Thursday, January 7, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
A Prayer for Epiphany
On entering the house,
they saw the child with Mary his mother;
and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then, opening their treasure chests,
they offered him gifts of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Matthew 2:11
they saw the child with Mary his mother;
and they knelt down and paid him homage.
Then, opening their treasure chests,
they offered him gifts of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Matthew 2:11
Lord God, Heavenly Parent, You have given us the light of your Holy Word, the guiding star that leads us to the Christ child. Send, we pray, your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive this light and walk in your light.
May we, like the wise ones who were seeking the star, not be afraid because of any hardship or peril, but put all our trust in your Son, our savior. May we devote ourselves and our gifts to the advancement of your kingdom, and in all things serve him in this coming year, and in all our lives.
Amen.
Taken from Out of the Ordinary
© 2000 by Joyce Rupp
Sunday, January 3, 2016
History and Heritage
We can’t know where we are going until we know where we have been. The first task of an Interim time is to look at our heritage, and also to deepen our connections to one another and to God.
There are a number of small group opportunities coming up, to talk about the history of this church, YOUR history with it, and where you feel God is calling us next.
If you are able to attend one of these times, please call the church office to let us know. I welcome other times and conversation. Please let me know if none of these times are convenient.
Blessings,
Pastor Nancy
There are a number of small group opportunities coming up, to talk about the history of this church, YOUR history with it, and where you feel God is calling us next.
- Sunday, January 3
9:45am at the Adult Sunday School (meets in the Allen Room)
- Wednesday, January 13
6:00 pm at our first Soup & Study (meets in the Fellowship Hall)
- Friday, January 22
10:00 am with coffee and conversation (meets in the Fellowship Hall)
If you are able to attend one of these times, please call the church office to let us know. I welcome other times and conversation. Please let me know if none of these times are convenient.
Blessings,
Pastor Nancy
Friday, January 1, 2016
Holiday Bazaar: Street of Shops
We would like to thank all of you who helped to make this event a success. We raised $1800 during the event. It could not have happened without all of the helpers who supplied items, food, and/or hours helping before, during and after the event. It’s not too soon to be thinking about and collecting unique gifts for next year. Thanks again.
The Lord has blessed us with great help and support by all.
God Bless All of You!!
Anita Scata
The Lord has blessed us with great help and support by all.
God Bless All of You!!
Anita Scata
Resolutions— and Change
It is a new year—we have flipped the pages over on the calendar. Many of us have made resolutions to make some changes in our lives: get more exercise, eat better, read Scripture daily.
Change is difficult. Psychologists tell us it takes at least 6 weeks for a change to take hold, and move from something we struggle with to being a habit.
Sometimes change is imposed upon us, whether we want it or not. The mainline church as a whole has been experiencing change, as has this congregation.
In 3 years, this church will celebrate 200 years of mission and worship. The world today is much different than it was in 1818. The "heyday" of the mainline Protestant church was 1965— those were our glory days, the height of church influence on society, the days when the pews were filled and the Sunday school rooms were overflowing.
But society has changed, and we tend to get nostalgic when looking back at our past. We think: once we were great and glorious, and now we are not. Things were better back then. But such romanticism keeps us from seeing the ministry right in front of us. Such pining for the past can keep us from being the church that Christ is calling us to be today.
As part of this interim time together, the first "task" is to look at our history and heritage. We appreciate where we have come from, we celebrate the accomplishments God has granted to us, we are honest in looking back on our failings….but we do all this so we can know where we are, right now, so we can better see what ministry God is calling us to join in. This January, there will be formal and informal groups to talk about and celebrate the history of this church—I hope you will join us— more information will follow.
The world will not be as it was in 1965, or 1909, or 1818. But God is here with us now. God, whose steadfast love is unchanging, goes with us and calls us into the future He is creating. God, who comes to us as Immanuel, "God with us", is here as we live in this interim time together.
Blessings,
Pastor Nancy
Change is difficult. Psychologists tell us it takes at least 6 weeks for a change to take hold, and move from something we struggle with to being a habit.
Sometimes change is imposed upon us, whether we want it or not. The mainline church as a whole has been experiencing change, as has this congregation.
In 3 years, this church will celebrate 200 years of mission and worship. The world today is much different than it was in 1818. The "heyday" of the mainline Protestant church was 1965— those were our glory days, the height of church influence on society, the days when the pews were filled and the Sunday school rooms were overflowing.
But society has changed, and we tend to get nostalgic when looking back at our past. We think: once we were great and glorious, and now we are not. Things were better back then. But such romanticism keeps us from seeing the ministry right in front of us. Such pining for the past can keep us from being the church that Christ is calling us to be today.
As part of this interim time together, the first "task" is to look at our history and heritage. We appreciate where we have come from, we celebrate the accomplishments God has granted to us, we are honest in looking back on our failings….but we do all this so we can know where we are, right now, so we can better see what ministry God is calling us to join in. This January, there will be formal and informal groups to talk about and celebrate the history of this church—I hope you will join us— more information will follow.
The world will not be as it was in 1965, or 1909, or 1818. But God is here with us now. God, whose steadfast love is unchanging, goes with us and calls us into the future He is creating. God, who comes to us as Immanuel, "God with us", is here as we live in this interim time together.
Blessings,
Pastor Nancy
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Christian Education Update
Thanks to all who helped with the Christmas Pageant and Jesus’ birthday party afterward. We couldn’t have done it without you! What a fun and entertaining way to teach the children the real reason we celebrate Christmas.
The elementary age class will be taught by Angela Weeden in January and February.
Sunday School will begin in a new format beginning Sunday, January 3, 2016. Children will leave worship after the children's sermon, and go to the Nursery or their Sunday School class. Parents may pick up children after worship ends.
This new format will replace the traditional Sunday School time of 9:45 for the children only. Adult Bible study will remain at 9:45am Sunday mornings.
The elementary age class will be taught by Angela Weeden in January and February.
Sunday School will begin in a new format beginning Sunday, January 3, 2016. Children will leave worship after the children's sermon, and go to the Nursery or their Sunday School class. Parents may pick up children after worship ends.
This new format will replace the traditional Sunday School time of 9:45 for the children only. Adult Bible study will remain at 9:45am Sunday mornings.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
A Future with Hope
It is my blessing to serve the congregation of Watkins Glen as your Interim Minister. Some of you, I know already. By the time you receive this, I will have met many of you, and hope to meet nearly all of you by year’s end. Please feel free to stop by the office, or call me—I look forward to getting to know you better!
The work of "interim" is many things: working with the Session, providing pastoral care and worship leadership. It is listening to and learning your stories. It is discerning where God is calling us next, and what pastoral leadership will fit that best.
I have said that an Interim Pastor must stand with a foot on two worlds: one in the past, and one in the future. We stand in that gap, together. Watkins Glen Presbyterian has a long and faithful past, and will continue to serve God faithfully in the present and in the future.
Advent began this year on Sunday, November 29. Advent is a time we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. Traditionally, the Sundays during Advent are labeled:
There are specific tasks to be done (a mission study, the Interim or Transitional tasks, which are: Heritage, Missions, Connections, Leadership and Future, preparing for calling the next pastor). But in this in-between time, there is faithful life to be lived, together, as well. Life goes on: babies are born, anniversaries are celebrated, people we love die. And God, who is faithful, is with us through all our journeys, including this one. My favorite Bible verse is one I learned at summer camp: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not to harm you, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
The first candle of Advent is the candle of Hope. It is with Hope that we begin our interim work, trusting in the One who is Love to guide our work and life together.
In Christ,
Reverend Nancy Meehan Yao
The work of "interim" is many things: working with the Session, providing pastoral care and worship leadership. It is listening to and learning your stories. It is discerning where God is calling us next, and what pastoral leadership will fit that best.
I have said that an Interim Pastor must stand with a foot on two worlds: one in the past, and one in the future. We stand in that gap, together. Watkins Glen Presbyterian has a long and faithful past, and will continue to serve God faithfully in the present and in the future.
Advent began this year on Sunday, November 29. Advent is a time we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ Child. Traditionally, the Sundays during Advent are labeled:
Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
I find it significant that I join your congregation near Advent time, and I am mindful of all those who journeyed to Bethlehem to see the Christ Child. I think of our work as a journey together.There are specific tasks to be done (a mission study, the Interim or Transitional tasks, which are: Heritage, Missions, Connections, Leadership and Future, preparing for calling the next pastor). But in this in-between time, there is faithful life to be lived, together, as well. Life goes on: babies are born, anniversaries are celebrated, people we love die. And God, who is faithful, is with us through all our journeys, including this one. My favorite Bible verse is one I learned at summer camp: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not to harm you, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
The first candle of Advent is the candle of Hope. It is with Hope that we begin our interim work, trusting in the One who is Love to guide our work and life together.
In Christ,
Reverend Nancy Meehan Yao
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