From the Pastor s Desk

Transcription

1 The highlander October 2011 From the Pastor s Desk This month our congregation will begin our annual Stewardship Season, a time when you will be invited to prayerfully consider pledging a portion of your income to help this congregation go where we believe the Holy Spirit is calling us. This season will kick off on Sunday, October 23rd and our Commitment Sunday will be Christ the King Sunday, November 20th. During these five weeks, I would like to personally invite you to pray, reflect, and discuss with your family how you might return a portion of the gifts God has given you and your household to the work of the church. The Rev. Brett Swanson THE PUNXSUTAWNEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TheHighlander For many, anytime the church talks about "stewardship," what is heard is "money." "No matter how flowery the Pastor talks about it, what they really want is my money," I once overheard during a coffee hour. I would like to be able to say that nothing is further from the truth, but the reality is without your financial contributions we could not be The Church, Christ s body for very long. In the real world things cost money, something you all know too well, and the church is no different. Punxsutawney Presbyterian's bills, from the toilet paper in the stalls to the salary of our staff to the cost of heating our beautiful facility, require members and friends of this congregation invest in this congregation and its raison d'être, its reason for existing, just as God has invested in your raison d'être. As the familiar hymn reminds us, we are called as partners in Christ s service. During the five weeks of our Stewardship Season we will be exploring the idea of God s investment in the church, its work, and the people who Christ calls as partners in scripture, song and sermon. You will be invited to consider how God s investment, God s faith in us to be the church God calls us to be, requires not only financial support of its partners, but also the investment of time and energy. Our theme verse comes from the first chapter of the New Testament Book of James where it is written, every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Parent of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James words remind us that God s investment in us and in The Church has been just as steady and rock solid as God is, providing us an opportunity to prayerfully and faithfully dream BIG and take risks in order to follow the Holy Spirit s lead. Please take a look at the Stewardship Season worship and preaching calendar, read ahead, and consider making worship attendance a first priority during this rich and important time in the life of our church. October 23rd Stewardship Kick Off Deuteronomy 34:1 12 & Psalm 90:1 6, 13 17, Sermon entitled "A Prayer for Tomorrow." We will explore the idea of God is eternal and how we play a role in the "forever" of the Gospel October 30th Reformation Sunday Joshua 3:7 17 & 1 Peter 2:4 10, Sermon entitled "The Priesthood of All Believers." Bagpipes will be in worship! We will focus on the heritage of God calling, equipping and preparing each of us to be "the hands, feet, eyes, ears, and mouth of God."

2 October is an exciting month for Worship here at Punxsy Presbyterian. We begin the month with World Communion Sunday where we join thousands of other Christians in celebrating the Lord s Supper, and we end with Reformation Sunday complete with Bagpipes and music of the Reformation. October also brings the start of our annual Stewardship Season which will kick-off on October 23rd. During the five weeks leading up to Commitment Sunday (Nov. 20th) we will explore the ways God invests in us and the church. Feel free to read ahead! October 16th Brett on Vacation! Our Guest Preacher will be Shorty Merritts John 1:35-51 & I Corinthians 1:26-31 Sermon: Ordinary People Our October Worship Calendar REMINDER: Worship is at 11 a.m. October 2nd World Communion Sunday + Peacemaking Offering Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, & Matthew 14:13-21 Sermon: The 25,000 Mile Long Table October 23rd Stewardship Kick-Off Sunday! Deuteronomy 34: 1-12 & Psalm 90:1-6, Sermon: A Prayer for Tomorrow October 9th Exodus 32:1-14 & Philippians 4:1-9 Sermon: Updating Your Resume October 30th Reformation Sunday featuring Special Music & Scones Joshua 3:7-17 & 1 Peter 2:4-10 Sermon: The Priesthood of All Believers FINANCIAL STATEMENT - SEPTEMBER 2011 Current Year to Date Budgeted Receipts $15, $145, Disbursements $22, $134, $160, Excess (-Deficiency) $(6,237.97) $ 10, of Revenues over Expenditures ***(The above figures are subject to change and audit)*** Page 2 THEHIGHLANDER

3 ENDING OCTOBER 11th! Walk & Talk with Pastor Brett October 3rd, 6th, & 11th Meet in Church Parking Lot at 8am Come get some exercise before it gets too cold! Bring a friend and join Pastor Brett for a walk around town and trail. We will meet in the church parking lot at 8 AM, do some light stretching & hit the road. Walk as long or as short as you like. Done no later than 9am. Average distance is right around 2.0 miles. If Raining, No Walking. Is Your Faith ALIVE?... Tuesdays at Ten The Book of James Tuesday, October 4th & 11th 10 AM - Seminar Room Starting Tuesday, September 13th Tuesdays at Ten will be studying the Book of James, a New Testament book that asks its readers to consider what it means to live our their faith. This short book packs a punch! Bring a friend and join us Tuesdays at 10 AM. 6 Anna Mae Hiles 8 Kristi Fait 10 Owen Bartlebaugh 13 Emilie Cooper October Birthdays 14 Robert Hanley 18 Autumn Robbins 22 Muriel Grube 23 Ed Craig THE HIGHLANDER Page 3

4 October 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :45 AM - Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Tuesdays at 10 7:00 PM Chancel Choir COMMUNION 9 9:45 AM- Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship 7:00 PM Session :00 AM Tuesdays at :00 PM Chancel Choir Noon -Sat. Friends Out :45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship & Rotation Station 10:00 AM Tuesdays at 10 7:00 PM Chancel Choir :45 AM Sunday School 11:00 AM Worship :00 AM Tuesdays at 10 7:00 PM Chancel Choir Page 4 THEHIGHLANDER

5 Adult Sunday School: Five Good Questions: Important Questions for Every Christian Sunday, October 2nd & 9th 9:45 AM in Seminar Room Plan to be a part of our new Adult Sunday School program by attending our first class of the Fall Five Good Questions. This class will be led by Pastor Brett and will blend Bible Study, video, and discussion as we wrestle with some fundamental questions regarding our faith and our lives. Questions? See Brett October 2nd - Are Our Best Days Really Behind Us? October 9th - What is Worth Fighting For? An Evening of Worship & Music The United Methodist Minister s Chorus of the W. Penn Conference of the United Methodist Church Thursday, October 20th - 7 p.m. Grace United Methodist Church 61 Hillcrest Dr., Punxsutawney Come on out to this evening of music and worship as this special choir sings praises to God! There is no charge for admission. A Free-Will Love Offering will be accepted. Bring a friend! Page 5 THEHIGHLANDER

6 October Rotation Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Sundays The Exodus October 2nd Book of Joshua October 9th - 30th In October we finish up the exciting story of the EXODUS and how God did incredible things to help the people God loved. Four great weeks learning about Joshua, Jericho, and the people of Israel in those early days of the Old Testament. *Open to Everyone Kindergarten - 6th Grade* An Update from the Property Committee: On Sunday, September 11th, the Session agreed to accept the bids of our contractor Kevin Gilligan, and Dunkle Roofing to repair the crumbling Findley Street stone edifice, the water damaged Chapel and Sanctuary, and various roofing and gutter issues. The total bid price of the forthcoming repairs is $9,800, an amount the Session has elected to pay out of pocket rather than obtaining loans. Since Session s go-ahead, we have received word that our insurance claim on the interior water damage was accepted and a check for the full amount of those interior repairs minus the $500 deductible has been received. Thanks be to God! While the insurance check will go a long way to help defray the cost of this restoration, the necessary roofing, gutters, the entire stone edifice, and other necessary repairs will remain the financial responsibility of this congregation and is not covered by this insurance pay-out. With repairs already begun, our beloved facility slowly returning to its fully restored beauty. It is the hope of the Session that you will prayerfully consider contributing financially to help defray the cost of the restoration and secure this beautiful facility for our community and future generations. Checks and contributions can be turned into the office, or the offering with Restoration in the memo line. Questions? Please See Joel Anderson or Pastor Brett Swanson THE HIGHLANDER Page 6

7 October 30th is Reformation Sunday John Knox Reformer & Founder of the Presbyterian Church Come celebrate the Presbyterian Church s roots in the Protestant Reformation and our native Scotland with a service featuring Bagpipes, traditional hymns, and after worship fellowship with Scones. Children s Sunday School News Rotation Station Sunday School in October: Who: for children in kindergarten through 6 th grade and taught by Joyce Cooper What: Explore the story of Joshua through art, AV, drama, and games. When: 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. is the new Education Hour on Sunday morning Where: the Sunday school rooms on the second floor of the education wing By Debby Elder Nursery: Who: for children in 3 rd grade and younger * What: supervised playtime and story or activity for the young during worship When: The nursery will be staffed from 10:45 a.m. until the end of worship. Children will be led to the nursery after the Children s Message in worship. Where: the newly refurbished Nursery room on the first floor of the education wing *Worship bags, with a children s bulletin, are available for 4 th grade and older children to use during worship. Page 7 THEHIGHLANDER

8 Prayers and Concerns Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God s consecrated people) -Ephesians 6:18 Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers: Tom Barkley D.J. Bianco Betty Brumbaugh Leonard Gresh Nancy Lazorchak Lois Leksell Evelyn Lettie Reese Swanson Special points of interest: October 2: World Communion Sunday with Peacemaking Offering and Communion October 15 (noon): Saturday Friends Out meet at the Elks October 20: The United Methodist Ministers Chorus at Grace United Methodist church at 7:00 PM October 23: Stewardship Kick-Off October 30: Reformation Sunday with Special Music and Scones Saturday Friends Out Saturday Friends Out will met at the Elks at noon Saturday October 15. The menu will be Beef Stew with Biscuits and Peach Cobbler. Reservations must be made through the church office by Noon October 13th. Cookies (5 dozen) are needed each week for the fellowship time after Sunday worship. PLEASE consider donating cookies so that this worthwhile activity can continue. If you are not able to make cookies, no worry! Just buy them and donate them! The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board across from the parlor. October 2 Donna Anderson October 9 Patty Young October 16 Jean Hughes October 23 **Cookies needed** Cookie Schedule October 30 Donna Anderson (Scones) A Note From Ann Please remember to save: Points for Education, County Market receipts All can tabs Page 8 THEHIGHLANDER

9 Requested for printing and submitted by Ann Mumper Currently there are a few volunteers in the Jefferson area Road to Recovery program, but many more are needed! The program needs volunteers who are willing to travel out-of-town and locally. If you have a car, safe driving skills, and can drive as little as one morning or afternoon a month, you can help give someone the most precious gift of all: the chance for a fuller life! Despite remarkable progress in the fight against cancer, there are many cancer patients whose greatest challenge isn't lack of treatment. It's lack of transportation. Progress in cancer treatment is saving more lives than ever before. While that is good news, the long-term treatments that are saving lives put an extra burden on the patient and family members who must return to treatment centers frequently, sometimes daily for weeks and months. We still haven t been able to solve the most basic problem of transportation. To make sure that everyone who needs a ride gets one, the American Cancer Society is currently seeking volunteer drivers. If you have one or more mornings or afternoons free during the month, you can volunteer for this lifesaving program. A person can volunteer as often as he or she wishes. The American Cancer Society provides an orientation, support materials, and other assistance. For information on how to volunteer, or if you need transportation assistance, call your American Cancer Society at Please call today: T H E H I G H L AN D E R THE OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF BIRTHDAYS~ Page 9

10 THE PUNXSUTAWNEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Address Service Requested 106 East Union Street Punxsutawney, PA Phone: LOVE God SHARE the Gospel LIVE as disciples of Christ Pastor s Desk Continued November 6th Joshua 24:14 25 & Matthew 25:1 13, Sermon entitled "Traveling Light." What can we do today so we can be faithful followers of Christ tomorrow? November 13th Isaiah 43:1 7 & Matthew 25:14 30, Sermon entitled "Dig It Up!" Fear breeds anxiety for life's great unknowns and can prevent us from being truly alive. November 20th Commitment Sunday & Christ the King Ezekiel 34:11 16, & Matthew 25:31 46, Sermon entitled "A Hungry King." On Commitment Sunday we will end the season exploring the very nuts and bolts of why we give and what it means for this church to invest in what God is already doing in Punxsutawney and beyond. The Punxsutawney Presbyterian Church 106 East Union Street, Punxsutawney, PA Peace,