FROM THE PASTOR”S DESK…..
Dear Church Family,
In my morning devotional I was reading from 2 Corinthians, where Paul writes about the veil being lifted. Every time I read this passage my mind always takes me to that movie, “The Wizard of Oz.”
As a child, I was both terrified and tantalized by “The Wizard of Oz.”The Wicked Witch of the West scared me, but I loved Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. I was fond of the Munchkins and hated the flying monkeys. Yet, the greatest moment for me came at the end of the movie when our fearful but undaunted band meets the great and powerful Oz. They are mesmerized as the great Oz blast fire and bellows thunder, at least until the smallest of the group, Dorothy’s little dog Toto pulls back the veil on the elderly man working the machinery generating the illusion. “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,” roars Oz. But too late, the gig is up. That which was hidden, is now seen for what it truly is, a magnificently manufactured lie.
From 2 Corinthians 3:12 forward, Paul uses the word Veil several ways. A veil hides the glory of God shining in Moses’ face. The Israelite’s minds are veiled from seeing the power of God behind the covenant. Those who know Christ have unveiled faces.
Read with me today 2 Corinthians 4:3&4. Verse 3 says,” And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” Verse 4, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. “The Corinthians’ were blinded by “The god of this world.” They as Dorothy’s band are mesmerized by the powerful and much lesser gods of this world. In our context, those gods include alluring and fake promises, fake news, and two minutes of Twitter or Facebook fame.
We indulge our fantasies and have trouble finding our faith. We yearn for a gospel that is authentic, life changing, and right. We stand in need of someone to pull back the veil so that we can see what is real and, in so doing, find our best and true selves.
This February would you pray with me this short prayer? “Lord take the veil from my mind’s eye so that I may see you and find myself. Amen.
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, February 4th – Boy Scout Sunday
Thursday, February 8th – Presbyterian Women meeting – 10:00am
Sunday, February 11th – Transfiguration of our Lord
Monday, February 12th – Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
Wednesday, February 14th – Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, February 14th – Valentine’s Day
Sunday, February 18th – First Sunday in Lent
Monday, February 19th – President’s Day
Wednesday, February 21st – Men’s Action Group meeting – 8:00am
Thursday, February 22nd – George Washington’s Birthday
Sunday, February 25th – 2nd Sunday in Lent
Tuesday, February 27th- Newsletter Deadline
Sunday School – 8:30am – The study of the Ten Commandments
Bible Study – 5:00pm – The study of the Beatitudes
Prayer Shawls – I have several prayer shawls available, if anyone knows of anyone who could use one. Thank you, Carolyn White
Warming Station –During this cold weather and the rest of the winter remember that the Community Building has a back up generator. If you lose power at your home contact a session member or someone with a key to let you in. We can provide you heat and light. You can use the refrigerator and stoves, but you will need to bring your own food. We are not set up as a shelter, but you can keep warm
Souper Bowl Sunday Offering–The Souper Bowl offering will end on February 4th, the day of the Super Bowl. This offering will support our local mission projects. Details of this mission will be put in the bulletins and mentioned during “Minute for Missions” each Sunday while this mission takes place. The offering will be non-perishable food items or cash which will be used to purchase grocery store gift cards. Food items and gift cards will go to families in need in our community.
Presbyterian Women met at their new time and day, January 11, Thursday, at 10, with 7 ladies present. The meeting was led by Joyce Printz, since Bonne Travis was ill. A short devotion was followed by prayer concerns and prayer. The treasurer reported $901.97 in the treasury. The pens with the church name on them that were distributed at Christmas time had been purchased by PW.
Again this year, we voted to give $400.00 toward the cost of the electric in the Old Hall and $100.00 to WPEL. The Rummage Sale dates are April 27 and 28. The Mother/Daughter Banquet, May 7 at 6:00. Franklin Hill will be hosting The Cornerstone Presbytery Meeting of which we are a part. It is hoped the date for this will be Saturday, May 19 with our congregation in charge of providing the noon meal. The ladies decided on a cooked meal, since many members will be traveling some distance. More on this closer to the date. PW is open to all women, members and friends alike, so come join us.
Presbytery Meeting in May — The Cornerstone Presbytery Executive Team asked the Franklin Hill Session to host the May meeting. At the session meeting in December the session voted yes to the request. Franklin Hill is centrally located in the Presbytery which will minimize travel time for those in the edges of the Presbytery. The meeting being at the Franklin Hill Church will enable our congregation to attend the meeting to see how the Presbytery functions. Please consider attending the meeting in May. We will be serving lunch during the meeting. Hopefully the choir can sing during the worship service which is part of the meeting.
Following a national political election, life is returning toward normal. School has reopened in January They have 135 children enrolled and 6 volunteer teachers. A new, local merchant in his village, has donated mattresses and blankets to his school children, and helped his servanthood of missionary life. He has thanked us graciously for the funds that we sent to him. He used it as follows; $150 food, $150 school supplies, $100 for medication. He uses the funds we send to him for the very poor orphans and old people. This helps to keep the students in school and to have a purpose in life. Otherwise they would be idle and learning nothing. The school gives them purpose, food, and clothes. all are very basic by American standards. They live, as americans might have in 1820 – 1850. With our support, they have a few of lifes basic necessities. Rev. Malaho has repeatedly invited someone from our church to visit his village and see how their life is. 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 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)
