Meeting Times at 4th United Presbyterian Church

Cafe' Worship: 9:15 a.m. each Sunday in Gathering Hall (activities provided for children; coffee; snacks)
Adult Sunday School: 10 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.


Bible Study: each Thursday at 6 p.m.


Community Forum: last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. with meal (no community forum in November, 2011)


About the 4th United Presbyterian Bible Blog

Posts on this blog are from me, Rev. George H. Waters, one of the two organizing co-pastors of 4th United Presbyterian Church. Our other organizing pastor was Rev. Sonya McAuley-Allen, who is now pastor of a church in Charlotte, N.C. Since June of 2011, Rev. Elizabeth Peterson has been our parish associate pastor for new church development. The earliest posts are sermon notes from the few I have typed the last two years. Then, there is a series of notes posted on the book of Romans. After that, it varies from week to week, sometimes church news, sometimes reflections on a happening, a passage of scripture, or even some pictures. This blog is meant to open the conversation we have going on in our church to others in our community.



The picture below is of our church's sanctuary, built in 1913.





Sunday, June 27, 2010

Words from a Spiritual

Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land.

Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in the time of storm.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Congratulations to Newly Elected Officers

The Session of Fourth United Presbyterian Church has elected Keith Lindsey to serve another one year term as treasurer and elected Terry Burns to serve a one year term as clerk of session.

The Congregation, at its annual meeting on June 20, 2010, elected the following members to serve a three year term on session: Keith Lindsey, Carl Freeman, Jo Ann Hicks, and Bob Crawford. Mr. Lindsey had previously been elected as deacon, but has now been elected as an elder in our church. Others had been previously elected as elders. An ordination service for Keith Lindsey will be scheduled in July.

The Congregation at this same meeting also elected Valorie McCannelley and Melissa Paul to serve three year terms on the deacon board. Melissa Paul had previously been elected as deacon. An ordination service for Valorie McCannelley to the office of deacon will be held in July together with the ordination of Keith Lindsey and installation of the elders and deacons elected.

Congratulations and thanks to these members for being willing to serve as officers of Fourth United Presbyterian Church.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Some words from the sermon on Sunday, June 6

"As you look at the pattern of your life, as you look at how you are living, does it reveal what you would like to be revealed about you? Do your day to day habits show that you have peace and a good outlook on how to live life or not? For some of us, the answer may be: well, I am on pretty solid ground in my living these days. I’m certainly not perfect, but I am clear about loving God and doing what I can to support and help others. For others of us, the answer may be: well, I thought I was on solid ground,but the mistakes I have been making lately cause me to think I’m on shaky ground. I really need to remember how to take care of myself and trust in God each day. Or, for others, the answer may be: I just don’t know anymore about anything. I used to feel that I could face anything in faith, and I used to always be able to get back up with a good attitude; but lately, I am just too tired to care much about anything except making it through another week, and having a little fun when I can. I’m not sure anymore what it would mean to have holy habits and feel near to God day by day."

Arizona Bill, Immigration, the Bible . . . and the Statue of Liberty

Exodus 22:21, "You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt."

Leviticus 19:34, "The alien who resides among you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God."

In Hebrews it says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels unawares."

On a tablet inside the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty is engraved the following sonnet, written by Emma Lazarus (1849-1887):

The New Colossus

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame. With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips.

"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

I think that those Bible passages and the words on this important memory of the hope of the United States are enough to say about Senate Bill 1070 in Arizona. I'll leave it at that.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Being in control, being out of control, being controlled, and having self-control

I will be posting some reflections this week about what "self-control" is, and I will be asking some questions about the way Christians talk about our will and God's will. One question I will ask is: "whether Christian spiritual practice aims at surrendering the human will into the greater will of God." If so, is this the final stage of spiritual movement, or a stage on the way. What is God's will about our human wills?