May 2021
SCOUTING FOR FOOD
THIS SATURDAY
APRIL 24
8:30am - 11:30am
Boy Scout Troop 877 is partnering with our church for their Scouting for Food project. Donations will be accepted at our pavilion this Saturday, April 24 from 8:30 am to 11:30. Please considering stopping by to donate canned goods or other non-perishables for this worthy cause.
Blossoming in Spring
Driving through the beautiful countryside of Pennsylvania for my second vaccination gave me the opportunity to see trees blooming through spring. The variety of greens in new growth that will turn into similar greens through summer were sure signs of hope. This pandemic may be making us weary of caution and care, but the trees are blooming with abandon. I thought of that lovely verse from Isaiah 55:12: You shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. This verse was put to music in 1981 by Jim Strathdee, titled Trees of the Field.
God’s gift of nature is a wonder and witness. During this season of new things in spring it is tempting to throw caution to the wind and blossom like the trees in the field back into old ways. Perhaps it is good to remember that the leaves in their initial lighter green are all brand new. They are not the leaves that existed last year, or any other year, they are new for this very year. What is not new is our appreciation of the hope expressed by nature during spring.
Your church, like the trees of the field giving glory to God, clapping their hands as it were, is blossoming through a difficult but historic period of pandemic. There are old things fading while new things are blossoming into color, such is the way of the Jesus’ Church for the past 2000 years.
Something renewed at PCPC: Session has revisited opening building rentals again. Renters will be asked to abide by State guidelines for safe gatherings. More people are attending worship in person something we can safely host by using every other pew, no liturgical hand touching, facemasks, and quiet singing. We will be having more social gatherings, bonfires, coffee hours after church now, but will continue to respect social distancing and safe practices.
Spring is new and we all long for the old ways to be new again. Perception is reality, in Christ we can practice safety while we long for a post pandemic world and perceive the practices learned over the past year as the beauty of Jesus’ command to love one another. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst in song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands! To the Glory of God, Amen. Jane
UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES FROM EVANGELISM AND FELLOWSHIP
Evangelism and Fellowship is hosting monthly Friday night socials at the pavilion. Each evening will have a theme with the main course provided, along with beverages, chips and a bonfire.
Our first is Taco Night happening THIS Friday, April 23 starting at 6 pm.
Wing Night is planned for May 14th (6 pm).
ALL are welcome, if you wish to bring a side dish or a dessert, please feel free.
This years’ Rummage Sale is planned for Friday & Saturday, August 20 and 21, with set-up beginning Sunday, August 15.
Finally, the E & F Committee is looking for new members or volunteers that would like to assist in our outreach to the congregation and the community. If interested, please contact the church office or Ed Smith.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION NEWS
OPPORTUNITY to write
You are invited to contribute to the narrative first person essays from the congregation – this month’s submission is to the word Mom, presented by Bonnie Jackson. Please consider submitting a 500-word first person narrative about how you interpret the word for the month. Please submit your narrative to Jane or Kathy by the 15th of the month. Our next newsletter word opportunity is: Footprint. There are many different ways to approach each word, the variety of responses enriches the word for all readers and provokes new ways of considering it.
The trouble started in the third trimester of my pregnancy. I was ordered to the hospital by the youngest of the five doctors in the practice who was alarmed by the rise in my blood pressure. After a 3-day hospital stay I was sent home on bed rest. Four weeks later that same doctor admitted me to the hospital again.
After 2 weeks of monitoring and testing a C-section delivery was finally scheduled. I had been in the hospital long enough to know the surgery schedule and realized this same doctor would be the one to deliver my baby. I was upset and very disappointed that it couldn’t be one of the other doctors, one of the calming and fatherly ones. My dad had died when I was 16 and I liked the connection with the older doctors better. Despite several requests for a schedule adjustment, delivery day arrived and I needed to accept the circumstances. Besides, what was the big deal? In less than an hour everything would be over so really how important was it who delivered my baby? Things got underway very early that Friday morning and were going well despite a few snags. I heard Amanda’s cries before I even saw her and gave thanks to God for his grace and mercy. As I started to relax the doctor announced to the room there was a problem. He leaned over to ask my permission to perform life-saving surgery on me due to a rare complication as a result of the pregnancy.
I spent the next 7 days in the hospital and had many conversations with doctors and nurses that stopped by to see us. As I processed their various comments it became clear to me that the Lord had provided us the best doctor that day. While I wanted it my way the Father knew what we needed (Matthew 6:8). Being a new mom also made me ponder my own mysterious birth and the man who found a cold and crying newborn baby abandoned in the back seat of his parked car on Thanksgiving night in 1954. The Father knew what I needed!
May 9
Celebrating the mothers in our lives, our mothers as well as those who have mothered us into growing up, discipleship, and a closer walk with Jesus. Worship and Music will have a carnation for the women of our congregation and Evangelism & Fellowship will have a small handmade remembrance to offer. Last year, during the pandemic, our Mission committee hosted a donation drop off for the Plum Food Pantry. This Mothering Sunday you may continue this wonderful mission by bringing supplies community mothers may pick up from the food pantry.
Confirmation Class 2021
Your confirmation class has continued to meet via zoom this academic year. Confirmation Sunday will be on Pentecost, May 23rd. Throughout this year the 6 kids have faithfully met to discuss the miracles of Jesus, the names of Jesus as a descriptor for who he was and is, names of God and Holy Spirit, and Jesus’ resurrection appearances to help us reflect on why we call Jesus ‘Lord of life’, Jesus’ incarnation, mercy, compassion, and covenant.
Please support your confirmands on Confirmation Sunday as we welcome them to the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek family.
Mission News
On April 1st, our mission committee cooked and delivered dinner for Northside Common Ministries shelter for homeless men. We also took socks and heavy rain ponchos to be distributed.
Thank you to our congregation as we collected 203 pairs of socks for Plum Rotary for Socks with a Mission (SWAM) in March.
The mission committee prepared 15 bags for its street ministry to be distributed by the congregation or anyone who might come in contact with the homeless. Bags are available on the coat tree in the narthex.
On April 19th, we helped Boy Scout troop 877 hang door hangers and bags for a food drive on April 24th in Plum. The food will go to Plum Food Pantry. On April 24, we will gather the food from the bags, pack it at the church pavilion and take it to Plum Food Pantry.
Anyone who would be interested in joining the mission committee, we meet the 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. Our next meeting is May 4. Please join us.
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Deacons - Change Sunday
As Daylight Saving Time began on Sunday, March 14th, the Deacons wish to thank the congregation for the $274 collected through their Change Sunday fundraiser. The Deacons will use the money to continue to spread their light through their ministries. The donations collected after services will help support Helping Hands Ministry and other special ministries.
Day Camp Has Closed
It was the end of 14 years of ministry to community children hosted at Plum Creek when the Board of Directors closed Day Camp ministries at the end of 2020 with much love and appreciation for the many, many people who made Day Camp possible since 2007.
In 2018 the board of DCPC drafted a brief history of Day Camp ministries
History of the Day Camp at the Presbytery Church of Plum Creek
In 2004 Rev. Dr. Jack Lolla had a passion for a summer Day Camp with challenge courses at the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek. With the amazing help of many saints at PCPC the equipment was purchased, installed with ACCT certification, and had its first summer season in 2007. The goal of the new day use of camp and challenge courses was to bring greater awareness to campers, participants, and youth leaders about the love of God experienced in a community through physical challenges & cooperation, Bible stories, environmental awareness, and having fun together. Countless Plum Creek volunteers cut paths into our hills, distributed bark, leveled rough places, improved access to our creek, and made our church grounds into a unique ministry experience in Western Pennsylvania.
Team building skills are an avenue to building disciples of Jesus. Utilizing staff from many area churches encouraged ecumenical relationships and openness. The Day Camp is committed to multi-national, multi-racial children and youth from all over.
The challenge courses, four story climbing wall, and zip-line are the heart of the Day Camp, teaching children and youth to cooperatively help one another navigate obstacles and challenges presented in the courses and in life.
Faith, Fun, and Fellowship will be found in abundance at Day Camp!
Closing a ministry is painful and drew much prayer and discussion, but the board knew that when a door closes God opens brand new opportunities. If you look at our hill you will see the zip-line climbing tower has been removed in an abundance of caution and because mandatory repairs were needed. The board graciously donated all remaining assets to the Christian Formation committee so that children may continue to be blessed at Plum Creek.