You are all aware of the changes that will be taking place in our church in the very near future. Thank you all for your patience and prayers as the session has been making some important decisions.

With the departure of the MacDougalls and Kathy (our Office Administrator) this summer, the choices of an Assistant Pastor and an Office Administrator have been the two biggest priorities. We are happy to announce that these two positions have been filled.

We are pleased to announce our new Assistant Pastor, Jay Scharfenberg, from the Philadelphia Presbytery and a member of New Life Philadelphia. He and his wife Michelle (a corporate lawyer) have been married two years and live in Plymouth Meeting. Jay holds a Mastor of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh. He is a gifted evangelist doing outreach on the campus of Temple University, an adjunct professor at Eastern University's Esperanza Campus, and a counselor of residents at the Kintock Halfway House and Whosoever Gospel Mission. We have asked Jay and Michelle to begin attending Calvary as soon as possible so that we can begin to get to know each other. Jay will begin work as part-time assistant on August 1. Jay's duties will include leading worship, evangelism, occasional preaching, counseling, teaching, visitation, and pastoral assistance to me.

The Session received many applications for this position. We interviewed seven potential candidates and held second interviews with three of the applicants and their wives. At the end of the process, the Session selected Jay. It is important for you to know that the job of the Assistant Pastor does not need the vote of the congregation. An Associate Pastor is caclled and elected by the congregation. An Assistant Pastor is hired by the Session.

We are thankful to God that we have been able to hire Jonathan Bonomo to work with us as a paid intern while he completes his schooling at Westminster Theological Seminary. He will be working 14 hours a week and will assist in the young adult ministry, worship, youth and children, and a Mad Donkey revival!

We are also happy to announce the hiring of Jessica Hong as our Office Administrator. Jessica is a 2010 graduate of Westminster. She is extremely organized and diligent, and experienced in all matters relating to the duties of Office Manager. She will begin work on July 19. She is a member of Gracepoint Church and is very familiar with the PCA. I am thankful for the help of Melissa Taggart and Pennye Goodman who served on the Office Administrator Search Committee with me.

Let us continue to pray for Rev. Gregg MacDougall and his family as they move to Annapolis after ten years of ministry, and for Kathy as she leaves us after 16 years of service. We will say farewell to her on Sunday, July 18, during morning worship.

One more matter: Continue to pray for us to meet the 2010 budget.... We believe God will provide the resources to honor these commitments we have made. We call on all of you to prayerfully consider how you can increase your giving in these difficult economic times. God has been faithful each year to provide for us, and we have no reason to doubt his provision for this year.

This is a time for new beginning for Calvary and I look forward to ministering with Jay, John, and Jessica on the staff, and with all of you, beloved congregation. King Jesus will not only point the way forward; He will be walking with us.

Much Love in Jesus' Name,

Rev. Richard Tyson