Dear family and friends of WCPC:

Last week Jullie and I were in San Diego attending the National Pastor’s Convention. It’s the second time I’ve been to this conference. It was a very inspiring and encouraging time. Eugene Peterson, the author of “The Message” (a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible), was one of the key note speakers.  He presented several seminars and gave the Thursday morning Bible Study. Peterson is a Presbyterian pastor and throughout all of his presentations his pastoral heart was revealed. 

One afternoon I attended a special showing of “Amazing Grace.”  “Amazing Grace” is a movie that is being nationally released today. It’s the story of William Wilberforce who, as a member of the British Parliament, spent his life working to abolish the slave trade and slavery in the British Empire.  He accomplished his mission, though at great personal cost. His influence on the abolitionist movement in this country cannot be overstated. Abraham Lincoln was influenced by Wilberforce’s views and by his persistence.

Early in the film we see Wilberforce struggle with a choice between serving in Parliament or entering ministry. He had found God, or as he put it, “God had found him.”  In trying to share his new found faith with his sister he wrote this: “Watch and pray, read the Word of God, imploring that true wisdom which may enable you to comprehend and fix it in your heart, that it may gradually produce its effect under the operation of the Holy Spirit, in renewing the mind and purifying the conduct. This it will do more and more the longer we live under its influence.”  (William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity by Kevin Belmonte, page 86.)

One of his friends as a youth was John Newton, who wrote the words to “Amazing Grace.” Newton convinced him that he could serve God better by remaining in Parliament and working to change the British Empire. The Parliament was his ministry. Newton himself came to faith in Christ after serving as the captain of a slave ship. Following his conversion he entered ministry and of course, wrote the words to the hymn that has been sung more than any other hymn in history. Later in the movie we encountered a blind and aging Newton who says, as his memory fails, “There are two things I am certain of, and only these two things.  I am a great sinner and Christ is an even greater Savior.” 

Wilberforce listens to his friend’s counsel and spent the rest of his life working for the abolition of the slave trade and the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. He was also instrumental in working for reforms in education and health care, particularly as it pertained to the poor. 

William Wilberforce was a Christian and the movie clearly illustrates his strong and great faith. If you are looking for an entertaining and an enlightening and encouraging evening, consider going to see “Amazing Grace.”  

This Sunday we’re going to look at the fourth goal of “A Roadmap to the Future.” That goal is focused on mission and outreach. The texts I will be looking at are Isaiah 58:6–11 and I John 3: 11–24. Also, please note that the congregational meeting originally scheduled for this Sunday has been rescheduled for next Sunday, February 25^th. At that time the Nominating Committee will offer into nomination members of WCPC to serve on the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee for Youth and Young Adults. The polity (government) of the Presbyterian Church USA also provides opportunity for individual members of WCPC to offer nominations as well. Also, the 2007 budget for WCPC will be presented, which will be adopted by your Session on Tuesday.

Your pastor,

David Jones