When God Places a Burden on Your Heart
As we continue our series on vision, I have been spending time in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah served as cup bearer to King Artaxerxes. One day, he heard from people who had come from Jerusalem. They told him that the city’s wall was broken down and its gates had been burned. The news weighed so heavily on him that he sat down and wept.
Nehemiah did not begin by gathering tools or recruiting workers. He began by praying. He mourned, fasted, confessed sin, and asked God for help. Only then did he approach the king.
Sometimes God draws our attention to a need that we cannot easily set aside. It may be a person who needs to hear about Jesus, a family that needs care, or a community we have stopped seeing clearly. A burden like that calls us to prayer. We need to ask whether it reflects God’s Word and seek His direction before we act.
Nehemiah’s prayer led to action. The king granted him permission to go to Jerusalem, gave him letters for safe passage, and provided access to timber for the work. When Nehemiah arrived, he examined the damage and called the people to rebuild. They joined him. Despite threats, ridicule, and attempts to distract him, the wall was completed in 52 days.
That does not mean the work was easy. Nehemiah and the people had to keep trusting God while doing the work in front of them.
What burden has God placed on your heart? Have you brought it to Him in prayer? And if He has made the next step clear, are you willing to take it?
I believe those questions matter for each of us and for Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church. We cannot discover God’s direction for our church by opening the doors each Sunday and assuming that is enough. Let us pray, listen to His Word, and look honestly at the needs around us. Then, together, let us do the work He calls us to do.
Pastor Jeremy
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The Best Gift for Your Pastor
October is Pastor Appreciation Month—a time to recognize and encourage those who faithfully shepherd our churches. But if you’ve ever asked a pastor how to show your gratitude, the answer probably isn’t a plaque or applause. More often than not, it’s simple: “Pray for me.”Even the Apostle Paul didn’t ask for much personally, except for the prayers of fellow believers. In his letter to the Romans, he wrote: “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and relax in your company” (Romans 15:30–32, NASB).This October—and every month—encourage your pastor by offering your prayers, support, and kind words. Ministry can be demanding, but knowing the church is lifting them up makes all the difference.
Thank you Pastor Jeremy Lewis for your dedication and faithfulness in sharing the word of God with us. You are in our prayers!
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“Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.”
—Martin Luther
“O music … thou hast taught us to see with our ears and hear with our hearts.”
—Kahlil Gibran
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise! And may God give us faith to sing always:
Alleluia! Alleluia! —From the hymn, “When in Our Music God Is Glorified”
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A Prayer for Pumpkin People
After Liz Curtis Higgs wrote the popular children’s book The Pumpkin Patch Parable, people began using her analogies to say a prayer while carving their Halloween pumpkins. The pumpkin prayer, a Christian alternative to Halloween traditions, reminds people of all ages what God has done for us. Use it this fall when your family makes jack-o’-lanterns.
While cutting off the top of the pumpkin, pray, “Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.” (See Proverbs 1:7.)
While removing the seeds and pulp, pray, “Remove the things in my life that don’t please you. Forgive the wrong things I do, and help me forgive others.” (See Matthew 6:14-15.)
While making eyes, pray, “Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.” (See Psalm 104:24.)
While making the nose, pray, “I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned up my nose at your many gifts.” (See James 1:17.)
While making the mouth, pray, “Let everything I say please you.” (See Psalm 19:14.)
While lighting the candle, pray, “Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do.” (See Matthew 5:16.)
After carving your pumpkins, display them as examples of how God’s love transforms us into new creations. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17.)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
You may reach Pastor Jeremy at jeremyrlewis@gmail.com or 570-604-7537. Office hours by appointment. Pastor Jeremy is available for hospital visits, shut-in visits and nursing home visits.
Adult Sunday School – Every Sunday 8:30am to 9:30am
Adult Exercise Class – Every Monday 10:00am to 11:00am
Choir Practice – Every Thursday at 1pm
E-Mail Carolyn White with any praises, joys, or prayer requests (whisperpines@frontiernet.net) throughout the week.
Trehab Feed-A-Friend Mission – provides Thanksgiving meals to local individuals and families who experience food insecurity. We will collect from today, Sunday, 9/27/26 to Sunday, 10/25/26. Please make checks payable to Trehab Feed-A-Friend Program. Any cash donations put in an envelope marked for Trehab. Any questions, see Bonne Travis.
Thursday, October 8th – Presbyterian Women meeting – 11am
Friday, October 9th – Craft Afternoon from 1pm to 3pm in the Community Building. Any questions, See Jan, Cindy or Shirley.
Sunday, October 11th – Barnes Kasson Service – 3pm
Thursday, October 15th – Session Meeting – 6:30pm
Wednesday, October 21st – Men’s Breakfast – 8am
Tuesday, October 27th – Newsletter Deadline
Saturday, October 31st – Potluck Supper / Halloween Party
Sunday, November 1st – Daylight Savings Time Ends
Saturday, November 7th– PW will be having a soup and bake sale, 9am to 3pm. If you would like to make a soup or bake some items, please see Cindy, Shirley, Bonne or Carolyn