From The Pastor’s Desk…..
Dear Church Family and Friends:
This month l would like us to focus on connecting with God and also with others.
In 1 Cor.1:10 Paul writes; “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
The first time I understood you could have a personal relationship with God, it shocked me. I knew you could believe in God. I knew you could fear God. I knew you could worship him. But I had never realized that you could know God in a close, personal relationship.
While I’m always grateful for that discovery, I soon realized God wants us to have something more than just a personal relationship with him. Instead it’s even better to have a shared relationship with him. While we can obviously know and experience God alone, I believe we can experience him more fully with other believers.
As an example of what Paul is trying to teach us,I found this story.
A man asked his young son to break a bundle of sticks. He returned a little later to find the lad frustrated in the task. He had raised the bundle high and smashed it on his knee, but he only bruised his knee. He had set the bundle against a wall and stomped hard with his foot, but the bundle barely bent.
The father took the bundle from the child and untied it. Then he began to break the sticks easily—one at a time.
So it is with the church: united we are strong, divided we can fail or be broken. This is so important to understand during these difficult times during this pandemic. We need to be like-minded,or as Paul states,”that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought”.
In our worshiping, we will be able to worship God even more effectively when we do it with others. When you are celebrating God’s goodness, wouldn’t you agree it’s more meaningful when we celebrate with people we love? And when you are hurting for some reason having others nearby seems to ease the pain.
So instead of just seeking to know God by yourself, commit to pursue him with others. Maybe it’s in our adult Sunday school class. Maybe it’s with a close and trusted Christian friends. Maybe it’s by joining The Men’s Action Group or The Presbytery Women.
Today don’t settle for just knowing God from your perspective. Experience the richness of Christ-centered community.
In His Service, Pastor Joe
Dear Church Family & Friends,
This month l would like us to focus on connecting with God and also with others.
In 1 Cor.1:10 Paul writes; “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
The first time I understood you could have a personal relationship with God, it shocked me. I knew you could believe in God. I knew you could fear God. I knew you could worship him. But I had never realized that you could know God in a close, personal relationship.
While I’m always grateful for that discovery, I soon realized God wants us to have something more than just a personal relationship with him. Instead it’s even better to have a shared relationship with him. While we can obviously know and experience God alone, I believe we can experience him more fully with other believers.
As an example of what Paul is trying to teach us,I found this story.
A man asked his young son to break a bundle of sticks. He returned a little later to find the lad frustrated in the task. He had raised the bundle high and smashed it on his knee, but he only bruised his knee. He had set the bundle against a wall and stomped hard with his foot, but the bundle barely bent.
The father took the bundle from the child and untied it. Then he began to break the sticks easily—one at a time.
So it is with the church: united we are strong, divided we can fail or be broken. This is so important to understand during these difficult times during this pandemic. We need to be like-minded,or as Paul states,”that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought”.
In our worshiping, we will be able to worship God even more effectively when we do it with others. When you are celebrating God’s goodness, wouldn’t you agree it’s more meaningful when we celebrate with people we love? And when you are hurting for some reason having others nearby seems to ease the pain.
So instead of just seeking to know God by yourself, commit to pursue him with others. Maybe it’s in our adult Sunday school class. Maybe it’s with a close and trusted Christian friends. Maybe it’s by joining The Men’s Action Group or The Presbytery Women.
Today don’t settle for just knowing God from your perspective. Experience the richness of Christ-centered community.
In His Service, Pastor Joe
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday School – 8:15 AM in the Community Building
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, October 4th – World Communion Sunday
Thursday, October 8th – Presbyterian Women meeting 11am in the Community Building
Wednesday, October 21st – Men’s Action Group meeting 8am in the Community Building
Sunday, October 25th – Reformation Sunday
Tuesday, October 27th – Newsletter Deadline
Saturday, October 31st – Reformation Day
Sunday, November 1st – Daylight Saving time ends (turn your clocks back one hour)
Feed A Friend – starts Sunday, October 4th – Trehab has requested that monetary donations be given this year and not the usual deserts and food items for Feed-A-Friend. This is all due to the pandemic. They will use the donations to purchase items needed for their Thanksgiving baskets. Hope you can help us with this Mission Project.
Anyone wishing to share a talent, to sing, play an instrument, read a poem, tell a story, or give testimony, etc. during worship, please contact Joe or Bonne.
Meadow View Residents – please continue to bring cards in for the mail box – when full, they will be delivered.
Blessing Box – There is a box with food and paper products, ect. Please take what you need and share what you can.
Prayer Shawls – If you know of anyone in need of a prayer shawl, please let Carolyn White know.
Don’t Forget to check your mailbox – as you enter the vestibule on the wall to the left.
We are collecting plastic bags to make crocheted bed mats for the homeless. If you would like to bring bags, or learn how to cut the bags, tie the bags, or crochet the bags, please see Bonne Travis.
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. Malabo
4th Sunday – General Fund
5th Sunday – Trehab Local Food Bank (whenever there is a 5th Sunday)
PLEASE NOTE: As we reopen our regular church services, we ask that you wear a mask as you ENTER the church and as you EXIT. To EXIT, please use the Front, Side, EXIT DOOR. Thank you. Members of Session. If you are in the parking lot, Please tune your radio to 89.5 FM to hear the morning service.
