Bulletin for November 16, 2025

How to Confess Your Sins

In recent months, we have been doing a corporate confession of sin as part of our worship. It is not strictly necessary, and I have omitted it on occasion, but I do believe there is value in doing it. The Westminster Directory for Family Worship says:

So many as can conceive prayer, ought to make use of that gift of God; albeit those who are rude and weaker may begin at a set form of prayer, but so as they be not sluggish in stirring up in themselves (according to their daily necessities) the spirit of prayer…

In other words, prayer is best done extemporaneously, directly from the heart. At the same time, we recognize that prayer can be a struggle; I have never met a Christian who says they never struggle with prayer. And so long as we struggle, these set forms of prayer can be helps to us. They give us words to use and set an example for what prayer looks like.

The corporate confession of sin serves this purpose. These biblical or historic prayers give us an example, a model, for how to confess our sins. Consider the prayer we’ve been using this month, drawn from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to Your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Your holy Name. Amen.

Notice all the elements this prayer contains:

First, there is an admission of guilt in a variety of ways. There is confession of sinful desires, the violation of God’s law, and sins of both commission and omission. This is an examination of the whole self. We recognize that all sin comes from our sinful hearts, and that each transgression is not merely a minor mistake, but an offense against God’s holy law. This prayer is written quite generally so that it can be used by a variety of people, but it invites deeper reflection on specific sins we may have committed.

Second, there is a declaration of total dependence (“there is no health in us”). Having considered our sins, we must come to an understanding of where that places us. Sin condemns us. There is nothing we can do to justify ourselves.

Third, confessing our sin and inability to save ourselves, we turn to supplication. A supplication is a plea for mercy, a prayer that God would be merciful to the repentant sinner and pardon his guilt. Notice in this prayer that this pardon assumes a knowledge of sin. You must have confessed your faults. That doesn’t mean that you need to keep a scrupulous list of all your sins. Sometimes we don’t even know when we’ve sinned! But it does mean that we need to have first understood our state before God because his forgiveness is only available to sinners, which we all are.

Fourth, the plea for mercy is attached to faith. Repentance is not merely turning from sin, but turning to God and placing our faith in him. So our supplication is “according to Your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We have confidence that God will forgive, not because we are particularly sorry or worthy of saving, but because God has made promises through his Son. Forgiveness, justification, comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, with our sins covered by grace, we ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to sanctify us. Confession, repentance, and forgiveness do no good if we remain in sin. I can confess sin every day, but if I never endeavor to live in God’s law by the help of the Holy Spirit, what good is my confession? Of course, this is not something we can do on our own; we must be granted obedience. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. He must be at work in us “that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life to the glory of [His] holy Name.”

This is the pattern for confession: admission of guilt, recognition of dependence, supplication, faith in Christ, and sanctification. This Lord’s Day, pay attention as we pray these words, and take our time of silent prayer as an opportunity to drive deeper into one of those elements. What particular sins do you need to repent of? What special help do you need from the Spirit? And take this prayer home as well. Use this five-step model to help you confess your sins on your own, and trust in Christ’s grace to forgive.

Updates

1. This is the last week for Operation Christmas Child boxes! We will pray for them in worship before sending them off. If you cannot bring your box to worship, the distribution center at First Church in Lucedale will be open throughout the week.

2. We will have a Thanksgiving service at 4PM next Sunday, November 23rd. Invite your friends and families to join us!

3. Choir and Bible study will meet one more time this year. Then, Bible study will take a break until January. Our next Bible study will be on the second half of Psalm 22.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for November 9, 2025

Psalm 21

Since we were missing several people at Wednesday night Bible study, I wanted to go ahead and put my notes up here. These are pretty unpolished because they’re usually just for my eyes. They’re pretty much just me thinking about the psalm. But if you’re interested in spending some time reflecting on the psalm, it should be helpful. The translation at the top is my personal translation.

As a bonus, I thought this article was interesting. I’ve shared a couple of things from Rev. Glaser before. He is a pastor in South Carolina at a church very similar to ours, and the story he tells about their congregation here is very similar to our history. Previously, he was the pastor of the Presbyterian church in Ellisville, MS. Hopefully, you find this little article encouraging.

Updates

1. We’ll have one more baptism in the creek this Sunday.
2. The final day for Operation Christmas Child is November 16.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for November 2, 2025

Updates

1. Remember the time changes this week!
2. The Lord’s Supper will be served at worship. Please prepare your hearts.
3. We will have another baptism at the creek at the end of worship. All who are able are welcome to join us, and this week, we shouldn’t have to deal with rain!

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for October 26, 2025

UPDATED TIMES

Since it is starting to get dark earlier, times for choir and prayer meeting have changed!

1. Choir will now meet at 4PM on Thursdays.
2. Bible study will now meet at 5:30PM on Wednesdays.

Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

This week (and for two weeks following), we’ll have a baptism at the creek immediately following the service. All who would like to join us are welcome.

Then, next Lord’s Day, November 2, we’ll have communion during worship. Please be in preparation in the coming days.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for October 19, 2025

The Simplicity of Baptism

Baptism is a remarkably simple ceremony. Though I never noticed this as a layman, as a pastor, the simplicity is almost jarring. The baptism is almost over before you know it. A long, drawn-out baptism takes five seconds at the most. There are no flashing lights or fireworks. No signs and wonders. Instead, there are the simple words of promise (“I baptize you”) and the water.

Our Book of Worship instructs ministers in baptism with these words:

Then the Minister shall use the following or like formula without adding any other ceremony and shall baptize the child with water, saying: “___________, child of the covenant, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” (BoW 3-2.G.4.d)¹

The phrase “without adding any other ceremony” is striking to me. It is drawn from the original Westminster Directory for Public Worship produced in the 17th century alongside the Confession of Faith. But why is that phrase added? It is almost certainly because our temptation is to do the opposite.

We look at this simple ceremony and think, “That’s not special enough.” Baptisms have become a social event for families, complete with celebrations and gifts. It has sentimental value as well. We like to gather up keepsakes and take pictures. And none of that is bad; we should cherish baptism! It is good and right to rejoice when God adds to his church! But the temptation, when the family is gathered and roast is in the crockpot, is to attempt to make the baptism “worth it.” In the context of our celebrations, the simplicity of baptism almost seems out of place. But we should never let the desire to make baptism special override God’s chief purposes and designs in baptism.

The simplicity of baptism is an image of the simplicity of the gospel. It is a sign and a seal of God’s promises: the forgiveness of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit by faith. In baptism, God assures us of his pardoning grace. The baptized person does nothing to earn that grace. In fact, we come to the waters of baptism precisely because there is no ceremony or ritual that we can perform to earn God’s favor. Instead, the sign of God’s grace is placed on us. We stand in quiet humility, offering nothing, while the sign of the Spirit is poured over us. And we do not need anything else because the grace of God’s Spirit is completely sufficient to make us whole. It is that simple, but it is also potent. The grace of God is so powerful that it only takes a few drops to completely save us.

So consider what you see when you witness a baptism. It is such an unextraordinary act, but it is also the most extraordinary act imaginable. A strong man lifting a boulder over his head makes it look easy, but only when we try to lift it ourselves do we realize his power. Baptism is the same. Baptism happens with the shake of hand, but when God shakes his hand, worlds move.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for October 12, 2025

A Note from Presbyterian Women on Operation Christmas Child

Shoe box packing day is coming soon. If you wish to contribute toward small items that our children can place in OCC boxes, you can bring “stuff” or your monetary gift to help. The money will be used for missing items or for postage ($10 per box). This overseas mission project helps to spread the gospel through Samaritan’s Purse. Please pray with us for the children who receive the boxed gifts.

Bulletin for October 5, 2025

This Lord’s Day, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. But one special thing about this week’s celebration is that it is World Communion Sunday. Although each local church has its own communion schedule, participating churches from many denominations will all celebrate the Lord’s Supper at the same time this week. That is especially appropriate as we consider a key theme in this week’s sermon text. Zechariah tells us that “those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord” (Zech. 6:15). Though Christians gather in particular congregations around the world, we all participate in the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. Despite all our theological distinctives and national divisions, Christ joins us together as one under himself.

So as you prepare your hearts this week for communion, consider this truth:

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” (1 Cor. 10:16-17)

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for September 28, 2025

Bulletin for September 21, 2025

This week, we’ll be ordaining and installing our new ruling elders! Please be praying for them as they take on this weighty responsibility of leading Christ’s church.

After the service, we’ll have a fellowship lunch to celebrate. Everyone is welcome!

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

Bulletin for September 14, 2025

On this week’s bulletin, you’ll notice an extra page at the end. That is my (admittedly crude) drawing of what Zechariah sees during his fifth night vision in Zechariah 4. I will have those printed and available as well. Chapter four contains one of the stranger visions in Zechariah, so it may help you to look at that picture as you read this week’s sermon passage in preparation.

Updates

1. On September 21st, we will have an ordination and installation service for our new Ruling Elders. Lunch will follow.

2. Backpack Buddies has started. There is a sign-up sheet in the hallway.

Your friend in Christ,
Reid

• ««
• «
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• »
• »»