http://www.opc.org/news.htmlNews Feed from the Orthodox Presbyterian Churchen-usSat, 03 Jan 2009 18:31:15 ESTCopyright 1997-2009 Orthodox Presbyterian ChurchBarlow Net Content Management System http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=77 The Trinity Hymnal online resources have been improved with the addition of the ability to play MIDI files of hymns with multiple tunes. We are happy to provide this feature, which has been requested often. To listen to hymns with multiple tunes go to the "Trinity Hymnal" link in the right column on this page (or click here), click on "Search the hymnal," and search for one of the following hymn numbers: 3, 26, 77, 179, 218, 280, 285, 389, 397, 421, 427, 431, 460, or 549. Alternatively, go to "Hymns, indexed by first line" and, using your browser's search feature (Control-F on a PC or Command-F on a Mac), search the page for the word "Tune." Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=77 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=76 At present there are still three main areas under assault by the fires. The Brea and Triangle Complex Fire. A wind-blown wildfire that began in Riverside County and spread to Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties was 40% contained Monday after scorching 28,889 acres, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Just before 2:00 p.m. PST today, new evacuation orders where issued for some of the areas affected this fire. The fire has affected the cities of: Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Brea, Yorba Linda and Anaheim (Anaheim Hills). Mandatory evacuation orders are still in place for areas of Diamond Bar, Chino Hills and Yorba Linda. The Tea Fire. The Tea Fire, so named because it started in The Tea House, a popular hangout for teenagers. Fire officials have eliminated all accidental causes for the fire, and believe it was "human caused". As of 2:00 p.m. PST the fire has destroyed over 200 homes in the Montecito and Santa Barbara areas. This fire is 80% contained. As was previously reported, 14 homes in Las Barrancas were destroyed (an area adjacent to campus where the college built 41 homes for professors), the Westmont campus lost eight structures: three of the 17 buildings that make up Clark Halls (F, M and S), Bauder Hall, the physics building, the old math building and two Quonset huts. The latter three buildings were scheduled for demolition in the coming weeks to make way for new facilities on campus. While Westmont has lost trees and landscaped areas, the formal gardens below Kerrwood Hall were spared, as was the grove of Italian stone pines below the dining commons. The Sayre Fire. This fire, so named because it started in Sayre Street in Sylmar, has now moved into Placerita Canyon, located to the Northwest of Slymar. The two major areas affected by this fire have been the Olive View/UCLA Medical Center and the Oak Ridge Mobile Home Park. While the hospital was saved, the fire destroyed all of the outlying building at the Medical Center. On Saturday it was originally reported that all of the 600+ mobile homes at Oak Ridge were destroyed. The finally count is actually 484 and 120 spared. Some of you reading this post will remember OPC Ruling Elder Grover and his wife Delores Coleman. Their daughter Ilene and son-in-law Everett live two blocks from from Sayre Street, where the fire started. They were able to return home last evening and found that their home had not been damaged. Paul and Laura (daughter of OPC teaching elder Carl Erickson) Gatlin, who are at present living on the East Coast, have written to say that the Sayre fire is burning away from the canyon where their California home is located. Churches Affected As of this afternoon, we do not have much additional information regarding OPC, PCA and URC congregations affected by the fires. PCA Christ Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara—The family of at least one faculty member from Westmont College lost their home. Presently, they are staying at the house of Dick and Elaine Jacobsen who are members at Christ Presbyterian Church (Elaine's father, teaching elder Robert Nicholas, was a long time OPC pastor). Presently, the Jacobsens are housing four adults and three children. Church in the Canyon in Calabasas—At this point we do not have anything to report. Grace Presbyterian Church in Yorba Linda—Because of the fires Grace church was not able to hold worship services yesterday. Members of the congregation were encouraged to attend two other congregations. While the fires have not burned very close to the business park where the church meets, at this time their meeting place and offices are intact. Do pray for the Scott and Stacey Young family who are members of this congregation. While their home was damaged by the fire, God spared their lives and many of the material belongings. However, because of the damage,it will be sometime before they can return to their home. Stacey is expecting a baby next month. Valley Presbyterian Church in North Hills—While in the fires a month ago, three families who have children at the Christian School at Valley were affected by the fire, at this point we do not have anything to report. OPC El Camino Presbyterian Church in Goleta—The home of A.M. (Mac) and Virginia Laurie was spared and presently they have returned home (as of this afternoon, Virginia says they are still "unpacking the car"). A young woman, Angeline Ross, who is a student at Westmont College, lost everything when her dormitory burned. Her parents are missionaries in France, so she does not have anyone to help her but the church. URC Christ Reformed Church—They have two families in the Brea area and three in the Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda area. At this point everyone is safe. God bless,John K. Novinger, chairmanDiaconal Committee, Presbytery of Southern California Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=76 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=75 As most of you have heard, particularly if you have followed today's news, Southern California is ablaze. Following is what we currently know about Presbyterian and Reformed congregations in the Santa Barbara/Los Angeles/Orange County areas. At this hour the fires are reportedly out in Santa Barbara; however, in Sylmar/Orange and Riverside Counties that is not the case. In fact, it was reported a short time ago that Nixon Presidential Library is in jeopardy. Unless the severe winds die down, reportedly Fullerton and Anaheim, California are in the path of the fires (in Orange and Riverside Counties, Yorba Linda, Brea, Anaheim Hills and Corona are reporting fires). In Sylmar, Olive View Hospital reportedly did not burn, but all the buildings around the hospital burned. During the evacuation of patients many were kept alive by artificial means. Additionally, all of the freeways in the area north of Los Angeles remain closed. We have also been informed that because of the fire disaster in the Sylmar area, residents of Los Angeles/Orange County may experience rolling blackouts. What we do know is that in Sylmar over 500 structures have burned. Many of those were in a mobile home park where, reportedly, many retired people lived. Because many of the pastors in PCA congregations in the Valley and Canyon County of North Los Angeles County have not responded, we do not have an accurate count of all of people in that area who have been affected. PCA—At this point we do know that some families in the Santa Barbara church (Christ Presbyterian Church) and Yorba Linda area (Grace Presbyterian Church) have lost their homes. Christ Presbyterian Church (Santa Barbara)—Three families have been affected by the fire (one, where the husband is faculty member at Westmont). Former OPC members Dick and Elaine (née Robert Nicholas) Jacobsen are housing these individuals. They have lost everything. Grace Presbyterian Church (Yorba Linda)—The house of the next door neighbors of one of the members caught on fire and burned due to the fire in Corona. They have been evacuated and their house is in danger of burning also. In addition, the mother and stepfather of one of their members is also in danger from the Corona fire. They have been evacuated. Because of highway closures, it is uncertain if they will be able to hold worship services tomorrow. They are also asking for help in housing fire victims. OPC—There are families who well maybe in the direct path of the fires burning in the Brea/Placentia and Yorba Linda fire. One has responded that presently they are safe. El Camino OPC—We are still awaiting word on the the status of the home of ruling elder A.M. (Mac) Laurie. Also, please pray for a young woman who is a student at Westmont College. She is the daughter of a Reformed Baptist pastor in France. She was in the cafeteria when the fire broke out and lost everything but her purse. URC Christ Reformed Church (Anaheim)—They have two families in the Brea area and three in the Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda area. At this point they are reporting that everyone is safe. Please continue to pray ... that the high winds will die downfor the fire fighters who are on the fire linesfor those who have lost all of their earthly belongingsthat God will be pleased to spare human lifefor the Christian community's good testimony during this time of tragedyfor the families who are opening their homes to those who have been displacedfor those who will help in the cleanup, that they will be protected from injury God bless,John K. Novinger, chairmanDiaconal Committee, Presbytery of Southern California Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=75 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=73 As was announced at the 2008 General Assembly, the Committee on Christian Education, through its Subcommittee on Ministerial Training, is again sponsoring the OPC Timothy Conference on April 16-17, 2009, for a select few Orthodox Presbyterian young men. Information was recently emailed to all OPC ministers. If you are an OPC minister and did not receive an email, please contact Danny Olinger at olinger.1@opc.org. For further information see the following documents. Timothy Conference 2009 BrochureTimothy Conference 2009 Application (Word document)Timothy Conference 2009 Application (PDF)Report on "The First OPC Timothy Conferences" Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=73 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=70 To: Pastors and Sessions of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church Dear Fathers and Brothers: The 2008 Thank Offering for the Worldwide Outreach ministries of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is quickly approaching. The theme this year is "Every Spiritual Blessing," based on Ephesians 1:3. This year's Thank Offering is an opportunity for us to express our thankfulness to the living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for all that he has spiritually given to us in Christ Jesus. You will be receiving one or more Thank Offering posters, four sets of bulletin inserts, and remittance envelopes. You should aim to distribute the bulletin inserts on October 26 and November 2, 9, and 16. The envelope should be included with the insert on November 16. You should receive the materials by UPS or in the mail by October 20. If soon after that date you have not received the promotional materials, or if you would like more sent to you, please contact Jan Giandomenico (phone 215-830-0900 or e-mail jan.1@opc.org). Please consider ways that you might promote the 2008 Thank Offering beyond putting the poster up in the church building and including inserts in the bulletin. Ministers and teachers, please consider preaching a sermon on the spiritual blessings that every believer already has in Christ Jesus from Ephesians 1, helping God's people to focus on the imperishable blessings that they have already received and encouraging them to show their gratitude by contributing to the Thank Offering. Please pray for the Thank Offering and the ministries of the OPC during worship. Please consider holding a Thank Offering dinner or planning a special Thank Offering event. The goal this year is to raise $750,000 through the Thank Offering for the ministries of Foreign Missions, Home Missions, and Christian Education. Thank you again for your faithful support of this ministry of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. More than one hundred kingdom workers are supported through Worldwide Outreach. May our God richly bless your work for his kingdom. For the General Secretaries, Douglas B. Clawson The Rev. Douglas B. ClawsonAssociate General Secretary of the Committee on Foreign MissionsOrthodox Presbyterian Church607 N. Easton Rd., Bldg. E, Box PWillow Grove, PA 19090215-830-0900 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=70 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=69 The Committee on Pensions pages are updated. They contain new information regarding OPC pension, hospitalization and life insurance plans, including the termination of the hospitalization plan effective March 31, 2009. To go to the Committee on Pensions pages, click here. Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=69 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=68 Many have been wondering what the OPC is doing about Hurricane Ike, the powerful storm that devastated the gulf coast of Texas. Click here to read a report by OPC disaster relief coordinator David Haney. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=68 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=67 The formal group photo of the Seventy-fifth GA which met in Tacoma, Washington from July 9-16, 2008, is available here: small (228K), large (6MB). For a report of the Assembly, click here. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=67 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=65 The Seventy-fifth General Assembly meets in Tacoma, Washington, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday July 9, 2008. To read a report of the Assembly, click here. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=65 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=64 Worldwide Outreach Pocket Folder A Pocket Folder containing full information about all three committees of Worldwide Outreach is available. For more information, click here. To order a copy for yourself or copies for your church, click here. Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=64 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=62 The Thank Offering 2007 Report is now available. Click here to read the report. Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=62 http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=61 The Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension and the Committee on Christian Education of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church sponsor a series of "Readiness for Ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church" seminars each year. This training and evaluation seminar is an enrichment opportunity for seminary students. A number of presentations are made on Reformed ministry and on the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The seminar also proves to be helpful to seminary graduates from outside the OPC who are pursuing ministry in the OPC Exciting new developments and growth in OPC home missions continue. This provides many opportunities for ministry in the OPC. The OPC is also facing a growing number of pastor’s retiring. The Committee is investing a major portion of its home mission and church expansion efforts toward people who want to hear of ministry opportunities in our denomination, including opportunities for summer and yearlong internships. Each seminar participant gives a three-minute introduction of himself before the group. Also, he preaches a ten-minute exhortation before half the group. The exhortation is to be an exposition of a text of Scripture with appropriate application. Participation in several group exercises entitled, "Problem Solving in Reformed Ministry," is also part of the seminar. The program includes a personal feedback interview with one of the observers. The observations of the elders concerning your gifts and your church leadership potential will be discussed with you. All the observers are ministers or ruling elders of the OPC. 2008 Readiness for Ministry in the OPC Seminars are scheduled for: February 8-9—Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaFebruary 22-23—Westminster Seminary California, Escondido, CaliforniaMarch 7-8—Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana If you wish to come and explore the challenge of reformed ministry and the opportunities for service and internship in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, contact Dick Gerber at gerber.1@opc.org. You do not have to be a member of the OPC to be a participant in this day and half training program. You do need a desire to better evaluate your gifts and strengths in general and your giftedness and readiness for church leadership in particular. Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.opc.org/news.html?news_id=61