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FIRST THINGS (USPS 198-100): Published each week...
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FIRST THINGS (USPS 198-100): Published each week except Christmas week by First Presbyterian Church. Periodical postage paid at Columbia, SC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to First Things, First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC, 29201. Associate Reformed Synod 1324 Marion Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 (803) 799-9062 Fax: (803) 799-9172 Periodicals Postage Paid at Columbia, SC Vol. LXV, No. 17 April 26, 2015 audio streaming at www.firstprescolumbia.org [email protected] Worship Service - Broadcast WISW 1320 AM at 11:00 a.m. Derek W.H. Thomas Senior Minister 8:30 & 11:15 a.m. MARK THIS: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK “Jesus Tried and Found Guilty” Mark 14:43-65 Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas Children’s Sermon (8:30) “Guilty” Introduction of New Members (11:15) 6:00 p.m. ROCKY ROAD TO A KINGDOM: A STUDY OF I SAMUEL “Starting Again” 1 Samuel 16 Dr. D. Ralph Davis Children’s Sermon Children’s Catechism #29 Sunday, April 26 8:30 a.m. Worship Service* - Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Inquirers Class - Small Dining Room 10:00 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages - Church Campus 10:50 a.m. Fellowship Time* - Jackson Hall 11:15 a.m. Worship Service* - Sanctuary 12:15 p.m. Next Step Class Lunch - Jackson Hall 1:30 p.m. Next Step Class Communion - Sanctuary 4:00 p.m. Laurel Crest Service - Laurel Crest 4:30 p.m. Cate Memorial Handbell Choir Rehearsal - P107 4:30 p.m. Middle School Youth Group - Family Life Center 5:00 p.m. Orff Ensemble Rehearsal - T103 5:00 p.m. Church-Wide Prayer - T301 6:00 p.m. Evening Service* - Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Friendship Club - T201/T214 6:15 p.m. Cherub Choir Rehearsal - T102 6:15 p.m. The Club (grades 1-5) - T213 7:15 p.m. Sunday Supper - Jackson Hall 7:30 p.m. High School Youth Group - Thornwell - second floor Monday, April 27 9:00 a.m. Aerobics@First - Family Life Center 12:00 p.m. Recorder Ensemble Rehearsal - P107 5:00 p.m. Encouragers’ Steering Committee - P105 6:00 p.m. American Heritage Girls Year End Ceremony - Jackson Hall 6:00 p.m. Open Gym Volleyball (ages 16 & up) - Family Life Center Tuesday, April 28 7:30 a.m. Men’s Prayer - P402A 8:00 a.m. Fitness Training - Family Life Center 8:30 a.m. Staff Prayer - P402 9:00 a.m. Ministry Staff Meeting - P402 5:30 p.m. Congregational Outreach Committee - P102 5:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball (ages 40 & up) - Family Life Center 5:30 p.m. World Missions Meeting - P Annex 101A 6:15 p.m. CE Christian Growth & Nurture Committee - P402A 7:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study - P105 7:30 p.m. Brass Ensemble Rehearsal - P110 Wednesday, April 29 7:00 a.m. Greet the Dawn Bible Study - P402 9:00 a.m. Aerobics@First - Family Life Center 10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible Studies* - T309 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays@First* - Jackson Hall 4:00 p.m. Primary and Junior Choir Rehearsal - T207/T201 4:00 p.m. Youth Chorus rehearsal P-110 5:30 p.m. Centerpoint Dinner - Jackson Hall 6:00 p.m. Centerpoint Nursery (Birth -3 years) - T106, T109, T112 6:15 p.m. Centerpoint Kids Catechism Club (K4-2nd grade)- T102, T103, T107, T214 6:15 p.m. Centerpoint Kids Missions Club (3rd-5th grade)- T202 6:15 p.m. Middle School & High School Bible Study - Thornwell 6:15 p.m. Centerpoint Bible Study School of Theology - Jackson Hall Renew My Heart - Wardlaw Auditorium 6:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary 7:05 p.m. Centerpoint Prayer - Jackson Hall Thursday, April 30 7:30 a.m. Men’s Discipleship Bible Study - Blue Marlin 8:00 a.m. Fitness Training - Family Life Center 12:00 p.m. GriefShare - P303 5:30 p.m. Trail Life USA Dinner Meeting - Jackson Hall 7:00 p.m. Senior Talks - Off site Friday, May 1 6:45 a.m. Men’s Bible Study - 2920 Gervais Street 9:00 a.m. Aerobics@First - Family Life Center 5:45 p.m. Parents’ Night Out - Thornwell Saturday, May 2 9:00 a.m. Encouragers Breakfast - Small Dining Room Helping the Poor The Church’s Responsibility? I address a thorny issue: do we have a responsibility as a church to help the poor? Two issues of interpretation immediately spring to the surface: is this a “church” responsibility or an individual responsibility, and what exactly do we mean by “poor”? In response to the first, some may cite James Henley Thornwell’s doctrine of the “spirituality of the church” and suggest that this is not the church’s responsibility. Frankly, I have always thought this to be somewhat bizarre. How can the church preach the gospel and at the same time refuse to give the hungry bread? The issue is far more complex, of course. For example, an individual Christian may support a certain political party (at odds with some of his brothers and sisters) in compliance with Scripture’s mandate to be a good citizen, but it would not be right for the church as a whole to do so. In response to the second, particularly in a global economy and shrinking world (emails soliciting help come from the other side of the world, for example, many of which are scams; but some are genuine), make defining poverty and my obligation all the more difficult. The Bible is not silent on this issue. Think of the gleaning laws in Deuteronomy 25 or the command to “open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor” in Deuteronomy 15:11. Mull over Psalm 35 and Proverbs 14 and add specific New Testament statements calling for compassionate discipleship in the face of the weak and helpless (Matt. 9:35-36), and especially the early church’s attempts at addressing the issue in Acts 4:34-35 together with Paul’s two-year obsession with aiding poverty relief in Jerusalem, telling the Ephesian elders, “we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). How, then, should we meet this obligation? Two principles might help us here: First, we are most responsible for those nearest to us. Family (children, parents) are our immediate responsibility. Failure here makes us “worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). Next comes the church community. This is what we see in Acts (2:45; 4:32-37), for example, as the poverty-stricken early church took care of each other. After that, the household of faith all over the world – our Easter offering to diaconal missionary needs in a hospital in Pakistan was an example of that. But our responsibility doesn’t – cannot – end there. There are the needs of the non-Christian within our community. Sometimes, opportunity dictates what we should do. The Good Samaritan offered aid simply because he saw the need and was in a position to do help. We can do the same. Second, we are responsible for those least able to help themselves. “Widows and orphans” (Jam. 1:27) – in a New Testament society where there was no social and governmental aid (in some form, we do that willingly or otherwise in paying taxes); then there were believers in prison – in prison, that is, for their faith (Heb. 10:34). Equally, the New Testament insists that we not aid the idle and the wicked (1 Thess. 4:11-12; 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:14). The New Testament is clear, those who will not help themselves ought not to be helped. We have barely begun to address this issue. It is one that our Congregational Outreach committee deals with on an on-going basis. Pray for them – for wisdom and strength as they seek to alleviate in some measure the needs that arise within and around our church community. If, at any time, you have an emergency, please call 513-7931 to contact a pastor. *Childcare is available from birth to four years. Wednesdays@First Wednesday, April 29 GODLY WOMEN OF SCRIPTURE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE “Hannah” Rev. David Lauten Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. Program begins at 12:15 p.m. Jackson Hall Wednesday, April 29 SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY “The Church and the World” Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas RENEW MY HEART AND MAKE ME WHOLE “Faith Will Lead You Home” Rev. David Lauten & Rev. Josh Squires Supper begins at 5:15 p.m. Program begins at 6:15 p.m. Jackson Hall
Transcript of FIRST THINGS (USPS 198-100): Published each week...
FIRST THINGS (USPS 198-100): Published each week except Christmas week by First Presbyterian Church. Periodical postage paid at Columbia, SC. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to First Things, First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, SC, 29201.
Associate Reformed Synod 1324 Marion Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201 (803) 799-9062 Fax: (803) 799-9172
Periodicals Postage Paid
at Columbia, SC
Vol. LXV, No. 17 April 26, 2015 audio streaming at www.firstprescolumbia.org
[email protected] Worship Service - Broadcast WISW 1320 AM at 11:00 a.m.
Derek W.H. Thomas Senior Minister
8:30 & 11:15 a.m. MARK THIS: THE GOSPEL
ACCORDING TO MARK
“Jesus Tried and Found Guilty” Mark 14:43-65
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas
Children’s Sermon (8:30) “Guilty”
Introduction of New Members (11:15)
6:00 p.m. ROCKY ROAD TO A KINGDOM:
A STUDY OF I SAMUEL “Starting Again”
1 Samuel 16 Dr. D. Ralph Davis
Children’s Sermon Children’s Catechism #29
Sunday, April 26 8:30 a.m. Worship Service* - Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Inquirers Class - Small Dining Room 10:00 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages - Church Campus 10:50 a.m. Fellowship Time* - Jackson Hall 11:15 a.m. Worship Service* - Sanctuary 12:15 p.m. Next Step Class Lunch - Jackson Hall 1:30 p.m. Next Step Class Communion - Sanctuary 4:00 p.m. Laurel Crest Service - Laurel Crest 4:30 p.m. Cate Memorial Handbell Choir Rehearsal - P107 4:30 p.m. Middle School Youth Group - Family Life Center 5:00 p.m. Orff Ensemble Rehearsal - T103 5:00 p.m. Church-Wide Prayer - T301 6:00 p.m. Evening Service* - Sanctuary 6:00 p.m. Friendship Club - T201/T214 6:15 p.m. Cherub Choir Rehearsal - T102 6:15 p.m. The Club (grades 1-5) - T213 7:15 p.m. Sunday Supper - Jackson Hall 7:30 p.m. High School Youth Group - Thornwell - second floor Monday, April 27 9:00 a.m. Aerobics@First - Family Life Center 12:00 p.m. Recorder Ensemble Rehearsal - P107 5:00 p.m. Encouragers’ Steering Committee - P105 6:00 p.m. American Heritage Girls Year End Ceremony - Jackson Hall 6:00 p.m. Open Gym Volleyball (ages 16 & up) - Family Life Center
Tuesday, April 28 7:30 a.m. Men’s Prayer - P402A 8:00 a.m. Fitness Training - Family Life Center 8:30 a.m. Staff Prayer - P402 9:00 a.m. Ministry Staff Meeting - P402 5:30 p.m. Congregational Outreach Committee - P102 5:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball (ages 40 & up) - Family Life Center 5:30 p.m. World Missions Meeting - P Annex 101A 6:15 p.m. CE Christian Growth & Nurture Committee - P402A 7:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study - P105
7:30 p.m. Brass Ensemble Rehearsal - P110
Wednesday, April 29 7:00 a.m. Greet the Dawn Bible Study - P402 9:00 a.m. Aerobics@First - Family Life Center 10:00 a.m. Women’s Bible Studies* - T309 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays@First* - Jackson Hall 4:00 p.m. Primary and Junior Choir Rehearsal - T207/T201 4:00 p.m. Youth Chorus rehearsal P-110 5:30 p.m. Centerpoint Dinner - Jackson Hall 6:00 p.m. Centerpoint Nursery (Birth -3 years) - T106, T109, T112 6:15 p.m. Centerpoint Kids Catechism Club (K4 -2nd grade)-
T102, T103, T107, T214 6:15 p.m. Centerpoint Kids Missions Club (3rd-5th grade)- T202 6:15 p.m. Middle School & High School Bible Study - Thornwell 6:15 p.m. Centerpoint Bible Study School of Theology - Jackson Hall Renew My Heart - Wardlaw Auditorium 6:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal - Sanctuary 7:05 p.m. Centerpoint Prayer - Jackson Hall
Thursday, April 30 7:30 a.m. Men’s Discipleship Bible Study - Blue Marlin 8:00 a.m. Fitness Training - Family Life Center 12:00 p.m. GriefShare - P303 5:30 p.m. Trail Life USA Dinner Meeting - Jackson Hall 7:00 p.m. Senior Talks - Off site
Friday, May 1 6:45 a.m. Men’s Bible Study - 2920 Gervais Street 9:00 a.m. Aerobics@First - Family Life Center 5:45 p.m. Parents’ Night Out - Thornwell
Saturday, May 2 9:00 a.m. Encouragers Breakfast - Small Dining Room
Helping the Poor The Church’s Responsibility?
I address a thorny issue: do we have a responsibility as a church to help the poor? Two issues of interpretation immediately spring to the surface: is this a “church” responsibility or an individual responsibility, and what exactly do we mean by “poor”?
In response to the first, some may cite James Henley Thornwell’s doctrine of the “spirituality of the church” and suggest that this is not the church’s responsibility. Frankly, I have always thought this to be somewhat bizarre. How can the church preach the gospel and at the same time refuse to give the hungry bread? The issue is far more complex, of course. For example, an individual Christian may support a certain political party (at odds with some of his brothers and sisters) in compliance with Scripture’s mandate to be a good citizen, but it would not be right for the church as a whole to do so.
In response to the second, particularly in a global economy and shrinking world (emails soliciting help come from the other side of the world, for example, many of which are scams; but some are genuine), make defining poverty and my obligation all the more difficult.
The Bible is not silent on this issue. Think of the gleaning laws in Deuteronomy 25 or the command to “open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor” in Deuteronomy 15:11. Mull over Psalm 35 and Proverbs 14 and add specific New Testament statements calling for compassionate discipleship in the face of the weak and helpless (Matt. 9:35-36), and especially the early church’s attempts at addressing the issue in Acts 4:34-35 together with Paul’s two-year obsession with aiding poverty relief in Jerusalem, telling the Ephesian elders, “we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).
How, then, should we meet this obligation? Two principles might help us here:
First, we are most responsible for those nearest to us. Family (children, parents) are our immediate responsibility. Failure here makes us “worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). Next comes the church community. This is what we see in Acts (2:45; 4:32-37), for example, as the poverty-stricken early church took care of each other. After that, the household of faith all over the world – our Easter offering to diaconal missionary needs in a hospital in Pakistan was an example of that. But our responsibility doesn’t – cannot – end there. There are the needs of the non-Christian within our community. Sometimes, opportunity dictates what we should do. The Good Samaritan offered aid simply because he saw the need and was in a position to do help. We can do the same.
Second, we are responsible for those least able to help themselves. “Widows and orphans” (Jam. 1:27) – in a New Testament society where there was no social and governmental aid (in some form, we do that willingly or otherwise in paying taxes); then there were believers in prison – in prison, that is, for their faith (Heb. 10:34). Equally, the New Testament insists that we not aid the idle and the wicked (1 Thess. 4:11-12; 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:14). The New Testament is clear, those who will not help themselves ought not to be helped.
We have barely begun to address this issue. It is one that our Congregational Outreach committee deals with on an on-going basis. Pray for them – for wisdom and strength as they seek to alleviate in some measure the needs that arise within and around our church community.
If, at any time, you have an emergency, please call 513-7931 to contact a pastor. *Childcare is available from birth to four years.
Wednesdays@First Wednesday, April 29
GODLY WOMEN OF SCRIPTURE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE
“Hannah” Rev. David Lauten
Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. Program begins at 12:15 p.m.
Jackson Hall
Wednesday, April 29
SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY “The Church and the World”
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas
RENEW MY HEART AND MAKE ME WHOLE
“Faith Will Lead You Home” Rev. David Lauten &
Rev. Josh Squires
Supper begins at 5:15 p.m. Program begins at 6:15 p.m.
Jackson Hall
Men’s Choir Have you sung with the men’s choir in the past? Join us to sing at both morning services on Sunday, May 10 (Mother's Day). Men should attend both rehearsals and plan to sing for both services on Sunday morning.
First rehearsal is Sunday , May 3, at 5:00 p.m. in the choir room, P110.
Second rehearsal is Wednesday, May 6 at 7:45 p.m. (following Centerpoint) in P110.
If you plan to sing, please contact: Laurie Price [email protected] or 799-9062 Ext. 222.
Baccalaureate Sunday May 10 is Baccalaureate Sunday, the day we recognize our graduates for the year. If you are graduating from a high school, college or university in May or June, or if you know of a student who will graduate, please contact Rebecca M i l f o r d b y M o n d a y , A p r i l 2 7 , a t 799-9062, Ext. 232 or [email protected]. Please give the full name of the student, the name of the school, and the degree to be received.
God, Adam, and You Biblical Creation Defended and Applied The book is written by pastors of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals and published by www.prpbooks.com. Some chapter titles are “The Bible’s First Word” by Derek W.H. Thomas, “The Case for Adam” by Joel R. Beeke, “Two Views of the Human Person” by Kevin DeYoung, “The Bible and Evolution” by Richard D. Phillips, and “Original Sin and Mod-ern Theology” by Carl R. Trueman. Purchase the book for $12.00 with a payment envelope from the book service lo-cated in the Church Library and the Atrium.
Parents’ Night Out Friday, May 1 from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Birth – 5th Grade
Make reservations by Tuesday, April 29, by contacting Beth Grider at [email protected] or 799-9062, Ext. 233.
Horizon High School Conference Monday, June 15 - Saturday, June 20 at Bonclarken
Conference Center
Deposit is $75.00. Total cost is $175.00.
Registration deadline: Monday, May 11
Quest Middle School Conference Monday, June 22 - Saturday, June 27 at Bonclarken
Conference Center
Deposit is $75.00. Total cost is $175.00.
Registration deadline: Monday, May 11
Register online at: www.firstprescolumbia.org/youthregistration
Church Family Congratulations to:
Jenny-Gray and Johnny Tatum on the birth of their son, John Craig “Jack” Tatum, on Thursday, April 16. Proud grandparents are Mary Ruffin Childs and Craig Childs.
Michelle and Yuriy Panchuk on the birth of their daughter, Miroslava Grace Panchuk, on November 13, 2014.
Holt Chetwood, who received the Alyce Kemp Dewitt Award for his service to United Way of the Midlands, the highest honor given to a volunteer.
Dr. James Fant, who received the Community Impact award for his service to the Free Medical Clinic.
Christian sympathy is extended to:
Stephanie and Jay Quantz and Frances and Cal McMeekin on the death of their sister and daughter-in-law, Chapman Quantz McMeekin, on Monday, April 20.
Sarah and Brad Stutts on the death of her grandmother, Barbara Carlton, on Tuesday, April 21.
Items for Church Family? Contact Julie Dever: 799-9062, Ext. 244;
Breakfast
Saturday, May 2, at 9:00 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church
Small Dining Room
$5.00 per person
RSVP to Julie Dever 799-9062 Ext. 244 or
[email protected] by Noon, Wednesday, April 29.
A Ministry for Singles 55 and over
VBS Dates: June 15-19
Help is needed. We have lots of crafts and materials to prepare for VBS. Come help us punch holes, cut material, and get things ready for our kids.
Sunday, April 26 from 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6 from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
We will meet in Thornwell 202.
VBS Donations
Do you need to clean out your attic? Some items that we are collecting for VBS are: aquariums, Christmas lights (white. or color), kites, lab coats, telescopes, science equipment, floor lamps.
If you have any of these items to donate, you can drop them off in the VBS display table in the
Atrium.
Communion Service The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be served Sunday, April 26, at 1:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary for members of the Next Step class who have made a profession of faith during the Sunday morning worship service. Families, members, and friends of the congregation are invited to attend.
Women of the Church General Meeting, Smith Chapel
Salad Day Luncheon, Jackson Hall Bonclarken Boutique, Small Dining Room
Tuesday, May 19 10:30 a.m.
SAVE THE DATE!
Therefore,
if anyone is in
Christ, he is a
new creation.
The old has
passed away;
behold the
new has
come.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Easter Sacrificial Offering Update With gratitude we can report that $75,482.10 has been given to the Easter offering. These funds will go to support the Charity Fund at Christian Hospital in Sahiwal, Pakistan, and to special projects for the ARP Mission Schools, also in Pakistan. Let's continue to pray for the Lord in, and through, these ministries.
VBS 2015 is right around the corner!
