Community Presbyterian Church Port Aransas

VBS 2009 – 4th-6th Grade

Wednesday July 1

Aransas Harbors from 1pm-5pm

CAMP EDGE

Come join us for a new style of VBS – We will swim, eat and plan your own VBS. Kids will have time to swim, play, do skits, music, crafts and food. There will be opportunities for any interested 4th-6th grader to learn to be helpers for the July 20-24 VBS session.

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A note from Hilary N. Shuford Executive Presbyter of Mission Presbytery

June 18, 2009
Queridos hermanos y hermanas,
What an absolutely wonderful, incredible, Spirit-filled, peaceful, prayerful, powerful presbytery meeting! Love filled the room, and Harry and I were filled to overflowing with the warm

th and welcome we received from you!

God’s call for me to join you as your new exec in Mission Presbytery holds so much promise; and we know that all God’s promises are “Yes!” in Christ Jesus (2Cor1:19-20). Thank you, again, for electing the EP Search Committee. I thank God for their dedication, commitment, and faithfulness.

I am “wow-ed” with the work in ministry and mission and for the opportunities for service and witness to the presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in Mission Presbytery. I was especially moved when called upon, as my first act, to pray with and for the newly chartered congregation, the First Korean Presbyterian Church in McAllen, TX.

Within the first few hours of the presbytery meeting, we had chartered a new congregation, authorized a New Church Development, recognized a new certified church educator, examined a candidate for ordination, moved 5 inquirers to candidacy and heard stories of the work of 16 Certified Lay pastors. Before worship we had engaged in Bible study about the waters of baptism and new life in Christ; and the Acts 16:5 Initiative was “off and running.”

Mission is blessed with a great presbytery staff: they perform their remarkable service in so many different ways. I will be privileged to lead them and work with them. Also, I was so impressed with the leadership of Mission Presbytery, all of whom presented their reports and moved actions effectively with grace and humility.

Again, I am so thankful to God and “bowled over” with the love, warmth, hospitality and welcome from y’all. I am excited about our beginning, our working in mission and ministry together, and to meeting the challenges and opportunities that have been set before us with joy, laughter, and a deep sense of peace, confident God is leading us through Jesus Christ.

I will arrive in the office of Mission Presbytery July 21, 2009 and look forward to the time ahead as we get to know each other better and seek to follow our Lord. I pray that God will continue blessing each and every one of you and our journey together.

Peace,
Hilary
Hilary N. Shuford
Executive Presbyter of Mission Presbytery

PDF Download of Greetings from Hilary

Holy Prompter

In a Broadway play there is a stage full of actors, and an audience full of spectators hoping to be inspired, frightened or amused by the events on the stage.  Hidden below stage level in a small three-sided box and out of sight of the audience is the one who knows everyone’s lines and every stage direction for the entire production; this is the prompter.  When an actor finds himself in a moment of doubt it only takes a glance in the prompter’s direction for help as to the next word or action in the play.

The Holy Spirit is very much like the stage prompter.  He is unseen by the audience, but as real as life itself to those on the stage.  His purpose is not to draw attention to himself but to carry the action forward to the conclusion ordained by God.  Those who have been prompted by Him in the past need no further proof of His presence, but those who refuse to mount the stage due to fear or doubt may never know His assuring presence.

Often we may refuse to step out to take a leadership role, or to start a ministry, or to help a neighbor because we fear that we may not know what to do or say.  We think that we will stumble or embarrass ourselves.  And we will (ask any actor how often that happens!)  But we can be sure that our prompter will be right on site, with a wink and a nod of encouragement to help us move forward in the direction that the Director has chosen.  Give it a shot, you might be surprised at how natural it feels to serve God.