Westminster Word
W E S T M I N S T E R P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H
1 5 0 1 W . C L E V E L A N D R O A D
S O U T H B E N D , I N 4 6 6 2 8
5 7 4 - 2 7 2 - 8 1 4 1
V O L U M E 1 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
The practice of making New Year's resolutions
goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylo-
nians. There is just something about the start of a
New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start
and a new beginning. In reality, there is no differ-
ence between December 31st and January 1st.
Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on Decem-
ber 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against
the concept of New Year's resolutions. However,
if a Christian determines to make a New Year's
resolution, what kind of resolution should he or
she make?
Common New Year's resolutions are: to quit
smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money bet-
ter, and spend more time with family. By far the
most common New Year's resolution is to lose
weight, in conjunction with exercising more and
eating healthier. These are all good goals to set.
However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep ex-
ercise in perspective: "For physical training is of
some value, but godliness has value for all
things, holding promise for both the present life
and the life to come." The vast majority of New
Year's resolutions, even among Christians, are in
relation to physical things. This should not be.
Many Christians make New Year's resolutions to
pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to
attend church more regularly. These are fantastic
goals. However, these New Year's resolutions fail
just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, be-
cause there is no power in a New Year's resolu-
tion. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain ac-
tivity has no value unless you have the proper
motivation for stopping or starting that activity.
For example, why do you want to read the Bible
every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually,
or is it because you have just heard that it is a
good thing to do? Why do you want to lose
weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it
for vanity, to honor yourself?
Philippians 4:13 tells us, "I can do everything
through Him who gives me strength." John 15:5
declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If
a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear
much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." If
God is the center of your New Year's resolution,
it has chance for success, depending on your
commitment to it. If it is God's will for something
to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a
resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in
agreement in God's Word, we will not receive
God's help in fulfilling the resolution.
So, what sort of New Year's resolution should a
Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1)
Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in re-
gards to what resolutions, if any, He would have
you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill
the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God's
strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability
partner who will help you and encourage you; (5)
Don't become discouraged with occasional fail-
ures; instead allow them to motivate you further;
(6) Don't become proud or vain, but give God the
glory. Psalm 37:5-
6, "Commit your way to the
LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will
make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the
justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
January 3
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:(1-9) 10-18
January 10
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
January 17
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11
January 24
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21
January 31
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30
WITNESSES
FOR GOD
I read once
That it matters
not how small
a part we are given to witness
for God. It was likened to the
fine line of cement that holds
together the bricks in a wall. It
is scarcely discernable, but
without it, there would be no
wall. Never underestimate
your role. It takes a lot of us
collectively, to form the whole.
Together, we make things
happen. Together, we share
life and its vicissitudes. Our
loves, our hates, our joys, our
sorrows, our successes, our
failures... even our sleepless
nights and toe aches. We be-
come part of one another
when we witness for God.
None of us can do it alone.
Together, and in oneness, we
can strive to fulfill our witness
for God:
Let us support one another,
take care of each other, be a
sister or brother, a pal or a
lover, till death do us part.
It matters not how great or
how small the part we're as-
signed to play. The gist of the
matter is the zest and the
gusto we devote to fulfill that
role. God be with you.
Florence Huffman
SESSION NOTES
Reverend Don Neely opened the
meeting with prayer. Sue Abbott gave
devotions.
A letter of transfer to Sunnyside Pres-
byterian for Bill and Margaret Moor
was accepted with regret.
We lost Ben Brissey on November 22.
A Memorial service was held on No-
vember 25 at the church.
Reverend Neely continues to make
calls on our sick and homebound
friends.
A Congressional meeting will be held
on December 27
th
to elect our new
Elders and Deacons. Ordination and
installation of new officers will be held
on January 10
th.
Our regular Session
meeting will be held on January 17
th
at
the home of Barbara Carbiener for all
out-going and new in-coming Elders
and Deacons.
Our Children's Christmas program will
be held on December 20
th
along with
the Praise Band participating in the
morning Worship service.
Christian Education would like to start
a Confirmation class beginning the
end of January or early February.
Our Holiday dinner is taking place on
the 20
th
as is Caroling, to take place
after the dinner (what a busy day this
is going to be). Come and join the fun.
Bring a dessert to share if you have a
favorite.
Loose coin offerings will be used to
support the food pantry at Hope Res-
cue since we will not be serving break-
fast there any longer. Your support in
this endeavor will be appreciated. We
are also looking at other ways to
broaden our Church Mission program.
A lovely party was held for the Choir
and Bell Choir at the Crail's and a
great time was had by all.
There will be no Saturday evening ser-
vice of the Praise Band on the 19
th
.
Communion will be served at our
Christmas Eve service.
Joys and concerns for members and
friends of the congregation were
shared.
Reverend Don Neely closed the meet-
ing with prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Carbiener
Clerk of Session
JANUARY 2010
The 2010 Master Calen-
dar will no longer be lo-
cated on the office wall. It
is now located on the
secretary's desk. Please
use a pencil to add dates
and times. Thank you.
The Annual Meeting will be held after the wor-
ship service on Sunday, January 17th.
All Annual Reports are due
no later than Sunday,
January 3rd!
CHURCH NEWS
Pastor Don &
Elaine Neely wish
to thank you for
all the beautiful
Christmas cards
and expressions
of love that they
have received.
We are collecting
non-perishable
food items for
Hope Ministries.
Collection bins are
located at each en-
trance. We encour-
age members and
friends to bring as
many items as you
possibly can.
Our Loose Coin
Offering is now go-
ing to be a weekly
collection for Hope
Ministries.
The Ordination &
Installation of new
Elders and Dea-
cons will be held
during the worship
service on Sun-
day, January
17th.
There will be a
Session Meeting
for outgoing and
incoming Elders at
5 p.m. on Sunday,
January 17th at
Barb Carbiener's
home, 54445 Rose
Road, South Bend,
IN 46628.
