YOUTH saying Good-bye!!!

BYE-BYE-SUMMER BASH!!!

Even though summer is not actually “over” it can often feel like it as soon as school starts back up! Sports, Academics, and many other things keep us from enjoying summer like it was meant to be enjoyed! So… we are officially saying “Good-bye” to it for now!

The Youth Group will be leaving right after church and going to the lake! So bring your swimsuit to church… just don’t wear it to church! Check out the Youth Blog for more information. Or contact Zach at youth.SAPC@gmail.com

WIC

Mark your calendars for the WIC Fall Kickoff Covered Dish Dinner. Wednesday, August 26th at 6:30 pm at the home of Alison Ross, 1980 Hubbard Road. Meat will be provided, please bring a salad, side dish or dessert. For more information or questions, please contact Betty Schuster at 706-324-6056 or bschuster@bellsouth.net.

Helping in the Nursery

Look on the Nursery page, or click here!

Inquirers Class

There is an Inquirer’s Class scheduled for August 23 & 30. These classes are designed for those interested in learning more about St. Andrews and about the Presbyterian Church in America. Topics include our beliefs, our history, our leadership structure and the way we make decisions, ministries, etc.

There will be sessions on Sunday morning, and Sunday evening August 23 and on Sunday morning and evening August 30.

An additional aspect to these classes is that the Sunday morning sessions will be for the entire church and will be the adult Sunday School for those days. This will allow the whole church to go through some of the material and will allow the members to get to know our visitors better.

Men’s Ministry Fall Kick-Off Event!!

SAPC Men: Come join us at Cooper Creek park on Friday, August 28, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.  We will play tennis (so bring your raquets) and also have other activities.  There will be great food, so come hungry, and fellowship for all.  Please be sure to sign up by calling the church office at 706/327-7750, adding your name to the sign up sheet in the church narthex, or by contacting Matt Maxey at matthewmaxey@synovus.com or 706/987-4634.  You are encouraged to bring friends, but please let us know how many so we can plan to have enough food.  See you there!

Men’s Fall Bible Study: Church on Sunday: Work on Monday…

Church on Sunday: Work on Monday…  

Description:  We spend nearly half our waking hours at work. Is work solely a means to an end–an avenue for providing income?  Is work meant to be our mission field–our opportunity to meet and share Christ with non-Christian workers? Or are we to find meaning and fulfillment in the work itself?  It’s a complex issue that raises all sorts of questions, especially if we don’t particularly like our job or if we’re working in an environment that brings out the worst in us rather than the best.  Whether work for you feels like the daily grind or you’ve found yourself in the dream job, the discussions we will have in this study will help you explore together the significance of work in your life as a Christian and will challenge you in ways you may not expect.  

Details:  Come explore the heavenly good of our earthly work with us.  This Bible study will begin at Noon on Monday, September 14th at Warner Kennon’s law office located on 2nd Avenue just across from the court house in downtown Columbus.  All men are encouraged to bring your own lunch and enjoy the time of fellowship and study of God’s Word together.  It is from 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m. each Monday up until the Christmas season.

Small Group Kickoff Pool Party August 22nd!

Small groups are a very important ministry for us here at St. Andrews.  Whether you are already in a small group, planning to start this fall, or still making up your mind, you and your family are invited to join us for food and fellswship and a changce to learn more about what St. Andrews small groups have to offer.  The Small Group Kickoff is Saturday, August 22nd from 4 to 7 PM at the Brookstone Pool. For more information call the church office at 706.327.7750.

How to Choose a Bible Translation for You and Your Child, Part One

How to Choose a Bible Translation for You and Your Child

Part One:  An Introduction to Biblical Languages and the Basic Issues

By Chris Jennings, Assistant Pastor of Children’s Ministries

Introduction – The Biblical Languages

Even if you are new to the Bible, it is probably pretty obvious to you that the Bible was not originally written in English.  Of course, Jesus did not speak English, nor did Moses.  The Bible was originally written in three different languages:  Hebrew (most of the Old Testament), Aramaic (found in sections of Daniel and Ezra) and Koine Greek (the entire New Testament, except for some Aramaic phrases).  If you have studied Greek before, chances are you studied Classical Greek.  Koine (“common”) Greek was the common language of the Roman Empire around the time when Jesus lived.  Classical Greek was more commonly used a few centuries before the time of Christ and is taught and studied in many colleges and universities today.  Seminarians who are preparing to go into the vocational ministry study both Hebrew and Koine Greek, which make up the bulk of the original language of the Old and New Testaments, respectively.

So Many Translations! – How do I Choose?

If you have been a Christian even for a short time, you have probably noticed that there is a dizzying number of English translations of the Bible.  The King James Version, The New International Version, the New King James Version, the English Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible and the New Living Translation are among the most commonly used, and we haven’t even scratched the surface.  How does one know if a translation is a good one?  How does one pick a translation that best suits one’s purpose?  Is there only one translation that is the best, or are there translations that are good for different purposes?

In this series, I hope to answer these questions, and then go into some more depth with regard to translations specifically made for children and/or younger readers.

Issues to Think About in Choosing a Translation

Some of he key issues to think about in choosing a translation are the following:

• Purpose – For what purpose was the translation written?  The purpose for which a translation is written can both positively and negatively affect its outcome.
• How many translators? – Was it translated by one person or by many different scholars?  The Bible is an expansive document, and translations that only have one or a few translators may give cause for concern.
• Language/Grade Level – Some English translations, such as the King James Version, were written over a century ago.  Languages change over time (think about how hard it is to read Shakespeare!) including the meaning of words as well.  Some translations advertise a certain grade level, so this is helpful in determining whether or not it is appropriate for your child.
• Method of Translation – Is it translated “word-for-word” or “thought-for-thought” (also called “dynamic equivalence”)?  We will discuss this more in future articles.  In short, the method of translation has a large role in the outcome of the translation.  Many children’s translations are “thought-for-thought” translations, seeking to make difficult words easier for younger readers to understand.  Does this method take away from the truth of Scripture?  At the same time, no translation is truly “word-for-word.”  Biblical languages have different sentence structures than English does.  Translating a Hebrew passage word for word may not make any sense to an English reader, so even “word-for-word” translations have to make some modifications in word structure to make it understandable to English readers.  The question also has to be asked – do “word-for-word” translations adequately translate the original meaning of the text?  What if the original writer used a figure of speech in the original language?  Does the translation accurately reflect what the original writer wanted to convey?

As you can see, the issues that lie behind translations of the Bible are many and are often very complicated.  In subsequent articles, I will try to help us sift through these issues, and make some practical suggestions in how to choose a translation that works well for both you and your child.

Sources for this Article:
Burge, Gary et al. Bible Translations Comparison. Torrence, CA: Rose Publishing, Inc.

Fee, Gordon D. and Strauss, Mark L. How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth. Zondervan, 2007.

Sheeley, Steven M. and Nash, Jr., Robert N. The Bible in English Translation: An Essential Guide. Nashville: Abingdom Press, 1997.

MOPS is Back!

It’s that time of year again – back to school, and back to MOPS.  MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) is a ministry with the purpose of nurturing every mother of a preschooler by meeting her distinct needs to the glory of Jesus Christ. So if you have a preschooler – age conception to five years – we invite you to join us for food, fellowship, laughter, and learning.

MOPS meets the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 9:30am-11:30am.  Nursery is provided.  To learn more about MOPS or to get registered please contact either Bridget Adams (bridgetadams@bellsouth.net, 706-569-5440) or Nicole Jennings (nicole_c_jennings@yahoo.com, 706-405-1321).

We look forward to seeing you this year at MOPS!