If you believe that you are able to manage the health risks and safety precautions during the pandemic, please join us in-person for worship and other activities.

Friday 12/31/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. - 2 Peter 3:8

It seems like just a few days ago we were excited to leave 2020 behind and move into a new year with hope.
And now, here we are! Ready to see what God will bring in 2022!

Here are few exciting, upcoming activities in the new year:

January 2nd – Lord’s Day Worship, including the Lord’s Supper

January 6th – Twelfth Night of Christmas Party at 4pm at the Manse.

• Join us for food & fellowship at our annual Open House. Bring a neighbor!

January 7th – First Friday Film Fellowship at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall.

• Join us this month for popcorn and to see the movie Fearless (1993).

• Discuss how media reflects and creates culture.

• Explore how film engages, resonates, and deceives. Invite a neighbor!

Starting Sunday, January 9th – Inquirers Class in the Travelers Sunday School class in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30am.

• Whether you are already a member or are interested in becoming one, discuss what Presbyterians believe and why.

• Help discover who we are at First Presbyterian Church.

• Consider fresh and refreshing ways to be involved in Christ’s ministry here. Invite a neighbor!

January 16th – Congregational meeting after Morning Worship to review 2022 budget.

• Deacons to present the approved 2022 budget.

• Congregational vote regarding adjusting amount of Pastor’s compensation (“call”) in consideration of inflation.

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, the weekly Prayer List, and the Church Calendar for January. The day is approaching; invite a neighbor!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 12/24/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. - Luke 2:7

Some Scripture verses really resonate with us. Sometimes we read a verse in the morning and later that day we see the beauty of that particular truth from God’s Word directly in our life.

Yesterday, I drove around trying to secure a hotel room for a homeless man. Maybe you've done this when you are out-of-state, driving late at night. You stop and ask for a room, but there are no vacancies. Yesterday, I was trying to find a room for him at an inn -- trying to find a good deal for a week, as he prepares to get back on his feet again.

It is easy to become jaded. Maybe you have given money to someone who is stuck in a rut, only to find that person digger the hole even deeper. Thanks to a team of people at church, we are helping this man to prioritize and organize. We have helped him to find a good-paying job that starts on January 3rd. Please pray that we can continue to help him get to that date. He needs your prayers.

In this fallen, broken world, sometimes we find ourselves in nearly hopeless situations. But, we need not ever be without hope, because there is hope in Jesus Christ.

Christmas is a tough time to try to find a room in an inn. Ask Mary. The Westminster Shorter Catechism #27 asks, “Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?” The answer? “Christ’s humiliation consisted in His being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.” This Christmas, let the brokenness of this world reveal to you how Jesus Christ suffered so that we may know Him. Suffering gives us a view into His humiliation for us. Please pray for Keith and his family. There is hope, and that hope is that a child is born, a Son is given.

I have attached the worship bulletin for Sunday morning, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 12/18/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. - Revelation 3:20

Today, from 10 to 4, at least ten children are having fun at the church while their parents are out shopping and such. Pizza, games, arts & crafts, and a Christmas movie. Thanks to Lucy Lessmann and Debbie Hoopes for volunteering to coordinate this Holiday Drop-Off event (though, they seem to be having just as much fun as the kids, so perhaps it was not much of a sacrifice for them!). Thanks also to Pat & Doug Adams for equipping the Sanctuary with festive candles, as they do each year. We rejoice to see Pat up and about!

Don’t forget: Tomorrow evening at 5pm is our annual Lessons & Carols service. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to hear the Christmas Story and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Last Saturday morning, our Ambassadors headed out into the neighborhood to re-trace some of the ground that we had covered before. We knocked on doors of people whom we had met before, as well as on houses where we had not previously gotten an answer. Here are a few of our interactions:

• Right off the bat, we encountered a woman who was the first person we had met when we began this outreach seven months ago. She seemed delighted to see us again and spent some time catching up. We prayed with her again, and then she had to get back to cooking breakfast for some of her grandchildren.

• We knocked on a door that we had knocked on before, but had never gotten a response. This time, we knocked, and a Jehovah’s Witness answered! It was kind of funny because he explained that during the pandemic, they are not knocking on doors, but are instead making phone calls and sending letters. It was cool to spend some time chatting on his front walk -- literally and figuratively, since his wife brought his hat out to him so that he could keep warm. We explained that our main objective was to meet people, pray with them, and invite them to church. We discussed a bit of Scripture. Then, when asked if we could pray, he declined, saying that they do not participate in inter-faith activities. He was giving us a tangible reminder that Jehovah's Witnesses do not share the same faith as Christians. In particular, their view of Jesus is quite different. After we left, we prayed for this dear couple.

• We met a woman who has been renovating one of the houses nearby. We had previously talked to some of her workers, and had seen her on the property, but this was our first opportunity to meet her. She shared about her diligent effort to restore homes and about how she had lost some family members recently. We enjoyed getting to know each other and prayed with her for peace and success.

God is good and grants us wonderful opportunities to spend time with our neighbors. The Saturday Morning Ambassadors are scheduled to meet on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month. Since next Saturday -- the 4th of the month -- is Christmas, we will likely just drop in on one or two of the homes where we have really gotten to know people well. We invite you to join us as we head into a new year of ambassadorship.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 12/17/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. - Matthew 1:12-16

By the time one gets to verse 12 of the first chapter of Matthew, there is a risk of zoning out and not really reading each and every name. Thus, maybe of few of the people listed above might get ignored.

I never met any of my great-grandfathers. Someone named Matthan was Jesus’s great-grandfather, on his earthly father’s side. Maybe they never met, either. Someone named Jacob was Joseph’s father. Maybe Jacob was still around and perhaps Jesus knew him growing up -- Scripture never tells us anything about this. Their immediate forefathers lived during the “inter-testamental period” -- the time between the Old and New Testaments -- so nothing is recorded about them.

On the other hand, we know something about some of the older ancestors listed. Mary was betrothed to a descendant of kings:

• Jechoniah - was the second-to-last king of Judah. Perhaps when he was either 8 or 18, he became king on December 9, 598 BC and reigned for three months and ten days. In 597, on the ides of March, he was exiled to Babylon.

• Shealtiel - is mentioned in 1 Chronicles as Jeconiah’s son and in Haggai and Ezra as Zerubbael’s father. Shealtiel means “I have asked of the Lord”, as in “I have asked of the Lord for this child” -- there is some indication that Shealtiel had been childless and adopted his brother Pedaiah’s son, Zerubbabel.

• Zerubbabel - led about 40,000 Jews back from Babylon and was the first governor of Judah after the exile. He was God’s chosen royal prince, who brought new hope in the Promised Land. Zerubbabel not only listened, not only believed God, but he also acted in obedience to this faith.

This advent season, let me encourage you to consider in even more detail which people God used -- and why -- to prepare centuries in advance for the birth of His Son. The birth of Jesus is a fulfillment of many many prophecies in Scripture, as well as the blessing given by God through those who had gone before. Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, but he listened, believed God, and acted in obedience to care for this precious gift from God. Let us rejoice in God's wonderful plan to bless us as we live in obedience for His glory. We are not just names to be read quickly or skipped over. God has an important purpose for each of us.

Attached is the bulletin for worship this Sunday morning, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 12/10/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. - Acts 24:14-15

During Advent, we are reminded frequently of God’s tender mercies through the gift of His Son. Jesus is the living hope of the great resurrection. Our worship encourages others towards this living hope.

Hearty thanks goes out to Caroline Newsom for organizing our annual Christmas Children's Program this past Sunday evening. The children delighted our hearts as they portrayed the Christmas story. We are grateful for the uplifting music by Rebecca Lessmann and Anastasia Soen. We also enjoyed a tasty fellowship meal, thanks to Carol Simmons, WIC Day Circle, Night Circle, and Tommy McCaskill.

We all miss John Britt and it was heartwarming to to celebrate his life with so many people -- from in-town and out-of-town -- on Tuesday. The ladies had a time of meaningful fellowship at the annual Heart & Home gathering on Thursday. Please mark your calendar and join us for the Lessons & Carols program on Sunday, December 19th at 5:00pm.

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship this Sunday, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 12/3/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. - Psalm 116:15

My father had a sailboat named Bittersweet. If you have spent any time on the open water, or even if you have seen movies about the high seas, you can appreciate this name. The oceans are majestic and terrifying. Storms are staggering and exhilarating. Sailing is often bittersweet.

John Britt loved to fish. He loved to tell jokes. You had to really pay attention, because you knew that even when discussing a serious matter -- regardless of the look on his face -- John was going to say something funny. In the face of a heart attack, a fire, an accident, and covid, John did not show fear. He made you laugh.

Scripture tells us that God is preparing a place for us. Dwelling with God for eternity is going to be awesome. Still, we like to laugh in this life. So, John’s departure is bittersweet. We look forward to laughing with John again. In the meantime, we might weep a little. Jesus wept. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. - Psalm 116:1

I have attached the bulletin for morning worship this Lord’s Day -- the Second Sunday of Advent. I have also included the weekly Prayer List. I look forward to communing together in bittersweet fellowship.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 11/26/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. - Psalm 69:30

I hope that you have been able to rejoice over God’s blessings this week. He has really blessed our nation! Between the turkey, ham, and pulled pork, I am not sure if I will ever need to eat again. I had cabbage casserole for the first time -- it was delicious. I regret that I have but one stomach to give for my country.

Christmas decorations are beginning to appear all over the place. This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent -- which also serves to remind us that the weather is getting colder.

We shouldn’t have much confidence that Jesus was actually born on December 25th. The evidence suggests that He was born much earlier in the year. Still, the Bible does not give us a date nor a clear season, so it must not be important to know the exact day that He was born. We celebrate THAT God became man and lived a sinless life. Celebrating Jesus’s birth in December is a good way to rejoice in God’s blessings even when it is cold. In fact, we ought to rejoice EVERY month and EVERY day that Jesus was born.

Similarly, we don’t have much confidence that the third Thursday in November was when the earliest settlers of America gave thanks. First of all, there were settlers before the Pilgrims. But, even so, having suffered difficult trials, these Christians likely gave thanks EVERY day for how God was providing for them. Harvest time is a good reminder of God’s abundant blessings on this nation. But, let’s rejoice every day that He is Lord of Creation and Lord of our lives. This Thanksgiving / Advent weekend praise the name of God with a song. Magnify Him with thanksgiving. And next weekend, and the one after that, and so on, let’s continue rejoicing together.

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

I look forward to worshiping with you in spirit and truth and thanksgiving.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 11/19/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. - Romans 15:13

Last week, when we discussed Paul’s speech on the steps in Jerusalem in the first part of Acts 22, we saw:
Through forgiveness, Jesus converts His zealous enemies into earnest witnesses of His grace.

It seems obvious that today there are many people who are without hope. Worse than this, they don’t seem to even realize that they have no hope. Instead, while they plod along and complain about various things, they imagine that they can see reality -- they think that what they see IS reality. Meanwhile, what they don’t see is that there is so much more to come! Without realizing this, they literally have no hope.

For those who read, understand, and believe what Revelation 21 says, there IS hope in the reality of what God is doing in this world. Verse 4 promises, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” The better that we understand and rely on this hope, the better that we can encourage others to do the same.

Let me encourage you to recognize the reality of the forgiveness that Jesus purchased for you with His blood. Let me encourage you to delight in His grace. Through forgiveness, Jesus converts His zealous enemies into earnest witnesses of His grace. I pray that you are testifying to His grace this week.

I look forward to celebrating the grace of Jesus Christ by worshiping with you this Lord’s Day! Let us abound in hope!

I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship, the weekly Prayer List, and the Church Calendar for December.

Also, please join us as we worship with others in Indianola at 6pm Sunday evening for the annual Thanksgiving Community Service. To attend in person, please register here: https://www.indianolafumc.com/thanksgiving

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 11/13/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him. - Luke 17:3-4

Tomorrow in the sermon, we will hear Paul share perspectives about his conversion. Paul was a massive sinner who was saved by grace. This fierce sinner’s sins were forgiven. Because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and the Holy Spirit's effectual calling, Paul knew forgiveness. I came across these useful thoughts about forgiveness from Ken Sande (author of The Peacemaker):

• “To receive this forgiveness and freedom, we must acknowledge our sin, repent of it, and put our trust in Jesus Christ (see Acts 3:19; Psalm 32:5)… The is the good news of the gospel – forgiveness and eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

• We might ask, what would forgiveness from God mean without faith and repentance? Clearly, God forgives in the context of Christ’s sacrifice. God gives us faith in Christ that we may repent and believe. Forgiveness and faith and repentance go together.

John R.W. Stott expanded on this topic:

• “We are to rebuke a brother if he sins against us; we are to forgive him if he repents — and only if he repents. We must beware of cheapening forgiveness… If a brother who has sinned against us refuses to repent, we should not forgive him. Does this startle you? It is what Jesus taught… ‘Forgiveness’ includes restoration to fellowship. If we can restore to full and intimate fellowship with ourselves a sinning and unrepentant brother, we reveal not the depth of our love but its shallowness.”

Or, we could ask, what would forgiveness from God mean without Jesus’s shed blood?

Ken Sande notes that when the offender has not yet repented, there is a two-stage process:

1. having an attitude of forgiveness (cf. Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”)

2. granting forgiveness (cf. Ephesians 4:32 “forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you”).
   “Granting forgiveness is conditional on the repentance of the offender and takes place between you and that person (Luke 17:3-4).”

“It can be difficult to forgive a person who has failed to repent and confess clearly and specifically. When you find yourself in this situation, it may be wise to explain to the person who wronged you why you are having a difficult time forgiving. Reconciliation requires that you give a repentant person an opportunity to demonstrate repentance and regain your trust.”

I hope that these thoughts are helpful to you as you grant and seek forgiveness to/from others.

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Thursday 11/11/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. - Psalm 82:3-4

Happy Veterans Day!

We are grateful for those who have served our country! Today is a good day to pray that God will continue bringing the Gospel to the people of our land and that our nation will continue to protect our freedom to do so.

Here are a few reminders of upcoming events:

• Saturday Morning Ambassadors - This Saturday (Nov. 13th) at 9:00am, we plan to gather at the church for prayer and then head out at 9:30 to meet our neighbors in the community. This exciting ministry is now held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.

• Brief Congregational Meeting - This Sunday (Nov. 14th) after morning worship, the Deacons will give an update on church finances and there will be a vote regarding the HVAC for the Church Library and classrooms.

• Community Thanksgiving Service - The following Sunday (Nov. 21st) at 6:00pm, churches in Indianola are gathering at First United Methodist for our annual ecumenical service. This will be in-person and on-line. SEATING IS LIMITED and requires pre-registration, so if you would like to attend in-person, please go ahead and sign up at: https://www.indianolafumc.com/thanksgiving

• 2021 Celebrate Life Banquet / Women’s Resource Center Fundraiser - This Tuesday (Nov. 16th) at 6:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Cleveland, Rodney Jones will be the guest speaker. For more information, call 662-843-8877.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Thursday 11/4/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Remember, remember, the 5th of November! Friday, at 7pm, we have our First Friday Film Fellowship. We will be screening a movie, serving popcorn, and discussing the film’s religious and cultural elements. Last month, we watched the classic Citizen Kane on the big screen. Tomorrow, we plan to watch & discuss Deja Vu. This is a curious action / adventure / romance / sci-fi movie written by a Christian screenwriter. We invite everyone 13 and older. We hope that you can join us in fellowship.

A week from Sunday, on November 14th, after morning worship, the Deacons plan to hold a congregational meeting to update you on the church’s finances and to conduct a vote regarding a large expenditure for replacing the HVAC system in the Library and Sunday School classrooms. Please plan to attend this brief congregational meeting.

Attached is the bulletin for morning worship this Lord’s Day. I have also attached the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 10/30/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. - Psalm 25:6
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. - Psalm 77:11

“Remember, Remember the Fifth of November!”

One of England’s most celebrated holidays is observed on November fifth: Guy Fawkes Day (also known as Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfire Night).

• James Charles Stuart, a Scottish Presbyterian, was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and became King of Scotland (as James VI) in 1567.

• When the kingdoms of Britain were united in 1603, James also became the King of England and Ireland (as James I).

• (King James I is the same monarch who sponsored the 1611 translation of the Bible that we now call the King James Version).

• On November 5, 1605, a radical group of Catholics were unhappy with the Protestant rule of King James and plotted to kill him. They planted a pile of gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament, hoping to blow up the King and his fellow politicians. A former military man, Guy Fawkes, was their explosives expert. This early act of domestic terrorism, known as the Gunpowder Plot (also called Jesuit Treason) was found out and thwarted. The conspirators were caught, tortured, and executed.

• In 1606, English Parliament declared official annual observance that included services and sermons to commemorate God’s protection on November 5th. Almost immediately, people instituted fireworks and bonfires. It became popular to construct a dummy to resemble Guy Fawkes, parade him around town, and then burn him in effigy.

• For over 400 years in England, Guy Fawkes Day / Bonfire Night has remained a popular holiday -- one with important Protestant roots.

This Fifth of November, we will be having our First Friday Film Fellowship at 7pm. We don’t plan to have a bonfire nor burn Guy Fawkes in effigy, but we will have popcorn and watch a movie in the Fellowship Hall. We invite everyone 13 and older to join us to see and discuss the movie Deja Vu. We hope that you can make it. Remember, remember, the First Friday Film Fellowship of November!

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. I have also included the Church Calendar for November.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 10/15/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7

The above two verses from Philippians 4 are pretty well known. These words offer excellent guidance:

• Instead of letting things bother you, pray to God

• Everything is both fair game for prayer and really deserves prayer

• It makes good sense to make requests (supplications) of God

• Make your requests in the context of thankfulness -- for what God has already done and has already promised to do for His children

• Reliance on God in prayer brings peace -- a peacefulness that is so amazing that it goes beyond what we can understand

• The peace of God that comes from prayer guards our hearts and minds from frustration and temptation

That last point is very practical: when we rely on God’s hearing our prayers, we are at peace with who He is and who we are, so we are not as tempted to become frustrated that we can’t accomplish everything on our own. Prayer reminds us of our need for God. Prayer reminds us of God’s love for us. Therefore, prayer reminds us that God lovingly fulfills our needs.

As marvelous and useful as these two verses are on their own, we ought to also consider how these statements are introduced. The first word of verse 6 does not actually begin with a capital letter. In other words, verse six on its own is not a complete sentence in Scripture. Rather, verse 5 begins the passage this way: “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything...” The teaching here is important: God is close by, so pray to Him. He is next to you, so pray to Him. Jesus came to earth and bled and died and rose again so that you can be close to God. So pray to Him. He sent His Spirit to dwell with you, so pray to Him. This world carries anxiety and stress, but you are not alone, so pray to Him. After all, He is near, He hears, He grants peace and protection, beyond what you can understand. Your heart and your mind need reminding. So pray to Him.

Debbie and I are in Baltimore, helping our daughter get situated in her home. while I am away, Ben Ratliff, the Assistant Pastor in Cleveland, will be preaching on Sunday morning. Attached is the bulletin for Sunday morning worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Monday 10/11/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. - Romans 13:1-2

Happy Columbus Day! And Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law, Nelda Ragan.

Romans 13 reminds us that all authority comes from God. He grants authority to kings, presidents, mayors, and aldermen. God also is in control of the political process, so in the case of America, He has instituted authority through a representative democracy. As you know, this means that we elect our representatives.

Presbyterianism is not a pure democracy (rule by simple majority). It operates as a republic – a representative democracy in which elected officials represent the people. We elect our elders. The American system of government was designed based on the governmental structure of Presbyterianism.

(BTW - Presbyterians were significant leaders in the founding of our nation as their principles and values expanded to society, politics, and education. It has been said that during the Revolutionary War, “All of the colonels of the Colonial Army but one were Presbyterian Elders. More than one half of all the soldiers and officers of the American Army during the Revolution were Presbyterians.” In fact, the King of England at the time referred to the Revolutionary War as “the Presbyterian Rebellion.”)

Given that God elects His people, and He institutes authority, and Scripture calls us to be good citizens, and Presbyterians cherish representative democracy, let me encourage you to participate in the process by voting in the Indianola election tomorrow.

As a church, we do not endorse specific candidates. Therefore, let me also encourage you to prayerfully discern and vote your conscience.

I would also like to point out that during Sunday’s morning worship service, it seems that someone had placed political advertisements on vehicles in the church parking lot. In case you were wondering: I don’t know who put these out; they were not approved by nor placed by our church.

Have a great evening!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 10/9/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. - 1 John 3:16-18

Last night, we watched Citizen Kane on the Big Screen in the Fellowship Hall. The movie carried the theme of the passage above: the wealthy Charles Foster Kane had the world’s goods and saw his brother in need, yet he closed his heart to others. Many of us had not seen this classic movie in a larger-than-life format and we could see in glorious detail how this man was so proud and tough in his pursuit of power that he never made himself vulnerable to others. He died with one word on his lips: Rosebud, representing his lost love, lost security, and lost happiness. It was a stark reminder of our need to pray for the love of Jesus Christ to go forth in this world.

Maybe next month you can join our First Friday Film Fellowship for a discussion of another thought-inspiring movie (November 5th at 7pm). Thank you to Paul Townsend for donating to the church a theater-quality popcorn machine to fuel our minds and bodies!

Four of our families attended the French Camp Harvest Festival today. This was a wonderful opportunity to spend time together and support this worthwhile ministry: "a Christ-centered home and school, which exists to serve young people and families for the glory of God."

Tomorrow morning, we continue our sermon series on the Book of Acts (20:28-38) and then in the evening we will wrap up our series on the Book of Esther. I have attached the bulletin for morning worship as well as the weekly Prayer List.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us. - 1 John 4:18-19

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Thursday 10/7/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. - Song of Solomon 2:1

The funny thing about the Rose of Sharon is that it is not a rose at all, it is more like an hibiscus or crocus (or tulip). The same word habasalet is translated crocus in Isaiah 35:1. Sharon in Hebrew is a plain or level place. The Plain of Sharon is located between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, running north from Joppa (where Jonah set off to sea, and where Dorcas / Tabitha was raised form the dead by Peter) up to the base of Mount Carmel. The rose of Sharon is a lovely white or pink flower from which people collect expensive saffron. It is beautiful and precious. Traditionally, theologians have referred to Jesus Christ as the Rose of Sharon.

Tomorrow at 7pm, we plan to kick off a monthly church activity: Friday Film Fellowship. We invite anyone 13 or older to join us as we watch a movie and discuss its theological implications. Naturally, we will serve popcorn and raisinets (when I was a kid, we would always eat chocolate-covered raisins at the movie theater -- and this was the only time that we ate these delicacies).

There are a myriad of reasons that discussing a movie is a wonderful activity for God’s people. Here are just a few:

• Movies represent popular social experiences in which culture is reflected and created.

• Movies feature stories and dialogues that lend themselves to considering man’s condition.

• Conversations about what we like and dislike in movies give opportunities to get to know each other and to consider relationships and alternative viewpoints.

• Movies provide an art form that is easily accessible to many people and yet often carries undertones that require analysis to grasp layers of interpretation (hence the cottage industry of movie reviews that seems to highlight differences and controversy).

• Appreciation and study of this art form can foster conversations with those who might otherwise not consider theological implications within our culture.

In short, movies can give us an opportunity to learn more about who man is, who God is, and what man’s relationship is to God. Thus movies can help us to think and talk about these topics in other areas. AND we can have fun while doing so.

In pursuit of these objectives, we plan to screen classic and popular movies. Citizen Kane is considered by movie critics to be the greatest film ever made. There are several reasons that this movie carries this reputation, such as its historic story-telling, introduction of technical approaches, and clever character analysis. That said, many people are unfamiliar with the significance that Citizen Kane represents. Like the Mona Lisa, this movie is known to be great, but many are not able to explain why. Therefore, even though our Friday Film Fellowship will feature movies across numerous genres, we want to begin our discussions with an essential review of this masterpiece. Citizen Kane gives us a foundation for looking at films from a biblical perspective.

Please join us tomorrow for this engaging look at movies. Feel free to invite your friends and family to join us in the Fellowship Hall at 7pm.

Also, many of us plan to carpool to French Camp’s Harvest Festival on Saturday morning. We intend to gather at the church parking lot at 8:30am and drive there for food, horse & carriage rides, a benefit auction, crafts, music, etc. for the whole family. Caroline Newsom (662-809-9732) will be happy to answer your questions.

We hope to see you at these exciting events.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 9/24/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. - Acts 2:42

This verse is considered a classic text on what the church does. God’s people devote themselves to gathering together to:

• Learn – hear & study what God says through His prophets

• Interact – share viewpoints & build friendships

• Eat – join together for meals, including the Lord’s Supper

• Pray – worship God together in adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication

First Presbyterian lives out this vision of what the church does. You can see us living this vision, especially on Sunday mornings & evenings, and on Wednesday nights. The pandemic might have made it harder for churches to live the vision, but we continue to devote ourselves to learning, interacting, eating, and praying.

I wanted to make you aware of a few new opportunities to live the vision:

• This Sunday, the Travelers adult Sunday School class is beginning a new series on Crying Out for Vindication: The Gospel According to Job.

• The Sojourners adult Sunday School class is about to begin a series – Let’s Study Philippians.

• An Inquirers Class is being scheduled for those interested in learning about First Presbyterian and becoming a member.

• On Wednesday, October 6th, we are beginning a new Wednesday Night Live series on What is Prayer? Invite a friend for food & fellowship!

• On Friday, October 8th at 7pm, we are introducing a monthly Friday Film Fellowship. We plan to watch a movie, eat popcorn, and discuss the film from a Christian / redemption perspective. If you are 13 or older, please join us as we learn, interact, eat, and pray together one Friday night a month.

• On Saturday, October 9th, a number of families are planning to carpool to French Camp for their annual festival.

If you can’t wait for these new opportunities, please join with the Saturday Morning Ambassadors at 9:00am tomorrow for prayer before we head out into the community at 9:30.

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, along with the weekly Prayer List and the Church Calendar for October.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 9/10/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” - Romans 12:19
For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. - James 1:20

The Bible contains lots of proverbs. Not one of them says “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Still, it might be pretty helpful advice. After all, the prophet Samuel took one look at Jesse’s eldest son and made the superficial judgment that Eliab was God’s anointed -- the next king. But, God told Samuel not to look on his appearance or his height -- “for the Lord sees not as man sees ... the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). We are called to be circumspect -- not make hasty judgments -- when assessing people.

On the other hand, as you settle in for the evening, if you are looking on your coffee table, or on a shelf near your breakfast area, or maybe on a bedside stand, looking for a nice book to read, let me recommend that you judge a book by its cover. Select one that says “Holy Bible” on the cover. Choosing reading material with a title like that is pretty sound judgment. We can sometimes do well by judging something by its cover -- it depends a bit on how far the cover goes in depicting stuff.

I was looking at a list of summer movies -- the “Box Office Top 10” of most popular films for the weekend of June 4-6. Something struck me about what society is clamoring to see at theaters. Well, at least something stuck me about the titles of what people are going to see. Maybe I should avoid judging a book (or movie) by its cover (or title), but here is the top 10 list:

1. The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It (R)

2. A Quiet Place Part II (PG-13)

3. Cruella (PG-13)

4. Spirit Untamed (PG)

5. Raya and the Last Dragon (PG)

6. Wrath of Man (R)

7. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (R)

8. Demon Slayer: Infinity Train (R)

9. Godzilla vs. Kong (PG-13)

10. Dream Horse (PG)

Sure, these are just titles, and the words might not accurately represent the content. Consider, for example, that judging from the original “A Quiet Place”, the sequel featured on this list is probably NOT about finding solitude -- home sweet home -- despite having one of the more pleasant movie titles.

All but #10 on the list represent a new installment in a series -- or a remake. So, audiences more than likely have some idea what they are in for. The titles likely are useful in judging some content. Perhaps viewers anticipate a future, combined release like “Godzilla vs. Cruella”, or “A Quiet Spirit Spiral Dragon on the Last Horse to Infinity”.

Taken as a group, this entire list seems to reflect society’s interest in the mysterious and hidden. Conjuring, devil, quiet, spirit, untamed, cruel, dragon, wrath, spiral, demon, infinity, [God]zilla, and dream. Maybe we cannot always judge a book by its cover, but I recommend that we rejoice at what this list does represent: a culture fascinated with the unseen spiritual realm. A culture willing to pay good money to encounter spirits, dreams, demons, and the devil. “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.” (Acts 17:22)

The really good news is that we can help these dabblers in spirituality to learn even more about these top 10 topics. Superior entertainment for a lot less money. That spare Holy Bible sitting on your coffee table, or shelf, or bedside stand would be a perfect follow-up to share with someone who has seen one of these movies. Let me invite you to invite them to read along with you about the unseen-but-magnificent work of the Holy Spirit. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Join us tomorrow morning (prayer at 9:00am, walking at 9:30) as the Saturday Morning Ambassadors head out to meet members of society. We can ask them what movies they have seen recently. Then, we can invite them to church to hear about the seen and the unseen.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ - 1 Thessalonians 1:9

I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. Join with us as God keeps us livin’ the dream.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 9/4/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. - Genesis 37:5

Sometimes, we imagine that some things are better left unsaid. If you recall the story of Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat, then you remember that his brothers were very jealous of him. Joseph was honest and reliable. This upset his brothers mostly because Joseph honestly and frankly reported his brothers’ bad behavior to their father. Joseph dreamed dreams of how special he was -- prophetic dreams that would eventually come true -- and the brothers did not appreciate Joseph’s candor and frankness about what he had dreamed. Maybe his brothers had wished that he would have just said, “Gee, I don't remember what I dreamed last night.”

Instead, when Joseph had a dram, he told it to his brothers. And they hated him even more.

Maybe in the middle of the night, when Joseph wasn’t in the middle of a dream, Joseph would come to regret sharing his dreams with his brothers. This would be a shame, since the hatred that had been intensified by Joseph’s frankness would lead them to sell him into slavery, and he would therefore eventually arrive in Egypt and serve to save the entire region from starvation. Sure, his life might have been easier if he had remained silent, but he would not have blessed the world through his candor and gifts. Joseph’s candor saved lives.

Sometimes, you might imagine that it is easier and better and more peaceful and relaxing to leave the Gospel unsaid. After all, most of the people around you can recite the story of who Jesus is and what He has done. So, it might seem better to just leave it unsaid. Let me encourage you to remember what the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision: “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” (Acts 18:9-10)

Tomorrow we plan to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We also plan to look at Acts 19:1-10, in which Paul’s ministry in Ephesus sees transformation: “the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking”. I pray that the Holy Spirit gives you the courage to speak frankly about who Jesus is and what He has done in your life. Sure, some of your brothers and sisters might hate you even more. But, one day, you might be able to say to them, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Gen 50:20)

I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship and the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 8/27/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” - Ruth 1:16

As the Women’s Bible Study discussed yesterday, Ruth was committed to Naomi and to Naomi’s people -- despite Naomi’s miserable state, and maybe even in part because of her loss and great needs. Ruth proclaimed faith in the one true God, despite her own ungodly background.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ transforms unrighteous individuals into a holy community. Like Naomi, we each still have baggage. And like Ruth setting out on the road with her mother-in-law, we each face having to lug baggage for others. And this is a glorious reality: Jesus unites us to love one another -- to love our neighbors as ourselves.

As Naomi headed back towards Bethlehem, Ruth was at a crossroads. Here in the Delta, we know something about crossroads. In faith, Ruth chose to go where Naomi went and to have Naomi’s people be her people and Naomi’s God to be her God. With the faith that God had given her, Ruth chose to love. We can imagine that they were perhaps singing as they headed out from the crossroads in faith on the road together.

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. - Ephesians 5:18-20

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship this Lord’s Day, as well as the weekly Prayer List and the Church Calendar for September. Join us as we worship and sing together.

Please join us tomorrow morning at 9am as we pray for our community and then head out on the road together at 9:30 as Saturday Morning Ambassadors. Perhaps singing.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 8/20/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1:27

What are you doing this Saturday morning? If you are not too busy, perhaps you would like to join the Saturday Morning Ambassadors as we pray together and then visit orphans, widows, and other neighbors in their affliction. We gather at the church at 9:00am and then head out into the neighborhood at about 9:30 to meet our neighbors.

God has been at work making His name known in Indianola! On nine Saturday mornings since May, the Ambassadors have:

• Reached and invited to church our neighbors from at least 58 homes

• Met and prayed with at least 45 personal contacts

• Left booklets for at least another 14 houses

• Sent cards and followed up directly with at least 11 neighbors

We are enjoying making new friends and getting to know each other better. It is delightful to later encounter someone whom we’ve met, even just to wave and say ‘hello’. We have been blessed as these neighbors share deep and troubling needs so that we can pray specifically for those around us. In the midst of a pandemic, it might be tempting to keep oneself away from the world. Instead, we have been blessed by keeping ourselves unstained from the world’s habit of solitary confinement.

And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures - Acts 17:2
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. - Acts 2:42

Let us encourage each other to be pure and undefiled before God. Please join us on Saturday for outreach and then again on Sunday for worship. I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 8/14/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:4-6

I read an interesting “inspirational” quote today:
“Figure out what you love to do - what God gave you a heart to do - and then do it for His glory.”

I had to stop and think about whether this quote represented biblical truth. For example, what if the middle part was deleted:
“Figure out what you love to do and then do it for His glory.”

Wouldn’t this suggest that our desires and preferences are always good and God-glorifying? As if what we liked / loved could always be shaped or shoe-horned into something that glorifies God?

Then, I thought, maybe the quote was intended to emphasize the middle part, like:
God gives His people a heart to do stuff, figure out what He has given to your heart, love it because He gave it to you, and then do it for His glory.

I dunno, it still made me wonder how I would know whether what I loved in my heart was given to me by God or by someone else (including maybe by me). Hearts seem too fickle for us to trust with the important task of knowing what to do for God’s glory. So, I think that the quote needs revision:
“Figure out what God loves done - what Jesus has done and what the Holy Spirit places in the hearts of His people through His Word - and then do it for His glory.”

After all, God tells us in His Word what we are to love: Love your God and love your neighbor. Sure, maybe my quote is not as snappy and clever as the one that I had read on the internet. But, it seems a lot closer to what Paul said to the Ephesians:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. - Ephesians 4:1-3

After all, if you love bearing one another in love and practicing humility & patience, then you don’t need to figure out what you love to do. You could just do it. And if you do love doing these things, I am confident that your heart would confess that you came to love doing them only by the work of the Holy Spirit. So, yes, in humility and unity, figure out what you love to do. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call. Pray that God has transformed your heart to love. And then do it for His glory.

I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 8/7/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. - Mark 6:31-32

Debbie and I are on vacation through Monday. Thank you for allowing us to have this time away. Yesterday and today, all five of our children are here spending time with us. Tomorrow, after worshiping at our daughter Medora’s church, we plan to celebrate my father’s 90th birthday alongside a few dozen relatives. Please pray that we will reflect Christ’s love to all of our family members at this gathering.

But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray. - Luke 5:16

I have attached the bulletin for tomorrow’s Morning Worship along with the weekly Prayer List.

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places. - Leviticus 23:3

Regardless of where we are each located tomorrow, let us rejoice knowing that we are all worshiping the Lord of creation together. We are united in spirit and truth. I am praying for you today.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 7/31/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. - Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. - Judges 21:25
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. - 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations - Deuteronomy 7:9

The Bible occasionally repeats itself. This is in part because we can be hard-headed and need to hear things again and again until we get it. It is also because, as a loving father, God loves His children so much that He enjoys telling us of His love and protection again and again. It is good for us to pay attention to what He says, and we ought to take keen notice when what He says is repeated.

The repetition itself ought to remind us that:

• 1. Maybe we are prone to ignore even the first hearing, so listen this time!

• 2. Despite our stubbornness -- because of it -- God is persistent in His effort to guide and comfort us with His Word, so recognize His faithfulness!

• 3. No matter how much we waver, God is consistent, so you can know Him and rely on His character!

• 4. Everyone tends to do what is right in his own eyes, and yet the Lord is faithful, so rejoice that He does not leave us to our own foolishness!

• 5. When you are uncertain what to say to someone who is in trouble or pain, you can emulate God by repeating confidently what God has said!

Today is a good day to memorize Scripture: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” “But the Lord is faithful.” “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God.” Repetition is good. Repetition is Godly. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Attached is the bulletin for tomorrow’s morning worship. Debbie and I are visiting relatives ‘back east’, so Jonathan Brooks will be preaching. I have also attached the weekly Prayer List and the church calendar for August.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 7/16/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. - Matthew 1:21

It doesn’t take much reflection to notice that there is a lot of sin in this world. There is a lot of pain. Some people self-identify as “optimists” and prefer to think that man is basically good and that the struggles of this world are not that significant. They see the glass as half-full and mankind as improving. Of course, if the world is improving, then we can all agree that it is not currently perfect. If it really is half-full, it could use another 50%.

Others seem more pessimistic. When accused of being cynical and always seeing the glass half-empty, Woody Allen responded, “No, you’re wrong. I see the glass half-full, but of poison and you’re going to drink it!”

Less playfully and more philosophically, Woody Allen has said:

• Let’s say there was no terrorism whatsoever and we were all very nice to one another and we were all kind, we still would be faced with an extremely cruel and hostile universe and existence and so I’m a great pessimist and I feel that it’s impossible really to be happy, and that the best you can hope for is to be distracted.

This hope for distraction -- for himself and others -- might explain Woody Allen’s creation of more than 50 movies.

Woody Allen is exactly correct that we face an extremely cruel and hostile universe -- hostile and cruel because it is riddled with sin. But he is only half right. He is completely incorrect that it is impossible to be happy. It is sad that he and so many millions of others seek temporary relief through distraction. They run from the truth. There is another way out. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. There is salvation for those who call upon the name of Jesus.

The Creator of the universe has given us all that we need. In particular, He has granted us something that does not distract from reality but in fact describes reality -- perfectly -- in ways that we can understand. He has given us His Word. And His Word tells us that there is salvation. To save us from sin, from cruelty and hostility, He has given us His Son.

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus - 1 Timothy 2:5

For those who are confused about reality, God has established the church to speak the truth in love. Invite others to fellowship with us. Invite them to read God’s Word alongside you. Let them hear that Woody Allen is half right: the world is broken. A lot is at stake, because, as my strict and unsympathetic ninth grade English teacher, Mr. Bachman, used to say, “You're only half right, so you’re all wrong!” That concept might be right, but we must tell them in love. Let us start by cultivating unity in the church -- they will know us by our love for one another. Then, let us join with others in noticing that this cruel world needs salvation from sin. It is in this context that the message of Jesus as Savior can be understood.

Let us worship together the one God who sent His Son. I have attached the bulletin for Sunday Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

Please consider joining us at the church at 9am tomorrow morning to pray and then spend less than an hour and a half meeting some neighbors. Even if you are not able to be there with us, please be praying for our Saturday Morning Ambassadors -- and for each person God puts in our path. We might meet some optimists and some pessimists. Pray that the Holy Spirit allows us eventually to explore truth and reality with each of them.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 7/7/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. - Ezekiel 36:26

On Sunday morning, our sermon passage showed us: True freedom comes through truth. This past Sunday evening, we wrapped up our sermon series on the Book of Proverbs, and heard: A hard heart prevents truth from entering.

God sent His Son to redeem the lost. He sends His Holy Spirit to transform our hearts from dead stone to living flesh. (Ben & Sherry Gaston now know a lot about the importance of having a living, beating, obedient heart! Praise God!) God sends His living Word to grant us truth. He sends His church on a mission of delivering this truth to the elect. The Son, the Spirit, the Word, and the Church are joined together on a mission for God’s elect.

Who are the elect? Those whom God ordains to receive new hearts. Those whose names are written in the Book of Life. Those who receive His truth through faith and repentance.

Might the elect live next door to you? Yes! This is one reason that our Saturday Morning Ambassadors have been out -- meeting people throughout the neighborhood around the church. Might the elect be in church? Yes! this is why we preach God's truth from His Word -- so that they will hear the truth. Might the elect be lost and not yet know the truth nor yet have ears to hear? Yes! This is why we invite everyone to worship with us. This is why we baptize and catechize our children. In the Great Commission, God calls the church to bring the message of hope in Jesus Christ.

Might some who hear still not believe? Never believe? Yes, but this is why we encourage all to pray what David prayed: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10) This is why we pray for everyone we know. This is why we preach dependence upon God for His grace and mercy. God grants us freedoms, and we are especially grateful for His blessings on this country such that we are free to worship Him and to speak the truth of the Gospel in love. God has blessed this nation with various freedoms through which the church can preach true freedom.

We are still celebrating America’s Independence Day! We had a wonderfully delicious impromptu Fourth of July fellowship meal after worship on Sunday. This evening, at 5:45pm, for our weekly Wednesday Night Live, we will continue the celebration with a hamburger-themed Independence Day meal. Be sure to join us and then pray and study with us at 6:30pm as we pick back up on our Healthy Evangelism discussion.

(This evening, we will be discussing Session #9 (p. 49) in the Healthy Evangelism booklet, so you likely want to have done what is listed on p.47, including reading Chapter 7 in Tice's book, Honest Evangelism.) Also, keep in mind that the Women’s Bible Study resumes tomorrow at 1:00pm in Judges 20. Let us continue jointly in the mission of the church! The Son, the Spirit, and the Word are powerfully with us!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 6/18/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” - Luke 10:36-37

This has been an exciting week! We hosted 21 children for Vacation Bible School this year -- 10 who regularly attend our church, and 11 who do not. They all seemed to have a great time. In fact, at The Sound of Music, Debbie and I saw two of the children who are not members of our church, and they came over and gave us a hug. They asked where Frenchie (the chef puppet) was. Now that the pandemic has abated somewhat, our church is reaching more of the community!

Tomorrow morning, for the fifth straight week, we plan to meet at the church at 9am to pray together and then set out to meet people in the neighborhood. Please join us as Saturday Morning Ambassadors and help us to get to know our neighbors better. Please be praying for those whom we have already met, those we hope to meet, and this weekly outreach.

We heard from another local pastor that one of his congregants really appreciated our visit last Saturday. The pastor said that he was very grateful that we could encourage her in her time of need. We felt like Paul & Barnabas -- going out and about to encourage and strengthen the church.

The main propositions of the sermons for the past four weeks (Acts 15:22 - 16:) speak to what Saturday Morning Ambassadors are all about:

• “God recruits compassionate disciples to strengthen and grow the church through visitation.”

• “The message of God’s grace delivered graciously invigorates faith.”

• “Despite the church’s mistakes and disagreements, God is moving His mission for the church forward.”

• “God actively calls His compassionate servants to new frontiers.”

VBS this week reflected this coming Sunday’s sermon proposition: “God gathers people to give them new hearts and declare His promise of everlasting fellowship.” Please pray that God will use us to gather even more to Him. We have already heard that one family at VBS plans to gather with us Sunday. Join us in inviting more. I have attached the bulletin for morning worship and the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Tuesday 6/15/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1

First Presbyterian has been putting on a magnificent Vacation Bible School this week! I hope you have had an opportunity to see the program in action. If not, feel free to join us from 5:30 to 8:00pm tonight and tomorrow and see for yourself how children and adults are being blessed.

So far, we have had nearly 18 kids each evening. About half of them are from the larger community. At least one enrolled through our Saturday Morning Ambassadors outreach. At least one came because the family saw our colorful sign on Catchings. At least one had been invited by a friend. With delicious meals provided by the WIC, clever decorations across the campus, fun arts & crafts, and rousing music, this has been an exciting churchwide event! We have a great team at First Presbyterian!

Each night, we have been learning about Faith. Faith to do what?

• Day 1: Like Moses – Faith to Follow God’s Plan (Exodus 3, 14, 19, 20)
  God gave Moses faith to follow His plan and lead Israel out of Egypt.

• Day 2: Like David – Faith to Believe God’s Promises (1 Samuel 17)
  God gave David faith to believe that he can defeat Goliath.

• Day 3: Like Daniel – Faith to Obey God (Daniel 6)
  God gave Daniel faith to obey Him even when facing death.

• Day 4: Like Paul & Silas – Faith to Share the Good News (Acts 16:16-40)
  God gave Paul & Silas faith to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Please continue praying for all involved... including that each child will return for the remainder of the program. (One parent told me that his child insisted one coming back: “We have to go to VBS!” Another told me that his young child was now more excited and prepared to go to church on Sundays. Many kids have made new friends.)

God has truly blessed us this week. Thank you for your loving efforts to help train these children in what faith is and in what faith does. We now see that this VBS is all that we had hoped for.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 6/12/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

Our Faith Exploration Vacation Bible School begins tomorrow at 5:30pm!
(Don’t be surprised if the church campus looks a bit different tomorrow morning!)

Also, be sure to join us tomorrow at 9:30am for the start of a new Sunday School quarter. We have classes for everyone:

• Sojourners (18 and up) - Let’s Study Colossians (Banner of Truth), Leader: Danny McCaskill

• Travelers (18 and up) - Respect the Image, Reflecting Human Worth in How We Listen and Talk (P&R Publishing), Leader: Duncan Hoopes

• Journeymen (approx. 13 to 18) - Bible Doctrine for Teens and Young Adults (Beeke), Leader: Tom Humbarger

• Fluent Readers (approx. 9 to 13) - Listening to Jesus (GCP), Leader: Erik Lessmann

• Novice Readers (approx. ages 5 to 8) - Growing in God (Great Commission Publications), Leader: Janet Covington

• Nursery (generally under 5), Leader: Mattie Green

What is Sunday School? I like what Paul Tripp says about communication:

• “God is at work, taking people who instinctively speak for themselves and transforming them into people who effectively speak for Him.”

• “The first words that human ears ever heard were not the words of another human being, but the words of God! The value of every piece of human communication is rooted in the fact that God speaks.”

• “Through words, we come to know the most important truths that could ever be known -- truths that reveal God’s existence and glory, truths that give life.”

Come, join us as each class this quarter learns about what God says and how He helps us to speak truth in love.

I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 6/9/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the Word of the Lord, and see how they are.” - Acts 15:36

Yesterday, I updated you about some people whom our Saturday Morning Ambassadors had met this past weekend.

Tonight, at 5:45pm, for our Wednesday Night Live fellowship meal, we are having Schinkenfleckerl! If you aren’t sure what that is, be sure to come find out!

Please be praying that some neighbors who had been invited on Saturday would be able to make it to our fellowship tonight.

Please also be in prayer for Ben Gaston as he awaits an ablation procedure on his heart tomorrow at 11am. Every so often, his heart begins racing dangerously. The frequency seems to be increasing. This procedure is intended to correct the problem. Therefore, please pray for these episodes to cease or diminish between now and tomorrow morning and pray that the procedure goes well. Pray for Sherry, as well.

We have placed out some more signs for VBS. Please pray that many more people would join us on Sunday. If you have not yet signed up to help, please join us at 5:30pm tomorrow as we continue getting the church facilities ready for action.

And on Saturday morning, let us return and visit the brothers where we proclaimed the Word of the Lord, and see how they are.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Tuesday 6/8/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” - Mark 10:13-14

Ben Gaston is doing well at Baptist Hospital. Frank and I were able to visit him this afternoon. His doctors have recommended Ventricular Tachcycardia ablation. The soonest that they could perform this catheterization procedure is Thursday morning. Please keep Ben and Sherry in your prayers.

This past Saturday, four of us were able to gather at the church at 9am and pray for our neighbors before heading out into the community to meet people, invite them to church, and pray with and for them. Here are some of our interactions:

• A woman was very excited to meet us. She said that she and her truck-driver husband had not been to church in a while but she would like to join us soon, perhaps next week.

• A mother of 6, 7, and 11 year olds was interested in our upcoming Vacation Bible School.

• We invited one of Miss Mattie's nephews to church. He asked for a bulletin.

• The "Sausage Man" was smoking and grilling meats for the BB King opening with several of his buddies and a couple of city workers. We chatted up our church activities. • We shared church information booklets with them.

• A mother who had recently moved here from Gulfport talked to us for a while. She had seen our VBS sign and regretted that she and her two children were going out of town next week, but she indicated that she might come visit later.

We prayed with each of them and will continue to pray for them. Please join us in prayer and join the Saturday Morning Ambassadors at 9:00am this coming weekend, if you are able.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 6/4/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3

Saturday Morning Ambassadors
Please feel free to join me at the church at 9am tomorrow to pray for our outreach and then to walk our neighborhood. Our Saturday Morning Ambassadors have three simple objectives:
1) meet people,
2) invite them to church, and
3) pray with and for them.
We have been very blessed by this mission the past two Saturdays. Please join us in this fun and exciting church effort to reach our neighbors so that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.

Vacation Bible School
Beginning June 13th, our entire congregation can help the children of our church and community to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The VBS program brings opportunities -- and needs -- for everyone to serve. Caroline Newsom can help you find out how you can be a part.

Our overall “Faith Expedition” theme explores daily themes for the children to Follow, Believe, Obey, and Share. This is an exciting time for all! Please join us in this fun and exciting church effort to reach children so that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.

Lord’s Day Worship
This Sunday, we plan to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. Please invite your friends and family to join us so that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 6/2/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. - Mark 1:4-6

This evening, Caroline is preparing the meal for our Wednesday Night Live fellowship. Rebecca’s sister is getting married in Alabama this weekend, therefore many of the Lessmanns are heading out of town today and in the coming days. Tonight would be a good evening for you to join us, since there might be excess food!

This evening, we plan to discuss chapter 6 in Rico Tice’s book on evangelism. You need not to have kept up with the study to join us for this exciting discussion.

This afternoon, Debbie is driving back from South Carolina, so please keep her travel in your prayers -- and praise God that I was able to survive on locusts and honey for the past five days.

Last night, several of us were able to attend Indianola’s annual Rotary Banquet at the BB King Museum. We got to see the new wing, which is scheduled for its Grand Opening this Saturday and houses several of Mr. King’s vehicles. We saw the finishing touches on his grave site. We also got to enjoy local catfish...whoops, and maybe there was locusts and honey, too. The keynote speaker reminded us of what a wonderful state we live in and especially what a great area the Delta is -- first and foremost because of the friendly and caring people here.

We also had a great biscuits and sausage gravy at the Men’s Breakfast this morning...hmm, and there was definitely at least honey there, too.

Come join us this evening at 5:45pm and help us continue the Delta tradition of being friendly and caring. God is gracious and gives us all that we need. He has given us each other.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 5/28/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness. - Psalm 145:4-7

Saturday Morning Ambassadors
Tomorrow is Saturday. Please feel free to join me at the church at 9am to pray for our outreach and to walk the neighborhood. Our Saturday Morning Ambassadors have three simple objectives: 1) meet people, 2) invite them to church, and 3) pray with and for them. We were very successful in each of these last Saturday. I hope that you can be part of this fun and exciting church effort.

After morning worship on Sunday, we plan to hold a brief informational meeting about the upcoming Sunday School quarter. Ahead of this meeting, I wanted to share some background that has gone into our planning.

Sunday School Personal Background
Over the course of my life -- throughout various life stages -- I have benefited from the gracious discipleship offered by Sunday School teachers and the warm fellowship offered by classmates. In fact, warm fellowship might be the primary value of Sunday School. As we prepare for Lord's Day worship, our focus might be on getting ourselves ready for church -- finding children’s shoes and picking out a clean shirt. However, the body of believers at church needs more than this, they need each other. In the minutes before we gather to worship the living Creator of the universe, we are better prepared with warm hearts rather than matching socks. The Sunday School hour gives us not just time to clear our head of our responsibilities at home and elsewhere but it gives us a focus on encouraging the other people who about to enter worship. As we comfort and strengthen them on Sunday morning, we begin to move outside of ourselves and into the presence of God.

Here are just a few ways that Sunday School has blessed Debbie and me over the years: a) studying God’s Word, b) hearing other people’s perspectives, c) learning about theology (who God is), d) learning about interpersonal relationships (who we are), e) getting to know people at a deeper level, f) exposing our children to sound biblical teaching, g) enhancing our children's interactions with other Christian children, h) enhancing our children’s interactions with other Christian adults, i) laughing, j) crying, k) praying about the same thing for weeks and months - and seeing God’s hand at work in answer to prayer, l) getting to worship on time, m) hearing truths that enhance the sermon, n) setting aside worldly distractions, o) having peace and focus, and p) being prepared to worship a holy God. I would love for you to experience even just a few of these same blessings along with us. Let each generation commend God’s works to another.

Sunday School Planning Background
A primary desire of the Elders of First Presbyterian is to invite and attract those who have not been attending Sunday School regularly. Our planning has been centered on several key design points:

• Deliver biblical teaching in the context of church fellowship. (Enhance Knowledge)

  • Aim for leveraging and strengthening relationships to foster knowledge sharing.

  • Equip classes with curriculum that is doctrinal and interpersonal.

• Anticipate growth -- whether immediate or eventual. (Cultivate Desire)

  • Assume that some people who have not been attending might attend.

  • Assume that some people who have not been attending might still not attend.

• Offer meaningful Sunday School options for every person in the church. (Create Opportunity)

  • Consider expectations and needs.

  • Coordinate efforts with other investments and priorities.

• Build off of our successes. (Enrich Experience)

  • Consider what we have done, what we are currently doing, and what we might do within 2021.

  • Coordinate Sunday morning discipleship with other facets of church life.

• Depend on God’s gifts to us. (Magnify Power)

  • Cherish the diverse gifts -- passions & needs -- of our members.

  • Pray for wisdom & growth to trust & obey God’s leading within the church body.

These design points are intended collectively to allow you to recognize the value of Sunday School. We want to help you seek and find an objective balance with your other priorities. These points align with our own modest post-pandemic objective for incremental progress in enhancing discipleship within the church. Please prayerfully consider attending Sunday School this quarter, starting June 13th. Literally, the more the merrier. During our brief informational meeting after morning worship we will share details about our classes for people of any and every age.

Attached is the bulletin for morning worship, the weekly Prayer List, and the Church Calendar for June.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 5/26/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:1-2

Psalm 121 is a song of ascents, to be sung as God’s people are making their pilgrimages up the hills to attend seasonal festivals in Jerusalem. God graciously set Jerusalem apart as a place of worship, respite, and refreshment for His people. Today, God's people continue to gather for worship, respite, and refreshment.

We will be discussing Session 7 (beginning at page 37) of our Healthy Evangelism class this evening. This will continue our discussion of Chapter 5 (“What Do I Say?”) of Rico Tice’s book (Honest Evangelism). Even if you have not attended in the past, please consider joining us as we learn about publishing the Good News.

This chapter helps us to understand two sets of three words:

• The Good News = The Gospel

  • Jesus's Identity - Who He is.

  • Jesus's Mission - Why He came.

  • Jesus's Call - What He wants from us.

• Publishing = Engaging People

  • Understanding - Do they get it?

  • Agreement - Do they agree with it?

  • Impact - What are they doing about it?

We can all use encouragement to grasp Jesus’s identity, mission, and call, so please come encourage us to know Jesus more fully.

Debbie has prepared two types of lasagna (red / beef & white / chicken). Let us lift our eyes up to the hills. Help comes to us from above. Let us rejoice and be glad in His provision!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 5/22/21 Neighborhood Outreach - Saturday Morning Ambassadors

And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. - Acts 14:27

This morning, three of us from the church went door-to-door with the objectives of 1) meeting people, 2) inviting them to church, and 3) praying with and for them. We also handed out and/or left informational booklets on First Presbyterian, letting others know about our beliefs, worship services, fellowship activities, and upcoming Vacation Bible School. We began at the church in prayer for the souls of our neighbors. It is wonderful that God has placed so many people in walking distance of the church. Here is a sampling of our interactions:

We met a very friendly woman who, after 25 years of marriage, had recently become divorced. She was grateful to hear about our Wednesday night fellowship meals. Her cute poodle named Angel pranced around as we talked. We prayed together for her and her ex-husband, that they could each grow closer in their walk with Jesus.

A young man who worked on homes and lived by himself chatted with us about his life. We encouraged him to join us for worshiping the living Lord. Even though he had an intricate tattoo of praying hands on his arm, it didn't seem that he was attending church regularly. We prayed with him and were encouraged by his cheerful smile.

A man who is restoring a rental property and is a member of a Baptist church spent time telling us about how he had helped build our Fellowship Hall many years ago. He also teaches high school shop and shared with us how the pandemic has affected his classes. He lamented that the pandemic has resulted in people being less up close and personal, even when meeting for worship -- he is a hugger. We enjoyed meeting him and praying with him.

An older woman from Wisconsin was on her way to the hospital to see Dr. Lessmann to deal with her health issues. She was not aware that our church was open for worship and she indicated that she would appreciate being able to worship with us tomorrow morning. Her daughter had been shot in the stomach a month ago and we spent time in prayer for them both. Our conversation seemed to lift her spirits.

A truck driver was working on his car with his son, along with a delightful toddler. We talked about the challenges of being on the road all week long -- his wife works for a local insurance company. His mother is also with them. We encouraged him to let his wife and kids know to take advantage of our Wednesday night meals -- to give them a break in their routine, especially while he was out of town. It did not seem that they were currently attending a church. He has a motorcycle trailer that he offered to make available for Pastor Duncan to borrow in the future. We encouraged them to attend our VBS in June.

At houses in which no one answered the door, we left our materials to let them know that they were invited to join us in worship and fellowship.

The weather was quite pleasant and God's hand was clearly on us as we made our way around several blocks. We wrapped up our time in prayer for each person that we met and for those whom we intend to try to meet on future outings. We committed to keep praying for these precious souls. Thank you for joining us in prayer as our church reaches out to the community.

In His name,
Saturday Morning Ambassadors

Friday 5/21/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. - Colossians 4:2

Please pray for the Worship of the church. Each Lord's day, the individuals of the congregation are encouraged by the fellowship and unity of corporate worship. Your fervent prayer is an encouragement to us in our Worship.

Please pray for the Outreach of the church. Some of us are planning on going door-to-door tomorrow morning to invite the neighbors near the church to worship with us this Sunday. Your fervent prayer is an encouragement to us in our Outreach.

Please pray for the Relationships of the church. As we connect with each other, we experience the joy of Christ's love for His people. Your fervent prayer is an encouragement to us in our Relationships.

Please pray for the Discipleship of the church. We are planning a new Sunday School quarter starting on June 13th-- with classes for all ages. Your fervent prayer is an encouragement to us in our Discipleship.

Please pray for the upcoming Vacation Bible School, June 13th through 16th. VBS is a very special opportunity for young and old, even more so because it promotes Worship, Outreach, Relationships, and Discipleship. Your fervent prayer is an encouragement to us in our VBS program.

I look forward to worshiping and praying with you on Sunday. Attached is the bulletin for morning worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. I am praying for your worship, outreach, relationships, and discipleship.

And after He [Jesus] had taken leave of them, He went up on the mountain to pray. - Mark 6:46

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 5/19/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. - 1 Samuel 25:18

Here are a few fun things to think about today:

• We have several (3) birthdays in the church family today, so be sure to join us for multiple Birthday Cakes and a special meal during Wednesday Night Live at 5:45pm in the Fellowship Hall!

• We will be discussing Session 6 in the Healthy Evangelism booklet, so in preparation you might want to have read Chapter 5 in Rico Tice's book, Honest Evangelism.

• Vacation Bible School starts on Sunday, June 13th, so be sure to let us know how you want to help to be involved in encouraging the young children (and others).

I am not certain if we will have any fig cakes, but Debbie has prepared several cakes for this evening. I believe that one is blueberry and at least one appears to have a lot of meringue. Abigail set a high biblical standard for preparing a feast. We might not get there, but we are certainly going to try!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 5/15/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. - Acts 2:46-47

For Sunday, Debbie and Janet are preparing an impromptu lite luncheon. Why? Just because it's fun to have a meal together -- and it’s biblical.

So, please plan to join us in the Fellowship Hall after morning worship for Italian Tomato & Basil soup, French Onion Mushroom soup, corn muffins, and cookies.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. - Acts 2:42

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 5/14/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. - Job 37:10

In the latter chapters of the book of Job, many examples are given of God’s majesty and power. Job is reminded that while he is just a man, God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. By the breath of God ice is given.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes God’s creative power this way:

• 9. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

• 11. God’s works of providence are, His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.

God is truly amazing and powerful. He provides all that we need.

God is in the process of providing us with very cold air in the sanctuary! The Perfect Air team has been working at the church all week to replace the HVAC system in the sanctuary. They removed the old units, re-organized duct work in the basement, and are substantially complete in installing the new units -- inside and out. It looks great! They plan to return tomorrow morning and have everything running in time for worship on Sunday morning.

We look forward to worshiping together this summer -- even if it is blistering hot outside. By the breath of God ice is given!

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship this Lord’s Day, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 5/12/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

This beautiful week began with Mother’s Day. We have had cool weather, sunshine, and nourishing rain. It is a good week to think about kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. God has been very kind to each of us. He has been very tender with our hearts. And God has been very gracious in His forgiveness. We are to reflect God to others. This week, find someone to forgive, just as God in Christ forgave you.

This evening would be a great time to join with others who know and reflect the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. The WIC Night Circle is meeting. Meanwhile, in the Fellowship Hall for Wednesday Night live, we are having roast pork and black beans -- a classic Cuban dish that is popular in Tampa -- where Debbie and I lived for 17 years. I hope that you can gather together with the church this evening.

Some of us might need encouragement: this week is feeling a bit like the 1970s. Our kids in Georgia and South Carolina report that, due to the gas crisis, they are waiting in line to fill-up, only to be turned away from gas stations. There is deadly violence and air strikes between Israel and Palestinians. We have lived through these sorts of issues before. God leads and guides us -- and He gives us each other for encouragement.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. - Ephesians 5:1-2

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Monday 5/10/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Dear Church,

Pastor Duncan has consistently encouraged us several times a week for over a year with church updates. With many emails, I didn’t want you to miss his message on this one as I am similarly burdened right now.

As we learned last year in a VBS Esther skit, God sovereignly uses hard circumstances for His Glory and our good. The kids understood the message of Esther that we are created for “such a time as this”. My burden is that now is such a time for FPC Indianola and we may not get another one. We are coming out of this pandemic blessed with a talented and committed pastor (and church adminstrator), relationally needy people all around us (including ourselves) and the Gospel as the only truth that is able to change all of our lives...eternally.

Some have said we need more members in this church. Certainly we do because more people need to hear the Gospel and be saved. And we need to be a church prepared for new members and that requires a strong and consistent commitment from our present members. We members need to make sure we keep our vow “to support the church in its worship and work to the best of your ability”. You are truly missed on days when you are not here. In particular, I miss you. It is more than an empty chair or pew, but as Paul puts it, we are missing a part of body and that hinders the rest of the body’s work and worship.

Please consider the priority of your church to you and your family. We are blessed, but we NEED your participation. Especially consider Wednesday Night Live. We need to get to know each other better. Debbie and others graciously cook wonderful meals and currently we’re learning about the topic of how our church can reach others for Jesus. Please encourage those who are ministering to us in providing this time of fellowship and learning.

Humbly in Jesus,
Casey Newsom, Chairman of the Diaconate

Saturday 5/8/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And they remained no little time with the disciples. - Acts 14:28

One of the most difficult aspects of the pandemic is that people have been separated -- they don’t get to remain and spend time with each other. We are ushered through checkout lines at the store, with each person standing six feet away from the next -- looking aimlessly about. The masks make it even more difficult to just chat with someone while you are standing in line. This separation has occurred in church as well.

For most of the past year, health officials discouraged churches from meeting. They said that if we did meet, we ought not linger. Much of the casual conversations at church had been pushed aside in consideration of public health.

Now that many people have developed anti-bodies from exposure to the disease, now that many more have been fully vaccinated, now is a good time to re-connect -- to strengthen our connections. Now is a good time to “remain no little time with the disciples”.

More people have been attending worship on Sunday mornings. Meanwhile, attendance has remained fairly consistent for Sunday School, Sunday evening worship, the Men's Prayer Breakfast, Wednesday Night Live, and the Women's Bible Study. Let me encourage you to follow the example of Paul and Barnabas after they had a particularly difficult year (including being stoned and left for dead): Gather with the church and remain a while re-connecting. We need each other; we need you. Scripture teaches us this.

I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow. Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. - 1 Peter 5:10

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 5/5/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And they remained no little time with the disciples. - Acts 14:28

One of the most difficult aspects of the pandemic is that people have been separated -- they don’t get to remain and spend time with each other. We are ushered through checkout lines at the store, with each person standing six feet away from the next -- looking aimlessly about. The masks make it even more difficult to just chat with someone while you are standing in line. This separation has occurred in church as well.

For most of the past year, health officials discouraged churches from meeting. They said that if we did meet, we ought not linger. Much of the casual conversations at church had been pushed aside in consideration of public health.

Now that many people have developed anti-bodies from exposure to the disease, now that many more have been fully vaccinated, now is a good time to re-connect -- to strengthen our connections. Now is a good time to “remain no little time with the disciples”.

More people have been attending worship on Sunday mornings. Meanwhile, attendance has remained fairly consistent for Sunday School, Sunday evening worship, the Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Wednesday Night Live, and the Women’s Bible Study. Let me encourage you to follow the example of Paul and Barnabas after they had a particularly difficult year (including being stoned and left for dead): Gather with the church and remain a while re-connecting. We need each other; we need you. Scripture teaches us this.

I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow. Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. - 1 Peter 5:10

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 5/5/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31

This evening, at 6:30pm, we are continuing our discussion of Healthy Evangelism. Please join us for this exciting, practical, and important study. We are on Session 5 (p.25 of our booklet). To benefit from this class, you need not have attended each session, but if you wish to be up-to-date for this evening, you will want to:

• Read Matthew 19:16-30. What do you notice about Jesus’s approach to evangelism?

• Read Chapter 4 in Honest Evangelism. What can you share about God’s sovereignty?

• Pray specifically for two people you know -- that they would hear the Good News and be moved by it.

• Write down which one of the vital areas you would most like to develop in May.

Today is also Cinco de Mayo (which celebrates a battle between the Mexican army and invading French troops in the small town of Puebla on May 5, 1862). The Mexicans were outnumbered two-to-one but managed to defeat Napoleon III’s army -- which had been undefeated for about half a century. Curiously, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the US than in Mexico -- in part because it represents a general celebration of Mexican-American culture (like tacos and Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass) and in part because the battle marked an end to military invasions in the Americas by Europeans nations. (After centuries of conquest, no European country has successfully invaded since then.)

I worked at a Mexican restaurant for several years in the 1980s -- when Cinco de Mayo celebrations were becoming exploited for commercial gain. I have deep-seated memories of jalapeno eating contests (I once ate 26 and yet only came in second!). Therefore, Debbie has prepared some Mexican delights on the menu at 5:45 pm for this evening’s Wednesday Night Live meal.

This past Sunday at the Congregational Meeting, the church voted to fund the $16k repair to the HVAC system in the Sanctuary. I have attached the slides from the budget presentation.

I hope to see you this evening!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 5/1/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

He said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” - Exodus 16:23

Today is a big day! May 1st. The day before a holy Sabbath to the Lord! On this day, we are a third of the way through 2021. Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest. Tomorrow, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. Following morning worship, we will hold a congregational meeting to review the church budget and vote regarding a large expenditure to repair the HVAC in the Sanctuary. Debbie and I are now fully vaccinated: the risks are tiny that we could carry or transmit the coronavirus, so we feel comfortable returning to visiting people in their homes. Let’s rejoice in God's provision on this first day of a new month, the day before a holy Sabbath!

Attached are the bulletin for morning worship and the weekly Prayer List. I have also included the Church Calendar for May. The church has a lot of exciting events and celebrations this month (including Donna Britt’s birthday today!). If you are able, be sure to join us this Thursday, May 6th, at noon on the Courthouse Steps. Indianola is observing the National Day of Prayer with a one-hour community event. I have been asked to pray there for our nation’s businesses.

You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, “Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.” - Exodus 31:13

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. - Hebrews 4:9

And Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read. - Luke 4:16

So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. - Mark 2:28

I look forward to worshiping with you tomorrow on the Sabbath. It is a new day, a new month, and a new opportunity to gather with the saints!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 4/28/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

When they had preached the Gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. - Acts 14:21-22

Those who knew the love of Jesus Christ committed themselves to sharing this truth with others. In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas visited a number of towns multiple times to tell others about Jesus and to reinforce their faith. God strengthens His people, especially in times of great need.

This past week in Indianola, for the first time in 2021 -- in two separate incidents -- two people were shot and killed. It is obvious that this is a time of great need. Our hearts go out to the families of Jamie Iverson and Delexius Betties. We are grateful for the effort of law enforcement, especially in the reported arrest of two brothers in connection with Jamie's murder. The need for justice highlights that these are times of great need -- here, throughout our nation, and around the world. Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ.

This evening, at 5:45pm, join us for Wednesday Night Live. Caroline Newsom is preparing a delicious meal for us all. At 6:30pm, we will have our prayer time and continue our study of Health Evangelism. If you have been following along in the booklet, you will find the suggested assignments on page 17, which include a) Reading Revelation 21, b) reading Chapter 3 (“Why We (Still) Won't Evangelize”) of Tice’s book, and c) identifying one passage of Scripture that talks about the Gospel. We will be discussing Session 4 (beginning on page 19). This an exciting study for people of all ages. I hope that you can join us! Invite a friend, too.

Please remember that this Sunday, May 2nd, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. As announced, immediately following Morning Worship, there will be a congregational meeting to discuss the budget and conduct a vote regarding a large expense to repair the HVAC system in the sanctuary.

Also, please add to your calendar the National Day of Prayer next Thursday, May 6th. We will be praying on the Courthouse Steps from noon to 1pm. I will be leading a portion of the prayer time -- praying for our nation's businesses. Please join us if you can make it.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 4/23/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:1-4

We have been told that, earlier today, an armed robber fatally shot Jamie Iverson at Paul’s Jewelry Store in Indianola. The perpetrator is reportedly still at large. Please be praying for the family, friends, and community. God has equipped His people with His Word to comfort those who suffer and grieve.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalm 23:5-6

God tells us in His Word that He is drawing people to Him so that they may know Him as their God and so that they may dwell with Him forever. Forever is a long time. The trials and sadness of this world bring stress and tears. Still, God provides for our every need. Our only hope is in Him. With the hope and peace that He grants us, we may comfort others, even as we weep with them. Join us this Sunday as we worship God together and comfort one another.

I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship on April 25th, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

Please be aware that immediately following Morning Worship on Sunday, May 2nd, we plan to hold a Congregational Meeting to review the budget and conduct a vote regarding a large expenditure for repairing the HVAC system in the Sanctuary. The Diaconate will present the details of this proposed expenditure during the Congregational Meeting.

Debbie and I have been fully vaccinated and in one week we will be able to visit others without significant risk of transmitting the virus to them. Therefore, please be praying for us as we [finally!] are able to get back into the community. We look forward to visiting you then, as well.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 4/21/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

This evening at 6:30pm, we will be looking at “Session 3” of our study of Healthy Evangelism (beginning at page 13 in the booklet). Therefore, it would be good if you have read Chapter 2 of Rico Tice’s Honest Evangelism -- but feel free to join our discussion even if you have not. [Books and booklets are available.]

At 5:45pm, we will be having a Hot Dog Bar with all sorts of fixin’s! Be sure to join us and bring a friend.

As the Book of Acts has been showing us, the Good News of the Gospel includes the good news of fellowship in the church. When we delight in the Lord, He gives us delight in who He is and in His body, the church. This evening, come delight in His blessings on First Presbyterian. With many people now vaccinated, it is rapidly becoming easier for us to join together in person. I hope to see you this evening.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 4/16/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” - Matthew 22:17-21

It used to be that April 15th was a really big deal. Everyone knew that taxes were due by then and so we all had shared, common thoughts about the day. With the pandemic, filing deadlines have been moved. That said, quarterly estimates were still due yesterday. Like I say, April 15th used to have clear meaning -- now it is kind of confusing: a milestone with a caveat.

For Debbie and me, yesterday also brought some sharp clarity in the midst of some ambiguity. We both received our second covid-19 vaccination. This means that in two weeks we will be officially protected from the virus. A milestone with a caveat. Therefore, two weeks after April 15th, we would not need to take social distancing precautions (such as masks) in order to interact safely and confidently in person -- except as required by local authorities. Perhaps you have already reached this exciting milestone.

As you are likely aware, not every risk can be eliminated and there are still some who think that masks ought to be the standard for in-person indoor meetings. As we have done throughout this pandemic, we encourage you to assess your own risk and make decisions in prayerful submission to God and the relevant earthly authorities.

Please, whatever you decide, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God’s. God is worthy of your worship. Please join us in person or remotely (via livestream / telephone). (I believe that you will appreciate a special surprise for this Lord’s Day worship.)

Attached is the bulletin for Sunday Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Tuesday 4/13/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Also if you bring a grain offering of early ripened things to the LORD, you shall bring fresh heads of grain roasted in the fire, grits of new growth, for the grain offering of your early ripened things. - Leviticus 2:14 (NAS 1995)

In Leviticus 2:14 & 16, the priests are instructed to prepare grain offerings using “green ears, roasted with fire, beaten out”. This passage in particular suggests that the food in this offering resembles grits. As such, some translations mention “corn” (but maize and related food products were not really available in Israel and these translations are actually using an early English usage for corn meaning “grain”. So, maybe these were not true grits. Regardless, the beaten roasted green ears might have been something like grits. Therefore, perhaps Leviticus affirms southern grits.

How about Shrimp & Grits?! According to wikipedia, “Shrimp and grits is a traditional dish in the Lowcountry of the coastal Carolinas and Georgia.” Having spent some time in these areas, I can assure you that the locals pride themselves on this delicious breakfast item. Once one heads up from the lowlands of this region, leaving the coast behind, Shrimp & Grits moves up into lunch and supper menus. The price moves up, accordingly.

Shrimp & Grits is also a popular delicacy way down south in New Orleans. Unfortunately, Leviticus does not speak highly of it: “Everything in the waters that has not fins and scales is detestable to you” (Leviticus 11:12). Shrimp would seem to fall into this category of unclean aquatic life. If you enjoy shrimp, then we can rejoice that the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament are no longer in force. God had used the classification of ceremonially clean and unclean to give His people an understanding of holiness prior to the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow, for Wednesday Night Live, we plan to offer Shrimp & Grits (as well as a non-shrimp version, for those who prefer ham). So, if you think of Shrimp & Grits as a breakfast item, then come join us for breakfast at 5:45pm! (And, you could join us for the Men’s Prayer Breakfast at 6:30am -- this would give you two breakfasts in one day!) On the other hand, if you think of Shrimp & Grits as an elegant dish at NOLA’s, then join us for a seafood classic at 5:45pm! Either way, we intend to glorify God and enjoy His provision of delicious and diverse foods.

Tomorrow evening, the WIC Night Circle is meeting, so at 6:30pm for Wednesday Night Live we will have just a brief discussion of Healthy Evangelism (how you are doing on your Vital Stats) and then will spend most of our time together in our monthly Game Night. I hope that you are able to join us.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 4/10/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. - Psalm 16:10 (and Acts 13:35)

Do you find the resurrection marvelous?

In the great miracle of the resurrection, Jesus did not remain in the tomb to decay -- His body did not see corruption. Instead, Jesus was raised from the dead and He stepped out of the tomb!

The women who went to see His body marveled at the empty tomb. They told the other disciples, but the story was too unbelievable for anyone to believe. “I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you” (Habakkuk 1:5 and Acts 13:41). Peter didn’t really believe the women’s story, but he was curious enough to run to the tomb and see for himself what was going on. After seeing the empty tomb, Peter also marveled. The two disciples who encountered the resurrected Jesus eventually recognized Him and then they, too, marveled.

The week following Easter is a wonderful time to ask yourself just how marvelous the resurrection is. Do you marvel that God sent His beloved, only begotten Son to suffer and die on the shameful cross as punishment for the things that you have said and done and thought? Do you marvel that God loves you so much that He seeks to lift you up from your pangs of guilt -- the frustrating reminders of ways that you have hurt others and sought to discredit God -- and give you peace of conscience?

Do you marvel that Jesus is risen? Do you marvel that the faith that He has granted to you and the justification for your sins that He brought about means that God will not abandon you and leave you to corruption and decay? Instead, through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, your body and soul will be re-united at the great resurrection. Isn’t this marvelous news?!

Do you also marvel that there are people who have heard this marvelous news and yet still do not believe? They are more like the disciples’ hearing about the empty tomb from the astounded women -- they heard the news and are unimpressed. They don’t marvel.

The week following Easter is a wonderful time to ask others just how marvelous the resurrection is. Then, you can share with them how you have marveled at the news and how Jesus brings you peace. While you are at it, invite them to church. They might hear the story and still not believe, but it would be even more strange if they believed without having heard the story from someone. God has “made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47).

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. Let us worship together: The Gospel is marvelous news!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Tuesday 3/30/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” - Mark 14:12

Some weeks are busier than others. I recall the bittersweet weeks prior to going on a family vacation -- when I had to work extra hard getting all of my work done, as well as packing and making final preparations, all the while looking forward to some rest & relaxation. I remember delightful vacation weeks, including one visiting a missionary family in Mexico. I recall the challenging weeks of final exams -- in high school, college, and seminary. Some weeks just seem more interesting than others.

The activities of Passion Week are presented in Matthew 21-27, Mark 11-15, Luke 19-23, and John 12-19. That all of these events occurred during the week of the Passover festival is readily apparent from the sequence of happenings recorded each day (the Gospel accounts records activities on each day and say things like, “Six days before the Passover”, “The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him”, “In the morning”, “On the following day”, “It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread”, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times”, “And as soon as it was morning”, “And when the sixth hour had come”, “And when evening had come”, and “When the Sabbath was past”). It was a busy week with no other week of daily activities in Scripture being so significantly recorded, with the possible exception of the seven days recorded in Genesis 1.

Some people have suggested that Jesus’s triumphal return to Jerusalem on what is now known as “Palm Sunday” must have occurred many months prior to His crucifixion, since the people's turnaround from exalting Him with “Hosanna!” as Son of David to screaming “Crucify Him!” must have taken time. Three responses to this suggestion come to mind: 1) the Bible indicates that it was a week, 2) people can be very fickle, and 3) have you never seen a kid change his mind about summer camp within a week? God grants us the blessing of a week to accomplish much for His glory and then to rest in worship of His holy name.

Keep in mind some exciting opportunities to glorify God and to enjoy His provision this week:

• Tomorrow, Wednesday, at 8:30am is the Men's Prayer Breakfast.

• Tomorrow at 5:45pm for Wednesday Night Live, we plan to have Turkey Tetrazzini!

• Tomorrow at 6:30pm, we are continuing our discussion of Healthy Evangelism. To prepare for this discussion, the following assignments have been listed on page 5 of your Healthy Evangelism booklet:

  • Read Ezekiel 18

  • Read pp. 13-27 (Introduction and Chapter 1) in Honest Evangelism by Rico Tice.

  • Pray specifically for two people you know -- that they would hear the Good News and be moved by it.

  • Write down which one of the five vital areas you would most like to develop in April.

  • Ask one person about his/her walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Be prepared to share something you heard that was interesting to you.

• Thursday at 1pm, the Women's Bible Study meets in the Fellowship Hall to discuss chapter 11 of Judges.

• Thursday at 6:30pm, is our final weekly Prayer Conference Call (662-262-5152).

• Saturday at 10am, is the Easter Egg Hunt! All are welcome -- be sure to let your friends and neighbors know!

• On Easter Sunday:

  • Sunday School at 9:30am

  • Morning Worship and Lord's Supper at 10:45am

  • Covered Dish Fellowship Meal after Morning worship.

  • Evening Worship (Book of Proverbs) at 5:00pm.

God has a lot in store for us this week! I look forward to sharing His blessings with you.

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. - John 13:1

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 3/27/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” - Acts 13:15

There are facts that are kind of boring, facts that are truly interesting, and facts that are somewhat controversial. Of course, some controversial facts are boring to many people, while being interesting to others. In fact, some people seek to convince themselves and others that a fact is boring just so that they can avoid the controversy surrounding it. After all, who wants to admit that ice cream is fattening? Better to declare the nutritional information panel on the side of a Blue Bell container as ‘boring’. Even more effective: declare all nutritional panels as 'boring' and avoid any such controversy over the facts, ever. Done.

Many people implement this very effective approach with the Bible. By declaring it ‘boring’, they can avoid the uncomfortable controversies. In particular, they can avoid acknowledging that it contains relevant facts. Avoiding church and Scripture becomes a way of avoiding truth, especially truth about sin. Most people want encouragement, not discouragement. Many people, therefore, declare discussions of sin as either boring (“yeah, yeah, I've heard that before”) or too controversial (“well, that’s your opinion”).

But, what if people could regard discussions of sin as both interesting and encouraging? What if people could appreciate that the Bible contained relevant facts? Would they desire to come to church and hear God’s Word? Would they wake up in the morning, excited to read God’s Word?

A major emphasis of Reformed Presbyterianism is the fact that the Bible is the very Word of God. To some, however, this seems like a boring fact from the damp dungeons of theology. Biblical inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility might seem like technical concepts that belong in seminaries and monasteries, not in beauty salons and living rooms. Here’s the thing: the Reformed view of the Bible is not simply that it is the Word of God. Rather, it is the Creator of the universe speaking directly to you so that you may have a personal relationship with Him.

It’s hard to have a personal relationship with someone who never talks to you. In some ways, it is even harder to have a relationship with someone who does talk to you but who constantly lies to you, or at least misleads you with ‘facts’ that aren't true or relevant. This is why it is so important to recognize that the Bible is spoken by God, contains no errors, and does not mislead. He makes promises directly to you and He makes good on these promises. What He says to you is encouraging and relevant, in beauty salons and living rooms!

In Acts 13, the people of God read from God’s Law and from His Prophets, and then they turn to Paul and Barnabas (‘son of encouragement’). Like wise Presbyterians, they ask these men to expose encouraging facts from what has just been read from God’s Word. And Paul explains to them God’s promise of salvation through Jesus Christ (this is ‘expository preaching’). This is what we will be exploring in tomorrow’s sermon. I pray that you will find it encouraging and interesting. Maybe you could invite someone to join you in hearing God’s encouraging message?

“Those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation!” - Acts 13:26

If someone is about to go over Niagara Falls -- in a barrel or a boat -- a message of salvation is interesting and relevant. Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. I have also included the Church Calendar for April.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 3/19/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. - Acts 13:3

When you watch or read the latest news, it seems like the world is clueless about the Good News.

In the sermon a couple of weeks ago, we explored the first three verses of Acts 13. We read there that Barnabas and Saul (Paul) were set apart for missions work and were sent off to bring the Gospel to the end of the earth.

In the first 12 chapters of Acts, the Gospel had already been preached in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Thus, chapter 13 marks the beginning of the final phase of the commissioning that had been announced by Jesus to His disciples in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” With the church fully established, the remainder of the book of Acts describes world missions in the first century.

Jesus had given this commission to the church (1:8) in response to a question that His disciples had asked about the kingdom. They inquired, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6)

Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The restoration of the kingdom is through the Holy Spirit as He personally and powerfully empowers the church to reach the world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. As you look around and see a land ravaged by a global pandemic and rampant social unrest, you, too, might wonder, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

God’s response remains unchanged: “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Clearly, the world needs the Good News of the Gospel. We will explore this further in the sermon from Acts 13:4-12 on Sunday, as well as in our new study series starting this Wednesday night at 6:30: Healthy Evangelism.

I have attached the following: a) bulletin for Morning Worship, b) weekly Prayer list, and c) flyer for new Wednesday Night Live series.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 3/17/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours - 1 Corinthians 1:2

This evening, Wednesday Night Live resumes! Debbie and I were out of town last week, so we are looking forward to re-gathering (called to be saints together) in the Fellowship Hall at 5:45pm. (Actually, I already ‘re-gathered’ with a number of you this morning during our refreshing Men’s Prayer Breakfast.)

Regardless of one’s ethnic heritage, it seems that most Americans are aware that today is St. Patrick’s Day. The Bible has much to say about saints. Basically, a saint is someone who has been set apart as holy to the Lord. This means that all of God’s people are saints, since He sets the elect apart, regenerates them with His Holy Spirit, gives them faith, sanctifies them as He guides them into new obedience, and predestines them for glory. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you are a saint.

Saint Patrick was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, so it seems likely that he was a saint, like you. He was born around A.D. 386 somewhere in western Great Britain (perhaps in Scotland, or maybe Wales). At about age 16, Patrick was kidnapped and taken across the Irish Sea where he was put into forced labor. He prayed vigorously for his release. After about six years he was able to escape Ireland and return to his homeland. However, the lost souls of his pagan captors weighed heavy on his heart and he prayed that they, too, would come to know the Lord Jesus. He headed back to Ireland as a missionary -- seeking to see many pagans become saints. Because of his dedication to their salvation, Saint Patrick eventually became the ‘patron saint’ of Ireland.

Maybe Saint Patrick would be confused and disappointed to see millions of Americans celebrating him every March 17th in pubs with green beer and such. On the other hand, he had spent a lot of time with wild-eyed pagans -- both as a slave and as a missionary. I doubt that he would be surprised by much. Given his background and mission, perhaps he would delight to encounter any opportunity bring the Gospel: thriving even in the midst of Irish-American revelry. “Happy St. Patrick's Day! Do you know Jesus?” This is what saints do: having been set apart for God’s glory, they live in the world, not of it. They seize opportunities, especially well-publicized ones. Saints reflect God’s glory for all to see.

This evening, we will be serving corned beef and cabbage, and, of course, potatoes, in the Fellowship Hall at 5:45pm. (Debbie’s maiden name is the very Irish “Ragan”.) We are not really celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. Every day, we can celebrate God’s working in the lives of all of His saints. And corned beef is a tasty way to celebrate God’s provision. Please join us this evening, if you are able. We will be finishing up our discussion of Social Justice tonight at 6:30pm. Next Wednesday, we will begin our series on Healthy Evangelism.

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. - Revelation 14:12

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 3/5/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. - Matthew 6:16-18

This Sunday, we will be exploring Acts 13:1-3, which tells us about fasting and praying in the early church. Fasting has been an important practice within Christianity. It is not just an ancient practice: Billy Graham once said, “Believers who never practice fasting and prayer are missing a spiritual discipline that has blessed many throughout the ages.” But, it is an ancient and enduring practice: St. Augustine of Hippo said, “The only-begotten Son of God, showed mercy to us and fasted and prayed for us.” (see Matthew 4)

Christians not only fast, but they feast. We look forward to celebrating the Lord’s Supper this Sunday. Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

Please continue to pray for Pat Adams. She is progressing well after surgery. The incisions still need to heal, which means that she needs rest and nourishment. As you can imagine, this creates a bit of a challenge: she needs to eat so that her stomach can heal, but it is hard to eat until her stomach heals. She is currently receiving nourishment intravenously at home. Please continue to pray for this difficult process to go smoothly. She has been fasting long enough -- pray that Pat may feast soon. Praise God for His grace and mercy!

Shanicia Oneal (Miss Mattie’s granddaughter, and a nursery worker at the church) gave birth to a boy! Richard Oneal III was born at 30 weeks, so he is still in the NICU. Please pray for his development and strength.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 2/26/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. - Acts 12:16

In the sermon last week, we talked about the humorous story of Peter’s miraculous release from prison and his difficulty getting into where the church was meeting. Eventually, Peter was able to proclaim to them how God had answered their prayers for him. Peter’s message was straightforward: Jesus answers prayer and rescues us from presumption so that we may know and proclaim the truth.

How has Jesus answered your prayers this week? How has He rescued you and people whom you know? How have you proclaimed His miraculous truth to others?

Here are some wonderful ways that Jesus has answered our prayers this week:

• Q was able to walk down his driveway! God has granted healing through hip replacement surgery.

• Pat has eaten soup! God has granted relief from stomach cancer through surgery and progressive improvement.

• Camille can relax! God has given her a good report from her hematologist!

• Tutter (Lynn’s aunt) participated in social activities! God has granted her healing from a broken hip and covid.

• Paul is breathing better! God is healing his lungs after pneumonia and is preparing him for the next elbow procedure.

• Jimmy can see clearly out of one eye! God gave him successful cataract surgery and is preparing him for another.

• Sara Jane is doing well! God is restoring her after her stroke and she only has a couple of weeks of rehab left.

• The snow and ice are gone from Indianola!

As you can see, Jesus answers prayer and rescues us. We can delight in knowing and proclaiming this truth. Let us continue praying together as a church. Let us continue proclaiming His grace and mercy to others. As we will hear in the sermon this coming Sunday: God speaks life through the church to rescue others from their pursuit of death. We are all joined together in this important, life-giving mission!

Attached are: a) the bulletin for this Sunday's Morning Worship, b) the weekly Prayer List, and c) the Church Calendar for March. Also, the 2021 Church Directory is available, so please let me know if you would like a copy.

Invite others to church this Sunday. Remember, Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 2/19/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter His lightning. They turn around and around by His guidance, to accomplish all that He commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction or for His land or for love, He causes it to happen. - Job 37:10

Ice-covered trees -- What a breathtaking sight! Melting ice -- What a magnificent joy to behold!

Debbie and I trekked -- well, we slid along on foot -- to the church this afternoon. The landscape is a mixed bag of crunchy snow on lawns, rock solid ice packed on sidewalks, and slushy ice and such on the roads. Basically, people should stay indoors and celebrate God's mercy as Indianola tries to thaw. It is still below freezing, so whatever is melting is due to sunlight. It won’t be long before all the dripping water starts freezing again.

The weathermen (who certainly face a tough time forecasting for the Delta) say that the temperature will drop to 15 overnight. This will mean VERY icy and slippery conditions in the morning. Then, they say, it will reach 41 degrees in the afternoon. What a strange day tomorrow will be! So, maybe, just maybe, much of the snow and ice will clear.

However, as of right now, the church parking lot and the adjacent sidewalks are so covered in ice that they are essentially impassable. Debbie and I plan to slide back home while the sun is still shining. I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. I will keep you updated, but I am guessing that you won't want to attempt to attend church in person on Sunday. Feel free to join us for worship via livestream or conference call.

In the meantime, praise the Lord that Paul Townsend is home after dealing with pneumonia! Praise also that Pat Adams is doing better -- able to eat some and having less pain. She will likely be released from the hospital by Sunday. The doctors have preserved Q Davis’ schedule for hip surgery on Monday, so please continue to pray for him.

And lift up in prayer the people of Texas, many of whom are still without power and/or safe drinking water. This has been a difficult winter storm and our mutual encouragement and intercession is a big part of getting through difficult times. Thank you for your encouragement.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 2/17/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. - Isaiah 32:18

The roads are not very clear, and the current freezing rain is likely not going to improve their condition. The sidewalks are quite slippery. It is supposed to snow some more tomorrow. I hope that you are safe at home. Please let us know if you need anything.

The church building is staying relatively warm and -- except for the single frozen water pipe that normally feeds the powder rooms upstairs and in the Pastor’s Study -- all appears well. (The water pipe has been frozen since Saturday and does not seem to have caused further complications.) Still, with the nasty weather conditions, as announced yesterday, we will not be having any Wednesday Night Live activities this evening. Please stay in your secure dwelling.

Tomorrow, we plan to conduct the weekly Women’s Bible Study by conference call only (662-262-5152) at 1pm, so don’t worry about having to drive on treacherous streets. God has graciously provided us with telephone access throughout this pandemic -- and therefore we are already prepared to continue meeting during snowstorms. Please join us if you are able. We will be continuing our discussion of Gideon in the book of Judges. We also plan to have our weekly Prayer Conference call at 6:30pm tomorrow.

Today would be a good day to read the 12th chapter of Acts and consider the challenges and joys that the church has faced over the years. Right now, we might feel like we can relate to Peter -- handcuffed in prison and not able to share the Gospel with others. Still, we can take heart and pray: “Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” (Acts 12:5) Let us spend this time of snow-bound seclusion in an icy pandemic lifting up prayers for one another. I am praying for you and your family.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Tuesday 2/16/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! - Luke 12:24

I hope that you are staying safe and warm. It looks like the absolutely coldest weather is behind us, but we still expect multiple days of freezing temps and freezing rain.

We are grateful that there was no additional accumulation last night, allowing dozens of birds of different feathers to enjoy today the seeds that Debbie had scattered on the snow-covered patio yesterday.

Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:41) God does, through His servants, such as Debbie.

Every Wednesday morning, God provides breakfast to the men of First Presbyterian through the hands of His servants, such as Frank and Richard. Tomorrow, however, the men will need to forage for breakfast on their own, since we have decided that the weather is just a bit too oppressive for gathering at the church building. Men, and women, of the church are encouraged to pray in the [relative] warmth of their own homes tomorrow. That said, if you need ANYTHING, including breakfast or birdseed, please let us know and we will seek to meet your needs.

In addition to suspending the Men’s Prayer Breakfast tomorrow, we have also decided to not host Wednesday Night Live this week. Please take advantage of this time to meditate on God’s Word and to pray for our nation and community.

Meanwhile, Paul Townsend and Pat Adams are fortunate to be recuperating during the winter storm in their respective hospitals. The doctors have indicated that, if not for the icy conditions, they would be able to be released, so praise God that He is giving them each much-needed respite as they continue to heal. Please continue praying for Paul and Pat and their families. Also pray for those, such as Camille and Q, who are scheduled to receive medical procedures and/or covid-19 vaccinations in the coming week. God provides through His servants, so please pray for Erik and the rest of the medical community -- in Mississippi and nearby states, especially Texas -- as they care for us all during this wintry week of the pandemic. God is good, all of the time.

The Deacons would be disappointed if I didn’t mention repeatedly that they are here to help you. They are here to help. They are here, so ask for help. Praise God for His loving servants. God feeds the birds, and how much more valuable you are than the birds.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 2/12/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. - Proverbs 31:20-21

The meteorologists indicate that Indianola might be getting some frozen precipitation this weekend. I, for one, vote for getting some snow... otherwise, what purpose does all this freezing cold weather serve? Let the kids make some snowmen. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. For just a day, maybe. It’ll be okay -- if we are clothed in warm scarlet long johns.

When it snowed last month, the Lessmann family managed to assemble several small snowmen. They rolled up pretty much all of the snow in their yard. One of their snowballs was so large and well-packed that it lasted the whole week on their lawn, even in the Delta sun.

Whether the weather is snowy or not, please rest assured that the church’s Sanctuary will be a reasonable operating temperature. This past Sunday, with one of the furnace units having trouble, the other unit could not warm the room quickly enough. Several Deacons are planning to double and triple-check that the furnace is functioning Saturday night and Sunday morning so that we can worship in relative comfort. (And please be praying as we consider options for upgrading / replacing the worn-out HVAC equipment.)

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List. If you believe that you can manage the health risks, please join us in person.

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. - Isaiah 1:18

Snow or no snow, it is a wonderful delight to worship together (virtual or in person) in spirit and truth. Jesus washes our scarlet sins as white as snow. God’s gift of snow reminds us of how beautiful Jesus's covering for us really is. He covers us completely. Praise the Lord for His snow!

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Friday 2/5/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them. - Mark 10:13-16

This Lord’s day, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. In fact, one of our covenant children will be received publicly as a communing member and will partake in the elements with us for the first time. Be sure to join us (livestream, by phone, or in-person) as we welcome Thomas Jonathan Jackson McCaskill into our fellowship as a communing member.

I have attached the bulletin for Morning Worship, as well as the weekly Prayer List.

Proverbs 22:6 is a popular Bible verse on the topic of parenting. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” What can be confusing about this verse is that it seems that it might suggest that how a child ends up is directly dependent upon how well the parents train that child. In other words, maybe the verse indicates that no child raised well in biblical teaching will depart from Christianity. Likewise, maybe it implies that a child who has departed from the church was not raised well by his parents. These derived conclusions are, of course, false.

First of all, many Bible verses, including the verse immediately prior, teach that individuals -- not their parents – are responsible for their own behavior: “Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.” (Proverbs 22:5) We must guard our own souls through our own obedience and covenant faithfulness. Individuals, especially mature ones, are to keep away from snares and thereby guard their own souls.

Furthermore, the purpose of the book of Proverbs is to give practical biblical principles for wise and faithful living, not to describe automatic causes and effects. Thus, the Proverbs are not intended to state facts that describe every situation. This reality is readily seen in the verse that immediately follows: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7) Not every rich person rules over every poor person. Not everyone who takes out a loan is a “slave” – especially when the terms of a contract are agreed and agreeable.

Beyond these points, verse 22 says nothing about a child’s parents, in particular. It says “[you] train up a child...”, which is a responsibility of everyone in the entire covenant community. If as a church, we all join together to train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Yes, some will stray. But we ought to be committed to upholding covenant faithfulness for the young, old, and medium. We are called to encourage one another, teach the Gospel to one another, and hold each other accountable – all the time and in all ways. THEN, we can enjoy the blessing of God’s truth, that a grown child will not depart from it.

Praise God for His covenant blessings on First Presbyterian Church. Rejoice with me as Jackson becomes a communing member. You have trained him well. I look forward to celebrating and worshiping with you this Sunday.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Wednesday 1/27/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” - Genesis 32:22-28

David Livingstone (as in “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”), when asked by the missionary society if he had found a good road so that other missionaries could easily join him:
“If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

Ernest Shackleton’s classified ad for his South Pole expedition more than 100 years ago allegedly began like this:
“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness.” More than 5,000 candidates applied.

Paul Tripp has repeated in his book on Suffering:
“We never just suffer just what we’re suffering, but we also suffer the way that we are suffering.”

We know that we will face struggles in this world. In the midst of our suffering, God gives us comfort and knowledge through His Word, His Spirit, and His church. Attached is the handout for tonight’s discussion on Suffering. The conference call (662-262-5152) and in-person prayer and discussion will begin at 6:30pm. I hope that you can join us.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Saturday 1/23/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. - Acts 10:37-38

You know that 2020 was a strange and difficult year and you know that 2021 has begun with some strangeness and difficulties, as well.

Although, maybe I should have worded that sentence as, “You yourselves know that 2020 was a difficult and strange year and you yourselves know...”

“You yourselves” might seem kind of redundant, like “Personally, I myself think ...”, but we sometimes emphasize something’s significance by being a bit repetitive. If I say, “You know that 2021 is already bringing challenges”, you might think that I am speaking to y’all in general. In fact, “bringing challenges” might even sound so generic that it is boring, prompting you to think, “Yeah, sure, whatever.” But, if I say, “You yourselves know difficulties”, then the emphasis helps you to recognize that I am acknowledging and emphasizing two things: 1) your personal encounter with trouble and 2) your shared encounter with trouble as part of a group of people facing difficulties. The focus on both of those is accomplished by my being repetitive: “you yourselves.”

This focus and emphasis is what Peter is doing in his sermon in Acts 10:37 when he says, “You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea.” The Jews and Gentiles who were gathered there in Cornelius’ house in Caeserea had not read history books about what Jesus had done throughout the surrounding countryside. They had seen it. It wasn’t that they had just read articles about a pandemic. They had lived it. They knew people whose lives were directly changed by what had happened throughout all Judea. They themselves knew what had happened. This was not just head knowledge. It was embedded in their heart and soul. They each knew it personally and they were living it together. So, Peter says, “You yourselves know.”

You yourselves know that this pandemic is difficult. You yourselves know that this is a fallen and broken world. You yourselves know that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation from the pain of sin and death. You yourselves know that His bride, the church, is His plan for bringing comfort in the midst of suffering. You yourselves know that you yourselves are called to worship and work together to bring the good news to many. By the power of the Holy Spirit, let us go about doing good and healing all who are oppressed by the devil. Let’s do this because you yourselves know what happened throughout all of Judea.

Attached is the bulletin for Morning Worship as well as the weekly Prayer List. I look forward to worshiping with you in spirit and in truth.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes

Thursday 1/7/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

Here is a quick public service announcement:

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is now taking reservations for people age 75 or older to get an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The nearest appointments appear to be currently for the Washington County office in Greenville, just over two weeks from now.

The MSDH website has been experiencing problems today. I was able to locate a connection to the MSDH scheduling system through the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

So, if you or someone you know is at least 75 years old, you can make an appointment here:

• https://covidvaccine.umc.edu/

Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance making the reservation or getting to the appointment.

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes
813-240-3106

Wednesday 1/6/21 First Presbyterian Church Update

And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. - Matthew 2:8-11

Today is Epiphany! You are invited to the manse today at 4pm to celebrate with us on this twelfth and final day of the Christmas season! If you are comfortable managing the risks, you may join us for food and fellowship. We have prepared the patio and carport for those who wish to celebrate outside.

Christians around the world, for nearly two thousand years, have celebrated January 6th as the day when the wise men arrived in Bethlehem and saw the infant Jesus.

“Epiphany” refers to the revealing of Jesus to the world outside of Israel. (An epiphany is a “manifestation” of something being revealed -- an appearing, a realization.) The “magi” were foreigners (we don’t know if there were exactly three of them: the word is plural, so there were at least two, bearing at least three gifts) who had traveled to Jerusalem from the East in order to see the newborn king of the Jews. As such, when they reached the house in Bethlehem where Mary was with her baby boy, the wise men represented the first time that Gentiles had seen the Lord incarnate. (The shepherds and others in and around Bethlehem were presumably Jewish.)

The Gospel of Luke talks about the shepherds, while Matthew describes the journey of the wise men. It seems that the shepherds saw Jesus the day that He was born (“unto you is born this day”), meanwhile the wise men must have arrived some time later, since Jesus had already been born when they went first to Jerusalem (“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he?”). (Moreover, the shepherds found Jesus in a manger, while the wise men found Him in a house.) We have no reason to believe that it was exactly twelve days after Jesus was born, and regardless we have no reason to believe that Jesus was born on December 25th. In short, we have no idea when the magi saw the epiphany. But, we do know that even those outside of Israel saw the incarnate Christ when He was an infant. As such, Twelfth Night can serve as a reminder that God did reveal His Son to the world -- and continues to reveal His Son through the church.

For more than 30 years, Debbie and I have hosted a party on January 6th. We established this festival on very pragmatic, non-religious grounds:

• Social - Our friends in Washington, DC came from a variety of international backgrounds, many of whom had celebrated January 6th in their native countries (cf. Noche de Tres Reyes in Latin America, Epiphany in Greek Orthodox nations). They appreciated an opportunity to have their own traditions honored.

• Practical - When I worked in the restaurant business, the holidays were so busy helping others to celebrate that we did not have time to throw a party of our own.

• Available - Most people tend to be available on January 6th (as opposed to throughout the busy month of December), since there are not many competing activities the first week of the year (in America). Moreover, it gives people who have been away visiting family an opportunity to return to another festivity -- and most students have not yet returned to school.

• Economical - Christmas-themed items (cups, plates, napkins, even hams and turkeys, etc.) are heavily discounted after December 25th.

• Historical - Our own English ancestors had celebrated a feast day on January 6th (hence the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare), giving us a foundation for a classic tradition versus some random date.

• Counter-cultural - With society’s tendency to commercialize Christmas, we find it playfully refreshing to do something out of the norm and host the last hurrah of the Christmas season. We would love for you to celebrate it with us.

The Bible is clear that there was an epiphany -- of Christ to the Gentiles through the wise men -- so we can all celebrate this glorious truth.

Unfortunately, the pandemic renders our above practical rationale nearly worthless. There are many practical reasons for NOT joining us in celebration today. Still, we feel compelled to not ignore our family tradition. Therefore, if you feel comfortable joining us at 4pm or later today, please do so. Debbie has prepared delightful food. If you prefer, you can socialize outdoors. And if you must stay home, please know that we look forward to celebrating with you in person soon -- and in spirit now.

I have attached an updated version of the Church Calendar. (I am sorry: the previous version had incorrectly listed the WIC Soup Luncheon as being on the 27th when it is actually scheduled for the 20th.)

In His name,
Rev. Duncan Hoopes