Pastor Kyle's Thoughts

Pastor Corner - January 31, 2012

2012-01-31T15:02:00.003-05:00

It is the last day of January. Almost every year I say to myself, “Where did the month of January go?” It is easy for us to let time slip by before we know it. It happens with our work, our children, and our spouses. It is easy for us to let time slip away and miss out on important things.

There is an old illustration used to show the importance of prioritizing things in your life. A teacher once put before his students a bowl of rocks, a bowl of gravel, and a bowl of sand. He told the students that he knew that they would all fit in a glass jar he had sitting beside the three bowls. The students tried, but were unable to figure out the key principle. The teacher showed them that the biggest items, the rocks, had to go in before the smaller items.

This is true in our lives as well. Those things that are the big and important part of our lives need to have first place in our planning, prioritizing, and energy. If they do not then the smaller less important things of life will keep the big things out. We will not have the time or energy because it has been taken over by less important things.

This is so true in our prayer lives. We all know we need to pray. We know that the Bible says for us to pray without ceasing. Yet how many of us pull the covers up around us and realize that we never really stopped and prayed during the day. It is so easy to mean to do something! It is so easy to have good intentions! It is so easy to think that would be a great idea and yet, everyday let the time slip by. Everyday we let the small less important things in life crowd out our prayers.

One of the difficulties of prayer is that it is work. It requires concentration and a bit of organiza- tion. It requires us to be still before the Lord. It requires us to take our faith seriously. It requires us to trust the Lord and put the situations and issues of our life in His hand and in His will.

How is your prayer life? Does prayer have a priority in your life? Do you have a planned time for prayer each day, each week, and each month? Are you trying to grow in your prayer time? It is work, yet prayer has a powerful effect on you and those people and things around you.

I would again challenge you to consider our Wednesday night prayer meeting. We spend the majority of this time in prayer, singing, updating, and in corporate prayer. If you are free on Wednesday nights, why not come and join us as we pray for our congregation, our community, and each other.

If you are finding your days, weeks, and months slipping away without any real time of prayer, then I would encourage you to, as soon as you can, stop and spend a few minutes in prayer.

Praying for all of you!

Dr. Kyle E. Sims

Pastor

Pastor Corner - January 24

2012-01-24T14:57:00.000-05:00

I want to challenge you to start coming to Prayer Meetings on Wednesday nights! Prayer Meeting seems like a plain, tired, worn out idea. I sometimes think the perception of Prayer Meeting is that it is for Seniors and Choir members. People that have nothing better to do or who have to be there anyway. It is very sad to see what was once considered a source of great power in many congregations, pushed aside and ignored.

The history of weekly Prayer Meetings is fascinating. The Lord has time and again blessed His people when they gather together for prayer. The sick have been healed, the lost saved, God’s grace and mercy have been poured out. Rev. Charles Spurgeon thought it one of the most important weekly meetings of the congregation.

We have a simple format on Wednesday nights. We open with prayer and sing a few songs. We then have a short time for updates and additions to our prayer list and then an open time of prayer. We follow this up with a time of study. The main focus of our time is on prayer.

Objections:

1. Why can I not just pray at home? Well you can and you should, but a mid-week prayer service is a time of corporate prayer and worship. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” - (Matthew 18:20 ESV) It is good for us to gather together to pray! It is also an encouragement through accountability and common concern to pray for the whole ministry of the church and the needs of the congregation and community. Having different folks together makes our prayers more diverse and cover things we may miss.

2. I am too busy! Really, I know that some probably are really busy, but how many of you really are too busy to squeeze an hour in on Wednesday nights? Ok, I will even play dirty pool and ask you what is more important than this time in prayer with your church family? Now, I know that some with young children, you are very busy and others your job really pushes you during the week. Even so, I want you to examine your life and see if you really are too busy on Wednesdays or is that just a convenient excuse not to come. That is not a conversation you need to have with me, your pastor. It is one you need to have with the Lord.

3. It is boring! I do not think it is boring, but it is not entertaining. Prayer is work! It is part of our Spiritual warfare. War is always hard! Praying together requires concentration, it requires faith, it requires you to concentrate your mental faculties to that one task at hand. It is not boring, but it is not easy nor entertaining. It is work that produces much fruit and changes the world around us. Consider what James says about prayer. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its

fruit.” (James 5:13-18 ESV)

Come and join us for prayer meeting and see what happens when we pray together for God’s will to be done!

Dr. Kyle E. Sims

Pastor

Scott and Lynn's new members cake.

2012-01-15T12:55:00.000-05:00

Crew going to Operation Christmas Child Processing Center

2011-12-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

Sunday Night Mission

2011-10-23T19:18:00.001-04:00

Phil Baer gave a report on his Trip to Southern Mexico to visit with the Lacadone Indians. This is the people that Phil's parents served as missionaries.
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Sunday night Covered dish

2011-08-28T18:08:00.000-04:00

We kicked off our Sunday night worship this fall with a coverdish dinner and special guest preacher; Mark Witte.
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Easter singing reception

2011-04-17T19:14:00.000-04:00

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First / Oak Ridge

2011-04-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

Joint Easter Service
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Hymn Sing with AME ZIon Church

2010-11-21T19:08:00.000-05:00

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Parenting Church Community

2010-11-01T23:26:00.000-04:00

I was really excited about the work that we accomplished today. May God bless this work, those doing it, and the man that we will eventually call to be our First Church planter.
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Rev. Mark Miller at XYZs

2010-10-26T11:25:00.000-04:00

Rev. Mark Miller was our speaker for XYZs. He spoke about the ARP Appalachian Mission program.
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SC Fire Chiefs Memorial Service

2010-10-14T10:08:00.000-04:00

The SC Fire Chief Association Memorial service in Lancaster, South Carolina.
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Catawba Fall Presbytery Meeting - Bethany ARP

2010-10-12T23:04:00.003-04:00

We went to Presbytery today at the Bethany ARP Church near Clover. We had a great meeting that was productive and fun. Elders Gardner, Huey, and McConnell attended the meeting with me. Richard was our delegate and it was his first time to attend presbytery.

It was especially encouraging to hear the answer to our prayers for Andy Basham's daughter who had a cancerous tumor removed and is now cancer free. She is sixteen years old.

The fellowship was good and the folks at Bethany did a great job hosting us.

Pastor Kyle

Sunday Night Missions Dinner

2010-09-19T18:25:00.000-04:00

Great crowd for snack supper. Mark Witte speaking in PM worship.
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Mr. Witte / Missions Sunday

2010-09-19T12:28:00.000-04:00

Mark who is 6'8" wore my Robe.
He is speaking tonight at 6PM

Pastor Kyle

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Tri-County ARP Lunch

2010-09-17T07:32:00.000-04:00

We had a great time at Lunch yesterday. The Chester, Lancaster, and York County ARP ministers gathered for lunch and fellowship. We had a great crowd and a great time.

Pastor Kyle
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Clare College, Cambridge England

2010-09-15T23:00:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful time tonight listening to the Clare College Choir. They were truly marvelous to hear. Our Choir had a great time.

Pastor Kyle

Gabe Dix's Basic Graduation

2010-09-02T10:52:00.000-04:00

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Thank You!

2010-09-01T11:58:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of folks who help out around the church that I do not catch with my phone camera. Thanks for all you do! We have such great folks! I am excited about our Fall plans!

Pastor Kyle
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Ladies working in the Kitchen

2010-09-01T11:56:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the ladies working in the church kitchen. Loss of power means a mess to clean up. They also did a lot of organizing.

Pastor Kyle
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The tree team!

2010-09-01T11:53:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the men who came and picked up limbs and worked on the damaged Bradford pears.

Pastor Kyle
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Bonclarken 2010

2010-08-26T07:59:00.002-04:00

Our Bonclarken Weekend is quickly approaching for 2010. Signup sheets are available at the church. Let us know if you have any questions!

Pastor Kyle

Camp Joy #3

2010-07-20T08:15:00.000-04:00

We went up to visit our Camp Joy campers. It poured rained, but we had a great time.

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Ice Cream Social

2010-07-18T18:32:00.000-04:00

Our Summer time Social homemade ice cream.
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Committee work

2010-07-05T10:58:00.000-04:00

Cleaning, organizing, and sorting in the office.
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Henry Foster

2010-06-23T19:29:00.000-04:00

Addressing the RP Synod.
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Worship RP synod

2010-06-23T09:13:00.000-04:00

Jerry O'Neill preaching from Philippians 1.
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VBS Video

2010-06-18T20:16:00.000-04:00

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Wed VBS

2010-06-16T20:12:00.000-04:00

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Bible Story Teacher

2010-06-14T18:44:00.000-04:00

Betsy dressed up to teach VBS.
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VBS - Sailor Jack

2010-06-14T18:39:00.000-04:00

We are ha having a High Sea Adventure VBS. This Big Dave pitching in as Sailor Jack.
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VBS 2010

2010-06-14T18:35:00.000-04:00

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Church of the Atonement ARP

2010-05-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

Going to church this morning was a bit different for me, it started with a half mile walk then two metro train rides for about 35 minutes and another half mile walk all to go about 11 miles. It was interesting to see all sorts of humanity on the way to church. It reminded me that Christ is not just the savior for people like us, he died that all can be saved thru faith in Christ. This trend continued when I got to church. There were people from different races and cultures worship the one God. It was a good experience, but I will be glad to drive to church next week.

Pastor Kyle
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Church Picnic

2010-05-23T16:32:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the SOC for a wonderful meal.

Pastor Kyle
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New Ramp

2010-05-20T19:33:00.000-04:00

Several men have worked the last few days tearing out the old step and replacing it with a new ramp under the breeze way at the back of the church. Thanks to all that helped.

Pastor Kyle
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Lancaster County ARP Elders Dinner, First ARP Church

2010-05-14T07:08:00.001-04:00

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Catawba Presbytery Adult Retreats

2010-05-06T11:52:00.000-04:00

Lunch in Jackson Hall at First Presbyterian Church (ARP) Columbia.
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Pastor Corner - May 4, 2010

2010-05-04T09:25:00.001-04:00

Are you encouraged about our church and its ministries? I am! I often will hear ministers complain about a lack of involvement, a lack of wanting to do anything, a lack of giving, or a lack of spirituality. I am so happy that I am not one of those ministers. You have a great love for Christ and each other. I see a clear love for the lost developing in your hearts as well. You are free with your time and consistent in your giving.

I want us to think for a moment on where we want to go from here. Vision is about knowing where you are going or in our case where Christ wants us to go as a congregation. Our deacons are working on a plan for where we need to go to take care of our building and other financial and physical needs. Our Elders are going to be looking to the future and asking what do we want to be in five, ten, fifteen years and what is it going to take to get there. I am a big believer that if you aim at nothing you will hit it! What do we need to be doing now? Several things come to mind, here are a few:

1. Actively participate in the TEN LIST and Summer of ONE programs. Evangelism is a high priority for many reasons. It is clear in the Bible that we are to be doing this; after all it is our Great Commission. People are in danger of an eternity in hell. We need more workers in our congregation with new and different gifts to expand the ministry. We must make evangelism a priority and this starts with each of you in the congregation.

2. We all need to do a little more in giving. I really want to commend the congregation, in these difficult economic times our giving has remained steady even with the death of many active members over the last few years. However the cost of doing business continues to go up every year. I would encourage us to remember the power of small but consistent giving. First, make every effort to tithe with every check. Second, make an effort to give every Sunday. Giving is a part of our corporate worship. It is something we do together every Sunday. If you Tithe one Sunday a month, then try and give a little the other three or four Sundays too. If everyone gave just one dollar every Sunday, more than we give now, then we would have a $5,000 increase in a year. ($1 x 52 weeks x 100 members = 5,200) The keys to our financial health are Biblical Tithing and faithful small giving every Sunday.

3. Find your ministries within our congregation and work hard at developing them. We all have spiritual gifts and we are given these to be used in our congregation’s life. What is your gifts and where can they be used to further the work of Christ kingdom?

4. Each of us needs to seek the fullness of Christ in our lives. The church and all we do must be about Jesus Christ! If it is about our tradition, or our helping people, or our teaching people just to be good, we miss our purpose. We worship the living Christ, we reach out in his name, we show his love by helping people, and we spread his teaching for his glory. Let us resolve ourselves to make Christ the Lord of our hearts, our families, and our church.

Kyle E Sims
Pastor

Jubilee birthday

2010-05-02T20:02:00.000-04:00

Scott Moore speaks about Mexico.
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The kids with Scottish Friends

2010-04-30T19:44:00.000-04:00

Rev. Eric and Mrs. Janis with our kids at Tom Morgan's house.
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Corrine @ Relay for Life

2010-04-24T13:05:00.000-04:00

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Maundy Thursday Service

2010-03-31T21:41:00.001-04:00

The ARP churches of Lancaster Co. will be having our annual Maundy Thursday service 7:00PM at Shiloh ARP. Rev Gary Stilner, mission developer at Indianland mission, will be preaching!

I hope everyone can come!

Pastor Kyle
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No Prayerbreakfast on Sat!

2009-12-18T10:39:00.001-05:00

The weather is questionable for the morning. We have decided to not have prayer breakfast just to be safe!

Pastor Kyle

Jones Robinson Pressly

2009-12-08T12:37:00.000-05:00

Christmas drop-in
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IMG00035.jpg

2009-12-06T18:39:00.000-05:00

The kids caroling!
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Joe and His Assistants

2009-11-20T13:38:00.000-05:00

Joe was here at the church this afternoon preparing for Prayer Breakfast and got some unexpected help!

Pastor Kyle
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Test

2009-11-14T10:38:00.001-05:00

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A Sign of the Times & a Word of Hope.

2009-11-02T10:20:00.004-05:00

Last night I preached on 1 Corinthians 13:4 as we are slowly working our way through Paul's teaching on Love presented in Chapter 13.

This morning I drove in about 8:45. There were cars everywhere at the back lot and even about ten in the front lot. My first thought was "what is happening today that I have forgot?" Then I realized that it was cars for the unemployment office.

It crossed my mind, what if we had an event where would we park? Then I thought, what if I did not have a job and some big ugly preacher told me I couldn't park in his church's lot? That would be kicking people while they are down. Then I thought if we have the power to be negative, we also have the power to be positive.

Cecilia and I whipped up and made copies of the following note:

"We at First ARP Church are glad you could use our parking lot today. If you are looking for a job, we pray that you might find one very soon! May you look to Christ for support that will never end!

'For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.' Jeremiah 29:11"

I was able to place these on the windshield of over 60 cars in our lot. I spoke to several people as I did this. One very nice lady stopped and thanked us for taking the time to say an encouraging word. Another man stopped and tried to give me two dollars. He said he went to church in Van Wyck and while they didn't have much, he was always willing to give to the Lord. He welled up and cried for a moment in the parking lot. We often think that loving strangers is really hard and in some cases it can be. Often, however, all we have to do is acknowledge their pain, their suffering, their needs.

This world is full of people who are hurting who do not have the family structure, the church, and the relationship with Christ to draw support from like we do.

Join with me today and pray for these folks that they might get a job. Pray also for their souls that God will reveal his grace in Jesus to them.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16

Kyle

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Fall Festival Tonight!

2009-10-31T15:07:00.000-04:00

The Sims Family entry for the Pumpkin Carving Contest. Have your Pumpkins there by 6:30.

Activites begin at 6pm and run thru 8pm.

Remember to set your clocks back tonight!
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Friday Update

2009-10-30T10:55:00.003-04:00

Ok, so I changed the name! The other one was just too much to type and this is to the point.

Tomorrow Evening we will be having our Fall Festival!
Hot Dogs, Candy, Games, Contests, Cake Walks, Fun, Fun, Fun!
Invite your friends, especially those who have kids and do not go to church.

Sunday AM
We will continue to look at the Minor Prophet Joel.
Scripture: Joel 2:1-11

Sunday PM
We will continue to look at 1 Corinthians 13. As we slowly go through and see what Paul is saying in this famous Love Chapter of the Bible. We will finish verse 4.

Frank Brackett will be sharing a short testimony about the work of the Lord in his life.

Children Emphasis:
On Sunday evenings we are really emphasizing the children. We have a special Children's hymn and a Children's Message. There are also Catechism classes for them after the Children's message.

Sunday Morning we are wanting our big kids who stay in church to use the Children's Worship Bulletin which will help them engage in our worship of God.

If you are a parent or grandparent and you have questions please let us know.

Prayer Items-
Sam and Susan Prete - Expecting
Jeff and Shannon Schrage - Expecting
Clair Neil Robinson - Aunt and Niece Physical needs
Sam Huey - His Fiancee had knee replacement surgery.

Special prayer items -
Fall Festival
Sunday worship services

See you on Sunday,

Kyle

Catawba Elder's Association Dinner

2009-10-29T13:51:00.001-04:00

We had a great time Tuesday night at the Centennial ARP Church in Columbia. Dr. Stephen Lowe, professor at Erskine Seminary, spoke on issues relating to failures in Christian Education and new opportunities. Frank Brackett was elected as Vice-President of the Elder's Association. This means we will host the event in 2011.

Pastor Kyle
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John Jost Fundraiser

2009-10-23T22:01:00.001-04:00

Today we hosted a fundraiser for Sheriff Deputy John Jost who had surgery on Thursday for a Tumor. I am so glad that we could be a part of an event such as this. The preliminary report was that they raised over $3,200 for John. This was an awesome turnout. Above are a few of the folks who helped.

Pastor Kyle
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Calendars and Events and First ARP

2009-10-21T15:35:00.006-04:00

We have for sometime been trying to better communicate when the building is being used. We will now have some extra ways to let you know what is going on, especially if you are trying to plan a time to use the building.

The master Calendar is on Cecilia's Desk. This is the one that anything MUST be on to be official. If you need to have an event put on the calendar you need to contact Cecilia sometime between 8:30-4:30 Monday - Friday or 8:30- 12:00 on Friday. If you need to check and see if something is going on or a time is open you can now do two things.

The First is to go to our First ARP Online Calendar . You can also find a link on my pastor's blog at http://pastorkylethoughts.blogspot.com/ . We hope to have a link on our website too.

The other thing is to check the Public Calendar at the Church. Very soon there will be a bulletin board near the hall entrance of the fellowship hall dedicated to a calendar of church events. Please note well, this is not a calendar to be written on. If you have an event it must be put on the master calendar in the Church Office by Cecilia.

Our secretary Cecilia is the key person for all Calendar updates, subtractions, or additions. Please let her know if you have anything to be put on the calendar.

Hope this helps!

Kyle

PS. Oh yeah; We are trying to put a full print calendar each month in the Link

Teach me to complain!

2009-10-18T17:29:00.001-04:00

I said that Izzy needed a hair net and this was Butch's answer. Plastic wrap over the hair. They took it off after the picture.

Who says we do not have fun at church.
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It's Friday But Sunday's Coming - Oct 16, 2009

2009-10-16T14:26:00.001-04:00

Sunday's Sermon will be from Joel 1:1-12. Joel is a wonderful book from the minor prophets of the Old Testament. Its main themes are difficult times, repentance, and the Day of the Lord.

Sunday Evening Sermon will continue to look at 1 Corinthians 13. We will have a special Children's time in the service before they go out to their catechism classes.

We are still in need of volunteers for Fall Festival. Please see the bulletin outside the fellowship hall.

On Wednesday Night we are continuing our study of Abraham.

Session will meet at 7:30pm on Sunday.

Continue to keep your Ten List in prayer.

Women's Ministry Presbyterial at Unity ARP on Saturday.

Prayer:
Martha Crissmon @ Duke
Jane Blakney @ Magnolia Manor
The Rushing Family - Don R. And Melba P. Mother is very low.

Mark Scruggs having trouble swallowing.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Kyle
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Catawba Presbytery Highlights - White Oak, SC

2009-10-15T23:25:00.005-04:00

One of the highlights of the Presbytery Meeting on Tuesday was the progress that the Providence Mission in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is making towards organizing as a particular church.

My friend, Rev. Michael Lashley, is taking a bi-vocational call to the Arsenal Hill Church in Columbia.

A lease was approved for the Indianland Mission. They will be meeting in the shopping center on the East side of Hwy. 521 beside the 521 BBQ. This is just South of the new Harris Teeter. Pray for Gary Stiltner and this new mission.

Mel Wines was licenced by the presbytery, he is going to the Ebenezer Church as a Associate Pastor. Andrew Shoger and Jamie Dagenhart preached their middler sermons.

It was a good day in a beautiful location. Thanks to the folks at White Oak ARP for hosting the fall meeting.

Fall Meeting of Catawba Presbytery

2009-10-13T08:47:00.000-04:00

Jeff Schrage, Buddy Lever, Frank Brackett, and myself are on the way to the meeting of Presbytery at White Oak, SC. Rev. Mark Miller and Mr. Grady Robinson of the Shiloh ARP church rode with us.

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It's Friday But Sunday Is Coming - Oct. 9

2009-10-09T10:38:00.005-04:00

Greetings in the Lord.

This Weekend:

We will be having our Men's Prayer breakfast tomorrow morning at 7:30AM. Chef Butch will be preparing us another wonderful meal. We do need people to sign up for the rest of the year to cook prayer breakfast.

Fire Expo at Walmart Saturday!

Sunday Morning we will be celebrating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. I will be preaching on Matthew 26, which is an account of Christ and the Last Supper. Rich Kelso will begin teaching in the Young Adult Class.

Here is a thought about Communion:

from "A Sacramental Catechism" by John Willison 1680-1750

Q. What obligation lie upon us to keep up the remembrance of Christ?

A. 1. Because He is our most loving friend, a friend who remembered us in our low estate, and who has done more for us than all the friends of the world could or would have done.

A.2. Because He is an absent friend, yea, absent on our account, and still negotiating our affairs at the court of heaven. He constantly remembers His people, and has them still on His Heart and in His eye.

A.3. Because He is a friend quickly about to return. He is still meditating on it, and fast preparing for it. He is hastening to come again in the clouds to meet His people, take them home to His palace, and put them in possession of all His purchase.

Sunday Night we will be looking at 1 Corinthians 13. This is the famous love chapter. The Children will be working on their Catechism. Speaking of Children, Elizabeth and Peter are going to be preparing snack supper!

The Diaconate will be meeting at 7:30pm

Remember the TARP's Trip coming up!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Prayer Breakfast Cooks!

Sunday Night Snack Suppers!

Fall Festival Volunteers!

Prayer Items: Emory Bell, Martha Crissmon, Doris Aiken, Ten Lists,

See you on Sunday!

Pastor Kyle

Wesley and the Men Who Followed by Iain Murray

2009-10-06T08:53:00.000-04:00

Just finishing this up. I think that Murray does a great job of presenting a fair and accurate account of Wesley and the early movement. I spent many years in the Wesleyan church and there is much I appreciate about it. It was wonderful encouragement to read about how God used these men. I do agree with Murray on the areas of disagreement. Overall a very good read!

Banner of Truth, 2003
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Football guys

2009-10-04T14:23:00.000-04:00

The annual touch football game.
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Frank Brackett and Ten List Challenge

2009-10-04T12:11:00.000-04:00

Elder Frank Brackett talks about our Ten List Program and how he just attended church last week with his daughter. His daughter had been on his Ten List, Praise God!
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Cooking Biscuit on the Grill

2009-10-04T11:10:00.000-04:00

The Breakfast Crew cooking biscuits on the Grill.
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Sat Night Devotion

2009-10-04T00:17:00.000-04:00

Mr. Mark Witte had a short devotion at the conclusion of our activities. Mr. Witte was our summer intern for 2009. He is a ThM student at Erskine Seminary.
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A Mommy Bear and three cubs.

2009-10-03T23:42:00.000-04:00

Out in the darkness are the bears that went right by the Lodge. Bonclarken Staff was excellent in moving the bears on by!
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Fun and Games

2009-10-03T23:30:00.000-04:00

Name-O, Age by Chocolate, and Group Puzzle.
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Chip Sherer

2009-10-03T22:39:00.000-04:00

Bonclarken President presents the long range master plan to our group!
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Cousin It at Bonclarken!

2009-10-03T14:00:00.000-04:00

Silly has hit!
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Kids hanging out in the AM.

2009-10-03T13:55:00.000-04:00

The kids playing together before Lunch at Bonclarken.
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Bonclarken Duck

2009-10-03T11:46:00.000-04:00

Peter, Spencer, and I went for a walk Saturday Morning and the boys just loved the duck at the lake. Looking forward to lunch by the lake.
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Bonclarken Weekend 2009

2009-10-01T23:38:00.001-04:00

We are excited about this year's Congregational Weekend. We are looking forward to the early group on Friday night. It looks like the weather will be good as usually. Please pray for safe travel and that everyone will have a great time.

Please remind everyone not going that we will not have church on Sunday morning or evening.

Pastor Kyle

Missionary Rebekah Carson

2009-09-27T18:44:00.000-04:00

We ended our Missions Emphasis Week tonight with Rebekah Carson. Clinton Dix kicked off our special services on Wednesday night. Dr. Carson MT3 missionary preached and shared about his missions work in Africa and Europe.

Rebekah spoke about the work in Germany.

We support our missionaries through faith promise missions fund. Thanks to the missions committee for their hard work in planning and even cooking our snack supper.

Pastor Kyle
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Preaching Conference

2009-09-24T11:09:00.000-04:00

I will be attending the Erskine Seminary's Institute on Reformed Worship Preaching Conference tonight and tomorrow morning. Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, Dr. H.O. "Scoti" Old, and others will be leading in a discussion about preaching with an emphasis on the Reformation. First Columbia will be hosting this event.

Pastor Kyle

Clinton Dix - Missions Week

2009-09-23T19:49:00.000-04:00

We started our mission emphasis week tonight with JAARS Missionary Clinton Dix. Clinton has been working with the church in Guinea-Bissau. He explained about their work in Scripture impact. This is making the Scriptures alive and acessible to the people.

Clint is now working on his Doctorate in Education at Indiana Wesleyan University.

We had a great crowd of 50 to start off the special missions emphasis and we look forward to the Carson Family being with us this Sunday morning and night.

Thanks to Richard Crawford and the Missions committee for their work.

Pastor Kyle
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XYZ's

2009-09-22T12:42:00.001-04:00

Lancaster County Outreach Program Director Donna Bender spoke to our group. She is pictured with Rev. Gary Stiltner, of the Indianland ARP Mission.

For more info: www.lcpartnersforyouth.org
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Congree National Park

2009-09-18T00:44:00.001-04:00

Went to Congree National Park in Hopkins, SC with our TARPS (Traveling ARPs) just south of Columbia. Highest tree canopy outside of California. Very nice Park and a good first trip for the TARPS.

Pastor Kyle
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Faith Promise

2009-08-08T11:17:00.001-04:00

The Second Sunday of every month is Faithpromise Sunday. We have a moment for missions and encourage everyone to give to the faithpromise missions fund on this Sunday.

Pastor Kyle

Preaching at Tirzah August 9th, 2009

2009-08-08T11:10:00.000-04:00

I am preaching special services at Tirzah ARP in Rock Hill next week. The sermons are going to be on the Holy Spirit. The Sunday morning service will be homecoming for the Tirzah church in addition to the start of their special services.

Tomorrow is a sad day in it will be TJ Ellis' last day at First ARP. I am excited for him but sad for us. I am excited about his replacement, she should be great but I hate that my friend is leaving us.

Pray for TJ and pray for me as I am preaching next week.

Pastor Kyle

New skill

2009-08-03T20:38:00.001-04:00

I have just learned how to upload post from my Blackberry!
Pastor Kyle

Bonclarken Weekend - October 2-4, 2009

2009-08-03T13:27:00.000-04:00

Please everyone make plans to go to Bonclarken on October 2-4, 2009. These weekends have been just wonderful and affordable. It is a wonderful time to be in the mountains of North Carolina. The food is shaping up to be excellent again this year and we are going to have our usual good time. Please invite your friends to come as well. This is an open weekend for anyone associated with the church: parents, children, former members are all invited to join us for this wonderful time.

Mr. Mark Witte, our summer intern, will be back to lead our service on Sunday morning.
Mr. TJ Ellis, our former music director, will be back to visit.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Schrage, our former pastoral intern, are hoping to come to!

Pastor Kyle

Fall Large Group Study

2009-08-03T13:21:00.000-04:00

Starting on August 30th, we will begin our Fall evening services. We will start with a short Large group study on Evangelism entitled "Evangelism without Words".

We have had several studies on Evangelism and is still one of the major focuses of my ministry here. This study will be less on the techniques of how to share our faith and focus on the way we live our lives effects how we share our faith.

I would encourage everyone to come and join us for Supper at 6PM and Study at 6:30pm, August 30th - September 20th.

Pastor Kyle

Welcome Back!

2009-08-03T13:15:00.000-04:00

This Summer has been very busy! I have had a great deal of traveling to do over the last three months. In May, I attended the Banner of Truth Minsters conference in Carlisle, PA. This was my tenth year in a row to attend and it was a blessing. The second week in June, General Synod met at Bonclarken. Two weeks latter I went as a fraternal delegate to the Reformed Presbyterian Church North America Synod, in Beaver Falls, PA. Then a week at North Litchfield with my in-laws and a week at Myrtle Beach with our family. It has been really busy but a lot of fun. I am hoping to change this blog to include more little snippets and updates. I also have a facebook page and twitter page. Look me up as Kyle E. Sims and ARPpastorkyle.

Hope your summer has gone well.

Kyle

Pastor Corner - April 21, 2009

2009-04-21T18:23:00.000-04:00

We live in a time that can be depressing. Just look at all the things going on around us: the economic melt down, political turmoil, protests, and the threat of attack from insane leaders from Iran to North Korea. Many of us are facing health issues, family issues, or work issues. It is easy to think that all we hold dear is coming to an end. We can look to Europe and especially Great Britain and see that the churches are small and that have little impact on the society around them. What hope do we have for Lancaster? What hope do we have for a better world? The answer is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Eric McLachlan's sermon on Sunday really encouraged me. We need to consider the real power and opportunity that is given us by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God can bring a revival first to the church and then to our world. The small group that just finished on Wednesday nights studied a series of lessons on personal revival. I think that we might have to get Rich to lead this same study in the fall for others. If we want to see change it must start with us! How does the resurrection give us power for revival? Peter teaches us:

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," I Peter 1:3

Christ, by his death and resurrection from the dead, has opened up life with God. We because of our own sin were dead to God, but now we are alive by the power of Christ.

Are we taking advantage of this power? Rev. Mclachlan said Sunday that we need a real Spiritual revival. In Church history many true revivals are traced back to a small group of people or even one central person. In Wales a revival started at the conversion of one hardened coal miner. In America, a great revival took place that started with college students praying in a haystack. John Knox's ministry transformed Scotland. Lonely missionaries transformed small islands in the pacific. God does not need an army and he often proves this fact by using a few to accomplish more than an army could do. Think about the story of Gideon.

Are you living with God in the power of his resurrection? Here are a few questions to ponder.

1. Are you a new creation?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

2. Are you growing in holiness?

Jesus tell us, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments" John 14:15
Are you growing in keeping the commandments of God and dying to sin in your life?

3. Are you growing in love for Christ?

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thessalonian 3:5

Just as a child grows in love for his father and mother, so should we grow in our love for our Triune God and the salvation and blessings that have been freely given to such that are so undeserving.

Kyle E. Sims
Pastor

More than Lent!

2009-04-09T15:34:00.000-04:00

Is Easter a hindrance to celebrating the Resurrection of Christ? This seems to be a silly question to many but I am serious, does it pigeon-hole the Resurrection much as Christmas pigeon-holes the Incarnation of Christ. As a pastor, I get the funniest looks when I want to sing "Joy to the World" in July or "Up from the Grave, He Arose" in September.

My thoughts are these: Is the incarnation only of value at Christmas? Is the resurrection only of value at Easter? Obviously the answer is no! The Resurrection is of significance in the everyday life of a Christian just as the Incarnation is as well.

Paul thought it should be, he wrote:

"that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," Philippians 3:10

The resurrection was not just an event or happening, it was significant to the life of all Christian, power for salvation is found in the resurrection. Surely this should be emphasis each week.

Should we then not celebrate Christmas and Easter? I think that this is not the answer, Dr. Morton Smith reminded us in Seminary that the whole world recognizes these times of the year. The Islamic forces that held our hostages in Iran would let people in at Christmas and Easter. The Late Dr. Frank Kik talked about how silly his father looked preaching on the Flood from Genesis on a Sunday Christmas morning.

The answer is not to do away with Christmas and Easter. What is needed is the message of Christmas and Easter needs to spill over into every season and ever Sunday of the year. Each Lord's day we gather to worship God through the power of the one that became man at Christmas that he might die on a Cross and arise from the dead at Easter. Christians, this Christ did for you and me! Let us praise God for the incarnation and the resurrection everyday!

So let us sing "Joy to the World" in July and Up from the Grave, He Arose" in October. For they are just as true and just as appropriate.

Working on Home page and want to start blogging more.

2009-04-09T00:38:00.000-04:00

Time is the bigget problem I have in trying to do all this blogging mess. I hope that I will have more time in the future.