This loving and caring church filled over 125 bags! The bags were
literally spilling over with thoughtful items generously given to
minister to men, women and children living with AIDS. ...at this point in
their lives they needed to know that we, the Church, care and that God
still loves them. In many cases, the gift bag opened a way to share the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lonely, despairing individual. (Over 500
bags were distributed to Baltimore hospitals, nursing homes and
hospices.)
Thank you Central, for reaching out to this "mission field white
unto harvest".
Second, the Social Action Committee gave a $1,000 grant to Urban Bible
Fellowship, a Project Justice partner, to enable a member of that church
to set up a home day care center. Earline Blue has worked hard while on
welfare to get the training and licensing required to begin this
business. The partnership between Central, the church and its pastor,
Carl Pagan, has been an exciting endeavor as all have provided help to
Earline, In her thank you note she writes:
"...I deeply appreciate the blessing I've received from you. You
have really made me happy. I thank God for working through his people to
help me....I've been working very hard to open Family Day Care. It was a
long process, but God was with me every step of the way. I give all
praises to God. I hope to see you very soon."
Please pray for Earline that
- the licensing of her location will be completed soon,
- children will begin to enroll immediately,
- she will make wise business decision and receive good counsel,
- that the children in her care and their families will learn about the Lord.
Thanks, Centralites, for your generosity.
by Steve Simms
Will there be a Christian church in 10 years? Will Christians be
persecuted in the United States -- or more persecuted? WHO or WHAT is
"Post-Modern?"
According to Pastors Scates and Cooper,
"post-modernism" is at
the same time the greatest threat - and opportunity - Christianity has
ever faced. And we need to understand how the post-Christian culture
acts and reacts to current trends. Moreover, how do we, as Christians,
react to post-modernism? How do we communicate Christ to people who
accept that there is a spiritual world but don't accept that there is
absolute truth? We NEED to know. We NEED to be pro-active.
We explored this topic two years ago at the All-Church Retreat with
speaker Mike Metzger. At this year's retreat, led by Stuart McAllister,
we will gain greater insight and move into the application phase. Stuart
is part of Ravi Zacharias' Ministries and will provide a serious
presentation that you simply can't miss if you want to improve your
Christian effectiveness in our post-modern, post-Christian society.
With such a serious subject, will this retreat still be fun? OF COURSE!
We'll be immersed in God's Word -- and have a blast being together as
one congregation. We have already re-tooled our Entertainment night and
added planned activities for families during the Saturday afternoon free
time. Please plan and pray now about attending the upcoming Memorial Day
weekend retreat. Stuart has recommended that our congregation prepare
for the retreat by reading the following works: Primer to Postmodernism,
by Stanley J. Grenz and The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge
by Jean-Francois Lyotard. We'll have copies of these books available for
purchase at the Retreat sign-in table. They're also available from
Christian Book Distributors
and Amazon.com.
by Jan Turnbaugh
Our Christmas parties at the Christian Community Center were completely
led by "Centralites"! Murray Smoot (Jan's Dad) was our
last-minute-replacement-speaker for the adults' Christmas luncheon - but
WHAT a blessed "replacement" he was! Julia Bosma accompanied
our caroling on the piano with soloist Susan Vetter. "Open Space
Arts" presented an excellent puppet show at the younger children's
party. Meanwhile, Chris Ritchie led singing with his guitar and spoke
to our teens! The Center was really hopping as we used all three floors
for the children's parties.
Prayer needs at this time:
- volunteers with serious health problems
- Clyde, a 6 month old boy, has a liver ailment and his mother is a
drug addict
Praise that:
- the Mount Clare Christian School will be in their newly
renovated building soon an evangelical Independent Baptist Church
is being planted in our neighborhood!
by Caroline Wilkinson
God has made us to be in community with one another to become like Him
and thus show others Christ in us. Small group intimacy, with loving and
supportive relationships, moves members toward Christ and deepens their
faith. Christian fellowship is another wonderful blessing of being in a
small group. We need loving and supportive relationships with one
another. This is our desire for "Central's Communities in
Christ".
Small groups come in all forms: Bible study, worship, support, and even
committees. Four new groups have formed since the fall leadership
training:
- 2 groups with a mix of new & old members
- a support group for mothers
- a group of veteran members
If you are already in a small group, the
Small Group Ministry Team would
like to know how we can serve you, such as resources, encouragement and
prayer. If you are looking for a small group or want more info call
Debbie Pattee.
Be sure to check the bulletin each week for meetings and details.
| February 8 |
Central Lights Valentine Dinner - 6p |
| February 17 |
Ash Wednesday
PreConfirmation Class begins - 6:45p
Adventure Club begins - 6:45p
Service - 7:00p |
February 24
through March 24 |
Dinner - 5:45p
Lenten Bible Study - 6:45p |
| February 27/28 |
Jubilee Missions Celebration |
| March 2 |
Central Presbyterian Preschool Begins |
| March 7 |
New Member Orientation Begins - 4p |
| March 8 |
Central Lights "All the Tea in China" - 2p
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| March 28 |
Palm Sunday Processional - 10:45a |
| April 1 |
Maundy Thursday Service - 7p |
| April 2 |
Good Friday Service - noon-1:30p
Departure for Romania Missions Trip |
| April 4 |
Daylight Saving Time begins
Easter Sunday
- Sunrise Service
- Celebration of the Resurrection - 8a, 9:30a, 11a |
| Editorial Staff |
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Nancy Nasrallah
Mary Burkey Olga Gerkens Bob Hale
Susan Hula Karen McCaffrey Denise Simms
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Submissions: Please submit articles by email, diskette or
typed copy to the newsletter mailbox. It would help greatly if articles were
submitted by e-mail or on diskette.
Note that the Our Church Family section won't be
included in the web issue of this newsletter since the information doesn't meet our
privacy policy.
