Pastor's Report - 2005

It’s that time of year again – our annual meeting of the congregation is coming up next week (Fri. Feb. 3rd). Here is my pastor’s report that will be presented at the meeting. I am thankful for God’s blessing on us.

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
1 Corinthians 3:7-9

This passage from 1 Corinthians 3 was part of the text I used for devotions at our December 2005 session meeting (full passage was vs. 1-15). In fact, it was the same text that I had used two years before at our December 2002 meeting. I repeated the devotion in order to get a progress report on what type of work we were doing here in Lisbon as elders and overseers of the flock that God has given us charge over. Let me first unpack the passage a bit.

The church at Corinth was a troubled place. Among many other sins, there was jealousy, division and strife. The church had cliques or factions – some were in the Paul group and some in the Apollos group. Paul chastises them for this infighting pointing out that they are acting like young children rather than adults. Their spiritual growth was stunted because of this sin. But Paul will have nothing to do with factions: 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. He puts the focus squarely on God who is the source of strength and growth while he and Apollos are just the servants that God uses to accomplish His will (vs. 5). It doesn’t matter who the servants are (the one who plants or the one who waters), because God is the one who is ultimately responsible for the growth (vs. 7). The servants are all equal; one is not more important or more necessary than the other. They are not to carry out their tasks as if they were in competition with one another and certainly not as though they were in conflict with one another. They are both on the same team, though God has given each one a different assignment; each according to their respective gifts. Yet, it is God who receives the glory for the increase. Paul informs the church that each servant will then be rewarded for their faithfulness in how they used their gifts to accomplish the task given. If you faithfully planted you will not be condemned because there was insufficient watering. If you take the time to water and nurture, you will not be condemned because the seeds were initially planted improperly. But in either situation the growth or increase will be God’s doing; for the power of God is working through them to bring Him the glory.

Paul then goes on to further illustrate this point, shifting from the garden to the construction site. “We are God’s fellow workers” (vs. 9) Paul says of Apollos and himself; and the Corinthians are “God’s field”, and “God’s building”. One lays the foundation and then another builds upon it. The foundation of the building has been set, Jesus Christ is the foundation or as Paul says in Ephesians the teaching of the “apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (2:20) is the foundation we need to build upon. But the one who builds must take great care that he uses materials that will last, for it will be tested by fire. The fire will test the quality of each one’s work (vs. 13). The result is simple; if the building remains there is a reward, if the building is destroyed there will be less reward (vs. 14-15). If quality work and materials were put into it, the building will endure even the difficult and challenging times. But if the quality of materials was not good and the work shoddy, then the building will not be left standing after the fire comes. When you build – be sure to work faithfully and with material that is going to endure.

Well, the point of this passage was the same in 2005 as it was in 2002, and it is the same now. I want to expand the focus a bit though and not just focus on the elders’ work but also, our work as a congregation of God’s people. Hopefully you can look over the summary of this passage and easily see the application. The follow-up questions I asked the elders, I now ask you (with a few more thrown in for good measure): Are you faithfully using your gifts to do your part in God’s field? Are you seeking to work together with one another rather than in competition with or in conflict with one another? Has your spiritual growth been stunted or is there evident growth in the last year? What type of building are you helping to erect on the foundation that has been laid over 165 years ago? Are you working with materials (faith followed by good works) that will last and stand the test of fire (difficult and challenging times)? Overall, how do you think the spiritual “building” looks? What is being done right in the ministry of our congregation? What areas can we improve upon? Are you willing to use your gifts, to pitch in and help make the difference? What kind of rewards are you hoping to receive for your work - recognition in the here and now or the everlasting rewards in Heaven? (see also Matthew 6:19-21).

I would ask that you sincerely pray about and think upon these questions – and consider in your hearts how you might answer them; for a time is coming when you may be asked to give an answer. Lord willing, my plan is to use these questions as a starting point in my pastoral visits in 2006 to challenge each of you to continue growing in grace and the knowledge of the truth and to be using your God given gifts for the glory of God alone.

I will share that as the elders discussed these questions – we were thankful for the growth and increase that the Lord has granted our congregation, even with our shortcomings as under-shepherds. We were able to cite some examples of how we withstood some “tests of fire” and remained strong by God’s grace. We rejoiced that there are no apparent divisions within the church and that there is much unity. We were thankful that when potential conflicts did arise they were dealt with in a manner of love and grace. But we also noted that we could be stronger, we could be more unified, we could be more Christ-like, and we could be more faithful in all that we do. There is always room for improvement and we praise God for the increase He gives.
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As I look back and review the year 2005 in relation to my ministry to the Lisbon Reformed Presbyterian Church, I continue to be thankful for the grace and mercy of God that He has showered upon me, my family and the congregation. In May I had the privilege of baptizing Caleigh Jean Smith as a good gift from God to her parents, her family and our church. It was an honor to take part in welcoming into our membership Mark and Cathy Rusgrove and Dan Sweeney upon profession of faith. I also officiated at the funerals of two individuals who were not members of our congregation, Beulah Fields and Donald Putney. In April, I served as communion assistant at the Ridgefield Park (NJ) RPC.

From January to July I preached through Paul’s letter to Titus and was truly blessed and challenged as we considered the importance of a firm doctrinal foundation for practical living. I started a ‘Summers in the Psalms’ series, covering Psalms 1-3 and hope to return to this series d.v. this summer. Since each Psalm is its own entity, it makes for a good series during the come-and-go vacation times of summer. In September, I began preaching through Genesis; spending most of the Fall on chapter 1 alone. I trust that the study has been fruitful as we have considered (and continue to do so) the ‘foundation of all things’. In the P.M. service I concluded a study of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and then in September began a study of the Apostles’ Creed. I was grateful to have Pastor Peter Moelker of the Lisbon OPC and our own Robert More fill the pulpit during my vacation times this year. It was also a privilege to have Matt Filbert (RP Seminary admissions and RP short-term missions coordinator) preach for us after being our Thank-offering speaker in October and Pastor Harold Harrington who doubled as our Fall Communion assistant and the speaker for our Anniversary Celebration in September.

Other ministry opportunities and activities this year included: Visitation (at homes and in hospitals), personal counseling, leading a Bible study on Ephesians, beginning a young men’s discipleship study, having an opportunity to study with and witness to a couple of Mormon missionaries, conducting church information studies, continuing the children’s story hour at the Lisbon library, starting a monthly youth group, preaching at the OPC for Pastor Moelker while he was on vacation, moderating the session, going to Synod in Beaver Falls (PA), going to presbytery meetings in Rochester and Syracuse, attending the Lisbon Ministers Association meetings (as secretary), attending the Reformed Ministers Fellowship (which is sponsoring an elders workshop in February which we are hosting), dressing as the ‘Bishop of Pretzel’ ☺ for the Reformation Celebration, preaching at the joint Thanksgiving Eve service with the OPC, leading prayer meeting, practicing hospitality and praying for each member of the congregation. I have also recently gotten in the rotation of preaching the Protestant services at both St. Joseph’s and Cedars nursing homes.

Certainly our 165th Anniversary Celebration was a highlight of the year. Our theme was “God’s Faithfulness” and I am still awed by how the Lord has continued to preserve a Gospel witness through our congregation over all those years. And of course one of the highlights of the evening was the ‘surprise’ honoring of those faithful servants whom God has used to bring about the growth and increase in our congregation that we enjoy today. Again, I wish to thank Dale and Shirley Smith, Web and Edna Fields, Lowell and Helen Smith and River Rover captain Bob Lee for their many years of faithful service. I also want to especially thank Shelley Bond for her assistance in the planning of this event as well as everyone who helped with the historical displays and refreshments. May God be pleased to give us another 165 years if He so tarries.
Maria and I thank you for the continued love, support, encouragement and generosity which you extend toward us and our family. It is a blessing to be serving our Lord by serving you. Again I thank each of you for your part in building up a building that will glorify the Lord above all things.

Peace in Christ Jesus,


Pastor Steve Rockhill