A new beginning for a historic church
SPARTA Reverend Patrick A. Sileo will become the new full time pastor of the First Presbyterian Church on Main St. in Sparta on May 1.
Pastor Pat will step into the First Presbyterian Church that is steeped in the local history of Sparta, Sussex County, New Jersey and a new country. The First Presbyterian Church was incorporated Nov. 23, 1786 on Main St. in Sparta the site of the original church. A long tradition of Christian service to God and the community awaits Pastor Pat.
The Reverend Patrick A. Sileo (Pastor Pat) is a graduate of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 2005 in The Presbytery of Donegal in southeastern Pennsylvania, and he served churches in central Illinois and southwestern Pennsylvania.
Pastor Pats greatest passion and necessity in life is to preach and teach the Word. His particular interest is in the first four centuries of the church and their success in spreading the message. Pastor Pat believes this may be the key in how to do ministry in the 21 century.
Born and raised in Connecticut, Pastor Pat has a degree in biology from the Central Connecticut State University. He worked briefly as a middle school science teacher prior to beginning a 12-year career in medical manufacturing.
Pastor Pat was in various lay ministries prior to discerning his call to seminary and ministry. He has served in a leadership capacity in the presbytery where he is currently serving as a minister.
Pastor Pat and Jenise married in 1992, and they have two children; Peter (16) and Nicole (14). Jenise has a passion for children and reading, and currently serves as director of a small library. A graduate of Bob Jones University, she enjoys theatre and has done costume design and performed in musicals and plays.
Peter also has a passion for the performing arts; he sings in both church and school choirs, and he has acted in several plays and musicals. He is an insatiable reader, enjoys video games, and dabbles in other art forms.
Nicole has musical talents; she plays flute and piccolo in the marching band, concert band, and pit orchestra for musicals. She has also performed in plays and musicals, plays a mean game of cribbage, and leans towards studying law.
The family has a rambunctious Shih Tzu named Yoshi.
Pastor Pats statement of faith reflects the long historic tradition of the big white church on Main St.. Pastor Pat said he believes in the Triune God of Grace; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is one and God is three; a mystery beyond our comprehension, yet perceivable through the infinite wisdom of Yahweh. It is God alone whom we shall worship, and it is God whom we shall serve.
The Father, as Jesus called him, is the Creator of all things seen and unseen. We must never forget that we are the created, and that the Creator made us all in his image. God is faithful to us even though we continuously break covenant by choosing to put the created before the Creator, and abuse the image of God in our neighbor and ourselves. God acted with mercy and love by preparing the world for the Christ, entered into the world as Christ, and sustains the world until Christs promised return.
The Son, Jesus Christ as he is revealed to us in Scripture, is the one Word of God; fully human and fully divine. He came to proclaim the good news that God loves us, and that God wishes us to love him and our neighbor. Jesus demonstrated this love by dying for us, and was raised from the grave to deliver us from death to life; from sin to righteousness; from eternal separation to eternal union. Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus commanded us to be his witness in the world, and to bring others to him to be his disciples.
The Holy Spirit is the movement of God that dwells around, among and within us. It is the Spirit that draws us into faith, justifies and sanctifies us by grace, makes our prayer effective, and brings us together as believers to live life in covenant. The Counselor inspired the writers of the Old Testaments to bear witness to Gods character and leads us to understand Scripture as key to our faith and life. This same Spirit makes our two sacraments effective.
The Sacrament of Baptism was instituted by Jesus Christ as a sign and seal of the covenant binding us together and with God. Jesus commanded that those disciples brought to him should be baptized. Further, as circumcision was for Israel, Baptism is to us; not only for those who believe, but for their children as well. For the effectiveness of this sacrament is not tied to a moment of time, but to the effects of the Holy Spirit over time.
Jesus Christ initiated the Sacrament of Communion. He took the bread and cup and gave these Passover symbols a more profound meaning and function. They serve as a remembrance of his sacrifice, and they are spiritual nourishment to help us to be pulled closer to and to grow in him. It is also a sacred act that binds us together with all the faithful of time and space as one body, whose head is the Christ.
I was created to worship and glorify the Triune God of Grace. I have been called into discipleship with fellow believers to bear witness to Gods love with action and words. I am ordained by the Holy Spirit to lead the life of an under-shepherd of God, faithfully proclaiming the Word of God and teaching and loving my neighbor.
Pastor Pat and his family join a long and proud tradition of serving the community of the big white church on Main St. in Sparta.
Join them on Sunday May 6 for Pastor Pats first service. The regular Sunday worship schedule is 8:30 a.m. for the traditional service; 9:40 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. Sunday school, adult programs and coffee hour; 10:50 a.m. contemporary worship service. Childcare available from 8:15 a.m. until noon. Morning worship services are broadcast in the nursery. They are also webcast live on www.fpcsparta.org.
For more information, contact 973-729-6197 or see www.fpcsparta.org.
You can also learn more about the First Presbyterian Church and its many programs on Sparta Day, Saturday, May 19, at Station Park and meet Pastor Pat on an informal basis.