Month: March 2017

In 2009, Rev. James Hodsden came to Ardmore Presbyterian Church to serve as our pastor. At the time, there were discussions with the Pastor Nominating Committee that after seven years Pastor James would receive a three-month sabbatical. A sabbatical for a pastor is not vacation or a time to produce a book or a thesis. Instead, it is a time for renewal and reformation. It’s a time to reconnect with God.
Gratefully, the church has received a grant from the Lilly Foundation to make this sabbatical possible. Pastor James has taken the theme of Reformation for this sabbatical. He will be traveling abroad to visit Reformation sites in Europe and to participate in an archaeological dig in Israel. What does reformation mean for us today? This all begins after Easter, April 16, 2017
What happens at Ardmore Presbyterian Church while Pastor James is gone?
The church’s life will certainly continue in the three months that Pastor James is gone. We will be celebrating Pentecost, the Wind-Up of the program year, and Vacation Bible School. We have a capable staff who will be making sure that nothing is left undone.
We also will be getting some help from some outside sources. Rev. Mike Pulsifer served at APC as the interim pastor before Pastor James’ arrival in 2009. He will be coming to help the church in all the administrative tasks that need to be done. He will be serving as our elder statesman, keeping a steady hand on the helm.
Who will be doing pastoral care when Pastor James is on sabbatical?
The church has a capable lay visitation ministry, and the deacons will provide caring ministries for APC. Beyond that, we are asking for some help from a familiar face. Rev. Sturgis Poorman has served APC as a parish associate for years. Not only has he been the manager of the church’s softball team. He has also been involved in visitation and mission. Pastor Sturge will be handling all the pastoral care needs as they arise in Pastor James’ absence.
Who will be preaching while Pastor James is away?
Rev. Poorman and Rev. Pulsifer will be helping lead worship during the sabbatical, but they aren’t the only ones. Leaders and members of the congregation will also be preaching from the pulpit. Considering our theme of Reformation, we will be employing the “priesthood of all believers.” We will be hearing the witness of Scripture through our friends and neighbors. Rev. Graham Robinson who has taught preaching in seminaries will be coaching our members. He will help them bring their best to God.

This devotional was written for the 300th anniversary of the Philadelphia Presbytery.  The gospel reading for March 17, 2017, is John 5:30-47.

There is an old story about the theologian who is asked for a proof of God’s existence. The theologian says, “I don’t have a proof, but I do know a lady in Connecticut.” In other words, there may not be a mathematic proof with absolute certainty, but there are witnesses, people who are in relationship to God.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus does not give a proof of who he is. In fact, he says, “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true” (John 5:31). Instead, Jesus suggests that he can only be known in relationship—to the witnesses of John the Baptist, of the Hebrew Scriptures, and most importantly of God. We cannot isolate Jesus like an element in a laboratory experiment. Instead, we must consider the patterns of relationship.

The life of faith is never done alone. It’s never just me and Jesus. Instead, we encounter Jesus in relationship to the Scriptures, the Sacraments, the Church and the world. Today we celebrate the evangelist and pastor, Patrick of Ireland. We should read his famous prayer as embracing those relationships, not escaping.

“…Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me…”