Church of Christ Uniting - PDF document

1 DEC EM BER 2020 Church of Christ U
DEC EM BER 2020 Church of Christ Uniting Kingston PA INSIDE: 2 Pastor’s Ponderings 3 , 4 Humor & Inspiration 5 COCU Calendar 6 - 10 Group Gatherings and News 11 Flowers 1 2 COCU helps support Candy’s Place The content of The Courier is only as good as your submissions. Articles and pictures must be received by Sunday Dec em ber 20 th thecourier@co cu4u.org for the January 2021 issue. Thanks! Editor: Curt Schwarzwalder COCU PROPERTY FALL CLEANUP ^ Photos: Charles Dancheck What’s This? (why all the hats?) V Photos: Curt Schwarzwalder Watch our services online! (this one is November 1 , 2020 ) Church of Christ Uniting You Tube channel link COCU CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES – THURSDAY DEC. 24 TH 4PM AND 7PM The Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 2 PASTOR’S PONDERINGS “Shout your praises to God, everybody! Let loose and sing! Strike up the band! Round up an orchestra to play for God, add on a hundred - voice choir. Feature trumpets and big trombones, fill the air with praises to King God. Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, with everything living on earth join in. Let oceans breakers call out “Encore!” And mountains harmonize the finale — A tribute to God when he comes, when he comes to set the earth right. He’ll straighten out the whole world, he’ll put the world r ight, and everyone in it.” - Psalm 98:4 - 9 ( The Message ) When we sing “Joy to the World” we are singing a paraphrase of Psalm 98:4 - 9. Isaac Watts wrote this beautiful Christmas hymn with the idea of expressing joy over the marvelous works of our God. Watts praises God for the salvation that is brought through the babe of Bethlehem. Joy is a word that we use often during the Christmas season. We express our joy when we exchange cards, gifts given and received, smiles, greetings, get - togethers, services of worship, and other community and family celebrations. Christmas is a time of joy for most of us, but there are folks out there that have sad memories connected to Christmas. S

2 ome folks just try to endure the season
ome folks just try to endure the season and feel relieved when it is finally over. Let us pray and share a word of encouragement with folks who are struggling this Christmas season. As we journey this Advent and Christmas season, may we all experience in some way the true joy that can only come from God, no matter what our circumstances are or have been. Let’s make a point this year to set aside some time each day to be with God. May we travel back to the beginning and remember how the good news first broke into history, as those humble shepherds were awakened by the good news of great joy. Here are some ideas on how each of u s mig ht spread the joy of the season:  A listening ear to a friend who needs someone to talk to.  A joyful “thank you” to a sales clerk at a department store.  Share a smile with someone who frowns or looks Christmas weary.  A kind word to an elderly or ha ndicapped person in our midst.  Making some time to read to someone who is blind or losing his or her sight.  A warm greeting to someone who visits our church this Christmas season.  A random act of kindness to a homebound or shut - in person this season.  Take some time out of your hectic schedule to call someone who is ill.  Write a letter or send a card to a lonely person in your neighborhood.  Call your physician and ask how he or she is feeling.  Give a gift to a child who you think will not have any gi fts under the tree this year.  Offer to pray or say “grace” at mealtimes this month.  Call and visit with someone in a nursing home.  Pray for the people who live on your street or road. We are so blessed when we give from our hearts during the holiday s eason and throughout the year. May joy abound in your life this Christmas season! Blessings and peace to all! - Pastor Jane T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 3 A CHRISTMAS VERSION OF 1 CORINTHIANS 13 If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I'm just another decorator. 2 If I slave away in the k

3 itchen, baking dozens of Christmas cook
itchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I'm just another cook. 3 If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and g ive all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing. 4 If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have misse d the point. 5 Love stops the cooking to hug the child. 6 Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. 6 Love is kind, though harried and tired. 7 Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. 8 Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. 9 Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't. 10 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all t hings, endures all things. 11 Love never fails. 12 Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure. - Author Unknown MORNING PRAYER "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice an d be glad in it" - Psalm 118:24 "O God, for another day, for another morning, for another hour, for another minute, for another chance to live and serve You I am truly grateful." Do Lord this day free me… From all fear of the future, From all anxiety abou t tomorrow, From all bitterness towards anyone, From all cowardice in the face of danger, From all laziness in the face of work, From all failure before opportunity, From all weakness when Your power is at hand. But fill me... With Love that knows no b arrier With Sympathy that reaches to all, With Courage that cannot be shaken, With Faith strong enough for the darkness, With Strength sufficient for my tasks, With Loyalty to Your Kingdom's goal, With Wisdom to meet life's complexities, With Power to lift me to You. Be with me for another day, Lord, and use me as You will. For Christ's sake I pray. Am

4 en. - Written by Wallace Fri, Open C
en. - Written by Wallace Fri, Open Church Foundation. T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 4 INSPIRATIONAL CHRISTMAS QUOTES "The beauty of Christmas is not in the presents but in His presence." - Matthew 1:23 "If we keep Christmas in our heart, Christmas has no end." - author u nknown "A little child, a shining star, a stable rude, the door ajar. Yet in that place, so crude, forlorn, the Hope of all the world was born." - a nonymous "it's not what's under the Christmas tree that mat ters, it's who's around it." - author u nknown "Christmas is a Necessity . There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides o urselves." - Eric Sevare i d "Bless us Lord, this Christmas, with quietness of mind; teach us to be patient and always be kind." - Helen Steiner Rice C HRISTMAS JOKES from theholidayspot.com Where does a snowman keep his money? In a snow bank. What do hungry snowmen put on their ice - burgers? Chilly Sauce. What do you get when you mix a Christmas tree and an iPad? A pineapple. What’s the difference between a Christmas alphabet and ordinary alphabet? The Christmas alphabet has Noel. Where would a reindeer go to find her lost tail? A "Re - tail" store. What's every parent's favorite Christmas Carol? Silent Night. Why don't crabs celebrate Christmas? Because they're shell - fish. What did Adam say to his wife on Christmas? It's finally Christmas, Eve! What do you call a snowman who can walk? A Snow - M obile CHRISTMAS FUDGE by Makinze Gore Ingredients: Cooking Spray 2 3/4 cup chocolate chips 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk 2 tbsp. heavy cream 4 tbsp. butter 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. salt 3 - 4 tbsp. Christmas Sprinkles Directions: 1: Line a 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper and grease with cooking spray. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt chocolate, condensed milk, butter, cream, vanilla, and salt together. Stir until smooth then pour into the prepared pan. 2: Top with sprinkles and refrigerate

5 until set, 2 hou rs. Cut into squar
until set, 2 hou rs. Cut into squares to serve. Welcome To My Kitchen. Many have Eaten here. Few have Died. - author unknown The Courier Decem ber 2020 page 5 COCU Calendar - December 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 6:45PM P.R.A.Y. MEETING - LUKENS LOUNGE 2 8 AM PRAYER BREAKFAST - CONFERENCE ROOM 7:30PM ZOOM EDUCATION TEAM MEETING 3 9AM WILKES - BARRE CLLUSTER MEETING - CRACKER BARREL 11 AM LUNCH BUNCH 4 5 6 2 nd Sunday of Advent 10 AM WORSHIP COMMUNION 7PM ANNUAL CHURCH CONFERENCE MEETING - SANCTUARY 7 5:30 PM YOGA 6:30 PM GRIEFSHARE - LUKENS LOUNGE 8 4 PM MARY’S GROUP - LUKENS LOUNGE 6:45PM P.R.A.Y. MEETING - LUKENS LOUNGE 9 8 AM PRAYER BREAKFAST - CONFERENCE ROOM 10 11 AM LUNCH BUNCH 11 12 13 3 rd Sunday of Advent 10 AM WORSHIP 11:30 AM CELEBRATION TEAM MEETING 14 4:30PM STEPHEN MINISTRY 5:30 PM YOGA 6:30 PM GRIEFSHARE - LUKENS LOUNGE 15 12 PM CHRISTMAS STAFF LUNCHEON 16 8 AM PRAYER BREAKFAST - CONFERENCE ROOM 17 11 AM LUNCH BUNCH 18 19 9 AM MEN’S BREAKFAST 20 4 th Sunday of Advent 10 AM WORSHIP 21 5:30 PM YOGA 7PM BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE 22 23 8 AM PRAYER BREAKFAST - CONFERENCE ROOM 24 CHRISTMAS EVE OFFICE CLOSES AT NOON 4PM CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 7PM CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE 25 CHRISTMAS DAY OFFICE CLOSED 26 27 YOUTH SUNDAY 10 AM WORSHIP 28 OFFICE CLOSED 5:30 PM YOGA 6:30 PM GRIEFSHARE - LUKENS LOUNGE 29 30 8AM PRAYER BREAKFAST - CONFERENCE ROOM 31 NEW YEARS EVE T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 6 MARY’S GROUP - December 2020 Meeting - Date: Tuesday, December 8 th . Place: COCU - Lukens Lounge MASKS & SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE REQUIRED. Water & individual snacks will be available. Time: 4:00 p.m. for Devotions. RSVP: Donna Dickinson 570 - 696 - 2539 by Sunday, December 6 th . The first of our study “Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas” by Adam Hamilton

6 . This is a DVD and discussion about w
. This is a DVD and discussion about who was Jesus. You do not need the book but if you’d like one, let Donna know so she can order it for you. Cost is $13.00. “All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through a prophet. ‘Look the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,’ which means ‘God is wi th us.’” - Matthew 1:22 - 23 GRIEF SHARE meets Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at COCU. The program offers support to those who have lost a loved one. Each of the 12 weekly sessions lasts about 1 and ½ hours. We view a DVD each session which talks about handling grief and ways to seek support and help o ne another. We are practicing the Covid - 19 restrictions now in place for gathering. YOGA - Join us for Monday Evening Gentle Yoga at COCU - 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Please call or email Carolyn to register or with any questions 570 - 330 - 0083 cslagis71@comcast.net THE WEDNESDAY MORNING PRAYER BREAKFAST group meets at 8 a.m. in the Conference Room. Please bring your beverage and your breakfast food. MID WEEK MEDITATION is offered on Wednesdays on our church Facebook page and website ( cocu4u.org ) Please consider being a part of this exciting new ministry. Contact Pastor Jim or Bill Ellsworth for more information. LUNCH BUNCH is meeting on Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. in Lukens Lounge. Our Advent study is “The Wonder of Christmas” by Ed Robb and Rob Renfroe. We are focusing on the Wonder of a Star, the Wonder of a Name, the Wonder of a Manger and the Wonder of a Promise. The season of Advent invites us to see the world through the gift of wonder. My prayer is that through this st udy we will encounter our Lord anew this Advent and Christmas season. Come join us! MEN’S BREAKFAST - Calling All COCU men and guests: Come join us on the third Saturday of each month for Men’s Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. at Chuck’s Diner, 164 Main Street Luz erne. Jack Lewis recommends the ‘SOS’. See you then! ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL - Come join us in Lukens Lounge following worship. We are studying “The Wonder of Christmas” by Ed Robb and Rob Renfroe. We are focusing on the Wond

7 er of a Star, the Wonder of a Na me, the
er of a Star, the Wonder of a Na me, the Wonder of a Manger and the Wonder of a Promise. The season of Advent invites us to see the world through the gift of wonder. Individually wrapped snacks and water/juice boxes will be available to tide you over until you can get some lunch. Pleas e wear masks and social distance. – Pastor Jane T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 7 HELP WANTED - Flo Price, our bookkeeper, informed us that she will be retiring at the end of December, 2020. We want to thank Flo for all her years of faithful dedication to COCU and we wish her well in her retirement. Therefore, we are in need of a part - time bookkee per. If you are interested or know anyone that would be interested, please contact Dave Oriel, Chair of Personnel (570 - 362 - 1615) or Pastor Jane at 570 - 396 - 5883. ANGEL TREE - If you are participating in the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree program at COCU, the Church & Community Ministry Team thanks you! Please remember to return your wrapped gift with printed Angel tag attached to the Church by December 6 th . Gifts can be dropped off in the church office on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. or the N arthex on Sunday. Contact Sherri Boerger at 570 - 261 - 5292 or sherriboerger@yahoo.com with any questions. Volunteers are needed for gift deliveries. Gifts will be delivered Dec. 15 th - 17 th , generally 4 - 6 pm. All families are local. The Angel Tree ® program reaches out to the children of prisoners and their families with the love of Christ. Children in Angel Tree families receive a gift on behalf of their incarcerated parent and each family is also given acces s to a free, easy - to - read copy of the Bible (available in English or Spanish). RING - A - DING - DING! - There has been some interest in reconstituting the COCU Handbell Choir. This is a musical activity that can be done while wearing masks and practicing social distancing. This could be an appropriate enhancement to the worship services. In this exploratory stage, we are trying to see how many people would be interested in participating. If you'd like to be in the handbell choir, please con

8 tact the COCU office and request to hav
tact the COCU office and request to have your name added to the list. The details will evolve in the near future. LITURGISTS FOR OUR SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES - Celebration would like to get a list together of liturgists that we could call on to help with the first part of our service of worship each Sunday. This would include leading the Call to Worship, Invocation, announcing the opening hymn, leading the responsive psalter reading, passing of the peace, Gloria Patri and reading the first scripture reading. Please contact Jack Wise to volunteer, 570 - 655 - 9801. When you call Jack, please let him know which week you would be able to be our liturgist. Thanks so much for your time!!! VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CHILDREN'S MESSAGE - If you are thinking, "I would like to do the Children's Message," please let Pastor Jane know. It is always good to have different voices in worship to share God's message with our children on a Sunday. Please call either the church office at 570 - 288 - 8434 or the cell at 570 - 396 - 5883. Thanks in advance for volunteering!!! T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 8 ADVENT DEVOTIONALS are available in the Narthex. One stand is on the table and one stand is on the pew on the other side of the Narthex. These are adult and children’s resources for Advent. GOOD NEWS Regarding Charitable Giving and Taxes: The CARES Act allows for an additional, "above the line" deduction for charitable gifts made in cash of up to $300 (per filing, not per person). If you are not itemizing on your 2020 taxes, you can claim this new d eduction. As with all things related to taxes, please check with your tax preparer to see how this may affect your situation. - Lackawanna Presbytery Weekly e - news (10/28/20). CHRISTMAS AND JOY ENVELOPES – ½ goes to Methodist and ½ goes to Presbyterian. All funds leave the church. They are not to be used for your regular offering to COCU. CHRISTMAS EVE PLATE OFFERING goes to Pastor Jane to use at her discretion to assist people who come to the church in need of financial help. REMINDER: When you are sending checks for

9 payment of your Capital Campaign Pledge
payment of your Capital Campaign Pledge, please send a separate check and not include it in your weekly offering check because the accounts are in different banks. Thank you. AL BEECH WESTSIDE FOOD PANTRY - Each Sunday we make a food offering during the service to our own Al Beech West Side Food Pantry. We collect non - perishable food items such as canned soup and stew, canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, pasta and pasta sauce, tuna fish and cereal. Please bring the following personal care items: bar soap, shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, disposable razors, toothbrushes, dental floss, and deodorant. If you are able to contribute, COCU and the Food Pantry thanks you! SUNDAY BULLETIN COVERS - If you would like to honor the memory of a loved one or celebrate someone's special birthday or anniversary, bulletin covers are available for purchase any Sunday of the year. The cost is $30. Please call June at the office at 570 - 288 - 8434 or emai l her at june@cocu4u.org to reserve a week. EMAIL ADDRESSES - We are updating our email addresses. Please email your current email address to june@cocu4u.org . RECYCLE YOUR OLD INK CARTRIDGES – Please bring in and deposit in our recycling box all of your used ink or laser cartridges. We get reward $$$ at Staples monthly with your help and our turn in. T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 9 PICTURES: INSIDE CANDY’S PLACE CANC ER WELLNESS CENTER Candy’ s P lace recently received a donation from the COCU Mission ministry team. See page 12 for the story and more images (in color.) Photos submitted by Bill Ellsworth DEVOTIONAL LINE - 570 - 288 - 2334. Don’t forget to start or finish your day by listening to our church members and staff share their thoughts and prayers. Each volunteer records daily devotions for Sunday through Saturday for one week. Scheduled in December: Merry Maxwell, Francine Lewis, Sandy Margavage, Phyllis Johnson, Curt Schwarzwalder. eCourier - You’re probably reading this monthly newsletter electronically for no cost. If you are reading the printed and mail

10 ed edition of The Courier , and wou
ed edition of The Courier , and would like to continue receiving it in 2021 on paper, remember to send your $10.00 yearly donation/subscription fee to off - set the cost of printing and postage. Payment can be sent to the office with ‘Courier’ on the memo line . To switch to the free emailed document, email your email address to thecourier@cocu4u.org CHURCH OF CHRIST UNITING Come share our Joy! Morning Worship 10:00 a.m. Rev. Jane M. Pykus, Senior Pastor Rev. James Maxwell, Pastor of Visitation The Courier is free via email - $10 per year donation requested for print edition T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 10 STEPHEN MINISTRY - Stephen Ministers provide “help, hope & healing” in times of our lives when we face difficulties: loss of a loved one, divorce, hospitalization, cancer, loneliness, job loss, discouragement, etc. God wants us to be there for one another, to “walk” with us in times of need. If you or someone y ou know could benefit from a Stephen Minister, please do not hesitate to contact Donna Dickinson at 570 - 814 - 6713. “ Bear one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) CHURCH FRIENDS UNITING - The Member Care & Development team has an outreach program to identify church members who would benefit from a phone call or visit. Our hope is to maintain and strengthen the connection these members have to COCU. This effort would further support our monthly "thinking of you" cards ministry. To learn more about this project, please contact any of the following members of Member Care & Development: Phyllis Johnson 570 - 690 - 1342; Cindy Kazinski 570 - 288 - 7217 or Barb Swanson 570 - 639 - 1304. THE CARING CONNECTION is Ready to Serve You! If you need transportation to and from worship, doctors or shopping, wish a home visit, would like communion at your residence, could use a meal due to a family illness, please call the church office at 570 - 288 - 8434 (preferably before noon. ) Give your name, the request and your contact number. Someone from The Caring Connection will be in touch. THINKING OF YOUâ

11 €¦ THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH! -
€¦ THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH! - The Member Care and Development Team is sending ten “thinking of you” greeting cards each month to homebound, inactive & hospitalized COCU members. The cards are available in the Narthex before worship for everyone to sign. Please join us in this minist ry each month in an effort to keep our COCU family close in our thoughts & prayers. If you would like to donate blank or “hello”/”thinking of you” cards to the team, please leave cards in the church office. IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE ARE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPIT AL please call the church office at 570 - 288 - 8434. In an emergency, if you cannot reach Pastor Jane at the church office, pl ease call her cell phone at 570 - 396 - 5883. You can also call Rev. James Maxwell at 570 - 371 - 3457 or his cell phone at 716 - 417 - 5660. IN LOVING MEMORY – Recent deaths. Members who have joined the Church Triumphant. We remember the families of those who recently died. We pray that the families will be comforted in their loss and be assured that their loved one have joined God’s heavenly kingdom. Irv Rinehimer - November 4, 2020 Drue Daniels – November 19, 2020 T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 11 CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Under the direction of the Altar Guild, poinsettias will be placed in the sanctuary on Christmas Sunday, December 20 th and remain in the sanctuary until Christmas Eve. You may pick up your poinsettia after the 7:00 p.m. service. The cost of each plant is $7.50. Window arrangements are $35.00 and will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. The deadline for flower orders is Friday, December 4 th . In order to accommodate the bulletin deadline, NO LATE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED . Payment must accompany your order. Please make your check payable to COCU Altar Guild. Orders may be placed in any offering plate or mailed to Barbara Swanson, 215 Noxen Road, Harvey’s Lake, Pa. 18618 or to Michelle Giza, 86 E. Vaughn Street, Kingston , Pa. 18704 - 4818. IN HONOR OF ____________________________________________________________________ _______________________________ _______

12 _______________________________ GIVE
_______________________________ GIVEN BY _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ IN MEMORY OF ______________________________________________ ______________________ ____________________________________________________________________ GIVEN BY ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ AM OUNT ENCLOSED $________________________ Please make checks payable to COCU Altar Guild. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALTAR FLOWERS - The flower calendar has been removed from the Narthex to comply with CDC guidelines, but the Altar Guild is still taking orders for altar flowers. If you would like to place flowers on the altar or on the side credence tables to remember or honor a loved one or special event, please contact Lois Giza at 570 - 287 - 0617 or at sandlgiza@verizon.net . The cost is $30. You can send your payment to: COCU, 190 S. Sprague Avenue, Kingston PA 18704. Attn: Altar Guild. Thank you to everyone who provides our flower arrangements each week! Any flowers not taken home by the donors are given to our homebound, those in assisted living, or members who are in the hospital. T he Courier Dec em ber 2020 page 12 CANDY’S PLACE RECEIVES COCU MISSION DONATION On Thursday October 22, 2020, a check in the amount of $1000.00 was presented to Candy’s Place in Forty Fort. Candy’s Place is a cancer wellness/rehabilitation center that provides physical and emotional help for all who are affected by cancer; Candy’s Place provides all services free of charge. Bill Ellsworth, Karen Whipple and Pastor Jane Pykus made the check p resentation to the director of the center, Lisa Orlandini on behalf of the COCU’s Mission committee. Here (and on page 9 ) is a montage of pictures taken during our presentation and tour of the facility. - Respectfully, Bill Ellsworth, Mission Chairperson.