LIGHT IN THE FOREST

The Hetherton, Mich., RPC began as a congregation in the woods of northern Michigan in 1902. To support the small group of Covenanters that had settled there, they advertised in the Christian Nation for other families to come and he­lp them grow. Being out of the main stream of life, it was difficult to have others come from RP congregations to worship and fellowship with them. There were times when they could only have communion when a visiting pastor was able to come. Even though many things have changed and travel is much more convenient, few people from other RP congregations visit us for worship and fellowship.

The Apostle Paul made his second and third missionary journeys visiting the scattered churches of the early Christian church. These visits encouraged the people to grow in Christ and helped them realize that they were a part of the whole body of churches. The Hetherton congregation needs this kind of contact today to help us grow in faith and feel that we are a part of the whole denomination.

In 1977, the Hetherton session was counseled that the congregation did not have long to exist, but some 30 years later we continue to worship and serve God in the community. Our beautiful country church and our comfortable parsonage remind people that God is to be honored and worshiped.

We need your help. We continue to make our appeal for a missionary-pastor to live in the community, shepherd to the small flock, and seek the lost. The congregation is too small to do it alone, even though the desire and faith is great. The early Christian churches helped each other and we need that same help today.

Dr. Roy Blackwood has often reminded us that God does not close church doors, but He said, “I will build my church.” Continue to pray for us, communicate with us, come visit us when possible, and your gifts will be used for the building of the church of Jesus Christ.

—Milton L. Harrington, pastor/moderator Hetherton RPC Session

First RPC of Beaver Falls, Pa. Bruce Backensto, pastor

A record number of children attended vacation Bible school at First RPC on July 6-10. Along with children from local RP churches, at least 20 children came from the neighborhood around the church. Fifty-one children registered the first night, and through the five nights a total of 64 students attended. In past years, 30 was a good number.

Ten students from the Theological Foundations for Youth program, as well as Keith Backensto, were on hand to help teach, do skits, lead recreation and help wherever needed. In the days preceding VBS, they handed out over 1,500 VBS flyers to the Patterson Heights, Patterson Township and College Hill neighborhoods.

“Just when you think you know what to expect our God does exceedingly beyond what we think or can imagine. What a delight to see over 50 children enjoying Bible school each evening and to see our directors ‘handle it in stride,’” Pastor Bruce Backensto commented.

This is the second year the church has used Bible school curriculum from Answers in Genesis. This year’s theme was “Operation Space: A Close Encounter with God’s Word.” Melissa and Elaine Tweed headed up the program, and Emily Thompson was in charge of feeding everyone dinner and snacks.

During the week, an offering was taken to help purchase satellite radios for Sudan. The children raised enough to buy 23 radios.

The week concluded with an ice cream social on the front lawn as an opportunity for members of the church to get to know the families of the children who attended VBS.

The church is working on a plan to stay in contact with these families through some sort of youth program during the year.

Bob Fenchel and Willard “Tex” Harsh, along with their spouses and some family members, were honored by the elders, deacons and their families at a dinner on June 20 for 53 years of service as deacons of the church. Both men were ordained and installed on Jan. 7, 1956 and retired Jan. 1, 2009. Bob Fenchel served as treasurer for the congregation for 36 years as well. The men were presented with plaques following the worship service on Apr. 12.

College graduates honored were members Kelly Grooms, Audrey Joseph, Matt McClain, and Ben Watt. Brenda and Kaitlyn Gladfelter were also recognized because they worshiped with the church during their college days at Geneva. Noah Bailey was honored as he graduated from RPTS. They were honored following worship May 19.

High school graduates Kylie Welsh and Samantha Landman were honored on June 7.

Ken and Virginia McBurney celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a party in June. In December, the congregation voted to issue a call for an associate pastor. Noah Bailey was called, but declined the call in May to accept the call as associate pastor in Stillwater, Okla., RPC as a church planter in Enid, Okla. Their family left at the end of May after worshiping with the congregation for seven years.

The congregation is looking forward to the return of Private Clinton Bettner, Army National Guard, from Iraq in September where he has been serving the U.S. since January. Please pray for Private Matt McCandless, Army, who was deployed to Afghanistan in July, leaving his wife and adopted daughter behind in the state of Washington. Private McCandless was deployed from Fort Lewis, Wash., where he has been training for the past two years.

—Heidi Filbert, correspondent

Hazleton, Pa. RPC Adds Two Officers

The Atlantic Presbytery and Hazleton, Pa., RPC session met jointly May 9.  Presbytery installed Pastor Paul Brace (formerly of Rimersburg, Pa.) in the congregation. The session also ordained and installed Joseph Davidovich as deacon.