Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church Staff Our Response to the Recent Hurricanes

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1 October 2017 Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church, PCA Volume 12 Issue 10 Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church Staff Rev. Freddy Fritz, Pastor Melissa Bayley, Office Administrator Joanne Campbell, Bookkeeper From the Pastor s Desk By Rev. Freddy Fritz Our Response to the Recent Hurricanes All of us have been affected in different ways by the recent hurricanes. We watched Harvey sit for days over Texas, then we braced for and experienced Irma, and we also heard about how Maria hammered Puerto Rico. There is a tendency by some people to ascribe these natural disasters to God s judgment. In Jesus day, people also had questions about both moral atrocities and natural disasters. Luke 13:1 5 says: Eileen Fritz, NTCA Administrator Marianne Cali, Nursery Millie Myers, Pianist, Choir Chris Christopher, Custodian 1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Focusing on Jesus answer about the natural disaster in verses 4-5, it may have been the result of a weather-related event such as an earthquake or tornado, just like our recent hurricanes. What was Jesus teaching about natural disasters? Two things. First, Jesus said that we should not think that those who suffered because of the natural disaster are worse sinners than those who did not suffer. Just as God makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, so he sends rain (and earthquakes and hurricanes and tornados) on the just and on the unjust (cf. Matthew 5:45). And second, natural disasters should cause us to repent. Natural disasters are pointers to a coming future disaster that awaits everyone who has not repented. Natural disasters are God s way of warning us to prepare for the eternal judgment that is yet to come. They are calls to repentance so that we will not be eternally separated from God. Of course, we want to alleviate the physical suffering that people have experienced as a result of the recent hurricanes. We have sent money to help with disaster relief. That is very important. But, let us remember that even more important is to pray for the eternal well-being of those impacted by the hurricanes. 1

2 TBPC Ministries Adult Christian Education & Fellowship Ed Jordan Children Kristine Wyss Emptynesters Sandy Neal Greeters & Welcome Table Brian Carrier Growth Groups Session Hospitality Joan Kosanovich Men s Bible Study Jeff Beams Men s Ministry Brian Carrier Missions Rich Thompson Music Millie Myers NTCA Eileen Fritz Nursery Marianne Cali Outreach Vacant Pastoral Care Rev. Freddy Fritz Ushers Lenny Chew Women s Bible Study Eileen Fritz & Debbie Jordan Women s Ministry Suzanne Swenson Youth Richard Hunter HAPPENING IN OCTOBER OCTOBER 1 BENEVOLENCE OFFERING TO AID PUERTO RICO ASSISTANCE VIA SAMARITAN S PURSE Due to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, the Deacons and Elders have agreed to dedicate this Sunday s (10/1/2017) entire Benevolence offering to Samaritan s Purse for those needing assistance in Puerto Rico. Samaritan s Purse has responded by sending a disaster assistance response team (DART) and emergency supplies to Puerto Rico. Generators have been flown to Puerto Rico to help residents dealing without electricity a situation that may last for many months to come. An 18- member DART is on the ground in Puerto Rico. Their first distribution of airlifted emergency supplies was accomplished Sept. 27. They are working in partnership with local churches to distribute heavy-duty shelter plastic, blankets, and hygiene kits to thousands of families. Should you desire to donate financial resources to Samaritan s Purse and can t be at church this coming Sunday, please contact the Church Office by or telephone and alert us so that we can include your gift in our donation to Samaritan s Purse. Please continue to pray for those who have suffered loss and those providing aid to these areas. Pray for traveling mercies, comfort, strength, wisdom, and protection. God has blessed our church family in so many ways this past year. May God continue to bless you as you support the ministry of Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church with your financial resources. NEW ADULT CE&F CLASSES BEGIN OCTOBER 1 On Sunday, October 1 at 8:45 a.m., we begin two new Adult CE&F Classes: Survey of the Reformation: Twelve 23 minute lectures by Dr. Robert Godfrey, followed by class discussion led by RE Ed Jordan and John McNulty. This class will focus on several aspects of the Reformation and its impact on us today. Meets in Rooms 20 and 22 the double classroom. Sunday Sermon Scrutiny: This class, led by TE Freddy Fritz, will study the previous Sunday s sermon and discuss in greater detail its application to us in our day-to-day lives. This class will conclude on November 12, Meets in the Pastor s Study. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 WOMENS MINISTRY LOVE GIFT OFFERING Since 1974, women in the PCA have supported an annual love gift to promote denominational connectionalism and demonstrate our corporate helperdesign as women in the church. In the past, the Women s Love Gift has blessed committees and agencies such as MNA s Special Needs Ministries, MTW s efforts to support the Gonaives, Haiti, Children s Home, and other such ministries. The 2017 PCA Women s Love Gift is an investment of the discipleship of female students on the campus of Covenant College, the PCA 2

3 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 WOMENS MINISTRY LOVE GIFT OFFERING CONT D: college, located on Lookout Mountain in Georgia. This gift will be to support the hiring of a female chapel associate. The families of TBPC have traditionally generously supported this fund through a special offering; this year s offering will be collected on Sunday, October 8 during the worship service. If you would like to contribute at a different time, please note Love Gift on your check and/or offering envelope. EMPTYNESTERS LUNCH OCTOBER 29 The EmptyNesters Luncheon will be held on Sunday, October 29 at 12:15 p.m. at Olive Garden, Palm Point Drive. We welcome the members of the former Pacesetters Luncheon group who are now combined with the EmptyNesters. Looking forward to great fellowship and food together! RSVP to Sandy Neal, or sandybill1941@gmail.com. Jim Childers October 1 Valerie Scalici October 1 Elizabeth McQueen October 4 Anthony Contrata October 7 Joyce McNulty October 11 Lindsay Montoney October 16 Bonnie Hutton October 17 Alan Polasky October 23 Nathaniel Barquin October 31 October Birthdays October Anniversaries George & Melissa Noel October 1 12 years Roger & Dee Kaiser October years Adam & Kyrsteen Webster October 22 6 years Joe & Cindy Burns October years Tokini & Zainab Karibi-Whyte October years 3

4 By Suzanne Swenson 4

5 The Nashville Statement By John McNulty On August 29, 2017, orthodox Christian leaders released a document titled, The Nashville Statement. This short document, consisting of 14 articles or statements, presents the biblical views on marriage, homosexuality, and gender identity. Notable initial signatories include bedrock Christian stalwarts such as R. C. Sproul and John MacArthur. It is surely an indictment on our cultural and ecclesiastical conditions that a document such as this one need be written in the first place. However, we should not be surprised that we live in an age where sin is not only tolerated, but celebrated and esteemed as virtuous. Remember the words of Isaiah: Woe to those who call evil good and good evil woe to those who are wise in their own eyes (Isa. 5:20-21). When people ignore God, and despise His holy commandments, lawlessness and disordered thinking are sure to abound. The Apostle Paul expounds on Isaiah s theme in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans. If we track Paul s thought process through verses 21-32, we come away with a clear denouncement on sinners apart from Christ. For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him therefore God gave them up to impurity to dishonorable passions to a debased mind though they know God s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them, but give approval to those who practice them. We live in a world where the number of people who are insolent haters of God is becoming more numerous and brazen. We should not be surprised that the world acts this way. We should not expect them to behave like Christians. When the Nashville Statement was released, of course it was denounced as a document of hate and the drafters were labeled as bigots, the sort of rhetoric one would expect from those who love to wallow in their own filth. Very quickly, a rebuttal document was drafted and posted online for the entire world to see. Surely, this was an attempt by the secular media to disparage and mock the Christian values that the Bible commands. Or was it? Would it shock you to know that this opposing document was written by those claiming to be Christians? The Christians United Statement on LGBT+ Inclusion in the Church is a point by point attempted refutation of the Nashville Statement. Notable initial signatories of this document include Bishop Yvette Flunder, Rev. Teresa Owens, and Rev. Rachelle Brown. Clearly, one should not be surprised that this document approves of and supports homosexuality when the drafters do not even follow the Lord s command that pastors and elders be men (cf. 1 Tim. 2:12, 3:1-7). Space does not permit me to discuss the complementarian roles of men and women in the church, but it is clear that women pastors are not allowed. The main problem here, dear friends, is submission to God s word. Are we going to be faithful to the Lord, or are we going to try and please the world while deluding ourselves into thinking we are Christians? One would do well to remember that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God (James 4:4). We cannot do both. The Bible makes it very clear that there are only two types of people in this world those who belong to Christ, and those who do not. It is very simple. I urge you to read both statements and decide which camp you belong to. We are seeing a dramatic shift in the climate in this country toward biblical Christianity. As those supposedly in the Church continue to align themselves with the culture and its love affair with homosexuality, it is imperative that we remain steadfast and committed to the Lord and His commandments. We must speak the truth in love and take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 4:15, 5:11). Remember Jesus words (which never pass away) Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matt. 7:13-14)

6 Trumpet Staff Rev. Freddy Fritz, Editor-in-Chief Nancy Morrison, Editor It is the goal of the Trumpet staff to provide articles for learning and growing, news for connecting with our church family, and information on opportunities for service and participation. The views and opinions expressed in the Trumpet have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Session. Please forward articles, ministry reports and calendar items for the next edition of the Trumpet to by the 20 th of the month preceding publication. Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, Florida Phone: (813)