PRESBYTERIAN MESSENGER (PM)

UPCOMING EVENTS. . .

Every Sunday 10:00 AM Worship

Communion served 1st Sunday of Month

Choir Practice 8:30-9:30AM

Knitting Group 2nd Sunday of Month in

Sanctuary 12-1:30PM

Every Tuesday – Bible Study 7-8:30PM

Every Wednesday – Bible Study with

Rev. Lou Kilgore 10-11:30AM

Bell Choir Practice 7PM

Fri 2/10 Annual Reports Due in Office

Thu 2/16 Session 7PM Personnel 10AM

Sun 2/26 Congregational Mtg. 11:15AM

Sat 3/4 Coffee House-Music at 7PM

With Steve Palmieri

Deacons Update

The Deacons have put many new pamphlets in the rack in the Narthex.  They are there for your convenience. Please look them over and see what might be useful to you or your family.

The Deacons are also thankful to everyone for their soda tabs and other tabs.  We have just finished filling another big basket with them and we couldn’t do it without your help.  They all go to the Ronald McDonald House

to help seriously ill children and their families, who must stay at Ronald McDonalds while their children are

being treated at the Monmouth Hospital.  A special thank you to Bill Graham’s sport fans.

Annual Reports for 2016

All annual reports are due, via email, this Friday, February 10, 2017. Thanks!

Ḟaithworks

We have been exploring a section of Jesus’ teachings that is commonly called “The Sermon on the Mount,” a collection of the say­ings of Jesus, some of which reflect the teaching of Moses, the great Hebrew leader who deliv­ered the law (the Ten Commandments) to the people of Israel. Jesus takes a more practical approach here as he addresses a crowd. He addresses the difficult topics of their daily lives and develops the meanings they have for an ethical life. As he discusses anger, adultery, divorce, and true speech, Jesus is telling his audience not just how to act but how to be in the image of God. Jesus lived in an honor-shame oriented culture. Each person had a place and a duty to the family, (or clan) the community, and society. People were respected for choosing to do what was expected of them rather than whether what they did was right or wrong. In doing something wrong (like taking a life), it brought shame on their family and their honor was lessened in the community. In this Sunday’s Bible reading from Matthew 5:21–32, Jesus talks about ways people can live and have healthy relationships. The writer of Matthew’s gospel wanted people to

remember that following Jesus didn’t mean leaving behind the Hebrew scrip­tures but to discover what is at the heart of the law and urging us to choose to act in ways that are life changing and giving.

Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14th is all about love, though it is often more about cards, heart-shaped candy, and decorations. For our young people, love can be an abstract feeling made real through their experience with family and friends. They are expected to get along with their brothers and sisters and they can identify what actions help them get along as a family. They understand feelings of anger or frustration when things don’t work out. They can also understand that the church community is like family and we learn things to help us get along. Exploring and learning about Jesus’ teachings encourage youth to think of others and to consider how their “freedom” will impact others. People of faith understand that it takes intentional choices to make things happen. Sometimes these choices mean giving up one’s comfort or advantage. Our youth may need learn about how to balance the ability to see the long-term benefits of short-term discomforts and explore the decisions they can make that will allow them to live in God’s ways. Pp♥

All children and youth are welcome to join us for Bible story time and activities on the 2^nd floor after the time of conversation with the pastor. Childcare is available for children 4 and under on the 2^nd floor as well.

Book Club at HMPC

The Book Club meets on the 4th Friday

of the month and anyone is invited to

come and discuss the books. The Book

Club will meet on Friday on February 24, 2017, at 1PM.

February 24 – One Second After by William Forstchen

March 24 – The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

April 28 – I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes

May 26 – When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Prayers & Announcements

Announcements for the Sunday Worship

service should be emailed to the church

office. If you would like the community

to pray with you please call the office at

201-891-0511.

My Personal Wishes

A few years ago, Linda Latham, Mary Guidetti McColl, Carol Margreither and Barbara Fernstrom met several times to develop a booklet, “My Personal Wishes at the Event of My Death”. This was to give those who were interested a guideline to express to their families how they would like everything to be handled after their death. This includes requests for funeral arrangements, memorial donations, organ donations, information for death certificate and newspapers, as well as location of important papers. If you would like a copy of this form, please contact Chris Buckley. It is suggested a copy be given to a family member for reference.

Meeting Reminder

The Annual Congregational/Corporate Meeting will be held on Sunday February 26, 2017, at 11:15AM.

         Sunday Server Sign-Up Sheet; First Quarter 2017

*Assigned families can decide who will be reader. Please inform Chris who is reading one week before you are scheduled. If you cannot be available when assigned, please switch with someone else and inform the office of this change.  Please check PM regularly to see the date of your assignment.  We need a few more volunteers for the listed duties.  If you can help in anyway, please call the office at 201-891-0511 and we can add you to the list. Thank you for your kindness and generosity in assisting with the church service.