Pastoral Notes for Sunday, August 27, 2017

Dear Congregation,

We heard back from Lilly and we did not receive a grant from the Clergy Renewal Program. But as the session talked about it, we agreed that we didn’t care for the part of the sabbatical that would send the Wallace family away for four months. If the purpose of a sabbatical would be to write the Breckinridge biography, then why not simply make that my full-time employment for four months?

So at our session meeting this week, the session approved a four-month sabbatical (mid-April through mid-August), where the session will relieve me of my regular pastoral duties so that I can focus on writing. There will likely be a couple of research trips to Kentucky and Princeton, but the Wallaces will remain in South Bend for the bulk of the sabbatical. The only additional costs would be some pulpit supply — since Joel will not be ready to cover everything in my absence — and the research trips (though I may be able to find a research grant for at least one trip).

And in order to be well-prepared for writing, I will give a series of four presentations on the four main parts of the biography. The first presentation will be this coming Thursday at Village on “The Early Life of Robert J. Breckinridge, 1800-1829.”

Also, I should mention that we have upgraded (?) our phones, so I now have unlimited talk and text on my cell phone. I am starting to give out that number as my “work” phone number: (574) 485-7023. (Though I still normally work at home, so you can easily reach me there as well.)

Sermon Series
In the morning service, I am preaching through the book of Exodus. After finishing Exodus, I will preach Philemon in October and then Book Four of the Psalms from November-January.

In the evening Joel and I are preaching a catechetical series through the topics of the Shorter Catechism. Then I will preach through Lamentations and Daniel (Joel will continue preaching once a month during the school year).

Prayer Requests

- For rulers and those in authority
- For the spread of the gospel
  - Missionaries
    - Will Traub (Dundee, Scotland)
    - Jamie & Julia Thornton (Ukraine)
    - Nell (France)
    - C family (that place over there)
    - Bruce (France)
    - Markus & Sharon Jeromin (Uruguay)
  - PCA Ministries
    - Mission to the World, Mission to North America, Reformed University Ministries, Interchurch Relations, Christian Education & Publications, Covenant College and Seminary, etc.
- - Great Lakes Presbytery
    - Pastor Wallace serves on the Mission to North America Committee (church planting & Reformed University Fellowship)
    - Mark Hanson serves on the Administrative Committee (reading session minutes, stewardship, and nominating members for committee service)
    - Joel Irvin serves on the Candidates & Credentials Committee (examining and overseeing candidates for the ministry)
  - Michiana Area Churches
    - Grace Reformed OPC (Walkerton) — Pastor Matt Barker
    - Elkhart RPCNA (Elkhart) — Pastor Wade Mann
    - Grace Fellowship Church (Bremen) — Pastor Jon Hueni
    - Grace Baptist Fellowship (Warsaw) — Pastor Aaron Hoak
    - Fulkerson Park Baptist Church (Niles) — Pastor Brian Hedges
    - Hillsdale OPC — Pastor Everett Henes
    - New City EPC (South Bend) — Pastor Luke Potter
    - Greater Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church (South Bend) — Pastor Earl Hairston
    - All churches where Christ is preached.
- - Pastor Peter and pastoral intern Joel
    - Preaching Christ faithfully
    - Discipleship and imitating Christ (as husband, father, and pastor)
    - Writing and teaching projects
  - MCPC Elders and Deacons
    - for wisdom in leading the congregation
    - praise for cash offer for the former LaPorte church building
    - Elders: Jay, Mark, Rex, Joel, Stephen, and Jacob
    - Deacons: Hugh, Mihkail, Jake, Dan, Matthew, and Bob
  - That we would be salt and light in our community
- For those who are suffering, pray both for relief and for grace to endure in the midst of trials
  - in our community
    - Patty (Jamie Irvin’s mother) — needs a new kidney
    - Laura Gekeler (Juday Creek neighbor) — ovarian cancer is in remission
    - Myrle Rowley’s great-grandson, Isaac (leukemia)
  - in our congregation
    - Ian Heitzmann (diabetes)
    - Bob Taylor (traumatic brain injury)
    - Wade Hall (heart)
    - Michael Kaufmann (rehab)
  - loss of loved ones
  - wisdom that we might always number our days
- For students, wisdom to prepare effectively for future service
  - Students away from home:
    - Immanuel Deliyannides (Calvin)
    - Olivia Deliyannides (Calvin)
    - Lena Wallace (Bethel)
- For those who are looking for employment, that God would provide them with gainful employment so that they might provide for their households and be useful in the kingdom of God:
  - Deborah Forteza (praise for job at Grove City College)
  - Christine Jordan (praise for job in South Bend)
  - Christopher Kleven (praise for job in Iowa)
- For teachers, wisdom to train students for that service
  - For the Michiana Covenant Academy as we seek to provide assistance to home schoolers
  - For other area Christian (e.g., Covenant, Elkhart, and Granger Christian Schools) and public schools
  - For home school teachers and students
- For husbands and wives; parents and children
  - Lynns — with Audrey’s transition
  - Longs — living in Germany, Maria’s schooling
- For those who desire children
  - Irvins (fostering)
- For pregnant mothers
  - Margaret McMillan
  - Margaret McCarthy
- For those seeking to adopt
- For singles, both wisdom to devote themselves fully to Christ’s service and also (for those who desire it) a godly spouse
- For those preparing for marriage