Sunday, November 15, 2015

Harvest Dinner Thanks!

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Harvest Dinner.  Many, many people helped in many, many ways – cooking, baking, serving, and cleaning.

This wouldn’t have been possible without ALL OF YOU!!!

Some dishes are left at Fellowship Hall from the dinner.  If you are missing one, it’s probably here waiting for you to pick it up.


Christian Education Update: Sunday School for All Ages

Sunday School is currently offered for all ages every Sunday at 9:45am.  Come, bring your children or grandchildren and join the fun!
Our new Junior Church program will start in January, 2016.  This will replace our traditional Sunday school hour (9:45-10:45).  Junior Church will be for our young worshipers (ages 4 through grade 5) and will take place during the regular worship time.

Children will attend church with their families and be dismissed after the children’s message by the pastor.  They then go to Sunday School where they will hear an age appropriate Bible story, enjoy a craft and a snack and then meet their families after worship.
 
There will continue to be a nursery for those children younger than four.  Of course, any children who wish to remain in the worship service are certainly welcome to do so.

Adult Sunday School will continue to meet at 9:45 in the library.  All adults are welcome!

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Christmas Program 2015

Mark you calendars now for the 2015 Christmas Program on December 13th during the Sunday morning worship service. 

The program this year will be something new and exciting and you are not going to want to miss it. All children and youth are invited to participate. 

We are starting the creative process in November and will begin to practice after Thanksgiving, so please try to have your children and youth in attendance. Following the service, you are all invited to join us for a special “Happy Birthday, Jesus” coffee hour in Fellowship Hall complete with birthday cake!

Sunday, November 1, 2015

We Need Each Other

Paul's letter to the Philippians was the topic of Rev. Kotun's sermon on October 18, 2015.  I felt much of his sermon was very meaningful.  With Rev. Kotun's permission, I will repeat parts of the sermon.

Paul helped found the church at Philippi in Greece, during his journeys as a missionary.  The people of Philippi had no synagogue, but met together for prayer out by the river bank.  Many were baptized by Paul and when he left Philippi there was a congregation that would live and grow.  Paul wrote to them when he was a prisoner.  This letter was Paul's farewell message to the church which perhaps above all others was dearest to his heart.  He was not sad, but joyful.  He will depart and be with Christ.  He wrote about what Christ had meant to him and can mean to all who try to follow him.  "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" and because the Christians in Philippi can have that same trust he says to them, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice".

The people in Philippi could not concentrate.  Paul is in prison.  What about our church?  What will happen to our fellowship?  What about us?  Paul led us to Jesus.  How can we manage without him?  He was our founder, our teacher, our pastor and he is behind bars.  Will we see him again?  What will happen to our church with no Paul to guide us?

The church at Philippi felt like many of us when we became empty-nesters.  There is a gap in the congregation and in many hearts and minds whenever the pastor leaves.  Why is our beloved minister gone.  How are we going to manage?  What is going to happen to our church?  Will our church go down the tubes?  Will people stop coming to our worship or bible study?

Then, Paul wrote to the church.  Get your mind off me.  I'm not the center of the church.  I'm doing fine.  I'm ready to live or die.  If I die I'll be with the Lord.  And I'm ready for that.  If I live God may have some other work for me to do.  Stop your fretting.  Your church is not about me.  The church is about Jesus Christ.  I may be away from you, but Jesus Christ is not.  He is present in your midst and He is the Lord of the church.

Christ was in the midst of the first Christian church in Philippi in the year 50 A.D. and He is still in the midst of the Watkins Glen Presbyterian Church in 2015.  As long as two or three meet in His name in this place, He is in your midst.  Last week, this week, and next week when you gather it is in His name.

Paul challenged the church at Philippi.  Don't drift off because I'm not with you.  Stick together.  Be forever in prayer, in worship, in witness, in caring.  This church is the body of Christ in Watkins Glen.
 
You need one another.  
This community needs you.  
The broken world needs you.  
God has put you here for a reason.  
He needs and wants you here.  
Hear the good news!

- Karen Rhodes, Clerk of Session