From The Pastor’s Desk…..
Dear Church Family,
While sitting at my disk and looking at the calendar, trying to decide what focal point I was going to write about, I notice how many different events happens in November.
Nov 1st, is All Saints day, the 4th is World Community Day, the 6th , we return to standard time, on the 8th its Election day. November 11th is Veterans Day,
the 13th is Caregivers Sunday, and the 24th of course is Thanksgiving Day. Then to end the month, the 27th is the 1st Sunday of Advent.
So much to choose from. How do I decide? So I took it to God in prayer and when I opened my eyes my bible was opened to Luke 22:42 jumped out at me.
Jesus was praying on the Mount of Olives before He was to go to the Cross, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Remember that catchy Burger King commercial tune, “Have It Your Way…Have it your Way!” This was revolutionary stuff a burger chain announcing that the consumer didn’t have to take the next prefab burger coming off the grill. We could have it our way! Hold the pickles, extra mustard, cheese, no cheese. Double cheese. The sky was the limit! Sure, it might take a few extra minutes at the drive-through window, but we were getting it our way, and that made the wait worthwhile.
Having been spoiled as a consumer for so long we often approach our spirituality with the same, I’ll have it my way philosophy. We make our plans and confer with Jesus on the side to make sure He’s okay with them. We say we want Gods will for our lives, but are we just as comfortable figuring out our own choices? After all, we’re use to having it our way.
Imagine driving up to heaven’s window one day and ordering what you want from your life. “Welcome to heaven, May I take your Order please?”
“Yea, um, I’d like one good day today. Hold the mishaps.”
Why do we enjoy having it our way? Perhaps we’re not entirely convinced that His way is really the best way. At least, we want Him to give us several options to choose from. Seeking Gods will is not always clear, sometimes its downright confusing.
Just ask Adelaide Pollard. She was convinced the Lord wanted her to serve as a missionary to Africa. However, after several unsuccessful attempts to raise funds for her trip, she wondered if
she had heard God wrong. Confused, she attended a prayer meeting one night at church. There, she heard an elderly women pray, “It doesn’t matter what you bring into our lives, Lord, just have your own way with us. These words struck in Adelaide’s’ mind, and that evening, she penned the chorus to the popular hymn, “Have Thine Own Way.”
This November, before we engage in any activity, instead of having it our way we should pray as Jesus did, “Let not my will, but yours be done”, (Luke 22:42).
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 5:00pm
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
Tuesday, November 1st – All Saints’ Day
Sunday, November 6th – Daylight Savings Time Ends
Tuesday, November 8th – Election Day
Friday, November 11th – Veteran’s Day
Sunday, November 13th – Congregational Meeting following Worship Service
Monday, November 14th – Presbyterian Women meet at Noon in the Community Building
Wednesday, November 16th – Mens Group meets, 8am in the Community Building
Saturday, November 19th – Family Supper, 5:30pm in the Community Building
Sunday, November 20th – Session meets following Worship Service
Thursday, November 24th – Happy Thanksgiving
Sunday, November 27th – First Sunday in Advent
Tuesday, November 29th – Newsletter Deadline
If anyone would like to put a Christmas greeting in the December newsletter, please e-mail to Carolyn White or give it to her in church by the Newsletter Deadline of 11/29. Thank you!
Prayer Shawl Ministry – If you know of anyone that is in need of a prayer shawl or if anyone is interested in making shawls at home and wants to donate them to this ministry, please give them to Carolyn White for distribution. Thank you!
Presbyterian Women met on Oct. 10th in the Community Building where the main topic of conversation was the recent Rummage and Bake Sale. The proceeds were $1123.80. The discussion centered around what was good about the sales, and what we needed to do to make the Spring sale even better. Many folks were happy to have the opportunity to take not only baked goods home, but also many varieties of soup which were sold in pints and quarts. This sale takes many volunteers many hours of work, both at home and at the Old Hall and Community Building. The ladies thank everyone, both men and women, who came together to make this such a successful sale. The dates for the next sale are May 19 and 20. Remember, we can’t do this without good, clean, useable items to sell, so when you are cleaning out, remember the Rummage Sale. Since our congregation is no longer a member of PCUSA, it was suggested that we find another way to use our “least coin” offering. After some discussion, it was decided we would use dimes and donate to a program called “Safe Water”, an organization that does whatever is necessary to provide clean, safe drinking water to those in need world wide. A discussion about the amount of coffee that is sometimes discarded when a small group is using the building, or when folks would rather drink something other than coffee. A single serve coffee pot was purchased along with pods of many different flavors of coffee and other hot beverages. If you are in the building for a meeting, feel free to help yourself to a cup of something fresh brewed.
The meeting was adjourned with prayer. The next meeting is Nov. 14 at noon for lunch or come at 12:30 when the meeting begins. All women are encouraged to come – need a ride – let Bonne know.
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
The Brahms Requiem will be performed by the university chorus and orchestra at the Binghamton University on Saturday, December 3, at 3:00, in the Osterhout Theater of the Anderson Center on the university campus. This is not written in the style of the Latin Requiems, but rather gives comfort to the bereaved and a blessing of peace for the departed. The text is taken from portions of scripture and is inspirational to both the performers and the audience; that although there is mourning, there is hope for eternal life. Brahms was brought to this place, both by the death of Robert Schumann, and his mother and began writing the work in 1865. It was premiered in Leipzig in its final form in 1869. Next to Handel’s Messiah, the Brahms Requiem is the most often performed of all choral-orchestral works.
If you have never experienced this powerful oratorio, this is your chance. If you have heard it, then look forward to hearing it again. Cost is $7.00 and tickets can be purchased at the door. Dr. Bruce Borton conducts both the chorus and the orchestra for this concert. He retires from the university after the spring concert.
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)
