October 25, Dear Friends,

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1 THE WHITE OAK LEAVES White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church (USA) W. Lee Dreyer Pastor Office Phone Home Phone address: WOSPC@zoominternet.net Web page: November 2012 Volume 28 Number Years of Service (est. 1818) Dear Friends, October 25, 2012 We are reminded in Matthew 25: that we should care for the least of these. In the judgment scene from this passage, Jesus tells us that the Son of Man will be seated on his throne, judging the nations by dividing them between his right and left hand: the blessed and the condemned. In it, we are told that the blessed have done little things for the Lord in his many disguises: for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. It seems to me that this is a pretty good passage and theme for Thanksgiving. From this passage, our mission giving, our special offerings, our donations to the Evans City Food Cupboard and the Water for Woodlands project, all the ways we reach out to help others becomes clearer and clearer. Yes, we American Christians are among the richest people on earth (even the poorest of us), and we should share from the bounty which we have received from God. In the midst of the feasting on Thanksgiving Day and throughout the year we need to remember that the feast is even more of a feast when we share it in God s name. Now, there are those who would try to spoil our feast and increase our guilt by making us remember only the poor before our turkey dinner. That is not my intent here. Instead, it seems to me that thanksgiving should be recognition of God as the Ultimate Giver of all turkeys, food, clothing, shelter, drink, etc. We should also recognize that the bounty we receive from God every day needs to be shared with the poor because it really isn t ours to begin with. Everything we have is God s, and just as God has chosen to share with us, so should we share with others. Our sharing with those in need is much less than it should be, if we look at what we have and what other people need. Justice demands that we improve on our record. Mercy demands this sharing of all of us. Jesus makes his thoughts known in the scene of blessing and judgment from Matthew 25. Thanksgiving Day reminds us, rich and poor alike, that we all receive and share from God s good earth. So enjoy your Thanksgiving feast. Overeat if you like. But please don t forget the poor of the world, for they are, indeed, our brothers and sisters, each one a child of God and God calls us to care for one another. In Christ s name and for his sake, Lee

2 White Oak Springs Presbyterian Church Account Balances Checking Acct. Balance $ (22.72) Total Receipts $ 3, Sold Stock Smith Barney $ 10, Total Expenses $ 10, Sept (Baptism) Sept (50 year Celebration) Oct Oct (Stewardship Sunday) Oct Checking Acct. Balance $ 3, Investment Balances Previous Total Current Total $ 433, $ 422, Budget = $121, Amount needed weekly to meet budget $2, November 11 th Upper Room SS Class December 9 th Deacon s & Trustees January 13 th Christian Service Committee Each group is responsible for hosting Moments of Fellowship during the assigned months and with providing people to serve as greeters before the worship service each Sunday. Please check the paper products and drink supplies prior to your dates. November Birthdays Russell Henry 8 th Carol Wagner 13 th Kate Dreyer Jack Dodgson 19 th Helen Miller 21 st Sandy Ream 23 rd 17 th Virginia Henry 25 th November Anniversaries Rosanne and Bob Maranche 11 th Will and Gayle Pollock 17 th White Oak Leaves newsletter NEWLETTER DEADLINE Deadline for the December 2012/January 2013 issue of the WHITE OAK LEAVES is Sunday, November 18, 2012 Call (724) , or cld97@zoominternet.net This will be a double issue so please include your January events as well. Thank you. Secret Sister Program Say a prayer for her each day. Send or leave them loving, thoughtful little gifts, cards, notes throughout the year. Remember them on holidays, special occasions, birthdays, and anniversaries, if married.

3 Mission Opportunities Available Water for Woodlands: If you would like to make a monetary contribution for the purchase of water, please make your checks to WATER FOR WOODLANDS. Please do NOT make them out to the church. These monetary contributions are tax deductible. If you would like to help during the weekly distribution of water please go to click on the volunteer tab and sign up on a day that is convenient for you. The Evans City Food Cupboard, Like many food pantries in the area, it is struggling to meet the demand for food for the increasing number of clients. Your items can be placed on the table in the back of the sanctuary. Please no expired items. Thank you. B.E.R.I. - Butler County Emergency Relief Initiative Offers help to those unable to pay utility bills, housing, prescription medications, food, and transportation. There is a container on the back table for contributions. Miles of Pennies Bring us your pennies. There is a jar on the back table. It will be used as needed for special mission projects. HIGHLLIGHTS OF MEETING OF October 18, 2012 Trustees reported that the new outdoor speakers for the chimes have been delivered. It is hoped that they will be installed within the next few weeks. Session approved budget for Congregational meeting for the approval of pastor s terms of call will be on Sunday, November 18 at 11:00 A.M. Pastor reported that the invitations for the annual Thanksgiving dinner will be sent out on post cards, therefore, there will be no need for folding of invitations. This change was a means to save some money on costs. Pastor reported that the Nominating Committee has met and will have a full slate of candidates in time for the congregational meeting on November 18 th. Pastor reported that a representative from Gideons International will make a presentation during the worship service on December 9 th. Approved a gift of $100 to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for their student aid fund. Approved a week of vacation for the pastor time to be determined. We are once again participating in The Toys for Tots Program by collecting new, unwrapped toys for children up to the age of fourteen. At Christmas time, the toys are distributed to the needy children of the community with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies. Along with new toys, cash donations are also accepted. The monetary donations are used to purchase toys so each child has a gift. Checks should be made out to Toys for Tots. If you wish to donate a new, unwrapped toy (no stuffed animals or gift cards please) for either a girl or boy, please place them in the box provided in the back. Deadline for collection is December 9 th. Please see Carol Dreyer if you have any questions. Thankoffering and Ingathering Service November 18, 9:45 A.M. We will be having our annual ingathering of food for the food bank on Sunday, November 18 th Both donations of non-perishable food and monetary donations will be accepted.

4 A family prayer Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow, for the work, the health, the food, and bright skies that make our lives delightful for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen Robert Louis Stevenson Meeting minutes of October 4, 2012 Old Business: The meeting was opened with comments and a review of the anniversary dinner honoring our 50 year plus members. There were reservations made for seventy two and food was ordered for eighty. We did run out of food, and were disappointed in the service from Fairground Market. The dinner was much appreciated by the honorees. New Business: We discussed the upcoming annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner to be held on Saturday, November 17 th at 6:00 PM. Sign-up sheets will be placed on the bulletin board in the narthex for donations of turkeys and to RSVP for the dinner itself. Invitations will be sent out via bulk mail. The committee will set up for the dinner on Friday, November 16 th at 1:00 P.M. Other new business discussed was the All Saints Memorial tribute which is scheduled for Sunday, November 4 th. Sandy Dodgson and Joanne Jamison will do the reading and candle lighting. Also discussed was Church World Service regarding Blanket Sunday. Pastor Lee will order the materials (posters, bulletin inserts). Sandy will check on the pew envelopes. The meeting was closed with prayer at 8:55 PM. The next meeting of the Christian Service Committee will be on Thursday, November 1 st at 7:00 P.M. We have classes for Preschool through 6 th grade Teachers Preschool Kindergarten Maggie Marlowe Grade 1-3 Marsha Clemens Grade 4-6 The primary classes is using a new curriculum this year called Grow, Proclaim, Serve Young Adult s Junior/Intermediate High School Class This is a new class this year and they will be using the curriculum Feasting on the Word: Teaching the Revised Common Lectionary Adult Classes Upper Room Sunday School Class Standard Lesson Series Curriculum is used This is a weekly Bible lesson based on current events. Pastor Lee receives the lesson via each week and then forwards it on to participants prior to class. Contact Pastor Lee if you would like to be added to the weekly list. If you are not already attending one of the adult classes, why not try one out? Christian Symbols + Cornucopia Cornucopia, a Greek word meaning horn of plenty, has origins in Greek mythology. But the cornucopia became a religious symbol and was even stamped on Jewish coins. Overflowing horns, now common as Thanksgiving centerpieces, came to symbolize abundance and blessings.

5 The Word Scripture The church confesses the Scriptures to be the Word of God written, witnessing to God s self-revelation. Where that Word is read and proclaimed, Jesus Christ the Living Word is present by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit. For this reason the reading, hearing, preaching, and confessing of the Word are central to Christian worship. The session shall ensure that in public worship the Scripture is read and proclaimed regularly in the common language(s) of the particular church. (Directory for Worship, W ) The public reading of Scripture should be clear, audible, and attentive to the meanings of the text, and should be entrusted to those prepared for such reading. Listening to the reading of Scripture requires expectation and concentration and may be aided by the availability of a printed text for the worshipers. The congregation may read Scripture responsively, antiphonally, or in unison as a part of the service. (Directory for Worship, W ) Lectionaries The minister of the Word and Sacrament is responsible for the selection of Scripture to be read in all services of public worship and should exercise care so that over a period of time the people will hear the full message of Scripture. It is appropriate that in the Service of the Lord s Day there be readings from the Old Testament and the Epistles and Gospels of the New Testament. The full range of the psalms should be also used in worship. Selections for reading in public worship should be guided by the seasons of the church year, pastoral concerns for a local congregation, events and conditions in the world, and specific program emphases of the church. Lectionaries offered by the church ensure a broad range of readings as well as consistency and connection with the universal Church. The people of God should exercise this same principle of selection in their choice of Scripture reading in family and personal worship. Those responsible for teaching and preaching the Word have a special responsibility to ensure that in their personal worship they observe a discipline of reading from the fullness of Scripture. (Directory for Worship, W ) Preaching The preached Word or sermon is to be based upon the written Word. It is a proclamation of Scripture in the conviction that through the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ is present to the gathered people, offering grace and calling for obedience. Preaching requires diligence and discernment in the study of Scripture, the discipline of daily prayer, cultivated sensitivity to events and issues affecting the lives of the people, and a consistent and personal obedience to Jesus Christ. The sermon should present the gospel with simplicity and clarity, in language which can be understood by the people. For reasons of order the preaching of the Word shall ordinarily be done by a minister of the Word and Sacrament. A minister of the Word and Sacrament or other person authorized by presbytery may be invited by the pastor with the concurrence of the session or, when there is no pastor, by the session. A person may be sent to preach by the presbytery. (Directory for Worship, W ) The people s participation in the proclamation of the Word is above all to hear: a. to discern Jesus Christ, b. to receive his offered grace, c. to respond to his call with obedience. Such participation depends upon the illumination of the Holy Spirit, which is to be sought earnestly in prayer. The words hearing and heard are not intended exclusively to mean acts of sensory perception. (Directory for Worship, W ) Next month The Sacraments (for more information go to

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7 WHITE OAK SPRINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) 102 SHANNON ROAD RENFREW PA THE WHITE OAK LEAVES November 2012 Wednesday, November 21, 2012 Community Thanksgiving Worship Service 7:30 P.M. at Meridian U.P. Church Mr. Norman Tutino from St. Paul s U.C.C. in Connoquenessing will be preaching.