From The Pastor’s Desk…..
Dear Church Family,
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands,
as if he needed anything because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. “ Acts 17: 24 & 25.
We spend a lot of time and effort in giving gifts. Isn’t it fun when you find that something that’s just right for a friend or loved one?
Then there’s that one person who is just impossible to buy for. That someone who has everything. This is how it is with our God.
Acts 17:25 says that He doesn’t need anything at all.
Don’t be discouraged. Gods sufficiency is a blessing! We don’t need to earn His love. He does not expect repayment for His free gift of salvation through Christ.
Honestly, Its so valuable that even if we wanted to repay Him, we just couldn’t . David described His unfailing love as “priceless” (Ps. 36:7).
So what do you get for God who has everything? If God had a Christmas list, here are some things he’d definitely include:
1. Your love— Mark 12:33
2. Your life— Romans 12:1
3. Humility— Psalm 51:17
4. Praise —Hebrews 12:15
5. Righteousness— Proverb 21:3
6. Mercy— Matthew 9:13
7. Good Works— James 2: 23,24
8: Generosity— Hebrews 12: 16
9: Obedience— Romans 12:2 & 2 John 1:6
And that’s just the beginning! Here’s my challenge for you-search Gods word for yourself, then live a life that will make God smile and say, “Its just what I wanted.”
Have a Merry Christmas!
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
Sunday, December 4th – 2nd Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 11th – 3rd Sunday in Advent
Monday, December 12th – Presbyterian Women meet at noon
Tuesday, December 13th – Session Meets, 10am in the Community Building
Saturday, December 17th – Family Supper in the Community Building, 5:30pm
Sunday, December 18th – 4th Sunday in Advent
Wednesday, December 21st – First Day of Winter
Saturday, December 24th – Christmas Eve Service – 7pm
Sunday, December 25th – MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Tuesday, December 27th – Newsletter Deadline
Sunday, January 1st – HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Report from Rev Silvanus Malaho: Rev. Malaho has had serious ear problems which required hospitalization. Medication seemed to help. 3 of his children who have serious Malaria issues. Medication has helped. He has 28 children staying with him currently. It costs about $2 per day to feed a child. Most of our funds are used for food and medication. More recently they have built 7 shower rooms for the children and it includes 2 showers. Our funds provide hope and love to many. They have been having friendly rains so they have been planting trees to help alleviate excessive heat caused by climate warming, a very serious problem for them. He has also invited anyone from our church to visit him. He also offers a special invitation to Pastor Joe to visit his village. And as always, he offers most generous THANK YOUs for our prayers and the funds we send for his mission. By Jim Kessler
The Presbyterian Women met on Nov. 14 in the Community Building. The Women’s Resource Center received $80.00 worth of gift cards that can be used for gas or food. World Vision will be receiving $100.00 to be used for medicines and our $100.00 will be matched with a $1200.00 donation. Food will be purchased with another $100.00 donation from the ladies, and that will be matched with a $600.00 donation. A discussion was held on Thankfulness. That list could be yards long!!!!
The December meeting will be a Christmas party including lunch of pizza, salad fruit, and of course cookies. All women are invited and if you want to be part of the cookie exchange, bring 2 dozen cookies. If not, just bring a dozen to share. This is a caring group of women who have a long prayer list and are anxious to physically or financially help those who need it. If you don’t usually attend these meetings, consider adding the meeting to you New Year’s resolutions and your calendars. The group gathers at noon for lunch, or 12:30 for the meeting the second Monday of each month. Need transportation???? Let Bonnie, Carolyn, or Joyce P. know and someone will be happy to pick you up.
Men’s Group Report for 2016: The men’s group meets the third Wednesday of each month at 8am. All men are welcome. They have breakfast that they themselves fix. As men arrive and the breakfast is being prepared they discuss just about everything. These discussions continue as they enjoy their breakfast. After breakfast a short meeting is held. In this meeting they discuss any one who may need help and projects they plan on doing in the near future. A good time is had by all and they strongly encourage all men to come whether they belong to the Franklin Hill Church or not. This year they took on a big project which started in early spring. They were asked to run electric to the pavilion on Armstrong Park. A ditch witch was rented and work began digging a trench. Unfortunately when this work started, it became very wet and what a mess they had. They worked through it and managed to get electric down to the pavilion. When the ground finally dried, they put down top soil, leveled it and then sowed grass seed. Everything turned out great. The first picnic at the pavilion was held in June and what a beautiful day it was. During spring they helped a person move to Montrose. This project took all day and strong backs. They used several pickup trucks and two trailers. In late autumn they installed two windows in a shed for a member of the church and drilled and pinned their front steps to their home to prevent them from moving. Other projects consisted of leveling a shed for a family and putting a roof on a porch for another member of the church. In May they removed a furnace and hot water tank from a mobile home that was being dismantled. Two men went back at a later date and cut of the steel frame of that mobile home for the family. The Men’s Group wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
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
Prayer Shawl Ministry – During 2016, we distributed 10 shawls and also gave 20 scarves, 10 hats and 4 mittens to Rev. Bill Townsend for “Bill’s Kids”.
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)
Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church Missions
The Franklin Hill Presbyterian Church Congregation by the grace of our God and through the love of our Savior Jesus Christ, supports and gives to many missions throughout the year. In 2016 the church will have given out over $12,000 in mission giving. During the Advent season the church collects for a mission called Noel Giving. Money collected goes in the local mission fund. This takes the place of Christmas Joy that the church did for many years.
From the middle of January to the first week in February is the Souper Bowl. Food items and money are collected. The money is used to purchase gift cards from local grocery stores. The food items and cards are given to needy families in the local community. One Great Hour of Sharing is done during Lent. Money collected goes to the Presbyterian Missions. This mission will be re-evaluated in February by session. CareNet mission, known as the baby bottle campaign starts after Easter to Mother’s Day. All the money collected goes to CareNet.
Feed-a Friend mission is from the middle of October to the Middle of November. Our church collects dessert items and money. These dessert items help to fill Thanksgiving baskets given out by Trehab. Any money donated helps to purchase turkeys for the baskets.
The mission for Bill’s Kids runs through November. Money collected goes to the Children’s Home in Binghamton. They use to the money to purchase Christmas gifts for the children.
The African mission helps Reverend Malaho in Kenya. The church collects for this mission work during the entire year. Money donated is sent monthly to Reverend Malaho. He uses the money to purchase food, medicine, education or whatever the need is at the time the money arrives.
Franklin Hill Church Local Mission is another ongoing mission throughout the year. Money donated is used to help those in need in the church and in the community. Money donated to the local mission is used for the church’s hunger program known as Share, the fuel program and other needs as they arise.
