From The Pastor’s Desk…..
Dear Church Family,
In my devotions today, I was reading in I Thessalonians 4 and in verse 11 and 12 it says, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.”
What a surprising thought! Don’t peoples ambition usually center of dreams of fame or wealth? To aspire to a quiet life sounds like working hard to be dull, doesn’t It? In this setting however, the word for quiet is similar in meaning to tranquil, an inner peace that has nothing to do with circumstances.
Something else we should aspire to, according to this verse, is to mind our own business. While there are lots of heads nodding when the conversation comes around to certain moral sins. How many sermons have you heard on the topic of busybodies? Yet how many times do all of us cross the line from sharing prayer request about another’s situation, to speculation and gossip? There is no doubt that a friend or neighbor who handles others business with discretion and kindness is rare, trusted by all who know them.
The apostle Paul, who wrote Thessalonians, was a firm believer in earning his keep. His love offerings went for those in need, he made tents to pay for his daily bread. Each of us should have a body of work that we are known by. It may be a good reputation to our workplace, or an orderly home and well behaved children.
What does all of this add up to? Respect. New cars and promotions may produce admiration’s in the short term. The kind of person others look up to is the person who is at peace with himself or herself in all circumstances, who guards other’s reputations as carefully as his own, who works hard at whatever they do. The kind of person who builds solid, long-term relationships. That is the kind of person God can use as His witness.
This February ask yourself, am I the kind of person God can use as His witness?
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 – Postponed Until Further Notice
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, February 12th – Lincoln’s Birthday
Thursday, February 14th – Valentine’s Day
Thursday, February 14th – Presbyterian Women’s meeting 11am
Monday, February 18th – President’s Day
Wednesday, February 20th – Men’s Action Group meeting 8am
Friday, February 22nd – Washington’s Birthday
Tuesday, February 26th Newsletter Deadline
Men’s Action Group ***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 Shawls – If anyone knows of someone in need of a prayer shawl, please let Carolyn White know.
Presbyterian Women met on Thursday January 10, 2019 at 11:00am President Bonne Travis led the meeting which began with the Salute to the flag, followed by devotions and prayer.
Twelve ladies shared in the review of the year 2018, and planning began for 2019. The treasurer, Carolyn Pratt, reported a balance of $2440.00 in the treasury. Edith Siedlecki, secretary, read the minutes from the last meeting. A lot of thought and brainstorming is going into what to do about the rummage and bake sale for spring. Dowe continue as in the past, or do something different and what would that be? since this has been our main fund raiser, if replaced, can we continue to have our current cash flow. If anyone has any thoughts on this please come forward either in person to Bonne, or by email. The group is happy to have fresh ideas. . . .from men or women! ! ! By vote, $400.00 was transferred to the church treasury to help pay the electric for the old building, $125.00 to WPEL, and money to purchase some sort of book/music holders, to be attached to the chairs in the choir loft.
The date set for the LADIES’ SPRING BANQUETis May 13 at 6:00. Gals of every age are encouraged to attend, and bring a friend or friends along, also, as in the past,
Please bring a dish to share. The theme for the evening will be “God Rocks” and the speaker is Peggy Walker. All women are encouraged to join us on the second Thursday of each month. Bring a friend along too – we pray, work, share, laugh, cry, Love the Lord and each other.
Loose Change Offerings ( coins and bills)
1st Sunday – Local Missions
2nd Sunday – Local Missions
3rd Sunday – Kenya/Rev. Malaho
4th Sunday – Community Building
5th Sunday – Trehab Local Food Bank (whenever there is a 5th Sunday)
