Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

captain of Arnold V. Walker towboat on
the Mississippi River.
Week of Prayer services were observed
the first week of January.
Mrs. Edith Ifft of Butler, Penna., Dr.
and Mrs. Robert Patterson and family
of Ault, Colo., and Dr. and Mrs. Milton
Patterson and family of Mediapolis,
Iowa, were here to attend Mrs. Patter
son's funeral. Mrs. Edith Ifft remained
with her father for a few days.
The
Overlength
FRESNO NEWS
Editor
Pacific Coast Summer Confer
ence will be held at Long Meadow, Hume
Lake, California August 6-13. Plan your
vacations to be present and receive
spiritual blessings.
Good attendance has been reported
at the Week of Prayer meetings. Mr.
J. R. McCloy was in charge of the
Monday meeting, and Rev. R. W. Mc
Millan led the Wednesday meeting. Mr.
Phillips had several men from the Rescue
Mission gave their testimonies.
Mr. John Walkinshaw led the Friday
meeting.
UNITING OF BLANCHARD
AND CLARINDA
On January 2, 1955 a special Commis
sion of the Midwest Presbytery
Clarinda, Iowa and united the Blanch
met in
ard and Clarinda congregations. An As
semblies of God group has bought the
Blanchard church building. An offer has
been received for the parsonage. The
united congregation will still be called
the Clarinda congregation.
SOUTHFIELD, BIRMINGHAM, MICH.
Southfield's Fall Communion was a
fine season with Dr. M. K. Carson bring
ing
us messages at this time. We sign
ed the Covenant in connection with the
Communion service. It was noted that
the names of four generations were
signed to our covenant. Mrs. Elizabeth
McDonald, W. Malcolm McDonald, Wil
bur McDonald, Shirley McDonald. Mrs.
Elizabeth McDonald who will be 100
years old on Valentines day also signed
the Covenant of 1871. "But the mercy
of the Lord is from everlasting to ever
lasting upon them that fear him, and
his righteousness unto children's child
ren; to such as keep his covenant, and
to those that remember his command
ments to do them."
At the present time all the Services
in Southfield are being held in the base
ment recreation room of the parsonage
while our church is being moved back
on the lot and a new basement being
constructed. Southfield has needed more
Sabbath School room and a new heat
ing system for a long
time. We are glad
that it is possible to add these improve-
ments. It will mean a much more attract
ive and useful "House of God."
We are always glad for visitors in
Southfield. Some of the recent ones have
been Glenn McFarland from the Semi
nary; Jessie McFarland from Geneva
College, Leslie Abbott from Michigan
State College; Dr. and Mrs. Ira Smith
of Ann Arbor and daughter of London,
England; Mr. and Mrs. Mel Rutherford
of Belle Center Ohio. Miss Mildred El
sey of Cincinatti, and Mr. and Mrs.
Hugh Martin of Denver, Colorado.
Our annual Thank Offering Service
was held on Sabbath Morning, November
21. Miss Orlena Lynn told of her work
in Japan. Then in the evening she
showed slides and told more of the life
and work there. We surely appreciated
her visit and stay among us.
Miss Ameera Hanna united with the
Southfield Congregation this fall. She
came from Latakia, Syria in the early
summer. We enjoy her company and are
glad she is at home with Miss Edna
Elsey. Ameera
plans to enter Geneva
College to continue her education as
soon as possible.
TOPEKA
A Forest Park Booster Banquet was
held Wednesday evening December 29
here in Topeka with approximately 120
in attendance.
The
annual New Year's dinner was
held January 1. The following S. S. of
ficers were elected at the business meet
ing: Superintendent, Paul G;.beson; As
sistant Superintendent, Bob Maine; Sec
retary, Carl Blackwood; Assistant Sec
retary, Jimmie Oelke; Treasurer, Mar
tin Chestnut ; Precentor, Elizabeth Maine ;
Assistant Precentor, Virginia Davies;
Junior Superintendent, Betty Martin; As
sistant Superintendent, Mary Ella Stark.
The first week of January was observed
as the week of prayer with Rev. Sam
Boyle preaching Monday evening;
prayrmeetings Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday
day evening.
evenings and W.M.S. Thurs
WALTON
The girls of the Young People's Group
have redecorated a basement room in our
church as a game room. Two small gas
heaters have been installed. The room is
very attractive and will fill a real need.
The girls are to be commended for their
work.
John Russell, Wayne Spear and Wen
dell Spear, students at Geneva College,
were home for the holidays. Scott Boyle,
high school student in Sterling, Kansas,
was also in Walton visiting the Boyle
family.
The Women's Missionary Society and
the Missionary Guild were entertained at
the home of Mrs. Howard Gilchrist for
their December meeting. Mrs. Grace
Boyle was the honor guest. Gifts were
presented to her by the group.
On December 26, at our morning wor
ship service, the sacrament of baptism
was administered to William Samuel
Boyle, infant son of the Rev. and Mrs.
Samuel Boyle.
The Sabbath School held its Holiday
program on
Wednesday evening, Decem
ber 29. A short prayer meeting was held
and the program followed. Each class
contributed a part of the program.
Both the audience and the entertainers
enjoyed themselves. The room was beau
tifully decorated for the occasion. A tree
and treats added to the enjoyment of the
evening.
The churches of Walton united in the
week of Prayer services. Seven services
were held on different evenings in the
various churches.
Every speaker had a
very helpful message. The last Sabbath
evening
service was held in our church.
Since we recently studied the book of
Ephesians in our prayer meeting hour,
our pastor is preaching a series of ser
mons during Bible Mastery Month on the
First Epistle of John.
STUDENT-PREACHING
SCHEDULES
Inquiry has been made as to whether
there is a clearing-house for information
about scheduling Seminary students for
preaching engagements, either
during the
school year or
during the summer
months.
Congregational correspondents or Clerks
of Sessions may send requests to Dr. S.
Bruce Willson 7418 Penn Avenue, Pitts
burgh 8, Pa. It would be helpful if spe
cific dates are requested, and if there is
request for a
specific student. This is
not intended to supercede direct corres
pondence, if that is desired. Any suggest
ed arrangements will be submitted to
Presbytery's Committee on Supplies for
approval.
Preaching schedules
months are
being
time.
for the summer
made at the present
Sincerely,
S. Bruce Willson
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA
Rev. R. S. McElhinney has been con
fined to his home because of illness. We
pray that his recovery will be rapid and
that he will soon be able to worship with
us again.
On January 10, the young people en
joyed a wiener roast at the "Red-bud"
Shelter House at McCormick's Creek
State Park. A roaring fire was built in
one of the buildings while the young
people played various active games in
the other. At the close of the evening, a
short devotional period was held using
as references Psalm 119: verses 9 and 11.
January 26, 1955
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