The Messenger – November 2021

Dear Church Family & Friends,

November is here, and before you know it Christmas will be at our doorstep. And if you are like me too often, I wait till the last moment to do my shopping. Our time of giving and receiving gifts, is way, too often, stressful. And with all that’s happening in our country today, with the higher prices, the storage and availability of almost any gift you chose to purchase or order, the news media is telling us, you better get your Christmas shopping done early. I’m telling you this, to remind you that many of the gifts we purchase today are bought on the internet and shipped directly to the ones for whom we purchased them. So, what they receive may differ from what you intended.

Have you ever ordered something online and then when it arrived been disappointed to discover it’s not what you thought it was? Marketers call this the classic “Bait and Switch” technique of selling a product. You advertise one thing, but the product is something else. Infomercials and mail-order products used to be notorious for this. Not that I’ve ever ordered anything like that, ha ha! I think most everyone has, at one time or another, fallen victim to this scam. So just be aware.

Fortunately, the old, “Bait and Switch” is not as prevalent as it once was because customer reviews and viral warnings about scams let others know to avoid these products.

In my morning devotions I started to study the book of James, and in his writing, “To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:” (James 1:1) He warns us about that old “Bait and Switch” scam of Satan’s. He warns us to be on our guard when it comes to our patients and attitudes, when we come before God. Just when we think we’ve made all the right choices in life, the sin of pride opens the door to Satan’s old “Bait and Switch” scam. By selling us on a bill of goods that tells us we don’t need to go to church or meet with other Believers because we do it online. Or we put off helping others using the Covid pandemic as an excuse. Or maybe you get sucked into old Satan’s “Bait and Switch”, on the false belief that once I’m saved, I don’t need to grow in my walk with God. And we test God by believing he’ll give us whatever we ask for without consequences. That’s why James wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.(James 1:2-4)

We who believe, know that God never pulls the old “Bait and Switch”. We can be assured that there will never be a problem of availability or a shortage of His love for us! He has already paid for every good and perfect gift and supplies us with all we need so that we get more than we ever imagined. Our Father delights in giving us and abundant life that’s so much more than we can dream. As His children we have purpose, joy, peace and security.

In the conclusion of James writing on trials and temptations he closes with;

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.”(James 1:16-18)

You can rest in the assurance that God is who he says he is. Your salvation has been secured by Jesus’ death and resurrection. You can live in confidence of his love and share it with others. Give thanks today for what an amazing God you serve!

There’s no “Bait and Switch” with God!

In His Service,   Pastor Joe

 

A Thanksgiving Blessing

We are grateful for our bountiful and innumerable blessings. We are thankful that God has brought us to this very day, this very hour, this very minute. And we are hopeful that God’s providential care will enable us to see the unbounded possibilities of the future.

                                                                                                                                           ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sunday School – 8:15 AM in the Community Building

Choir Practice Every Thursday at 1:00pm

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

Monday, November 1st All Saint’s Day

Sunday, November 7th Daylight Savings Time Ends

Thursday, November 11thVeteran’s Day

Thursday, November 11thPresbyterian Women Meeting 11am

Wednesday, November 17thMen’s Action Group Meeting 8am

Sunday, November 14thCongregational Meeting right after Worship Service

Tuesday, November 16thSession Meeting – 9am

Thursday, November 25th Happy Thanksgiving

Sunday, November 28thFirst Sunday in Advent

Tuesday, November 30thNewsletter Deadline

Feed-a-Friend mission ends on November 7th. Monetary gifts only this year due to Covid-19.

Tuesday, December 7th – Ladies Christmas Tea at the Montrose Bible Conference.Christmas music, devotional thoughts with a speaker, a light lunch, assortment of seasonal goodies & teas.

11Am to 1pm, $12 per person. There is a sign up sheet in the vestibule.

Please sign up to host one of the social hours on the Sunday after Communion Service on the first Sunday of the month. Hosting only means setting out what is brought and cleaning up afterward. It does not mean bringing everything to share.

The PW is selling Franklin Hill Presbyterian Cookbooks called “Recipes From The Hill” at $10.00 each. All proceeds go to missions. We still have a few left if you like to purchase one. They make a great Christmas gift. See Debbie Stalker.

Don’t forget to check out our Website – we now have a Donate Button through PayPal just click on the button on the home page and make your donation!

Don’t Forget to check your mailbox as you enter the vestibule on the wall to the left.

Plastic Grocery Bags – Please give bags to Bonne Travis – these are used to crochet sleep mats for the homeless.

CareNet in Montrose & Tunkhannock – #Momlife – our support group to empower, equip and energize expectant and new moms. Started the 4th week of September. Pray for this support group, Pray that pregnant and new moms from our churches will join for #Momlife to make friends with the moms from our community and build bridges of connection for them. Pray for our school programs team and the opportunities to present healthy relationship and prevention messages. Pray for new volunteers…. The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to sent out laborers into His harvest. Luke 10:2. Pray for wisdom and discernment as we serve on the frontlines every day and for our team with the many changes going on right now. Pray for abortion in all of its forms to end. Website:www.carenetofnepa.org 570-278-0194 and 570-836-2220.

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 joe.s.travis@gmail.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)

 

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