Calendar of Events for the Week of  September 20, 2026: Monday - 5:30pm - Karate Tuesday - Wednesday - 9:00am - Make Apple Sauce; 6:30pm - AA Meeting; 6:30pm - Meal Packaging Event Team Meeting; 7:00pm - Bible Study Thursday - 5:30pm - Karate; 6:00pm - Book Study; 6:30pm- "The Chosen" Viewing Friday - Saturday -Â
90th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - Everyone is invited to an open house 90th birthday celebration in honor of Dorothy Heckrote on Sunday October 4th from Noon to 2:00pm in the church social hall. Please join us for fellowship, light refreshments, and of course, cake. Bring your birthday greetings and well wishes but please, no gifts.
APPLE FEST 2026 - The annual Apple Fest will be held Saturday October 17th from 8am-3pm.There will be Tricky Trays, Crafts, Indoor-Outdoor Fles Market, Better Items & Lottery Tree Raffle. There will also be a bake sale, apple pies, apple dumplings, apple cale, apple bread pudding & apple sauce for sale. The kitchen will have breakfast sandwiches, pastries, Sloppy Joe BBQ, soups, haluski, pulled beef, chicken tenders, chicken salad croissant, hots dogs, French fries, sausage & peppers.
*Apple Sauce is being made Wednesday September 23rd at 9am. Come out to help! *Items for the âPINKâ Breast Cancer Tricky Tray must be donated by September 20th. *Tricky Tray donations must be here by Wednesday October 14th!!!! *PLEASE NOTE â NO QUILTING on Thursday October 15th. *WILLING WORKERS will meet Tuesday October 6th (one week early). *The Tricky Tray drawing will be held at 2:30pm the day of the fest. Winning tricky trays may be picked up Sundays October 18th & 25th from 12:30pm-1:30pm and on weekday mornings from 9am-Noon.
HELP IS NEEDED FOR APPLE FEST PREP AND AT THE FEST â Wednesday October 14th, Thursday October 15th & Friday October 16th at 9am-? Also, the day of the Fest, including help with clean-up. There will be sign-up sheets on the table in the parlor.
TRASH TO TREASURE -*CHURCH MEMBERS ONLY* â You may start to bring your items for the Trash to Treasure room weekday mornings from 9am-Noon. Come in the front door and use the elevator to take items downstairs. NO house clean-outs or estate closures. We are almost at capacity!!
QUILTING GROUP - Quilting meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month; October 1st. No quilting the week of Apple Fest (October 15th). Â
CASTING OUR NETS - Next Meeting: Tuesday September 22nd at 7pm.
MEAL PACKAGING EVENT TEAM MEETING - Wednesday September 23rd at 6:30pm.Â
BLESSING OF PETS AND THEIR PEOPLE - Saturday October 3rd during the 4:30pm worship service.
WATCH âTHE CHOSENâ AT 6:30PM:
* Thursday, September 24th - Season 4, Episode 2 - "Confessions" (80 minutes) * Thursday, October 8th - Season 4, Episode 3 - "Moon to Blood" (57 minutes) * Thursday, October 22nd - Season 4, Episode 4 - "Calm Before" (65 minutes)
BOOK STUDY - Each Thursday at 6PM Pastor Cindy will lead a study on the book âNightâ by Ellie Weisel. A chapter per session will be discussed until the book is finished.
ARTICLES FOR THE OCTOBER NEWSLETTER ARE DUE BY SEPTEMBER 20th!
BOUNTIFUL GARDENS - The table to share your Bountiful Gardens produce will be in the parlor. Â Individuals with extra produce from their gardens can leave it on the table before the Saturday or Sunday church services. Â If you would like any of the produce, we are asking for a free will donation which will be given to the Valley Food Pantry, along with any extra produce. Â When leaving your produce, please put it on the table in the parlor and NOT in the shopping cart.
BIBLE STUDIES - The Wednesday night Bible Study starts at 7pm. Â We are currently reading the book of Isaiah. Wednesday morning Bible Study meets the 1st & 3rd Wednesday mornings of the month at 11:00am studying Ephesians.
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE - LDR is asking for gifts to help with the recent earthquakes, fires and floods. Checks may be out to the church and marked LDR. Â 100% of all money donated goes directly to help those in need!! See info and forms on the bulletin board.
ARTICLES FOR THE OCTOBER NEWSLETTER ARE DUE BY SEPTEMBER 20th!
VALLEY INTERFAITH COUNCIL - Please follow the Valley Interfaith Council on Facebook if you haven't yet. It is an ecumenical group of member congregations in the Conyngham/Sugarloaf/Drums area that promotes unity. Â Posts include events happening with each congregation to help grow faith community involvement, along with providing support to the Valley Food Pantry. Â If you are already a follower of the Facebook page, invite your friends to follow too.
COMMUNITY EVENTS:
* VFW POST ALL-YOU-CAN EAT BREAKFAST - Sunday September 20th from 7am-11am * ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL - Sunday October 4th from 10am-4pm at the Historic Brainerd Church, 798 Main Street Sugarloaf * CONYNGHAM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HEARTWOOD CENTER BLANKET DRIVE FOR THE HOMELESS - Donations accepted at the Methodist Church. Please see the poster on the bulletin board in the foyer for all the information! * SOUP SALE - Christ UCC Church. Order deadline October 14th by calling 570-788-1964. Italian Wedding; Chicken Noodle; Southwest Chicken; Chili-Gluten Free; Broccoli Cheese-Gluten Free. Cost: Quart $12-Pint $6. Pick-up Saturday October 24th from 10am-12pm. * HAZLETON LIBERTY BAND 167TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT - Sunday October 18th at 2PM in St. John Bosco Church. * ANNUAL PUMPKINFEST - Christ UCC Saturday October 24th from 10am-3pm. Tricky Tays (10am-2pm); Bake Sale; Homemade Food/Soups; Childrenâs games & activities and more. * SAUSAGE SUPPER - St. Johnâs Lutheran Church in St. Johns on Saturday October 31st. Cost is $15. More info to come. * ELECTION DAY PASTA DINNER - at St. John Bosco Church on Tuesday November 3rd. Take-outs begin at 3pm. Sit down is 4pm-7pm. Tickets: Adult $15 and children under age 10 - $7. Â
STEPHEN MINISTRY:
Bear one anotherâs burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2, NRSV)
Stephen Ministry supports our congregationâs mission by:
* Equipping people to use their gifts in ministry * Helping people grow in their faith * Providing care and support for hurting people * Building up the congregation as a caring community * Reaching unchurched people with the love of Jesus * Christ caring for people through people
To find out more about Stephen Ministry, contact Deb Jones at 570-233-7675