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TRANSCRIPT
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
Our twins are about the turn one on November 1st.
This past year has been a bit of a whirlwind. We are
tired, we are worn out, and we are often just trying to
make it through the day. My mantra this year, which
goes against every fiber of my being, has been,
“Embrace the Chaos.” Really, that has been the only
way to survive having four kids under the age of five.
We are stretched pretty thin at times. We are often
pushed to our limits. This is just how life is for us
these days. And through it all, we have been blessed
beyond measure.
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-2 Corinthians 4:15 (NIV)
Pastor Rev. Dr. Stephen Franklin
Dir. of Youth & Family Min. Mike Barton
Secretary Nicole Vislay
Treasurer Honey Royer [email protected]
Media Director Laura Franklin
Choir Director Vicki Georgic
Musician Debbe Picerno
Custodian Rob Murtha
Nursery Coordinator Sarah Murtha
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Lord Jesus, giving Thanks to God the Father through him. – Colossians 3:17
As we have opened the cards and notes for Pastor Appreciation
Month, we cannot express how grateful we are to serve this
wonderful church in the name of Jesus Christ for the sake of the
Kingdom. Your generosity, willingness, and faithfulness have
“caused thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” We say
thank you from the depths of our hearts, although that seems like
not enough. As we come up on Thanksgiving this month, may
that same spirit overflow through you for the glory of God.
In Christ, we say THANK YOU! Pastor Steve, Laura, JD, Colt, Levi, and Deacon
Article Continued …
Thank you all for the warm welcome to Meridian
Presbyterian Church! It has been such a joy to
meet so many smiling faces! Because it has been
so wonderful getting to know all of you, I wanted
to take the opportunity to share a few things about
myself! I have been married to my husband, Mike,
for 17 years. Together, we have an 11 year-old
son named Brandon and a Rottweiler named
Gage. We have lived in Connoquenessing for the
last 15 years. In addition to working at the church,
I am also a licensed Speech-Language
Pathologist and still do homecare visits
in the area as my time allows. In my free time, I
enjoy cooking, gardening, boating, taking our dog
for walks, traveling with my family, and watching
my son play sports. ~ Nicole
One year ago, this wonderful and generous church, surprised us
with diapers to help ease the burden for our family. This past
week, I opened the last box! You gave us a year’s worth of dia-
pers for our twins! I’m not sure anyone truly understands what a
blessing that has been for our family. The body of Christ at Me-
ridian has dropped off countless meals, watched our children,
stopped over to fold laundry, and had someone come clean our
home. Again, we have been blessed beyond measure.
November 17th
“Delayed Dreams”
Focus Passage: Genesis 41:41-44
Secondary Passage: Matthew 6:25-34
Synopsis: Joseph’s confidence pays off and he is lift-
ed up from prison to second in command. If he wasn’t
patient or trusted in the dream that God gave to him in
the first place, it would have never happened. All
those years in prison, when his brothers sold him into
slavery, I’m sure Joseph wasn’t dreaming of ruling
Egypt , yet God was at work in his life. We do not
have to worry about tomorrow, for the God that holds
us today, also holds the future.
November 24th
“Purpose in the Pain”
Focus Passage: Genesis 50:15-21
Secondary Passage: Romans 8:26-30
Synopsis: Joseph’s brothers are worried that he will
take revenge on them for their misdeeds. They have
forgotten the dream that was given to Joseph in the
first place. However, Joseph shows them the grace
that only God can offer, “What you intended for evil,
God used for good.” Sometimes it is hard to see a
purpose in the pain, but God is working all things for
his good and for his glory.
November 3rd
“When Life Isn’t Fair”
Focus Passage: Genesis 39:13-23
Secondary Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Synopsis: Things start looking up for Joseph when he
wins a favor with his owner, Potiphar. However, Poti-
phar’s wife has other plans. Joseph does the right
thing, yet he still ends up in jail. It’s hard to accept that
when we do the right thing, life doesn’t work out the
way that we want. Sometimes we can’t see the pur-
pose of our suffering, but even from jail God is with Jo-
seph and God has a plan. “Do not lose heart for our
light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an
eternal glory.”
November 10th
“When God Takes Too Long”
Focus Passage: Genesis 41:9-16
Secondary Passage: Romans 8:18-25
Synopsis: After years in prison the cupbearer
finally remembers his promise to Joseph
when the king is in need. Once again, God
uses dreams to move his plan toward
redemption and salvation for the people of
Israel, even though no one can see it yet. Joseph
trusts in God’s plan and is confident in it, “I cannot do it,
but God will give Pharaoh the answers he desires.”
Joseph is not arrogant, he’s confident. Sometimes
we have to wait patiently for God’s story to unfold
in our lives. Sometimes God takes longer than we
hope, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t working all things
for his good.
October was an awe-some month here at Meridian! Pumpkin bowing for our Club 35, an All Church Retreat at Seneca Hills Bible Camp, and a night on the Lyons Farm for the youth group! It was busy, but so much fun! The artwork above provided by one of our children in Sunday school where we were learning about God’s love and how we can experience that love in our fami-lies!
Club 35 will be joined by Mrs. Clause to fill Hang Tough stock-ings that will go to chemo-therapy patients in the Butler area. Grades 3-5 are invited to join us Sunday 11/24 @ 6 PM.
November is here! Stores have already dropped the pumpkin spice and are stocking for Christmas… don’t forget we still have Thanksgiving first ! That is some-thing we will keep in mind as our children’s ministries will be preparing for Christmas this month. Lets make sure we take a moment to be thankful for all the bless-ings we have been given!
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT PREP! Our Sunday School classes will be partici-pating in rehearsals for the Christmas pageant beginning November 3rd. The Christmas dinner is December 8th. If you would like your child to be in the pageant consider bringing them to the rehearsals! Pageant rehearsals will begin at 9:45 AM and go to 10:45.
Youth Group November Calendar: Sunday, 11/3: No Youth Group Sunday, 11/10: 6 PM Youth Group Sunday, 11/17: Community Lunch Pack at 8:45 AM,, 11:45 AM Delivery 6 PM Youth Group Sunday, 11/24: 12 PM Lunch & Hang Tough Shopping for Stockings! Can help stay and stuff!
All Church Retreat games! We had a blast!
11/2 Kevin Angert 11/3 Jacob Barton 11/4 Zach Freund Jim Lyon Bob Wickline Debbie Rose 11/5 Chery Wehr 11/6 Brittany Henderson 11/7 Brooke Henderson 11/9 Sue Rossman 11/10 Sarah Murtha Jack McDowell 11/12 Grant Clark 11/14 John Doutt 11/15 Deborah Myers 11/16 Peyton Karner Natalie Rozic 11/18 Bonnie Fiel 11/19 Paula Miller 11/20 Mary Blurton Paige Cihonski 11/21 Don Smith 11/22 Ralph Morrison Paisley Fedor 11/23 Eva Marie Hibbs 11/24 Kelly Sumansky 11/27 Gracelyn McKain Aaron Foringer
11/1 Mike & Brianna Raddatz 11/6 John & Pat Doutt Frank & Sue Mutz 11/9 Bill & Mary Kay Neely 11/10 Carl & Debbie Rose 11/13 Bill & Valerie Mueller 11/25 Jeff & Susie Woller 11/27 Robert & Deborah Myers 11/28 Ernie & Jean Oesterling If your birthday or anniversary is missing or incorrect, please call the office (724-482-2630) or email Nicole at [email protected] so it can it can be corrected. Thank you!
• Approved Baptism for Ellie Paige Palmiero on Nov. 17th
• Approved the 2020 Budget & 2019 Congregational meeting
agenda for November 10th
• Approved the slate of nominees for 2020, recommended by
the nominating committee
• Elected Dave Freund as our Elder Commissioner for
November’s presbytery gathering
• Completed the first reading of the church’s new bylaws
• Approved the pastor’s terms of call, to be affirmed by the
congregation
Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving,
and into his courts
with praise! Give
thanks to him and
bless his name!
– Psalms 100:4
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
*WEEKLY
SUNDAY
EVENTS
9:45 AM Sunday
School
11 AM Worship
1 2
3
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
9:45—10:45 AM
Christmas Pageant
Rehearsals
4 512 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
6:30 PM Deacons
and Trustees
6
8AM Coffee and
Conversation
10 AM Harriet’s
Group
7
6 PM Bells
6:30 PM Mike
Barton’s Group
7 PM Choir
8
9
10
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
Congregational
Annual Meeting
Following Worship
6 PM Youth Group
11
6:30 PM Men’s
Study
12 12 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
6:30 PM Session
Meeting
13
8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
10 AM Harriet’s
Group
14
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
15 16
178:45 AM Pack
Community Lunches
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
12 PM Community
Lunch
6 PM Youth Group
18
6:30 PM M.O.M.S
19
12 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
20
8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
10:30 AM
M.O.M.S
5 PM Community
Dinner
21
22 23
24 Communion
9:45 AM Joan &
Dave’s Group
12 PM Youth Group
Lunch & Hang
Tough Shopping
3 PM Club 35
25 10 AM—2 PM
Sewing Group
6:30 PM Men’s
Study
26 12 Noon-Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
2 PM Charlotte’s
Group
27 8 AM Coffee and
Conversation
28 29 30
1 HOUR at
BEDTIME
Meridian Presbyterian Church 4150 Highland Avenue Butler, PA 16001