August 2022
From the Pastor’s Desk
I hope that everyone was able to have a happy and safe Independence Day weekend! The weather was nice for families and friends to gather for parades, fireworks, and picnics. I officiated my first wedding. Cheryl Hubner and Nathan Ranelli were joined in marriage at Yinzer Valley Farms, a new wedding venue, on the afternoon of Sunday, July 3! Everything went very well.
Flo Lott was called home on Sunday, June 26. The Funeral service was held in our sanctuary on Saturday, July 2 with her son-in-law, Pastor Dave Trimble of the First Baptist Church of New Haven, Indiana offered the message and led the family recollection and celebration of Flo’s life and witness. Interment was immediately following the funeral in Plum Creek Cemetery.
Another member, Rita Martin was called home on Wednesday, July 6. A memorial and commitment service were held graveside on Friday, July 22. It was uplifting to see so many relatives and friends there to remember Rita.
I am happy to report that home communion visits have been restarted. On Sunday, July 3, Alan Stiles and I visited Carol Pekarek and her roommate Betty. Not only did we celebrate communion with both ladies, but we also had a wonderful visit! I am looking forward to being able to broaden the home communion visits to more of our home-bound and care facility-bound members. If you have been ordained as either a Ruling Elder (served on session) or a Deacon and would like to participate in our home communion program, please let me know. You do not need to be actively serving on Session or the Board of Deacons to help with this important program.
Beginning on Monday, July 11, the Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek is hosting a local Alcohol Anonymous and Al-Anon group in our Fellowship Hall. I am pleased that we can host such important community programs in our facility. The groups were welcomed to our Church at their first meeting here.
On my recent July vacation, my wife Maria, daughter Julia, and I traveled to the western border of Wisconsin to take part in a wedding reception for my oldest daughter Sarah and her husband Alex. When Sarah first approached me about having separate celebrations for the Pennsylvania and Ohio family and friends and the Wisconsin/Minnesota family and friends, I thought that she was crazy. Having experienced these celebrations I realize that our families had a much better opportunity to get to know the “in-law” side of the newly expanded families. We were able to spend a good amount of quality time with Alex’s family so that we could get to know them, and they could get to know us. If anyone is really interested, I have lots of pictures that I can share with you!
Thank you to everyone who assisted with the worship services during my vacation to attend my daughter’s wedding and receptions.
Summer Club on Wednesdays has been well attended. I have gone out at lunchtime to meet the children and the volunteers. There is clearly excitement in the air! On Wednesday, July 13, the children and volunteers from Beulah Presbyterian Church’s program came to Plum Creek and joined our children to enjoy our challenge course and start new friendships. Perhaps one day our children and volunteers will be able to travel to Beulah to enjoy their program and the experiences that are unique to Beulah. I take this as evidence that our unique shared Director of Christian Formation relationship with Beulah is healthy and working for both churches.
As July passes into August, I am hopeful to be able to visit more church families. If you have not yet received a request for one of these visits from me and want to visit with me, please do not wait for an invitation. Call the church office or send me an email (pastor@plumcreekpc.com) and I will be happy to schedule a meeting with you. We can meet at the church, at your home, or even at your favorite coffee shop. Please feel free to suggest a meeting location!
Savor the summer and remember to give God the Glory for all His creation that is here for us to enjoy.
To God be the Glory!
Pastor Frank Hancock
Email: pastor@plumcreekpc.com
Office: (412) 793-4525
Cell Phone: (412) 860-3719 – Please feel free to leave a message
Summer Club Winds Down
We have had a whole summer of fun at Wednesday Summer Club as we wind down with our last session on Wednesday, August 3rd. We have ministered to 36 different children over the summer, averaging around 18 campers a week. In addition, our partner church, Beulah Presbyterian joined us one day with 21 campers.
Every day has included Bible stories and ways to enrich our learning of them through games, crafts, and more. We have included gardening, nature, science, cooking, drama, and the use of our ropes course.
None of this is possible without the help of dedicated volunteers throughout the summer! Thank you to each and every adult who helped us this summer. It takes many people to make sure that each Summer Club day runs smoothly.
As we move into the fall, let us pray for each of our Summer Club kids and families. If you would like to be a prayer partner for one of our families, please let Carolyn Leah know at Christian_formation@plumcreekpc.com and she will get you the names, ages, and addresses of one of our Summer Club families. Your prayers and encouragement throughout the year could be a great benefit to each child and their family.
Looking ahead for Christian Formation:
Christian Formation is excited to begin a new year with children, youth and adults as we deepen our faith together through a variety of Christian growth opportunities. Here are a few highlights to put on your calendar:
In September, we are planning an Intergeneration Kick Off Event in the Pavilion! We will enjoy food, fun and a time of learning together as we kick off a new year of Christian Formation. We are still trying to firm up a date for this event so stay tuned.
Sunday, September 11th at 9 AM – Children’s Sunday School classes for pre-k through 6th grade begin.
Sunday, September 18th during worship – We will begin a new worship experience for children after the Children’s message in one of the Sunday School rooms. This approach will allow the children to experience a worship story and response time designed for their age and development. This approach is known as Godly Play or Young Children and Worship. More to come about this exciting opportunity.
Carolyn Leah will be asking adults and youth to become part of the ministry of formation at Plum Creek by assisting as leaders and helpers in Sunday School and our new Worship Time for Children. She will be providing helps and training to get these off the ground! Come and join her and the Christian Formation Team as we seek to make this ministry come alive! Contact Carolyn at Christian_formation@plumcreekpc.com to talk it over with her.
