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January 20, 2021
Dear Oakwood Church family,
It's been a while since I've shared some of the things happening in and around our congregation. In a typical year, January and February tend to be slower times in the church year, often due to weather and just the "reset" of normal life after the hectic time surrounding the holidays at the end of the year. Add to this the ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic, and it can seem like little is going on right now. But here are a few things to be praying about and about which to be encouraged:
- This Sunday, during our 11:15 AM service, our elders and pastors (representing Susquehanna Valley Presbytery of the PCA) will be officially installing Pastor Ben Lee as a full-time assistant pastor at Oakwood. This may seem strange, since Ben and his family have been with us for over a year now, but last year Ben was only serving part-time as a staff member while working through the examination process of our Presbytery to have his ordination transferred. We're thrilled to have Ben working with us full-time now. If you're planning to come to the 8:30 AM service, you can catch the installation at the end of the second service Livestream, probably shortly after 12:00 PM.
- Our annual congregational meeting will be held, Lord willing, on Friday, February 5th at 7:00 PM. We are planning to have the booklet with annual reports available by this Sunday. This is a time to briefly reflect on the past year and look forward to what the Lord has in store for us in 2021. Anyone is welcome to attend this meeting. We are hoping to have a Livestream available.
- At the annual meeting, Brian Roberg will be presented as a candidate for the position of ruling elder in our congregation. It has been my pleasure to work with Brian Roberg as an elder intern over the past year, which involved the study of the Westminster Confession, the PCA Book of Church Order, regular attendance at Session meetings, and practical experience (which was significantly limited by COVID-19 restrictions). I've been impressed with his extensive knowledge of Scripture and Biblical doctrine, his teaching gifts and communication skills, his wisdom, and his humble, Godly character. Brian is the Communications Director of DiscipleMakers Campus Ministry and has been part of that ministry since 2001. Brian and his wife Carin moved to State College in 2002, and they began attending services at Oakwood in 2016. Brian and Carin have three young daughters, Ella, Anna, and Lily. Voting for an elder candidate must be done by secret ballot, so only those who are physically present at the congregational meeting will be able to vote.
- One of my "mentors-at-a-distance" has been Rev. Harry Reeder, and he once said something like this: "The level of spiritual maturity in any congregation will never rise about the level of the spiritual maturity of its leaders." In light of that truth and the quality of the ruling elders God has provided for Oakwood, we have a high ceiling for growth here. Praise the Lord!
I don't want to conclude this letter without recognizing that today is a significant day in this country, as Joe Biden is sworn in as our new President. In spite of the rancor surrounding the election, the allegations of voter fraud, all of the conspiracy theories, and the shameful "storming of the Capitol" a couple of weeks ago, I am thankful that we live in a constitutional republic where we are still able to have an orderly and peaceful transition of power (albeit with an extraordinary military presence to keep the peace and order this year). We need to be reminded of how rare our form of government is in the annals of human history, where governments have usually been overthrown by force or handed down by heredity. As dangerously divided as we are in this moment of change, we need to be thankful to God that it is happening without bloodshed and chaos.
One last reminder - in this time of increasing division, it's tempting for us to think in terms of winners and losers in this transition of power. But there is one thing about which we must be certain - Jesus Christ and His Church did not lose in any way, shape, or form. This transition in government will lead to changes in policies and circumstances, many of those for the worse, but Jesus is still on the throne and fully in control, and this is all working out according to His wise plan. God the Father has "...raised [Jesus Christ] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Ephesians 1:20-23). Everything that happens in and among the nations, including America, is being orchestrated for the good of the Church bought by Christ's blood, and every event, good and bad, moves us closer to the great and glorious goal of God's plan of redemption. Whatever may be the implications of Democratic control of the Presidency and Congress, these authorities have been established by Christ for His purposes (Romans 13:1 - "... there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God), which we can only understand in part, and we have to trust that He is accomplishing His redemptive purposes for His people through both the good and bad actions of those who rule over us. We can trust Him and be at peace.
In Christ,
Pastor Dan
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