July 2016 Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR Why Does God Want Worship? The athlete has just done something amazing. Perhaps it was a 450-foot homerun, a blocked shot or an amazing touchdown catch. He cups his hand to his ear as he turns to the crowd inviting the applause, acclaim, the public acknowledgement of his greatness. The crowd obliges with shouts of joy. ESPN obliges by making it the play of the month. And we watch. If it happened by a player or team we enjoy, we are delighted and join in. If instead by someone with whom we are not so enamored, well then, we are disgusted by their selfaggrandizement. He is nothing but a show-off. Sports magnifies the issue of wanting, needing, craving and feeding a desire for significance and validation. In few, if any, other areas can we curry favor and praise so overtly and shamelessly. But if we are honest with ourselves, we too love being appreciated. We love to be praised and adored even if we feel a little awkward when it is happening. Later we’ll replay the compliment in our minds, however small it may have been, and delight in it each time. Running our own repeated ESPN highlight show in which we are the star. Glory days! In a nutshell, we love to give and receive worship.
God Doesn’t Need our Worship Perhaps then, when we think about worship we subconsciously think God is like us. After all, he seems to be very specific and persistent regarding the commands for worship. With an athlete we sometimes wonder what great personal lack they are trying to fill with the praise of others. Is there a great black hole in the cosmic consciousness of God that he needs filled with the adoration of billions of his creatures? In Psalm 50, God makes it WORSHIP IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO clear, “You thought I was one SHARE IN THE GLORY OF GOD. GOD OFFERS US like yourself.” But He isn’t THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAISE BECAUSE PRAISE like us. He doesn’t seek AND WORSHIP ARE AN INVITATION TO DELIGHT. praise out of deficit. It’s AND WE LOVE TO DELIGHT! actually the opposite. Worship isn’t a result of a deficit, but rather an abundance. Worship is the opportunity for us to share in the Glory of God. God offers us the opportunity to praise because praise and worship are an invitation to delight. And we love to delight!
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MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR Worship Fills our Gaps In a classic line from Rocky, Rocky says to Adrienne, “I got gaps. You got gaps. Together we fill each other’s gaps.” I think that is a beautifully simple statement about human love and companionship. Indeed, we got gaps. God has no gaps. God is fullness in every aspect of his being. In Psalm 50, God makes the hypothetical statement, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you.” Why? The verse continues, “…for the world and its fullness are mine.” Author Ralph Martin explores the why of worship and concludes that we worship because: God is (living, holy, gracious and unique), God gives, and God expects. Jonathan Edwards (see book review in this newsletter) offers another angle. He writes: Another part of God’s fullness which he communicates, is his happiness. This happiness consists in enjoying and rejoicing in himself; so does also the creature’s happiness. It is a participation in what is in God, and God and his glory are the objective ground of it. The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted. Joy, or the exulting of the heart in God’s glory, is one thing that belongs to praise. This means that if there was something that made God happy more than his own glory, not only would he be all for it, but he would want us to be all for it. He would be the leading cheerleader for a happiness more supreme than himself if there were such a happiness. But there is not, so he calls us to that which is greatest: the enjoyment of Himself.
Worship is a Gift
THE HAPPINESS OF THE CREATURE CONSISTS IN REJOICING IN GOD, BY WHICH ALSO GOD IS MAGNIFIED AND EXALTED.
So when God summons us to worship, he does so not out of selfishness or lack, but out of generosity and fullness. He doesn’t need to be made happier or more highly exulted by our worship. He is already overflowing with happiness in the delight of himself as the triune God. He is already as exalted as exaltation can get. At the risk of being misunderstood but in trying to connect this to the description of athletes above, God is not seeking our admiration from afar. He is pulling us up on the platform to share in the happiness and exaltation. Christ came down to bring us up. This explains why our act of worship, whether private, familial, or corporate is so unusual. When we think of worship we rightly think of giving something. At a minimum we are giving
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MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR as we ascribe greatness and worthiness to God. Additionally, we give our time, offerings, service and thanks to him. The great catch is that when we worship we seem to get more than we give! Why? Because we are giving to him who is fullness and has given all to us. When we give to Fullness, when we approach Fullness with an arm-load of fruit from the harvest, Fullness says, “Thanks very much, but I’m Full. Sit down, eat it, share it and delight in my presence.” (see Deut. 14:22-28) In a recent sermon we considered a Swedish proverb that applies well to worship: a shared joy is a double joy. Why does God want worship? Joy – doubled. -
Eric
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COMING UP IN THE LIFE OF OUR CHURCH 4th of July Picnic Please join us for our annual CTK July 4th picnic! Chip and Maria Signorino will be hosting this year and they have reserved a spot for us at the Stanbridge Street Park Complex. The picnic will be held from 12pm-5pm (lunch will be served at 1pm) and will include hamburgers and hotdogs provided by the church. The park has many activities for you and your family to enjoy, including a large covered pavilion with picnic tables where we will gather to eat and fellowship. The July 4th Potluck sign up information has already been sent via email. If you did not receive the email sign up feel free to contact Barb LoRusso at
[email protected].
Dominican Republic Mission Trip Four of our High School students—Ben Palmer, Nate Palmer, Lucas Carole, and McKenna Canale—are, as of this writing, in the Dominican Republic to serve a church in Juan Thomas through teaching and construction work. This short term missions trip is from June 21 through June 29. Please keep them in prayer! And bookmark the blog for news: http://ppcdrtrip.blogspot.com. It’s also not too late to donate; if you would like to do so, make checks payable to Proclamation Presbyterian Church with “CTK Missions” in the memo line and mail to “Attn: Pam Hallman, Proclamation Presbyterian, 278 S Bryn Mawr Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010.”
Food Collection Thank you, CTK family, for contributing monthly to the Colonial Neighborhood Council's food cupboard! Your faithful donations of non-perishables are a blessing to the community. Now that school is closed people have to feed their school aged children and it puts an additional strain on the families because the students don't get free breakfast or lunch at school, and the summer months are also a slow time for donations. Please give generously to the CNC. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either Lauren Elban or Michele Eichert. The next collection is July 17th!
Lady’s Summer Bible Study Join the women of the church for bible study, prayer, and fellowship Wednesday mornings, 9:30am – 11:00 am from June 22 to August 3rd (in the church office). Using the book, The Envy of Eve, Finding Contentment in a Covetous World by Melissa Kruger as a discussion starter, we will explore the Scriptures to understand what coveting is and
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COMING UP IN THE LIFE OF OUR CHURCH what it is not, the reasons we covet, the patterns that coveting takes in our lives, and how Christ can give us a new pattern so we can experience contentment. “The hope of this book is to expose the sin of covetousness, showing the truth of Proverbs 14:30, ‘A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.’” For more information and to have a book ordered for you, please contact Deb DeLecce,
[email protected] . Child care provided.
Men’s Book Study The men will be meeting on Saturday July 9th from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM in the church office building at 117 E. 4th Ave. We are currently discussing the book "Ordinary" by Michael Horton. If you would like a copy of the book, or have other questions about this ministry, contact Rich DeLecce. (
[email protected]).
Spring Mill Ministry One Sunday each month, members of Christ the King meet with residents of Spring Mill retirement community for fellowship, hymn singing, and studying God’s word. Our friends in this community enjoy this time, especially since they are not able to get out and attend church at this stage of life. It also provides a way care for widows. Please contact Peter Stahl if you are interested in joining one Sunday and/or join us on May 22nd.
Sunday School in July and August As is our tradition, we will be taking a break from our normally scheduled Sunday School program in July and August. .
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WIC FALL RETREAT Ladies and teen girls, this fall, in lieu of our own CTK Women’s Retreat, we will be joining other PCA women in the northeast region for the “Transformed” conference to be held at Proclamation Presbyterian Church, September 30-October 1. We invite all women (Ages 14, 40, or 104!) to join us as we seek to be TRANSFORMED through studying Romans 11:33-12:2 together. The keynote speaker for the northeast region is Melissa Kruger. Melissa Kruger serves on staff as Women’s Ministry Coordinator at Uptown Church (PCA) in Charlotte, North Carolina and is the author of The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World and Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood. In addition to keynote talks, breakout workshops will also be presented. Schedule:
Friday, September 30, 7 pm to 9 pm Saturday, October 1, 9 am to 2 pm (includes lunch and 2 workshops)
Workshop Choices: Flourishing: How the Gospel Changes Everything – Steph Hubach How to Think Biblically about My Body – Ellen Dykas How Do I Get Enough? – Callie Miller Living with Purpose on Purpose in the Afternoon of Life – Sharon Betters Talking to Kids about Tough Topics – Julie Lowe More information is available at http://www.pcacdm.org/transformed2016/transformedphiladelphia Stay tuned for registration information at a reduced price.
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LETTER FROM THE DEACONS Greetings church family, Beginning on July 3rd, a diaconal offering will be collected on the first Sunday of every month following the Lord’s Supper. The diaconal fund is used to support people in the congregation, surrounding community, and occasionally around the world who may be going through a particular hardship and are in need of financial assistance. About a year ago, the deacons, in conjunction with the session, decided to take a break from collecting the diaconal offering due to an abundance of funds. For a variety of reasons, there were not many requests for assistance, and therefore the diaconal fund continued to accumulate. Over the past year, financial requests have been made to the deacons including medical costs, housing, and groceries. After careful consideration of each request, the deacons have been able to financially help a number of people in our church, in Conshohocken, and beyond. Because of the faithful giving of the congregation in the past, many members of Christ the King have experienced the love and benevolence of their fellow members. The deacons want to thank the congregation for their generosity in the past to the diaconal fund, and want the congregation to know that they will continue to seek God’s wisdom when deciding on how to distribute additional giving in the future. Thank you and praise God! -
The Deacons
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MINISTRIES AT CTK Sunday School. CTK offers bible teaching tailored for each stage of life. K-5 meets in the church office (117 4th Avenue; teachers will direct your child to the specific room for their age), Middle School and Senior High are on the top floor of the church building, and Adults are on the main floor. Contact: Tommy Keene First Wednesdays. Prayer and fellowship are an important component of body life. On the first Wednesday of every month we gather at the church to share a meal together and pray for one another. Contact: Eric Huber Youth Group. We offer programs for Middle School and Senior High students designed to encourage fellowship, family life, and spiritual growth. Our regular meetings are on the First Wednesday of every month (see above), but we also have a number of opportunities throughout the year, including a Winter Ski Trip, Spring Retreat, Summer Missions Trip, Fall Picnic, and intermittent game nights. Contact: Tommy Keene Home Fellowship Groups. Bible studies and fellowship groups meet in homes throughout the area. These groups provide a great way to connect with neighbors and friends, to grow in our common faith, and to pray for and disciple one another. You can contact Tommy Keene if you’re interested in finding a group, or talk to one of the leaders below. Mike LoRusso leading at the Stahl’s home in Wayne at 6:45pm. (2nd and 4th Tuesdays) Tommy Keene leading at the Kirkland’s home in West Norriton at 6:00pm (2nd and 4th Wednesdays). John Erickson leading at the Erickson’s home in Valley Forge at 7:00 p.m. (2nd and 4th Wednesdays). Choir and Music. Music is a fundamental component of our worship, and we strive for excellence as we offer our sacrifice of praise to the Lord. “I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!” If you are interested in participating in this ministry, either with song or instrument, contact our music director, Justin Proffitt. First Sunday Potlucks. We regularly feast together immediately after morning worship on the first Sunday of every month. Bring a meal to share (but join us anyway if you forgot!). If you are interested in helping with our food and kitchen ministry, contact Barbara Lorusso.
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MINISTRIES AT CTK Women in the Church (WIC). WIC seeks to assist the women of the church to honor and love God and serve one another in love. Our mission is to care for women, to integrate new women into the life of the church, and to promote fellowship, mercy, and Bible study opportunities. We are often are looking for people to host events, or make meals for a church family in need, or planning and detail help with any of the above. Contact us
[email protected] or by speaking with Dana McGahey. Men's Book Study. The men meet on the first Saturday of each month from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM in the church office building at 117 E. 4th Ave. We are currently discussing the book Ordinary by Michael Horton. If you’d like a copy of the book, or have other questions about this ministry, contact Rich DeLecce. Nursery. Christ the King offers nursery services for all children under the age of 5 (or 6 for evening services and special services) during all morning and evening worship services, as well as for Sunday School and most special services. Our volunteers are dedicated, caring, and hard workers! Even at a young age our children are forming bonds of fellowship that they will value and rely on for years to come, and our nursery volunteers are dedicated to promoting those relationships. This isn’t just “babysitting,” it’s ministry! If you have questions about how the nursery functions, or would like to serve in this important ministry, contact Maria Signorino. Greeters and Ushers. Hospitality is important to us! Our greeters and ushers are in charge of welcoming people into our church home and helping out with any needs that come up during the service. If you’re interested in helping this area, contact Tommy Keene.
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BOOK CORNER God’s Passion for His Glory (with the complete text of Edwards’s The End for Which God Created the World) By John Piper (and Jonathan Edwards) Jonathan Edwards’s The End for Which God Created the World changed my life. It’s hard to imagine that a book with a title like that could change anyone’s life. It doesn’t exactly roll of the tongue. What’s more, the writing style is similarly difficult throughout—this is not an easy read. Yet Eric and I would commend it to you as well worth the effort. So how did it change my life? It freed me to delight in God. My view of worship, of praise, of Christianity in general was very man-centered, and so my view of God was also very mancentered. What’s more, I had a lot of philosophical and theological questions as a High Schooler. If God doesn’t need anything, why does he require us to worship? How can God’s glory be man’s chief end—isn’t that selfish of God? If God is perfect, then why did he create? Those kinds of questions affect how and why we worship (as Eric explained in the opening letter of the newsletter). We will worship differently if we think our worship is designed to meet some underlying need in God (ever try to make a deeply needy person happy with you?) We worship differently if we think of it only as our duty and not our delight. We worship differently when we worship for the wrong reasons. What Edwards gives us is a God-centered view of God and, correspondingly, a Godcentered view of worship. Edwards’s presents us with a God who is fundamentally concerned with his own glory. For humans being fundamentally concerned with one’s own glory is an undesirable quality, but it’s precisely what you want in God. Why? Because God is the greatest being, and he magnifies his greatness precisely in sharing it with us! I heartily recommend this edition of Edwards’s work. It’s annotated by Piper (who did his doctoral work on Edwards) and includes a nice description of the purpose and content of the work. It makes it a lot easier to read and appropriate. You can buy it, of course, but it’s also available as a free PDF online: http://www.desiringgod.org/books/gods-passion-for-his-glory
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SHEPHERDING GROUPS God has been pleased to provide care for his church through the ministry of elders. In the PCA, we have both ruling and teaching (pastors) elders. The elders seek to care for the church together as a session, and through personal connections with the members of the church. Some key passages in Scripture that describe this care are found in Luke 22:24-27, John 21:15-19, Acts 20:17-38, 1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, Hebrews 13:8, 17 and 1 Peter 5:1-5. Our session has divided the members of Christ the King into four shepherding groups, each assigned to one of our four ruling elders. Our hope is that this will be a valuable component of caring for one another and growing together in the faith. You can expect your elder to pray for you, get to know and love you, assist you in your Christian walk, to be available and to visit or call you at least once a year. Please be in prayer for your elder and for all the session (Hebrews 13:18), and please let your elder know of any special prayer needs or ways that they can serve and shepherd you well.
Rex Anderson Canale family Carroll family Davis family Eichert family Nate Huber Erin Imbert (Eastlack) Kirkland family Neikirk family Palmer family David Penning Justin & Gabriella Proffitt Tyson family Yonan family
Rich DeLecce Blackburn family Carter family Kathy Daly Debbie Doyle Theresa Gantz Dani Huber Hudson family Ludlam family Schneider family Chip & Maria Signorino family Kate Simons Jen Vare Neil Leone
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Ray Doreian Azzarano family Erickson family Ghrist family Susan King McGahey family Ritter family Joy Signorino Terry Smith Thistlewaite family
Mike LoRusso Ian & Erin Buchanan Elban family Helfand family Hoffman family Jack & Stephanie Newman Charlotte Schmucker Jay & Carmen Signorino Stahl family Sharon Tobin
Christine Wazynski
Watkins family
SERVING IN THE CHURCH THIS MONTH July 3
July 10
July 17
July 24
July 31
Greeters 4th Ave
Anna Ludlum
Nicole Davis
Elizabeth Stahl
Rich/Debbie DeLecce
Daniel Stahl
Greeters Fayette Street
Debbie Doyle
Ray Doreian
Kathy Daly
Charlotte Schmucker
Sharon Tobin
Jerry Davis
Jay Signorino
Dave Hudson
John Erickson
Jerry Davis
Pat Canale
Nic Kirkland
Mike Azzarano
Tom Blackburn
Pat Canale
Dave Ritter Jack Newman Dave Hudson John Erikson
Jay Signorino Mark Hoffman Dave Ritter Josh Tyson
Jerry Davis Pat Canale Dan McGahey Peter Stahl
Dave Hudson Chip Signorino Rob Ghrist Tom Blackburn
Dave Ritter Jack Newman Dave Hudson John Erikson
Set Up Ushers Sunday School Nursery
No Sunday School
Morning Nursery
Debbie, Annie Ghrist and Anna Ludlum (Maria Signorino)
Josh and Lucy Tyson and Abbie McGahey (Liz Hudson)
Chip and Maria and Richard Stahl (Pat Canale)
Charlotte S. Renee and Hope Blackburn (Rebecca Kirkland)
Ian and Erin Buchanan and Abby Scheineder (Lauren Huber)
Evening Nursery
Peter and Elizabeth Stahl
Mark and Lauren Elban
Terry S and Lauren H.
Jay and Carmen Signorino
Christy and Josh Helfand
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