From The Pastor’s Desk…..
Dear Church Family,
This advent season our focus will be on the gifts that we have been given by our merciful, God. But first we need to look at the reason He has given us the Love, Hope, Joy and Peace we receive when we believe in His son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
I think Paul sums it up for us best when he writes to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 1:4 “who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble.”
In my morning devotional I read this story and would like to share it with you. It was titled First Flight.
The late night flight to Orlando began peacefully. Passengers boarded the plane and stored away carryon luggage. We sat in silence as the plane filled. Suddenly the peace was broken by one of the last persons to board. She appeared to be in her early thirties, and was a flurry of activity and nonstop talking.
“Can you show me where I’m supposed to set? Where do I put my bag? This is my first flight. I’m scared. Am I on the right plane? Is this plane going to Orlando?”
Once seated, she turned to her seatmate and again spoke of her fear. To my surprise she asked if she could hold her hand when we took off. The lady graciously agreed and showed her how to fasten her seat belt. Before long we began to taxi down the runway.
By now we were all awake, watching and listening to our live wire passenger as we gathered speed. She held her new friend’s hand and closed her eyes. As the plane taxied before liftoff, it hit a bump and she screamed, “Oh No, we just ran over somebody! “We all laughed. Then once we were airborne, all hands clapped for her successful take-off. For a short time we bonded in common sympathy for a stranger. We rooted for her to make it through a frightening experience. She had exposed her VULNERABILITY to us, and we applauded her efforts.
The world is full of frightened vulnerable people. Some are going through challenges they’ve never gone through, perhaps death, illness, and divorce or job loss. We can zone them out or we can rally around, holding their hands and cheering them on.
The kind seatmate had flown before, and survived. She was able to help someone else. Once God has seen us through a hard time, we can be an inspiration for someone going through the same thing.
We can give comfort by giving of the gifts God has given us.
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 3rd – 1st Sunday in Advent
Tuesday, December 5th – Ladies Christmas Tea, 11am to 1pm
Saturday, December 9th – Christmas Caroling – meet at church at 3:30. Pizza to follow.
Sunday, December 10th – 2nd Sunday in Advent
Sunday, December 17th – 3rd Sunday in Advent
Thursday, December 21st – First Day of Winter
Sunday, December 24th – 4th Sunday in Advent
Sunday, Decemeber 24th – Christmas Eve
Monday, December 25th – Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 31st – New Years Eve/Watch Night
Monday, January 1st – Happy New Year!
Tuesday, January 30th – Newsletter Deadline
Anyone wishing to purchase a Candle or Poinsettia in Memory or in Honor of a Love One, please see Cathe Parks. She will be taking orders until Sunday, December 10th. Cost is $10 each.
Prayer Shawls – This year we gave out 6 shawls and donated 4 scarves, 9 hats and 24 mittens to Interfaith. I have several prayer shawls available, if anyone knows of anyone who could use one. Thank you, Carolyn White
Noel Giving is our Christmas Mission collected during Advent. All money received goes into the local mission to help people in our Congregation and in our local community.Envelopes are available for this collection or you can mark your regular envelope to reflect this mission.
Bill’s Kids for Christmas – $821 was collected. Thank you to everyone!
Ladies Christmas Tea – Tuesday, December 5th – 11 am to 1pm. – Christmas music, devotional thoughts with our speaker, Kimberly Kirk. A light lunch, assortment of seasonal goodies & tea, plus “Around The World Nativities” in Torrey House. Cost is $12.00. If you have any questions, please see Bonne Travis. Even if you don’t like tea, come and receive a blessing!
Report of November Meeting of Presbyterian Women
There were 8 women present. Rose opened with prayer and led a short devotion. The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved. The treasurer reported some addition to the Rummage Sale which brought the total to $1040.35. The treasury has a total of $1496.97. Thirty six dollars has been collected for the Women’s Resource Center. Several needs were brought to the attention of the group, and money was donated to help those families.
Bonne reported 13 ladies have signed up to go to the Ladies Tea to be held at the Bible Conference on Dec. 5. There will be NO MEETING in December AND, beginning in January, the monthly meetings will be held on the second THURSDAYS of the month at 10:00 a.m.
Instead of Coffee Hour on Dec. 3, we will be having a Holiday Lunch. Bring your favorite dish to pass – If it is a hot dish, bring it in a crock pot, or a casserole can be kept warm in the ovens. Good disposable plates, etc. will be used to keep clean up quick and easy. (The Montrose Chorale concert is at 3 that afternoon.) It was decided to give $100.00 to World Vision to be used for medicines.
We look forward to seeing you in January.
Choir Practice is every Thursday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. If anyone is interested in joining the choir, please contact Kathy Walker at 570-877-4341 or mkcorral18823@yahoo.com
Sunday School starts at 8:30am. The study is on angels. If you have missed some lessons, it does not matter. Come join us!
Sunday Evening Bible Study is at 5pm – The study is on “The Holy Spirit” Please plan on joining us!
Saturday night suppers on the 3rd Saturday of each month, have been cancelled for now.
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 ( coins and bills)
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)
