FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH FAITHFUL LIVING, GENEROUS GIVING FIRST PRESBYTERIAN he pire CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH TT he SS pire The Community Church by the Sea November 2019 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DELRAY BEACH by Dr. W. Douglas Hood, Jr. FAITHFUL LIVING, GENEROUS GIVING Senior Pastor One of the masters of the art To put it another way: You are, you as a college education. Care of of writing biography was Philip increasingly become, what you care others experiencing financial need, Guedalla. During a lecture, Guedalla about most. or financial support for genuinely spoke to the difficulty the biographer good causes such as supporting has of finding out what kind of Without a checkbook, anyone scholarships for under resourced person his subject truly was. As an can find out if you are a member of a students, is giving to the Kingdom example of how he approached this church, that you attend regularly, and of Christ. The question is one of difficulty of preparing a biography that you may even serve effectively personal lifestyle. Do personal of the Duke of Wellington, Guedalla on boards and committees. But luxuries factor higher than giving obtained the Duke’s old checkbook. suppose that, in looking through generously to support Christ’s work? “A checkbook is a reliable source your personal checkbook and other of a person’s true character,” said records, someone learns that your Our stewardship theme this Guedalla. Combing through the giving is significantly below your year is Faithful Living, Generous Duke’s old stubs and canceled capacity. Would it not be true to Giving. Faithfulness to Jesus and his checks, Guedalla found what kind comment, based upon the evidence, continuing work results in generosity. of man Wellington was. From a other things mattered more than God? It is difficult to argue with Guedalla. checkbook, anyone can find what The key word here is “capacity.” Our money follows our heart’s true matters most to a person. Within Naturally, each church is filled with desire. My hope this year is that, it is found a reliable record of what those who, for one reason or another, should a biographer gain access is of supreme importance. There have honorably accepted personal to your personal checkbook, your is the real index of a person’s responsibility for ageing parents, faithfulness to Jesus, as a disciple, innermost soul. Perhaps nothing siblings, or the care of children would be unquestioned. reveals a person’s true self more. who have extraordinary needs such v v v Two Worship Services On Sunday, November 3rd, INSIDE . we will resume two services Holiday Gift Shoppe 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. ................ Page 6 Deacons’ Christmas Tree Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, ................ Page 8 November 3rd. Remember to set your clocks back one hour. From My Heart to Yours hurch taff by Dr. W. Douglas Hood, Jr. C S Senior Pastor W. Douglas Hood, Jr., D.Min. Senior Pastor LIVING IN THE PRESENT TENSE Greg Rapier, M.Div. “Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will Associate Pastor worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Donald J. Cannarozzi, M.M., J.D. Matthew 6:34 (Common English Bible) Organist / Director of Music James K. Poch, S.M.M. It is the practice of the Eskimos never to carry the day’s evil experiences, Associate Director of Music its troubles and its quarrels, over into the next day. Two Eskimo hunters might Grace Cameron Hood, B.C.E. become engaged in a violent dispute over the division of the game which they Director of Children and Family Ministry had taken, and heated words might even bring them to blows, but once the sun Nancy Fine, CCA had set and they had retired to sleep, all memory of the quarrel would be erased from their spirits, and the next day they would greet each other as brothers. If Business Administrator you were to exclaim in surprise: “But I thought you were enemies. You were Christine Davis Mindi Cole fighting yesterday!” they would answer: “Ah, but that was yesterday and we live Accountant Secretary only today.” i That is living in the present tense! Aaron Strippel Mark Twain, with his characteristic humor, once commented that he has Facilities Maintenance Manager suffered many things, most of which never happened. Doctors tell us that much of our anxiety, which often results in physical, emotional, and spiritual unease, is First Presbyterian Church located in tomorrow, a preoccupation with fears of the future. Consequently, our 33 Gleason Street fears of tomorrow rob us of the opportunity to live fully and abundantly today. Delray Beach, FL 33483 Naturally, wise and reasonable decisions and personal behavior must shepherd phone: 561-276-6338 us in the present day. Careless spending today will result in debt tomorrow. A fax: 561-272-8505 word carelessly spoken or a relationship betrayed may negatively impact all of e-mail: our tomorrows. Not all of us have been nurtured in the Eskimo culture! [email protected] web page: www.firstdelray.com Jesus’ invitation in this teaching is to locate our hearts in God. Worry and anxiety is all about trying to avoid something, about trying to get away from something. The strain of worry is indicative that we don’t trust the future. Jesus asks that we approach life from another perspective. Rather than fleeing what he pire we fear most, Jesus asks that we run toward God. As Augustine once said, “Our T S hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” ii Jesus asks that we live in the present EDITOR: tense, free from the regrets of yesterday and the fears of tomorrow. That is Tim Knapp possible after we have accepted God’s forgiveness for the past and trust in God’s LAYOUT: care for the future. Char Conklin Thomas Long writes that there is a kind of worry about the coming day that SPECIAL THANKS: is normal, even healthy. “Tomorrow’s chemistry test or job interview is bound Printers Choice to provide concern, and this command ‘stop worrying about tomorrow’ is not an invitation to finesse the exam or to waltz into the interview unprepared. Rather, it speaks to the deeper, more basic fear that something is out there in the future that can destroy our basic worth as a human being, something finally stronger If you or a family member than God’s care, some silent killer shark swimming toward us from the future.” iii are hospitalized, please Jesus asks that we cling to God in such a manner that we can affirm that whatever notify the church office. tomorrow brings, it also brings God. v Even if you give the _________________________ i Clayton E. Williams, “Living Today Forever,” Best Sermons: 1955 Edition, edited by G. name of the church upon Paul Butler (New York, London & Toronto: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1955) 106. admission, the hospital ii Thomas G. Long, Matthew (Louisville & London: Westminster John Know Press, 1997) 76. will NOT notify us. iii Long, 76. 2 Make Your Reservation Now as Space is Limited! “Can Retirement Be Purposeful?” Sunday, November 10, 2019 v v v Dr. Tom Tewell Mr. Skip Randolph Book review by Tomás Negron Calling All Kids! The Bible Explorer’s Guide: 1,000 Amazing Facts You can help our church celebrate Christmas! Our children will join the adult choir and Westminster and Photos Ringers on Christmas Music Sunday (December The Philistine Goliath stood over nine feet tall. 15th at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.) for a service of seasonal He wore a coat of bronze armor that weighed 125 music. Rehearsals will be held in the “Meeting pounds. The iron point on his spear weighed 15 Room” on the second floor of the Center for pounds. This giant challenged the army of Israel to Christian Studies. Further information on rehearsal fight. David was the only one brave enough to step times will be emailed to all interested families. forward. David whirled his sling slot and put one Please contact Kelye Cauldwell at childrensmusic@ stone in and hot the giant in the forehead. The giant firstdelray.com for more information. v was killed. v 3 Monday Morning Hustle2EndHunger Walk was a Success! Women’s Bible Study By Jeanne Heavilin, By Maria Graham Co-Chair, Mission Outreach Committee Advent Bible Studies to Be Based on the Sermons of Rev. Susan Sparks I was privileged to attend Week Six (July 27 – August 2, 2019) at the Chautauqua Institution, which focused on the theme of “What’s Funny?” in partnership with the National Comedy Center. The Rev. Susan Sparks, a preacher, stand-up comic, and author of Laugh Your Way to Grace, served as the ecumenical guest chaplain for the week. She explained that humor is based on the juxtaposition of two unrelated ideas that clash, and therefore she chose as the theme for her daily sermons “Christmas in July”, Christmas and July being two things that don’t usually go together. The titles of the series of six sermons are: “It wasn’t exactly a Silent Night” – tapping the inner peace within ourselves to A huge thank you to all who walked, counteract the chaos around us. ran, and pledged to support CROS Ministries’ Hustle2EndHunger 5K early last month at John “A Star is Born” – keeping our hearts full of the little light of hope we were all born Prince Park in Lake Worth. We don’t have a with, and using it rather than earthly vanities to get us through the tough times. final tally as yet of the total amount collected to help feed the hungry in our community.