Transitions

Here it is, August already! Where did the early part of the year go? We have completed a programming year that corresponds to a school year. Some of us are wrapping up our vacations. It is time for back-to school preparations. Students will be starting a new grade. Here at The Presbyterian Church of Plum Creek, we will start making plans for a Confirmation Class.

As we look forward to the things that will be different, it is good to take a brief look back so that we can see how far we have come in the past year. Knowing that we have successfully navigated the changes that we experienced last year should give us confidence that we can do it once again. Here are just a few of the changes that came to my mind:

We completed one year of sharing Carolyn Leah with Beulah as our Director of Christian Formation.

• We celebrated Kathy Kirk’s 22 years of dedicated and faithful service upon her retirement.

• We initiated a new beginning with Sara Wozniak as our Business Administrator.

• We found a way to support the AA and Al-Anon meetings during “Rummage Sale” week!

• We celebrated the sacrament of infant Baptism, with another two baptisms in our near future.

• We entered into an agreement with A One Room Schoolhouse to use our facilities for a Tuesday - Thursday Home School supplement program during the 2023-2024 school year.

• Two new members will be received in August-September

. • Ben Mueller and Madeline Peifer shared their piano talents with us.

• The Children’s Library was relocated to the library on the main floor.

The entrance to Fellowship Hall was repaired.

• We supported Heather McGarvey as she “restarts” her Romania mission.

• We are supporting Allie Stegner on her Cambodia mission trip.

• The Wednesday Bible study continues to flourish.

• New LED lighting was installed in Fellowship Hall. • The sanctuary electrical issue was repaired.

With all the changes that we will be experiencing, let us not forget to whom we belong and remember to worship Him. I’ll close with this selection from Psalm 145:8-9, 13.

1 The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ps 145:8–13.

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Frank Hancock

Email: pastor@plumcreekpc.com

Office: (412) 793-4525

Registration can be completed at:

https://www.cognitoforms.com/ChristianFormationPlumCreekPresbyterianChurch/PlumCreekSummerClubRegistration

All of our volunteers with children and youth must have up to date clearances to allow for the utmost safety for our young people. Sara Wozniak and I will be reviewing all current clearances to make sure that they are cleared within the last 5 years. We will be keeping a database of clearance dates and copies of all current clearances. We ask that anyone that volunteers with children and/or youth check that their clearances are up to date as well. If you have updated clearances that you have not given us a copy of recently, please bring them in for us to copy or provide a copy for us in the office. The links to both sites, Criminal Background and Child Abuse are included below for your convenience. If you need any help completing the online forms please contact either Sara or Carolyn. Criminal Background Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History - Registration Terms and Conditions (pa.gov) Child Abuse Pennsylvania Child Welfare Information Solution (state.pa.us) We will be needing volunteers for the Summer Club, Youth events, Friday Club, Confirmation Mentors, the Worship and Wonder Space and Sunday School in the fall as well. Please consider completing these online forms to be ready to volunteer! The clearances should come to you in a few days via email.

August 2023