Rome Presbyterian ChurchP O Box 189939 Main StreetRome, PA 18837

“It gives me a deep, comforting sense that ‘things seen are temporal and things unseen are eternal.’” ---- Helen Keller

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Well, it’s here! 2014! A brand new shiny new year. And most of us are entering it with hopes and dreams of things that will happen and stuff that we hope to accomplish. Most of these thoughts are focused on ourselves and dependent upon us forming new habits or investing in new endeavors.

What if we started the year with a different emphasis? A mind set to ask God what His desire and focus might be for us as individuals and as a community of faith for the coming year?

What if we asked: “Lord, what mission do you want me to give myself to?” “Where do you want me to give of my wealth and my time and my talent?”“What individual or group do you want me to commit myself to encouraging and supporting?”“Is there an area of my life that you really want to take ownership of and that I need to relinquish control of?”

That’s a start. After we ask, we need to wait and listen for the answer. It may not come immediately. We may have to commit to live with our heart and eyes open until the answer comes in the middle of May! But as we wait and as we seek to hear God’s voice we are becoming better and better equipped to respond to the call he issues.

One of the great Church Fathers, Charles de Foucald wrote the following prayer of abandonment. What might happen if together we committed to praying and then living out the words of this prayer? What might God unfold before us? Do you want to try it and see? I’m game!

Father, I abandon myself into your hands;do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do, I thank you:I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,

for I love you, Lord,and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands,

without reserve, and with boundless confidence,for you are my Father.

This is truly a new year for us as a congregation as we officially begin in the newly formed ECO Presbytery of the North East. Let us give our hearts to God, one another, and His Church until he comes again! ~ Pastor Karen

1/6 Dan & Casey Williams 1/15 Becky Dewing 1/28 Jocelyn Brown1/8 Curt Cragle 1/16 Yvonne Cragle Arlene LaBarre1/9 Jim Novak 1/22 Katie Boardman 1/29 Eliana Mihalek

1/12 Reuben Brimmer Keith Kline1/14 Noah Crawford 1/26 Tom LeFever

Praise God for safe travels hunter safety Doreen Lengemann Cancer RemissionsSt Xaviers Church Those grieving for loved ones that are not here for the holidaysHeather Edsell & the Mosier family Birthdays Kaden XFA & the ChildrenHelping others to share Nelson Mandela Stevensville/Hallstead-ECO MikeDick The passing of Amy’s Grandmother Lilah’s cold Jake Gross HannahCollege students with their finals Annie reunited with family Laura—Deans listLisa dancing after one year after back surgery Nick Robin Brown Ken Crawford Steven Cancer patients Tom Abrams

1/21 Albert & Suzanne Holbert

Starting January 13th, Pastor Karen will be leading a study on “bad Girls of the Bible”. This book by Liz Curtis Higgs looks at some of the women of the Bible who, still today, have a “reputation for being

naughty”. There is a book we will be reading through and discussing. If you’d like to get in on the conversation, see Lisa Lewis to put in an order for your book. Cost will be $10.00.Hope to see you there

THE LORD IS MY SHEPARD

The Lord is my Shepherd—That’s RELATIONSHIP!I shall not want—That’s SUPPLY!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures—That’s REST!He leadeth me beside still waters—That’s REFRESHMENT!

He restoreth my soul—That’s HEALING!He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness—That’s GUIDANCE!

For His name sake—That’s PURPOSE!Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil—

That’s PROTECTION!For thou are with me—That’s FATITHFULNESS!

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me—That’s COMFORT!Thou preparest a table before me

In the presence of thine enemies—That’s HOPE!Thou anointest my head with oil—That’s ABUNDANCE!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—That’s BLESSING!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord—That’s SECURITY!Forever—That’s ETERENTIY!

Author Unknown

Cliff Robinson will be preparing tax returns again this year in the Church library on February 21, 2014. Please contact the church office from 10am to 2pm Tuesday-Thursday to schedule your appointments. Phone (570-247-7014) e-mail (rpchurch@epix.com).

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEARFrom: Margaret Chapman

Dear Friends,Once again it’s time to send my greetings from Florida, arriving in Winter Garden on

November 1st. This is a special stop where I have quality time with my son, grandchildren and other Chapman families.

A brief encounter with a yellow bumper stop in a North Carolina parking lot did slow me up somewhat. I fell face-first. Other than knee and shoulder aggravation, I was fortunate to be able to get to my feet and move on…not a good way to gain attention.

Church service in our park doesn’t start until January, but I still attend Guiding Light Community Church. Wednesdays are busy with Bible Study, dinner and choir rehearsal. Our cantata “Bethlehem Morning” is December 8th and a Christmas play “Anna and Simeon” is the 15th. The cookie sale starts that day also.

Two years ago the Chaffee cousins (my Mother’s family) decided to meet for a reunion. This past October my sister had passed away and an Oklahoma cousin was unable to attend but we “skyped” him. He lost his battle to cancer two weeks ago. Our “10 is now “8”. However we plan to see each other in Vermont in September 2014, God willing.

Until recently I looked forward to joining Upriver friends for various cruises. A group is going January 19th for a week. I’ve decided to remain here and take care of my friends dog. Frisky visits me daily and without a “hello” goes directly to her treats and water dishes. While with me, her schedule is my schedule. Sometimes she tries to push it a little and usually succeeds.

My Christmas message is not original but one I like. Since I do not use the computer, please bear with me:

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the world a message was preached, a challenge was hurled.

Believe in the son and thou shall be saved; the road to heaven with His blood was paved.

Out of the darkness of sin and despair, God’s salvation—the fairest of fair.

Was born in a manger, no room in the inn.God in the flesh, He died for our sins.

The angels sang, the shepherds rejoiced, Messiah has come!

The message was voiced by joyous believersboth far and near;

Christmas has come, Emmanuel is here!

May the blessing and joy of God’s greatest gift be yours and Merry Christmas.

POINSETTAS

6 ½ “GIVEN BY IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF

Karen Ballard Josephine Price My Family

Deb Barrett & Miriam Hale Cindy Hale

Reuben & Cheyenne Butcher Bub Butcher

Jim & Peggy Coleman Howard, Fay & Olive Coleman

Chuck & Diana Dewing Betty Morris

Heather Edsell Uncle Ed

8”GIVEN BY IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF

Raymond & Betty Allis Mr & Mrs Joseph KarpauitzMr & Mrs Claire Allis

Jim & Peggy Coleman Fenton & Beverly Wilcox

Pat Coon Claude Coon

Faye Daum Pee Wee Cook

Kline Family Mom & Pop KlineMom-Mom & Dot Munson

Gladys Abell Walter Abell

John & Sherry Kipp & Family Ed Cook

Answers to follow in next month’s issue of the newsletter

Session Meeting Summary

Elders met on December 17, 2013, at the home of Tom and Sylvia Abrams at 5:30pm for a fellowship meal, followed by Session meeting at 6:30pm. Pastor Ballard opened with prayer and led devotions by reading “Named and Known” from While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks. She then led a discussion on our knowledge of our church flock. What name does our Heavenly Father call us? God has an intimate knowledge of each individual in his flock – His thoughts about us cannot be counted. Pastor asked elders to think of names we, and the congregation, might be called and known by God. Elders then wrote those names on Christmas ornaments to be presented to the congregation during Sunday morning worship (December 22nd). Elders then continued by discussing the following:

Current roll is 108 members on active list 6 Shut-ins - Reuben and Jenny Brimmer, Marion Jones, Ethel Parks, Charlotte Sandor, and

Virginia Wilson – please keep them in your prayers. Trustees report: flooring in CEB will be replaced this month, will place ECO sign on the wishing

well, as well as hang the ECO banner, will install an interior door (donated by Mike and Joan Hudyncia) in Township building between the insulated and un-insulated rooms to block cold air flow.

Reviewed membership/covenant partners rolls and will continue to update throughout the next month

January 1 we will officially be part of the Presbytery of the North East! Session encouraged and gave its blessing for Pastor Karen to serve as chair of ECO Nominating

Team and also serve on ECO Ministry Assimilation Team (MAT) Session in process of forming Mission Affinity Group – hoping to perhaps team up with Halstead,

Stevensville, and Endicott. This group convenes to help one another be accountable for yearly goals.

Gathering this year for ECO is in Dallas, August 18-20th Friday Night Fellowship dinner – over 70 people attended dinner on December 6 – Rocky

Williams player guitar – a blessed time for all Men’s fellowship breakfast on December 21, What is your Gift? Praying that many men will

attend this joyous fellowship Chow for Head Start Children serves 21 families who are being supplied with 2 meals weekly.

Purchased and delivered extra meals for the two weeks of Christmas when school is not in session

FYI: fund raisers sponsored by Northeast Bradford Honor Society are used to help families in local community

Tom LeFever will chair 2014 Nominating Committee Adult Study is Sunday mornings @ 8:30 – recently completed the book, Radical, on discipleship

– currently investigating ECO resources for January XFA will resume on January 9th. Santa’s Sleigh Ride raised $1855 - these proceeds will go for new flooring in CEB. The funds

raised by the ‘kitchen’ will also go for flooring and local mission projects. Thanks for all the dedicated work

Presbyterian Women’s Group will be studying ‘Bad Girls’ of the Bible led by Pastor Karen. All women are invited for this Bible study and fellowship

Pre-school and K-1st Sunday school will be singing for Christmas services Christmas Eve collection will be donated to Chow for Children Personnel committee (Ed O’Connor, chair) busy presenting Christmas gifts to employees Elder/deacon serving team for January is Bev Singer and Judy Madill. 88 people were served Communion on December 1. Pastor Karen final vacation week (2013) is December 26-January 1 - Ed O’Connor will fill the

pulpit December 29 Pastor Karen meeting with Towanda Area Clergy Association – currently working on pastoral

coaching techniques Pastor will also be a speaker at Wee Kirk, Presbyterians for Renewal, in September – week long

event Pastor continues to research study leave options for 2014. Along with her regular schedule

Pastor Karen reported making hospital visits, visits to shut-ins, other visits, and working on by-laws.

Next Session meeting: January 26th day long retreat – Peggy Hughes will fill pulpit

Respectfully submitted,

Sylvia Abrams, Clerk of Session

Rome Presbyterian Church Family,Thank you Pastor Karen for being with me before surgery. Thanks to everyone for food, calls, cards and flowers. It meant so much to me.

Love, Bev Singer