Calendars Love Does2016/02/02 · February 14th The 1st Sunday of Lent Guide Me, Jesus Our Teacher...
Transcript of Calendars Love Does2016/02/02 · February 14th The 1st Sunday of Lent Guide Me, Jesus Our Teacher...
The Highlander The Newsletter of The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney - 106 E. Union St., Punxsutawney, PA 15767
February
2016
Mark Your
Calendars
February 7th
Souper Bowl of Caring
Collection
After Worship
February 10th
Ash Wednesday Service
7:00 p.m.
February 17th
Start of Lenten
Dinner & Class
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Pastor’s
Annual Report
Page
2
Seminary
Update
Page
3
Worship
& Music
Page
4
Per Capita
2016
Page
5
Giving &
Generosity
Page
6
Fellowship
& More
Page
7
Discipleship
& Education
Page
8
Mission
& Outreach
Page
9
February
Calendar
Page
10
Volunteer
Schedule
Page
11
Join Us for Our Annual
Lenten Dinner & Class
Love Does
In the end, love doesn’t just keep
thinking about it or planning for it. Simply put,
The incredible life found in an ordinary world
2016 is
THE YEAR OF YES and PCOP’s annual Lenten
Dinner and Class will explore
one of the biggest and best
ways we can say YES:
Turnning Love into Action.
Come and enjoy a wonderful
dinner together with fellow
friends and members of PCOP
and stay for a funny, light, and
engaging look into the ways
we can put love into action.
Classes will begin with prayer
and will feature a video from
Love Does author,
Bob Goff and discussion
All are invited! Bring a friend!
Questions?
See Rev. Brett Swanson
February 17 “I’m with you”
February 24 Not Defined
By Failures
March 2
God’s
Audacious
Love
March 9 The Story
March 16 That’s What
Love Does
Wednesdays,
February 17th
to March 16th
5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Dining Room
Rev. Brett Swanson’s Annual Report – Submitted at Annual Congregational Meeting January 17, 2016
As I reflect on 2015, I am reminded of the hymn Now Thank We All Our God.
Now thank we all our God, With hearts and hands and voices
Who wondrous things hath done, In whom this world rejoices;
Who, from our mother’s arms, Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.
2015 was a year of hearts and hands and voices employed in thanksgiving for all the wondrous things God has
done and continues to do. Hearts and hands were offered this past year through the First Tuesday Community
Meals, our annual mission trip, the quarterly service of Homebound Communion, the Green Team grounds
volunteers, and the members who cater funeral dinners for grieving families. These only name a few of the large
ministries we undertake every year. Yet for every program and ministry with a name, a committee, and a budget,
there are countless offerings of hearts and hands given in service to this church that rarely appear in the pages of
our newsletter. Big and small offerings like the preparation of the Lord’s Supper early Sunday mornings; the faithful
service of ushers greeting those who come to worship; the members who come early Sunday morning to unlock the
sanctuary; the unsung work of our PCOP Officers; and many more ministries that deserve our thanks. For every
offering of hearts and hands and voices given in God’s glory in 2015, I thank you. We truly are the beneficiaries of
your service, your faith, and your generosity.
2015 was a year filled with wondrous things done in our midst by a loving God. I am especially humbled by the
creation of our now vibrant youth group this past year. In years past we struggled to believe such a group would be
possible but 2015 saw our youth group meeting regularly, giving back to the church and community, and
fundraising for service and fun. I am truly thankful. 2015 also served as a reminder of the way God does wondrous
things in the midst of hard times. This was evident when God provided the time, talent, and commitment of Keith
Ferguson during Organist Ginger Momyer’s leave of absence. Keith on the organ and Nancy Pearce in her direction
have faithfully and beautifully embodied our congregation’s commitment to excellence and I am abundantly
thankful. Our prayers remain with Ginger and all the members and friends of our church who need healing, peace,
and wholeness in the coming year. God did such wondrous things amongst us in 2015. We pray for such blessings
this New Year.
2015 has further prepared us to trust that God has blessed us on our way. We must always remember that we are
always “on our way” and never static. The lessons of 2014 were brought into 2015, and likewise, we will learn from
2015 as we continue through to new places and more faithful expressions of mission and ministry in 2016. Last year
brought about many questions about participation in Children’s Sunday School and the best way to educate our
children in the faith and honor the commitments of our Sunday School teachers. We also gained valuable insight
about living generously and graciously in 2015 and how best to approach Stewardship in the coming years. 2015
also exposed some healthy frustration regarding the church website, the composition of committees, attracting new
members, the training of officers, and our role in community-wide events like Church in the Park. On top of
everything else, 2015 also provided a few thrilling dreams for what could be and what God could be working among
us such as extending our outreach and mission ministries deeper into the community, encouraging member
discipleship and discussion, and deepening the prayer life of every member.
As we begin 2016 I remain honored to be your Pastor. I am humbled by your trust, your service, and your
commitment to Christ, each other, this church and its community. It is my prayer that faithful service, God-given
wisdom, and the grace bestowed on this church becomes the hallmark of 2016 as we become more faithful stewards
and servants of the countless gifts of love that God has bestowed upon this congregation.
P a g e 2
A Seminary Update from Benjamin Fitzgerald-Fye
“So, what have you learned?” It seems like such a simple question; and yet, it is one of the hardest to answer.
For me, seminary engages the intellectual, the emotional, the personal, and, most importantly, the spiritual
aspects of life. Professors and advisors often stress that this is as much about discernment and discipleship as it
is about retaining information and skills. As one who has often described himself as an “outsider” in the
theological realm, this process has been challenging and incredibly life-giving.
So far, I have had classes focused on the history and practices of Reformed Worship, on the Missional nature of
faith and the history of church mission, on discipleship and spiritual formation, and on the Old Testament. I am
beginning to order books for my upcoming spring classes in New Testament and Imagining Church. If anything, I
have learned that our tradition is a beautiful, rich, and complex one that stems from a true desire to bring people
into more direct relationship with God. It has been very exciting to learn about the elements of worship and the
reasoning behind them. Worship is about God acting and our responding to that action, it has a rhythm that, as
one of our books described, “…is like breathing.” Studying mission work and the missional nature of the
church was also very eye-opening. As one who has always been a bit afraid of the idea of mission work, writing
the papers and doing the readings for our mission class revealed that I do have a passion for mission and an
interest in engaging others on a cultural and spiritual level.
One of the greatest gifts the last semester gave me is a new and deep appreciation for the Old Testament. I
need not remind folks that I have not always been kind to the ancient parts of Scripture. I have feared them,
dismissed them, and even attacked them as irrelevant. That being said, reading through Dr. Schlimm’s book This
Strange and Sacred Scripture: Wrestling with the Old Testament and Its Oddities and engaging the challenging
aspects in discussion offered me a chance to honestly express my concerns, my fears, and my anger about
elements of the Old Testament. It turns out that it is ok to question why certain things are in the text, it is ok to
prayerfully engage challenging passages, and it is ok to place challenging events into a larger context and a
bigger concept of God. I am reconnecting with the Old Testament and I am beginning to realize that it has
something to say to us even when we do not agree; in fact, the Old Testament is filled with humans openly
arguing with God. The Bible, prayer, and worship are all pieces of a significant and meaningful conversation with
God.
Seminary is tough, seminary is expensive, and seminary challenges individuals and families with sometimes
drastic changes in routines and daily life. Seminary is also a gift as it asks future ministers to learn new ways to
pray, to engage God, to preserve family, and to care for self. No matter what happens, I end each semester
more assured that this path is the right one. I thank you all for your continued support and your words of
encouragement. Peace be with you.
P a g e 3
P a g e 4
T h e H i g h l a n d e r
Our February 2016 Worship Calendar ***Worship Begins at 11:00 a.m. ***
February 7th Transfiguration of the Lord
& Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
The Transfiguration
for 2016
Mark 8:27 - 9:1 & Mark 9:2-8
Ash Wednesday
February 10th - 7:00 p.m. The Imposition of Ashes
& the Celebration of
the Lord’s Supper
Psalm 51 & Mark 9:30-37
February 14th The 1st Sunday of Lent
Guide Me, Jesus
Our Teacher
Psalm 19:7-10 & Mark 10:17-31
February 21st The 2nd Sunday of Lent
Help Me, Jesus
Our Servant Mark 10:32-45
& Mark 10:42-52
February 28th The 3rd Sunday of Lent
Show Me, Christ
Our Example Psalm 86:8-13
& Mark 12:13-17
During the Season of Lent
our scripture and sermons will
explore the many roles Jesus plays
in the Kingdom of God. By knowing
Jesus in greater depth our prayer
lives will grow, become more active
and deep. Come and explore the
depths of prayer with us
this February!
WORSHIP & MUSIC
A Service of Ashes and the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Ash Wednesday
February 10th at 7:00 p.m.
Join us Wednesday, February 10th, for the start of the Season of Lent at
our evening Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 p.m..
Our service will include the imposition of ashes
and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return
P a g e 5 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
Some Facts about Per Capita
Per Capita began in 1734 and has been
used to help fund the mission &
ministry of the PCUSA ever since.
Our Per Capita apportionment is split in
three unequal sections with the
majority of the funds staying in our
local area (aka. the Presbytery).
Per Capita is 100% voluntary and is not
connected to you annual financial
pledge or weekly giving.
Per Capita Giving Based on Members in Household
Members in Household Household Per Capita
1 Member $29.00
2 Members $58.00
3 Members $87.00
4 Members $116.00
5 Members $145.00
To each is given the manifestation of the
Spirit for the common good. I Corinthians 12:7
Each year, our congregation contributes a fair share to the
mission and ministry of the presbytery, the synod, and the
denomination. This per member apportionment is called Per
Capita, and the amount our congregation provides is based
on church membership. Each church in our presbytery is
asked to pay a specific amount per active, confirmed
member. Per Capita contributions have been a part of what is
means to be Presbyterian since 1734.
This year, every active member of our congregation is asked
to prayerfully consider contributing their per capita
apportionment in the amount of $29.00 per active,
confirmed member. Please note: this is every member, not
every household. This apportionment is a regular expense
payable by our congregation at the spring meeting of our
presbytery. In order to meet our obligation to the
denomination, and not draw down our reserves or take
critical monies from our General Operating Budget, we are
asking that each member help us out by paying their per
capita apportionment.
We are collecting this apportionment in two ways. You may
send your per capita back to the church in the blue “Per
Capita” envelope provided via mail , or you are invited to
bring your per capita contribution on “Per Capita Sunday”,
March 13th where we will make a special dedication of these
funds. This will make it possible for us to pay our
congregation’s apportioned share of the expenses of the
Presbytery, the Synod, and the denomination
in a timely fashion.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rev.
Brett Swanson or Finance & Stewardship Co-Chairs Dick
Fetterman and Rick Nesbitt. We would like to say a big
“Thank You” for helping us be fiscally responsible this year.
2016 Per Capita
Questions about Per Capita? See Rev. Brett Swanson, Rick Nesbitt, or Dick Fetterman
January 2016 Financial Outcomes
Current Year to Date Budgeted
Receipts $15,216.71 $15,216.71
$183,119.32 Expenses $16,998.03 $16,998.03
Excess
or
(Deficient)
($1,781.32) ($1,781.32)
Financial Notes: January 2016
January 2016 was a good month for giving with members and
friends entrusting over $15,000 to PCOP’s mission and ministry. To
put January 2016’s giving in perspective, the average January
income from 2000-2014 was $15,076. Expenses outpaced giving for
January resulting in a deficit of $1,781.32. Like January’s giving,
January’s expenses were also very close to the 2000-2014 average
of $16,485.
January 2016 “By the Numbers”
Sunday Worship
Attendance Giving
January 3rd
Epiphany Sunday 65 $2,597.00
January 10
Baptism of the Lord
& Communion
64 $6,219.00
January 17
Second Sunday
of Epiphany
83 $1,715.12
January 24
Second Sunday
of Epiphany
79 $1,937.40
January 31
Special Service
of Healing and
Wholeness
N/A $2,376.00
THE OFFICERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PUNXSUTAWNEY
THE BOARD OF DEACONS
CLASS OF 2016 CLASS OF 2017 CLASS OF 2018
Jessica Suntheimer
Kay Nesbitt
Kerrin Roberts
Greg Gaston
Debra Dinsmore (Moderator)
Richard Cessna
Sean Fitzgerald-Fye
Jennifer Gaston
Melissa Polczynski
Carole Haire
THE SESSION & THEIR COMMITTEES
CLASS OF 2016 CLASS OF 2017 CLASS OF 2018
Janey London
(Christian Ed. Cmt.)
Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
(Outreach Cmt., Worship Cmt. Co-Chair)
Wick Divelbiss
(Property Cmt.)
Rick Nesbitt
(Finance and Stewardship Co-Chair)
Doug Chambers
(Clerk of Session)
Donna Kengersky
(Mission Cmt.)
Susan Wydra
(Nominating Cmt., Worship Cmt. Co-Chair)
George West
(Personnel Cmt.)
Keith Hughes
(Fellowship/Discipleship Cmt.)
Richard Fetterman
(Finance and Stewardship Co-Chair)
GIVING & GENEROSITY
P a g e 7 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
FELLOWSHIP & MORE
FEBRUARY SATURDAY FRIENDS OUT
Saturday, February 20th at 12:00 p.m.
Gimmick’s Restaurant No Reservations Required
See Ann Mumper for details
Bell Choir needs a
Babysitter for
Little Gabriella
Thursdays
5:45 to 6:45 p.m.
Men’s Breakfast
A time of food, fellowship, devotion, and prayer
Saturday, February 27 @ 8 AM The new Men’s Fellowship Breakfast is
a monthly gathering where you can get a
homemade breakfast, socialize with
other men from the church, and spend some time
in prayer and devotion.
Questions?
Talk to Keith Hughes or Rex Lettie
See Ann Mumper, Bell Choir Director, to Sign-Up
Happy February Birthdays!
2nd
Donna Anderson
3rd
Laurie Craig
3rd
John Hodgson
7th
Bob Barrett
18th
Max Roberts
20th
Loni Studebaker
24th
Rick Nesbitt
27th
Flo West
A Note of Thanks
from Helen Jordan
I would like to thank
everyone for their
prayers, warm wishes and the many, many
cards I received over the past few months.
They meant a great deal to me.
Sunday, Feb. 21th or 28th After Worship to 3 PM
Staying at PCOP with Rev. Brett
for Lunch and Games plus
My Name is Earl (aka. one of the greatest
TV shows of all time)
P a g e 8 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
DISCIPLESHIP & EDUCATION
T h e H i g h l a n d e r
NEW In-Worship Children’s Sunday School
Starting Sunday, February 14th, Children’s Sunday School
will take place during worship and after Children’s Time
During the Season of Lent
PCOP Children will participate in
a new pilot program of
In-Worship Sunday School.
Kids will be dismissed after the
Time with Children and will go to
the Nursery or Sunday School
taught by a team of teachers.
Children’s Sunday School for
the Season of Lent
Talking to
God About Life Learning About Prayer
Questions? See Janey London
P a g e 9 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6
MISSION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH
T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 9
Help fight hunger in Punxsy! Crosstown Food Pantry Food Distribution
Monday, February 15th - 5:30 p.m. Woodland Avenue United Methodist
201 Woodland Ave., Punxsutawney, PA 15767 ** Food Donations are Always Accepted **
Crosstown Food Pantry
March’s Special
Community Meal
Tuesday, March 1st
5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Many thanks to Ann Mumper who has led the flight bag ministry since it
began in 2005. The cloth bags (thank you, Donna Anderson) contain a
variety of items as well as a $10 bill and a card from our church. They are
sent with family members when a loved one is life-flighted from our local
hospital. To date, over 450 bags have provided Christian love and
support to folks during a difficult time in their lives. Ann has passed this
labor of love to me and I am excited to continue this service to our
community. Monetary donations are always appreciated. Check can be
made out to Presbyterian Church with “Flight Bags” on the memo line.
Thank You,
Kathi Cessna, Flight Bag Coordinator
Flight Bag
UPDATE
It’s Time Clean Out
Those Closets Once Again
February 14th
to April 3rd
Goodwill Clothing Fundraiser Get your famous blue Goodwill bags and
bring your clothing donations to PCOP for
our annual Goodwill Clothing Drive
Fundraiser. Donation bins will be available
starting Sunday, February 14th.
Join us for a Special First Tuesday
Community Meal provided by
The Kevin Croney Foundation
and catered by Mary’s Place
No Volunteers Needed!
Come and Join Us!
Questions? See Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
February 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2
Groundhog Day
NO Tuesdays
at Ten
Community Meal
5-7 p.m.
3
4
Bells Practice
5:45 p.m.
Choir Practice
7:00 p.m.
5
6
7
Transfiguration
Sunday
Sunday School
9:45 a.m.
Worship at
11:00 a.m.
8
9
Tuesdays at Ten
10:00 a.m.
10
Ash Wednesday
Service
7:00 p.m.
11
Bells Practice
5:45 p.m.
Choir Practice
7:00 p.m.
12
13
Saturday
Friends Out
12 Noon
AA Anniversary
Party
6:00 p.m.
14
Adult Sunday
School
9:45 a.m.
Worship
11:00 a.m.
In-Worship
Children’s Sunday
School Begins
15
President’s Day
16
Tuesdays at Ten
10:00 a.m.
17
Lenten Dinner
& Class
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
18
Bells Practice
5:45 p.m.
Choir Practice
7:00 p.m.
19 20
Wedding
2:30 p.m.
21
Sunday School
9:45 a.m.
Worship
11:00 a.m.
In-Worship
Children’s
Sunday School
22
Session Mtg.
6:00 p.m.
23
Tuesdays at Ten
10:00 a.m.
24
Lenten Dinner
& Class
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
25
Bells Practice
5:45 p.m.
Choir Practice
7:00 p.m.
26 27
Men’s
Fellowship
Breakfast
8:00 a.m.
28
Sunday School
9:45 a.m.
Worship
11:00 a.m.
In-Worship
Children’s
Sunday School
29
Mark Your Calendars for March 2016
Tuesday, March 1st - Community Meal
Sunday, March 6th - Guest Preacher (No Communion)
Sunday, March 13th - Daylight Savings Time Begins (Spring Forward)
Thursday, March 24th - Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 25th - Community Good Friday Service
Sunday, March 27th - Easter Sunday
Thank You to our February Volunteers
February 7th
Transfiguration Sunday
& the Celebration of
the Lord’s Supper
Screen George Momyer
Sound Bruce Williams
Liturgist Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
Acolyte B. & J. Fezell
February 10th Ash Wednesday
& the Celebration of
the Lord’s Supper
Screen Liturgists Needed
for Ash Wednesday
See Rev. Brett
to Sign Up!
Sound
Liturgist
Acolyte
February 14th 1st Sunday of Lent
Screen Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
Sound Ben Fitzgerald-Fye
Liturgist Muriel Grube
Acolyte Madilyn Fye
February 21st 2nd Sunday of Lent
Screen Nick Suntheimer
Sound George Momyer
Liturgist Carole Haire
Acolyte B. & J. Fezell
February 28th 3rd Sunday of Lent
Screen Bill Cooper
Sound Bruce Williams
Liturgist Dana Hartman
Acolyte Riley Doverspike
Those Needing Our Prayers
Betty
Brumbaugh
Avanell
Bennett
Mary K.
Brown
Louise
Barkley
Joe
Kareteski
Angie
Barkley
Kathy
Kopp
Helen
Jordan
The Ward
Family
Betty
Cessna
Leslie
Wineberg
Bob
Roberts
Martha
Irvin
Gillen
Geary
Cathy
Snyder
Jane
Wineberg
The White
Family
The Croney
Family
Logan @
Children’s
Hospital
Dorothy
Jenks
Joyce
Shaffer
Marie
Jenks
Wick
Divelbiss
Norma
Moore
Ginger
Momyer
Randy
Nesbitt
AnnaBelle
Divelbiss
Betty
Cessna
Our Christian Sympathies
To the family and friends of
Louise Barkley
who passed away February 2, 2016.
If you would like to purchase
Easter Flowers
—Liles or Tulips—
please contact
the PCOP Office
at (814) 938-5560
or use the Flower Order Form
found in your February
Bulletins starting Feb. 14th
Last Day to Order is March 6th
Questions?
Contact Richard Cessna or PCOP
2016 Flower Prices
Lilies & Tulips
are $9.50 Make Checks to PCOP
Write “Easter Flowers
on Memo Line
PCOP is searching for a new
PART-TIME CHURCH
ADMINISTRATOR
Monday-Friday, 9AM to 1PM
Should be comfortable with
Microsoft Office,
phones, data entry,
copying, record keeping,
and working with people.
Do you know someone perfect for the job?
Have them call the PCOP Office
at (814) 938-5560
106 E. Union St.
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
Office: (814) 938-5560
Visit Us Online at punxsypc.net
Use your smartphone to scan
this code for online giving!
Consider dropping a
dollar or more into one
of the
PCOP Youth’s
decorated soup pots
and help fight
hunger in
Punxsutawney.
100% of the money
goes to the
Crosstown Food Pantry.
Sunday, February 7th