CHURCH BRIEFS

First Presbyterian To describe the four weeks of Advent, many writers use the term “Holy or spiritual waiting.” However, it is more importantly a time of preparation. In our continuing service of God and preparation for Jesus’ arrival on Christmas, FPC members are also keeping busy in more earthly ways. Our church is now beautifully decorated in anticipation of Christmas. Wreaths are hung and trees are up. The beautiful Christmas banners are displayed in the sanctuary, each with its own special message. Viewing our traditional Nativity scenes remind us of what we are really celebrating. Thank you to our Men’s Group for the ladder work and to all who helped with decorating. The Christmas spirit is upon us. Holy waiting is often described as, using your powers of observation to, “see opportunities or ways to make a difference in someone else’s life.” FPC, along with many area churches and organizations, are already working on several different activities that help to bolster an important annual holiday event, the Yates Christmas Program. FPC volunteers will make a trip to New Jersey this weekend with a U-Haul to pick up items, for Christmas giving, collected by our friends in Basking Ridge. Our gratitude is immense for their participation. Sunday afternoon more volunteer “elves” will appear at our church to unload this truck filled with gently used toys, dolls, games, sports equipment and other similar items. Early next week yet another group of “sorting” elves will repair, clean, augment and display all these goodies, just like a department store! Then, groups of Social Worker and School Counselor “elves” armed with checklists can make some serious gift choices to help fill wish lists. In this post Covid world with fluctuating volunteer levels, space constraints and a compressed timeline, needs for change in this entire program were necessary. FPC has chosen to narrow its scope and focus on the children. In this way, Santa is able to delight more children of all ages on Christmas morning. Looking beyond our own wants and desires gives us insight into the more immediate needs of others. Our actions can be rewarding and spiritually transformative, this is holy waiting. As we approach the second Sunday in Advent the theme is Peace. This is not the type of peace we commonly think of as ending strife within a nation or the absence of war. This is a Biblical peace, the type one finds when we open our hearts and trust in God. To accomplish this each person must be determined to keep their own peace by eliminating fear, envy, selfishness, anger, discontentment and sins against others. This in turn makes room in our hearts for cooperation, forgiveness, acting with grace and showing love for one another, as Jesus had commanded. By practicing those virtues, strife and war would have no fuel. In many Christian church services we regularly turn to our neighbor and say the words, “Peace be with you.” These words were uttered by Jesus three separate times to his disciples, in John 20. The response we give in return is, “And also with you.” Two very important statements when you really think about it. Penn Yan First Baptist Our pulpit supply during the month of December will be as follows: 4th - Rev. Dale Lawrence, 11th - Brian Bleiler, 18th - Dale Wakley, 24th - Rev. Don Lawrence. December 25, we will worship at First Presbyterian Church. The Community Chorus Christmas Concert will be held in our sanctuary on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow. Branchport Methodist We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! The Advent season is now upon us, and our church is continuing our tradition of lighting our Memorial tree on the front lawn to remind us of those who have gone before us and have left their mark on our hearts. You can help us light up the tree by sending $2 with each name you wish to honor to Branchport UMC c/o Dave Thorn, Financial Secretary, P.O. Box 2, Keuka Park, NY 14478. Your memorial will be used in the ministry and mission of our church. We have many events coming up during the next few weeks. On Sunday, Dec. 4 at noon, we are inviting all in the community to join us for a “Stone Soup” luncheon after church. You are always welcome to the service at 10:45 a.m., but it is not necessary. After we eat, we will decorate cookies and make some Christmas crafts. It is family friendly with crafts for all ages, so please bring yourselves and the kids for this time of Christmas fellowship. On Sunday, Dec. 18 we will be worshiping at 10:30 with Pastor Kim’s other church, Milo Center UMC, and three other churches in the area. It will be followed by a dish to pass lunch and some Christmas caroling. Because Pastor Kim is not able to be in two places at once, we will not have a worship service in Branchport on that day. Our Christmas Eve service will be at 7:15 p.m. and Christmas day we will worship at 10:45 a.m. All services have Zoom access. If you wish to be included in our emails to access the Zoom please email Pastor Kim at: kjolyons@yahoo.com. Bluff Point Methodist Thanksgiving Blessings! This was Thanksgiving Sunday, and also a time of remembering our Veterans. Many from our church have served in active military service and reserves. Stacy Wyant reported that our men recently donated over $200 from their recent Men’s Breakfast to Keuka Comfort Home. We are so fortunate to have them in our Penn Yan community! We have several people who have interest in joining the church. If there are any others, please let Stacy Wyant know so this can be scheduled. Don’t forget that November is the month to make your financial pledge to the church for 2023. There is a box in front of the church for you to return your pledge card. We are now entering advent and will be collecting items in a reverse advent calendar for the Living Well, and also have an angel tree, and a mitten, scarf and hat tree. Our scripture lessons read by Sarah Stackhouse were from Psalm 104: 33-35 and Psalm 105: 1-8. These passages are about giving thanks to the Lord, blessing the Lord and rejoicing in the Lord. We have much to be thankful for. Laurie Prinzivalli brought mugs from our church given out 20 years ago on our 150th Anniversary. Her message focused on the long history of BPUMC, and that we are here to stay. She gave thanks to all who continue to pull together in our little church, to continue the missions of the Lord in our community and beyond. She lamented on how important God is in her life, and how she survived dark times with Jesus’s help. In darkest days one needs to adjust their crown. We are all born from a king, made in God’s image, and blessed to have faith. She concluded that not all is bad in times of darkness, as we are given opportunity for rest during those periods. We need to continue to love one another, encourage and inspire, help each of us through difficult times, and count our blessings. These are treasures that are free. We need to be thankful for faith, family, friends, and our health. Thank you, Laurie, for your inspiring message. Milo Center Methodist Pastor Kim began service with a verse from Philippians. “Be glad in the Lord always! -- Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people.” How fitting for this week of great thankfulness. Perhaps a goal this season of Thanksgiving is to show praise and our thanks to God in every situation in spite of the pain and suffering we may be going through. Be glad always! The Milo Center UMC wish you and those you hold dear an overflowing of God’s glory, grace and gratitude. We are thankful for you. Congratulations to our young disciples for their academic achievements. Prayers to Jean LeClaire as she recovers from a fall. Many thanks to Morris Reddout for the gift to our young disciples. Grab and Go Lunch was a success for our November mission. Services for all is at 9 am. Come visit our beautiful country church. You are welcome!

CHURCH BRIEFS

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