With Positive Response, Singles Retreats Catch On

Following the example set the past two Memorial Day weekends by the Sycamore RPC in Kokomo, Ind., two other retreats for Reformed Christian singles have been held during the past year.

David Tsang was instrumental in organizing the Boston Labor Day Extravaganza hosted by the Cambridge RPC in Cambridge, Mass. Alice Paar orchestrated the meals. The congregation hosted the attendees. Others who took part in leadership at that event included Tom Fisher, Mark England, Dan Kim, and Charlie Schatz, who, along with David Tsang led devotions on the attributes of God. A lobster and clam bake; a photo scavenger hunt in Boston; worship and prayer services and a meal with the congregation; and a meal at the McCarraghers’ home were highlights of the event.

John McBurney, Andrea Tweed, Michelle Mazzant, Bill Sachs, and Deborah Schaefer organized the President’s Day weekend retreat in February hosted by the Geneva RPC in Beaver Falls, Pa. Highlights included a series of messages on God’s gracious presence in worship, given by Prof. Dennis Prutow; a tour of the Geneva College campus, led by Glen Aley; a worship service at the RP Home; a catered Syrian meal; worship, a game night, and a fellowship meal with the Geneva RPC; an incline ride to scenic Mt. Washington, and dinner at the RP Theological Seminary, where a tour was conducted by Charles Brown.

Those attending gave positive feedback after both retreats. The next event scheduled is the third annual Memorial Day Retreat, sponsored by the Sycamore RP Church. This year it will be held at the Sangralea Valley Camp in Onward, Ind. Pastor Andy McCracken will speak on the Church’s mandate to engage the postmodern American culture.

—Deborah Schaefer

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Los Angeles. Calif. RPC

Kenneth Orr, pastor

Pastor Ken Orr has taken Psalm 119:105 as the worship theme for the year: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

An important aspect of the emphasis on the Scriptures is the sowing of the seed. The session has planned four outreach activities through the year. Hector Pino led a six­week bilingual Bible study in February and March. In May the congregation will participate in the Eagle Rock Arts Festival. Pastor Orr plans a variety of activities for that day.

The social committee planned a “simple gifts” dinner in February, after which the diners were encouraged to tell about the simple ways God’s blessing was communicated to them.

The Reid family of five from Edinburgh, Scotland, are in the States for three years and active in the church.

Scott Fleming maintains a web site for the congregation. You may find current information and articles by Pastor Orr.

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A New Church for Wichita

The Wichita Reformed Presbyterian Church was officially organized as a congregation on Friday, Mar. 29, with many Covenanter friends celebrating the event. Charles Carroll was installed as the pastor and John Bouma was ordained and installed as an elder. The ladies of the church served a bountiful buffet after the service.

There are 25 communicant members, 17 baptized members, and 10 adherents who constitute the congregation at this time. The meeting location of the church moved to 820 West 27th South in the Wichita Seventh Day Adventist facility. The congregation enjoys a chapel for worship, three classrooms, a nursery, a large fellowship hall for the noon fellowship meal between services, and an ample kitchen.

Four Sabbath School classes meet at 10 a.m., followed by the morning worship service at 11 a.m. The congregation then enjoys a fellowship lunch with an afternoon services starting near 1 p.m.

The congregation welcomes Dallas Crist, the Terpstra family, the Vernacchia family, the Haynes family, and the Hatchett family as new members.

The men of the congregation meet weekly at the Carrolls’ home for prayer early each Friday morning. Pray for the congregation as it continues to witness in the new location, walking humbly with their God.

—Howard Mann, correspondent