First Worship Service in Providence (see picture)

The Providence, R.I., Reformed Presbyterian Mission Church began the new year with its first worship service on Jan. 1 in East Providence, R. I. Cambridge, Mass., RPC Elder Christopher Wright presided and Licentiate Daniel Howe preached. The group is a daughter work of the First RPC of Cambridge. For more details on this new work, visit www.providencerpc.com.

Sterling, Kan., RPC

Derek Miller, pastor

The Sterling congregation has been growing in the area of compassion, with the session and deacon board promoting prayer for and practice of this characteristic. A small group also studied a book on this topic.

Pastor Miller completed his morning sermon series in Nehemiah and is now preaching through the Gospel of John. In the evening, he preached through Hebrews and is now covering the subjects of covenant renewal worship and the Apostle’s Creed.

A small group continues to meet in Hutchinson, Kan., at the home of Gail Prutow on Sabbath evenings. There are 11 adults and 7 children regularly gathering for study and prayer. The Sterling congregation is seeking God’s will as to the growth of this group and possible establishment of a new work in the city of Hutchinson, where there currently is no Reformed church.

The congregation has been blessed by members young and old. Covenant children have been added, with four births and six baptisms in recent months. Two more children are expected to be born soon. The oldest member, Alice Wilson (101), occasionally attends the morning worship service, as do two other members who also reside at the Presbyterian Manor across the street from the Sterling RPC building.

The Women’s Missionary Fellowship continues to be active in the ministry of the church. Last year, the group helped the local food bank and some underprivileged families in the community, as well as continued their service to members of the congregation with food, flowers, and fellowship opportunities.

Last May, the congregation hosted the first annual “Lord of Life and Links” golf tournament and retreat with Pastor John McFarland as the speaker. The committee hopes to organize another retreat this year.

Other activities in the church include a prayer meeting twice a month, an established Sabbath school program, and a weekly lunchtime Bible study at the Sterling College cafeteria.

Member James Rasnic serves on the board of the local food bank. Pastor Miller is treasurer of Sterling Area Relief, a community- based ministry that in recent months brought three Hurricane Katrina evacuees to Sterling, where they will live with expenses paid for six months. Pastor Miller also manages the Sterling Area Samaritan Fund, which gives him weekly opportunities to give financial assistance and share the gospel with needy people in the community.

—Kelly Miller, correspondent

Ridgefield Park, N.J., RPC

J. Bruce Martin, pastor

After a friendship lunch on Oct. 30, Heather Huizing talked to the congregation about her mission work in Sudan.

A Thanksgiving service was held at the church along with the members of the Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Montclair, N.J. Rev. Ken Campbell was the preacher.

On Nov. 27, when Pastor Martin was in Hazleton, Pa., second-year seminary student Jim Pellegrini preached the sermon.

On Feb. 4, Pastor Martin invited the men of the church to a local diner for breakfast followed by a time of prayer. After breakfast, the elders and deacons went to the church for a meeting.

The congregation held a Winter Extravaganza from Feb. 10–12. Friday night, a study on prayer was held at the home of Glen Chin. The congregation went skiing on Saturday.

—Joan Hammond, correspondent

Quinter, Kan., RPC

Steven Work, pastor

Sam Chestnut worked with members of other denominations in Quinter, Kan., who were interested in providing assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina. He and Peter Work, a high school senior, were part of a team that went to Roanoke, La., to assist hurricane victims with cleanup. Most of the time was spent cutting and removing trees from yards of disabled or elderly people. The Church of the Brethren Disaster Response Service coordinated their volunteer work from Nov. 12–20.

Faith (McBurney) Martin spoke to the congregation about the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh, Pa., and the plans for construction of apartments for senior living. While in Quinter, she visited her 103-yearold uncle, Waldo McBurney, who has written an autobiography entitled, My First 100 Years. Waldo has ordered the fifth printing and has sold copies in most of the 50 U.S. states and a few foreign countries.

A group of up to 21 men from several communities in western Kansas have gathered to encourage one another in the truth of the Scriptures and to promote “Revival on the Great Plains.” They have met 11 times over the past 18 months. Distance is one of the primary obstacles—some travel 100 miles or more to attend the 3-hour meeting, which includes a meal.

The Wednesday night fellowship group completed the three study books of the Navigators 2:7 Series. The title comes from Colossians 2:6-7. The memorization part of the series has been most helpful.

Pastor Work is preaching in the morning service from the book of Mark and in the evening from Zechariah.

—Fran Mann, correspondent