[Satan]

I bid good morning to the general population of homo's, minorities and retards of IT!!!!

[asshat]

Who edited my post?

[Sneezy]

this one? its still here. on page one.

I am both humbled and proud to be part of the history and the living heritage of Lewes Presbyterian Church. I've tended to consider myself a "Johnny come lately" to Lewes and to the ministry of this church; but now I'm in Judy's history of LPC, and my soon to be 12 years as pastor will tie me with John Thompson as the seventh longest pastorate of the 31 pastors in our congregation's 312-year history.

I sense that my blood, sweat, tears, prayers and joys are woven into the fabric of LPC history; and I consider it a great blessing and a privilege to be a part of the life and ministry of Lewes Presbyterian Church:

--not only because we are such a loving and caring congregation;

--not only because we are such an active and growing congregation;

--not only because we are blessed with an incredible staff and with such competent, hard-working and visionary lay leaders;

--not only because we are blessed with such gifted members willing to use their gifts in the Lord's service;

--but also because the life and ministry of Lewes Presbyterian Church rests firmly upon a long an vital heritage of faithful building upon the foundation laid by our Savior Jesus Christ.

This has been brought home to me the past couple of days as I have read Judy's history and reread her mother's book about LPC, while doing some further reading in the history of Christianity in America. My reading has led me to realize that our living heritage is grounded in an important work of God that is infinitely greater than the scope of our congregation.

In his history of North American Christianity, Mark Noll writes: "For the religious development of the United States, it was significant that Protestantism predominated in the early English colonies….it is also important to note the kind of Protestantism that prevailed. The earliest American Protestants were predominantly from the British Isles rather than from the Continent. They were also more likely to be Reformed than either Lutheran or Anabaptist….these Protestants practiced…the disciplined organization of all life and attitudes for the glory of God….these Protestants thought that discipline for God should be exerted in the world. Family life, business practices, political decisions, management of leisure time--all such concerns should be pursued with religious seriousness….as these Reformed Protestants came to America, they were seeking not a private space to be religious but a free space for their religion to transform. Later contributions by Protestants to American democracy, capitalism, individualism and voluntary associations all sprang…from the character of the sixteenth-century Reformation.

"For later American history, it is also important that most of the Protestants who came to America in the colonial period were Reformed…. Their view of God as ruler over all meant that doing God's will in every possible respect was the appropriate approach to the world. Church and society might be distinct spheres, but both were under God's direct control, and the people of God were supposed to exert that control."(1)

He's talking about our tradition--we were there at the ground floor of this great movement in American religious history, when our congregation was founded around 1692 by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians from the British Isles. Our Reformed heritage is precious because of its emphasis on living for the glory of God in obedience to the truth of the scriptures, and its emphasis on the priesthood of all believers which seeks to use the gifts of all of our members for ministry. This is part of our living heritage today.

We were also there a the Founding of the Presbyterian Church in the USA. Lewes Presbyterian Church was represented at the establishment of the first enduring American presbytery in 1706, and the first General Synod in 1716. We were thus on the ground floor of the founding of what was to become a great and influential denomination, which not only helped establish and shape the Christian faith in America, but sent missionaries around the world to establish vital indigenous churches in such distant and disparate places as Korea, China, India, Pakistan, the Congo, and Brazil. Today with our mission committee we are coming full circle, establishing relationships with indigenous Presbyterian ministries in the Congo and with the untouchables in India. We are part of a great work of God with worldwide implications that continues to grow.

One of the reasons that our denomination became great was its faithfulness to the tenets of the Reformed Tradition through adherence to the Westminster Confession. Again, Lewes Presbyterian Church was represented at the ground floor of that movement through the Reverend John Thompson, who was pastor here from 1717 to 1729, during whose pastorate the old brick church was built.

According to Elizabeth Russel Atkins in her history of LPC, "The year before he left Lewes, 1728," Thompson "delivered a stirring address to Synod, pleading the adoption of the Westminster Standards. In 1729, due greatly to his efforts, Synod passed the 'adopting act,'" requiring adherence to the essential tenets of the Reformed Tradition as found in the Westminister Confession. It remained our sole doctrinal standard until late in the last century when other Reformed Confessions were added to it to form our current Book of Confessions. We are part of a strong living heritage of faithfulness to sound doctrine.

But sound doctrine of itself is insufficient to maintain a living heritage of faith. We also need the spark of a living relationship of love with our Savior--a love that is ever being renewed. Thank God, this is also part of our living heritage at LPC, because of our connection with the great revival movement known as The Great Awakening. We were also on the ground floor of that movement, through our association with George Whitefield, whose itinerant preaching spread the fire of local revival movements throughout the colonies.

Winthrop Hudson's history of Religion in America says that Whitefield arrived in Philadelphia on November 2, 1739. But he actually landed in late October in Lewes. If you visit the history of American Revivals exhibit at the Billy Graham Museum at Wheaton College, you will see Lewes on the map as the landing place of George Whitefield on his evangelistic tour of America. According to Elizabeth Atkins' history, Whitefield preached in Lewes on October 31, 1739 "to a serious and attentive Congregation." Her history also relates that the then pastor of the Lewes Presbyterian Church, the Reverend Josias Martin, helped arrange for Whitefield's visit.

According to Hudson, "Whitefield…did as much to shape the future of American religious life as anyone else….with his incessant traveling and a catholicity of spirit that welcomed an opportunity to preach from any pulpit that was opened to him, the revival impulse permeated every denomination."(2)

Lefferts A. Loetscher in A Brief History of the Presbyterians, describes the lasting influence which the Great Awakening had on America: "Hitherto Christianity in the colonies had been a rather austere enterprise for the spiritually select; now the gospel came home to the common man with power. The Great Awakening decided that America should be a predominantly Christian land. It stimulated moral earnestness, missionary zeal, philanthropy, cooperation across denominational lines, and the founding of educational institutions. It gave new value and confidence to the average man and so contributed to the development of democracy in America. It strengthened the non-established churches more than the established, and so helped to prepare for religious freedom."(3)

Lewes Presbyterian Church was on the ground floor of that great movement in American religious history, and that's part of our living heritage. I find great encouragement in knowing that we are part of a great, ongoing work of God that continues today, as we in our intercessory prayer groups petition God regularly for a fresh great awakening that will turn our nation back to God.

We have a tremendous heritage as members of Lewes Presbyterian Church, and our historic sanctuary dating to 1832 is a tangible link to this heritage.

This distinctive edifice has served as a gathering place for our congregation's worship and a tangible witness to the faith of its builders since it was dedicated to the worship and service of God by the Rev. John Michelmore in 1832 according to this text from Haggai 2:7b: "and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts."

172 years later the Lord continues to bless us with the glory of his presence as we gather in increasing numbers for worship. A beloved landmark of "historic Lewes," our beautiful sanctuary is an important link to our future as well as our past, for it continues to attract new worshippers, whose hearts are lifted by the decorative plasterwork testifying to the careful devotion of our forebears, and the exquisite stained glass windows bearing eloquent witness to the redeeming grace of our Savior. It has been hallowed by the prayers of the saints over the decades, so that many remark that they sense the presence of the Lord as soon as they walk through the doors.

Unfortunately, after 172 years of service, our historic sanctuary is in need of major repairs, as you have read in the brochure and have seen in the power point presentation. It has fallen to us, who have such a great appreciation for our rich heritage, and whom God has abundantly blessed with vitality and resources, to undertake this great work of restoration. By the grace of God, we will rise to the challenge as we participate in our second "Living Stones" capital campaign with the theme, "Built on a Rock." In our sacrificial giving to restore and renew the foundation of our sanctuary, we will bear living witness to our faith and devotion to the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ.

Some might be thinking, just a few years ago, we participated in a capital campaign which raised 1.5 million dollars in three years, enabling us to complete our expanded and renovated activities building which we are enjoying tonight. Come on, give us a break!

Remember the Lord's words in Luke 12:48: "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded."

We've been blessed with peace and prosperity that people in countries like the Congo can only dream about. We are blessed to live in a place like Lewes and be part of a dynamic church with a living heritage. We have been blessed to be a blessing; and if we continue to share our blessings the Lord will be faithful to continue to bless us. That is the promise of our Haggai.

In our Old Testament lesson the prophet Haggai is bringing the word of the Lord to the exiles who have returned from 70 years of captivity in Babylon to resettle in Jerusalem. After first chiding the returned exiles to Jerusalem for their exclusive devotion to "feathering their own nests" in their paneled houses while the Temple lay in ruins, the Lord then comforts them when they repent with the covenant promise that he will not fail them or forsake them, but will be with them as they respond to the word of his prophet and devote themselves to honoring him by rebuilding his temple for worship:

"But now be strong…all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear." (Haggai 2:4-9)

But some might be thinking, this is a lot of money to be spending on a house of worship when we could be giving to the poor, who are much more needier than we are. This is true; yet I invite you to consider that we are giving this money to honor the Lord in worship; and maintaining a place of worship appropriate to our identity in the historic community in which our ministry is based is essential to our continuation as a vital church.

Moreover, we have God's promise to his people that if we rebuild his house and honor him with worship, he will continue to bless us so that we can be an ever-greater channel of blessing to the poor and needy. That is my firm belief and my hope for the future, in which I envision our mission giving growing exponentially as we grow spiritually through our encounters with the living God in worship.

For the prophet Haggai goes on to encourage the people with this promise:

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."

What he is saying is, that if these returned exiles who do not consider themselves wealthy are faithful to give to rebuild the temple and worship him faithfully, the Lord will reward them with the wealth of the nations. This is brought out in the RSV translation of Haggai 2:7-9: "and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts."

Jesus gave the same promise to his disciples in Matthew 6:33: "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." And it is our promise tonight as we prepare to participate in Living Stones II.

Larry Jacobson of First United Methodist Church in Prague, Oklahoma relates an experience he had on a visit to the Philippines in 1987. He was visiting one of the newer Methodist churches established in a small but growing city called Daet. He first visited the pastor and his family, staying in the small "lean-to" they had built on the side of a beautiful little chapel. The pastor explained that the congregation had wanted to build a parsonage, but he insisted they construct a chapel first, so they could begin reaching more folks with the Gospel.

The next day they visited the home of one of his parishioners. They were far from wealthy, but the father had a good job, and their home was larger and sturdier than most. When he admired their house, the wife said, "Yes, you know we have saved for years to build this. In fact, every time we could get a few pesos ahead, we would buy some lumber and store it, dreaming of building a home. But, more Protestants moved into the area, and the Presbyterians decided to build a chapel, so we donated what lumber we had to them.

"A few years later, we have saved up enough boards again to build our home, but a Methodist pastor had begun working here for the Lord. We were both Methodists, so when it was decided to build a chapel again, we gave our timbers for that. Finally, a few years later we had enough lumber for a home. "Let's build it, quick!" we said, "before the Baptists come!"

They both laughed, knowing they would just as cheerfully have giving the materials again, had the need arisen….one cannot help but be moved by the generous love these folks had for the people of God, and the mission of the church of Jesus Christ.(4)

Well, this evening it's our turn: We have the opportunity to respond faithfully to the challenge and the promises of God, as we give to keep our faithful and living heritage alive.

Evelyn Underhill wrote in The School of Charity: "Our whole life is to be poised on a certain glad expectancy of God; taking each moment, incident, choice and opportunity as material placed in our hand by the Creator whose whole intricate and mysterious process moves toward the triumph of Charity, and who has given each living spirit a tiny part in this vast work of transformation."(5)

I hope that there is a glad expectancy of God in each of our hearts; for it is time to ask him what part he would have each of us to play in the great work of continuing our living heritage through the Living Stones II campaign to restore our sanctuary.

(Delivered by Dr. Harry W. Hughes at Lewes Presbyterian Church on May 23, 2004)



1.

1ark A. Noll, The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), pp. 45-47.

2. 2 Winthrop S. Hudson, Religion in America: An historical account of the development of American religious life, 2nd Ed. (New York: Scribners, 1973), pp.67-69.

3.

3 Lefferts A. Loetscher A Brief History of the Presbyterians, 4th Ed. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1978), pp. 68-69.

4.

4 Cited in Pastors' Story File, September, 1987.

5.

5 Cited in Christianity Today, Vol. 34, No. 8.

[asshat]

No, I saw that one. I was thinking about the picture that I posted. It is gone now.

I am both humbled and proud to be part of the history and the living heritage of Lewes Presbyterian Church. I've tended to consider myself a "Johnny come lately" to Lewes and to the ministry of this church; but now I'm in Judy's history of LPC, and my soon to be 12 years as pastor will tie me with John Thompson as the seventh longest pastorate of the 31 pastors in our congregation's 312-year history.

I sense that my blood, sweat, tears, prayers and joys are woven into the fabric of LPC history; and I consider it a great blessing and a privilege to be a part of the life and ministry of Lewes Presbyterian Church:

--not only because we are such a loving and caring congregation;

--not only because we are such an active and growing congregation;

--not only because we are blessed with an incredible staff and with such competent, hard-working and visionary lay leaders;

--not only because we are blessed with such gifted members willing to use their gifts in the Lord's service;

--but also because the life and ministry of Lewes Presbyterian Church rests firmly upon a long an vital heritage of faithful building upon the foundation laid by our Savior Jesus Christ.

This has been brought home to me the past couple of days as I have read Judy's history and reread her mother's book about LPC, while doing some further reading in the history of Christianity in America. My reading has led me to realize that our living heritage is grounded in an important work of God that is infinitely greater than the scope of our congregation.

In his history of North American Christianity, Mark Noll writes: "For the religious development of the United States, it was significant that Protestantism predominated in the early English colonies….it is also important to note the kind of Protestantism that prevailed. The earliest American Protestants were predominantly from the British Isles rather than from the Continent. They were also more likely to be Reformed than either Lutheran or Anabaptist….these Protestants practiced…the disciplined organization of all life and attitudes for the glory of God….these Protestants thought that discipline for God should be exerted in the world. Family life, business practices, political decisions, management of leisure time--all such concerns should be pursued with religious seriousness….as these Reformed Protestants came to America, they were seeking not a private space to be religious but a free space for their religion to transform. Later contributions by Protestants to American democracy, capitalism, individualism and voluntary associations all sprang…from the character of the sixteenth-century Reformation.

"For later American history, it is also important that most of the Protestants who came to America in the colonial period were Reformed…. Their view of God as ruler over all meant that doing God's will in every possible respect was the appropriate approach to the world. Church and society might be distinct spheres, but both were under God's direct control, and the people of God were supposed to exert that control."(1)

He's talking about our tradition--we were there at the ground floor of this great movement in American religious history, when our congregation was founded around 1692 by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians from the British Isles. Our Reformed heritage is precious because of its emphasis on living for the glory of God in obedience to the truth of the scriptures, and its emphasis on the priesthood of all believers which seeks to use the gifts of all of our members for ministry. This is part of our living heritage today.

We were also there a the Founding of the Presbyterian Church in the USA. Lewes Presbyterian Church was represented at the establishment of the first enduring American presbytery in 1706, and the first General Synod in 1716. We were thus on the ground floor of the founding of what was to become a great and influential denomination, which not only helped establish and shape the Christian faith in America, but sent missionaries around the world to establish vital indigenous churches in such distant and disparate places as Korea, China, India, Pakistan, the Congo, and Brazil. Today with our mission committee we are coming full circle, establishing relationships with indigenous Presbyterian ministries in the Congo and with the untouchables in India. We are part of a great work of God with worldwide implications that continues to grow.

One of the reasons that our denomination became great was its faithfulness to the tenets of the Reformed Tradition through adherence to the Westminster Confession. Again, Lewes Presbyterian Church was represented at the ground floor of that movement through the Reverend John Thompson, who was pastor here from 1717 to 1729, during whose pastorate the old brick church was built.

According to Elizabeth Russel Atkins in her history of LPC, "The year before he left Lewes, 1728," Thompson "delivered a stirring address to Synod, pleading the adoption of the Westminster Standards. In 1729, due greatly to his efforts, Synod passed the 'adopting act,'" requiring adherence to the essential tenets of the Reformed Tradition as found in the Westminister Confession. It remained our sole doctrinal standard until late in the last century when other Reformed Confessions were added to it to form our current Book of Confessions. We are part of a strong living heritage of faithfulness to sound doctrine.

But sound doctrine of itself is insufficient to maintain a living heritage of faith. We also need the spark of a living relationship of love with our Savior--a love that is ever being renewed. Thank God, this is also part of our living heritage at LPC, because of our connection with the great revival movement known as The Great Awakening. We were also on the ground floor of that movement, through our association with George Whitefield, whose itinerant preaching spread the fire of local revival movements throughout the colonies.

Winthrop Hudson's history of Religion in America says that Whitefield arrived in Philadelphia on November 2, 1739. But he actually landed in late October in Lewes. If you visit the history of American Revivals exhibit at the Billy Graham Museum at Wheaton College, you will see Lewes on the map as the landing place of George Whitefield on his evangelistic tour of America. According to Elizabeth Atkins' history, Whitefield preached in Lewes on October 31, 1739 "to a serious and attentive Congregation." Her history also relates that the then pastor of the Lewes Presbyterian Church, the Reverend Josias Martin, helped arrange for Whitefield's visit.

According to Hudson, "Whitefield…did as much to shape the future of American religious life as anyone else….with his incessant traveling and a catholicity of spirit that welcomed an opportunity to preach from any pulpit that was opened to him, the revival impulse permeated every denomination."(2)

Lefferts A. Loetscher in A Brief History of the Presbyterians, describes the lasting influence which the Great Awakening had on America: "Hitherto Christianity in the colonies had been a rather austere enterprise for the spiritually select; now the gospel came home to the common man with power. The Great Awakening decided that America should be a predominantly Christian land. It stimulated moral earnestness, missionary zeal, philanthropy, cooperation across denominational lines, and the founding of educational institutions. It gave new value and confidence to the average man and so contributed to the development of democracy in America. It strengthened the non-established churches more than the established, and so helped to prepare for religious freedom."(3)

Lewes Presbyterian Church was on the ground floor of that great movement in American religious history, and that's part of our living heritage. I find great encouragement in knowing that we are part of a great, ongoing work of God that continues today, as we in our intercessory prayer groups petition God regularly for a fresh great awakening that will turn our nation back to God.

We have a tremendous heritage as members of Lewes Presbyterian Church, and our historic sanctuary dating to 1832 is a tangible link to this heritage.

This distinctive edifice has served as a gathering place for our congregation's worship and a tangible witness to the faith of its builders since it was dedicated to the worship and service of God by the Rev. John Michelmore in 1832 according to this text from Haggai 2:7b: "and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts."

172 years later the Lord continues to bless us with the glory of his presence as we gather in increasing numbers for worship. A beloved landmark of "historic Lewes," our beautiful sanctuary is an important link to our future as well as our past, for it continues to attract new worshippers, whose hearts are lifted by the decorative plasterwork testifying to the careful devotion of our forebears, and the exquisite stained glass windows bearing eloquent witness to the redeeming grace of our Savior. It has been hallowed by the prayers of the saints over the decades, so that many remark that they sense the presence of the Lord as soon as they walk through the doors.

Unfortunately, after 172 years of service, our historic sanctuary is in need of major repairs, as you have read in the brochure and have seen in the power point presentation. It has fallen to us, who have such a great appreciation for our rich heritage, and whom God has abundantly blessed with vitality and resources, to undertake this great work of restoration. By the grace of God, we will rise to the challenge as we participate in our second "Living Stones" capital campaign with the theme, "Built on a Rock." In our sacrificial giving to restore and renew the foundation of our sanctuary, we will bear living witness to our faith and devotion to the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ.

Some might be thinking, just a few years ago, we participated in a capital campaign which raised 1.5 million dollars in three years, enabling us to complete our expanded and renovated activities building which we are enjoying tonight. Come on, give us a break!

Remember the Lord's words in Luke 12:48: "From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded."

We've been blessed with peace and prosperity that people in countries like the Congo can only dream about. We are blessed to live in a place like Lewes and be part of a dynamic church with a living heritage. We have been blessed to be a blessing; and if we continue to share our blessings the Lord will be faithful to continue to bless us. That is the promise of our Haggai.

In our Old Testament lesson the prophet Haggai is bringing the word of the Lord to the exiles who have returned from 70 years of captivity in Babylon to resettle in Jerusalem. After first chiding the returned exiles to Jerusalem for their exclusive devotion to "feathering their own nests" in their paneled houses while the Temple lay in ruins, the Lord then comforts them when they repent with the covenant promise that he will not fail them or forsake them, but will be with them as they respond to the word of his prophet and devote themselves to honoring him by rebuilding his temple for worship:

"But now be strong…all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear." (Haggai 2:4-9)

But some might be thinking, this is a lot of money to be spending on a house of worship when we could be giving to the poor, who are much more needier than we are. This is true; yet I invite you to consider that we are giving this money to honor the Lord in worship; and maintaining a place of worship appropriate to our identity in the historic community in which our ministry is based is essential to our continuation as a vital church.

Moreover, we have God's promise to his people that if we rebuild his house and honor him with worship, he will continue to bless us so that we can be an ever-greater channel of blessing to the poor and needy. That is my firm belief and my hope for the future, in which I envision our mission giving growing exponentially as we grow spiritually through our encounters with the living God in worship.

For the prophet Haggai goes on to encourage the people with this promise:

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty."

What he is saying is, that if these returned exiles who do not consider themselves wealthy are faithful to give to rebuild the temple and worship him faithfully, the Lord will reward them with the wealth of the nations. This is brought out in the RSV translation of Haggai 2:7-9: "and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts."

Jesus gave the same promise to his disciples in Matthew 6:33: "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." And it is our promise tonight as we prepare to participate in Living Stones II.

Larry Jacobson of First United Methodist Church in Prague, Oklahoma relates an experience he had on a visit to the Philippines in 1987. He was visiting one of the newer Methodist churches established in a small but growing city called Daet. He first visited the pastor and his family, staying in the small "lean-to" they had built on the side of a beautiful little chapel. The pastor explained that the congregation had wanted to build a parsonage, but he insisted they construct a chapel first, so they could begin reaching more folks with the Gospel.

The next day they visited the home of one of his parishioners. They were far from wealthy, but the father had a good job, and their home was larger and sturdier than most. When he admired their house, the wife said, "Yes, you know we have saved for years to build this. In fact, every time we could get a few pesos ahead, we would buy some lumber and store it, dreaming of building a home. But, more Protestants moved into the area, and the Presbyterians decided to build a chapel, so we donated what lumber we had to them.

"A few years later, we have saved up enough boards again to build our home, but a Methodist pastor had begun working here for the Lord. We were both Methodists, so when it was decided to build a chapel again, we gave our timbers for that. Finally, a few years later we had enough lumber for a home. "Let's build it, quick!" we said, "before the Baptists come!"

They both laughed, knowing they would just as cheerfully have giving the materials again, had the need arisen….one cannot help but be moved by the generous love these folks had for the people of God, and the mission of the church of Jesus Christ.(4)

Well, this evening it's our turn: We have the opportunity to respond faithfully to the challenge and the promises of God, as we give to keep our faithful and living heritage alive.

Evelyn Underhill wrote in The School of Charity: "Our whole life is to be poised on a certain glad expectancy of God; taking each moment, incident, choice and opportunity as material placed in our hand by the Creator whose whole intricate and mysterious process moves toward the triumph of Charity, and who has given each living spirit a tiny part in this vast work of transformation."(5)

I hope that there is a glad expectancy of God in each of our hearts; for it is time to ask him what part he would have each of us to play in the great work of continuing our living heritage through the Living Stones II campaign to restore our sanctuary.

(Delivered by Dr. Harry W. Hughes at Lewes Presbyterian Church on May 23, 2004)



1.

1ark A. Noll, The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), pp. 45-47.

2. 2 Winthrop S. Hudson, Religion in America: An historical account of the development of American religious life, 2nd Ed. (New York: Scribners, 1973), pp.67-69.

3.

3 Lefferts A. Loetscher A Brief History of the Presbyterians, 4th Ed. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1978), pp. 68-69.

4.

4 Cited in Pastors' Story File, September, 1987.

5.

5 Cited in Christianity Today, Vol. 34, No. 8.

[Satan]

Proves my point.

[ntype]

at least you're keeping that junk in there.

[Satan]

So what did everyone have for lunch today?
I had a shrimp basket from a local seafood shack.

[Satan]

4/27/05

Its getting lonely in my thread. Someone please respond.

[Satan]

Dr. Lechter - you have no life. If you want me to explain I will later.

[Satan]

Im going to hijack an Ownster members sig and use it here...its funny.

[Satan]

Oh yeah,if anyone here knows a good deal about motherboards I could use your assistance.

[ntype]

4/27/05

Its getting lonely in my thread. Someone please respond.

[Satan]

So what does everyone do for a living?

[Satan]

At least Im keeping my banter in my own thread. Get out of here.

[Satan]

1 more post.

[ntype]

1 more post.

[Bill]

For a few days now, when I see "DRP Thread" I for some reason think it is about Double Penetration......go figure.

[Satan]

For a few days now, when I see "DRP Thread" I for some reason think it is about Double Penetration......go figure.

Really? Are you dyslexic cause is says DPR Thread...

[ntype]

Really? Are you dyslexic cause is says DPR Thread...

fuck you. :outass:

[Odysseus]

i think it's time to put dpr back on ignore.