From the Pastor’s Desk
For many of us Christmas is a time of hoping, of anticipation, of remembering. It’s a time of
dreams. I think of the familiar poem “Twas the Night before Christmas” where it says “visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.”
Often as I think about the dream, the hope, the love and the joy of Christmas, I remember it all
started with a vision and a dream. The dream Joseph had. We find it in Matthew 1:224. There we find that Joseph was considering divorce from Mary and an angel came to him in a dream. The angel told him that this child to come was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that he was to name him Jesus.
Verse 24 tells us “when Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him”
In other words he went to work for God. He accepted the responsibility of this child to come, and for Mary. He committed himself to a LABOR OF LOVE.
This advent season, I would like us to focus on the new theme or attitude, when we dream of Christmas time. That attitude should be that of Joseph and Mary and so many others who have followed the commands of God. We should “wake up” and do what God has commanded us, not
grudgingly or unwillingly, but joyfully and out of love.
It should be a “LABOR OF LOVE”! A time of giving of ourselves as Joseph did in taking on the responsibility of Mary and this new child Jesus and as Mary did in the labor put forth in childbearing and rearing of Jesus and most of all the “LABOR OF LOVE” that Jesus provided in his living and dying on the cross so that we can have forgiveness for our sins and not just a dream or a hope, but a promise of eternal life!
Will this Christmas be a LABOR OF LOVE for you?
May the Lord bless you in all your labors.
Merry Christmas and May God Bless You
Pastor Joe
Announcements
Sunday School – 8:30 AM in the Community Building
Choir Practice Every Wednesday at 4:00pm
Pastor Marilyn and Ray will be leaving for the west following the Oct. 6th service. They would love to hear from you during the winter months. The address is:
5201 W. Camelback Rd. Lot B 31
Phoenix, AZ 85031
The phone number is 607-222-8261.
You may reach Pastor Joe at 570-465-7303.
Sunday, December 1st – First Sunday in Advent
Monday, December 2nd – Hunters Luncheon – 9am to 2pm in the Community Building- soup, sandwiches & pie! Come in & get warm have lunch & swap stories.
Sunday, December 8th – Second Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 15th – Third Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 15th – Session Meeting following Worship Service in the Community Building
Saturday, December 21st – Family Supper in the Community Building – 5:30 PM
Saturday, December 21st – First Day of Winter
Sunday, December 22nd, – Fourth Sunday in Advent
Tuesday, December 24th – Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve Service – 7pm
Wednesday, December 25th – MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Tuesday, December 31st – Newsletter Deadline
Tuesday, December 31st – New Years Eve
Wednesday, January 1st – HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Pastor Joe will be coming to choir practice on Wed. afternoons and stay afterward for anyone who would like to meet with him. It would be best to call or e-mail to make arrangements.
Past and present Elders are needed to be Worship Leaders to do the Welcome, Announcements and Call to Worship. Please see Joyce to sign up. Also Liturgists are needed – Bill will be circulating – be ready!!!
Prayer Shawl Ministry – This past year, we gave out 12 prayer shawls and also gave 37 scarves, 12 hats and 3 pairs of mittens to “Bill’s Kids”. We have several shawls ready. If anyone knows of anyone in need of one, please let Carolyn White know.
Thank you to all – we collected and donated $1200.00 to “Bill’s Kids”, to buy Christmas presents for the children.
Thank you to all – we collected and donated $130.95 and 61 items to the “Feed A Friend” program.
Thank You to the Franklin Hill Presbyterian Women – who donated $250.00 to Great Bend Church to provide postage to send over 30 care packages to our troops for Christmas.
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)