November 13, 2020
Grace and peace to you, sisters and brothers,
While we all appreciate how livestreaming, facetiming, zoom meetings, and the like are helping us to stay in touch and “see” each other in these Covid times, we have also learned that “seeing” is not the same as “being” together. It is not the same to look at a loved one through a window in a hospital or residential facility; it is not the same to see grandchildren but not be able to hug them; it is not the same to worship online versus being in person in the sanctuary and it is not the same to attend a zoom meeting as it is to be in a room where it is so much easier to talk and see each other’s body language.
But with God’s help, we are working hard to stay connected and be the body of Christ to each other. We are so thankful for all of the work so many of you are doing to help others: offering to drop off food, delivering home communion, checking in by phone on those who may be more socially isolated or just got home from the hospital, cleaning out a church member’s gutters that she cannot do herself, organizing Christmas toy and food drives, figuring out how to gather as Seekers and as a senior high Sunday School class periodically, leading Young Children and Worship on Sunday mornings, or Music-less Rec on Wednesday afternoons – the list could go on and on. Thank you!
Please know that even if you are “out of sight,” you are not “out of mind.” We continue to systematically pray for all of you at staff meetings.
In the church lobby, if you haven’t been here recently, is the full-sized banner depicted above. It is a mosaic of this year’s stewardship theme, “Faithful, Hopeful, Loving,” made up of hundreds of pictures of church members in action. How fitting – because this is who we are in these days in these days of Covid just as much as before: “the church is not a building; the church is not a steeple; the church is not a resting place; the church is a people!”
How will we be the Church this week?
Church Library is open during office hours
Saturday 11/14 – Cub Scouts, 1-3PM – skill building exercises
Sunday 11/15 – Service of the Lord’s Day, 9:30AM in the sanctuary and live-streamed. Please sign up online. The library is open!
Monday 11/16 – Cub Scouts, 7PM
Tuesday 11/17 – Staff meeting, 10AM
Tuesday 11/17 – Presbytery Meeting, 1PM virtual
Tuesday 11/17 – Praying the Scriptures via Zoom, 7:30PM If you would like the link, email Kerry
Wednesday 11/18 – Endowment Meeting via Zoom, 8:30AM
Wednesday 11/18 – Music-less Rec, 4PM with Ms. Jaylee and Mrs. B outside, weather permitting, or in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday 11/18 – Session, 7:30PM Fellowship Hall or Zoom. Let Carter know if you cannot attend in person and he will send a link
Thursday 11/19 – Sisters of the Way Bible study, 9:30AM on the Prayer Labyrinth or in Fellowship Hall
Thursday 11/19 – Community Meals – 5PM in the lower parking lot
Thursday 11/19 – Girl Scouts – 6PM, in Fellowship Hall
Thursday 11/19 – Chancel Handbells Rehearsal – 6:30PM
Conowingo Dam Outing – Saturday, November 28th
Mike Deegan is leading another Faith and Nature trip to Conowingo Dam to see the migrating bald eagles – socially distanced, of course – on Saturday, Nov. 28. Meet at the church parking lot at 9 a.m. if interested in caravanning or at 10:30 at the dam. Sign up by emailing Marie at church so we don’t leave you behind that morning.
Advent Toy, Socks, Gloves, and Food Collection
Donations due by December 6th
This year we are participating in the Cluster’s toy collection drive for Christmas.
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They are asking for unwrapped toys for children from infant to age 16.
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We are collecting warm gloves and socks for our Community Meals guests.
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And, we are committed to providing 200 boxes of instant potatoes that will go into the Cluster Christmas food boxes.
You can drop off your donations in the “mission collection box” in the church lobby up to Sunday, December 6. Or if you want the Mission Committee to do the shopping for you, you can drop off a gift card at the church office or you can give online. Click here to give and choose Mission under allocation and type ‘Christmas Collection’ in the notes section.
Faithful, Hopeful, Loving
We hope you can let us know your financial and volunteer intentions for 2021. You can mail in or drop off the pledge cards earlier sent to you, request another one from Marie, or this year make your commitment online.
Car Magnets with our new logo are available!
Pick up yours in the church lobby. Or contact Marie if you would like for us to mail it to you.
Community News
See how Pottstown is addressing the needs of our homeless population and the impact of Covid on services – Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7:00-8:00 p.m. On PCTV channel 22 and 28 and Facebook LIVE TCN Homeless Service.
Wishing You Well
Thanksgiving: our veterans
Mission Partner: Living Waters for the World: Honduras
Gladly,
Kerry and Carter
