FELLOWSHIP FOOTNOTES
Newsletter of Hamilton Bible Fellowship
July 2009
Marking the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan (NYC) an article on the church’s founding (and remaining) pastor, Tim Keller, appeared in Christianity Today. It gives some pertinent insight into the dynamics of that venture:
Though the borough’s 1.6 million people were used to religious diversity,
many had never talked to an evangelical. Tim’s interest in art and music
was an indispensable gift in communicating. . . . New York is a city of high
achievers to whom, Keller says, it made sense that a minister should be a
scholar of ancient texts, exposing them to ideas and information beyond their
experience. They needed someone who spoke their language, though, and
Keller was a quick learner. Gordon MacDonald came to Manhattan’s Trinity
Baptist Church at the same time Kellers arrived; his name drew many New York
Christians, leaving Redeemer to focus on non-Christians. Tim always preaches with
a non-Christian audience in mind, not merely avoiding offense, but exploring the
text to find its good news for unbelievers as well as believers. He has a unique gift
to preach to both Christians and non-Christians in the same terms.
While Hamilton is not Manhattan, these principles still apply..We live in a town of high achievers who are open to an honest challenge, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. At HBF we need to use every resource we can to reach the folks in this community. The website will be updated and remain current. The Worship Review Board will be meeting more regularly to address the effectiveness of what we do on Sunday mornings. Some folks will be developing a Sunday School curriculum for kids below high school age. A new incarnation of the Sounding Board will meet for the first time in September (thanks to those who were on the initial board for paving the way). The Outreach Task Force will continue to troll for and suggest ideas for one time events and ongoing ministries (see the current list below). I am considering and evaluating my preaching in light of the potential for communicating to non-Christians as well as Christians, while sticking to an expository model (see Tim Keller’s example). While I know we cannot plan to use every resource right away, we will develop what we can with the people available. You all are indeed our most valuable resource; I ask you to consider where and how you might fit in.
In this re-orientation toward being more outreach effective, the most important thing we can begin to do right now is to pray. This is not a call to be more “prayerful” in general (though that’s not bad!). I’m talking about praying for specific individuals, focusing on being sensitive to opportunities to speak the good news to them. In other words, we pray that God would intervene in their lives, and possibly use us in the process. I would like to see us partner up (groups of two!), to encourage this and develop a degree of accountability. Your partner can be a spouse, or not. I asked you to consider and pray about who that might be for you. The goal is to get everyone partnered up and praying by the end of the month. I’ll be following up on Sunday mornings!
NEWS AND PRAYER UPDATES
Jordan Cox has been offered a research job at Virginia Commonwealth University and will be staying in Richmond. Pray for others in need of employment, especially recent graduates.
Pray for Tom and Martha Fisher. Martha needs surgery to correct problems with her esophagus before she can undergo a needed lung transplant. It looks like the former can be performed in Boston. Continue to pray also for Candy’s parents, Gaye’s parents, Susan Nolen’s brother-in-law Brian, Chris Henke, Terry Hayes’ friend Matt.
THE QUOTE CORNER
Standing 6'-4", with a bald head, glasses, and a coat and tie,
Tim Keller, 58, does not look hip. Nor is his sermon funny,
charming, or daring. He preaches from the first chapter of
Genesis, on the doctrine of Creation. He preaches four points
of doctrine: the goodness, finiteness, unity, and importance
of creation. Along the way, for each point, he manages to
appeal to non-believers. Regarding the goodness of creation,
he says that Christianity may be the most materialistic
religion there is, citing the miracle at Cana. Nobody has
better motivation to be playful than people who know that
God made the earth and made it good.
- Christianity Today, June 2009 pp. 21-22
COMING EVENTS CALENDAR:
Sunday Tunes on July 5th includes eat and greet time at 1:30. Music begins at 2:00. Come play, sing, or listen!
Church Bulletin Night at Syracuse Chiefs with optional dinner before, Monday July 6th. Listen Sunday for times.
Thursday, July 9th on the Village Green at 8:00 PM, Syracuse Symphony performs! This is a free concert.
Each Sunday during July and August, Jen Westlake will be in the Infant Room from 9:15 - 9:45 to pray primarily for the morning Worship Service and secondarily for other HBF ministries. This will be a time dedicated solely to prayer. Please join her if you so desire!
Saturday, Aug.1st, 5:00 PM: potluck dinner followed by some music and a presentation by Lucy Nacionales of Source of Light Ministries. This is one amazing woman. Plan to be there; an offering will be taken.
July birthdays: 7 Bev Babcock; 8 Mary Jo Hubbard; 9 Jennifer Westlake; 13 Spence Smith;
26 Sandra Bullock; 28 Jean Deiter; 29 Ernie Nolen. Communion/refreshments for July: Hsu-Henke