Mid-Week Messenger

Oct 24, 2024

Greetings Everyone

 

I remember when I first started going to seminary full time at Westminster in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kristin and I had moved out to the east coast all the way from the San Francisco peninsula and the setting couldn’t have been more different. We had both worked full time jobs and had to make the transition to full time students. We had moved during the summer and the Mid Atlantic humidity had hit us like a brick wall. Kristin had already started her classes and I was eager to get in the classroom after a summer of working on a team as a contract painter. One of the big lessons that I had yet to learn, but which dawned on me as I say through my classes that fall was this: my education could either be for and about me, or it could be for and about God’s people. My professors consistently reminded us that we had a job in pastoral ministry, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12) 

I did not really understand what they meant by that, and there were plenty of my fellow students that were not called into full time pastoral work. Some students were there simply for academic reasons, or boredom, maybe curiosity, or they thought they wanted to be pastors only to discover it was not for them. Yet, as I continued on in my seminary training Paul’s teaching in Ephesians began to sink deeper into my heart. I had already worked in a church as a youth director and thought I understood how church ministry worked. Whatever I knew, or thought I knew, I still thought ministry was about me gathering information and keeping it for myself, to make sure I knew how to teach, share, preach.
Coming out of seminary the lessons of real pastoral ministry were laid before me. I could either look at pastoral ministry as propping up my status, ego, and role. Or, I could look at pastoral ministry as serving the church by giving and equipping them to do the work of ministry. I think this is what most pastors and churches need to remind each other of all the time. You have conversations with your loved ones closest to you, community, and co-workers. Perhaps you do  not know what to say about the Bible, or how to answer questions. I want to equip you to minister to people that I will never come in contact with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To that end, this Sunday we will begin that journey together. We will have a Sunday School class in the fellowship hall at 9:00-9:45 on the Biblical theology of the Covenants. This may sound intimidating for some who are new to Christianity, or maybe non relevant to those who are disillusioned with the Bible. I hope to challenge those two notions. I believe understanding God’s covenantal relationship with us will grow you deeper into the character of God and equip you to live out of that relationship. Below is the syllabus if you have any questions.
Rev. Ben Melli
Click on the link below for the syllabus

Week At A Glance

Sunday, October 27th

9:00 a.m. Adult Bible Study

10:00 a.m. Reformation Sunday Worship Service with Pastor Ben Melli

Monday, October 28th 

5:30 p.m. Bell Choir

Tuesday, October 29th   

7:00 a.m. Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast

Wednesday, October 30th 

10:00 a.m. Ladies AM Bible Study (LAMBS)

2:45 p.m Youth Christmas Choir

7:00 p.m. Choir Practice

Thursday, October 31st

10:00 a.m. Bible Babes Bible Study

3:00 p.m. Trick-Or-Treat Street

 

Reformation Sunday is this weekend. Wear your clan colors!

 

EVENTS CALENDAR

Food Drive

The North Valley Food Bank is feeding our community one person at a time.  The Deacon’s will once again collect food items or cash donations from the congregation for Thanksgiving and Christmas distribution.  In 2023, the NV Food Bank provided over 631,094 meals and served over 4,400 families in the area.  First Presbyterian played a large role in supporting this need.  In 2024, the Deacon’s, with your help, provided a monthly cash donation in addition to the donated food in the shopping cart located in Fellowship Hall.  This Thanksgiving and Christmas the food bank anticipates helping feed over 1,000 families. That is a big number but if we start now, we can make a difference through our donations.  Please bring your food donations to church for the shopping cart and drop your cash or check donation with Nicole in the office or the Deacon’s will be happy to collect it from you.  Together we can help the food bank provide access to healthy food for our neighbors in need.  Please see Chris Washer or Vicki McConnell if you have any questions.    

DIRECTORY UPDATE 2025

If you are not in our church directory and would like to be, or need to update your info, please email the church office. And don’t forget to let us know if you would like to be added to the Mid-Week Newsletter list.

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