Congruity Connection

Transcription

1 Volume 37 Issue 9 October 2013 C l i f f s N o t e s As I write these words, I find it hard to believe that we are entering the last quarter of 2013! When I was younger, people often told me as you get older time seems to speed up and pass quickly. I must admit that I am at the point of agreeing with that statement. We are about to begin the month of October and one of the significant things that occurs in the life of the church is World Communion Sunday a day when we join with our brothers and sisters around the world in sharing the Sacrament of the Lord s Supper. World Communion Sunday is October 6 th and we will also be receiving the Peacemaking Offering. Of the funds received from the Peacemaking Offering, we retain 25% to be given to a local organization for peacemaking projects. The Session has decided that these funds will be Blackburn Center and their work. The other day I found myself thinking about the Peacemaking Offering in general and the holistic concept of peacemaking. We are disciples of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and peacemaking encompasses so much more than the absence of war or hostility. Peacemaking in the biblical sense involves health, justice, satisfaction and a whole gamut of other things that make up our lives. We have watched the situation in Syria as it has unfolded and have prayed for a resolve to that situation we have seen wars and warfare breaking out in our global neighborhood we have seen violence in city streets, schools, places of employment there have been countless other places where peacemaking is needed. As we gather around the Lord s Table on World Communion Sunday, let us recommit ourselves to be peacemakers in the living of our lives. Let us remember the words of that hymn: Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. May God bless us in our ministry and mission of Peacemaking as followers of the Prince of Peace. Yours in Christ, Cliff

2 P a g e 2 W o r s h i p L e a d e r s F o r O c t o b e r E L D E R S Laura Blank Sue Blank Gene Brant Tim D Aurora Dave Foresman Phyllis Frye Bob Schweppe Janet Rugh Linda Youngbauer Liturgists 10/6 Carol Hohman 10/13 Tim D Aurora 10/20 Phyllis Frye 10/27 Keith Orr Those scheduled to serve Communion on October 6th are: Laura Blank, Phyllis Frye, Linda Youngbauer, Sue Derek and Becky Davis If you would like to serve as a liturgist please see Cliff. If you are interested in becoming an acolyte please see Dave or Pam Foresman. Tylor McDonald Y.R. D E A C O N S Dorothy Brant Dotty D Aurora Becky Davis Sue Derek Evelyn Foresman Scott McIlnay Debbie Perino Jay Perino Sarabeth Stopansky S e p a r a t e d B y S p a c e U n i t e d I n P r a y e r The congregations and pastors from Neighborhood 1 for our prayer support during the month of October are as follows: 10/6 Apollo, Pine Run Lanny Mellinger, Pastor 10/13 Apollo, Poke Run Pete Goetschius, Pastor 10/20 Avonmore Larry Armstrong, interim Pastor 10/27 Delmont Cliff Buell, interim Pastor

3 P a g e 3 O c t o b e r C e l e b r a t i o n s B i r t h d a y s 10/2 Tom Davis Ken Martz 10/4 Jacob Gartner 10/5 Jessica Piovesan 10/9 Doyle Martz 10/10 Will Hamilton 10/11 Darrell D Aurora 10/12 Christopher Schrecengost 10/13 Dylan McDonald 10/16 Ronda Weinell 10/18 Scott McIlnay 10/19 Laura Blank 10/20 Jennifer Rose MacDonald 10/21 Kelly Karstaedt Kristie Roemer 10/22 Vinton Hoffman 10/25 Tylor McDonald 10/28 Dorothy Martz 10/29 Sally Ott 10/30 Jennifer MacDonald 10/31 Daniel Frye A n n i v e r s a r i e s 10/12/1991 Bill and Lisa Heasley 10/13/2012 Frank and Jessica Tarpay 10/14/1995 Dave & Pam Foresman 10/15/1964 Tony & Debbie Perino 10/16/1962 Dan & Marlene Kifer 10/17/1992 Tim & Caroline D Aurora 10/17/1998 Dan & Elaine Kaufman 10/18/2003 Shawn & Vivian Schweppe 10/20/2007 Ryan & Rebecca Boggs 10/28/2006 Becky & Larry Swatchick A Fall Prayer for Changing Times Lord, there is so much happening in our world right now, In the midst of it all, it's so good to know You're in control, Your love is never-ending, and You provide for us. As the trees turn colors, and the nights grow cooler, may we be reminded that every season of our lives is a part of Your loving plan.

4 P a g e 4 M i s C o m m i t t e e T i m D A u r o r a. Mission Interpretation & Stewardship by Tim D Aurora Wow! Let me rephrase that. Wow!! When we said that September would start the busy part of our year, we weren t kidding. We held our most successful hoagie sale ever and had an auction that was also a success. We need to thank all the people who sold hoagies and all the people that showed up to assemble them. It was quite an effort. Special kudos to our three top hoagie sellers: 1. Tom and Becky Davis, 2. Dave and Pam Foresman, and 3. Vivian and Shawn Schweppe. Great job! We sold 308 hoagies. Our profit should be somewhere between $ and $ This will go to our First Fruits offering. The auction was a lot of fun and as usual, Bill Anderson did a great job. We thank him for donating his service and for bringing Melissa (Missy), who was a great help. While we had less donated from our church members than usual, thanks to the support of many local businesses, we were able to raise $ from the auction and $ from the food sales. This will go a long way to replenishing our depleted Local Mission Fund. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting us. Donations were received from: Driveway Dumpsters, Cloverleaf Golf Course, Mannitto Golf Course, Five Points Fleet Service, Hempfield Salem Service, Grabiak Performance Center, Five Points Gas & Go, Wagon Wheel Restaurant, Rizzo s, Avon Debbie Long, Donut Chef, Center Ice, Terry Selembo s Family Hair Care, Johna s Hair Design, LaRue Gray Art. We also received a nice basket from Debbie Perino and thanks to TLC for making and manning the food sales. Also, a special thank you to Kelly Shoup and Mike for their help in soliciting donations and to their daughter TJ for making cupcakes. With the Spaghetti Dinner coming up in November, we will have sign up sheets for donations on the table in the greeting room. MIS is sponsoring a work day at Mantle House Mission in West Newton on Saturday, October 19. Phyllis Frye is our contact person for this and can be reached at Mantle House Mission is currently renovating 2 homes to provide transitional housing for young adults. The work needed includes demolition and drywall in the one home and cleaning in the other. Mantle House Mission s goal is to support young adults in times of temporary transition while they journey into adulthood. They currently have a resale shop of donated items to raise funds for this cause. Property Committee We would like to thank Keith Walters of Walters Electric Service for replacing the lights on the outside of the building. It would have been a much more difficult job if we had to do it with ladders.

5 P a g e 5 T h a n k y o u s To all my Congruity friends. Thank you for the beautiful cards, visits, flowers, phone calls and food during my recent surgery. Special thanks to Cliff for all you uplifting visits. It s such a comfort to know we can count on each other through whatever life brings. Thank you all so much!! Greatly appreciated. Evelyn Foresman Thank you for helping us raise $ at the Spud-O-Rama for Juvenile Diabetes. We appreciate everyone's support and donations. We couldn t have done it without your help. Thank you Larry and Peggy Wenderway Nanet and Corbin Edge H u n g e r W a l k P h y l l i s F r y e You can walk off your turkey dinner at the New Alexandria Walk for Hunger on Sunday October 13 at 1:30 at Keystone Park. Donations will be divided between the Westmoreland Food Bank, New Alexandria Emergency Food Pantry and Stop Hunger Now. Walkers may pick up pledge cards at the church. Congruity will have a lunch to send off it's team. You may either pledge to an individual or put your donation in a basket which will be available for donations. M i s s i o n T e a m P h y l l i s F r y e The mission team will have a meeting on October 6, 3p.m. at Phyllis Frye's home to decide on a date and place for the spring mission trip. If you are interested in going with us in the spring, please come to this meeting. We will be having a basket raffle at the TLC craft sale and we will also have BonTon Community coupon books for sale (BonTon finally listened to us and the coupons include Bonus Buys) for their Community Days November 15th and 16th.

6 P a g e 6 W o m e n s A s s o c i a t i o n P h y l l i s F r y e I probably don't need to remind you of this, because I'm sure you wrote it on your calendar to make sure you don't let us down, but the TURKEY DINNER is coming up on October 12th and we are really counting on your help. You know the routine: set up tables after church on Sunday October 6, pick up turkeys on Tuesday October 8 (note change in day), set tables on Thursday October 10, 6p.m., big potato peeling party on Friday October 11, 6p.m; and help as much as you can on Saturday all day, especially during the dinner and pray, pray, pray that all goes well. Dinner is from 4-7p.m. Tickets are $9 adults, $4 children 6-12, and under 6 free. For reservations please contact either the church ( ) or Janet Rugh ( ) Samaritan s Purse (Operation Christmas Child) boxes are due November 10. Brochures with suggestions for items to put in your box are in the back of the church. If you forget to pick one up, you can log onto Samaritan s Purse and click on the Operation Christmas Child Link. Congruity sent seven clean-up buckets and six knitted baby caps to CWS. Hands-on-mission is still working on the pillowcase dresses. We are putting on pockets. CONGRATULATIONS! Presbyterian Women is celebrating 25 years. This is since the northern and southern presbyteries united back in the 80's Congruity Women's Association has been around a lot longer. The earliest records, now lost, dated back to That's 68 years. (Dinners were being served way back then). Please! help us keep the Women's Association going strong so we might continue this great tradition. The fall PW Gathering is at Vandergrift United Presbyterian Church on Saturday October 26. Reservations need to be in to Sue Blank by Friday October 18. The mission project for this event is non-perishable items for the Kiski area Loving Ministry Food Bank. Remember if you need a ride to or from any activity at Congruity, we will be glad to arrange for someone to pick you up. Please call the office to make arrangements.

7 P a g e 7 T L C L i s a H e a s l e y We will be hosting our annual Craft Show on November 2nd from 9 am-2 pm. We are asking for baked goods for a bake sale and to please support the crafter's. Please come by and browse, shop and eat. We enjoy having different crafts each year and our proceeds go toward Woman's health programs. Thank you for your continued support. TLC has meals prepared. If you know of someone that is feeling under the weather or just had a baby, or any other reason and may need a prepared meal, please talk to a member of TLC or Cliff. C h r i s t i a n E d u c a t i o n C o m m i t t e e P a m F o r e s m a n Happy Fall everyone!! What a beautiful time of year--- the sunny days, crisp cool nights, colorful leaves, pumpkin pie and apple cider. Fall brings such wonderful things to please all of our senses. It also brings two great holidays : Halloween and Thanksgiving! Something we look forward to every year at Congruity is the Harvest Festival and it's coming soon! We will be having it on Saturday, October 26th at 6:00 pm. So bring a favorite snack to share and a lawn chair for sitting around the bonfire. We'll have games for the kids (and the young at heart if they want to participate too), marshmallows and hot dogs for roasting over the fire, and lots of conversation and time for fellowship as well. We may even have a huge orange moon hanging over us in the sky (or maybe it'll look more like the "great pumpkin" to some). Costumes are optional at this fun fall event but smiles and laughter are definitely required! Bring all your friends and family, we'd love to see a big turnout that evening!

8 P a g e 8 I t e m s f r o m S e s s i o n J o h n B l a n k Session met on September 16, 2013 and reports the following: 1) Linda Youngbauer led us in devotions reading from Matthew 2) Approved the Clerk s, Treasurer s, and Moderator s Reports 3) Session began the annual review of membership lists 4) Noted that Redstone Presbytery will meet on 9/17/13. 5) Elected Janet Rugh as Elder Delegate and Phyllis Frye as alternate for the 9/17/13 presbytery meeting 6) Approved the hanging of the greens for 11/24/13. There will be a covered dish dinner following worship followed by the hanging of the greens. 7) Noted that Presbyterian Women s Association PC(USA) is celebrating its 25 th Anniversary 8) Noted that the TLC will be providing food for the auction 9) Noted that the auction to benefit the local mission fund is scheduled for 9/21/13 10)Approved participation in the Hunger Walk for 10/13/13 11)Noted that progress has been made on the new CongruityChurch.org website 12)Designated that the funds from the upcoming Spaghetti Dinner will go to the general fund 13)Designated that the donation from Watt s from the truck show will go to the general fund 14)Approved participation in a work day at the Mantle House Mission in West Newton on 10/19/13 15)Noted that we will be publishing our own Advent Devotional. Volunteer writers are needed. 16)Noted the following as devotional leaders for upcoming session meetings: October Laura Blank; November Dave Foresman; and December Rev. Foresman 17)Agreed to study Chapter W-5 of the Book of Order for the October meeting 18)Discussed Chapter W-3 and W-4 from the Book of Order 19)The next regular meeting of session is scheduled for November 18, The Mission of Congruity Presbyterian Church is to lead all persons to a biblical and theological understanding of reformed faith, to glorify God, to bear witness to Jesus Christ and to be the channel of God s saving power, so that His Kingdom may come and His Will be done in all the earth. We are the family of God. Therefore we focus on living as a loving family. Fellowship and worship will be the heart of our loving, caring church. (4/18/05)

9 P a g e 9 T r e a s u r e r s R e p o r t J o h n B l a n k General Fund NET NET Actual To Date Receipts Expenses Balance Balance Balance as of January 1 (Adjusted) $ 15, January $ 6, $ 6, $ 16, $ February $11, $ 8, $ 19, $ 3, March $ 9, $11, $ 17, $ 2, April $ 7, $10, $ 15, $ (178.20) May $ 6, $ 7, $ 14, $ (992.42) June $ 9, $ 6, $ 17, $ 1, July $ 6, $13, $ 10, $ (5,827.07) August $ 4, $ 9, $ 5, $(10,804.64) Year to Date $62, $73, First Fruits Received Pledged Balance January $ $ $ (82.00) February $ $ $ (308.00) March $ $ $ (448.00) April $ $ $ (695.00) May $ $ $ (729.00) June $ $ $ (872.00) July $ $ $ (1,084.00) August $ $ $ (1,373.00) Previous This Month To Date Souper Bowl of Caring $ $ Cents-Ability $ $ $ Change for the Future $ $ - $ Received GOAL Balance One Great Hour of Sharing $ $ $ (0.45) Pentecost $ $ $ (118.46) Peacemaking $ $ (400.00) Christmas Joy $ $ (450.00) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance $ - $ - General Checking Memorial Fund (Excel WKS) $19, From 2012 Year to Date Balance Elevator Fund $ $ $ Local Mission $ $ $ Building Maintenance $ (1,676.92) $ 1, $ The Mission of Congruity Presbyterian Church is to lead all persons to a biblical and theological understanding of reformed faith, to glorify God, to bear witness to Jesus Christ and to be the channel of God s saving power, so that His Kingdom may come and His Will be done in all the earth. We are the family of God. Therefore we focus on living as a loving family. Fellowship and worship will be the heart of our loving, caring church. (4/18/05)

10 Congruity Presbyterian Church 136 Fenneltown Road New Alexandria PA Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit No 5 New Alexandria PA We re on the web! congruitychurch.org Sunday School 9:45AM Worship At 11:00AM Please Join Us! A t t e n d a n c e Worship 8/ /1 43 9/8 48 9/15 44 Sunday School Youth Adult 9/ / C h u r c h S t a f f a n d O f f i c e r s Cliff Foster John Blank Scott McIlnay John Blank Michelle Kepple Dorothy Martz Janet Henry Yvonne McIlnay John Blank Pastor Clerk of Session Deacon s Moderator Treasurer Financial Secretary Church Secretary Music Director Newsletter Editor Webmaster Dorothy is in Monday & Thursday mornings. Cliff is in the office most mornings. Please put newsletter items in the folder at the church or to ydmcilnay@yahoo.com