2014 Pastor’s

Report

Page

2

2015

Per Capita

Page

3

February’s

PRAY Project

Page

4

Worship &

Music

Page

5

Fellowship

& More

Page

6

Mission

Committee

Page

7

Education

& Discipleship

Page

8

January 2015

Calendar

Page

9

Mission

& Outreach

Page

10

Volunteer

Schedule

Page

11

Groundhog

Day 2015

Page

12

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

The Highlander February

2015

Mark Your

Calendars

February 1st

Souper Bowl of

Caring Sunday

February 18th

Ash Wednesday

Service

7:00 p.m.

2015 Annual Wednesday Night Lenten Dinners & Class

A Service of Ashes

and the Celebration of

the Lord’s Supper

Wednesday, February 18th

at 7:00 p.m.

Join us in the sanctuary on Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00

p.m. for the start of the Season of Lent, and a

Service of Ashes and the Celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Finding Jesus:

The Gospel Showing

Up in Some Funny Places

Wednesdays in Lent

5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday The Story of

February 25th Grilled Cheesus

March 4th Gladys Hardy &

The Ellen Show

March 11th 24 Hours of Christian

Television

March 18th A fire in Oklahoma

March 25th Idaho’s Next Governor

Read the news, watch TV, surf the web and

you’ll discover that the Gospel shows up in

some pretty funny places. Join us for a hot

and homemade meal served at 5:30 p.m.

and then a light-hearted look at some of the

places where Jesus “appears”, and what it

might mean when Jesus shows up in some

funny places. Classes will begin with a time

of prayer & scripture.

Pastor’s Report Reprinted from January 11th’s Annual Congregational Meeting

All I want to say about 2014 is THANK YOU

THANK YOU for serving well over 7,500 hours of service to the glory of God and the benefit of

our church, our community, and ourselves. It was an inspiring act of faith and generosity to see

the hours pile up and hear stories of all the ways you served in 2014.

THANK YOU for all the volunteers of the church who give and give in every season, and in every

circumstance. From the current and past officers who go out to serve Homebound Communion

four times a year, to the Sunday School teachers both children and adult, to the different

ministry teams that give of their time, talent, and treasure to make sure this church and its

people are well cared for, we have wonderful members and friends that make up this family of

faith. To put this giving spirit in real numbers, on an average Sunday we have over 20 members

and friends who give to make our worship service happen. Let that sink in. Choir Members,

Staff, Ushers, Screen & Sound Techs, Nursery Attendants, Liturgists, Acolytes, Property team

members who come to turn the heater on, a few more folks if we are celebrating the Lord’s

Supper, and a handful more still if the Bell Choir is playing. Thanks be to God for our generous

members and friends!

THANK YOU for making this church a focus of your giving. 2014 saw a Season of Stewardship

where members of this church prayerfully discerned their partnership with our congregation,

and they believed enough in our mission and vision that they gave of their possessions and

resources. This should never be anything that we disrespect or make light of. What you have

enabled this congregation to do is incredible, and it is my prayer that each and every day we

show ourselves to be worthy of the trust our givers have showed us.

THANK YOU for all the opportunities to celebrate the goodness of God and the wonderful gifts

of family and fellowship, I give great thanks. We went to ballgames both major and minor

league. We ate meals together in fellowship, and we rejoiced in the baptism of beautiful babies.

With heavy hearts we celebrated the well lived lives of a number of Saints for whom the race

has been run. We celebrated communion together, we celebrated the gifts of Commitment

Sunday, and when you add Saturday Friends Out, Marriage Seminar, and the meals you take

together as friends and family, we’ve been celebrating one way or another all year long.

Lastly, I want to say THANK YOU for the energy and passion that you’ve have shown as we

move into 2015. 2014 was not without its challenges and its changes but I never once saw

anyone “take their ball and go home.” I am thankful for the spirit that runs through this

congregation and the commitment to a bright future.

So as I reflect on 2014 I say, THANKS BE TO GOD.

Some Facts about Per Capita

Per Capita began in 1734 and has been

used to help fund the mission &

ministry of the PCUSA ever since.

Our Per Capita apportionment is split in

three unequal sections with the

majority of the funds staying in our

local area (aka. the Presbytery).

Per Capita is 100% voluntary and is not

connected to you annual financial

pledge or weekly giving.

Per Capita Giving Based on Members in Household

Members in Household Household Per Capita

1 Member $28.00

2 Members $55.00

3 Members $82.00

4 Members $109.00

5 Members $136.00

To each is given the manifestation of the

Spirit for the common good. I Corinthians 12:7

A Letter to all Active Members from

the Chair of the Finance Committee, Nickolas Suntheimer

and Rev. Brett Swanson.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Each year, our congregation contributes a fair share to the

mission and ministry of the presbytery, the synod, and the

denomination. This per member apportionment is called Per

Capita, and the amount our congregation provides is based on

church membership. Each church in our presbytery is asked

to pay a specific amount per active, confirmed member. Per

Capita contributions have been a part of what is means to be

Presbyterian since 1734.

This year, every active member of our congregation is asked

to prayerfully consider contributing their per capita

apportionment in the amount of $28.00 per active, confirmed

member. Please note: this is every member, not every

household. This apportionment is a regular expense payable

by our congregation at the spring meeting of our presbytery.

In order to meet our obligation to the denomination, and not

draw down our reserves or take critical monies from our

General Operating Budget, we are asking that each member

help us out by paying their per capita appointment.

We are collecting this apportionment in two ways. You may

send your per capita back to the church in the blue “Per

Capita” envelope provided , or you are invited to bring

your per capita contribution on “Per Capita Sunday”,

March 15th where we will make a special dedication of

these funds and enjoy the Deacon’s luncheon following

worship. This will make it possible for us to pay our

congregation’s apportioned share of the expenses of the

Presbytery, the synod, and the denomination in a timely

fashion.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either

Nickolas Suntheimer at 814-618-5039 or Brett Swanson at

814-938-5560. We would like to say a big “Thank You” for

helping us be fiscally responsible this year.

Sincerely, Nickolas Suntheimer & Rev. Brett Swanson Did not receive your 2015 Offering Envelopes?

Contact Sharon in the PCOP Office

2015 Per Capita

Finding The Life in Your Year PCOP’s Month-by-Month Church-Wide Project

February’s PRAY Project

The theme for February is PRAY and our

PRAY Project is an opportunity to explore prayer

both as giver and receiver

Don’t fret or worry.

Instead of worrying, pray.

Let petitions and praises shape

your worries into prayers, letting

God know your concerns. Before

you know it, a sense of God’s

wholeness, everything

coming together for good, will

come and settle you down. It’s

wonderful what happens when

Christ displaces worry at the

center of your life.

Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)

For our Members and Friends

away from PCOP,

we want you to participate too!

Mail or Email or Call in

who or what you would like prayed for,

and we will give you someone’s who or

what for you to pray for.

All prayers will be kept

100% Anonymous

Starting Sunday, February 1st and throughout the entire month

you will have the opportunity to join with members and friends

of PCOP in our February PRAY Project starting February 1st.

Here is how it works: In worship on February 1st you will be given the opportunity to write a

WHO or a WHAT anonymously on a slip of blue paper found in your pew.

Consider a specific someone or something that truly could use

the kind of transformation only God can bring.

Do not use proper or identifying names, instead write things like

“My Cousin’s Health” or “Classes this Semester.”

During the morning’s offering, place your crumpled up, folded, or pristine paper with

your prayer in the offering plate when it comes around,

then as you leave worship, pick up a different prayer

and spend February personally praying for someone else’s WHO or WHAT.

If you can’t make it into worship on February 1st but would like to participate,

simply call, email, mail, or place your prayer in the offering plate sometime in

February, and you’ll be given someone else’s prayer.

Updated 2015 Church Directories

available Sunday, February 8th

in Church Parlor

Contact the church office if your information has changed

New for 2015! Digital PDF directories available

P a g e 5

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

Our February 2015 Worship Calendar ***Worship Begins at 11:00 a.m.***

February 1st Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday

and Celebrating the Lord’s Supper

with our friends from First Baptist Church

Last Supper: Don’t Believe the Lie that

You are Not Worthy of Redemption sermon by Rev. Jon Kline, pastor of First Baptist

Psalm 31: 9-16 & Mark 14: 12-26

February 8th 5th Sunday After Epiphany

Looking Up to Heaven

Introducing February’s “Finding the Life in Your

Years” PRAY Project

Psalm 147: 1-11, 20

Matthew 14: 13-21

February 15th Transfiguration Sunday

Praying for Illumination

Psalm 47 & Matthew 16:24 - 17:8

Ash Wednesday, February 18th

Worship at 7:00 p.m.

The Imposition of Ashes

and the Celebration of Communion Responsive Reading of Psalm 51

& Matthew 18:1-9

February 22nd The First Sunday of Lent

Ten Miles South of Exit Eleven

Psalm 25: 1-10 & Matthew 18: 15-35

WORSHIP & MUSIC

The Reception of New Members - Sunday, February 8th Join us in worship on Sunday, February 8th as we welcome

new members to the Presbyterian Church family.

Stay after worship for a time of fellowship and reception.

FELLOWSHIP & MORE

There is Still Time to Join!

Join Ben Fitzgerald-Fye

& Susan Wydra in reading

Discussion Gatherings usually meet on Wednesdays

Contact Ben Fitzgerald-Fye for more information

ben.fye@goodwillinc.org

Youth Group

Ice Skating

Sunday, February 8th

After Worship

Indiana Ice Center

We are going Ice Skating on

Sunday, February 8th after

worship! Bring your skating

clothes to church on the

8th and then jump in the

car as we head out to the

Indiana Ice Center for some

ice skating fun & hot coco.

WHO Middle & High

Schoolers

WHAT Ice Skating at the

Indiana Ice Center

WHEN Sunday, February 8th

After Worship to 5 PM

BRING - $10 for Skating

- Permission Slip

- Warm Clothes

- $$ for Snacks, etc.

PCOP SERMONS

ARE ONLINE! HEAR AND SHARE

REV. BRETT SWANSON’S

SUNDAY SERMONS AT

PUNXSYPC.NET/SERMONS

2nd

Donna

Anderson

3rd

Laurie Craig

John Hodgson

7th

Bob Barrett

15th

Evelyn Lettie

18th

Max Roberts

20th

Loni Studebaker

24th

Rick Nesbitt

27th

Flo West

Celebrate our February birthdays!

Saturday Friends Out

for February 2015

Gimmick’s

Saturday, February 14th

Lunch at Noon No Reservations Required

See Ann Mumper with Questions

P a g e 7 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

Our beloved choir will

hold its annual Choir

Dinner on January 2nd

6:00 p.m. at Pizza Hut

Questions? Call Ginger

THE OFFICERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PUNXSUTAWNEY

THE BOARD OF DEACONS

CLASS OF 2015 CLASS OF 2016 CLASS OF 2017

Diane Ewing Jack Haire

Debbie Himes Jean Hughes

Jessica Suntheimer Kay Nesbitt

Kerrin Roberts

Debra Dinsmore (Moderator) Richard Cessna

Sean Fitzgerald-Fye

Regularly Scheduled Meetings on 3rd Sunday of Month, 9:45 a.m. in Parlor – Questions? Contact Debra Dinsmore

THE SESSION

CLASS OF 2015 CLASS OF 2016 CLASS OF 2017

Barb Hanley (Worship Cmt.) Nick Suntheimer (Finance Cmt.) George West (Personnel Cmt.)

Keith Hughes (Fellowship/Discipleship Cmt.)

Janey London (Christian Ed. Cmt.) Ben Fitzgerald-Fye (Outreach Cmt.)

Wick Divelbiss (Property Cmt.)

Doug Chambers (Clerk of Session) Donna Kengersky (Mission Cmt.) Susan Wydra (Nominating Cmt.)

Regularly Scheduled Meetings on 4th Monday of Month, 6:00 p.m. in Seminar Room or TBD – Questions? Contact Doug Chambers

Thank you to all who serve and lead this church

In for Worship,

Out for Service: Re-Launching our

Mission Ministries at PCOP

Re As we kickoff 2015, it is my hope that we can begin a big mission push as a reflection of God’s love and as an

expression of thankfulness for all the blessings we experience on a daily basis. As mentioned in the annual

report, we are hoping to broaden our scope of outreach to address needs at these levels: in our church and

community, in our region, nationally, and internationally.

As we begin to chart our course and launch mission initiatives, we are hoping to form a mission committee/

action group to identify areas of need and to suggest projects we could undertake, based on participants’

passions and interests.

Questions and comments are welcome. Call Donna Kengersky – 938-3406.

Join Donna & Rev. Brett Swanson on Sunday, February 22nd Following Worship

for a time of discussion, organization, and dreaming about mission at PCOP

F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

DISCIPLESHIP & EDUCATION

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

Children Rotation Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Sundays

Learning to Forgive

TUESDAYS AT TEN FOR FEBRUARY

THE WORK OF

JESUS CHRIST:

WHAT JESUS CAME TO DO

AND HOW HE DID IT

AS SEEN IN HIS PARABLES

TUESDAYS IN FEBRUARY

10:00 A.M. - SEMINAR RM.

February 1st Souper Bowl of Caring

February 8th Something Called Grace

(Life-Sized Art Project)

February 15th We Forgive (Video)

February 22nd Forgiving is HARD

Tuesdays at Ten - February 8 & 15 In honor of the passing of Theologian Marcus Borg

Say What?

Belief & Faith - Is There a Difference?

In honor of well-known

theologian Marcus Borg,

author of Speaking Christian,

who recently passed away,

our Adult Sunday School

class will take a look at two

important but often

misunderstood words

Belief & Faith.

Is there a difference?

Sunday,

February 8th

& 15th

at 9:45 a.m.

Lester Seminar

Room

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Souper Bowl of

Caring Sunday

& Communion

9:45 a.m.

Sunday School

11:00 a.m.

Worship

2

Groundhog

Day

**Office Closed**

3

Tuesdays at Ten

10:00 a.m.

Community

Meal

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

4 5

6 7

8

9:45 a.m.

Sunday School

11:00 a.m.

Worship

Youth Ice Skating

Indiana Ice Center

12 - 5 PM

9

10

Tuesdays at Ten

10:00 a.m.

11 12

Bell Choir

6:00 p.m.

Choir Practice

7:00 p.m.

13 14

Saturday

Friends Out

12 Noon

Kiskiminetas

Presbytery Mtg.

Calvary

Presbyterian

10:00 a.m.

15

Transfiguration

Sunday

9:45 a.m.

Sunday School

11:00 a.m.

Worship

Deacons Mtg.

9:45 a.m.

16

Crosstown

Food Pantry

5:30 p.m.

17

Tuesdays at Ten

10:00 a.m.

18

Ash Wednesday

Service with

Communion

and Imposition

of Ashes

7:00 p.m.

19

Bell Choir

6:00 p.m.

Choir Practice

7:00 p.m.

20 21

22

9:45 a.m.

Sunday School

11:00 a.m.

Worship

Mission Committee

Meeting

following worship

23

Session Meeting

6:00 p.m.

24

Tuesdays at Ten

10:00 a.m.

25

Lenten Dinner

and Class

6:00 p.m.

26

Bell Choir

6:00 p.m.

Choir Practice

7:00 p.m.

27 28

February 2015

Ministry

Meetings

in February

Board of Deacons - Sunday, February 15th at 9:45 a.m. (Parlor)

Mission Committee Gathering - Sunday, February 22nd following worship (Seminar)

Session - Monday, February 23rd at 6:00 p.m. (Location TBA)

P a g e 1 0 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5

MISSION & OUTREACH

Crosstown Food Pantry Monthly Food Distribution

Monday, February 16th begins

at 5:30 p.m.

Lend a Hand and Help Fight Hunger!

First Tuesday Community Meal Tuesday, February 3rd - 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Great Food • Great Company • Great Service

Join us Tuesday, February 3rd, for a hot,

homemade meal and an opportunity to serve

Volunteers & Donations are always welcome!

Questions? See Ben Fitzgerald-Fye

Join the kids of our

Sunday School in

Fighting Hunger

by donating $1 or more on

SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

February 1st

T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 1 1

Thank You to our February 2015 Volunteers

February 1st

Souper Bowl of Caring

Sunday &

Communion

Screen Nick Suntheimer

Sound Barb Hanley

Liturgist Ben Fitzgerald-Fye

Acolyte K. & K. Graham

February 8th Welcoming

New Members!

Screen TBD

Sound George Momyer

Liturgist Carole Haire

Acolyte Holly Hartman

February 15th Transfiguration

Sunday

Screen George Momyer

Sound Bruce Williams

Liturgist Dana Hartman

Acolyte Mackenzie Reiter

Ash Wednesday

February 18th Imposition of Ashes

& Communion

Screen Volunteers

Needed for

Ash Wednesday’s

Service

at 7:00 p.m.

Sound

Liturgist

Acolyte

January 25th 3rd Sunday after

Epiphany

Screen Benjamin

Fitzgerald-Fye Sound

Liturgist Muriel Grube

Acolyte Madilyn Fye

Our Prayer List

Let us pray for one another

Betty Brumbaugh Norma Moore

Ed Craig Lois Leksell

Kathy Kopp Joe Karetski

Anna Mae Hiles Glenn McMillen

Avanell Bennett Debbie Wright

Jane Wineberg Naomi Harrold

The White Family Evelyn Lettie

Betty Cessna Bill Ward

Cathy Snyder Gillen Geary

Christine Stonebraker Members on Vacation

January 2015 “By the Numbers”

Epiphany, January 4th 54 in Worship $3,498.00 in Offering

January 11th 73 in Worship $3,019.00 in Offering

January 18th 79 in Worship $2,015.00 in Offering

January 25th 55 in worship $2,037.00 in Offering

Thank you for joining us in worship & supporting the mission of your congregation.

December 2014 Financial Outcomes

Current Year to Date Budgeted

Receipts $14,445.42 $184,553.84

Expenses $ 15,303.26 $198,952.89 $187,567.00

Excess

or

(Deficient)

$ (857.84) ($14,419.05 )

The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney

106 E. Union St.

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania 15767

Office: (814) 938-5560

Visit Us Online at punxsypc.net

Reminder

Deadline for

March 2015’s

Highlander Articles

is Sunday,

February 22nd

Happy

Groundhog

Day 2015! Good Luck to our

Members and Friends

in the Inner Circle

and those trekking out

to Gobbler’s Knob!

The Office will be closed

on Groundhog Day, February 2nd