Dear friends and family,
Spring has arrived, and it seems as though there are hundreds of things that need to be done when the warm weather arrives. You know what I mean? All those jobs that need to be taken care of but have been put off due to inclement weather. Home repairs, gardens to be planted yards to repair and the list goes on..
I thought an appropriate verse for us to ponder on this month comes from Galatians 6:9. Paul wrote: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
When our kids were little, I loved how excited they got about springtime. They’d bring home these little sprouts in paper cups, and we’d line them up on our kitchen windowsill. Sometimes it was a race to see whose tiny green shoot would grow the fastest.
As our kids got older, Bonne and I made sure that they knew real gardening was a lot more work. Vegetable gardens, and even flowerbeds, require attention, so much attention—watering, fertilizing, weeding, guarding from the deer, rabbits, or whatever critter decided to make a lunch or midnight snack of them.
The harvest comes only after the investment of dedicated hard work begun long before the first flower bloomed or fruits and vegetables were ready to be consumed.
Our faith requires the same kind of commitment and consistent effort. This month is about growing and cultivating different facets of our faith: patience, compassion, kindness, joy, and peace. To reap a harvest of any of these qualities, we must be diligent on a daily basis. As we saw last month, prayer is essential, but Bible study, worship, community, and fellowship are vital too.
Today assess your relationship with God—what areas need more time and attention? What can you do to produce the kind of fruit you know that God wants to see in your life?
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
In His Service,
Pastor Joe
It is beyond the realm of possibilities that one has the ability to out-give God. Even if I give the whole of my worth to him, he will find a way to give back to me much more than I gave. —Charles Spurgeon
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 11:00am to 1:00pm
Thursday, May 4th – National Day of Prayer
Thursday, May 11th – Presbyterian Women meeting – 10:30am
Sunday, May 14th – Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Thursday, May 18th – Ascension Day
Wednesday, May 17th – Men’s Group Meeting & Breakfast – 8am
Saturday, May 20th – Armed Forces Day!
Monday, May 22nd – Victoria Day (Canada)
Sunday, May 28th – Pentecost
Monday, May 29th – Memorial Day!
Tuesday, May 30th – Newsletter Deadline
Thank you all who donated to our One Great Hour of Sharing Mission - $370.00 was collected!!!
Care Net will end on Mother’s Day, May 14th. Please mark your envelope or use one of the special envelopes marked for Care Net.
Tuesday May 9, 2023 at 6 pm is the annual meeting for the Franklin Hill Cemetery Association. At the Community Building. Everyone is welcome.
If anyone has a family member graduating from nursery school to college, or in the service, please let Carolyn White know, so we can announce in the June newsletter.
Plastic Grocery Bags – Please give bags to Bonne Travis – these are used to crochet sleep mats for the homeless.
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.
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.
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)
