Deacons’ Newsletter | Q3-2024
Sharing with the Saints (Rom. 12:13)
Author: Midway Diaconate
Author: Midway Diaconate
Welcome to the third edition of "Sharing with the Saints" in 2024. In this newsletter, we reflect on the last three months of impactful stewardship and dedicated service to our congregation. As always, we hope these updates encourage you and reaffirm God’s blessings upon our church.
Devotional
Text: Revelation 18: 3, 9, 15-17a
“For all nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living. (vs 3)
And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. (vs 9)
The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” (vs 15-17a)."
In the first quarter’s devotional earlier this year, we wrote about where we draw our hope & trust from. How tempting and stressful it can be to fall into the vanity of endless political discussions & debates when we sit on the eve of a presidential election?! The anxiety we may feel from events that unfold politically can be too much and ultimately distract us from God’s faithful Word. However, may this devotional serve to remind us that this nation and this world will pass away and thus echo the call made throughout Revelation; Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Many of our dispensational friends and neighbors will likely talk about recent events and events unfolding currently as a sign of the end times. Who knows the day or the hour, for the Lord says “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). Rather, we are to “Be on guard, keep awake” (Mark 13:33). Pointing to where we are in the timeline of the Second Coming is not what this devotional seeks to provide. Instead, we are pointing out that we live in a sinful generation, in a sinful nation, and in a sinful world. Those whose names are not written before the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain will worship this world and her deeds. It is those who fear disrupting the status quo of power, who remain subservient to merchants and the prevailing ways of commerce, and who view our call for perseverance amidst persecution as foolish are the most fearful during times of uncertainty.
We, like all Christians before us, are living in the middle of a spiritual battle. The temptation of placing our hope and trust in political rulers, commercial enterprise, personal pleasures & worldly relationships is a temptation that all of us face daily. As Dr. Hall recently exhorted to us in his sermon wrapping up Mark 13, we are to always live on guard in full hope of meeting our Creator. We should be wary of long-term planning. We should be in regular communion with our Lord. And we should not be idle—let us labor in divine pursuits—Watch/Pray/Work! For God has revealed to us through his Son, by his Spirit, and through his Word, his plan for the fullness of time—that we should be fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Jesus Christ!
Let us be reminded by the Apostle Peter that despite the various trials we will be grieved by here on this earth, we are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Devotional
Text: Revelation 18: 3, 9, 15-17a
“For all nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living. (vs 3)
And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. (vs 9)
The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” (vs 15-17a)."
In the first quarter’s devotional earlier this year, we wrote about where we draw our hope & trust from. How tempting and stressful it can be to fall into the vanity of endless political discussions & debates when we sit on the eve of a presidential election?! The anxiety we may feel from events that unfold politically can be too much and ultimately distract us from God’s faithful Word. However, may this devotional serve to remind us that this nation and this world will pass away and thus echo the call made throughout Revelation; Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Many of our dispensational friends and neighbors will likely talk about recent events and events unfolding currently as a sign of the end times. Who knows the day or the hour, for the Lord says “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). Rather, we are to “Be on guard, keep awake” (Mark 13:33). Pointing to where we are in the timeline of the Second Coming is not what this devotional seeks to provide. Instead, we are pointing out that we live in a sinful generation, in a sinful nation, and in a sinful world. Those whose names are not written before the foundation of the world in the Book of Life of the Lamb who was slain will worship this world and her deeds. It is those who fear disrupting the status quo of power, who remain subservient to merchants and the prevailing ways of commerce, and who view our call for perseverance amidst persecution as foolish are the most fearful during times of uncertainty.
We, like all Christians before us, are living in the middle of a spiritual battle. The temptation of placing our hope and trust in political rulers, commercial enterprise, personal pleasures & worldly relationships is a temptation that all of us face daily. As Dr. Hall recently exhorted to us in his sermon wrapping up Mark 13, we are to always live on guard in full hope of meeting our Creator. We should be wary of long-term planning. We should be in regular communion with our Lord. And we should not be idle—let us labor in divine pursuits—Watch/Pray/Work! For God has revealed to us through his Son, by his Spirit, and through his Word, his plan for the fullness of time—that we should be fellow heirs and partakers of the promise in Jesus Christ!
Let us be reminded by the Apostle Peter that despite the various trials we will be grieved by here on this earth, we are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Mercy Ministry Update (Sammy Mitchell)
In the second quarter of 2024, we received 20 assistance requests and were able to support 9 of them, which represents approximately 45% of the total cases. Unfortunately, the remaining 55% of the requests were ineligible for support or required additional funds for assistance. Furthermore, through our service program, which offers help with small tasks around the homes of members of our church, particularly widows, we were able to assist three members with projects in their homes. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, please contact us at mercyprojects@midwaypca.org.
In the second quarter of 2024, we received 20 assistance requests and were able to support 9 of them, which represents approximately 45% of the total cases. Unfortunately, the remaining 55% of the requests were ineligible for support or required additional funds for assistance. Furthermore, through our service program, which offers help with small tasks around the homes of members of our church, particularly widows, we were able to assist three members with projects in their homes. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service, please contact us at mercyprojects@midwaypca.org.
Did you know?
The Mercy Projects is comprised of helping hands from all across our church, not just the Diaconate. If anyone can help with these projects, please email mercyprojects@midwaypca.org to be added to the distribution list as various projects and needs arise. These needs can vary from moving furniture for a family in need to clearing the yard for a widow to helping beautify our church building & grounds.
The Mercy Projects is comprised of helping hands from all across our church, not just the Diaconate. If anyone can help with these projects, please email mercyprojects@midwaypca.org to be added to the distribution list as various projects and needs arise. These needs can vary from moving furniture for a family in need to clearing the yard for a widow to helping beautify our church building & grounds.
Building and Grounds Committee Update (Joe Hash)
The Building & Grounds Committee, along with all the Deacons, continuously monitors our buildings and grounds to ensure everything is in good condition. We greatly value your feedback and encourage you to contact a deacon if you notice anything that needs attention. Here are some of our recent achievements:
The Building & Grounds Committee, along with all the Deacons, continuously monitors our buildings and grounds to ensure everything is in good condition. We greatly value your feedback and encourage you to contact a deacon if you notice anything that needs attention. Here are some of our recent achievements:
- Repaired and stopped a leak in the boys’ middle school locker room.
- Fixed the urinal in the men’s main hallway bathroom.
- Terry Christmas assisted with painting the hallway and sealing the window on the east side of the Narthex.
- Our service company, Trane, repaired the sanctuary’s air conditioning, while Wilson Air fixed the noisy air handler near the pastors’ offices.
- Joe cut back dead shrubs, trimmed around the property, and repaired the two exit doors by the cafeteria.
- Joe and Matt cleared the drainage areas around 87 gutter downspouts.
- We want to give special thanks to Elder Scott Keesee for ordering and installing 3 signs for our church. See the image below.
Lastly, we had asked for your prayers for our facilities manager, Dan Poley. We are happy to report that he has recovered and is doing well. Dan is grateful for all your prayers.
Risk Management Committee Update (Matt Buehler)
Our camera and door systems were recently reviewed by a joint committee of school and church administrators, including Matt Buehler, Charles Hagen, Peter Ian, David Jackson, Matt Ross, and Michael DeWalt, to improve security across our campus. Following this review, all security cameras for both the school and church have been integrated into a single platform, enhancing monitoring efficiency and overall safety.
The security team also completed refresher training to stay current with best practices, ensuring a safer environment for everyone. These updates aim to improve security coordination, response times, and maintain a secure space for our congregation.
Please, if you feel inclined to volunteer to join the security team, contact Matt Buehler or Charles Hagan for additional information.
Our camera and door systems were recently reviewed by a joint committee of school and church administrators, including Matt Buehler, Charles Hagen, Peter Ian, David Jackson, Matt Ross, and Michael DeWalt, to improve security across our campus. Following this review, all security cameras for both the school and church have been integrated into a single platform, enhancing monitoring efficiency and overall safety.
The security team also completed refresher training to stay current with best practices, ensuring a safer environment for everyone. These updates aim to improve security coordination, response times, and maintain a secure space for our congregation.
Please, if you feel inclined to volunteer to join the security team, contact Matt Buehler or Charles Hagan for additional information.
Technology Committee Update (Patrick Rockholz)
To better serve our congregation, disposable earbuds are now available for the hearing aids provided in the Church Narthex. This addition aims to enhance the listening experience for those who use the hearing aids, ensuring a more hygienic and comfortable option for all. By offering disposable earbuds, we hope to maintain cleanliness and provide a more convenient solution for anyone needing auditory assistance during services.
To better serve our congregation, disposable earbuds are now available for the hearing aids provided in the Church Narthex. This addition aims to enhance the listening experience for those who use the hearing aids, ensuring a more hygienic and comfortable option for all. By offering disposable earbuds, we hope to maintain cleanliness and provide a more convenient solution for anyone needing auditory assistance during services.
Conclusion
As your deacons, it is our delight and joy to serve you in Christ. If you need help or would like to volunteer in some way to serve our church family, then please do not hesitate to contact any of the diaconate committee chairs listed below.
As your deacons, it is our delight and joy to serve you in Christ. If you need help or would like to volunteer in some way to serve our church family, then please do not hesitate to contact any of the diaconate committee chairs listed below.
In Christ,
Deacons Charles Hagan & Dami Adeoye, Editors
Deacons Charles Hagan & Dami Adeoye, Editors
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