From The Pastor’s Desk…..
Dear Church Family,
May is here and again at our home, it’s a time to prepare the flower gardens, by cleaning out the old, pulling the weeds and making ready the ground for new growth.
To be honest, I never look forward to this because most of the time I can’t tell the flowers from the weeds, (as Bonne well attest to)! Often I’ve gotten the evil eye for pulling the wrong thing.
Many of us have this same problem when it comes to preparing our spiritual garden. Paul gives us a guideline to work by in Galatians 5: 22-23, ”But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Often the weeds in our spiritual gardens are disguised in beauty, there petals are draped in indescribable colors that entice us to come closer and get a better look. The brilliance of the plant blossoms, and we feel glad it’s growing. We nurture it. We are sure that this plant belongs in our garden and should thrive. We soon see that we have devoted our attention to a plant that has gradually grown out of control. Realizing chaos is not from the Lord, we look at it more closely.
Our inspection reveals this is not a plant. It is a weed! The scent it delivers is an odor, not a fragrance that we or God desires for us. It has no place in our spiritual garden. If we take the time to identify this weed we find that it is our self motives. We need to work to remove it quickly and this can best be done in a 3 step process:
1. Examine our motives. Why do I go to church? Why do I spend time with God? Why do I help people? Is it to glorify God, or is it because I want people to think I’m good?
2. See the truth. Be cautious of this weed because so often trying to deceive others into thinking we are good we deceive ourselves as well. Just as the weed blooms and appears to be a flower, it causes us to appear beautiful from the outside only.
3. Accept the truth. The roots of this weed choke the roots we want to flourish. So it must be removed.
The fruit of the Spirit grows only when we sow things that are to glorify God, not Ourselves.
Identify the weeds in your garden and take time to start the process of eliminating them today!
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
Thursday, May 4th – National Day of Prayer
Monday, May 8th – Presbyterian Women meet at Noon for lunch – then meeting at 12:30pm
Sunday, May 14th – Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Monday, May 15th – Mother/Daughter Dinner – 6pm. Please bring a dish to share and please sign on
the sign up sheet is the vestibule.
Wednesday, May 17th – Men’s Action Group meeting – 8am in the Community Building
Saturday, May 20th – Family Supper – 5:30pm
Saturday, May 20th – Armed Forces Day
Monday, May 22nd – Victoria Day (Canada)
Thursday, May 25th – Ascension Day
Monday, May 29th – Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 30th – Newsletter Deadline
The Annual meeting for the Franklin Hill Cemetery Association will be held at 6pm on Tuesday May 9, 2017 at the Community Building. All are welcome.
ECO Update – The Session completed the review of the Creeds and Confessions for the Evangelical Covenant Order (ECO) of Presbyterians. The Session read through the early confessions and made recommendations to bring them up to date for current times English.
The next ECO Presbytery meeting will be May 6th. ECO is growing very fast. The Presbytery of the Northeast will Multiply (split) into three new Presbyteries. Our Presbytery will now be known as Cornerstone Presbytery.
Parking Lot – Two big loads of millings were dropped in the lower area of the parking lot during the recent road work. Bill Printz spread the millings with his tractor bucket and back blade. Bob Pratt shoveled and racked the millings to a final grade.
Spring Clean-Up – Several men worked on cleaning up after the winter snow plowing. Sod and gravel was returned to the parking lot. So as to not miss anyone those helping will not be listed. Thank you to all that worked over several days and evening.
Community Building Closets – Jan Kessler and Bob Pratt finished the new closets in the Community Building. This included spackling and painting. The ladies now have lots of storage space and a more functional kitchen.
A gift to One Great Hour of Sharing enables the Church to share God’s love with our neighbors in need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, provided food to the hungry and empower the poor and oppressed. This year our Church collected $277.00 to help with this mission. Thanks to all who gave.
Our friends in Kenya are recovering from a serious drought. Water had been carried by foot for 3-4 miles and all resources had to go toward acquiring water for life. Now scattered rains have begun and it is the planting season. Rev Malaho and his family have planted 4 acres into maize, beans and vegetables. Our Presbyterian women’s group sent extra funding to make this possible. The regular funds that we sent were spent as follows; $260 teachers allowances, $200food, $180 pullovers, blankets, mosquito nets, $35 local transport. Their worst stressful challenge is shoes. None of the children have shoes, despite the fact it is the rainy season. They celebrated Easter. Patricia, whom we sponsored through high school, did the food preparation for Easter. Silvanus always sends many, many “THANK YOU”s for all the support that we send. He always appreciates the prayers and funds from our church family. Submitted by Jim Kessler
Care Net — Here at Franklin Hill, we participate in a Baby Bottle Campaign every spring. Monies are used here in the county for all sorts of baby items and counseling for parents. Baby things are “purchased” by the parents from points they earn by attending education classes. This will end the week after Mother’s Day. Bottles are found in the vestibule.
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
“Relay for Life” June 24th in the New Milford Park, 11am to 11pm. Contact Debbie Stalker if you wish to purchase a luminary.
Loose Change Offerings
1st Sunday – Local Missions
2nd Sunday – Local Missions
3rd Sunday – Kenya/Rev. Malaho
4th Sunday – Building Maintenance
5th Sunday – Trehab Local Food Bank (whenever there is a 5th Sunday)
