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