FROM THE PASTOR: Rev. Larry Hoffmann

In Matthew 16:13-16 we are told: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Who do you say that I am? This is the heart of the matter for us as the church. How we answer this question, with our lips and with our lives, defines the shape of our life together. The first question we are asked when we join the church: Who is your Lord and Savior (Who do you say that I am)? This is also the first question we are asked at our ordination and installation as an elder, deacon, & minister: Who is your Lord and Savior (Who do you say that I am)?

Our answer to this question is our entire life of faith. Our answer determines everything about us. It demands all our heart, mind, body and soul. We make this confession by grace. It is faith revealed to us by God who walked the way before us, and who joins us on the road even now.

It is a blessing to be able to say, and even more to live, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

Grace and peace to you,

Larry

FROM THE CLERK EMERITUS: D. Dee Mowry

By a rough count, there are about eight churches (active and inactive) proximal to or in the village of Bremen. All Christian Churches have the same basis and/or belief, Jesus Christ. What is the difference??? Mainly in church government. The Presbyterian Church is basically 'horizontally' integrated, that is, we all are on the same basis. Clergy and laity are equal as far as church government is concerned.

Probably the antithesis of this would be in the Roman Catholic Church where the Pope rules.

The only place where there is a definite delineation is at the local level where the Book of Order specifies that the moderator of the session MUST be an ordained Presbyterian Minister. This is a wise provision to assure that the local church operates under the provisions in the Book of Order. One of the ordination exams for ministers is in church polity, aka the Book of Order.

The next higher adjudicatory is the Presbytery, ours is the Scioto Valley Presbytery, which includes churches mainly in central and south east Ohio. We then belong to the next higher adjudicatory, the Synod of the Covenant and includes churches from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to northern Kentucky, and finally the top adjudicatory, General Assembly, which includes all churches. It is interesting to note that the moderator of any of these bodies (except at the local session) may be moderated by either clergy or laity. It is also interesting to note that the Presbyterian Church goes to great lengths to avoid 'ostentatious titles'. There shall be two titles in the church, the moderator and the clerk. As a result, you will NEVER hear of a "Presbyterian Cardinal, Pontiff or Pope".

The bottom line is that you must have some brains to be a Presbyterian.

FROM THE TREASURER: Kathy Mowry

There are currently 14 households participating in our Kroger Community Rewards. For the quarter of May through July, we received $35.23. The session has designated the income to the Blessing Bags (Breakfast to Go) program.

Calendar of Events

ZETA ALPHA – Will begin meeting again this month on Sunday at 9:30 am; the date is TBD.

All women are welcome. The new Bible study is called “United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other”.

Sep 6^th - Worship Time returns to 10:30 am.
Sep 7^th – Labor Day
Sep 27^th – Session Meeting after worship

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Sep 7^th – Dee & Kathy Mowry
Sep 8^th – Ezri Mowry
Sep 9^th – Nathaniel McCandlish
Sep 9^th – CaliAnn Riley
Sep 19^th – Kerry Boyd
Sep 24^th – Judith Ackerman
Sep 24^th – Larry Hoffmann
Sep 26^th – Cinda Keller
Sep 26^th – Linda Shreyer
Sep 29^th – Savannah Collis

Anyone wanting to add a birthday or anniversary to the list, please send an email or call the church office.

Lay Readers, Communion Servers and Ushers

Sep 6^th – Susan Hoffmann: Lay Reader, Communion Server & Usher
Cinda Keller: Communion Server & Usher
Sep 13^th – Carri McCandlish: Lay Reader & Usher
Gene McCandlish: Usher
Sep 20^th – Judy Turner: Lay Reader & Usher
Jane Griffith: Usher
Sep 27^th – Brenda Winegardner: Lay Reader
Kerry Boyd & Savannah Collis: Ushers

Kids’ Section

This section of the printed newsletter is a page of children’s pictures and puzzles. It is available in the original PDF.

Newsletter September 2026