The Messenger – September 2022

Dear Church Family & Friends,

 

September is here, and I almost feel guilty to be so looking forward to cooler weather and the changing of the leaves, and a return to a slower more routine schedule. The changing of the leaves even though I love them, always reminds me of the changes that need to happen in my life, as they may also in yours.

Summer is over, and oh how the time flies. Summertime schedules seem to fill up with vacationing and activities. Attendance to a barrage of picnics and outings with friends and family. Go… go… go… seems to be the mantra for the summertime events. They have a tendency to fill each and every weekend.

And if you’re like me it all starts to become a blur. Unless I look at my calendar of past events it’s hard to remember which of these activities I enjoyed more. But one stands out that really open my eyes as to how we, myself included, should change how we approach God.

Bonne and I were at my son’s home, for which occasion I can’t remember, but what I do remember is the first time my youngest granddaughter reached out her hand and grabbed mine and said, “Come Pops I need you.”, in an attempt to get me to help her get ready for the days event.

So today as I started to write a note for the “Messenger” I remembered the time when Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them in an attempt to teach the disciples how they were to approach God, it was like my granddaughter approached me.

He said to them: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3)

I have a hard time believing I’m a grandfather. Most days, I feel way too young to be a “Pops.” I so want to be one of those fun granddads who delights, spoils, challenges, and inspires their grandkids. And I’m not ashamed to talk baby talk, even though, I’m not that crazy about babies, and will change a diaper if I absolutely have to.

But you know there’s something humbling and amazing and awe-inspiring about being around a baby, then a toddler, then a child. Their innocence, their honesty, their sense of curiosity and adventure, their uncomplicated love and devoted attention. All those qualities and more remind me, again and again, those words Jesus spoke: “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Being Pops to little ones remind me that I need to be like them, even as they begin maturing and becoming like me. I want that sense of wonder and possibility, that appreciation for beauty and joy in all the daily things we adults take for granted. I long to have that kind of unquestioning faith that trusts and obeys what my father tells me.

There’s a lesson in this for all of us. Today let your heart become like a child’s. Seek God without all the issues that often clutter our faith as adults. Just love him. Trust him.

Reach out for Him and say, ”Come Pops, I need you.”

In His Service, 

Pastor Joe

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sunday School – 8:15 AM in the Community Building

Choir Practice Thursdays at 1pm

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 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Monday, September 5thLabor Day

Thursday, September 8th Presbyterian Women Meeting 11am

Sunday, September 11thPatriot Day

Sunday, September 11thGrandparent’s Day

Wednesday, September 21st Men’s Action Group Meeting 8am

Thursday, September 22ndFirst Day of Autumn

Saturday, September 24thSession Meeting 9am

Tuesday, September 27th Newsletter Deadline

Choir practice will be Thursday’s, at 1 o’clock at the church. Please consider joining us in singing God’s praises!  We will begin singing during the church service on Sunday, October 2nd.

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.

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

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 Cathe. 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 Cathe will address the envelopes and mail them.

Rev Malaho has been very quiet recently. He has had health issues, political issues and growth issues. He has not shared his health, other than to say that he has been in terrible pain.  Politically, they have had national elections and they have not gone very well and they have been challenged in court. they still do not know who their leaders are. And growth issues – - – They now have 380 students plus teachers and volunteers. They need medical facilities, food facilities, and dormitories. They need a small bus/van for field trips. They have had excessively hot, dry weather which has impacted their fish farm and their garden projects. They do have their own website which describes their school and has pictures of the facilities and personnel. They are extremely appreciative of the support that we provide and he sends all his THANK YOUS!!!    By Jim Kessler

 

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 Cathe. 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 Cathe will address the envelopes and mail them.

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)

V V V V V V V V V V V

THANKS from the Church Cable-Nelson Piano

Most of the time, I just sit here, all cozily covered up so the humidity control bar can work its magic and keep my sound board dry, so I don’t crack. But, on Sunday mornings, I hear the voices of the congregation coming through the door, the scamper of small feet, the coos and giggles of a baby, and I know that after my long week of waiting, Linda will touch my keys and make my voice heard.

Sometimes, my voices aren’t so melodic, and a very nice man comes and stretches my strings back into just the right length. I guess you could call it a “string lift”! Not too long ago, my really low and resonant voices didn’t even sound like music, but more like just a nasty noise. This nice man discovered that time had taken its toll on these heavy strings, coating them with nasty stuff, and the pegs holding them could be depended on no longer. Then there was the issue of the hammers that were flattened and hardened due to their age and all the times they were called into operation to make me “sing”. And many other things too, which caused this man to take out my “insides” which he called the action, and take it along home so he could work on it there. At last, everything was returned and he began the task of making everything from my hammers, to the pads, to the dampers, and the sustain pedal to work all at just the right time, along with adjusting those great big bass strings that he replaced. This took many more hours and several more trips, each time leaving me sounding better and better. I know, because he always enjoyed playing me when he finished for the day.

Sometimes he would get visitors who were curious about me and how I worked and it was during these visits, I found out this tall man was called a piano technician and his name is Joey Aiken. It was on one of these visits that I learned many generous people came together to pay for all the tedious hours Joey worked and all the brand new parts that needed to be purchased. So, here I sit in my beautiful oak cabinet, proud and tall, waiting anxiously for people to come through the doors to worship God through scripture, prayer, sermon and music. SO, I say a big THANK YOU to all who were magnanimous and made it possible for me to have a new life, so everyone who enters may be blessed as they sing and listen to the music that’s in me, just waiting to be shared by Linda’s capable hands.

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Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church’s Mission Work

Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church has and will continue to do a lot with missions each year. Session discusses missions monthly during each session meeting. The mission work the Church does falls under two categories. The two categories are on-going and yearly missions.

The on-going missions are the African Mission and the local mission.  The African Mission is the support and donations sent to Reverend Malaho in Africa. Contributions donated and the loose change offering on the third Sunday of each month are sent to him monthly.  Local mission is the work the Church does within our congregation and community when the need arises. This fund is supported by donations and the loose change offering one Sunday each month. Session has approved if more money is needed beyond what has been donated it can be taken from the general fund but staying to the budget. Share is part of the local mission work. Share is the hunger program the Church supports. $50 gift certificates are purchased each month and given to families in need. Currently the Church gives three out each month to individuals in need. Fuel assistance is another part of local mission work that is done. The Church helps those that need assistance with fuel during the heating season. The Church usually helps by supplying fuel oil at the beginning of the heating season with one fill up. If other help is needed by an individual or family it goes before session for approval. The Church has some requirements if additional help is needed. Fuel and share are just two examples of the local mission work that is done. The Church has helped many people and families in many ways over the past several years. If anyone needs help please see Pastor Joe, a member of session or Bob Pratt who is currently in charge of local mission.

The yearly missions are the ones the Church does once a year at certain times. They are as follows:

1. Souper Bowl in January.

2. One Great Hour of Sharing during lent.

3. Care Net in May.

4. Feed a Friend in October.

5. Bill’s Kids in November.

6. Noel Giving during Advent in December.

These missions are presented to the congregation and supported by contributions received. Other words what comes in for these missions goes out to these missions.

 

 

 

 

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