Dear Church family and friends.
With so much division that seems to be happening in our country today. People not knowing what to believe or even what to do, because it seems our leaders and what we hear and see in the news media all seem to have differing opinions about what is happening in our country. It reminded me of what Paul wrote to Timothy in a very similar time in history.
It was during Paul’s fourth missionary journey, Paul had instructed Timothy to care for the church at Ephesus while he went on to Macedonia. When he realized that he might not return to Ephesus in the near future, he wrote this letter to Timothy to develop the charge that he had given his young assistant, to refute false teachings and to supervise the affairs of the growing Ephesian church and to the appointment of qualified church leaders.
In 1Timothy 1:3-5 Paul writes;
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work–which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
While February has become associated with love, mostly because of Valentine’s Day and all the hearts and flowers, we know that God calls us to love others daily.
Remember what Jesus told one of the teachers of the law when he asked him,”Of all the commandments, which is the most important ?” (Mark 12:28).
Jesus responded by saying,”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”(Mark 12:30,31).
In Mark 12:32 the teacher of the law told Jesus that he agreed with him, but I believe he still had a question to ask, but was too embarrassed to ask it. Verse 34 ended by saying; ”And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.” I’m sure he wanted to ask the question; “How do I keep this command to love?
Although Jesus remains our perfect model for loving, I’m grateful we have verses like today’s to break it down. Let me read to you 1Timothy 1:5 again.
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
Clearly, in order to fulfill God’s command to love, we need a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
Having a pure heart requires devotion to knowing God and obeying his commands. We don’t have to be perfect; we just need to rely on God as the source of our daily power.
A good conscience reminds us when we’ve sinned and are going astray. Knowing that our Father is quick to forgive us when we confess, we keep our conscience clear by asking for God’s forgiveness when we sin.
Finally, having a sincere faith means we trust God with all our hearts—we give him our lives and hold nothing back. We don’t play games, pursue self-righteousness, or pretend to have our lives together. We rely on God and follow Jesus as our example.
Remember this! If we follow Paul’s charge to Timothy on how to love, we discover the power to love every day of the year.
Let’s pray together;
Dear God, you loved me first and are the source of all love. As I start this new month, help me rely on you as my power source for loving others around me.”
In His Service, Pastor Joe
“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.”
-C.S. Lewis
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
—Charles M. Schulz
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
Sunday, February 6th – Social Hour after church service
Thursday, February 10th – Presbyterian Women meeting – 11am
Saturday, February 12th – Soup and games from 12pm to 4pm
Monday, February 14th – Happy Valentine’s Day
Wednesday, February 16th – Men’s Action Group meeting & breakfast – 8am
Saturday, February 19th – Session Meeting – 9am
Monday, February 21st – President’s Day
Sunday, February 27th – Transfiguration of Our Lord
Tuesday, March 1st – Newsletter Deadline
Since mid-December, Rev. Maloho has only sent short notes. He has had quite a bit of sickness in his house. His son Jeremiah had a sickness and had to be transported to Nairobi for treatment. He, Silvanus, had very painful headaches and needed treatment and medication. Students at the school have been sick. He does not describe the nature of the sicknesses. The school has run out of supplies, and was not able to supply any food to the students. (I think that means no school lunches). The funds that we sent have been used for food, medication, transportation, and electricity. Rev. Malaho has not mentioned the type of sickness that they are experiencing, I can only imagine. By Jim Kessler
Listen to WPEL 96.5 for church cancellation if your internet is down during a storm this winter.
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.
Don’t Forget to check your mailbox – as you enter the vestibule on the wall to the left.
Meadow View would like to do Valentines again this year, so they are asking for boxes of Valentine cards that the residents can share among each other or send to a friend. So, if You can bring a box or two of cards to the church in the next couple weeks, that would be great. Dollar store is a good place to find them.
Our new mission is Souper Bowl of Caring, now through Super Bowl Sunday February 13th. Monetary gifts only in Souper Bowl envelopes or in your envelopes with gift marked. The session will buy gift cards to the local grocery stores for local needs.
The Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990 with a simple prayer said by Reverend Brad Smith at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina: Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat. The Souper Bowl of Caring empowers and unites communities to tackle hunger using the energy of the Big Game. Its vision is to transform the Big Game into a nationwide movement inspiring people to give locally and make a collective impact on hunger. People collect monetary and food donations traditionally during the weeks leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. All of the money and food is then given directly to local charities of the group’s choice. The Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church will be collecting monetary donations until Super Bowl Sunday. The Session will distribute these contributions locally through our Local Missions Outreach Program.
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!
Plastic Grocery Bags – Please give bags to Bonne Travis – these are used to crochet sleep mats for the homeless.
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)
On Saturday, February 12, we will have a soup and game afternoon from 12-4. Homemade soup, bread and desserts will be provided. Some games will be on hand or bring your favorite game to play. Invite your friends and neighbors. It’s time to slow down and enjoy an afternoon together.
“A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,/ But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” -Proverbs 15:13
