Special Need for the Slavic Reformation Society

From the chairman of the Slavic Reformation Society:

“Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ! As chairman of the Board of the Slavic Reformation Society, I wanted to give you a year-end update on our ministry in Russia. In September, ten pastors from Russia, the Ukraine and Kazakhstan attended our pastors’ training session in St. Petersburg. Another six ministers applied for this two-week intensive course but for one of the first times we had to turn qualified men away because we were unable to pay their travel/living expenses.

Currently, we have 18 pastors applying for our March 2010 session! This as an encouraging endorsement of our teaching and mentoring. The American professor who taught in September reported that these men were the most mature men he had witnessed in his fifteen years of ministry in Russia. The pastors we are mentoring represent more than 1,000 congregants, so your investment in the ministry multiplies 100 times. As you may know, Blake Purcell is in Texas this year and is visiting churches and supporters with a goal of raising our ongoing monthly support. But, we have a special need to raise $25,000 by the end of this year to meet our short term budget requirements.

This amount will cover our operating costs in St. Petersburg and meet our obligations to the Purcells. Additionally, it will provide the foundation to expand the March 2010 intensive course to include the 18 pastors desiring to attend. Help SRS see the Word of the Lord multiply and prevail in the Russian-speaking world by giving a special end-of-year gift of $100 to $1,000 or more.

You may mail your tax-deductible contributions to SRS PO Box 794 Louisville, MS 39339 or contribute via PayPal on our website.

 If you have any questions or would like to have Blake share the ministry with your congregation, you may call him at 940.613.9611 or write blakepurcell2000@yahoo.com.

Yours in Christ, Mike Forster, Chairman Slavic Reformation Society

The Genevan Psalter Resource Center

The Genevan Psalter Resource Center - “This website is intended as a center for resources and information relating to the Genevan Psalter, including any and all articles, sheet music, recordings, books, websites and metrical translations based on it.”

Douglas Wilson on Vestments

Douglas Wilson has a good article on vestments.  Although we at the Institute would be in favor of collars and vestments, Wilson has a knack for boiling the issue down to really practical points, which we need to consider.  We do need to have a conversation about this, and we do need to learn a whole lot more about liturgical garb before we simply don whatever is selling in vestments catalogues. 

A good place to start is Max Thurian’s The Eucharistic Memorial, vol. 1 (chap. 5).  Thurian has a short history and theology of vestments there.

Good Halloween Article

I found this article quite helpful in developing a Reformed Catholic view of Halloween – “Is Halloween a Witches’ Brew?” by Harold L. Myra.

All Saints’ Day/ Reformation Day

Here is something I wrote a few years ago on the subject.

And here are some more developed thoughts that I didn’t have time to write then!

“Reformation Day Thoughts (09)” – a talk I plan to give to at a church gathering on Oct. 31.

Stop Child Trafficking Now!

Stop Child Trafficking Now! – Slavery still exists. Sexual exploitation of children is rampant throughout the world. Each year, thousands of enslaved and sexually exploited children are brought into the USA! Virtually no one in the US has been convicted of child trafficking in the last 10 years. Get involved–your salvation may depend on it (Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-13).

(Regular readers know I don’t often post on topics outside the parameters of our mission statement, but I thought the magnitude of the problem deserves the widest possible exposure.)

Church Added – Providence Presbyterian Church – Chilhowie, VA

Providence Presbyterian Church (Chilhowie, VA – OPC)

Topical Studies from the Christus Rex Study Center

Here are two Topical Studies from the Christus Rex Study Center.  I hope they are helpful for churches exploring Scripture’s teaching on Church Discipline and Church Architecture.  (These studies have both grown out of issues confronting our own local church.  They are by no means exhaustive studies, and I welcome any suggestions on how to improve them!)

Church Discipline: A Theological & Practical Primer

 Priorities in Architecture: Being the Church

Christ Covenant Church of Chicago

Another church has been added to our growing list: Christ Covenant Church of Chicago.

Christian Book Sale!!!

Canon Press is having a huge sale! Many titles on theology and worship are only $1, $2, or $3!!!