This is about the third version of this article. I am much more of a speaker than a writer, so my writing goes quite slowly; with one and a half hands for typing it goes even slower. I want to briefly cover three topics with you.

First, we are coming into the holiday season with Thanksgiving as the kick-off. It is entirely fitting that Christians begin their observance of holy-days with thanks to God for His blessings and gracious provision. Pre-eminently, of course, for His grace and mercy made ours in and thru Jesus. Advent, which is not a single holiday, but a season of holy days, begins on November 27th. Advent is that season of structured waiting that remembers how long the people of God waited for the appearance of the Promised One Who would redeem them from sin. We punctuate our brief reprise of that waiting with our Advent Candle lighting ceremony during worship. But Advent is more than a series of candles on Sunday. It is also a time for daily personal reflection, introspection, and prayer. Which leads to the second topic.

Our congregation-wide time of spiritual preparation through prayer and fasting is still in effect. The Study Group is coming to the end of its task, [See their article in this Good News Letter.] but our congregational work of preparation goes on. Just so you know, I am keeping up with my own regimen of prayer and fasting and it does not seem to retard my arm’s mending. I believe I am better able to see God’s hand in matters. I know I have heard Him speak to me about several issues, both personal and related to First Presbyterian Church of Ingram. If you have slacked off in your own disciplines in this, now is a great time to rededicate or restart. Remember, we are preparing to seek God’s direction for our congregation in the face of the dramatically changed circumstances of the PC (USA). This is no small or light thing. Many other congregations are finding that they must do the same as we are. I am concerned for them and pray for them. As you well know, the members and friends of this congregation are my first, my most urgent and important concern. So I remind you with a pastor’s most earnest encouragement that together we must do the necessary spiritual preparation so that we have our spiritual ears tuned to hear God speaking to us. Further, that no one will be able to say that we rushed into this, or that the Session and I led FPC anywhere other than in the direction God was pointing us. If you are seeking prayer partners, join us at 11:00am on Thursday mornings in the Community Room.

Final topic, but not final word: Mission Presbytery has decided to send us an administrative commission (AC). That is a serious step, admittedly. Just as clearly, Mission Presbytery is woefully misinformed about the vigor and vitality of FPC, and the character of its pastor. The AC will need to be much more rigorous in its own conduct of matters than was the Listening Team. The AC is required to keep minutes of its proceedings which will be open to inspection. In other words, everything must be on the official record. That tends to make people think twice before behaving as the Listening Team did. Our part is to cooperate as fully, cheerfully, and graciously with the AC as we can; in other words, to simply be the healthy and faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus we have always been. As I told you last Sunday, that is what I intend to do.

Much as we might dislike this situation, it is the situation we have. We must look forward and not backward. I do not know what God has in mind in all of this. I do know that it has not taken Him by surprise and it has come to us by His providential ordering of things. Therefore, whatever we might think, our Heavenly Father is using this distressing and painful time, the AC, and us to accomplish something that matters to Him. We are priviliged to be part of that something. It is a time for patience and steadfastness on our part. Those who "remain steadfast to the end will receive a crown of glory".

God will never abandon those who cling to Him, who seek His will, and who look for Him to direct them by means of His word and Spirit. I am coming more and more to appreciate one of the great dicta from the Reformation: soli Deo gloria—To God alone be the glory.