Orlando, Fla., RPC

H.P. McCracken, pastor

We were blessed to welcome Rev. Rodney King as our guest minister on Jan. 1 while our pastor was ministering at a college retreat in Indianapolis. Rev. King preached on 1 Peter 1:3–5. His sermon title was “Born Heirs.”

Our congregation experienced two losses in January and one in April: A dear friend and former member, Dr. Larry Kelley, 83, passed away. Jeff and Kathy Milroy suffered the loss of their 19-year-old son, Justin, who passed away in his sleep. Lisa Schmidt’s father, Bob Edwards, passed away in April. His wife and Lisa’s mother, Bobbie Edwards, had passed away in October. Both were in hospice care at home.

Please pray for the Lord’s comfort and strength for these families.

Our congregation was honored to host the annual Great Lakes–Gulf Presbytery meeting from Feb. 28 through Mar. 2. Many families prepared dishes for daily luncheons and breaks. Our pastor and elders were greatly blessed by the presbytery.

Our annual Walk for Life to benefit Choices Women’s Clinic, a local nonprofit and life-affirming medical pregnancy clinic, took place Apr. 6, at Blue Jacket Park. Nine walkers from our church raised $24,062, which brought the total proceeds from the walk alone to $276,000.

A new outreach opportunity was recently established to minister to those in the neighborhood surrounding our church building, while affording these neighbors an opportunity to get to know us. Coffee on the Corner allows an unrestricted flow of conversation where questions can be asked, needs can be shared, and prayers can be offered. Elder Jonathan Schaefer and his wife, Dianne, are the organizers.

Thank you to all for your prayers on behalf of Debra Goerner. She gave birth to a healthy girl on Apr. 11. Amelia Idelette (her middle name, Idelette, was John Calvin’s wife’s name) weighed 7 lbs., 2 oz., at birth and measured 20 in. long. Not only are parents, Mark and Debra, overjoyed, but Amelia’s five siblings are as well.

A night on the town for 2019 graduates was held May 4. Since Isaac Goerner is the only graduate this year, he was given the choice of location.

Our Northern “snowbird” fellow worshipers started to leave for cooler climes of their home states once our temperature hit the upper 80s. They will be greatly missed, but we’ll eagerly welcome them back again in the fall. Meanwhile, our hearts and prayers will be remembering them.

—Louise Turmenne, correspondent

Sharon (Morning Sun, Iowa) RPC

Bryan Schneider, pastor

Pastor Schneider’s first year of ministry in our congregation has been joyful. His sermon series have included the books of Philippians and Ruth. This summer will feature people of the Bible and tackling difficult questions.

His morning sermons are followed up with an early afternoon Chalk and Talk. Pastor Bryan leads this session by adding depth to the morning’s sermon points and to explain any cultural or geographical details that could help us further understand the text.

His sermons have been well received on the internet and can be viewed through Facebook at the Sharon RP Church page or through the congregation’s website, sharonrpc.org.

Members of the congregation have several opportunities to participate in studies, including:

▶ The adult Sabbath school class on church history and currently Knowing Scripture by R. C. Sproul.

▶ The women’s study group on The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield and Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns.

▶ The Burlington study group on the book of Hebrews.

▶ The men’s monthly breakfast on the books of Jonah, Job, and Colossians.

Our prayer lists have become focused and targeted to not only pray for our fellow congregants but also for the needs within our denomination. Each week a new list is published featuring a seminary student, a Midwest Presbytery congregation, and specific needs of foreign missions.

—Terri Hutcheson, correspondent

Soldier, Member of Trinity RPC Wins Photographer of the Year Title for Military

A member of Trinity RPC in Burtonsville, Md., won Photographer of the Year in the 2018 Military Visual Awards for his work documenting the lives of soldiers.

“Winning this award is a tremendous blessing. Our pastor, congregation and the entire RP community have been so supportive to our family while performing a job for the military that requires a lot of travel. Without the faithful support of our Christian brothers and sisters, I couldn’t have accomplished this,” said Michel Sauret, who is a master sergeant with 16 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve and a deployment to Iraq in 2008. Sauret also won the Army Journalist of the Year title following that deployment.

Throughout his military career, the Sauret family has also lived in Pittsburgh and Plainfield, Illinois. With each military move, the Saurets were blessed to live within a short driving distance of a Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America congregation. They were members of Providence RPC in Pittsburgh and Westminster RPC in Prairie View, Ill.

“It’s amazing that with each move, the Lord kept us within an hour of an RPCNA congregation. When we moved to Illinois, the people of Westminster were amazing. They showed up at our house to help us unload a truck full of household goods, and we had never even met most of them before that day,” said Sauret.

With another military move to North Carolina expected this summer, the Sauret family plan on buying a house that would keep them within an hour of First RPC of Durham.

“With such a small denomination and yet such a big military, it’s amazing to see God keeping us close to an RPCNA congregation four states in a row,” said Sauret.

Throughout his Army Reserve career, Sauret has documented the lives of soldiers across the country through not just photography, but also video and writing. His military work has been published both in print and online by National Geographic, USA Today, Military Times, Army Times, Stars and Stripes, along with other independent military websites and official Defense department publications.

From a 200th Military Police Command Press Release

The Springs (Colorado Springs, Colo.) RPC)

Jason Ryce, pastor

The Springs RPC’s Sabbath school played out the Good Samaritan story in late winter. They discussed how the children can help their neighbors in little ways such as drawing pictures, waving hello, making cookies, picking up the paper, or anything that would be of service. Submitted by Janine Ryce of Springs RPC.

New Song Sings for Christ and Country in 2019 Summer Tour

The 2019–2020 New Song members, three of whom are Reformed Presbyterian. Their tour included these locations:

College Hill (Beaver Falls, Pa.) RP Church; Reformed Presbyterian Home (Pittsburgh, Pa.); Sparta, Ill., RP Church; Manhattan, Kan., RP Church; Sterling, Kan., RP Church; Hebron (Clay Center, Kan.) RP Church; Winchester, Kan., RP Church; Christ Covenant (Lawrence, Kan.) RP Church; Shawnee, Kan., RP Church; an event sponsored by Clarinda, Iowa, RP Church; an event sponsored by Washington, Iowa, RP Church; Bloomington, Ind., RP Church; Lafayette, Ind., RP Church.