McMasters United Methodist Church
200 Church Street
Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania 15745
Office: 823-1988
JANUARY 2000
FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY
Did YOU make any New Year's resolutions??? Anything that YOU wanted to change??
Some of us make resolutions like one man, named George, I heard about. He said to a friend: "There's nothing like getting up at six in the morning, going for a run around the park, and taking a brisk shower before breakfast."
His friend Bob asked, "How long have you been doing this?"
George: "I start tomorrow.
What about YOU? Have YOU been putting off tomorrow what could be started TODAY? We have before us a BRAND NEW YEAR just brimming with OPPORTUNITIES to prove God's love .... the question for YOU today is: WILL YOU TAKE THEM??? So many times we think in terms of failures and mistakes which keep us from venturing out in FAITH to try anything great for God! It's like the story I read of a salesman who was a master of diplomacy. His boss was going to send him to Ottawa in the middle of January on some business. "I would rather you send someone else," replied the salesman. "Why is that?" asked his boss. "It's too cold this time of year," the salesman answered. "Besides there's nobody in Ottawa but hockey players and ugly women." His boss sat upright in his chair. "Hold on," he protested. "My wife is from Ottawa." Without a moment's hesitation the salesman shot back, "What position does she play, Sir?''
We need to realize that the past is over and the future never arrives all we have is RIGHT NOW to do good for the Kingdom of God. If we wait for some vague time in the future or hang our heads in shame and remorse over the past, well Satan has us right where he wants us to be .... but Praise be to God who has given us the complete victory in Christ Jesus .... because God loves us so much he not only forgives us of our past, but he also releases us from it as well and says simply go and sin no more! So this New Year for YOU can be your BEST EVER if You are willing to trust in God's forgiveness and His WONDERFUL PLAN for your life! The OPPORTUNITIES are all around you .... will YOU reach out in Jesus Name and love others as he has loved you? Oh, the blessings that will follow YOU if you'll allow it to happen. C.U. Next Sunday .....
Rev. Shaver
Plan to every Sunday during this very special time in the life of the church. Worship services are at 8:30 and 10:45 on Sunday mornings. Sunday school is at 9:30 for all ages!
SERMONS FOR JANUARY 2000
| 2: | HOLY COMMUNION "What to Expect in 2000" |
|
| 9: | "About That Lying Typewriter...." | |
| 16: | "Do YOU Like Extremes??" | |
| 23: | "God Did WHAT??" | |
| 30: | "Better WATCH Those Baptisms!" |
The next healing service will be held on Wednesday, January 5, 2000 with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Greeneway (District Superintendent) preaching. The service is held at 7 p.m. All are welcome!
New members will be received into the fellowship of McMasters Church on Sunday, February 6, 2000. If you are interested in joining, please contact Rev. Shaver or the church office.
Confirmation class for youth in grades 7-12 who wish to become members of McMasters Church will be held on Saturday mornings at 10:00 in the Pastor's office beginning on January 8, 2000. Anyone interested in this class should contact Rev. Shaver or the church office.
A 6-week BIBLE STUDY will begin on Tuesday, January 4th with two opportunities for you - 11:00 a.m. to Noon and 7p.m. to 8 p. m.. Choose the one that best fits your
schedule. This study will be presented by Rev. Shaver and is designed to bring a better awareness of God's love & power into our daily lives and making the Bible
PRACTICAL for our day to day living. Lessons are not necessarily built on the other (so you don't have to come to the first one to understand the second).
| #1: "Growing a Bible Study" - Part I | A dynamic study to figure out how WE can grow in out Bible Study groups to be all that God intended it to be! You won't want to miss these two lessons. |
| #2: "Growing a Bible Study" - Part II | |
| #3: "Making Real Life Changes " - Part I | Most people get what they really want tout of life. Let's take a Biblical look at why that is so and how we can use the positive images Jesus gave us in our lives for good! |
| #4: "Making Real Life Changes" - Part II | |
| #5: "Personal Power Through Decision Making" - Part I | Let's face it, decision making is many times very difficult! Let's took at God's Word and see how and why decisions must be made and how we can make our decisions with confidence knowing God is on our side! |
| #6: "Personal Power Through Decision Making" - Part II | Look for more information about the lessons in the January Newsletter. Please come prepared to participate in these life giving dynamic seminars that will bring YOU closer to God. |
According to our records...
We are pleased to announce that we did not have anyone stay in the hospital due to illness during the past month. If we missed you, we apologize and encourage everyone
to have someone let the church office know if you are in the hospital.
The deadline for the FEBRUARY Newsletter will be Sunday, January 23, 2000 Articles can be turned into the church office. Thank you!
The food bank item for January is miscellaneous items. Your generosity is appreciated!
ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH are invited to attend the January 11th meeting of the United Methodist Women. Members will gather at Noon for dessert provided by the Executive Committee. The program will be presented by treasurer, L. Wilkinson. Plans for the New Year will be reviewed during the business session.
The Executive Committee members will be hostesses for the U.M. Men on January 3rd at 6:00 p.m.
The Pittsburgh-East HELPSHOP 2000 will be held on Sat., Jan. 29th from 8:30 a. m. to 3: 00 P. m. at the Monroeville UM Church. Courses are available for all areas of the church and you may sign up for one or two classes. Topics and schedules are available in the brochures located in the narthex and the church office. Pick up your copy today!
THE SCHOOL FOR LAY MINISTRY will be held here at McMasters Church on January 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6, & 13' from 2-4 p.m. All lay persons are encouraged to attend. You do not have to become a lay speaker to attend these classes. Brochures are available in the narthex and the church office.
The Upper Room for January-April are available in the narthex. Note that it is a double issue. Therefore, the cost is $1.20. Please place this amount in an envelope and mark it "Upper Room" and put in the offering plate! Thank you!
The 2000 Flower Calendar is now in the vestibule in the rear of the sanctuary. Dates are not carried over from year to year in an effort to give everyone an opportunity to participate. You may place flowers on the altar in memory of in honor of someone by writing your name next to the requested date on the calendar.
The cost for the arrangement is $12 and can be paid somewhere around the time you have them reserved by marking your donation "altar flowers".
Please contact the church office (823-1988) prior to that date to let us know how you would like it worded in the bulletin. Flowers will be given to the hospitalized or shut-ins unless you indicate in advance to us that you would like to take them.
If you cannot place your request on the calendar in person, you may call the church office to see if that date is available.
What a Blessing the Missions Committee has received through your generosity to those less fortunate in 1999. Your contributions included 85 relief kits for disaster victims, 120 4-roll packages, a car load of baby products and many miscellaneous items plus monetary donations for the Food Bank. We received many socks, underwear and T-Shirts for the homeless men. The Thanksgiving dinner served over 170 people - more like 185 but we lose count after awhile. The Food Bank received $650 from this dinner. Your generosity towards the Angel Tree donations sent $132 to Action Housing, Inc. and Toy Fund for homeless children and $133 for McMasters Christmas Party for the kids. What a Blessing! Penny Sunday has resulted in a full bowl each time. Our Next Penny Sunday will be January 30,2000. The money from Penny Sunday goes to Womansplace in McKeesport. Thanks for the hats & gloves, too. Thanks again for your love and generosity.
A special thank you to the children who participated in Rainbow Sunday Another special blessing indeed! The next Mission Committee meeting is on Monday, January 17th at 7:00p.m. (Unless we have a snowstorm!)
J Krantz
Missions Chairperson
We will again be publishing a Lenten Devotion. If you would like to make a contribution, please see Flo Brown around the middle of January. Sheets to be completed will be available at that time.
The Sunday School will be holding a Baked/Fried Chicken Dinner on Saturday, January 29th from 4-6p.m Tickets are $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children. Tickets are available from any Sunday School teacher and J Krantz. Reservations can be made through the church office (823-1988). Since this day (January 29th) is the Saturday before Super Bowl Sunday, we are also offering 20 mixed pieces of chicken or 15 breasts for $10.00 each. Chicken orders must be in by January 22nd.
Rev. Shaver will be holding Confirmation Classes on Saturdays beginning January 8, 2000.
The Youth Group is meeting every other Sunday beginning January 2, 2000 at 6:00 p.m.
M DeValkeneer will be teaching the Jr. High/Senior High Class beginning January 2, 2000 at 9:30 a.m. on Sundays.
Rev. Shaver will be leading a Bible Study beginning Tuesday, January 4,2000. There will be a class from 11-12:00 and 7-8:00. Please let the office secretary (823-1988) know which class you wish to attend.
J Krantz
| Thank you all for the cards, prayers, and well wishes
during my recent eye surgery.
E Bochonok To Our Beloved Members, Thank you so much for all your kind gifts over the Christmas season. We were overwhelmed with the love that was shown our family. We feel so blessed to be serving here at McMasters, and know that God has us here at the perfect time for all the great things He has in store for us all. Keep on claiming His promises for your fife and we'll keep lifting you up daily as we talk with God. Lovingly, Rev. Shaver and family Thank you everyone for your kind gifts for the holidays. It always a pleasure to come to work for such great people. God Bless! P Aubele Thank you to all the ushers, acolytes, greeters, flower deliverers and choir for their ministry. God Bless You All. V Skinner A friend of mine said to me "I think A Simpson should be thanked for her visits to the shutins." I said, "Amen!" "Thanks! God Bless!" V Skinner |
I want to thank you for the beautiful flowers. I enjoyed them for many days during my recuperation. God is so good to me! God Bless you all! L Gibson Thank you for your generous donations. They helped make the Christmas Celebration a great success for our homeless families and individuals. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a terrific new year. Action-Housing, Inc. I want to thank the U.M. Women and everyone in the church for their generous gifts. J Bercik Thank you so much for your expressions of love for Alex and our family. It meant so much to know that you were there for us. Thank you for the beautiful sheaf of wheat; for Pastor Josephine who ministered to us and conducted the service; for R Birchall and her helpers who donated-food and served a delicious lunch, for friends who sent cards and offered up prayers for us. We are grateful for your caring and for your sympathy. E Duncan & Family Thank you all for your kind gifts for the holidays. I really appreciate them! A Kent |
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