Covenanter Witness Vol. 41 - Reformed Presbyterian Historical ...

20 THE COVENANTER WITNESS July 14, 1948
Synod Reports
RECOMMENDATIONS OF SYNOD OF 1948
Committee on Stewardship
That the Committee on Stewardship
make a canvass of the best
available books on stewardship, and send reviews to the Covenanter
Witness.
That Synod recommend to pastors that they preach at least one
sermon during the year that will set forth the Biblical teachings
concerning the relationship between a Christian and his pocketbook.
Temperance Committee
That a renewed emphasis be given our witness concerning the
harmful effects of tobacco.
Foreign Mission Board
That for Cypprus, appeal is now made for:
(A) Two young men with an evangelistic zeal, the first qualified
in school administration, for life service in the Larnaca academy;
the second should be qualified to teach matehmatics and/or English.
(B) For the Girl's Academy at Nicosia appeal is made for two
teachers, one qualified to teach and supervise in the elementary
grades to go out this fall; the other for a short term beginning one
year from this fall replacing Miss Rose Munnell whose term expires
one year hence.
For China, the Synod renews its appeal for a doctor, qualified in
surgery, to begin languag-e study as soon as possible in preparation
for succeeding Dr. Ida M. Scott.
That the Board be authorized to renew appeals for the China Re
lief and Rehabilitation Fund as needs may require, and also for the
Orphan's Fund which was launched this past year by Miss Stewart.
That the New Building Fund solicitations for the academies at
Larnaca and Nicosia be continued under the plan approved by Synod
two years ago. Since the Girl's Academy at Nicosia has been con
ducted in rented property from which they are liable to be evicted
we recommend that special emphasis be placed on the raising of
funds for the Nicosia Building.
That the Board be authorized to make an appeal for four automo
biles to be used on our fields, one for Syria, one for Cyprus, and two
for China.
That for Syria, Synod renew its appeal of last year for one or
dained minister to begin language study in preparation for life
service.
Home Mission Secretary
That renewed emphasis be laid upon soul-winning as the primary
end of Church membership and Church activity, and that special
effort be made to enlist all our people until every member is an
active evangelist.
Home Mission Board
That owing to the continued increase in cost of living,
a minimum
salary of $2,100 and parsonage (or its equivalent) be established.
That self-supporting congregations paying less than this minimum
salary take steps to supplement the present salary to this minimum.
In case they are unable to do so, that they make request to their
Presbytery for a supplement.
Witness Committee
That pastors and congregations be urged to make the Christian
Amendment movement a subject of earnest prayer throughout the
year and that they do all within their power to make its plans and
purposes known in their respective communities.
Committee to Coordinate the Actions of Synod
Adopted on Limited Pastorates
It is the judgment of Synod that it would be advisable for a pastor
to intimate to his congregation at the end of, every five year period
his willingness to offer his resignation to the Presbytery unless the
congregation, by secret ballot, should vote that the existing re
lationship
remain unbroken.
When the above intimation is given,
the vote of the people on the
Lesson
Helps
C. Y. P. U. Topic
For August 1, 1948
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PRAYER
Psalms :
Matt. 6:6; Acts 10:9-16
A Christian Endeavor Topic
Isabelle Chambers, Portland, Oregon
Psalm 40:1-4, No. 109
Psalm 34:1-6, No. 83
Psalm 65:1-4, No. 171
Psalm 69:25-30, No. 185
Psalm 143:4-7, No. 386
References :
Acts 10:30-33; Psalm 10:4, 17; I Chr. 23:30;
Neh. 11:17; Luke 1:10-14; I Kings 8:10;
Phil. 4:6; Psalm 65:2; John 14:13, 14; Rom.
8:26; I John 5:14; James 5:16; 1:5-7; Mark
11:24; Matt. 7:7-8; I Tim. 2:1-3; Luke 18:
1; 21:36.
Comments:
1. What is prayer?
"Prayer is the offering of the emotions
and desires of the soul to God, in the name
and through the mediation of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is the communion
of the heart with God through the aid of the
Holy Spirit, and is to the Christian the very
life of the
soul."
Communion with God
through the aid of the Holy
intimate spiritual relationship
Spirit implies an
of thoughts
and purposes. We must listen for God's voice
speaking to us in reply to our prayer to Him.
Too often this part of prayer is neglected.
"How rare to find a soul still enough to
hear God
counsellor, Fenelon.
speak,"
said the French spiritual
2. How should we pray?
Prayer should be offered with submission
to God's will, fervently, perseveringly, with
humble confession and hearty thanksgiving,
with supplications for all living men,
as well
as for our friends and those nearest and
dearest to us. We must pray in faith. "But
let him ask in faith, nothing
wavering: for
he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea,
driven with the wind and tossed. For let not
that man think that he shall receive anything
of the Lord"
(James 1:6-7). We must pray
believing that our prayers are heard and
answered. "Therefore I say unto you,
What
things soever ye desire when ye pray, be
lieve that ye receive them, and ye shall have
them"
(Mark 11:24). False and formal re
ligion makes a merit of prayers, as though
"much
speaking"'
with "vain
could make up for lack of sincerity and
heartlessness. Hypocrites pray to receive
reproved by
praise of men. These sins are
Christ in Matthew 6:5-15, where He gives His
disciples the form of the Lord's prayer as a
beautiful model.
3. Why should we pray?
God requires all men to pray. "0 thou that
hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesn
come"
(Psalm 65:2). In all ages God has de
lighted in the prayers of His
saints. From