FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
“Education without God is like a ship without a compass.”
-1500 Illustrations and Quotes.
September means the end of summer. The children head back to school, the trees turn to color and the days are shorter. It’s another turning point in life. One of the sad things that has happened in school is the new law about prayer in school. Most schools have read the law to mean – NO PRAYER – but in reality, it says you cannot force all children to say the same prayer! So why did we all give in so easily?
We have a great tendency to blame someone else when things don’t go our way. It was that other kid, it was my childhood, it was the government or something else, but we seldom take responsibility for what happens in our lives.
We know that there is never a time in our life that we cease to be educated. We have to learn something new almost everyday. We are bombarded by the media about new ideas and new culture. We may not be able to make giant inroads into the mindset of those around us, but we can make some inroads into what is right and wrong.
The church was really the beginning of education in our country. It was churches who began to see that children needed to be educated more than just in Sunday School on the weekends. Many of our colleges began as a result of the concern for higher education headed up by a denomination.
My concern is that we seem to think that what we learned in Sunday School as a child about God is enough to last us for the rest of our life. Without some kind of discipline to learn more that’s where we remain: a child of God instead of an Adult of God. That’s why we struggle with the morals and ethics of our day, because we really haven’t educated ourselves further than 4th or 5th grade as to our relationship with God.
We have trouble articulating to anyone why we believe the way we do. Maybe you don’t have time to go to Sunday School or Sunday Night Bible Study or the Women’s Bible Study. However, there is The Upper Room, or many other daily readings that will help you to read the Bible every day and get a little more education.
Let’s try, starting now, to see what riches God has for us as we study His word and apply it to our lives. Won’t you answer His call to you?
Pastor Marilyn
THE CHURCH OWL
Our relationship with God depends primarily on what God has done and only secondarily on what we may or may not do. -Presbyterians Today
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday School – 8:30 AM in the Community Building
Adult Bible Study with Pastor Joe Travis – Sunday evenings at 6:00pm
Choir Practice Every Saturday at 9:30am
Pastor Marilyn : You can reach her at 607-222-8261. If anyone needs to meet, or need a visit or counseling, be sure to call. The summer address is: PO Box 511, Hallstead, PA 18822
We Welcome Jim & Monoka Collins as new members of The Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church Family. Their membership was recognized on July 22, 2012.
We express our deepest sympathy to the family of Gary Makosky. He went home to be with the Lord on August 16, 2012
Sunday, September 9th – National Grandparents Day
Tuesday, September 11th – Patriot Day
Friday, September 14th from 9am to 2pm and Saturday, September 15th from 9am to Noon– Rummage Sale and Bake sale. Bring your items to the hall. Remember no electronics please. If you can help or bake, please let Pauline or Esther know.
Saturday, September 15th – Family Supper in the Community Building – 5:30pm
Sunday, September 16th – Session meets in the Community Building after the worship service.
Thursday, September 20th – Prayer Shawl Ministry Group meets at Carolyn W. at 7pm
Saturday, September 22nd – First day of Autumn
Tuesday, September 25th – Newsletter Deadline
Don’t forget our card ministry – If you would like a card sent to a particular person to give them a lift or let them know they are missed or offer encouragement, etc. etc., just give the name and address to Janet Decker. Cards, envelopes and postage will be provided and placed on a table in the Community Building the first Sunday of each month. As we file past the table on our way to the coffee pot, we will be able to sign each of the cards and Janet will address the envelopes and mail them. You can reach Janet at 570-967-2343 or email her at rdecker31@stny.rr.com
New Address: The church will now receive its mail at the church. The address is Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church, 400 Franklin Hill Rd., Hallstead, PA 18822
Loose Change Offerings
1st Sunday – Local Emergency/Deacon’s Fund
2nd Sunday – Local Emergency/Deacon’s
3rd Sunday – Kenya/Rev. Malaho
4th Sunday – Building Maintenance
5th Sunday – Habitat for Humanity (whenever there is a 5th Sunday)
Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church – 200th Anniversary Celebration
Mark Your Calendars: Our 200th Anniversary Celebration will be held on September 8, 2013. We will start the day with Sunday School and Worship in the morning followed by a noon meal. In the afternoon we will have a celebration of the 200 years of the church followed by an ice cream social.
We will be looking for contacts for people who have moved from the area to invite back for the day. Of course we will be building up to the celebration and welcoming visitors all year if they cannot come on the 8th.
Joyce Printz will plan the Worship Service with lots of music.
Ken Post will coordinate a float for the 4th of July parade in Montrose.
Ester Darrow has been sending in old photos and memorabilia. If you have any old photos or anecdotes to share please send them to Jim Perkins.
We will need volunteers to accomplish an unforgettable celebration. See Jim Perkins, chair or Pastor Marilyn. Bob Pratt and Ester Darrow are co-vice chairs.