1999-2000
In September of last year, our Session ordained and installed Patty MacLean as our newest Deaconess. She was warmly welcomed and congratulated by the members of the deaconate and other church members at a dinner and time of fellowship that followed worship. We thank God for adding to our number in service to Him.
October followed with the hosting of the St. Lawrence Presbytery Meeting early in the month. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were provided for all participants and attendees. As always, many church women were there to help. They gave excellent service, great food and their always dependable, organizational skills. Being watchful and timely, they worked hard to fit in with the men’s all day and into the evening agenda. It was an interesting and rewarding day for all.
Of course, the main concern of the deaconate is mercy, both within and without the church, and there were fewer calls from outside this year, possibly due to the move from our downtown location at the Legion building to the First United Methodist Church. We continue to pray that God will give us greater opportunities to serve, in His name, in this coming year. While we are happy to serve the church in any manner, we do desire to have more times of sharing the gospel to the needy in our community. Please pray with us in this.
Although we reported last year that the scheduling of Nursery Assistants had been discontinued and put emphasis on the covenant child being with parents working to include them in the worship service, we have taken up this work once again. Patty MacLean began oversight of this task along with Joanne Howe and Deb Wieners. From October to the present date, Jennifer Standish has handled the scheduling of the nursery helpers. She has also very graciously taken over the care of those young ones who must accompany their parents to the Adult Bible Study on Wednesday evenings. She has been a great help and we thank her for her consistently conscientious and caring service. Deaconess Joanne Howe has a statement with regard to nursery, which has been added to this report. Also, the May 2000 issue of the Covenanter Witness magazine has an excellent article dealing with helping children to worship, which seemed especially insightful. For a copy of this article, see any of the deaconesses.
As this year begins, with worship, studies and fellowships, may God grant to us deep and abiding relationships and kind and helpful attitudes toward each other, along with a willingness to go forth when and wherever He may lead.
“They all wait for Thee, to give them their food in due season. Thou dost give to them, they gather it up; Thou dost open Thy hand, they are satisfied with good.” - Psalm 104:27,28
“Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; Let the Lord be glad in His works;” - Psalm 104:31
Respectfully submitted,
Mella McGrath, Deaconess Board Chairman
1999-2000
In the past, the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Oswego and, indeed, most Reformed Presbyterian Churches have not provided a supervised nursery during the Lord’s Day worship services. People coming from Baptist or other Evangelical backgrounds may assume that the absence of this amenity is due to a lack of personnel, a lack of families needing this service or even a lack of concern for mothers of young children. None of these apply.
We have not had a supervised nursery because it is our belief that our children belong in the worship service; yes, even our babies. Reformed theology places children in the worship service with their parents. It views covenant children as a part of the church, not persons who merely attend with their parents and who may or may not have a place in worship. Since we have taken up again the provision of a supervised nursery, please note at the bottom of our order of worship, nursery directions for parents of young children. They are these which follow.
“We encourage you to help your children to worship.”
You are encouraged to bring your children into the worship of God so that they may take their rightful places as covenant members of the church.
“If they cannot be comforted, please use the nursery.”
Use the nursery as a place to bring your child for admonition and encouragement for return to the worship service. Do not let the nursery become a reward for misbehavior. When they are quieted, bring them back.
“If they cannot be comforted after a second attempt to bring them into worship, we encourage you to leave them with the helper in the nursery.”
For the sake of order and for the peace of others engaged in worship, we ask that parents not bring their children back and forth repeatedly. First, attempt to quiet your child in the service, if possible. Also, take time during the week to prepare your child for worship. Family worship is an excellent time to train your child to be still and listen – they should recognize the sound of prayer and the singing of God’s praise through hearing it in their homes daily.
“An intercom is set up so that you may worship if you choose to remain in the nursery.”
If you would like to stay in the nursery with your child, be aware that the intercom is there to enable you and the nursery helper to listen to what you can of the sermon. Please be considerate of other adults in the nursery and do not use the time for conversation outside of what is required to keep order and care for the children.
Thank you for keeping these principles and practices in mind as we pray and labor for God to bless our thousandth generation of those who love Him and keep His commandments! (see Deuteronomy 7:9)
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne Howe, Deaconess
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