The Highlander The Newsletter of The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney - 106 E. Union St., Punxsutawney, PA 15767

April

2017

Mark Your

Calendars

April 5th

Lenten Dinner & Class

Begins, 5:30-7 PM

April 9th

Confirmation Sunday

April 9 - 16

Holy Week at PCOP

Palm Sunday,

Maundy Thursday,

Good Friday, & Easter

Holy Week

2017

Page

2

Invest in

Our Future

Page

3

Confirmation

Members

Page

4

Worship &

Music

Page

5

Fellowship

& More

Page

6

Education

& Discipleship

Page

7

Mission

& Outreach

Page

8

April 2017

Calendar

Page

9

Volunteer

Information

Page

10

Prayer List Page

11

Happy Easter! Page

12

P a g e 3 A p r i l 2 0 1 7

There have been Presbyterians willing to give and build in

Punxsutawney since its very beginning. In 1826 members of this

church constructed a rough hewn log church from local timber. In

1833 members helped lay red bricks to build their church and they

did it again in 1860 when our congregation moved downtown. The

sanctuary we worship in today was placed on this very spot in 1904

thanks to the generosity of members. For 191 years the faithful

have been willing to give and build for the sake of this

congregation, and now in 2017, we need that same pioneer grit and

generosity to make some much-needed repairs and upgrades.

Can we count on you to help secure the next 191 years of

Presbyterians in Punxsutawney? I would like to invite you to

prayerfully consider making an one-time or reoccurring special

gift to the ongoing PCOP Facility Upgrade Initiative.

I would be happy to meet with you and discuss our hopes for this

project and how you might be able to help.

Faithfully,

If you would like to discuss an one-time or ongoing gift, have questions, or would like to learn

more about the PCOP Upgrade Facility Initiative, please see Rev. Brett Swanson

The Exciting Month of April 2017 By the Numbers

a poem of celebration by your overjoyed Pastor

Seven Worship Services this Month! The most services I can ever remember in a single month

Six Opportunities for Fun and Fellowship! Community Meal, Lenten Dinner, Pancake Breakfast, Confirmation Reception,

Saturday Friends Out, and the Men’s Prayer Breakfast

Five Confirmation Class Graduates Joining the Church! Holly Hartman, Mackenzie Reiter, Jackson & Benjamin Fezell, and Madilyn Fye

Four Services in Holy Week, April 9th through 16th! Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday Tenebrae, and Easter Sunday

Three Baptisms to Celebrate Together! Jameson Hill, Mackenzie and Remington Reiter will be baptized on April 2nd and 9th

Two New Adult Members Becoming Part of our Family of Faith! Zack Hill and Amy Adams will join the church on April 2nd

One Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Morning! The most exciting news of all

Come and Join the celebration! All Are Welcome!

P a g e 5

Our April 2017 Worship Calendar ***Worship Begins at 11:00 a.m. ***

April 2nd 5th Sunday of Lent and

Celebration of the Sacraments

of the Church

Lent’s Final Exam Luke 18:31-43 & Luke 19:1-10

April 9th Palm Sunday and

Confirmation Sunday

with Reception for Confirmands

Jesus Never

Shows Up Alone

Luke 19:29-44

April 13th

Maundy Thursday featuring the Remembrance

and Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

7:00 p.m. - Sanctuary

All are Welcome

April 14th

Good Friday

Tenebrae Service A Candlelit Service in Remembrance

of Christ’s Crucifixion

7:00 p.m. - Sanctuary

All are Welcome

April 16th

Easter Sunday The Resurrection of Our Lord

and Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

11:00 a.m. - Sanctuary

All are Welcome

Nursery Will Be Available

April 23rd 2nd Sunday of Easter

Guest Preacher

April 30th 3rd Sunday of Easter

Are These Things So? Acts 6:1-15 & Acts 7: 1-2, 44-60

WORSHIP & MUSIC

P a g e 6 A p r i l 2 0 1 7

FELLOWSHIP & MORE

Saturday, April 15th

at 12:00 p.m.

Gimmick’s

Restaurant No Reservations Needed

See Ann Mumper

for Details

Men’s Breakfast

Saturday, April 22nd - 8 AM Join the Men’s Breakfast Contact List

Call or Email Keith Hughes or Rex Lettie

SATURDAY FRIENDS OUT

April 6th

Kim Robbins

April 15th

Kaylynn Keeley

April 30th

Matthew Dinsmore

Carla Studebaker April 8th

Mackenzie Reiter

April 20th

Gary Juart

April 2nd

George Momyer

April 11th

Mimi Miller

April 23rd

Debbie Elder Help Us Keep Our

BIRTHDAY LIST Up to Date!

Contact PCOP Office

April 5th

Nicole Williams

April 13th

LuAnn Grube

April 26th

Joan Wacob

Calling all members of the class of 2017

Graduation is right around the corner and

we would like to celebrate our PCOP

graduates of the Class of 2017!

Please contact the PCOP Office at

(814) 938-5560 with your High School,

College, and Graduate School graduates.

Questions? See Rev. Brett Swanson

FINAL LENTEN DINNER & CLASS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5TH

PCOP BASEMENT DINING HALL

POT LUCK DINNER BEGINS AT 5:30 PM

CLASS GOES FROM 6:15 TO 7 PM

P a g e 7 A p r i l 2 0 1 7

DISCIPLESHIP & EDUCATION

Children & Youth

In-Worship

Sunday School Dismissal to Sunday School

follows in-worship Time with Children

Weekly Sunday School will learn

the same story as those staying

in worship

April 2nd When Jesus met a man named

Zacchaeus

Palm Sunday

April 9th

Intergenerational Sunday School

and Pancake Breakfast at 9:30 AM

Easter Sunday

April 16th No Sunday School on Easter

April 23rd Taking a Road Trip to Emmaus

April 30th The Faith of Stephen

T h e H i g h l a n d e r

P a g e 8 A p r i l 2 0 1 7

MISSION & COMMUNITY OUTREACH

T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 8

First Tuesday Community Meal

Tuesday, April 4th - 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. April 2017 Menu

Braised Ranch Pork Chops

Baked Crisscross Potatoes

Chunky Applesauce, Confetti Coleslaw

Easter Carrot Cake

*** Those signed up for Pre-Meal Prep ***

Please be in the PCOP Kitchen by 2:00 p.m.

Crosstown Food Pantry Distribution Volunteer Opportunities

Third Monday of Month

Always at 5:30 p.m.

Help Fight Hunger

by Donating Items

or by Lending a Hand

Would you pray if you knew the need?

Would you pray for someone who needs it?

Sign Up for PCOP’s Prayer Chain

See Sign-Ups Outside Memorial Parlor

We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties

Oswald Chambers

1

2

5th Sunday of Lent

Sunday School

9:45 a.m.

Worship

with Communion

11:00 a.m.

3

Major League

Baseball

Opening Day

4

No Tuesdays

at Ten

Community Meal

5-7 p.m.

5

Final

Lenten Dinner

& Class

5:30 - 7 PM

6

Bell Choir

5:45 p.m.

Choir Practice

7:00 p.m.

7

8

9

Palm Sunday

Pancake Breakfast

9-10:30 a.m.

Worship

11:00 a.m.

Confirmation

Reception to follow

10

11

Special Easter

Tuesdays at Ten

10:00 a.m.

12

13

Maundy

Thursday

Service

7:00 p.m.

14

Good Friday

Tenebrae Service

7:00 p.m.

15

Saturday

Friends Out

12 Noon

16

Easter Sunday

Sunday School

9:45 a.m.

Worship

11:00 a.m.

Luncheon following

Worship

17

18

No Tuesdays

at Ten

19 20

Bell Choir

5:45 p.m.

Choir Practice

7:00 p.m.

21 22

Men’s

Breakfast

8:00 a.m.

23

Sunday School

9:45 a.m.

Worship with

Guest Preacher

11:00 a.m.

24 Session Meeting

6:00 p.m.

25

Tuesdays at Ten

10:00 a.m.

26

27

Bell Choir

5:45 p.m.

Choir Practice

7:00 p.m.

28 28

30

Sunday School

9:45 a.m.

Worship

11:00 a.m.

Holy Week - Mid-Week Services on Thursday & Friday 7:00 p.m.

Rev. Swanson - Out of Office (4/17 to 4/24)

April 2nd

5th Sunday of Lent

& Celebration of

the Sacraments

of the Church

Screen

TBD

April 9th Palm Sunday and

Confirmation Sunday

Screen

Bill Cooper

Sound Sound

Liturgist Pam Hogan Liturgist Donna K.

Acolyte Madilyn Fye Acolyte Riley Doverspike

Maundy

Thursday

April 13th Remembrance and

Celebration of

the Lord’s Supper

7:00 p.m.

Screen TBD Good Friday

April 14th Tenebrae Service

in Remembrance of

Christ’s Crucifixion

7:00 p.m.

Screen

Contact

Rev. Swanson

if you’d like to

participate

Sound Sound

Liturgist Janey London Liturgist

Acolyte Madilyn Fye Acolyte

Easter Sunday

April 16th Resurrection of

Our Lord and

Celebration of

the Lord’s Supper

Screen

TBD April 23rd

2nd Sunday

of Easter

and Guest Preacher

Screen

TBD

Sound Sound

Liturgist Flo West Liturgist Debra D.

Acolyte J. & B. Fezell Acolyte Riley Doverspike

April 30th 3rd Sunday

of Easter

Screen Dear PCOP Members and Friends,

I would like to make a special plea for willing members,

friends, youth, and anyone who would be willing to create

our weekly slide presentation using PowerPoint.

Basic PowerPoint skills are more than enough and an

abundance of training is available.

All that is required is a willingness to serve.

Peace, Rev. Brett Swanson

TBD

Sound

Liturgist Kathy D.

Acolyte Madilyn Fye

Brookside Senior Living, Room #9

49 Brookside Ln, Brookville, PA 15825

Those Needing Our Prayers : PCOP Prayer List

Angie Barkley Avanell Bennett Scott Black Betty Brumbaugh

Betty Cessna Croney Family Anna Belle Divelbiss Gillen Geary

Graham Family Martha Irvin Dorothy Jenks Marie Jenks

Joe Kareteski Kathy Kopp Guy Lester Cathy Snyder

Ward Family White Family Jane Wineberg Leslie Wineberg

Hauser Family John Hughes Vivian Forcey Hemphill Family

Those In Nursing Homes Those Recovering Those Who Mourn Those Who Mourn

March 2017 “By the Numbers”

Sunday Worship

Attendance

Giving

March 5

$4,624.00 64

March 12

$2,801.75 54

March 19

$2,041.90 62

March 26

$2,226.35 84

Current Year to Date Budgeted

Receipts $ 11,694.12 $41,856.05

$183,142.00

Expenses $ 13,934.56

$ 45,293.89

Excess

or

(Deficient)

( $ 2,240.44) ($ 3,437.84)

2017 Per Capita Update Thank You! Thank You to Our PCOP Members who paid their

2017 Per Capita Apportionment

80 members gave $2,400 2017 Per Capita is still being accepted at $30 per member.

GIVING & GENEROSITY

March 2017 Financials

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!

‘Why do you look for the living

among the dead? He is not

here, but has risen. Remember

how he told you, while he was

still in Galilee, that the Son of

Man must be handed over to

sinners, and be crucified, and

on the third day rise again.’

Luke 24: 5-7