Heritage Weekly #96

Dear Family,

Reminder: men’s breakfast tomorrow at Harner’s

Brief personal note:

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement for my family and me. I am feeling better by God’s grace. We don’t have everything figured out at this point, but things seem to be stable. We may not learn anything new until next week when my regular physician returns from vacation. Please pray that the Lord would grant me His strength so that I might be with you all on Sunday and that I might preach.

Women Speaking in Church

Several weeks ago I was asked the question, “Is it appropriate for women to say ‘amen’ during the worship service in response to something said in a sermon?” This past elder meeting we spent a significant amount of time looking at the Scripture and discussing this issue. Here, then, is the position of HOFC on the issue of women speaking in the worship service:

The time to which this position applies is the Lord’s Day worship service of HOFC. This time can be identified further as that time of corporate worship between the Call to Worship and the closing Benediction by the pastor.

Scripture is clear that women are not to act in positions of authority in the church (I Timothy 2:11-13). In our church that excludes obvious things such as preaching, teaching, reading Scripture, serving communion and leading prayer. Scripture goes even further in stating that women are not to even speak in the worship service (I Corinthians 14:34-35). Given this specific language in Paul’s writing we agreed to the following guidelines for women (young ladies and girls) in the worship service:

Women should refrain from individual exclamations such as “Amen” during the worship service
o Saying “Amen” is a form of approval or agreement
o This could be perceived as a form of authority in which the woman is expressing approval as a representative of her family
o For the reason of the real or even perceived authority we think it best that women refrain from individual proclamations

Women, young ladies and girls are strongly encouraged join with the rest of the church in the following activities:
o Corporate singing
o Recitation of Creeds
o Saying the Lord’s Prayer as the body of Christ
o Responsive readings

The difference between the two circumstances above is that of perceived authority. Those we see as allowed by Scripture are all corporate in nature and we do not feel that these corporate activities violate the scriptural commands regarding women in the service.

This understanding of Scripture should in no-way be taken to mean that HOFC does not value women or the gifts that God has given them. On the contrary, we feel extremely blessed with the godly women, young ladies and girls that God has blessed us with. Don’t forget, this issue was raised by some of the ladies of the church…what a blessing! Please feel free to contact the elders if you have any questions about this clarification of the church’s position.

Yours by Faith Alone,

Vaughn

><>><>><> 8/24 LORD’S DAY<><<><<><

Sermon:
Discipleship and the Kingdom of God – Mark 10:17-31

Hymns:
We Praise Thee, O God 16
All Creatures of Our God and King 64
Rejoice, the Lord is King 228
Rise Up, O Church of God 293
Gloria Patri 623

><> OTHER NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS <><

Upcoming Events
8/22 – Men’s breakfast at Harner’s – 6 a.m.
8/24 – Sunrise Nursing home visit – CANCELLED
8/29 – Wayside Cross Ministries Chapel Service – men & boys welcome – 7 p.m.
9/10 – Elder/head of household Meeting at Winters – 7 p.m.
9/14 – Fellowship Meal following service
9/19 – Family Music Night at Sugar Grove Community House – 7 p.m.
10/17 – HOFC children’s recital at Waubonsee Auditorium – 7 p.m.
10/31 – Reformation Day celebration at Sugar Grove Community House (gym included) – 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.