Winchester, Kan., RPC

Paul Finley, pastor

Spring thankoffering was held Mar. 19, with Kansas State University students Shawn Cowley and Violet Wright making a presentation about their short-term mission experience in Kobe, Japan, in summer 2005.

Elizabeth and Faith Finley and Rita Lyon attended the Midwest presbyterial retreat at Minneola, Kan., on Apr. 6-7.

Pastor John McFarland, of Lawrence, Kan., preached three messages during communion season May 6-7.

Congratulations and best wishes were extended to Edith and Charles Duguid on their 60th wedding anniversary, and to Minnie Belle and Don Gorden on their 50th anniversary in May.

Jerry O’Neill, president of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, preached on June 11. Community daily vacation Bible school was held on the church lawn June 19–23. The closing program was followed by an ice cream social.

Emily McFarland and Joel and Laura Wallace accompanied a group from the Lawrence, Kan., RPC on a mission trip to southern Texas and northern Mexico. Lisa Lyon attended the Theological Foundations for Youth (TFY) program at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in July. On July 23, reports were given by the youth who attended mission trips, TFY, Horse Creek Camp, and Horn Creek Camp.

Pastor Finley has been conducting a communicant’s class during the Sabbath school hour. Molly Lyon, Matthew Finley, Emily McFarland, and Laura Wallace have been received into communicant membership.

—Lisa Lyon and Hazel Sass, correspondents

Quinter, Kan., RPC

Steven Work, pastor

The light shines in the new front doors of the church building, offering a warm invitation to enter for worship and fellowship.

Chaplain Russ Scharf spoke in May about the difficult prison ministry he conducts at Canon City, Colo. He spoke of the darkness in the eyes of some of these men where the cloud of evil covers the light.

A member of the congregation, Waldo McBurney, receives moments of local, state, and even national attention. Waldo is looking toward his 104th birthday on Oct. 3. He continues to walk to his office on Main Street for his daily work. His autobiography, My First 100 Years, is now in its fifth printing.

During a family night in August, the congregation shared a meal and heard from Amy Work about the Covenant College mission project in New York City, N.Y. Also, Peter Work reported on his training from the Theological Foundations for Youth program hosted by the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Sem­inary (RPTS) in Pittsburgh, Pa., in July.

RPTS representatives included Quinter on their agenda in June. The congregation provided homemade ice cream following talks given by President Jerry O’Neill, Grant VanLeuven, and Don Reed, who gave updates on seminary progress and needs.

—Fran Mann, correspondent

Washington, Iowa, RPC

John Monger, pastor

Officers for 2006 were elected as follows: Greg Skubal, chairman; Don Wilson, vice-chairman; Karen Todd, secretary; Dorcas Jarrard, treasurer; Lana Todd, music chairperson; and Rob Jarrard, statistician. William Colhouer was elected to join the trustees for a term through 2008.

Pastor Monger has been preaching through Genesis on Sabbath mornings and leading an evening Bible study through Proverbs.

The congregation has been encouraged by a number of visitors attending church. Some are unchurched, some are seeking a church home, and some are looking for Reformed teaching in their travels.

Pioneer Clubs will resume the second and fourth Wed­nesdays, September through May, with a large percentage of the children coming from outside the congregation.

The Women’s Missionary Fellowship (WMF) meets on the first Wednesday of each month. In addition to supporting the various works of WMF, crafts were made and sent to the Reformed Presbyterian Home for their benefit auction. The members are learning much from the study of the book of Ephesians.

The Lord’s supper is observed every other month, preceded by a men’s prayer breakfast on Saturday morning. According to the men in attendance, Pastor Monger is an excellent cook.

In March, Jason O’Neill visited the congregation for a missions night and shared the experiences of his mission travels to various places including Ireland, Scotland, and Uganda.

In June, the congregation held “Sunlight” Bible school, where the children learned about light scientifically and that Jesus is the light of the world. The children were encouraged to “Shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Phil. 2:15-16).

During Pastor John Monger’s vacation in July, the congregation benefited from the preaching of Pastor Robert L. LaMay and Jason Camery.

In July, many members of the congregation enjoyed the Iowa RP Family Camp, where Pastor John McFarland encouraged them to know their neighbor in order to love their neighbor.

—Nancy Skubal, correspondent