Four Mile Presbyterian Church

Today we worshiped at Four Mile Presbyterian Church, 6078 Tuscarawas Road, Beaver, PA 15009, 724.495.6520, www.fourmile.org, Rev. R. Martin Williams.


Bob’s thoughts:

We decided to go back to Four Mile to experience the second service. It surprises me sometimes what you notice on a second visit. I remember the impressive cross over the drapery, and how the back-lighting made it stand out. Today it seemed that the cross was on fire…maybe that was just for me. The congregation was more animated than our last visit, and there were a lot of children present. I was pleased that the offering was taken in response to the Word.

I had the opportunity to look at the July and August newsletters and noted more references to outward mission.

The church seems education-oriented, and of note to me was a grief-sharing class lasting 13 weeks. Much better effort than most churches offer.

The sermon started out as a good Bible-based message. Unfortunately, pain forced me to stand and I missed a good bit of the sermon. While I was standing in the narthex, I found what was for me the highlight of our visit: on the information table was a Sunday worship feedback form with questions and room for comments. I was very impressed.

Jan’s thoughts:

Today was our second visit to this church. When we attended the 9:30 service we were told the 11:00 service was livelier and well-attended, so today we were able to see that they were absolutely right about that.

It’s a nicely laid out facility with mostly good signage, except for the restrooms right off the narthex. The signs are placed on the front of the doors, which is fine when the door is closed, but I nearly walked through the open men's room door because I didn’t see the sign until I was a step through the door. (I’ve just GOT to quit walking through the first restroom door I see…) My suggestion is to place the sign so that it protrudes into the open space so that someone can tell (from across the room, if necessary) which door they are headed for.

A few of the adults greeted us by nodding to us on our way in, but as is so often the case when a church has two services, no one really knows if you attend the other service or if you’re really a visitor. For most, their comfort level decides for them that you’re probably not a visitor and therefore don’t need to be greeted.

The music at this church is really superb. The musicians are all male (why, I don’t know…) and are quite talented. I was very glad we sat in the last row because the volume must have been cranked all the way up – I could literally FEEL the bass. But their sound is excellent, the screen graphics are attention-grabbers, and one of the songs they performed today was an original composition. Obviously a very gifted group.

The message was from the current sermon series entitled “Winning the Battles for Life” and was based on I John 4:1-21. The part I heard most loudly was that our lives matter to God and that our battles matter to God also. I appreciated the note at the bottom of the sermon notes: “Whatever it takes, wherever it leads, Jesus – let You be seen in me.” Amen to that.