Dear Church Family and Friends,
June is here and if you are like me you are growing tired of all that is happening in our world, due to the coronavirus. One of my greatest concerns is that people will grow weary of doing good, they will lose hope and their faith will falter. They will start looking for the easy way out, their patients will be tested and no longer keep on keeping on.
In my morning devotions I was reading in Galatians, where Paul reminds us to keep on keeping on and offers hope . Paul writes, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”(Gal. 6:9 NIV)
Sometimes the greatest act of faith is faithfulness, staying where you’re planted, remaining patient when you’re itching to force a change. Staying in your marriage when it only gets harder instead of easier, to love your spouse. Keeping your job even though you keep getting passed by for a promotion. Supporting a friend who always seems to need help, although they seldom offer thanks for what you do. Taking care of family members with chronic illnesses.
If you haven’t already, you will someday find yourself at a crossroads, a place where you have to make a difficult decision about your life’s direction. “Should I stay the course when it would be easier to walk away? Or does God want me to stay put and wait on what He’s doing here? If He wants me to wait, I’ll need a lot of patience.”“
Patience is best exercised when you would rather take a shortcut, make something happen, or force others to do things your way. But waiting on God shows just how much you trust him. Today keep on keeping on, knowing that God will move you forward according to his perfect schedule, and one day as Paul tells us we will “reap a harvest .“
So, when you can no longer keep on keeping on. I ask you to pray this prayer with me.
“It’s hard to stick things out, Lord, especially when I keep waiting and waiting and nothing seems to change. Despite how frustrated I may get, help me to stay put, knowing that you have me exactly where I should be today.” Amen.
In His Service,
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday School – 8:15 AM in the Community Building (Postponed until further notice)
Choir Practice Every Thursday at 1:00pm (Postponed until further notice)
You may reach Pastor Joe at 570-465-7303 or his cell #570-267-4570
Every Thursday Pastor Joe will be at the church from 2-4pm if you need him
Sunday, June 7th – Trinity Sunday
Sunday, June 14th – Flag Day
Saturday, June 20th – First Day of Summer
Sunday, June 21st – Happy Father’s Day!
Tuesday, June 30th – Newsletter Deadline
Session discussed having Sunday Service in the park in their meeting on May 19th. With the State in the yellow for the coronavirus the congregation would have to keep social distancing and wear a mask even in the park. Members of the congregation would have to have the ability to drive to the park or walk because taking people down in a gator does not allow for social distancing. It was suggested the park area be expanded to allow for parking and social distancing. It means removing the brush and locust trees between the park area, where we now mow, up toward the sand mound and cemetery. Session wants the congregation to know what was suggested and proposed and for people to contact Pastor Joe, Clerk to session or the Elders on Session with any questions or concerns. A decision on this proposed work will have to be made ASAP. Most of this work if done will be by volunteers.
The annual meeting for the Franklin Hill Cemetery will be postponed until the second Tuesday in June. Marcia Perkins, Secretary
Prayer Shawls – If you know of anyone in need of a prayer shawl, please let Carolyn White know.
Our annual Baby Bottle Campaign for Care Net usually begins the Sunday after Easter and ends on Mother’s Day, however, this year will be different, we will continue until Father’s Day, June 21st. Laura Squire who is the current Director at Care Net says baby bottles will not be handed out this year. In spite of this, the facility is still helping women and babies by doing on line teaching and counseling and distributing diapers, and whatever the new family might need, using curb side pick up. Our church family has been generous for many years by giving to this worthy community outreach and we don’t want it to stop because we are not meeting together. Session has suggested that if filling a bottle is what you have done in the past, then pick a container from your cupboard and use it for your baby bottle. You might even want to decorate it! Carolyn Pratt will count the coins and bills, although she said she might let them sit for a while before handling. OR, if you prefer, you can just write a check, mark it for Care Net and put it in the offering plate. This begins now and we hope to collect the donations the early part of June. The money collected here stays here in the county …..for more information go to carenetofnepa.org. The following link is a delightful short video that will give a lot of info on this project. To open, hold down Ctrl and click on this link. https://youtu.be/Iaihl8h-y-Q
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
We have had limited correspondence from Rev Malaho in Kenya. They have been under strict curfew and lockdown in evenings. Many business places have shut down and schools have closed, similar to PA. We see that they share their food, cereal, I believe, which is purchased in bulk, with their elders who have nothing. People do use masks and are very aware of the corona situations and consequences. They always are VERY THANKFUL for all of our prayers and support to maintain their meager lifestyle and health, and they continuously pray for our health and support. This is a picture of distribution of relief food. By Jim Kessler
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)
