The Reflector

REV. MITCHELL LEE MILLER
FALLSTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - June 2006

FROM THE PASTOR

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This summer is going to be exciting. I say that with some anticipation as well as some fear and trepidation. There will be the obvious fun in the sun that comes with the Summer-time, as well as the less-than-fun controversy. June 15-22 the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will be meeting in Birmingham, Alabama. It has been two years since the GA has met so it will be an exciting meeting, one that may lead to great changes in the life of the Presbyterian Church. The decisions being made there threaten to tear at the very fabric of what it means to be Presbyterian. The Church’s willingness to talk about the issues of the day has been its strength, though one might contend that our inability to bring some of those discussions to close has hampered it.

The biggest issue at this year’s meeting of the General Assembly (GA) is not over ordination standards, definitions of marriage, per capita, or anything else that evokes strong emotion. The real issue is how the church will define or perhaps redefine our historic connectionalism. Part of what has made us Presbyterian over the centuries is the way our polity (our church government) has kept us connected to one another across the nation. Our connection has meant that the standards of the Church have been or were intended to be the same throughout the whole nation. The current standards of the Church have come, by way of a system that empowered our representatives in the GA to vote on major changes which in turn had to be ratified by the vote of individual Presbyteries. This meant of course, that changes came rather slowly, but also that a particular group at one General Assembly could not force change on the whole church b. Thus, the standards of the church were more truly reflective of the whole of the church. That deeply held tradition is now is now in jeopardy.

This summer the GA will act upon the recommendations of a report from a committee that was charged with examining how we, as the church, might preserve the “Peace, Unity, and Purity” of the Church. It was a charge that rose out of years of controversial decisions by churches and presbyteries to stretch, redefine, and in some cases to ignore the standards of the Church. I fear the recommendations of the report, if accepted, will bring neither peace, nor unity, nor purity. If adopted, it would, without the ratification of the Presbyteries, completely change our sense of connection, for it would allow individual congregations and presbyteries to decide for them selves what an essential standard of the church is. This “local option” would mean, if carried to its extreme, (which someone will) that the standards here in Baltimore would no longer be the same as in California or North Carolina, or even Pennsylvania. This could affect the ordination standards, the definition of marriage, and even the interpretation of Scripture.

Some Presbyteries, and many churches as well as individuals, have expressed deep reservations about the report and have insinuated that it would bring a major re-alignment of the church, possibly a split. These would not come lightly, and would be the result of deep convictions being shattered. Truly, the church is at a crossroad.

I ask you therefore to pray for the GA and the commissioners sent there to make these decisions. Their work this summer will be enormously important to the future of our denomination and our congregation. Let us pray that God’s will, shall be done.

May the peace and blessings of God, the joy of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit be with you all, Mitchell Lee Miller.

MEMBERSHIP/FELLOWSHIP

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATES!
The congregation of Fallston Presbyterian Church congratulates you on your accomplishments. We pray that you will have much success in your future endeavors. With hard work and determination, all of your dreams and aspirations for the future will come true.

The membership/fellowship would like to invite everyone to the 2nd annual God & country picnic, on Sunday July 2nd, immediately following the church service. Please bring a salad, appetizer or dessert to share. Burgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided. Don’t forget your bathing suit and sporting clothes as the pool will be ready for swimming and we have lots of fun games to be played.

If you have any ideas for fellowship activities or membership, we would love to hear them. Also, if we miss a birthday/anniversary or if any of your directory information changes, please let us know so we can update our list. The membership/fellowship committee will have the next meeting on Tuesday June 6th at 7:00p.m.

MISSION NEWS

Mission’s Focus Donations for June
Toothbrushes
for the
Harford Community
Action Agency’s pantry

Continued support for
Magnolia Elementary School
in donating school supplies and children’s underwear

BOWL-A-THON

Faith Communities and Civic Agencies United (FCCAU) will be presenting its 2nd annual “Bowling for the Homeless” at the Forest Hill Bowling Lanes on Saturday, June 10 th from 12 noon to 4:00. We are hoping to get some teams from all age groups to represent Fallston Presbyterian Church—it promises to be a “fun time”; if you are interested, contact Mitch or Judy Hebert for more information. At this time we have 3 participants, but we need 1 or 2 more in order to have a complete team. Please consider joining and representing Fallston Presbyterian Church!!!

We collected 31 bottles of shampoo in April for the Harford Community Action Agency’s pantry.

The result of the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering was $687.00

Thanks for all your support—together we can make a difference!!!

 Coming soon…………..The Pentecost Offering

Since PCUSA allows us to retain 40% of this offering to help “Children at Risk”, we will once again divide the amount between Magnolia Elementary School and Edgewood Elementary School—please be generous with your offering on June 4 th!!!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Come join us for the BIG DIG!

This year’s theme is Adventure of the Treasure Seekers,
Exploring God’s Promises.

June 25, 26, 27 from 5:30PM until 8:00PM
Dinner is included
All ages are welcome.

SENIOR LUNCHEON

The Senior Potluck Luncheon will be held Saturday June 17 th.
Our guest speaker will be Jesse Bane.
We look forward to seeing you there.

* Please note this will be the last luncheon until September.

TEEN PICNIC

All Presbyterian youth in Harford County (and their friends) are invited to Susquehanna State Park, Pavilion #2 on June 4 th at 3:00pm for a picnic, outdoor games, worship, lots of fun and new friends.

Have questions? Ask Rev. Miller 410 879 7729

NEWS FROM THE FACILITIES & GROUNDS COMMITTEE

As I write this we are still planning the work party. Now I can only hope for good weather and expect a successful day of home improvement. (I of course am referring to God’s house) In advance of what I hope is a good day, and on behalf of our entire committee, I thank everyone who gave up their time and energy on a holiday to make our church an attractive place for those who come to worship.

In addition I want to thank Tom, Wade and Emory for their work to replace the framing under the columns in the front of the sanctuary. It was Tom who was able to figure out how to replace the wood and spent 4 Fridays doing it.

~Fred

FRED'S LOSERS

So far we have lost 90lbs. When we hit 100 we plan to celebrate with a walk on the B & O trail off Tollgate Rd.& maybe a sugar free snow cone later.

Last month I wrote about our motivation to lose weight. This month I want to write about encouragement. Each week we ask God for his spirit to help us out, but it is the encouragement of our friends that is on my mind. I wish you could hear all of the things people say to me, like – Good Luck, or keep it up, or I can see the difference, or a similar comment. I even got a memo from someone who commented on what a good idea this was. It occurred to me that I don’t encourage my friends enough. These positive comments do help us and give us the stamina to keep up the effort. I seem to remember a mission statement where we pledged to encourage each other and I don’t think I’ve been doing my share. I want to make sincere encouragement a part of my daily routine. But how can you give an atta-boy to someone for being faithful or for not swearing or just being kind? Some things are easier to comment on such as losing weight. Somehow I am going to figure out a way to say; thank you for being a good person. Or say; how your good example has made me try harder. Jesus is of course the best example and I know it is His example I need to follow, but we should encourage each other. As the master said “well done, good and faithful servant!”

If you can’t be with us, pray for us.

BENEFIT CONCERT

CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

Harford Habitat for Humanity, Inc will be holding its Sixth Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Monday, June 19, 2006 at the Maryland Golf and Country Club. They are looking for sponsors, golfers and contributors for the event. All donations go directly to the work of Harford Habitat for Humanity, Inc. All levels of participation will be advertised and publicly recognized in the pre and post tournament advertising as well as at the event itself.

By supporting the golf tournament you will be helping to raise funds that will forever change the lives of our partner families.

All support you or your company can give will be appreciated.

Habitat’s 501C number is 8545.

Mike Myers Invitational Golf Tournament

Time: June 19, 2006 11:00 AM - 6:15 PM

Location: Maryland Golf and Country Club

11:00 am - Tournament Registration/Box Lunch
12:30 pm - Shot Gun Start
5:30 pm - Cocktail Reception and Auction
6:15 pm - Dinner & Awards
$195 per golfer or $780 per foursome
$100 for cocktails and dinner only (no golf)

Sponsorships available

For more information call Sophie Wittlesberger 1 800 676 8839

DEADLINE FOR JULY REFLECTOR IS JUNE18