Letter from

Rev. Brett

Page

2

Worship &

Music

Page

3

Fun &

Fellowship

Page

4

Education &

Discipleship

Page

5&6

Calendar

& Birthdays

Page

7

Missions

& Outreach

Page

8

Financial

Information

Page

9

Volunteer

Schedule

Page

9

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

September

2012

Mark Your

Calendars

September 2nd

Final Summer

Worship

at 10:00 a.m.

September 9th

Fall Worship Begins

9:45 a.m.

Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship

September 15th

Saturday Friends Out

New Anchor Inn

September 30th

Homecoming Sunday:

A Service of

Celebration & Meal

Sunday, September 30th - 11:00 a.m.

A Special Worship Service of

Welcome and Celebration

Homecoming

Sunday Calling all Members, Friends, Those Near, and Those Far

Away to The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney’s

Homecoming Sunday on September 30th!

Invite past members, children and grandchildren, and

anybody who has been a part of this wonderful

congregation to a morning of worship and a delicious

fellowship meal following the service. We hope to see

many familiar faces for this time of celebration!

Worship in our Beautiful Sanctuary,

Favorite Hymns & Our Talented Choir,

A Special Homecoming Message,

Catching Up with Members Past and Present,

and a Delicious Meal!

Make sure to pick up a special Homecoming Sunday Bulletin featuring

updates from former Pastors Kent Holmes and Bill Starr!

Can’t make it? Call or Email the church office to give us an update.

Do You Have Photos of Church Life or Members?

Contact Rev. Brett @ rev.brettswanson@gmail.com

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

Calling All Ringers!

Both experienced and “future” ringers are always welcome to come

and make beautiful music with our collection of hand bells. Join us!

The Bell Choir Begins Practice

Thursday, September 20th at 6:00 p.m.

More and more people are turning to the internet to find love these days. With dating websites like eHarmony and Match.com becoming the de facto source for meeting new people to the tune of four billion dollars annually, the tried and true “we met through a friend” or “I ran into her at a bar” is

becoming old hat. Just this Summer I officiated a wedding for a couple that met online. It wasn’t my first. It won’t be my last. One of the most unique experiences awaiting those who turn to online dating is the lengthy survey and profile creation process. One site renown for its depth of personal exploration requires answers to 258 questions ranging from upbringing, past dating experiences, religious tolerances, and professional aspirations. Gone are the “Singles Page” ads with it’s familiar coding; SWF, 32 searching for SWM, age 21-35; telling the world you are a 32 year old single white female searching for a 21-35 year old single white male simply isn’t going to cut it anymore. By the time any prospective “matches” have seen your profile the myriad of answers you provided to identify yourself - be they accurate or imaginary - have been tabulated and paired with other customers. It stands to reason, the quickest way to waste the time of the genuinely honest is to lie when identifying yourself. If you told the world you had the body of a god and when you finally met a match it turned out the deity you were describing was Buddha…you see what I mean. Honest Identity: it isn’t just for online dating anymore. Here is the tricky thing about identity: the proof is in the pudding. Or to say it another way, “thus you will know them by their fruits” to quote the Gospel of Matthew. When I met with the Session and Deacons last Spring, the most pressing concern I shared with our leadership was the question of Identity for this congregation. Our name is The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney but for much of the universe the term “Presbyterian” means very little. We are “of Punxsutawney”, does that mean we are a local outfit, unconcerned with the county, state, nation, world? Are we “the Teacher Church” as some have described it? Are we “that downtown, stone church”, taking our identity by our building alone? I’ve used this space here not too long ago to tell the story of my failing in describing our church apart from mentioning Presby McPhil, the kilt clad Groundhog statue standing watch over the parking lot. I believe it is time to start crafting our congregational identity not just with words but with actions. With September’s dawning and the start of our so-called “regular season” now upon us, I believe it is time to ask ourselves by which fruits will we be known. We can put absolutely whatever we want on the church website and nobody will know if it is completely bogus but us. What will be unmistakable are actions; the fruit we produce. I dream of someone some day very soon saying “Oh, that’s the church that helps feed the hungry” or “Yeah, I go to the church that goes on a mission trip every year” or even still, “The Presbyterian Church? I know that place. They are really committed to being a church open to everybody.” Like the prospective online suitor, words are only good if they are backed up with actions. Peace,

P a g e 3

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

Our September 2012 Worship Calendar ***Worship Begins at 11:00 a.m. Starting Sunday, September 9th***

September marks the return of

“regular season” here at PCOP. Our

worship service will return to 11:00

a.m. and Sunday School will return

to 9:45 a.m. Mark your

calendars! Please also note our

Homecoming Sunday scheduled for

September 30th. To learn more,

check out the advertisement on the

Cover (page 1).

September 2nd Final 10:00 a.m. Worship

& Celebration of

The Lord’s Supper

Unstained

Song of Solomon 2:8-13

& James 1:19-27

September 9th First Sunday of Fall Worship

11:00 a.m. Worship

A Message for

the Non-Poor

Proverbs 22

& James 2:1-10

September 16th 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Wrong Kind of

“On Fire”

Proverbs 1:20-33

& James 3:1-12

September 23rd 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Guest Preacher

Rev. Jean Martin

September 30th

Homecoming Sunday

A Service of Celebration

Inviting Members and Friends

Past & Present to Gather

for Worship & Share a Meal

Worship & Music

Make a Joyful Noise! Join the Choir!

Kick-Off Choir Picnic Open to Current Choir Members & Those Interested In Joining

Thursday, September 6th - 6:00 p.m. at Ginger Momyer’s Home 115 Elm Road, Punxsutawney

Calling all Choir Members and those interested in learning more about our choir.

The kick-off picnic will be at Ginger Momyer’s home on Thursday, September 6th.

For more information contact Ginger.

Good News! The Choir Begins Singing on Sunday, September 9th

P a g e 4 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

Fun & Fellowship

Final Summer Walk & Talk

is Thursday, September 6th at 8:00 a.m.

Thanks to all who came out this Summer!

Special Thanks to Bill & Jean Deeley!

Saturday Friends Out for September

SATURDAY FRIENDS OUT WILL MEET AT

The New Anchor Inn

466 Harmony Road Punxsutawney

12:00 p.m. Lunch on Saturday, September 15th

Please call the church office to make your reservation

by September 13th

2012 PAHS Varsity Football Schedule

August 31 Home vs. Brookville

September 7 Away vs. Union

September 14 Home vs. Dubois

September 21 Home vs. AC Valley

September 28 Away vs. St. Mary’s

October 5 Home vs. Clarion Limestone

October 12 Away vs. Karns City

October 19 Away vs. Clarion Area

October 26 Home vs. Moniteau

Home games at 7:00 p.m.

COME ON OUT AND SUPPORT

OUR STUDENT ATHLETES

Devin Williams (Football)

Haley Hartman (Cheerleading)

See Devin & Haley

in action at Varsity Football Games

Final Summer Session!

Bible in 365 Project

Discussion Opportunity

Sunday, September 2nd - 9:15 A.M.

Sunday, September 2nd will be our next Bible in 365 Project discussion opportunity!

This time together will be an opportunity to ask questions, discuss what we have

read, and look ahead to future readings.

P a g e 5 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

Education & Discipleship

T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 5

Tuesdays at Ten Fall Kick-Off!

The Making of

The New Testament Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.—Seminar Room

Join us for our

much-anticipated

look into the Who,

What, Where, Why

and How of the

New Testament!

This class will utilize

an unique DVD

program that pairs a multi-media presentation

with discussion to give participants a well-

rounded look into the history, legend, and

legacy of the New Testament.

Starting Tuesday, September 11th

Adult Sunday School Kick-Off!

All Things

Presbyterian Who We Are,

Where We’ve Been,

and Where We’re Going

Sunday, September 9th to

Sunday, September 30th

9:45 a.m. - Seminar Room

Perfect for New Members, those interested

in discussion, and anyone wanting an

informative but humorous look into

all-things Presbyterian.

Some of our class topics…

5 Things You Might Not Know About the PCUSA

What does it mean to “be Reformed”?

The Care & Feeding of Active Members

What’s Important & What’s Not

P a g e 6 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

Education & Discipleship

T h e H i g h l a n d e r P a g e 6

Rotation Station is for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade and features a variety of opportunities for children to explore the stories of our faith as well as what it means to be part of our church. Lessons for 2012-2013 will mix Old and New Testament stories and lessons with hands-on mission projects, and first hand experiences of the people that make up our church.

We are pleased to have Joyce Cooper and Bev Keeley back leading our program and teaching our classes, and look forward to all the fun our children will have with such loving and dedicated teachers. Older students will be asked to assist the teacher with the younger students as needed for the lessons. Children will meet the teacher in the Art Room on the second floor of the education wing. Parents may pick up their children in the classroom or the nursery before worship.

Each child who attends Sunday School or Youth Group activities receives a Nativity figure gift every December. Members of our church make the ceramic pieces and wooden stable. The first year, they will get the starter set of Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. The following year they receive the stable and an angel. Every year following, they receive one more piece, such as an animal, shepherd, or wise man. A complete set is displayed in the church parlor each December.

Hope to see you there!

2012-2013 Rotation Schedule

September 9th-30th

“Lord’s Prayer”

October 7th-28th

“Books of the Bible”

November 4th-25th

The Book of Acts & The Apostle Paul

December 2nd-23rd

Christmas Around the World

(Half Rotation Singers Practice,

Half Rotation)

January 6th-27th

The People Are The Church

February 3rd-24th

Children of the Bible with

Hands-On Mission Project

March 3rd-17th

Jesus as a Boy

(Half Rotation Singers Practice,

Half Rotation)

April 7th-28th

God’s Big Family

May 5th-26th

The Year in Review

Sunday School Kick-Off

Sunday, September 9th

9:45 a.m. t0 10:45 a.m.

Education Hour

SEPTEMBER 2012

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

Final

Worship at

10:00 a.m.

3

Labor Day

*Office Closed*

4

Walk & Talk

8:00 a.m.

5 6

FINAL

Walk & Talk

8:00 a.m.

~

Choir Picnic

6:00 p.m.

7

8

9

Start of Fall

Worship at

11:00 a.m.

10

Session

at 6:00 p.m.

11

Tuesdays at Ten

at 10:00 a.m.

Presbytery Mtg.

at 4:00 p.m.

12 13 14 15

16

Christian Ed.

9:45 a.m.

~

Worship

11:00 a.m.

17 18

Tuesdays at Ten

at 10:00 a.m.

19 20

Hand-Bell Choir

Kick-Off

6:00 p.m.

21 22

23

Christian Ed.

9:45 a.m.

~

Worship

11:00 a.m.

24 25

Tuesdays at Ten

at 10:00 a.m.

26 27 28 29

30

Homecoming

Sunday:

Worship &

Meal

11:00 a.m.

Happy Birthday!

3rd Richard Fetterman 16th Emily Eyler 27th Kellan Cessna

5th Barry Eyler 20th Patty Chambers 28th Ann Mumper

7th Emma White 21st Dee Blose 30th Roberta Dinsmore

10th Andy Phillber 26th Doug Harrold Guy Lester

Rev. Brett Swanson on Vacation

Rev. Brett Swanson on Vacation (September 19th to September 29th)

P a g e 8

Don’t forget to drop off purchased items for the

Disaster Relief Clean-Up Buckets in the Blue Bucket in

the Foyer.

We are collecting:

Scouring Pads

Sponges

Clothes Pins & Clothesline

Work Gloves & Latex Gloves

Dawn Dish Soap & Lysol Cleaner

Package of Easy Wipes

Heavy Duty Trash Bags

Scrub Brushes

Dust Masks

50 oz. Bottle of Laundry Detergent

Non-Aerosol Insect Repellant

**Items Go in Blue Bucket in Foyer**

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

Disaster Relief

Clean-Up

Bucket Project

We are safe at home only because some folks are giving their time---and even their lives---to make sure we are safe. In a small way we all can help to make their lives a bit more comfortable by participating in our collection of individual hygiene and health products for our military forces overseas.

Individually sized items can be purchased at most drug or dollar stores or brought home from hotels. There will be an area in the church foyer for your donations. Monetary donations are always welcome to help off-set the cost of shipping.

Shampoo & Conditioner, Hand Sanitizer

Mouth Wash, Lotion Small Soaps, Body Powder and more!

Mission & Outreach

Support Our Troops!

Hygiene Item

Collection for

Soldiers Overseas

Calling All KNITTERS and CROCHETERS

650 Tri-County Children go without

Mittens & Gloves during the Winter

Calling all Knitters and Crocheters! The Mission Team asks you to put your talents to use

in helping some of the 650 children in our tri-county area stay warm this winter by

making mittens for the children of the Head Start program. Winter is less than three months away

and with the loss of some faithful knitters, there is an anticipated shortage for Winter 2012-2013.

Completed mittens can be dropped off in the Foyer.

Can’t knit but would like to help? Pick up a skein or two of yarn for the folks making the mittens or

make an monetary contribution to help purchase supplies. Questions? Contact Roberta Dinsmore

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

Those Needing

Our Prayer

Sallye Barrett

Otto Grube

Betty Brumbaugh

Lois Leksell

Cathy Gould

D.J. Bianco

Annie Laurie

Williams

Kathy Kopp

Nancy Lazorchak

Carl & Louise

Benson

Avanell Bennett

Debbie Wright

Family of

John Williams

Family of

Maxine Dellamastra

Our Christian

Sympathies go to

Susan Wydra and

family at the death of

her mother.

The Philliber family

at the death of Betty

Philliber, long time

member of this

church.

P a g e 9

Thank You to our September Volunteers

September 2nd

**Worship 10:00 a.m.**

Screen George Momyer

Sound Barb Hanley

Liturgist Muriel Grube

September 9th

**Worship 11:00 a.m.**

Screen Nick Suntheimer

Sound George Momyer

Liturgist Carole Haire

Acolyte Holly Hartman

September 16th

**Worship 11:00 a.m.**

Screen Ben Fye

Sound Bruce Williams

Liturgist Dana Hartman

Acolyte Jackson & Ben Fezell

September 23rd

**Worship 11:00 a.m.**

Screen Bill Cooper

Sound Nick Suntheimer

Liturgist Haley Hartman

Acolyte Madelyn Fye &

McKenzie Reiter

Screen George Momyer September 30th

**Worship 11:00 a.m.** Sound Barb Hanley

Liturgist John Hughes

Acolyte Holly Hartman

September “Green Team”

Volunteers

September 2-8 Keith Hughes

September 9-15 Debbie Dinsmore

September 16-22 Richard Fetterman

September 23-29 Wick Divelbiss

September 30 -

October 6

Bill Copper

FINANCIAL STATEMENT - July & August 2012

July

Current

August

Current

July

Year to Date

August

Year to Date

Budgeted

Receipts $16,557.16 $12,317.92 $103,625.08 $115,943.00

Disbursements $15,274.45 $16,436.80 $106,522.83 $122,959.63 $179,966.50

Excess

(- Deficiency) of Revenues over

Expenditures

$1,282.71 ($4,118.88) ($2,897.75) ($7,016.63)

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it ~ Psalm 24:1

The Presbyterian Church of Punxsutawney

106 E. Union St.

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania 15767

Office: (814) 938-5560

Visit Us Online at punxsypc.net

Community Spotlight Showcasing Events and Opportunities of Members Active in our Community

Reminder

Deadline for

October 2012’s

Highlander Articles

is Monday,

September 17th

ATTENTION MEMBERS:

Are you involved with a

community group, activity,

production, or event? Do you

play a role in making

Punxsutawney and beyond a

better place?

We want to hear about it!

Send your information to

rev.brettswanson@gmail.com

Congratulations to

Ben Fye

and all the Cast and Crew of

The Senator Wore Pantyhose

on a wonderful show! a production of

The Reitz Theater (DuBois)