Good News from Canonsburg First UMC, Fall 2014

Transcription

1 doodles from pastor deb s desk Good News from Canonsburg First UMC, Fall 2014 Our summer is quickly passing. It seemed that it was so busy, that we never really had a summer. So many things happened. Annual Conference came and went. Thanks Chuck for going and making the report during worship. We had a independent. Thanks to Roselle Ealy and her team for helping us out. Our snacks were superb with special thanks to Barb and Maddie. Carol welcomed us to be messy as we did science experiments that were fizzy and explosive! Thanks Carol. Dee and Marcy had awesome School has begun. We will begin other programs too. Sunday school will begin in September. Please watch for that announcement. We need teachers as well so if you are called to this let me or Matt know. Bible Study will be offered as well. There will be one during the day on saying this out of a sense of pride, but obligation to you. I want you all to know I support you and your ministries. Here is my challenge. If you tithe your salary I would like your giving to remain as it is. If you are not a tithing person, could you see your way clear to great time at the Fourth crafts to be done and taken Monday morning at 11. We increase your giving by 1%? If of July parade selling hot home! Thanks for your crafty will study Paul s first letter to you tithe and are able to dogs, baked goods, and ideas. Leslie and Ann were the Corinthians. The date is make the 1% increase, please refreshments while enjoy- our game gurus. They had not yet firm, but look in the do so. If we cannot make up ing the parade. Vacation hula hoops, parachutes, and bulletin the first part of our deficit we will need Bible School was a blast. We met Rivet: Thanks Evan and Leslie for bring him to life! A robot welcomed us to VBS, so thanks, Chuck, for our robot greeter and all your decorations that helped turn our church into a Bible workshop! We heard and watched stories: Thanks Rick and Lisa for bringing our Bible stories to life and to Pat and Marlene for helping with the characters. We built ramp modules that were used for a man s home. He hasn t been able to leave his home by himself for such a very long time. Now he is more let us have a fun time during rec! Thanks Ann and Leslie! Registration was handled by Rhea and Pat! Thanks for welcoming the children. You set the tone for their time with us. Aaron and Jan did a little of everything. They sang and danced with the children and lent hands when necessary. Matt was our photographer and made individual pictures for each child to take home and have a memory. Debbie Booth, even though she is still not well, helped by cutting out crosses for our after worship craft. Thanks to you all for making this VBS a special time for all. We are now well into August. September for the announcement. Also we are hoping to get the Silver Ring Thing curriculum, again, for our preteens and teens. We hope our new programs will be well received. In all our business, I am very concerned about stewardship. I know this is a touchy subject. Any time anyone talks about money, people get nervous. I get nervous too! Our congregation is not what you all remember and neither is our giving. However, what we must pay in utility costs, salaries and programs has not decreased. I am going to challenge you all. I tithe my salary to the charge. I am not everyone to engage in some fundraising activities. Our church has a long history here in Canonsburg. I think God wants us to keep serving Him here. Let us take up the challenge so that we can support our Sunday school, for both children and adults, continue our movie nights and develop new programs for our church to enjoy and to increase our discipleship! Let us be obedient to God and bring His kingdom to our fair city. In Jesus love and service, Pastor Deb

2 Page 2 SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS The Adult Sunday School class will begin meeting on September 14 in the Social Hall at 7:57 AM. Everyone is encouraged to participate. Initially, we will do a Bible study, and then collectively decide as a group which direction we will go. Thank you to Rick Marlowe for helping to facilitate the group, but everyone will be a teacher as we share our thoughts and experiences to grow together in Christ. Pastor Deb will also be offering a Monday morning Bible study of 1 Corinthians in the near future. Time will be 10:30 A.M. for approximately one hour. Start date will be announced soon! BACK TO SUNDAY SCHOOL PANCAKE BREAKFAST Come One, Come All! To celebrate our return to Sunday School, we will be holding a free pancake breakfast on September 21, following the morning worship service. Pancakes, sausage, juice & coffee will be served! CELEBRATING YOU!! Best wishes to all! If you don t see your name here, please fill out an information form and drop it into the collection plate. If you see a name that is not familiar, please let us know! We are continuing to update our database with current information! Thanks! AUGUST 5 Jessica Kohlhepp BD 6 Johnathan Kohlhepp & David Sphar BDs 10 Bliss & Scott McClain Anniv. 11 Brandon Danser & John Cokely BDs 12 Jennifer Boyer/Lisa Boyer BD 14 Zachary Pifer/Mary Anne Wolfe BD 15 Rhea & Doug Weese Anniv. & Gillian Danser BDs 17 Michael Pantely BD 21 Jenn Scears BD 22 Kim/Ed Connelly Anniv. 24 Sally Wherry BD 26 Betty & Mario Sacco Anniv. 27 Virginia Fife BD 29 Melissa Dodd BD 30 Betty Sharp BD SEPTEMBER 2 Meghin McCartney BD 5 Jeff Allison BD 6 Rick Marlowe/T. Popeck/Linsey Baker BDs 7 Lorna Turon BD 9 Nathaniel Cregut BD 11 Margaret Weise BD 18 Kathy & Rod Albright Anniv.; Andrew Danser BD 20 Phyllis Pirnik/Jason Albright BDs 21 Pat Tonsetic BD 22 Jon Tennant/Dylan Connelly BDs 26 Pastor Deb s BD; Samantha Nocki BD 30 Betty Sacco BD OCTOBER 7 Caron Boyer/Leslie Lockoski BDs Debbie & Bill Booth Anniv. 12 Verna Guzel BD 14 Larry Garner BD 18 Rhea Weese BD 21 Meagan Worstell BD 22 Katie Adams BD 26 Dee Stegman BD 28 Dorothy Ealy BD

3 Page 3 Notes of Praise The total amount raised for our children s summer mission, Loose Change: Camp Scholarships Program was $ With your help, two of our children were able to attend summer camp with funds rolled into next year. From Ray Surman, an out-of-state member: Thanks for the updates. I am glad to see that a core membership is making the church meaningful. I note too the interaction of the churches. Good going! Thank you for collecting all the donations at church to send me to Camp Jumonville! - Ainsley Scears Dear Church Family, Thank you for your love through the years and all the support. It s an honor to receive the Good Shepherd Award! - Nate Workshop of WONDERS VBS It takes a village! And that is JUST what we had at this summer s VBS, Workshop of Wonders. Thank you to all of our leaders and the many of you wo donated to make our vbs successful! We had 20 beautiful kids and had a great time learning about god in a variety of wonderful and imaginative ways! "Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit still and watch the leaves turn." -Elizabeth Lawrence DON T FORGET OUR CLOTHING BINS FOR ALL YOUR DISCARDS The Church is in need of Readers, Counters and Greeters. These are ministry opportunities that really do not take much time at all! For more information, or to sign up, please let Pastor Deb know, sign up on the sheet in the Foyer, or contact the office! We d love to have you!! With back-so-school season upon us, please don t forget the clothing bins situated behind the church for all your discards! Remember, the church receives money for each bag of clothing/shoes donated. Thank you! MERPS MANIA BOWLING FUNDRAISER Benefits Washington Area Humane Society Tuesday, September 16th 6:00-9:00 PM UMCMARKET.NET Shop online? Now when you do, you can register First UMC and start making micro-donations every time you shop online! It s free! The UMC has partnered with hundreds of online stores who donate a portion of your purchase back! Meadows Lanes Cost $10/pp includes 2 games of bowling, shows, fun games, prizes, shopping and auctions For tickets, see Pat Tonsetic or contact Sharon Oliver at or sharonoliver555@gmail.com

4 Back to School for the Christian (Adapted from juliabettencourt.com) Recently I was reading through some back to school tips. It struck me that we as Christians could take some of those tips and get ourselves geared up to serving the Lord. We need to get back to the school of life for Christ. Christian Back To School Tips: Get Enough Sleep (Rest in the Lord) As parents, we all know the benefits of getting our children to bed early on a school night. They need that added rest in order to get up early in the morning. A good night s sleep will work wonders on your attitude the next day and it will help your whole disposition. Resting in the Lord will also make you fit and ready for the day. It will recharge you. Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him Psalm 37:7 Get a Healthy Breakfast (Have Prayer and Bible Study) The experts agree that giving a child breakfast before school helps in knowledge retention, test scores and overall learning. As Christians we need to get a healthy breakfast of Bible study and prayer. Having some type of personal devotions will fuel you for the day. Each morning I will look to you in heaven and lay my requests before you, praying earnestly... Psalm 5:3 Conclusion: Follow the Rules (Use the Bible as Your Guide) School couldn t be productive if it weren t for the rules. We can all remember some of the basics. No fighting. No talking during class. No chewing gum. As Christians we have the best rule book of all. It covers the basics. We need to use it as a guide on a daily basis. All of those do s and don ts in God s Word are there to help us live productive lives. He replied, Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice. Luke 11:28 Develop Good Work and Study Habits (Develop Good Bible Study Habits) Children that develop good study habits are the ones who sail through school without major problems. We as Christians need to develop good study habits when it comes to God s Word. Knowing the Word is what is going to make or break us. We ve got to know the Word of God in order to live it. Work hard so God can say to you, Well done. Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means. 2 Timothy 2:15 Try Your Best (Do Your Best for Christ) Teaching our children to do their best will bring results and they can be proud of themselves. It s rewarding to do your best. As Christians we need to strive to do our best in whatever we do. After all, we are doing it to honor God. 23 Work hard and cheerfully at all you do, just as though you were working for the Lord and not merely for your masters, 24 remembering that it is the Lord Christ who is going to pay you, giving you your full portion of all he owns. He is the one you are really working for. Colossians 3:23, 24 Get Along With Your Classmates (Fellowship with Other Christians) When children are taught to get along together at school it causes such a good atmosphere for learning. When we as Christians get along with each other and fellowship with one another, it causes more productive lives, which helps further the cause of Christ. But if we are living in the light of God s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship and joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin. 1 John 1:7 Get To Know Your Teacher (Know Christ More) one of the first things a student needs to learn is what is expected of him from his teacher. How does that teacher deal with homework? With classroom policies? With grades? We need to know what Christ expects of us. Getting to know God will help us serve Him better. Solomon, my son, get to know the God of your fathers. Worship and serve him with a clean heart and a willing mind, for the Lord sees every heart and understands and knows every thought. If you seek him, you will find him; but if you forsake him, he will permanently throw you aside.1 Chronicles 28:9 I hope I can remember to follow these tips. I want to be a prepared and productive student of the Lord. So, are YOU ready for the school of life? Copyright Julia Bettencourt. Scripture references originally from KJV switched to TLB

5 Remember Our Shut-Ins Please remember our shut-ins with your prayers and maybe a card or two. Below is a list of our current shut-ins. If there is someone who should be added to our list, please call Jan in the office and let her know. Betty Sharp, c/o William Sharp, 461 Glessner Ave., Mansfield, OH Emma Jean Freil, 700 Bower Hill Rd., Pittsburgh, PA Mario & Betty Sacco, 649 Alpine Dr., Canonsburg, PA Mary Anne Wolfe, 800 E. Beau St., #B-5, Washington, PA Henry & Mary Lawton, 880 S. Main St., Apt. #302, Washington, PA A variety of exercise classes are offered here monthly by Cheryl Cokely. For more information, you may contact the Church Office or Cheryl at TRUSTEE WORK DAY CHURCH FUNDRAISER The Leadership Team has chosen beautiful, faith-building calendars as our fundraiser. These make great gifts for the upcoming holidays! Cost is $7. Each member is asked to take a few to sell. Contact the office and arrange for distribution. The calendars will be available in the Narthex soon for perusal. Thank you!! SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 9 AM 12 PM We will be working to improve areas within the church and need any and all hands on deck. Please come for a little while, or stay the entire time if you are able. Contact Pastor Deb or Rick Marlowe for more information

6 Page 4 First United Methodist Church of Canonsburg 161 West Pike St. Canonsburg, PA Phone: cbgfumc@yahoo.com New Website: Our Mission is to provide a relaxed, casual atmosphere that welcomes all to gather as friends to worship so that by the power and grace of Jesus Christ we may gain strength, wisdom and knowledge to be a visible outreach of God s love to our community. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Praise Band Practice Tuesdays, 6 PM Trustees Meetings 1st Thursdays of the Month, 7:00 PM (9/4, 10/2) Leadership Team Meetings 2nd Thursdays of the Month, 7:00 PM (9/11, 10/9) Spaghetti Dinners 3rd Fridays of the Month, 4-6 PM (9/19, 10/17) Domestic Outreach Classes, 5:30 PM Every Thursday Narcotics Anonymous, 7:00 PM Every Sunday Trustee Work Day, September 13, 9-12 PM Weekly Adult Sunday School, 7:57 AM, Fellowship Hall (begins 9/14) September 21 Welcome Back to Sunday School! Pancake Breakfast