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...the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ Genesis 15:1
Do not be afraid. I searched an online Bible - Oremus.org - and this phrase comes up at least 67 times in the Bible! According to the dictionary, fear is an "emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat." Why must God encourage us not to be afraid? Why are we fearful people?
I think some of it is because living the Christian life and following Jesus Christ often requires us to move out of our comfort zone. This life requires continuing examination. Are we loving God and how? Are we loving our neighbor and how? Are we loving ourselves and how? To what is God calling us and how will we respond?
We can take comfort in God's words to Abram, "I am your shield." Even though following God and Jesus Christ requires us to take steps into uncertainty and the unknown, we can be sure God is with us.
Blessings as you go through your week.
Love,
Rebecca+
Announcements
We welcome Rebecca as she returns from sabbatical.
This Sunday's service will be at St. Stephen in Thompsontown.
Today we take an additional offering for Caring for Nativity’s Neighbors Heating and Health.
Donations are sent to Join Hands, so people in our community have support for their needs.
Please include the following in your daily prayers.
Wendy, Jim, Marie, Tammy, Wendy, Carolyn, Desi, Salina, Sue, Stephanie, Charles, Harvey and Laura.
Church Fellowship Picnic, Wednesday, August 17, 11:30am, Haldeman Park in Thompsontown.
Program and Mission Committee Meeting, Sunday, August 21 after coffee hour.
If anyone has suggestions for GTO (Giving to Others) donations, please let someone on the committee know before then.
Vestry Meeting, Tuesday, August 23, 1pm.
Collections for Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Bank
We will be collecting one specific item each month for the Food Bank. The item for the month of August is Mac & Cheese.
We will be celebrating baptism on November 6.
Let Rebecca know if you or someone you know would like to be baptized on this day.
Movies in the Park, Newport Veterans Memorial Park, Saturday, August 27, 8pm, The Mitchells VS the Machines. Free. Bring blankets and chairs. Concessions by the Newport Girls Softball Team. Presented by the Newport Revitalization Preservation Society.
PCCA Local Treasures Fundraising Event, Sunday, August 28, 11am – 3pm, The Winery at Hunters Valley, 3 Orchard Road, Liverpool
Bid on artwork, local treasures, experiences and gift cards, while enjoying food, drinks, live music, and more! Please consider becoming a sponsor or making a donation to the auction to support the cause.
Join Hands Back to School Program.
Please bring your items to the church or drop off at Join Hands in New Bloomfield.
Most needed: Backpacks, lunch boxes, pencil pouch/boxes, pencil sharpeners, financial contribution for shoes. Will also need: ear buds, one subject college ruled notebooks, one inch binders, rulers for elementary, middle & high school, three ring binders, three subject notebooks.
Creation Care Committee
Many of our parishioners and churches are working to improve the environmental health of our world- a committee that would simply coordinate and share resources across the diocese would be valuable. Others may find themselves impassioned to join a collaborative effort in the diocese to offer a stronger collective voice and make use of budgeted diocesan monies for action. Are you interested in this work? If so, please email Carolyn Patterson at cpatterson@diocesecpa.org by September 1 and she will set up an organizing zoom meeting for the fall.
