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.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
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
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.
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!
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!
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.
- Karen Rhodes, Clerk of Session
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
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Habitat for Humanity Update
On behalf of our congregation, the mission committee has been funding Habitat for Humanity for several years now and Habitat is on the verge of their first great achievement.
A groundbreaking ceremony for their very first house was held last year on May 5, 2014. The property on Havana Glen Road in Montour Falls was donated by Marcia Douglas and work began right away using funds that had been donated by the community and churches like us for several years. John King attended on behalf of our church and also spoke as mayor of Montour Falls.
A decision was made to build the house utilizing electrical heating standards including using solar panels to make the house extremely efficient energy wise. As a result, Schuyler County Habitat for Humanity has been listed as one of 183 Energy Star new builder and development partners.
Work has progressed so well that an official dedication and handover to the selected family will take place November 1 at 2:00pm. The house is located at 130 Havana Glen Road and everyone is welcome to attend.
Also, Habitat monthly meetings take place on the last Wednesday of the month at 7pm at the Silver Spoon Cafe located at the Human Services building in Montour Falls, all are welcome to attend. Habitat has expressed their gratitude for the continued support of our church.
A groundbreaking ceremony for their very first house was held last year on May 5, 2014. The property on Havana Glen Road in Montour Falls was donated by Marcia Douglas and work began right away using funds that had been donated by the community and churches like us for several years. John King attended on behalf of our church and also spoke as mayor of Montour Falls.
A decision was made to build the house utilizing electrical heating standards including using solar panels to make the house extremely efficient energy wise. As a result, Schuyler County Habitat for Humanity has been listed as one of 183 Energy Star new builder and development partners.
Work has progressed so well that an official dedication and handover to the selected family will take place November 1 at 2:00pm. The house is located at 130 Havana Glen Road and everyone is welcome to attend.
Also, Habitat monthly meetings take place on the last Wednesday of the month at 7pm at the Silver Spoon Cafe located at the Human Services building in Montour Falls, all are welcome to attend. Habitat has expressed their gratitude for the continued support of our church.
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