From The Pastor’s Desk…..
Dear Church Family,
I love those little signs that spring is right around the corner. Those tiny spring shoots, that become daffodils. Bonne especially looks for those. The buds on the trees, chocolate bunnies and jellybeans in in the stores. OK, maybe the last one is just a personal temptation. Seriously though, the natural world is changing and will soon explode with color and new life. In these days with the change that the virus has brought us. We may well see changes in the world socially and economically.
Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:18” to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to him be the glory both now and forever !Amen.
Do you ever sense that same kind of dramatic change of your heart? What does it mean to follow Christ and be his new creation? Paul tells us in
2 Corinthians 5:17” if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
Jesus is the son of God , who came to earth and showed us God’s love. He hung out with those religious people rejected ,the sinners, the tax collector ,the prostitutes. He loves them as they were! He changes them and they became born again , a new creation!
When we call on Jesus, he made us new in that same way. Not a better version of the of the old us. But new! Every sin forgiven! We are filled with his Holy Spirit! We are transformed! If you stand firm in your faith , then you can trust God to change you and make you like his son. Because when you follow Him, your life will look different from before. You will be holy-set apart-from the world around you. Never forget the old has passed away , you are a new person in Christ.!
Would you pray with me as I so often do? “ Father, sometimes it’s hard to feel like I’m really growing in my faith. I know I can trust your promise to forgive my sins and make me a new creation. Thank you , for helping me become more like Jesus every day. Amen.
In His service,
Pastor Joe
ANNOUNCEMENTS
You may reach Pastor Joe at 570-465-7303 or his cell #570-267-4570
Pastor Joe and the Elders on Session have decided to cancel all Worship Services for the month of April. This means no Easter Sunrise Service or Easter Worship Service at the Church. We need to follow State and Federal guidelines which are in effect until April 30 at the present time for this coronavirus. If things change and we can have Worship Services earlier than April 30 everyone will be notified. Session members will be talking to people by phone as they have been doing for the past two weeks. Please keep the social distancing and be safe. When it comes to social distancing it does not mean with God. Please read and study the word of God daily and pray. For those who want to give their weekly offering to the church please do so by mailing it to the church at 400 Franklin Hill Road, Hallstead, Pa. 18822. You can also put your offering in your church envelope that has your number on it or put it in a plain envelope to stay anonymous and drop it in the mailbox. The box is locked and no one can access it except the clerk. When you put it in the mailbox make sure it falls to the bottom of the box.
In Christ from Session.
Sunday, April 5th – Palm Sunday
Thursday, April 9th – Maundy Thursday
Friday, April 10th – Good Friday
Sunday, April 12th – Happy Easter!
Tuesday, April 28th – Newsletter Deadline
After a month of “normal” activities in February, our friends in Kenya have hit a double wall in March. March came and a plague of locusts that ate their crops and the trees. Then the Corona virus hit them and put the country on lockdown, which , as you would expect, greatly impacted economic and social life. On March 30 Silvanus reported the first death in Kenya was reported from his Bungoma district. and 19 reported cases of virus from Kenya,- – - – so far! They are on lockdown and curfew and they are trusting in God for deliverance. I described our conditions in Susquehanna county and he said they are very similar but he had some kind of children’s meeting to give them information and guidance in light of living in times of the corona virus. They are always very thankful for the help we provide for their education and food supplies. By Jim Kessler
Prayer Shawls – If you know of anyone in need of a prayer shawl, please let Carolyn White know.
Men’s Action Group ***For help with small projects for church family and neighborhood, please call Pastor Joe Travis at #570-465-7303 or email him at joetravis@live.com
Loose Change Offerings ( coins and bills)
1st Sunday – Local Missions
2nd Sunday – General Fund
3rd Sunday – Kenya/Rev. Malaho
4th Sunday – General Fund
5th Sunday – Trehab Local Food Bank (whenever there is a 5th Sunday)
