FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK…..
May arrives and our thoughts are on a 100 different things that need our attention. Planting a garden, repairing the house or yard, planning events, such as vacations or parties. Along with them come our worries of, how will we afford it and will we have the time to complete them.
Stress sets in and we become burnt out, we lose our focus, and have a hard time of setting priorities. We become paralyzed by to much to do. We need to realize that stress is one of Satan’s tools.
When animal trainers go into a cage of lions, they carry whips and pistols. But invariable they also carry a stool. According to William H. Hinson, the stool is the most important tool.
The trainer holds the stool by the back and thrusts the legs toward the face of the wild animal. The animal tries to focus on all four legs at once. In the attempt to focus on all four, a kind of paralysis overwhelms the animal. It becomes tame, weak, and disabled because its attention is fragmented.
Likewise the stress of having too much to do can paralyze us. So what should we do? GRAB the stool, sit down and remember, Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”
In His Service,
Pastor Joe
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday School – 8:15 AM in the Community Building
Choir Practice Every Thursday at 1:00pm
Evening Bible Study – Every Sunday at 5:30pm
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.
Thursday, May 5th – Ascension of the Lord
Thursday, May 5th – National Day of Prayer
Sunday, May 8th – Happy Mothers Day!
Monday, May 9th – Mother Daughter Dinner – 6pm in the Community Building. Bring a dish to
share. There is a sign up sheet in the vestibule for those attending & bringing guests.
Sunday, May 15th – Session Meeting following Worship Service
Sunday, May 15th – Pentecost
Wednesday, May 18th – Men’s group meeting – 8am for breakfast in the Community Building
Saturday, May 21st – Family Supper – 5:30pm in the Community Building
Saturday, May 21st – Armed Forces Day
Sunday, May 22nd – Trinity Sunday
Monday, May 23rd – Victoria Day! (Canada)
Monday, May 30th – Happy Memorial Day!
Tuesday, May 31st – Newsletter Deadline
CARE NET – Our annual Baby Bottle giving will begin on Sunday April 10 and end on Mother’s Day May 8th. All donations are used locally here in Susquehanna Co. Care Net’s mission is to provide Compassion, Hope, and Help to men and women facing pregnancy decisions. Care Net is a Christ centered Christian organization and the local office is in the Tannery Building in Montrose.
The Presbyterian Women have had a busy month planning and then carrying out the Rummage and Bake Sale. Many items were sorted and and put on display in the School Building and baked goods and soups, etc. donated for the Bake Sale and lunch. The hard work along with much laughter and fun netted the ladies a total of $1431.16. In the recent past, PW has purchased both trash cans in the kitchen, and a new microwave. Our monies are spent on others too as we donated $250.00 to Presbyterian Mission and earmarked that amount to be used for a $65 treadle pump, a $70 spigot, $50.00 toward a share in providing a $1250.00 well, $30 in seeds, $10 for farming tools and $25 for a Kitchen Kit of pots, utensils, bowls, cups and spoons. Our next project will be the Mother/Daughter Banquet to be held in the Community Building on May 9th beginning at 6:00. Please bring a dish to share. Come alone or bring a guest, but please sign up on the sheet in the vestibule. Susie Burchell will be the speaker, so you know it will be an evening of many blessings. If you have not participated in PW in the past, please join the ladies the second Monday of each month. Bring your lunch and come at noon, or come for the business meeting and sharing at 12:30. All are welcome.
Rev. Silvanus Malaho always sends greetings and many “Thank you”s with his messages. He has been resting and recovering from a trip to the Congo and the city of Bujumubura, Burundi. He was on a peace building mission where he was bringing a message of peace, love, and forgiveness, to those people. Rev. Malaho has also been busy getting their new school/community building ready for the new school year for the local children. He used some of our funds to purchase building supplies. It should be ready soon and they have 20 learners registered. His son Emmanuel, is a pastor in several Nairobi churches. He is also planning a mission trip to the Congo, and Burundi. The recent funds we sent were used for; $300 for school fees to get his resident orphans into schools, $70 food, $30 medication. Silvanus ends with big Thanks yous and “God Bless you”. By Jim Kessler
MENS ACTION GROUP *** If anyone is in need of transportation and/or assistance for doctor or hospital appointments, please contact Bill Printz at #570-967-0858, or e-mail bjprintz@frontiernet.net
***If anyone needs visitation or for a friend, neighbor or family member, please contact Ken Post at #570-879-4219, or e-mail kpost@echoes.net OR Bill Printz at #570-967-0858 or bjprintz@frontiernet.net ***For help with small projects for church family and neighborhood, please call Pastor Joe Travis at #570-465-7303 or email him at joetravis@live.com
Loose Change Offerings
1st Sunday – Local Missions
2nd Sunday – Local Missions
3rd Sunday – Kenya/Rev. Malaho
4th Sunday – Building Maintenance
5th Sunday – Habitat for Humanity (whenever there is a 5th Sunday)