Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

publication."news."Church NewsWHAT CONSTITUTES A GOODCHURCH PAPER?From United BrethrenIf an abundance of local church newsis a criterion of a good church paper,then the 25% or more of the folks whoexpress to us their ideas of the UnitedBrethren have a point to get across, forabout one out of four clamor for morechurch news.Almost everyannual conference session allows a discussion of our publishing interests and always there are thoseremind us that too little localwhochurch news finds its way into the paper. All of us may agree on this matter.Where we differ may be in the matterof what constitutes church news.Luckily, we are able to cite an authority on the subject William F. McDermott,a Christian journalist who formany years was on the staff of the Chicago Daily News. He makes it clear that"the storyof the Lord at work in Hisworld in these desperate, yet challengingdays,is the greatest continued newstimes."story of ourOver against the blatant paganismand atheism of our day, says Mr. Mc-Dermott, "there's news there, friend.The greatest, best, most exciting newsanywhere. And there's only one placeyou will find it chronicled faithfully,fully, accurately and inspiringly inyour church"I turn to my church paper. I findthere the story of a Christian doctor ina primitive, hunger-ridden land, who inhis missionary hospital performed 3,000cataract operations in a year on the eyesof people going blind, and of a groupof American churchwomen furnishinghim 500 artificial eyes for those whohave lost partial sight. You read . . .of jails packed with teen-agers,of adolescents committing atrocious murders.But there's another side to youth. In mychurch paper I find the account of 11,000Christian workers traveling a total of6,000,000 miles to attend a great Sabbath school convention. . . .My churchpaper tells me of new churches beingfounded, of Christian services in prisonsand hospitals, of evangelical schools andcolleges preparingmissionary work,...men and women forof revivals theworld over, of the Word of God being. .preached in hundreds of.languages,of thousands being converted in evangelistic campaigns here and in foreign332lands, making one realize that 'My wordshall not return unto mevoid.' "Local churches should have so muchnews of the above nature to report thattheyneed not fall back on church improvement projects and poundings thatinvolve merely or chiefly so many galvanized water containers, so many dozens of eggs, so much canned goods, chenille bed spreads, lingerie, and whathave you. Editors don't feel that theyare publishing for the Lord" when theyhave to fill column after column withsuch reading matter.Then, too, there is so much of the obscene in much that is read today thateditors regret having to decide whetheror not to use what borders the pornographic in art. We will gladly give sixpages to church news every issue onlylet it be news and that with a degreeof dignity.A denominational paper can be soldoutside of the denomination when thesaturation point is reached within itsown constituency, but that denominational paper cannot be dealing in thetrivialit must keep Christian journalism on a high level.We agree that there should be morechurch news in the United Brethren.Church news, however, don't come downlike manna from heaven. It accumulatesfrom the offices of pastors,Sabbathschool superintendents, Christian Endeavor presidents, WMA presidents,and other local church officials andworkers who are in the news-makingbusiness.We verily believe that there are projects, events and activities in sufficientamounts and number and of vital significance takingplace throughout ourentire constituency to satisfy the clamorfor "more church We solicit it.PORTLAND NEWSOur Fall Communion service was heldon October 23. Rev. M. Martin from Seattle brought us challenging messagesat our preparatory services and we werehappy to have his fellowship.Two congregational meetings havebeen held within the last month to hearand discuss the report of the BuildingCommittee. It was decided at our November 2 meeting to proceed with building an extension to the rear ofour present building in order to provide more adequate Sabbath Schoolroom. The estimated cost of the projectwill be $6,500 and our building fund issteadily growing.During the month of October we havehad a Sabbath School contest which wasclimaxed by a partyon November 4.Six new members have been added tothe roll of the Sabbath School duringthe contest.A solid oak register board was madeand presented to the Sabbath School bythe father of one of our Sabbath Schoolchildren. The lumber used was grownnear Portland, Maine, the city for whichPortland, Oregon, was named.We thank Iris Hutcheson for hertimelyBusiness Clock for our church.gift of an attractive SessionsEASTVALE NEWSThe 19th AnniversaryDinner of thecongregation was held in the churchOctober 19. After a delicious meal, ourpastor led in the devotions. We werethen entertained with a delightful program. Mrs. H. C. Anderson was chairman for the dinner, and the programwas in charge of Mr. Paul Coast.We are happy to have a new memberin our church services.Cheryl DawnMcCracken came to live in the parsonage on August 24.Mr. and Mrs. GaryCongratulations toSmith upon the arrival of their son Gerald Arnold, bornAugust 31.Rev. David Carson preached for uson Sabbath, October 9,while our pastorwas assisting with Communion servicesat Youngstown.We extend a heartywelcome to thestudents from Geneva College who worship with us each Sabbath Day.Four babies received the Sacramentof Baptism on October 23; Jeffrey OrinSnedeker, Jonathan William Douglas,Gerald Arnold Smith, and Cheryl DawnMcCracken. We pray for God's blessingon these little ones and their parents.The Lord's Supper was observed onOctober 30, with Rev. Kermit Edgar ofthe Allegheny Congregation, assisting.It was a real pleasure to have Rev. Edgar with us again, and his messageswere most helpful and inspiring.The Annual Halloween Party was heldNovember 2 in the parsonage basement.NEWBURGH, NEW YORKThe regular monthly meeting of theW.M.S. was held on Tuesday, September6, at which time a special collection wasreceived for the Kentucky Mission. Atour October meeting, boxes were packedfor Selma, Alabama, and Apache, Oklahoma. Mrs. Rosanna Mcllwee, was hostess for this meeting. Dues for the Women's Association of our Home in Pittsburgh, Pa., were received at this meeting and we are happy to report thatCOVENANTER WITNESS