October 2021
WORSHIP WITH US! Sundays 10:00 in person and live streamed on FB
October
3 – Hebrews 2:5-12 and Ps 8 - Hebrews - World Communion Sunday
10 – Mark 10:13-31 – Say Yes?
17 – Mark 10:35-52 - Contrasting Sight
24 – Job 42:1-6 - Job’s Answer
31 – Ruth 1:1-22 - Ruth Leads the Way - All Saints Day remembrances
November
7 – Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Mark 12:28 – 34 Change Sunday – donating to our Deacon’s ministry
14 – 1 Samuel 1 – Hannah Rose
21 – 1 Samuel 23:1-4 and Revelations 1:1-8 - Christ the King
28 – Luke 1: 5-38 John and Jesus - Advent 1
December
5 – Luke 1:68-79 Zechariah Sings - Advent 2
12 – Luke 3:1-16 – What John Sees - Advent 3
19 – Christmas Tales - Advent 4
24 – Christmas Eve 7:00 PM
26 – Lessons and Carols
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Dear Congregation,
At our regularly scheduled Session meeting this past Monday I submitted my resignation, effective December 31, 2021.
As many of you know I have been journeying to and from California to help settle my father into assisted living. Thank you for your support and prayers! While he has settled in well, he is 91 years old. My plan was to continue to fly across country to be more present now that he no longer uses email. However, during my last trip Dad asked me to move ‘home’ to Santa Cruz.
For 35 years I have moved away from my dad, across the globe and across the country. This is the first ‘ask’ my father has ever made. As he is facing increased cognitive impairment, I doubted the ‘ask’ but he repeated it 3 other times within a week. Though this was not my plan I now believe it is God’s plan.
Session graciously accepted my resignation as of 12/31/21, and I am very grateful for the next months we will spend together. This means you will enter another transitional period. May I remind you that you as a church gallantly walked into your previous pastoral transition, then did it again with this awful pandemic. No body of believers wants to be called resilient because it means you have been tested by fire and like Daniel walked out of the furnace. But you are resilient and have endured fire and are strong.
Presbytery will take very, very good care of you. Brian Wallace will stay connected with your Session and walk with you through upcoming changes.
At our Session meeting I shared a bit about Moses. With all his gifts and miracles there is one thing Moses never knew: what would come next. At the end of his life Moses gave a final blessing as he was transitioning out of ministry and into glory,
Deuteronomy 31.6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; God will never leave you nor forsake you.”
In Christ our Savior, Pastor Jane
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From Your Session: Session Accepts Pastor Resignation
At the September 20 Session meeting Pastor Jane submitted her resignation effective December 31. Jane will be relocating to California to assist in her aging father’s care.
Session accepted Jane’s resignation and would like to express our thankfulness and gratitude to Jane for her pastoral care and leadership over the last three years. We pray that God will be with Jane and her father as they embark on their final journey together.
One member of session noted that many of us within the Plum Creek family have been blessed with the opportunity to walk alongside our parents and grandparents in their final journeys. We are pleased that Jane has been blessed with this same opportunity.
As we enter another transitional period, we must heed the words of Deuteronomy 31 verse 6: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; God will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Another session member, pondering Jane’s resignation along with the recent resignation of our Christian Formation Director, stated “I will not lament, God has a plan for us, and we will get through this.”
And we will get through this. Throughout its long history, members of Plum Creek have been resilient to change and have demonstrated the ability to come together for the better good of the church. So once again we must come together to discern where God is leading us.
Reverend Brian Wallace, Associate Minister of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, was also present at the session meeting. Brian will work with us through the transition, and at the September 20 meeting led session through the next steps.
While December 31st is three months away, the time will go quickly; so top of mind for session was pastoral continuity after January 1st and time required to find Jane’s replacement.
After much discussion, it was agreed that a multi-track approach including posting for a temporary pastor while searching for a full-time covenant pastor would provide the most flexibility
Session will continue its discussion with Brian.
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Deacons Hosting a Rite Aid Flu-Shot Clinic October 31, after worship
With fall setting in, it’s that yearly reminder….it’s time to get your Flu Shot! The Deacons will be holding a flu vaccine clinic in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, October 31st from after the worship service until vaccines have been given to interested participants.
Please bring your insurance card.
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Deacons Share the Warmth Coat Drive
Be on the lookout for this year’s Coat Tree located in the Narthex! The Deacons will be hosting a coat drive for children and adults in need of a winter coat this year. Please consider sharing the warmth and donating a coat this year. More details will be available soon!
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2022 Stewardship Campaign
As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10
As the COVID pandemic, specifically the Delta variant, continues to disrupt our social norms, it can be difficult to look towards the future with clarity and comfort. So uncertain were the times last year when we began our stewardship campaign, we elected not to request commitment cards and approved a faith-based budget. However, we only need to take a look back at the past year to see that through God’s grace and the generous giving of our talents and financial treasures, the ministries of The Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek (PCPC) continue to thrive.
Sunday worship services offered in-person and virtually
Youth confirmation class and Sunday School offered via Zoom
Six youth confirmed as newest members of PCPC
Two former church youth had their children baptized at PCPC
Zoom Bible study offered Wednesday afternoon
Zoom combined Lenten study with Valencia Presbyterian Church co-led by Pastor Jane and Pastor Jim Kirk, former PCPC youth and member, and current pastor of Valencia Presbyterian Church
Approximately 20 youth ranging in age from 6-15 years old participated in Friday Club offered during Lent
Summer Club hosted approximately 30 youth in grades K-6 on Wednesdays throughout the summer
Evangelism & Fellowship sponsored themed monthly bonfires and celebrated Plum EMT with an appreciation lunch
59th Annual Rummage Sale was a huge success
Deacons’ ministry included:
- Supporting visitees safely
- Supporting Plum Food Pantry
- Helping Hands ministry
Mission continued to support a number of worthy causes including:
- Northside Commons Ministries
- Plum Food Pantry
- Local sock drive (collected 203 pairs of socks)
- Blessing Bags and a Blessing Box in partnership with our Boy Scout Troop
- Sheep Inc. (free healthcare center in Monroeville)
- TryLife Center (training and distribution center for local families in need)
- Heather McGarvey, former PCPC Youth Director, serving in Romania
Worship & Music undertook a project to upgrade our sanctuary sound system thanks to very generous donations from our church family
Our 2021 faith-based budget assumed giving income equal to 2020 income and generally fixed expenses. So where do we stand as of the end of August? Giving income through August of $97,577, which approximated budget through May, is $7,684 lower than budget. Expenses, excluding per capita and Safe Center for Online Learning (SCOL), are approximately $3,395 lower than budget. For 2022 we anticipate that expenses will approximate 2021 levels.
As we enter our 2022 Stewardship Campaign, we understand that pledging is hard in the best of times, but harder still in times of uncertainty. And while we cannot know what lies ahead, we can remain confident in God’s grace and steadfast love. Through our generous and faithful gifts, we can continue the ministries of the PCPC. Therefore, we are asking that you prayerfully consider what God may be calling you to pledge in this next year. More to the point, we are asking those of you who gave in 2020 to pledge at that amount for 2022 and, if you find that your circumstances allow, to consider increasing your gift to help those who cannot. We recognize and understand that each of our circumstances are unique and that not everyone will be able to meet this request.
Additional information on the 2022 budget and commitment cards will be distributed in mid-October. Commitment cards will be dedicated on Sunday, November 7. In the meantime, should you have questions, please reach out to a member of the Finance & Stewardship Committee including Dot Easter, Bonnie Jackson, Cheryl Lynn, Dave Nesbit, Brandon Peifer, Ed Smith and Patrick Spenik.
Faithfully, Finance & Stewardship Committee