Tyler Paul Petlock 12/01/16Rachel Sznaider 12/01/--John Winters 12/02/--Susan Kilmer 12/03/--Debi Blair 12/06/--Adam Petlock 12/08/--Mary Eberlin 12/08/--Silas McCarty 12/12/99Marilyn Ross 12/16/--Nathan Thompson 12/19/--Ruth Parsons 12/20/--Patty Brown 12/21/--Kayla June Ross 12/22/15Baylie Margaret Smith 12/25/06Linda Neiley 12/27/--Ava Hindman 12/28/11Sheena Hindman 12/29/--Genevieve Wilson 12/30/02

Return service requested Wyalusing Presbyterian Church79 Church StreetPO Box 25Wyalusing PA 18853Return service requested

DECEMBER 2017

Linda & Bernard Moon 12/04/64Peg & Doug Thompson 12/22/73Frank & Peg Tyler 12/26/87Cheryl & Jack Keeney 12/05/98Cheryl & Jeremy McHone 12/20/03

One-liners...

“The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart.”

—Helen Keller

“Jesus took his place in a manger so that we might have a home in heaven.”

—Greg Laurie

“The most incredible thing about miracles is that they happen.”—G.K. Chesterton,

by way of Father Brown

A Prayer for Peace…When I feel frazzled amid all the Christmas preparations,

God, calm my heart and remind me of the season’s true meaning.

GREATEST WORTH

He came a babe of lowly birth. He was God’s Son of greatest worth. We, like the angels, sing with mirth because God sent his Son to earth to ransom us and claim our worth. Praise God this babe of lowly birth! —MaryAnn Sundby

the

The FRONT PORCH is the monthly newsletter of Wyalusing Presbyterian Church located at 179 Church Street in the heart of Wyalusing Pennsylvania. The vision of Wyalusing Presbyterian Church is to nurture faith inJesus Christ, and through that faith, reach out to all people in Christian love. Phone: 570-746-3333 E-mail: wpchurch@ptd.net web site: www.wyalusingpc.org

December 2017

Each Sunday during AdventWPC will look forward to the coming

of the Christ Child as we sing a verse of an Advent hymn to the

tune of (appropriately!) ”O Worship the King, All Glorious

Above” and light the Advent candle for each week.

Elder Amy Eberlin and her Worship Team have invited a different family to light the new

candle for each week:December 3

the CANDLE OF HOPE Kelly & Nathan White and their daughters Katherine & SophieDecember 10

the CANDLE OF PEACE Amy & Jeremy Soper and their daughter AddysonDecember 17

the CANDLE OF JOY Tiffany & Donny Warner and their daughters Callee, Lacee & MolleeDecember 24 (a.m.)

the CANDLE OF LOVE Shannon & Matt Lord and their children Matisyn & Haydenand Christmas Eve

NOW IS THE TIME (from the 2017-2018 Presbyterian Planning Calendar)DECEMBER 1 is World AIDS Day/ Presbyterian HIV and AIDS Awareness Day.The Presbyterian “AIDS Network offers resources for worship, awareness and advocacy at pcusa.org/worldaids and phewacommunity.org. The 219th General Assembly (2010) of the PC(USA) called upon all of our congregations and worshiping communities to become HIV and AIDS competent churches. That means raising awareness and offering support and empowerment by addressing HIV and AIDS in sermons, in prayers and through ongoing educational and service opportunities.

DECEMBER 10: HUMAN RIGHTS DAY To find a children’s sermon and other information

the calendar suggests we look at pcusa.org/humanrightssermon.

DECEMBER 24: Christmas Joy OfferingThe congregation is invited to support the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, as well as education and leadership development at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges by giving to the Christmas Joy Offering. Have a question? Call 502-569-5047.2

BECAUSE CHRIST IS GIVEN, WE GIVE

A holiness invasion“Advent” means “coming,” of course, and the promise of Advent is that what is coming is an unimaginable invasion. The mythology of our age has to do with flying saucers and invasions from outer space, and that is unimaginable enough. But what is upon us now is even more so — a close encounter not of the third kind but of a different kind altogether. An invasion of holiness. That is what Advent is about.

—Frederick Buechner, The Clown in the Belfry

DECEMBER 3 Everyone is invited to this special annual event - 4 p.m.

Our Sunday School Superintendent Tiffani Warner tells us about the WPC Sunday School Christmas Giving Program for 2017: We have five children from Bradford County that are 3 (male), 7 (female), 8 (female), 10 (female), and 16 (male).

All this information has been given to each Sunday School classroom.

The Pre Kindergarten Class is doing the 3 year old

Kindergarten and 1st Grade Classes are doing the 7 year old

Second, Third & Fouth Grade Classes are doing the 8 year old

Fifth, Sixth & Seenth Grade Classes are doing the 10 year old,

High Sschool/Adult classes are doing the 16 year old.

Each class has been given the list of what they want from Bradford County CYs. The gifts will be delivered the week of December 4th.

As for the congregation: we are doing two baskets - one for Smith’s Personal Care Home and one for Wyalusing Valley Personal Care Home. The items to leave in the

THE GIVERMany Christian families struggle with what role — if any — Santa Claus should play in their Christmas celebrations. No matter what you decide, it’s fascinating to know the history of the real-life St. Nicholas.Born about 270 A.D., Nicholas was a bishop in Myra, or modern-day Turkey. In the year 325, he was part of the Council of Nicaea, which produced the Nicene Creed. Nicholas, known for his generosity, often gave away his money anonymously. According to tradition, he secretly provided dowries for the three daughters of a bankrupt merchant. Nicholas threw two bags of gold through open windows and placed the third in a stocking hanging by the fireplace to dry. Thus began the Christmas tradition of placing gifts in stockings.

baskets have been described in your bulletin inserts for the past few weeks:

Want to make someone’s Christmas a little brighter?

We as a congregation have a chance to do this…We will put baskets together for a Christmas

present for the residents of the Smith’s Personal Care

Home and Wyalusing Valley Personal Care HomeItems for the baskets will be collected until

December 10th.Some Ideas…

Personal Care Items (shampoo, conditioner, soaps, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrush) Hair brushes and accessories

Nail polishes, nail polish remover, nail files Socks for both men and women

Puzzles, puzzle books, games, books to read Snacks (sugar free candy, cookies,

hard candies, pretzels, cracker)

These are just some ideas…whatever it is, it will be appreciated!!!

Tuesday Night Bible Study

Our Bible Study in 1 Corinthians continues through December. If you have not attended, but you are still interested, you are welcome to join us any Tuesday evening at 6:30.

Horizons Bible Study Will Not Meet In December!“Cloud of Witnesses: The Community of Christ in Hebrews”

2017-2018 Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study

The study group meets on the third Friday of each month September through June except December at 10:30 a.m.. Our next meeting will be January 19, 2018. Copies of the commentaries for lesson #4 and lesson #5 will be in the church office after January 9.

We welcome the fellowship of all the women of the church and the community who wish to participate.

Order forms have been in your Sunday bulletins since November 26 and will be available December 3 & 10. Please place your order for white or red poinsettias to further beautify the sanctuary. These gorgeous plants will further enhance the decorations the Young Adults Group hung on November 24. Each plant will be in a foiled 6.5 inch container and will cost $13.00.

THE PERFECT GIFTDo you stress about finding just the right gift for everyone on your Christmas list? Does it make the season more a hassle than a joy? Pastor Mike Slaughter reminds us that Christmas isn’t about perfect presents for people, as if it were their birthday — or ours. Christmas is about the perfect presence of Immanuel, God with us, through the birth of Jesus; it’s his birthday, after all!In Christmas Is Not Your Birthday (Abingdon), Slaughter writes, “How funny that it can be so hard to find gifts that will please certain family members or friends — the people who seem to have everything — and yet it is so clear what the Lord of

We made it through 2017! December 3 marks the first Sunday of Advent, which is really the start of a new year on the Christian calendar. Advent is the first of several anchor points for the Church. Other anchor points are Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Trinity Sunday, Pentecost, and Christ the King Sunday. These anchor points keep us tethered to the important events of our spiritual heritage and important points of our theology so that we do not drift away from what essentially makes us Christians.

Advent is an important season. It looks both backwards and forwards. A backwards glance reminds us of what God promised in the Old Testament through the prophets: that God would send a Savior when the time was right, and that Savior would bring salvation and redemption to the world. That Savior would bring reconciliation (peace) between God and people. God kept that promise when Jesus, God’s Son, came into the world to be that Savior. But that backward glance is not all.

Advent gives us something to which we can look forward. That Savior promised that he will return for his people, and on one glorious day yet to come establish his reign on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Spiritually speaking, that Kingdom is already here. Jesus ushered it in, and introduced it to the hearts of people like us. It has been growing and expanding around the world like yeast working through a lump of dough for these many centuries. Every time another person confesses Jesus as the risen Savior and the Lord of their lives (Romans 10:8-9), that Kingdom gets a little bigger. We look forward to the day when Jesus comes again to reign in every way. It is our glorious hope.

Advent brings us hope because of God’s promise-keeping, but that is not all. This anchor point of the Christian year reminds us that Jesus is the focal point of our faith. Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin. Jesus makes a relationship with God possible. Jesus gives us true meaning and purpose in life. In Jesus we have the ultimate expression of God’s grace, mercy, and love. In Jesus, we have an example of a life lived in an unhindered relationship with God. In Jesus, we get joy that can overcome all of life’s despair. In Jesus, we get peace with God. At Advent, we truly find the foundation of our faith.

Advent brings us to a time of awe and wonder as we consider once again the magnitude of God’s gift to us in Jesus Christ. The songs we sing, both carols and

choruses, give us lyrical language with which to express our awe and wonder at our amazing God. Hopefully, that sense of awe and wonder will last long into the next calendar year, especially when we are coursing our way through the bleak winter doldrums and the daily grind.

So there is much to celebrate at the beginning of the Christian year. May this Advent season reconnect us with the One who gives us hope, peace with God, fills us with unquenchable joy, demonstrates the fullness of God’s love, and fills us with awe and wonder for our heavenly Father.

Advent Prayers:When you come in glory, Jesus, to

gather your elect (Mark 13:26-27), by your grace and love

may I be counted among them. Amen.

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD!”

(Isaiah 40:3, NRSV). May we also prepare our hearts

for the Messiah’s coming. Amen.

“AS GOOD AS DONE”

Upon the birth of the one who’d become known as John the Baptist, his father, Zechariah, praised God. Zechariah broke his nine-month inability to speak with these words: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old” (Luke 1:68-70, NRSV).

Notice how Zechariah describes God’s actions as if they had already happened! In Good News of Great Joy, John Piper writes, “Nine months earlier, Zechariah could not believe his wife would have a child. Now, filled with the Holy Spirit, he is so confident of God’s redeeming work

A Christmas Prayer of Thanks!(based on Galations 4:7)

Because of Jesus, we are not slaves to God

But children of God –and if children, then heirs.Thanks you, Abba, Father,

for embracing me as your child. Amen.

Mission Team: Elders Deb Minturn & Mike Jensen

Throughout the year WPC supports local charities: Towanda Area Christian Outreach, Hezekiah’s Hands, Helping Hands, Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center, Grace Connection; Rev. Cameron Smith & RUF at Carson-Newman University [to see what is happening, read Cam’s most recent post card - on the Sigler hall bulletin board], the Howard family & Wycliffe Bible Translations (Papua New Guinea) and the Wyalusing Youth Group. Thank you to all who continue to support our outreach programs with the many generous donations. The first Sunday of each month we leave the HUNGER BASKET at the Greeters table in the front hall – all donations in the basket go to Towanda Area Christian Outreach (TACO) which helps needy people in Bradford County including many in our school district.

The NOISY CAN COLLECTIONS for September through December will be for David & Susan Howard and their mission work with Wycliffe Bible Translations in Papua New Guinea. [see Barry’s advance for us to make plans to hear from David.***]

HELPING HANDS food pantry can always use cans of tuna and/or mac & cheese AND right now they are looking for canned fruit and vegetables! Add these and other canned products to balance out a Thanksgiving day meal to our shopping cart in the front hall during November .

CHECK OUT the Sigler Hall bulletin board for recent mailings relating to missions!

The Most Important Gift Catalog in the World – Heifer International - the special 2017 Holiday Edition.

The 2017-2018 Presbyterian Giving Catalog – Small gifts, Big impact! Each gift pictured in the Presbyterian Giving Catalog exemplifies the work prayerfully carried out by ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

These ministries work in collaboration with Presbyterians, congregations, mid-councils and church partners. The purchase and distribution of animals, the building of wells to provide life –giving clean water to entire communities, and ministries to youth and young adults are among the many ways your gift is filling a need, making an impact and providing hope here in the United States and around the globe.

*** David and Susan Howard are in town with their family! The Howards are missionaries that we support.

Through Wycliff Bible Translators, the Howards work with a people group in Papua New Guinea. While they are on furlough here in the US, they will take some time to be in the Wyalusing area. David plans to speak in worship on December 31. Please mark your calendars to come to church that Sunday, and learn more about the work that the Howards are doing.

The YOUNG ADULTS GROUPis planning to go caroling on

Thursday, DECEMBER 14Watch your bulletins for times and meeting places.

NOMINATING COMMITTEEIn the November Front Porch we asked you to consider serving as a church officer for the Class of 2020. The Nominating Committee, made up of officers retiring from the class of 2017( Elders Toni McCarty, Rob McCarty and Mike Jensen; Deacons: Sylvia Ballard, Linda Moon and Katy Stoddard ) has been workingon the slate of new officers and will be ready to present them to you at the CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2017. The 2018 budget will also be presented at this time.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS:

… a BIG THANK YOU to Karen Bond and all her helpers for the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner served on November 19. Sixty two dinners were enjoyed

Wyalusing Musical Society‘S Annual CANDLELIGHT PROGRAM

Youth Group schedule is a little bit tricky. We plan to meet each Sunday evening from 5:00 until (about) 6:30, but there will be some exceptions with Christmas Eve and New Years Eve both falling on Sunday. Stay tuned to the Facebook page for news and special events. If you are not on the Facebook page, let Barry know, and he will invite you. Everyone in grades 7-12 is welcome.

Thanks so much to all of you who helped fill our Samaritan’s Purse Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Those gifts will truly bless someone in need in this world!

Reporting the Deacon Meeting: Novembe3r 26, 2017

Greeters/Ushers for December will follow the

Deacons to serve Communion in December:

December meeting has been cancelled. The Deacon’s will communicate if

The following WPC members have

: Carmen Eberlin, Julie

While for many, the Christmas season is festive and joyful. For others this season can be difficult when we recall loved ones who are not here to celebrate with us. Still others struggle when difficult seasons of life’s journey collide with the Christmas season. If this is you, you are invited to gather for a service which will create space to recognize the struggle and offer hope.

Blue Christmas ServiceThursday, December 21, 2017 at 7pm

Hosted by the Churches of Wyalusingand held at the

Wyalusing United Methodist Church(85 Church St).

Come, spend time in reflection, remember and receive comfort.

around the brightly decorated tables and 5 dinners were taken out to our shut-ins. Helping with food preparation and clean up were Lin Heath, Linda Neiley, Marilyn Ross, Julie Gamble, Linda Moon, Deb Minturn, Marleah Stevens, Ryan Ross, Nick Ross, Lynn Petlock, John Petlock, Rachel Sznaider, Katy Stoddard and Vernie Bradish… and thank you to everyone who brought the delicious side dishes and desserts – what great cooks we have! This was a wonderful time to come together and give thanks that we are so blessed!

… another BIG ONE for the Young Adults Group for the Hanging of the Greens on Wednesday November 22. They turn up every year and put up the tree and hang the lights and ornaments and the star on top and put the candles in the windows and the wreaths and swags around the doors and make the sanctuary a truly welcoming place for everyone to spread the joy of the Christmas seasons!

… to Lynn Petlock for organizing cider for everyone at the Wyalusing Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, November 24 and everyone who helped – even setting out chairs so we could enjoy the festivities in comfort!

Many thanks to our musician who contributed their talents in praise to God during the month of Thanksgiving – November:

November 5 – Pat Brown – her inspiring piano solo “Great is the Lord”

November 12 – the favorite hymn of Vernie Bradish, Fran Hindman & Diana Petlock – “Holy, Holy, Holy”

November 19 - ooops! – the Sunday School Kids were scheduled to sing,- small snag – so Diana filled in with a piano piece of thanksgiving based on “O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth”

November 26- Katherine White played us a lovely piano solo , a medley of familiar Thanksgiving hymns to round out the season.

We look forward to all the wonderful Christmas music. Let Diana know of your particular favorites and she will

try to include them in the preludes, offertories and postludes. Suggestions for special music are always welcome!.

… from Towanda Area Christian Outreach (TACO)Food Pantry: The board of directors would like to thank you for the donation of food given to the pantry on November 6, 2017. This gift is very appreciated and will help us to continue our mission to provide food assistance to those in our local community in need. This need is always greater as we enter the holiday season of Thanksgiving/Christmas.

Through October of 2017, we have served 2,448 families totaling 6,034 individuals. We also served 1,367 senior families through our Elder Share/Fresh

Express programs. Thanks you for your ongoing support of our pantry.

Sincerely, Sandra L. Niuman

It’s here, God — Christmas Eve Day. But for a few more hours, may I be content in the waiting time, like the quiet excitement of early labor.

Reporting the Deacon Meeting: Novembe3r 26, 2017

Greeters/Ushers for December will follow the

Deacons to serve Communion in December:

December meeting has been cancelled. The Deacon’s will communicate if

The following WPC members have

: Carmen Eberlin, Julie

A funny thing happened last winter that I'd like to share. Our area was expecting 8 to 10 inches of snow. Our song leader at church reminded us to check on our elderly and infirm neighbors during and after the storm.

“Driving home from church, I'm thinking, 'Okay, I can do that.' I parked my car, picked up my left leg and put it out of the car, grabbed my cane and my Bible, and stood up. “Then it dawned on me ‒ I am the elderly and infirm neighbor who should be checked on! The storm gave us 24 inches of snow, and I was checked on! Knights in shining armor

+ Christian Symbol + BRANCH (Tree) of Jesse – Isaiah used the image of a new tree growing from what appears dead to foretell God’s redemption of Israel. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesses, from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11: 1. NIV) During Advent, this prophecy assures us of the coming of the Messiah, descended from King David, and thus his father, Jesses.

“One of the most glorious messes

in the world is the mess created in the

living room on Christmas Day.Don’t clean it up too quickly.” —Andy Rooney

THE GREAT DATE DEBATE

In Lessons of Christmas (Xulon Press), Daniel Armah notes that ancient scholars expressed more than 130 opinions about Jesus’ actual birthdate, covering every month of the year. “Even with a debatable date,” he concludes, “the blessing of Christmas is obvious.”Likewise, our Christmas celebrations aren’t diminished by the possible timing of Jesus’ birthday with secular festivals. “If December 25th was chosen to rival other pagan worship activities … for want of a real date,” Armah writes, “then that decision has been successful. Indeed

Wyalusing Presbyterian Church will enjoy our regular worship service at 10 a.m. on December 24 and then return to hear the Christmas story read and carol sung during a candlelit service at 5 p.m. What a wonderful opportunity to praise the Lord twice in one day!

The evening service is planned early so families can have time on this special night to enjoy their preparations for Christmas day!

.

Barrie Shep

her

Christmas Day: Blessed Infant, nestle near my heart

this day, and live in me forever.

“Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke

2:15, NKJV).

THE FIRST CHRISTMASTell me, Jesus, On the night you were bornDid the animals really talk?Did the straw in your manger bedReally glow as if it was made of gold?Did the little lame shepherd boy really walk?And did the innkeeper's still-born babyCome to life, as I've been told?Did the small black sheep really turn white On that wonderful night so long ago?And did the doves in the stableSing you a lullaby so sweet and lowEven the angels rejoiced?I wish I could have been thereTo see all these wonderful sights.But most of allI wish I could have seen you

On that first Christmas night.

‒ Marjorie Spalsburyfrom her book, Gentle Hills

Thanks to our Treasurer Barb Hugo for this BUDGET SUMMARY:

Summary of Budget majority line items

2017 Budget

YTD 10/31/201783.3% into year

Actual % of Budget

Regular Giving $ 114,900

$ 79,896 70%

Apportionment $ 3,000

$ 2,041 68%

Missions $ 5,000

$ 2,359 47%

Total (All) Support and Revenue $ 136,175

$ 86,705 64%

Operating/Mission/Capital Expense $ 136,175

$ 106,099 78%

Surplus/(Shortfall) $

PEASE NOTICE!

the 2018 Apportionment is $32.00 per member. 

 

OUR APPORTIONMENT BENEFITS:

Presbytery:  70%/$22.40 Synod: 7%/$2.24 General Assembly:

23%/$7.36

 We have 185 members for a total of $5,920.

(19,394)

Apportionment Budget Actual Actual %age of Budget

2017 $

3,000 $ 2,041 68%

2016 $

3,000 $ 2,875 96%

2015 $ 3,500

$ 2,171 62%

The 2017 WPC annual apportionment responsibility is $5,735. Over the last few years, our church family has come forward and helped to mitigate this cost by contributing the amount attributable to their membership.

For 2017, we budgeted Apportionment income at $3,000. Through September, we have received $2,041 (68% of budget) in member contributions.

Please prayerfully consider contributing your 2017 per capita apportionment of $31.

New Year’s EveDecember 31, 2017

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” —Hal Borland

Let’s have a little fun as we chase out old 2017 and get ready for a great new year. In the mode of “throwing out the old” - whether they’re old or brand spanking new! Come to church today and wear your craziest, happiest, ugliest sweater and give everyone a good laugh.

Don’t you know? The devil hates it when we laugh!!!If you have no truly ugly sweater, just be sure to bring a sweet smile.

God comes to usacross this brief and wondering season,

tracing the ways of pain and song.Sharing beyond all rhyme or reason,

this long year’s darkest days.’Til we can face his radiant bearing

in the stable place of peace.

MARK DECEMBER 9 ON YOUR CALENDAR - 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Supervised play time for your kids Up to 12 years old and

Here’s a chance to get out on your own - And it is only $10.00 per family!

BIBLE QUIZ After Mary learned she was pregnant with God’s Son, what relative — also miraculously pregnant — did she go visit?

A. EstherB. ElizabethC. AnneD. Anna

Answer: B (See Luke 1:39-40.)

CHRISTMAS WONDERI want to see into the heart of a thing … I want the God-given way of seeing life, not to possess and to control, but to stand back in wonder and

gratitude.—Esther de Waal

As Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the Messiah and rejoiced over him, we also receive

him with joy.

DAY

A warm, joyful welcome to you all!

THE GIVERMany Christian families struggle with what role — if any — Santa Claus should play in their Christmas celebrations. No matter what you decide, it’s fascinating to know the history of the real-life St. Nicholas.

Born about 270 A.D., Nicholas was a bishop in Myra, or modern-day Turkey. In the year 325, he was part of the Council of Nicaea, which produced the Nicene Creed.

Nicholas, known for his generosity, often gave away his money anonymously. According to tradition, he secretly provided dowries for the three daughters of a bankrupt merchant. Nicholas threw two bags of gold through open windows and placed the third in a stocking hanging by the fireplace to dry. Thus began the Christmas tradition of placing gifts in stockings.

St. Nicholas is quoted as saying, “The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic God’s giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.”