Los Angeles. Calif., RPC

Kenneth Orr, pastor

Pastor Ken Orr continues his sermons on Psalm 119, which teaches how to turn from worthless things to obey the living Word. Outreach programs have included distributing invitations to the Easter service and participating in the local Eagle Rock Arts Festival. Recent visitors were Jeff and Grace Hwang of the Cambridge congregation.

Pastor Orr’s mother, a devout Christian, was taken to be with the Lord after a brief illness. Beth Orr, a Geneva freshman, was able to be at home with the family for the memorial service.

Several of the ladies attended the annual presbyterial meeting in Fresno. Two young men, John Heft and Michael Orr, attended a weekend youth retreat on the California coast that included kayaking and Bible studies.

Summer Bible school classes for children are coordinated by Michelle Orr, using a study of Genesis by Nancy Ganz of the Ottawa, Ont., RPC.

The annual Bible conference is planned for Oct. 12, with guest speaker Dr. Robert Godfrey, president of Westminster Theological Seminary in California.

Look for the congregation on the web if you are planning a trip to the Los Angeles area.

—Dorothy Carson, correspondent

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Ridgefield Park, N.J., RPC

J. Bruce Martin, pastor

On Apr. 7, the congregation was invited to the Coldham/Newburgh. N.Y., RPC for a psalm sing with a meal afterward. On Apr. 21, communion services were held following a fellowship lunch. Visiting pastor Mark England brought the communion message to the congregation.

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Topeka. Kan., RP Church

Joe Griffo, Pastor

In July, New Song from Geneva College shared their program of music with us. In September, Robert and Kay LaMay returned for the fall communion services. The congregation welcomed the visit as Robert is a former pastor of the Topeka RPC In November, the annual Thanksgiving service was held. A special offering was taken for the mercy fund.

The Women’s Missionary Fellowship sponsors the Angel Tree project for Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship each Christmas season. Members of the church purchased gifts for the children of prison inmates.

In January, Robert and Georgia McFarland shared slides and commentary of their recent visit to Cyprus and the mission work there.

Stephen Parnell and his family moved to Durham, N.C., where he has accepted a postdoctoral position at the University of North Carolina.

Joe and Roberta McFarland celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a gala affair at the church. Many friends and family were present.

The congregation welcomed four young people who have joined the church recently: Audrey Copeland, Bethany McBurney, Colin Moriarty, and Christopher O’Neill.

Three members have recently retired from long-held positions in local schools: Marjorie Yates from the Washburn University registration department, Darrell Parnell from a professorship in the science department, and Mark Swartz as a counselor from Hayden High School.

—Marge Cox, correspondent