Palmyra Church of the Brethren

Transcription

1 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Sunday, November 16 Sunday, November 23 TODAY 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Study 1:00 p.m. Congregational Council Meeting 6:30 p.m. YA Thanksgiving Dinner MONDAY 5:30 p.m. Circles 7:00 p.m. AA 7:00 p.m. Al-Anon WELCOME TO Palmyra Church of the Brethren Continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully Simply Together November 16, 2014 TUESDAY 3:00 p.m. Open Youth Room 7:00 p.m. Board WEDNESDAY 8:00 a.m. Quilting 5:00 p.m. Wendy s 6:15 p.m. Tintinabulation 7:00 p.m. After Hours 7:00 p.m. Canticle Bells THURSDAY 1:00 p.m. Worship Planning 6:00 p.m. Tai Chi 6:15 p.m. Praise Team 7:00 p.m. AA 7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir 7:00 p.m. Story Time 7:00 p.m. Tai Chi SATURDAY 10:30 a.m. Women s AA SUNDAY 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Study The mission of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren is to invite, welcome, nurture, disciple, equip, empower and inspire all persons to live and to serve in the way of Jesus.

2 Palmyra Church of the Brethren 45 North Chestnut Street, Palmyra, PA Office: Website: PASTORAL & PROGRAM TEAM Dennis M. Lohr - Lead Pastor Audrey Finkbiner Coordinator of Congregational Care Rachel Witkovsky Director of Young Adult Ministries Bethany Clark - Director of Youth Ministries Missy Thompson - Children s Ministry Mobilizer MUSIC TEAM Suzanne Boyer - Director of Music Ministries, Chancel Choir, Canticle Bells, Youth Choir Eileen Smith - Organist & Director of Tintinabulation Evelyn Werner - Accompanist Praise Team - Rick Blouch, Mike Brandt, Derek Groff, Steve Hartman, Deb Lohrer, Lorrie Long, Zach Schreckengast, Evelyn Werner, Michael Witmer, Rachel Witkovsky SERVING TODAY Ushers Steve Gottshall, George Bell, Russ & Sue Collins Child Care - Jeanie Small & Sherry Baiocchi OFFICE Gail Wagner - Office Administrator gwagner@palmyracob.org Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CCLI #472462, CVLI # November 9, 2014 Worship: 154, Study: 90 Unified Giving Designated Giving Operating 4, Operating.00 Outreach 1, Bldg. & Repair Bldg. Repair/ Caring Cupboard Replacement Above & Beyond - Heat Third Way Fund 1, Rental Income 1, Youth Fundraising Total $ 6, Total Designated $ 2, Praying for Each Other Everyone in our church is given a special day to receive prayers from their fellow Christians. Let us take a moment this week to hold the following persons in our thoughts and prayers. Monday - Adam & Barbara Riggs Tuesday - Ben & Sondra Simmons Wednesday - Tom & Barbara Speece Thursday - Scott & Cory Wilkerson Friday - Fern Beam Saturday - Gary Bucher Sunday - Josephine Conkle Our Nigerian Sister: Naomi Philimon Health Concerns: Nancy Steckman Congregational Support Team member Teresa Keller will be available this week to address any concerns or needs.

3 WORSHIP SERVICE A warm welcome to all who worship with us today! Please sign the blue binder at your convenience. OPENING MUSIC Be My Guide - insert WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP #661 Pastor Finkbiner Kathy Veal * HYMN #609 Awake, My Soul CHILDREN S MESSAGE Bethany Clark & Pastor Finkbiner OFFERING Kathy Veal In the Secret - arr. Garrett Parker I am reaching for the highest goal that I might receive the prize. SCRIPTURE Philippians 3:7-14 Kathy Veal SONG #546 Guide My Feet MESSAGE A Different Kind of Race Pastor Finkbiner SHARING & PRAYER Pastor Finkbiner * HYMN #337 Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know * SENDING Kathy Veal *Please stand in body or spirit.

4 You are invited to join us for a Story Time For children preschool - grade 2 Thursday, November 20 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Cookies & milk will be provided Wear your PJ s and bring a friend! Breakfast Saturday, December 6th 7:30am till 10:30am $6 adults, $4 Child (4-12yrs), Free (0-3yrs) All you can eat pancakes and sausage or ham, scrambled eggs, muffins, fresh fruit, assorted juices, milk and coffee. Giving Challenge - Due to the extremely cold temperatures and excessive snow fall last winter we have already exceeded our 2014 budget for fuel oil and snow removal. We need an additional $9,000 to recover these expenses and to see us through the end of this fiscal year. Please note "Winter Expenses" on your check. Thank you to those who have given a total of $5,965 so far! Comings & Goings: Bethany Clark will be on vacation November Helpers are needed for toddler care during the Study hour (Sunday School). Please contact Marilyn Baker, Congratulations to Andy Hoffer and Bethany Clark on their recent engagement. The office will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28. Proceeds benefit the youth fund Lebanon Valley Brethren Home Auxiliary News: Midway Church of the Brethren concert, this evening 7:00 p.m., DiMatteo Worship Center. Nut sale deadline to order is today, pick up December 6.

5 Youth Activities: Open Youth Room: Grade 3-8, Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m. Sr. High After Hours: Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. Peace Pilgrimage: Saturday, December 13, 8:45 a.m p.m. Christmas Cookie Sale Have you begun to wonder how you might possibly get all of your cookie baking done with everything else that you have to do? No worries! We would like to offer you the opportunity again this year to purchase your choice of homemade Christmas cookies, baked by members of the congregation! Cookies are just $3 per half dozen. Order sheets are in the Fellowship Hall or with any youth. Deadline to order is Wednesday, November 19th. Cookies can be picked up during the Christmas Breakfast on Saturday, December 6 th from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Help Decorate the Sanctuary for Advent Beginning the 1st Sunday in Advent (November 30), the Worship Team would like to display a variety of angel figurines on the windowsills in the Sanctuary. If you have a figurine, contact Kathy Veal at Please bring your figurine to the Volunteer Office by Friday, November 28. Caring Cupboard Update - Donations are being collected for Thanksgiving meals that are being distributed November 19, 21, 24. Needed: turkeys or roasting chickens (12-14 lb.), canned fruit, fresh potatoes, fresh sweet potatoes or yams, stuffing mix, canned green beans, canned corn, canned carrots, cake or brownie Mixes. Drop off hours: Mon.: 3-6, Wed.: & 5:30-7, Fri.: Table Talk - Since Thanksgiving and Christmas fall on our regularly scheduled dates, we will not be meeting in November and December. Our next breakfast meeting will be on January 22nd. Harvest Home is Next Sunday You are invited to bring food donations and place them under the side balcony. The food will be used to decorate the Sanctuary on November 22 and then be sent to the Caring Cupboard. Sunday School Classes are encouraged to donate the following items: Children & Youth: Canned vegetables Young Adults: Bath tissue JOY Class: Canned Meats IHS & New Beginnings Class: Turkeys and other frozen items can be dropped off at the Caring Cupboard: Mondays 9-11 a.m. & 3-6 p.m.; Wednesdays 9-12 a.m. & 5:30-7:00 p.m.; or Fridays 12-2 p.m. Gift cards from supermarkets are also welcome.

6 Disaster relief volunteers are needed. The Church Board has given approval for Palmyra Church of the Brethren to become a community shelter for Palmyra area residents in times of disaster. The Outreach Team is working with the Red Cross toward that goal. We will need people to cook meals, register and assist guests, be on night watch, handle health care needs and possibly transport guests for appointments or shopping. The sheltering period generally would last several days. Training for volunteers will be provided by the Red Cross. If you have an interest in becoming an on-site volunteer here at the church during a disaster, please contact Steve Bortner or Mike Witmer. You re Invited! The Congregational Council Meeting is today at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. All are encouraged to attend this very important meeting when the 2015 budget will be presented for approval. Copies of the budget are available for your review outside the church office. Serving Next Sunday: Ushers - Steve Gottshall, George Bell, Russ & Sue Collins; Child Care - Betty Smith & Shirley Spahr; flowers - Andy & Mary Cantrell. Wendy s Night - Wednesday, November 18, 5:00-8:00 p.m. Young Adult Activities: Thanksgiving Dinner - Today at 6:30 p.m. Ski Trip - December Sarandon Smith is raising monies to attend the New Community Project trip to Burma during her January Term. Donations can be made at A Community Thanksgiving Eve service will be on Wednesday, November 7:00 p.m. at Palmyra First United Methodist Church, 520 East Birch Street. All are welcome to worship with us as we prepare for the holiday season. RSVP to Missy Thompson, by December 7

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8 WEEK 47: November 23, 2014 READING: Background: THE BIBLE IN A YEAR 1 & 2 THESSALONIANS, 1 & 2 TIMOTHY, TITUS, PHILEMON 1 THESSALONIANS This is probably the first recorded letter of Paul. It was written shortly after Paul's first visit to the city of Thessalonica. He had been there only three weeks and was concerned about how they were getting along. When Timothy brought a good report, Paul wrote this letter. In the first three chapters, Paul remembers his good visit with them. Perhaps the greatest contribution of this letter is the warmth and love shown in these chapters. Count the number of words expressing affection. 2 THESSALONIANS It seems that a second letter was needed to correct some misunderstandings about the Second Coming. Some were saying that Christ had already come a second time. 1 TIMOTHY The two letters to Timothy and one to Titus are called "Pastoral" letters. They were written by a pastor and to pastors. The letters talk about church officers, worship and sound teaching. They also give encouragement to young pastors. 2 TIMOTHY 2 Timothy sounds like the last letter Paul wrote. He says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim. 4:7) This letter also is remembered for its recommendation of scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). Remember that this was written before the Gospels, Acts, Revelation, or Hebrews. What did Paul mean by "scripture?" What value does Paul find in scripture? TITUS The advice given to Titus is very similar to l Timothy, but the letter is gentler in tone. PHILEMON Paul wrote this brief letter to his friend Philemon. Philemon's slave, Onesimus, had run away. Onesimus met Paul and became a Christian. Paul urged him to return to Philemon. The letter asks Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a runaway slave, but as a Christian brother. Points to Ponder: 1. Speculation about Christ's second coming has confused many people. As you read the letters to the Thessalonians, what do you feel are the most important things Paul wants Christians to know about it? 2. "Give thanks in all circumstances." (1 Thess. 5:18) This advice is hard to follow. Can you think of circumstances when it was hard