Big Spring Presbyterian Church

WELCOME TO BIG SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

25 S. Corporation Street, Newville, PA  17241

Thank you for visiting our website!

Here you will find information concerning our church and its ministries. We hope you find your time spent here a blessing. Our church is a warm and loving church, and we want you to feel comfortable and at liberty to call on us for anything you need. Feel free to browse through the various areas of our website and learn about our fellowship.

If you are considering a new place of worship or a relocation to our area, we would love to have you be our guest.

When you visit our church, you will find:

• A caring congregation that will gladly welcome you
• Preaching/teaching that is centered on the Word of God
• Ministries to meet the spiritual needs of every age

Learn more about our church by visiting the folders on our site, such as "Staff," "Our Beliefs" and "What to Expect."

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"Do we want a dictator?" The prophet Samuel attempts to answer that question.

In I Samuel 8: 4-22, we learn the prophet Samuel is getting old. The Hebrew people do not want his sons to be his successor, so they tell Samuel to find them a king so they can be like all the other nations. Samuel attempts to warn them of the danger a king represents.

Kings become dictators whose absolute power eventually corrupts them absolutely.

Here is something of what Samuel says:

So Samuel delivered God’s warning to the people who were asking for a king. He said, “This is the way a king operates. He’ll take your sons and make soldiers, putting them on the front lines while he stays safe in the back. He’ll put some into forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and take others to make weapons of war so he can ride in luxury. He’ll put your daughters to work as his beauticians and waitresses and cooks. He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and wines to support his extensive tastes. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks, and you’ll end up no better than slaves.

The day will come when you cry in desperation, because this king you so wanted has become a tyrant. But don’t expect God to answer.”

 

The Bible is an incredible book. It endures the test of time because it speaks the Truth. Samuel’s words ring a warning to our own nation

for those who have ears to hear.

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There is a difference between Christianity

and Christian Nationalism.

During the rise of Nazism, devout Christians in Germany could see how Christian nationalism was gripping their nation. Christians were replacing Christian values with ardent patriotism. They are not the same.

One group of Christians, led by the Protestant theologian, Karl Barth, created a document which would become known as, “The Barmen Declaration of Faith.” The confession condemned the Christian nationalism which was promoted by the Nazi Party. The ultimate allegiance is not to the State, the ultimate allegiance is to Christ. When a nation fails in its basic responsibility to be just to its people and generous to strangers, it is calling of Christians to criticize that nation and demand it act justly.

In our country right now, there is a wave of Christian nationalism much like the Christian nationalism leading up to WWII and the Holocaust. Christians are not called to promote a nation but to advocate for the Kingdom of Heaven, a nation of this world and the next. ruled by love.

Rob Reiner has completed a movie, titled, “God and Country.”

"Christianity is in crisis," says director Dan Partland. "To be clear, Christianity is not the problem, and having one's faith inform one's political beliefs is not the problem. The problem is the intertwining of a Christian identity with a political identity such that it can be hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. The danger to democracy led me to explore this topic, but what I learned in the process is that the threat may be even greater to the Church itself."

I encourage you to seek out the movie. Open the link below:

"God and Country"

 

STATEMENT FROM THE STATED CLERK OF THE PCUSA ON THE VIOLENCE IN GAZA AND ISRAEL

Deuteronomy 5:17 “You shall not kill.”

The devastation and loss of life in both Israel and the Gaza Strip the last month has been horrific. No words can describe the anguish and suffering of the people directly impacted by and caught up in the violence of these attacks. As we watch the recently declared war unfold, our hearts break for all whose loved ones have died, are wounded, missing, displaced, or taken hostage.

Horrific actions committed by Hamas and the violent response by Israel have exacerbated deep wounds, inflicting physical and emotional pain and suffering. We acknowledge that the people of Palestine and Hamas are not one in the same, and we stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Israel who seek peace. Hamas does not. We condemn the violence that has taken place, and we grieve the decades of oppression that have led to this violence.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) stands firm in its support of Palestinians and their right to live free in their land, without occupation, aggression, and bloodshed. We support and protect Israel’s right to exist as a free and sovereign nation. In the Confession of 67, the church states:

9.45 b: The church, in its own life, is called to practice the forgiveness of enemies and to commend to the nations as practical politics the search for cooperation and peace.

9.46 c: The reconciliation of humankind through Jesus Christ makes it plain that enslaving poverty in a world of abundance is an intolerable violation of God’s good creation.

Hamas has caused significant damage and destruction to Israeli towns. Israeli bombings are leveling entire neighborhoods in Gaza, leaving survivors with a lack of shelter, adequate food, water, and necessities. Hospitals are losing power, putting the health of the injured, newborns, and others at risk.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) urges the Israeli government to honor the Palestinian people with the same freedom they offer their own citizens and continue to do so amid this crisis. We also urge Hamas to release the hostages and refrain from additional violence. Regardless of our differences and strong views on matters of human rights, bombing innocent people, killing, and kidnapping children are never acceptable.

We urge all leaders to immediately put an end to the bloodshed, release those who are captured and held hostage, end the fighting, and open humanitarian corridors to get medical attention to everyone who is in need.

Rev. Bronwen Boswell
Acting Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

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OFFICE HOURS

Pastor Steve

Tuesday - Thursday, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

He will also be visiting members during this time. If you wish to ensure a time to visit the Pastor, call 717-571-6787; or email the Pastor, pastor@bspresby.com

Avis Allen

Fridays, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 717-776-5820; churchoffice@bspresby.com