The Fountain Newsletter: Nov 15 2018

The Fountain

The newsletter of the First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville.

A Note from Our Pastor

Dear Friends,

As we get closer to “Commitment Sunday,” what does the word “commitment” mean to you? We make commitments all the time. Think of it. We make commitments to a civic club, social club or bridge club. We make commitments to attend high school or college reunions. In Church, a bride and groom make commitments to each other “in sickness and in health.” Sometimes such commitments are renewed at special anniversary occasions. Parents and the whole congregation make commitments at a baptism to raise the child in a Christian way. What, though, does commitment mean to you?

The most important commitment we ever make is our commitment of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. That commitment is made, thankfully, in response to God’s commitment to us (you can look up passages of Scripture that speak of God’s loving and gracious commitment to us: John 3.16, Ephesians 2.1-10; Romans 8.37- 39, and more). Growing out of our singular commitment to Christ, we make a variety of other commitments as to how we might serve Christ in the coming year. We commit to serve in choirs, Sunday School classes, fellowship events, mission teams, Habitat or Soup Kitchen workdays, and so much more. Even our worship services depend on the people’s commitments, since the word “liturgy” really means, “the people’s work.” We commit to frequent and faithful worship of the Living God!

For us, too, renewing our commitment to Christ and his Church is not a burden, but a joy. It is not so much a requirement as it is an opportunity. Our amazing God could use plenty of other people, but at this time and through this place, God has chosen us, the members of First Presbyterian Church, to be his representatives and his ambassadors. I absolutely believe that “body of Christ on earth” is not just churchy language. Rather, it is an accurate description of who we are and what we do. The world needs us to live out our commitments to Christ faithfully. That way, they can see and understand who Jesus Christ is, and what he has done, is doing and will yet do for us, in us and through us.

I look forward to our Commitment Sunday on November 18!!!

Your pastor,

Dr. Dan