WORSHIP
..........................on the Oregon Coast
From The Pastor's Pen:
“Are You An Active Church Member?”
Most of us joined the church by answering a few simple, but very significant questions. The questions may have been: “Who is your Lord and Savior?” “Do you trust in him?” “Do you intend to be his disciple, to obey his word and to show his love?” “Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, giving of yourself in every way, and will you seek the fellowship of the church wherever you may be?” Although the first question is the most important the last question is one we should not overlook. This question is like a job description. In many ways it answers the question, “How can we be disciples of Jesus Christ, obeying his word and showing his love in a complex world?”
The Book of Order (part of the Constitution of our Church) defines an Active Member as follows: “An active member is a person who has made a profession of faith in Christ, has been baptized, has been received into membership of the church, has voluntarily submitted to the government of this church, and participates in the church’s work and worship….” (G-1.0402)
Our session recently reviewed our membership roles to identify those who have become inactive in the work and worship of our church with the hope that we could discover if we have failed to nurture their faith in some way and encourage them to once more become active in our ministry here. During this process we also recognized that we have a very large group of regular participants who are active in our work and worship but have not become “members” who can vote and participate in the governance of our congregation.
With both of these groups in mind, as well as all the rest, I would like to re-run a portion of an article I lifted from the annual report of the Riverton United Presbyterian Church several years ago. In his Annual Report, Pastor Grayson Gowen asked his church to reflect upon the following Commitment, which he found handwritten in an old Anglican Book of Common Prayer. As you are thinking about the question, “What does membership mean to me?” you may find this handwritten Commitment useful.
-- AN AFFIRMATION OF COMMITMENT TO CHRIST’S CHURCH--
My church is the place where the Word of God is preached, the Power of God is felt, the Spirit of God is manifested, the Love of God is revealed, and the Unity of God is perceived.
It is the home of my soul, the altar of my devotion, the hearth of my faith, the center of my affection, and the foretaste of heaven.
I have united with it in solemn covenant, pledging myself to attend its services, to pray for its members, to give to its support, to obey its laws.
Its unity, peace, and progress concern life in this world and that which is to come. I owe it my zeal, my benevolence, and my prayers. When I neglect its services, I injure its good name, I lessen its power, I discourage its members, and I chill my own soul.
I hereby solemnly promise, in the sight of God and my brothers and sisters in Christ, to advance its interests by my faithful attendance, by contributing to its support, by meeting with my fellow members, by watching over their welfare, and by joining with them in prayer and praise and service.
To this most sacred cause and trust I solemnly commit myself this day, before God my Father, Christ my Redeemer and the Holy Spirit my Sanctifier. Amen.
What struck you as you read this, the old language or the challenging description of the church and committed membership? I was struck first by its description of the Church. Is BPC such a place? Do you, whether members or Friends of the Church, feel this way about your church? As I read on I was also challenged by the description of membership. I believe that as each one of us commits ourselves to this kind of discipleship, the church (with a little “c”) will become a reflection of the Church (with the big “C”) as described in the covenant.
In Christ’s Service, David
WORSHIP NEWS
"The reason we don't sell tickets to worship is because we don't want any spectators."
Sunday, February 5 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany.
We will gather at our Lord’s Table to celebrate the
Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Lectionary – Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c;
I Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39.
Sunday, February 12
–
6th Sunday after Epiphany.
Lectionary - 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45.
Sunday, February 19
–
“Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday.”
The Rev. Tom
Teply will be leading our worship and filling the pulpit.
Lectionary - 2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9.
Wednesday, February 22
– “Ash Wednesday” –
We will join
our Lenten partner churches for a brief
service
@ Trinity Lutheran Church at 7:00 p.m.
For the complete special services schedule see the announcement below.
Sunday, February 26
–
1st
Sunday of Lent –
Lectionary
– Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; I Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15.
Come join us for worship and bring a friend!
Lenten Worship Schedule for 2012
Again this year, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Brookings
Presbyterian Church, Star of the Sea Catholic Church, and Trinity Lutheran
Church will be joining to offer a special worship service every Wednesday
night through the Lenten Season. The following is a schedule of times and
locations. The services at 6:00 p.m. will be followed by a soup supper.
All are invited.
February
22 –
7:00 p.m.
–
Ash Wednesday @ Trinity Lutheran Church.
(No soup)
February
29 – 6:00 p.m. – Lenten Worship & Soup at Star of the Sea Catholic Church
March 7 –
6:00 p.m. – Lenten Worship & Soup at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
March 14
– 6:00 p.m. – Lenten Worship & Soup at Trinity Lutheran Church
March 21
– 6:00 p.m. –Lenten Worship & Soup at Brookings Presbyterian Church
March 28
– 6:00 p.m. – Lenten Worship & Soup at Star of the Sea Catholic Church
Thursday,
April 5
–
7:00 p.m.
– Maundy Thursday Worship @ BPC
(No Soup)
Friday,
April 6
–
7:00 p.m.
– Good Friday Worship @ St. Timothy’s
(No Soup)
The Worship Committee will meet in the Fellowship Hall
on Tuesday, February 14th at 4:30 p.m. All interested persons are invited
to join us.
COMMUNION IN YOUR HOME
The first Sunday of each month is an extension of our
Sunday worship and coming to the Lord's Table. Teams of elders and
deacons will visit homebound members to serve communion in their homes.
If you are homebound and would like to be included in the next visit (March
4th), please call the church
office so we can schedule your visit.
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MUSIC NOTES . . .
Nothing can ever separate us from His love. Romans 8:38
Our January 29th program was so much fun – what a joy to
offer our up-beat music to you.
Now – it is time to start working on the Easter Cantata which will be
presented on April 1st (Palm Sunday). This is a very busy time
for the choir- what a blessing to have such a fun, dedicated and
hard-working group of singers.
Remember – we always welcome new members to our choir and if you’re
interested, just contact me.
Mary Lee Bakker, Music Director
