The Sweet Dropper

This is the second in a weekly series of reminders and wandering thoughts about what is going on at FPC Kosciusko. It will be available each Monday at fpckosciusko.org and at sweetdropper.com. If it helps you, let me know via blog comment or in person. The aim is to improve communication, comment on church events, and help everyone stay better connected with each other and focused on our mission.

REMINDERS
First Things (last): The final meeting of First Things is this Wednesday, January 7, from 6-7 pm in the Jackson Room. In that final meeting I will try to communicate the “big picture” of how we seek to glorify and enjoy God here at FPC and give people a sense of how they can get in on the action. It’s a teaching session I really enjoy. Even if you haven’t attended in previous weeks, come on in.
Officer nominations: Nomination forms have already started to come in. Thanks for adjusting to the new system of submitting a signed nomination form. Remember:  if someone wants to nominate you and you unsure about your qualifications or sense of calling, talk with me about that. It is good to serve as an elder or a deacon. But it is not easy work. No one should rush into the process without reflection; but neither should anyone run from or take lightly the church’s recognition of gifts and graces.

COMMENTS
Culpeper, VA: This past Sunday Joe Holland gave us a brief report on the work he is undertaking in Culpeper, Virginia. The Hollands are traveling to Virginia Friday, January 9 to do some fund-raising and development work. He’ll be away from us for each of the next two Sundays. This is a good time to fill you in about the transition plan that Session has approved.
After Joe informed us that he intended to accept the call to Culpeper, I talked with him, with the elders, with some other church planters I know, and with Fred Marsh at Mission to North America. From those conversations, it seemed to us that the best thing we as a church could do for Joe and for this new work was to continue providing salary and benefits for Joe and his family up to the June 1 launch date of the work. Doing so would mean that Joe would not have to live off money he is raising now before he actually moves to his new field of service. Between now and the end of May, Joe will devote about 50% of his time to FPC and 50% to the Culpeper project. That time will not be equally divided week to week. Session also approved a transition plan which involves times and ways in which Joe will hand off various duties to others in our church. Remember to pray for the Hollands and the Culpeper project. You can designate giving toward the project if you desire.

Calvin 2009: The year of our Lord 2009 marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin. Our friend Dr. Derek Thomas has produced a system by which you can read Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion during the year by means of 5 daily readings each week. If you’re interested in a copy of the list, let me know. Many are intimidated by Calvin’s writings, but those who begin reading will find him to be a lucid and lively writer. He translated his work from Latin (the language of scholars) into French (the everyday language of Genevans) to make his work available and accessible to all kinds of people, or as he put it, “to lend them a hand, in order to guide them and help them to find the sum of what God meant to teach us in his Word.” I’d love to have FPC folk join me in reading Calvin this year.

BIG THINGS FOR JANUARY AND BEYOND:
Jan. 7    Final session of First Things, 6 pm
Jan. 12    Diaconate meeting, 6 pm
Jan. 15    GriefShare begins, 6:30 pm
Jan. 28    MIC-WIC night, 6 pm
Jan. 28    Session meeting, 7: 15 pm
Jan. 30    Mid-South Men’s Rally at First, Jackson
Feb. 3    FPC hosts Mississippi Valley Presbytery