Super Worship

This Sunday evening features Super Worship. Yes, on Super Bowl Sunday we will actually be worshipping our Lord both morning AND evening. Don't miss these two special events.

In the King's Presence

Miriam Padusis sent this in:

I couldn't resist the invitation (with official ticket) to attend last Sunday's service "In the Presence of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall." It was quite impressive with all the notables, some Welsh and also Scots in their kilts, British officers, the Orpheus Club of Philadelphia, the First Troop Phila. City Cavalry, the guest choir, secret service,etc., etc. etc. Dr. George Clayton Ames (the minister) used the lectionary for the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany which included the Epistle lesson from I Cor. 12:31b - 13:13 ( read in Welsh with an English program for following). The hymns were all quite solid and familiar to our 'Tenth' ears. The benediction hymn though was "God Bless the Prince of Wales" and sung as the royal guests made their way to their motorcade. It was memorable.

Do we miss Tenth when any of us miss a Sunday? Of course. There we always feel we are in the presence of our King and hearing His Word. We miss Dr. Ryken's expository preaching and teaching as well as the congregational outreach. The Welsh influence in the singing at Arch Street was stupendous but when the Tenth congregation opens its soul in singing with Dr. Jones at the organ we are reminded that in heaven what a joyful time that will be. Sing all ye saints to the glory of His name!

House for Rent

A co-worker of Jessie Bible is moving to Japan and is looking to rent out his house in Narberth. Here is info:

$1600/ month. 3 Bedroom, 1.5 Bath Twin in Narberth Borough on Elm Terrace (dead end street) next to Sabine Avenue playground. New kitchen, washer/dryer, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher, 3 car driveway, deck, large outdoor shed, private yard, dry basement.

Easy walking access to Wawa, Acme, the Narberth train station (R5 line 15 minute ride to Suburban Station), Rt 44 bus stop (goes downtown), and all the conveniences of downtown Narberth (shops, library, post office, movie theater).

Quiet neighborhood, great for kids. Available 3/1/07. Elm Terrace at Essex Avenue
Craigslist link: http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/apa/270438252.html

Friendly Reminder

Husbands, it is twelve days before Valentine's Day. Make yourself a note now to buy that card and gift.

Back in Touch

Sorry for the lapse in postings. I've been in many meetings. One meeting was a pleasant dinner Tuesday night with members of the former Strategic Planning Committee. It was a way to bring good closure for a group that labored over a year in carrying through the planning process. We ate at Abreccios in West Philadelphia. Ate by a fire and watched the snow fall outside.

I spent this morning at Spruce Hill Christian School. I wanted to get familiar with the good work being done there and came away very impressed with the education process being conducted.

Yesterday morning I led a meeting of the Philadelphia Presbytery's Coordinating Team. That is the committee that prepares for the presbytery meetings. The next one is February 10 and will be hosted by our daughter church Cresheim Valley. This is the church led by John Leonard in the Chestnut Hill/Mt. Airy area.

We are getting reading for the Workshop on Biblical Exposition, the second of what we hope to be an annual preaching conference put on by the Simeon Trust. It is a practical three day conference that includes small group presentation and discussion of expositional sermons. Anne Davies is handling all the details and could use some volunteer help. Contact her at adavies@tenth.org.

Welcome, Analee!

Carroll sent this in:

Jack and Sarah Ellis welcomed a little girl into their family this morning at 6:00 am. Jack was speaking rather quickly but I think he said "Analee Marie" weighing 10 lb.15 oz....by c-section (thankfully). Everyone is doing well.

When in Rome

If you would like to keep up with the Skeels' adventures in Rome for the next four months, check out Sharon's blog "Letter from Rome."

Of Mice and Men

This is sent in by Bryan Glass, shamelessly promoting his next adventerous project.

Just sharing with you folks the first official announcement of my new series debuting this August!Very excited!!! Click here. -Bryan :)

Welcome, Jackson

Dear family and Friends,

We are pleased to announce the birth of Jackson Paul Strong, on January 27th, at 11:57 PM, measuring 22 inches, and weighing in at a whopping 12 pounds and 9 ounces!! His brothers Ethan and Owen, and his sister Lorelei are very pleased as well as his parents.

We are grateful for your prayers at this time, since he had a breathing problem that required his being on a ventilator for the last day and a half. They caught this problem right in time as his condition could have rapidly spiraled downward. This morning they finally were able to remove the breathing tube and he seems to be doing well, though they will continue to monitor him in the NICU until they are sure that he is OK. We are praying for a solid recovery, and that Jackson may join us as we return home Wednesday evening.

Jeremy, for the Stronghold

NT Networking

Here is an interesting post for the more “geeky” readers of your blog:

Mapping New Testament Social Networks

John Voorhis

Letter from Tara

Here is a note from Tara Barthel who is speaking at the 2007 TenthWomen Conference - "Living the Gospel in Relationships" Click here for more information, including a brochure. The conference is Sat Feb 24.)

Dear friends,

Thank you for inviting me to serve at your upcoming women’s conference! I am particularly enjoying preparing for your event because my time in prayer and in the Word is helping to keep my head afloat. That is … I am currently preparing to record my first dvd teaching series, and it just feels like the pressures of life and work can be overwhelming at times. Maybe some of you can relate:

1. As much as I love serving my husband, daughter, and church, my relationships can be frustrating (or non-existent) and I’m regularly disappointed by hurts and conflicts—even among the people I love most in the world.

2. I love my work! And I am always honored by invitations to mediate, speak, or write. But I’m often tired, burned-out, and overwhelmed as I look at my day-to-day responsibilities.

3. God’s present means of grace are RICH in my life. How I thank God for His Word, Spirit, and Body! And yet, my own habitual sins and ongoing struggles continue to plague me and many times I wonder, “Will I EVER get over THIS sin?”

Of course, the only way I know to combat such temptations is faith. Remembering the gospel! Laying hold of Christ—Who is already laying hold of me.

This “remembering the gospel” takes place in the Body—the Church—and that’s why we will be gathering to spend time together at your women’s conference.

I do hope that you will consider joining us!

(I particularly hope that you will come if you’re a women’s conference skeptic; if you don’t like women’s events or women in general; or if you’re just burnt out on life. Really—you’ll feel right at home. And, trusting in God’s grace to draw us to Himself, I truly believe that you will leave encouraged and helped.)

See you on February 24!

Your sister in Christ,
Tara Barthel

PS
If you’d like to get to know me a bit before the retreat, I encourage you to visit my blog and discussion board at www.tarabarthel.com.

PCC Worship

Yesterday, Ginger, Sarah and I attended the Philadelphia Community Church worship service. The service is at 8:30 am and is in the Romanian Orthodox Church building on Brown and Bodine Streets in the Northern Liberties area. I encourage Tenth members to visit for a show of support. Chuck Paul who leads the church is a Tenth intern. To learn more about the young fedgling congregation, go to www.phillycommunitychurch.org.

They have a warm group of people. Chuck does a fine job of expository preaching. He is presently going through the book of Hebrews and is in chapter 10.

Back Home

I am back from a delightful trip to Cape Cod in celebration of Ginger's parents' 60th anniversary. We ate at the Coonamesset Inn in Falmouth. Ginger and I tried swordfish for the first time and enjoyed it. Now, back to work!