From the Clerk of Session
Friends: I write to bring you up to date on some recent decisions by the Session and some exciting news as well.
INTERIM PASTORI am pleased to report that upon the recommendation of the Interim Pastor Search Committee, on Tuesday evening the Session unanimously appointed Roger M. Rice, D. Min, of Wallingford, PA., as Interim Pastor to begin July 9. While more details regarding Roger’s qualifications will follow in a separate letter, he brings a wealth of experience as a trained and experienced interim pastor and as both a senior and associate pastor. His education, experience and background make him ideally suited for Providence. We very much appreciate the good work of the search committee and the timely manner in which they acted.
PIPE ORGANThe installation of the new pipe organ has begun! Those of you who participated in the signing of the pad last Sunday will be pleased to know that your signatures are no longer visible. We expect that installation will be completed by the end of June, however tuning and voicing will continue for several more months. We will keep you apprised of the progress and plans for the celebration and inaugural concert this fall.
WORSHIP SERVICEIt has been over a month since we moved our worship service into the fellowship hall and attendance at two services has been steady and strong (the average attendance for both services has been 270.) This continuing wonderful level of support from the congregation led the Session to reconsider the logistics of only having a single service during July and August.
After looking at the numbers, considering the fire code restriction of 224 people in the fellowship hall, brain-storming on alternative ways to accommodate some attendees in space outside the fellowship hall during a single service, and other construction-related factors, the Session voted to continue to hold two worship services during the summer rather than changing to a single service. What this means is that we will continue at our current two-service schedule: 8:45 am and 10:00 am. There will be light refreshments after each service so we encourage you to stay and have a time of fellowship with other attendees. If you normally come to the 10:00 service, come a few minutes early and greet your friends from the 8:45 service! Construction schedules, as you well know, are not an exact science, so we thank you in advance for your flexibility during all these changes. (Also, please note that we still need a few child care volunteers for both services so, if you can help, please contact Lisa Nash lisatarltonnash@yahoo.com or the church office.)
These are challenging but exciting times for our church: the selection of an interim pastor to help guide us while we search for a permanent replacement for Al Butzer, the addition of the pipe organ, the renovation of our physical plant and, of course, the new Mission Hall. Each change represents a challenge and an opportunity. In this regard, the Session commends to you Mary’s recent sermon “
Change, Change, Change”.
We are a church “where life and faith connect” and your Session firmly believes that the Holy Spirit will guide us and help us all to meet the challenges and opportunities that await us.
TOMMIE CURTIS, CLERK, ON BEHALF OF THE SESSION
Providence Presbyterian Church
Where Life and Faith Connect!
www.providencechurch.org
