The Highlander. 7,500 Hours Together. Our 2014 Congregational Project. January 19th is KICK-OFF SUNDAY. January

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1 The Highlander The Newsletter of The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney E. Union St., Punxsutawney, PA January Our 2014 Congregational Project 2014 Mark Your Calendars January 19th Congregational Project Kick-Off January 26th Congregational Meeting & Annual Report immediately following Worship 7,500 Hours Together From the Pastor Worship & Music 2014 PCOP Initiatives Fellowship & More Education & Discipleship January Calendar Missions & Outreach Volunteer Schedule Congregational Meeting January 19th is KICK-OFF SUNDAY Join us Sunday, January 19th for the KICK-OFF of our 2014 Congregational & Church-Wide Project 7,500 Hours Together where we will challenge each other to complete 7,500 Service Hours to the Church, Community, and Beyond by New Year s Eve % Anonymous 100% Self-Directed 100% Achievable How It Works... Do something that YOU CHOOSE that shows God s love & gives God glory and Keep track of hours then Fill out the RED paper slip in the pews & put it in the offering plate and Watch the hours ad up! Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law

2 At my friend s urging I have purchased a 2014 Pennsylvania Fishing License. I don t know how to fish. That s not 100% accurate, per se. I know how to fish on a very basic level; put something on the hook, put the hook in the water, repeat unsuccessfully. But after a trip to a Cabelea s outdoor store with the fly-fishing husband of my Sister-In-Law, I discovered that I really don t know anything about fishing. Not owning any fishing gear, I will need a rod and reel. I will need line, hooks, bait, and if I listen to Jack, the fly-fishing husband of Kate s middle sister, I will also need hooks with weights, plastic glittery worms, and a jar of some brightly colored stuff that trout apparently love. Different hooks for different bait for different fish. Bait that spins, dives, floats, and looks like the fish my potential fish love to eat. We mercifully didn t get into knots. We didn t get into what happens if I actually catch a fish. Jack didn t seem to think it was going to be a problem. I tend to agree with him. There were DVDs I could watch, clothing I could wear, streams and lakes I could visit if I wanted to try to this fish or that fish, and what to do with weeds, rocks, and tips for debris in your chosen body of water. Leaving the outdoor store with Jack, I was overcome with the feeling that fishing could be both simple and very specialized and complex. The simple stuff I more-or-less understand. The specialized and complex stuff I am not even going to touch. Come the first day I clearly display my PA Fishing License on the outside of whatever I will be wearing, I am guessing I ll continue to be mostly clueless. And that s ok. I am not a fisherman but I am going fishing this year. I know that there is plenty out there that I don t know but I am going anyways. This year, as a congregation, we will be undertaking both a 2014 Congregational Project and starting some initiatives that we ll start without knowing everything there is to know about church-wide recycling, all-day work days, fundraising, and earning 7,500 service hours as a congregation. But we re going to do them anyways. We are going to lean into the grace of God, and the common wisdom of our members and friends, and learn on the fly. Happy New Year! Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone Welcoming the PCOP Officer Class of 2016 Elders Janey London, Wick Divelbiss, Ben Fitzgerald-Fye, and Susan Wydra & Deacons Lynz Bowers, Kay Nesbitt, Jessica Suntheimer, and Kerrin Roberts On Sunday, December 15th the incoming PCOP Officer Class of 2016 was officially installed into active service & leadership. During our service, we Ordained and welcomed Elders Susan Wydra & Ben Fitzgerald-Fye, and Deacons Jessica Suntheimer & Lynz Bowers into the ordered and ordained ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Susan, Ben, Jessica, and Lynz are joined by already Ordained officers Wick, Janey, Kay, and Kerrin, thus making out incoming class equally comprised of new and existing Elders and Deacons. Our new Class of 2016 PCOP Officers will begin their service in January 2014 with their respective boards regularly scheduled meetings. Please remember to pray for our newly installed Class of 2016.

3 P a g e 3 Worship & Music Our January 2014 Worship Calendar ***Worship Begins at 11:00 a.m.*** With Advent and Christmas now behind us, we enter into the Season of Epiphany and the Sunday s that follow the arrival of the Three Wise Men. These gift-bearing Magi from the East complete the Christmas story, and move us out of Bethlehem and into the first chapters of Jesus ministry beginning with his baptism by John in the Jordan River. January also provides the Kick-Off of our 2014 Congregational & Church-Wide Project that will be introduced to the congregation in worship on Sunday, January 19th. For more information see the cover of this newsletter. January 6th Epiphany & Celebration of the Lord s Supper The Gifts We Bring Isaiah 6:1-6 & Matthew 2:1-12 January 19th 2nd Sunday after Epiphany & 2014 Congregational Project Kick-Off 7,500 Hours Together Isaiah 49: 1-7 & First Corinthians 1: 1-9 January 12th The Baptism of Our Lord Up from the Water Isaiah 42: 1-9 & Matthew 3: January 26th 3rd Sunday after Epiphany & Souper Bowl of Caring Fishing Boats For Sale Isaiah 9: 1-4 & Matthew 4: Homebound Communion will be served to our PCOP Members on Sunday, January 5th following worship If you our a loved one would like a team of Elders and Deacons to celebrate the Lord s Supper with you on Sunday, January 5th,please contact Rev. Brett Swanson or Kathi Cessna at (814) T h e H i g h l a n d e r

4 2014 PCOP Initiatives With each new year brings new opportunities to dream and discern the direction the Holy Spirit is calling this church. I am personally thankful to serve a congregation that is willing to step out in faith and take a few risks for the sake of being faithful to God s calling will present both opportunities and challenges - hopefully not in equal measure - to live faithfully and be good stewards of the gifts God has given us. These gifts include our facility, our resources, and of course, our energy, and it is up to us how best to use them. My hope is that during the year ahead we covenant together to use our gifts and our energies to best honor everything we value and hold dear. To that end, I am excited to announce a series of 2014 PCOP Initiatives that I believe are part of where the Spirit is calling this congregation in the New Year. PCOP Recycles a comprehensive & facility-wide recycling program seeking to responsibly recycle all we can Beginning in January, our congregation will make reducing, reusing, and recycling a priority. Color-coded bins will be placed in high use areas, and steps will be taken to eliminate unnecessary items from the life of this church. We will recycle all the basics with special focus on reducing and recycling paper. PCOP 9 to 5 quarterly, all-church, all-day projects on our facility or in our community Imagine the good we can do for our own church facility or the impact a team could make on the house of someone in need if we all work together. Starting in April of 2014, teams of PCOP members and friends will dedicate some or part of their day to help maintain and beautify our church & town. PCOP Supports Meals, Giving Opportunities, and more to help sponsor new and existing projects Periodically and throughout the year, opportunities will be present to help contribute to some of the on-going and new projects of this congregation. Buy a ticket to a meal, special flowers for holidays, and other unobtrusive fundraising opportunities will begin in 2014.

5 J a n u a r y P a g e 5 Fellowship & More! Saturday Friends Out for January SATURDAY FRIENDS OUT WILL MEET AT Gimmick s 466 Harmony Road in Punxsutawney 12:00 p.m. Lunch on Saturday, January 18th Please call the church office to make your reservation by January 17th Don t Forget to Save Help Our Schools. Save Your Receipts & Labels and Put Them in the Box by Deacon s Closet Save Your Aluminum Soda Can Tabs and Donate them to Shriners Children's Hospital. Drop Them Off in Box by Deacon s Closet Celebrate our January birthdays! 5th Janice Hodgson 21st Bill Deeley 30th Keri Isenberg 20th Doug Chambers 25th Don Henry 31st George West Forgetting Anyone? Call the PCOP Office Choir Kick-Off Dinner at Pizza Hut Our beloved choir will hold its annual Choir Dinner on January 2nd at Pizza Hut Questions? Call Ginger January 2nd at 6 p.m. **spouses are welcome**

6 J a n u a r y Education & Discipleship Adult Education for January Life Skills for the New Year Starting Sunday, January 6th at 9:45 a.m. Lester Seminar Room 2013 s class was so well received that we ve asked Professional Trainer and Facilitator for Goodwill Industries and PCOP Elder Ben Fitzgerald-Fye to come back and lead another four session class discussing Life Skills for the New Year. Bring a friend and come learn how caring for the whole self is part of how God wants us all to live and experience life. January s Tuesdays at Ten 11 INDISPENSABLE RELATIONSHIPS YOU CAN T BE WITHOUT Begins Tuesday, January 14th Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. - Lester Seminar Room On this journey of life You are going to need... an Editor a True Friend a Butt-Kicker a Protégé an Encourager a Yoda a Back-Coverer a Reject a Little One A few VIPs and a Place The real meaning of life is not a journey question or an arrival question. Your journey and your destination are both important, but neither is possible without an answer to this prior question: Who are you taking with you on this journey toward your destination? Children s Rotation Sunday School Exploring ED S STORY a story of hope AT-HOME DVDs ARE AVAILABLE All Children are Welcome! Sundays at 9:45 a.m. Life in Bible Times During the month of October 2013, our Sunday Morning Adult Ed. Class watched the heartbreaking and heartwarming story of Ed Dobson, a man of deep faith struggling with an incurable disease. Due to continued interest in the 5-episode series ED S STORY, at-home DVDs can be made available upon request. To get your DVD copy of ED S STORY please contact Rev. Brett Swanson. T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 6

7 JANUARY 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday REMINDERS Children & Adult Sunday School begins January 5th at 9:45 a.m. ~ Office Will Be Closed New Year s Day & Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 1 2 Choir Dinner at Pizza Hut 3 4 Sharon - On Vacation 5 Epiphany 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship 6 7 Community Meal 5:00-8:00 p.m. 8 9 Bell Choir Choir Practice 7:00 p.m Rev. Brett Out of the Office Baptism of DEADLINE Tuesdays at Ten Bell Choir Saturday The Lord for Committee RESUMES Friends Out 9:45 a.m. Annual Reports 10:00 a.m. Choir Practice 12 Noon Sunday School 7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. Worship PCOP Martin Luther Tuesdays at Ten Bell Choir Project Kick-Off King Day 10:00 a.m. Deacons Meeting *OFFICE CLOSED* Crosstown Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. 9:30 a.m. Food Pantry Worship: 11 AM 5:30 p.m Souper Bowl Session Meeting Tuesdays at Ten Bell Choir of Caring 10:00 a.m. & Choir Practice Congregational 7:00 p.m. Meeting following 11 AM Worship

8 J a n u a r y P a g e 8 Mission & Outreach First Tuesday Community Outreach Meal Cooks, Servers, Clean-Up, Donations of Cookies and Brownies, Monetary Donations, and More! Tuesday, January 7th 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. - Dining Hall The Community Outreach Committee is set to offer our 3rd Community Meal on Tuesday, January 7th and they need your HELP! Sign-Up sheets are located outside the Church Parlor or contact Jessica Suntheimer at (814) Crosstown Food Pantry Monthly Food Distribution Monday, January 20th begins at 5:30 p.m. Help Fight Hunger by Donating Canned Fruit, Tuna, Hygiene Items, Cereal, Spaghetti, & Laundry Detergent Souper Bowl of Caring 2014 scheduled for Sunday, January 26th Super Bowl Sunday and Groundhog s Day fall on the same blessed Sunday in Due to this uniquely Punxsutawney problem, we will have our Souper Bowl of Caring collection on Sunday, Jan. 26th. following worship

9 Thank You to our January 2014 Volunteers Those Needing Our Prayers January 5th Screen Bill Cooper Betty Brumbaugh Otto Grube Epiphany Sound Barb Hanley Ed Craig Lois Leksell & the Lord s Supper Liturgist Donna Kengersky Kathy Kopp Joe Karetski Acolyte Kally & Kassidy Nancy Lazorchak Glenn McMillen January 12th The Baptism The Lord January 19th Screen Sound Liturgist Acolyte Screen Graham George Momyer Bruce Williams Flo West Holly Hartman Nick Suntheimer Annie Laurie Williams Jane Wineberg Betty Cessna Bill Ward Lynn Bennett Debbie Wright Evelyn Lettie Janet Starr Gillen Geary Avanell Bennett 2nd Sunday after Sound Epiphany Liturgist Acolyte Kathi Cessna Jackson & Ben Fezell FINANCIAL STATEMENT December 2013 January 26th Screen Ben Fitzgerald-Fye Due to the Christmas and New Years Holiday 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Sound Liturgist Acolyte George Momyer Jessica Suntheimer Madelyn Fye & McKenzie Reiter the December 2013 financial statement will be included in the February 2014 edition of The Highlander The earth is the Lord s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it ~ Psalm 24:1 The 2013 Advent and Christmas season featured a heavenly host of members and friends who gave time and energy to make our sanctuary and grounds beautiful; our worship joyous and open to all; and made it possible for all to experience The Light of the World this season. To all our Liturgists, Chancel & Handbell Choir, Screen & Sound Techs, Ushers, Elders, Deacons, Decorators, Soloists, Candle Lighters, Readers, Communion Prep Team, our PCOP Staffers: Ginger, Nancy, Ada, Lu Ann, and Sharon, and to Haley Hartman & the Children s Christmas Celebration Team, we all say THANK YOU! T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 9

10 The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney 106 E. Union St. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania Office: (814) Visit Us Online at punxsypc.net Reminder Deadline for February 2014 s Highlander Articles is Monday, January 27th The Session of the Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney ask that all members attend our Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday, January 26th - Following Worship Each January the Session calls an Annual Congregational Meeting and asks that all members attend. The purpose of this meeting will be to give the annual report and elect an Elder to fill an unexpired term.