| FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS:
We are the Elkins Park Reformed Presbyterian Church. We are the continuation of the Third Reformed Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, organized in 1851. Here are some facts about us.
1. When do you meet for worship?
We meet for worship at 11:00 a.m. each Sunday morning. Our service usually lasts until 12:10. Then we meet again at 6 p.m.
2. What other services do you have?
We meet for prayer every Thursday evening at 7, the men meet for breakfast every Tuesday morning at 6, and we eat lunch together the first Sunday of each month.
3. Do you have a Sunday School?
Yes, it meets at 10:00 a.m. and has classes for children and for adults. After an opening greeting, classes meet from 10:05 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.
4. When do you observe the Sacraments?
We observe the Lord?s Supper the second Sunday of each month. Baptism is observed whenever someone is ready for baptism, either an adult convert or a child of members.
5. Do you have a nursery?
Yes, there is a room available which parents are free to use or not use as they choose. During Sunday School there are classes for children two and up.
6. Does your schedule change in the summer?
In the summer we usually replace the Sunday School with a time of prayer and praise.
7. Who is the pastor?
Our pastor is John Edgar. Before becoming our pastor in 2002, John taught middle school math in Hatfield, high school math and history in Philadelphia, and math, history and religion courses at Peirce College. He attended Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and also has earned degrees from Swarthmore College and Temple University.
8. Who are the elders?
Our elders are Michael Jessop and Duran Perkins.
9. Who are the deacons?
Our deacons are Clara McClay, Emil Nahm, and Bob Allmond.
10. How does the whole congregation conduct its business?
There is a congregational meeting on the last Saturday in January to hear reports from the pastor, elders, treasurer, and deacons; approve a budget for the year; and deal with any other business. The congregation also calls its pastor and elects its own elders and deacons to a permanent office.
11. What are your doctrinal standards?
We subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms. To these the Reformed Presbyterian Church has added a Testimony which speaks to issues not before the church when the Westminster Standards were written. We also have a Directory for Worship, a Book of Discipline, and a Book of Church Government.
12. To what larger church body does your congregation belong?
We are part of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Synod of North America. Under that Synod, we are part of the Atlantic Presbytery. The RPCNA belongs to the National Association of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches and to the National Association of Evangelicals.
13. What avenues of service are open to your members?
a. Praying for each other, especially for our children, and for needs around the world;
b. Teaching a Sunday School class, helping care for the church grounds, being hospitable to one another and to visitors, visiting the sick, leading the singing, taping our weekly worship services, witnessing about Christ to family and friends;
c. Helping other ministries, such as our Aged People?s Home in Pittsburgh, the Reformation Translation Fellowship, White Lake Covenanter Camp, Alpha Pregnancy Services in Philadelphia, and local college campus InterVarsity work.
14. What do you expect of members?
All of our members believe in Jesus Christ as their only Savior and accept the Bible as the inspired Word of God. We have promised to worship God weekly with the church, read our Bibles and pray, observe the Sacraments, tithe, serve one another, and listen to any necessary admonitions from the church. Families should pray together regularly; workers should work diligently and honestly.
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