THIS WEEK AT FAITH

January 12, 2025

No matter who you are

or where you are on life’s journey

you are welcome here.

Our Welcoming Statement

FAITH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

5992 Route 378

Center Valley, PA 18034

610.282.3939

**** Office Hours ****

Monday (*Remotely) - 9 am - 4 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (in office) - 9 am - 4 pm

Friday - Closed/Pastor's Sabbath

*Sandy will be working remotely but will check messages

on a regular basis. If you find yourself in immediate need,

call or text her at 610-967-6232.

faithchurchcv@gmail.com

www.faithchurchucc.org

MEMBERS & FRIENDS DIRECTORY

(Updated November 2024)

The January 2025 Focus on Faith is here!

Please read through it to see what's happening in the new year and what we accomplished through the Mission Team

for the Holidays! It's pretty impressive:)

Join us

the 1st Sunday after Epiphany

January 12, 2025

Sunday School - 9:00 am

Worship - 10:15 am

Communion

Joyful Noise Collection - Make a Joyful Noise!!

Order of Worship

(To watch the service click on the circle above)

FAITH UCC CALENDAR

Sunday 1/12 - 9:00 am Sunday School; 9:30 am Choir Rehearsal; 10:15 am WORSHIP; 11:30 am Choir Rehearsal
Monday 1/13 - Sandy works remotely
Tuesday 1/14 - 10:30 am Bleam Funeral (9:30 visitation); 2 pm Faith in Stitches; 7 pm Budget & Finance
Thursday 1/16 - 10 am Samaritan Fund Mtg; 7 pm Consistory
Friday 1/17 - Office Closed; Pastor's Day Off
Saturday 1/18 - 9:00 am Undecorating for Christmas
Sunday 1/19 - 9:00 am Sunday School; 9:30 am Choir Rehearsal; 10:15 am WORSHIP; 11:30 am Choir Rehearsal

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

The 2025 Flower Schedule is available in the Narthex. The cost of Flowers remains the same - $40 for 2 arrangements. Please sign up!

Marilyn Bleam passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2024 in her home at the age of 95. There will be services here at Faith on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - Visitation begins at 9:30 am with the funeral service to follow at 10:30 am. Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Marilyn's Obituary

Lost & Found...

A bracelet, an earring, and a hair clip were found in the sanctuary on Sunday. If they are yours they are on the table in the narthex.

The Jewelry Fundraiser held in December raised $1,365 that will benefit the General Fund. Thanks to all who made that possible!!

Next Saturday, January 18th, the worship committee will be taking down the Christmas Tree and decorations. All help will be appreciated!

From Rev. Dr. Bonnie Bates

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139: 7-10, NIV)

Dear friends,

This week has seen some tragedies and celebrations. The tragedies of the wildfires in California, the storms which have challenged many locations, the celebration of the life of President Jimmy Carter, the beginning of the season of Epiphany and this Sunday the celebration of the baptism of Jesus. Personal tragedies aside, there is some chaos in the world and some challenges we are all facing. Wars continue, governments are challenged, and leaders are resigning. In our own communities we see the closing of churches and merging of faith communities, sink hole disasters, shootings in our cities, fatal car accidents… the world is full of ups and downs, sorrows and joys, despair and hope.

Yet, we people of faith cling to the knowledge that no matter what happens we are not alone. God is with us. It’s hard sometimes to quiet our minds and hearts enough to feel God’s presence, but it is so worth it to slow down and reflect on God’s love and blessings. Taking a deep breath, reflecting on the hope in the Gospel, experiencing whatever peace and joy is around us can help settle our minds and our hearts.

January is a busy season for some and let down after the holidays for others. And no matter our mood or our tasks, God is with us, walking with us, holding us, and embracing us. And our Christian and interfaith siblings echo that presence in their interactions with us. Let me share an example. While I was at the Council of Conference Ministers Retreat and the Authorizing Ministers for the 21st Century events in Arizona in December, my apartment was broken into. Televisions, most of my jewelry, wrapped Christmas presents for my grandchildren and an assortment of other items were stolen. I was worried about how I could replace things, especially the Christmas presents, and how I could afford the trip south for Christmas, which involved kenneling the dog and paying for the trip. A friend, with whom I was talking, checked with her family about TV replacements and called me back to say that anonymous donors had $1500 for me in order to replace what was taken, afford to kennel the dog and travel south for Christmas with my family. Another family donated more funds, the Council of Conference Ministers provided a monetary gift as well.

The money donated was valuable, but even more valuable was the knowledge that in the chaos of the robbery’s aftermath, people reached out in friendship, love, and generosity to share with me, to help me heal. They were and are the presence of God in my life. Where are you able to see and feel, to be and share the presence of God? It’s important to be the face of Christ in the world. I hope you are able to be that face and see that face in others.

Blessings,

Bonnie

The Right Way Is Their Way

by Molly Baskette

Train children in the right way, and when old they will not stray. – Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV)

In a church I used to serve, a bumper crop of 12 babies were born during one absurd, jubilant 7-month stretch.

Seeing so many babies in such proximity week after week meant comparisons. They all had personalities, passions, and proclivities. Some were quiet, some loud. Some were very sensitive, crying all the time at how uncomfortable the world was. Some were prodigies who smiled and even laughed well before the others. Some were dreamy, staring into the future. Some didn’t miss a trick, observant and wary.

Proverbs 22:6, one of the few parenting stratagems to be found in the Bible, is often translated “Train up a child in the right way, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Rather: mis-translated. There is no “right way” to raise a child, no one-size-fits-all parenting proverb, biblical or otherwise. Every new human is as unique as the God who made them. A more accurate, literal translation of the proverb is: “Train the child in their own way, and when older they will not stray.” Not the “right” way, but their way, the way that is right for them.

At 11 days old, baby Jesus was probably already showcasing the personality that would emerge later in life: the curious, brave, adventurous 12-year-old who stayed in the Temple in Jerusalem long after his parents left. A bit defiant, definitely self-differentiated, inclusive and expansive. Lucky for him, while his parents worried, they didn’t snowplow problems from his path. A carpentering family, they understood that God had given Jesus his own unique grain and didn’t want to work against that grain, which would risk wrecking it.

Noticing the grain of the children in our care—who they really are, and what they need to become fully themselves—is the holiest thing we can do. Who knows: we may even be helping to raise the next Jesus.

Prayer

God, thank you for the babies and kids in my life. Help me to truly notice, truly understand, and truly love them into greater becoming.

About the Author

Rev. Molly Baskette is the lead pastor of First Church Berkeley UCC and the author of books about church renewal, parenting, spiritual growth and more. Sign up for her author newsletter or get information about her newest book at mollybaskette.com.

About the Author

FOOD ITEMS DESPERATELY NEEDED:

Boxed Potatoes & Stuffing

Meal Helpers (Beef, Chicken, Tuna)

Jams & Jelly

JANUARY

09 Dennis Eisenhart

13 Joan Hassler

15 Andrew Sosnowsky

15 Jerry Trexler

16 Robin Davis

19 Dwayne Schantz

20 Richard J Featherman

21 Christian Heaps

22 Koltin Leh

25 Matthew Talboo

27 Luke Schafer

27 Riley Snyder

28 Ronald Stoffey

30 Leah Conners

31 Gail Clark

31 Matthew Allison

A Special THANK YOU to all who continue to financially support our ministry as you are able. We'd like to remind you there are several ways you can do this: