Welcome to our Church

It's a pleasure to welcome you to the Buford Presbyterian Church website. Whether member, friend, or visitor - we hope that this site reflects the friendly and open nature of our congregation. If you are searching for a church home, we'd like you to know that there's a special place here just for you.   Our Church is...


Worship

A Place for Worship. The primary reason we meet together is to focus our attention on God, giving Him our worship and receiving His blessing and inspiration. Each of these occasions is a special time of spiritual refreshment.

 Learning

A Place for Learning. To us, studying the Bible is vital because it not only instructs us intellectually, but also guides us spiritually. We believe it and accept it as God's Word to us, a Book that is alive and relevant to life today. Learning its truths is a thrilling adventure.
Enrichment

A Place for Enrichment. For every person at every age level we offer a wealth of opportunities - special programs and ministries for children, youth, and adults which fill the church calendar. You can be sure that in this kaleidoscope of activities there's more than one place where you can be personally enriched.

 Friendship

A Place for Friendship. Nothing quite compares to the joy of Christian friendship. That's why we make it a priority to build lasting bonds between the members of our church family - bonds of concern and genuine commitment to one another.

Service

A Place for Service. Just as Jesus Christ came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister..." we accept our responsibility to reach out in service to others. This applies both within the church family and outside our fellowship.

 Best of all, this circle of care is ever-widening. We'd love it to include you too.

Inspiration for the Week

Our mission team returned from Nicaragua yesterday, so forgive me for having a one track mind this week. As we celebrate the Fourth of July, I will be reminded of the greatness of our country. However, my mind does not drift toward the might of our economy or our military strength, but our freedom of religion and compassion for all people who are created equal.

I thank God for our church and the freedom that allows us to gather but also to travel across borders and witness God at work in some of the impoverished parts of the world.

The scene carved in my mind most vividly this past week was the day we went to the orphanage. I've been to a number of orphanages and always enjoy the children. But I was shocked by this home. As we entered the open courtyard, I saw the children lying in an open shelter on the far side. This was a home for severely disabled children. Only a few could walk. Many had clubbed feet and severely mangled legs. The faces and stares were distorted. (To my surprise, all were clean and well tended.) I immediately worried how our group would handle this. I wondered how I should handle it myself.

I walked by a teen laying flat on his back whose legs looked like twisted vines. His eyes rolled around. It was hard to tell if he could tell I was even there. Then, he held out his hand so I reached out and shook it. He could not talk. None of the children could talk. Jairos was his name I was told. He likes to be touched. So, for about 45 minutes, Jairos pulled my hand to his face. I felt like I was baptizing him or anointing him. He then placed my hand behind his head to help him look around. There were no words. But there was communication.

Others in our church astounded me. Everyone readily took to other children and even young adults. Some circled a young man who continually kicked a ball and squealed with glee. Others drummed on a ball to the delight of a child. Some just sat and touched. No one seemed extremely uncomfortable. Reflecting later, a mother from our church suggested that our teens probably were not shocked because they have grown up with Nick Garner and Ty Ashfield in our church. Nick and Ty have severe disabilities but have taught our church about compassion and the worth of all God's children.

This week, 24 folks from our church witnessed how Christ has called us to be his body. We bonded like age-old friends. We served those who truly needed help. We laughed. We sweated. We sacrificed. And there was no difference between teens and adults, between North Americans and Nicaraguans, rich and poor, able bodied or broken. We were/are one in Christ. And as always happens, each of us received far more than we were able to give. I thank God for the freedom he has given us -- the freedom to love and serve. And I thank God for this church and our partnership with Amigos for Christ.

Ask some of our mission team about the trip, and I hope you will do everything you can to go next year.

Blessings in this summer heat,
Richard

 

Quote of the Week
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
     whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
     of whom shall I be afraid.
          --Psalm 27

Prayer for the Week
O God, you are the light of the world, the desire of all nations, and the shepherd of our souls; let your light shine in darkness, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God. By the lifting up of your Cross gather the peoples to your obedience, let your sheep hear your voice, and be brought home to your fold, so that there may be one flock, one shepherd, one holy kingdom of righteousness and peace, one God and Father of all, above all, and in all, and through all.  Amen.
--W.E. Orchard (1877-1955)



From the minister's desk...


“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beg you to lead
a life worthy of the calling to which you have been
called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love, making every effort
to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
–Ephesians 4:1-3
 

As a pastor of our church, I want to thank Amigos for Christ for the opportunity to serve in Nicaragua. As a mission pastor for 14 years, I have been on thirty or more mission trips all over the world, and our Amigos trip ranks with the best. This is such a comprehensive mission that is rebuilding communities with new homes, schools, clinics, and jobs. Maybe even greater, is the role model Amigos offers where
Catholic and Protestant members come and serve Christ together.


In most of Central America I have always heard pastors say that someone was either “Catholic” or “Christian.” I commented to a pastor friend in Belize one time that it sounded like he was saying that Catholics were not Christians. He said, “They’re not. Here, you are born a Catholic, but you have to become a Christian.” I have witnessed this prejudice all over Central America and even in our own country. It is absurd. Where is the unity in Christ? The respect?
 
With Amigos our group of 24 from Buford Presbyterian Church blended in with numerous members of Prince of Peace Catholic Church as well as the Amigo’s staff. We worked together. We played together. We prayed together. We sang together. There were no differences. Some commented how amazed they were that our theologies appeared to be so similar. It did not surprise me. When serving the “least of these” as Jesus calls us to do, we set aside all doctrine and squabbles. When people need homes that are secure from earthquakes, clean water and sanitation, education for their children, jobs to make even a meager living, the Body of Christ has no time or reason to argue. We know what Christ is calling us to do – “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”

 

So, a trip through Amigos is giving Nicaragua a witness that Catholic and Protestant can get along. We also prove that in the name of Christ we are one not only in Central America, but in Buford and our country as well. Now 24 members of BPC have become family with Amigos and those from Prince of Peace. There is no difference. For as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, we have heard what it means “to live a life worthy of the calling we have received”…to work together with “humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” as we serve the “least of these our brothers and sisters.” By this miracle of God, we are truly amigos/friends for Christ.
 
I have always said that a mission trip is one of the best ways to grow disciples in Christ. So, I encourage you to consider any way you can to go with our mission team next summer to Nicaragua. You will find that life worthy of your calling.  
In Christ,
Richard

Copyright ©2009 Buford Presbyterian Church

A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA)