Calendar of Events for the Week of November 17, 2024 Monday - 5:30pm - Karate Tuesday - 11:00am - Stephen Ministry Supervision Wednesday - 11:00am - Bible Study; 7:00pm - Bible Study Thursday - 9:00am - Quilting Group; 2:00pm - Celebration Singers Choir Rehearsal; 5:30pm - Karate Friday - Saturday -
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24th FOLLOWING THE WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:45AM - Please mark the date and time on your calendar and attend this important meeting. Discussion and approval of the 2025 budget and election of Congregation Council and other committee members will be on the agenda. All confirmed members have a vote in these issues and are urged to be participants in the decision making of our church.
VALLEY FOOD PANTRY CHRISTMAS BASKETS - Our congregation has been asked to supply napkins for this collection. Coffee and tea are always needed. Monetary donations are always appreciated as the pantry is experiencing its second lowest treasury amount to buy needed items.
“WE GIVE THANKS THRU OUR GIVING” - Thanksgiving is just around the corner and what better way to give thanks than by giving! What can we give? We can give personal care items to clients of the Valley Food Pantry. These kinds of things are needed by everyone but cannot be purchased by using food stamps. Please participate in this service project by donating items you can place in the container in the church parlor. These items would be appreciated: toothpaste and toothbrushes for both adults and kids; bath soaps; shower gel; razors; shaving cream; skin cream; hand lotion; hand sanitizer; deodorant; shampoo; conditioner; feminine hygiene products; laundry detergent; mouth wash and what ever you use in your daily routine. Let’s think about how richly our lives have been blessed and how we can begin to bless other as we give.
2025 CALENDARS ARE AVAILABLE - The 2025 Calendar of Word and Season is available to pick-up in the parlor. Please help yourself. Our calendars are sponsored again this year by Krapf & Hughes Funeral Home and Crematory. Our thanks to them
POINSETTIAS AND HUNGER APPEAL DONATIONS SOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS - Orders for poinsettias are now being taken. There will NOT be a sign-up sheet. Please use the envelopes from the basket on the table in the narthex. And make sure the information on the envelope is complete and clear. Place it in the offering plate or return to the church office. Fifty poinsettias will be purchased and the balance of money received will go to the Hunger Appeal. All gifts will be listed in the bulletin on Christmas Eve. The cost of a poinsettia is $10.00, but any amount of your donation is appreciated. All donations must be in the church office by Sunday December 15th.
WILLING WORKERS - The Willing Workers will meet on Tuesday, November 12th at 1:00pm. We will hold elections for the upcoming year and discuss events for 2025. Money is due for those planning on attending our Christmas Party on December 10th at 12:00pm at The Lookout House. The cost for the luncheon is $30. All women of the church are invited. For more information, contact Deb Jones at 570-233-7675.
THE HEARTWOOD CENTER IS IN NEED OF: Plastic Forks, Men’s Boxers, Ladies Underwear, Toilet Paper, Dish Soap, Bookbags/Backpacks. If you wish to donate any of these supplies, please place them in the bin in the parlor.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED!! - We are in need of Sunday School teachers for grades Pre-K through 2nd Grade and 5th & 6th grades. All material is provided. A sign-up sheet is on the table in the parlor with open dates. Please prayerfully consider helping in this important ministry.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COORDINATOR NEEDED - This position is open and much needed. You may get a job description from the office. This is a paid position of an average of 10 hours per week. You may work as a team with someone. Please see Pastor Cindy or Cindy Derr for more information.
BIBLE STUDIES - Wednesday night Bible Study is 7-8 pm. We are reading Judges. We will be in the parlor. There is no homework in this class. We're a group of people dedicated to reading the Bible from start to finish and discussing it. Join us anytime.
Wednesday morning Bible Studies are the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 11am. We are using the workbook on ‘The Christian Walk'.
APPLE FEST AND SOUP SALE MEETING PLANNED - On Thursday November 21st at 11:30am we will meet to finalize the details of the Apple Fest and look forward to planning the soup sale in January. Join us!
APPLE SAUCE FOR SALE - Our world-famous apple sauce is for sale at $5.00 a quart. It will make a wonderful addition to your holiday meals. See Sue Oliver or Cindy Derr to purchase.
COOKIE SALE - The Willing Workers are holding a cookie sale in time for Christmas. Varieties are chocolate chunk, peanut butter, sugar and oatmeal raisin. Cost is $10 a dozen-$5 a 1/2 dozen. Look for an order form on the table in the parlor. Pick -up will be Friday December 20th from 4pm-6pm and Saturday December 21st from 11am-1pm. Order deadline is December 15th.
DECEMBER NEWSLETTER - Please note the deadline for all articles, information, etc. for the December newsletter is November 17th!
DEVOTIONS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE - Have you seen and read the devotional prayers that are posted periodically on our congregation’s Facebook page? Hopefully, when you read them, you will find encouragement and a sense of God’s peace as you go about your daily life.
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE - LDR is asking for gifts to help with the recent hurricanes. Checks may be out to the church and marked LDR.
A VISIT WITH CHARLES DICKENS - The Historic Brainerd Church is proud to announce "A Visit with Charles Dickens" on Sunday, December 1 at 3:00 pm. Step back in time, and join us for a delightful afternoon with Mr. Charles Dickens as he reads and entertains us with some of his famous works by candlelight! Mr. Dickens will receive his guests in the church.
The Historic Brainerd Church, 798 Main Street, Sugarloaf, was built in 1853. It is maintained and preserved by the Historic Brainerd Church and Cemetery Association. It is loved by all who visit here. Donations for the benefit of the Historic Brainerd Church and one-room schoolhouse will be kindly appreciated.
OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS
* Our Salute to Veteran and the Military- “The Ghost Plane of LaFosse – Conyngham Valley Historical Society on Saturday November 16th at 1pm in the Conyngham Boro Building. Light refreshments. Open to the public.
* All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Sunday November 17th from 7am-11am- VFW Auxiliary Post 8161 on Banks Avenue. $10/Adults; $5/children 10 & younger.
* 46th Annual American Cancer Society-Greater Hazleton Unit Annual Telethon "Sweeping Cancer Out the Door". Saturday November 23rd from 11am-11pm at the Pa Theater of Performing Arts, 212 W. Broad Street, Hazleton. Make a pledge at 570-459-1212- or at acsmove.org/hazletontelethon.
* Christmas Crystal Sale at the UCC Church - $14 a box. Order by November 24th. Pick-up December 14th from 10am-3pm.
* Thanksgiving Eve Service at Conyngham United Methodist Church on Wednesday November 27 at 6pm.
* Thanksgiving Eve Service BY CANDLELIGHT on Wednesday November 27th at 7pm at the Historic Brainerd Church, 798 Main Street, Sugarloaf, PA (google maps). This year's service will be presided by Fr. Steven Brosk of St. John Bosco Church. The Historic Brainerd Church was built in 1853 and is being preserved by the Historic Brainerd Church and Cemetery Association.
* Saint John Bosco Parish will be offering a four-session Faith Formation program for adults Tuesdays November 26, December 3, 10, and 17. Participants may select between morning sessions from 9:15 to 10:30 AM or evening sessions from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The group will meet in the multi-purpose room located in the classroom section of Saint John Bosco Church, Conyngham.
STEPHEN MINISTRY - Each of us has times when we are lonely, grieving, hurt, or in need of care. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes that when we suffer and are troubled, we find comfort through Christ (2 Corinthians 1:4–6)—and one of the ways we find this comfort is through other caring Christians.
Our congregation has a group of people skilled in caring for those facing challenges in their lives. These people, called Stephen Ministers, have undergone extensive training to develop and nurture their caring skills. Our Stephen Ministers are ready to work with people who are experiencing many different kinds of crises such as those hospitalized, grieving the death of a loved one, separated or divorcing, homebound, unemployed, or experiencing other kinds of life difficulties. They may be members of our church, or friends, neighbors, and co-workers without any church home.
Think about your life and the lives of the people around you. Are you, or is someone you know, going through a time of crisis or challenge? The care of a Stephen Minister may be exactly what’s needed to help bring Christ’s healing. If you have questions about Stephen Ministry or if you are going through a challenging time, or if you know someone who is, please talk with Deb Jones at 570-233-7675 or Pastor Cindy.
THE DATES ARE SET AND HELP IS NEEDED -
Our annual LIVING NATIVITY will be held Saturday December 7th & Sunday December 8th from 5pm-7pm each evening.
Sign-up sheets are on the table in the parlor for the many areas where help is needed, such as outside set-up, supplies needed and cookies and snacks for the nights of the Nativity along with the poster boards for the scenes on the bulletin board in the back of the church.
MARK THESE DATES!
SET-UP: Saturday November 30th at 9AM Saturday December 7th at 9AM Sunday December 8th at 3PM
CLEAN-UP: Saturday December 7th at 7pm Sunday December 8th at 7pm
FINAL CLEAN-UP: Saturday December 14th at 9AM
COSTUMES AND OTHER JOBS: Thursday December 5th at 9AM
Please mark your calendars and see where you can help before, during and after the Living Nativity