Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the
child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they
opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:10-11 (NIV)
When I was a kid I used to hear this voice on the radio that I wish I had. It was a guy by the
name of Paul Harvey. Many of you know him as the guy that would say, “Now you know
the rest of the story.” At Christmas we tend to celebrate the birth and move on, back to
our normal lives. As I was thinking about Christmas this year I wondered how Paul Harvey
would tell the “rest of the story.”
No manger scene or children’s Christmas play would be complete without the 3 wise men.
The truth is the kings never showed up at the manger. Some suggest that the men took up
to 2 years to find their way to Jesus from the Far East. However long it took them, we
know that they faithfully followed the star to find him. The story of the Wisemen is not
about the star, but what they do when they find Jesus. According to Matthew, 3 men from
a distant country, “bowed down and worshiped him.”
Honestly, when you think about Christmas, it seems odd that 3 kings would worship a
child, yet it is the only appropriate response to the incarnation. On the Christian calendar,
this day is celebrated as Epiphany. It signifies how the “good news that is of great joy” is
for all people who turn to Jesus. The savior of the world doesn’t come for Israel, he simply
comes through Israel, just as God had promised. Epiphany signals the end of the 12 days
of Christmas and a promises us a light in the darkness throughout the year.
On January 6th I challenge you to reflect on the arrival of the Wisemen to the place that
Jesus is and how you would respond at the sight of Jesus. Reflect on the journey you’ve
traveled to find Jesus, just as the 3 kings did 2,000 years ago. We are all on a journey.
May we follow the light that leads us to a savior. It may take us a while to get where we
are going, but stay the course. Celebrate Christmas, not just on Christmas day, but
throughout the season. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Steve
Meridian
Meridian Presbyterian Church
4150 Highland Ave. Butler, PA 16001
724.482.2630 www.meridianpres.org
Pastor Rev. Dr. Stephen Franklin
Secretary
Jean Garrett
Treasurer
Honey Royer
Media Director, Interim Youth Dir.
Laura Franklin
Choir Director
Vicki Georgic
Musician
Debbe Picerno
Custodian
Rob Murtha
Meridian Presbyterian Church
4150 Highland Ave. Butler, PA 16001
724.482.2630 www.meridianpres.org
Pastor Rev. Dr. Stephen Franklin
Dir. of Youth & Family Min.
Mike Barton
Secretary
Jean Garrett
Treasurer
Honey Royer
Media Director
Laura Franklin
Choir Director
Vicki Georgic
Musician
Debbe Picerno
Custodian
Rob Murtha
Nursery Coordinator
Sarah Murtha
The Lens & Mirror
January, 2019
THE LIGHT OF
MERIDIAN
Sunday Morning Services
January
Series: Fruit of the Spirit:
Evidence that God is at Work in Your Life
January 6th, 2019 “Love”
Focus Passage: Galatians 5:13-26
Secondary Passage: Psalm 86:12-15
Synopsis: The Spirit of God calls us to be free, but
we are to use that freedom for his glory and not our
own. John tells us that they will know that we are
Christians by our love. For it is love that has set us
free and it is love that will let the world know that
we belong to him.
January 13th, 2019
“Joy”
Focus Passage: James 1:2-4
Secondary Passage: Psalm 30
Synopsis: Joy can sometimes be a difficult thing for
us to grasp. We want it. We desire it deep within us.
And yet it can often escape us. Joy is contagious. It
does not depend on our happiness. It depends on un-
derstanding that Christ has redeemed us. Even from
the depths of despair we can cry out with joy for we
have been set free.
January 20th , 2019
“Peace”
Focus Passage: Colossians 3:15-17
Secondary Passage: Proverbs 12:20
Synopsis: Jesus taught the disciples on the Sermon
on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they will be called children of God.” Throughout the
Bible, Christians are called to be people who seek
peace for the world, for others, and for themselves.
To bear the Fruit of the Spirit is to be people of
peace.
January 27th, 2019
“Patience”
Focus Passage: Romans 5:1-5 Secondary Passage: Samuel 13:8-14 Syn-opsis: Patience can sometimes be the most diffi-cult thing for us to endure, especially in our “I want it now” culture. Throughout the Scriptures we see God’s people trying to take matters into their own hands because God has not moved fast enough. It never ends well when we do not wait on God. Patience is difficult, but it is also reward-ing. God blesses those who wait on his promises.
Notes from the Session
Our yearly elder retreat will be
on January 19th at the church.
We would like to thank our out-
going elders — Jenn Lyons, Don
Smith, Beverly Dambaugh and
Mike Sanderson for their service
to our church.
We also welcome our new elders
to the board — Eric Shiever,
Kevin Hilliard, Bonnie Fiel, and
Harriet Sanderson
December was a fun month at Meridian Presbyterian! It was a blessing to be a part of all the
celebrations and preparations for Christmas. Our children’s programs got to walk through
the Christmas story. Our youth studied the four main topics of Advent (peace, hope, love,
and joy). It was a wonderful advent and an even better Christmas! The Family Christmas
dinner was a wonderful evening. The youth Christmas party was a blast and the children’s
Christmas party during Sunday school was a lot of fun! It was a great time of preparation for
Christmas but also a wonderful time spent together.
I look forward to what God has in store for the ministries at Meridian in 2019!
Happy New Year!
Sunday, January 6th, 12:15 PM Youth and
Parent Meeting regarding the start of a weekly
youth group meeting and summer mission trip
proposals.
Friday, January 11th, 9:00 PM-Midnight GetAir Pittsburgh
(trampoline park) $15.00 per person (+$3.00 for socks)
January Celebrations Happy Birthday
1/2 Lorraine Bowser Rick McClean Luke Barton 1/3 Christina Monnie 1/4 Tarrah Freund Zoe Woller 1/5 Barbara Swidzinski 1/7 Jean Oesterling 1/9 Tim Raley Beverly Dambaugh 1/11 Jan Fry 1/12 Keith Rossman Andrew Shiever 1/14 Jacob Longdon 1/15 Avery Gregor Missy Shiever Lois Young 1/17 Sue Boettner 1/20 Doug McCann Lori McCann 1/22 Mary Jane McDowell Michael Hibbs 1/23 Andrew Tarr 1/24 Autumn Moore Don Park 1/25 William Esper 1/27 Jason Cihonski 1/28 Leanne Cygan 1/29 Janie Myers
Happy Anniversary
1/1 Ed & Beryl Gilliland 1/5 Tim & Barbra Karner 1/8 Jeff & Melissa Olen 1/21 Wayne & Janie Myers 1/22 Keith & Sue Rossman 1/28 Robert & Nancy McCombs I f your birthday or anniversary is missing or incorrect, please call the office (724-482-2630) so it can it can be corrected. Thank you!
As of December 20, 2018
Giving $19,392.22
YTD Actual $320,863.12
YTD Budget $273,583.00
Over (Under) $47,280.12
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
Happy
New
Year
2
3 8 AM
Coffee/
Conversations
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
4
5
6 Communion
9:45 AM
Sunday School
11 AM Worship
7 812 PM Bible
Study
1 PM Quilting
6:30 PM Dea-
cons/Trustees
9 10 8 AM
Coffee/
Conversations
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
11 12
13
9:45 AM
Sunday School
11 AM Worship
14
Men’s Study
6:30 PM
15
12 PM Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
16 17 8 AM
Coffee/
Conversations
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
18 19
Session Retreat
9 AM—3 PM
Parker Hall
20
9:45 AM
Sunday School
11 AM Worship
21 22
12 PM Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
23 24 8 AM
Coffee/
Conversations
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
25 26
27
9:45 AM
Sunday School
11 AM Worship
28
Sewing Group
10– 2
Men’s Study
6:30 PM
29
12 PM Bible Study
1 PM Quilting
30 31
6 PM Bells
7 PM Choir
No Coffee/
Conversation
January 2019
Meridian Presbyterian Church 4150 Highland Avenue Butler, PA 16001
Happy
New Year!!!
