The PLAIN TALK I want to re-tell a story I heard to you about three little dandelions who lived an extraordinary life. They grew on the side of a hill here in town not far from the church. They were not special; not unique at all. Honestly, dandelions are more like weeds than glorious blooming flowers; their color is pretty, so we tolerate them in our yard knowing they will not stay too long. No other flowers grew around these three- just three dandelions growing on the side of the hill by themselves. 2017 P l a i n s P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h S e r v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y s i n c e 1 8 0 6 What made them special was when they grew and not that they grew. As I heard about them growing on that hill this week, I recalled that it is January. Flowers are not usually flourishing in January here in Western Pennsylvania. But these three little ones were. To make matters worse, they were alone. No other flowers grew around these three. As Wednesday rolled around, and the rain stopped pouring, and the breeze picked up, and the wind chill dropped to such a degree, those flowers are likely frozen and dead now. Their yellow color, which is a reminder of spring s impending return, is snuffed out until a later date when they will come back. I wonder, is the cold (physical or emotional) threatening to snuff out your color and passion like it did for those flowers? As I spoke about this past Sunday in worship, our Christmas joy fades quite quickly as January s cold, and February s snow, prepares to enter our world. Winter is coming. Many of us are very unhappy to see the cold return. The Christmas decorations and strings of lights are coming down around our community and the world is returning to its drab, colorless, existence that we knew before Advent began. 326 Plains Church Road Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-538--8785 plains@zoominternet.net www.plaimschurch.com I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : Worship 2 Prayer Requests 3 Session Highlights 5 Calendar 9 Kids Zone 10 But for those three little dandelions, growing on the side of a hill, alone and out of season, life did not snuff out their heavenly purpose. Instead they boldly sprouted, pressing themselves toward the light of creation because they knew, in their DNA, that the light they sought would keep them alive and help them accomplish their mission. Therein lies the challenge for us in January. It s cold outside. The thick clouds seem closer to the ground than normal causing a smothering feeling to overcome our world. It almost feels claustrophobic outside at times as that thick blanket covers us seems so close to us. The light of creation, which keeps us alive, and fills us with joy so we can sing to our Lord, does not come often enough- it seems. In the past couple months, we have said good-bye to several friends of our church who have returned to God s side and even as the days get longer, we feel colder and more alone. It would be easy to lose heart. But God is still here with us. God s light has returned to the world and we can grow. We can reach out to God, the source of our life, who beckons us to reach to Him. We do not have to let the cold smother us completely but can, like those three little dandelions, stand in bold testimony to God. Blessings, Rev. Derek
Elder of the Month Tim Rausch Deacon of the Month Julie Young Helping with Worship This Month Worship Leaders 01 Tim Rausch Greeters 01 Frank & Tiffany Aloi Nursery Workers 01 Beverly Magill 08 Frank Aloi 08 Norah Collins 08 Norah Collins 15 Susan Reed 15 Jennifer M. & Tony Poleti 15 Melissa Holcomb 22 Steve Solman 29 Tim Roscoe 22 Tim & Amy Roscoe 29 Jay & Bonnie Carmichael 22 Denise Kremmel 29 Cathy Stafford January 1 ~ Epiphany Sunday 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Service January 08~ Communion 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Service January 15~ Mission Sunday 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Service Installation & Ordination Coffee Connections January 22 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Service Jan. 3 Jan. 5 Jan. 6 Jan. 7 Jan. 12 Jan. 14 Jan. 21 Jan. 27 Jan. 28 Jan. 29 Jan. 31 Dena Solman Bob Rectenwald Burt Duerring, Lana Holcomb, Elmer Engel and Gary Taylor Kathy Carter and Jerry Sproat Rachel Kremmel, Kathy Robinson Sue Rectenwald & Tom Lunney Todd Harris Michaela Leisie Charlotte Glaspey JonMark Marotta Andrew Solman January 29 9:30 am Sunday School 11:00 am Worship Service Bob Glaspey leading Worship Jan. 9 Dan and Norah Collins Jan. 12 Todd and MaryJo Harris
Page 3 Please note: Rev. Derek will be out of the office for his doctoral classes from 1/23 2/3 Frank & Marjory L. Please keep our Elders and Deacons in your prayers as they lead Plains into the future. Bob Kushner & his mom Betty Budney Evalyn s sister Corina Taylor Elmer E. Attention Committee members: Please get your annual committee reports ready and give to Jodell by January 9th at the latest for the Annual Report. Thank you! Jean Treese Ron s dad, John Andy Aloi Jay s friend Kathleen Autumn s grandfather, Bud Ashley John Finlay Dean Joann s grandson & his wife who are expecting any day now Ashley s triplets who were born premature Baby Clayton who was born premature Our friends who are in assisted living: Martha Malone, Betty Budney and Gibbie Sponsler The undecorating party will be on Sunday, January 8th after the Service. Pizza and drinks will be provided. More help = less time to get it done We hope to see you there!
Page 4 For 2017: My hours will go back to Monday, Wednesday & Thursday from 9am-12n I need the following lists/schedules: ~Elder of the month schedule for 2017 ~Deacon of the month schedule for 2017 I will also be working on updating the Member/Friend Directory for 2017 so please let me know of any changes in your information. We have also had some new members this year so if you would like to be included in the directory, please forward your information to me so I can include you and your family. I will need first & last names, children s names, phone #( s), address and emails. Email to plains@zoominternet.net Thank you, Jodell CNS News Happy New Year! The registration process for the 2017-2018 school year will begin January 6th. Registration to the general public will begin Friday, January 20th. If you know of anyone that is looking to enroll a child in pre-school, please have them call 724-538-8785. Thank you.
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Page 7 Thank you to the following people for the beautiful Poinsettias in our sanctuary for this Christmas season. IN MEMORY OF: Jack, Merle & Madelyn Bark Dave & Edith Heckard From Joann Bark & family Ernie & Mary Jones Earl & Inez Sallade From Ernie & Nancy Jones Andy & Ruth Hack From Andy & Mary Hack Alfred & Martha Cookson Sylvester & Lillian Magill From Richard & Beverly Magill Coffee Connections Bill Stafford, husband, father, & grandfather From Cathy Stafford & family Philip Sproat Jr., Philip & Mae Sproat, Clyde & Ida Vandivort From Helen Sproat & family Paul, Dale & Alan From Kay Uthman Our parents: John & Katharyn Dibert Wes & Grace Robinson From Kathy & Denny Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Edgar McMillen Mr. & Mrs. Donald Carmichael From Bonnie & Jay Carmichael Our Loved Ones From Gene & Corina Taylor Karen Jackson & Justin Shreckengost From The Woods & Stafford families Jim & Julie Lemon Robert & Lovie Cunningham In Honor of: The Lemon family From Roberta & Jim Lemon Jack & Betty Dixon Melvin & Marjorie Sproat From Jack & Cathy Dixon To the Glory of God From Jim & Betty Lehman As a Gift to the Church From Sue & Erin McKinley Sunday, January 15th hosted by Inreach/Outreach In Honor of the birth of our Savior From Tony & Jeanine Poleti
Page 8 The Deacons local mission giving this quarter went to: 1. $300 each to a) Refreshing Springs Ministry b) Grace Project - Backpack program c) St. Ferdinands: their Blessing Fund (to help local people in need) 2. $500 to Light of Life Rescue Mission 3. $200 to the Evans City Community Food Bank 4. $289 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to be directed to Tennessee Wildfires DR000165 Thank you for your support!! Update on Isaiah s Wish Lip Balm Drive My girls and I took all of the lip balm that was collected from the SV Girls Soccer Team, CNS and Plains Church (852 tubes in all!!) down to the drop off center (Hampton Inn Pittsburgh University Center) and got to meet Alaina, who expanded the lip balm drive for Isaiah. They had such an overwhelming response that Children s Hospital of Pgh can t take all of it so they are going to share it with other organizations (listed below). Thank you all for donating!!! Jodell Below is a post from the Hampton Inn s facebook page: Isaiah's Lip Balm Drive Lots of lip balms delivered today. 852 more!! Seneca Valley Girls Soccer Team, you're an awesome group of women and we are delighted with your oversized donation! Thank you so very much and it was a sincere pleasure to meet you ladies today! #Seneca Valley School District NEW FINAL TOTAL: 54,922! - so close we can almost taste 55,000!...THANK YOU EVERYONE! The lip balms will benefit the following: * Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh * Children's hospital of Philadelphia * Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh * Gwen's Girls, Pittsburgh *Ronald McDonald House, Providence, RI Our donation Boxes delivered for Isaiah s Wish at the Hampton Inn
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Plains Presbyterian Church 326 Plains Church Road Cranberry Township, PA 16066Phone: 724-538-8785 E-mail: plains@zoominternet.net www.plainschurch.com OUR MISSION STATEMENT As disciples of Christ, we share the gospel with one another and the community. We are committed to growth in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit through worship, study, teaching, and fellowship.