(Disciples of Christ)
Greensburg, PA
The Pastor's Pen - Plus More
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas: how does anyone tell them apart? Buy candy to give out to little goblins, fade immediately to harvest celebrations and decorations: all the while surrounded by Christmas orientation in the stores!
You have just finished getting through Halloween and we quickly turn our thoughts to Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was the first religious national holiday to be proclaimed by new President George Washington in 1789. “Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all good that was, that is, or that will be.”
Thanksgiving was given sporadic celebration over the years by other presidents and states, until Abraham Lincoln designated it an annual celebration in 1863. “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them to offer up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings.”
It is intriguing to read the official proclamations of these two Presidents 74 years apart. Each spends a significant part of his presentation discussing the involvement of God in our lives. Each clearly states his beliefs that all good we have in this world comes from God. Each never doubts the daily participation of God in our lives. Thanksgiving in America has from the very beginning had an “Expressing thankfulness to God' theme --until recent years.
I think each one of us needs Thanksgiving. No presents are exchanged; no candy is handed out; no fire works are set off; no flags are waved. It's a time set apart for each of us to take stock of our individual lives. Frequently families travel to be together and share a scrumptious feast, telling stories, playing games, throwing our watching football. It is the quiet sitting around family time that Christmas used to be before it became so commercialized. It is a time of needed introspection and renewed involvement with God as the author and perfector of all happenstance occurring within us and around us. Plus, it prepares us for the rigors of the season that was originally designed to accept the gift of the Christ-child.
As we approach Thanksgiving, look forward to time spent with your family. If you have no other family - and many of us are in that situation - enjoy the time spent with your Family of God here at 1st Christian Church. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” Each of us are living examples of that truth the Psalmist tells us. Give thanks!!!
Pastor Dr. Renny Domske
Grace
& Peace,
Cell Phone Number for Pastor Renny Domske - 412-298-1313
....)
....Pastor Renny will be out of the office
the following times
Please call John Owen or Robert Sommer in case of pastoral emergency.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Church,
the Body
of Christ, is one of the high privileges and intimate decisions of
human
life. First Christian Church is concerned about men and women,
boys
and girls in our community who are not closely related to Jesus Christ
and His Church.
There is no better time than Easter to accept the gracious invitation
of the Master and His Church and to unite with His people in a
fellowship
of service, concern and redemption.
Adults considering this all-important decision may call the church
office (724-834-2260),
Rev. Renny Domshe office (724-834-1614) or Cell
(412-298-1313).
He will be happy to meet with you at your convenience.
.....God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who
didn't have transportation.
.....God won't ask the square footage of your house. He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
.....God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He'll ask how many you helped
to clothe.
.....God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
.....God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of
your ability.
.....God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you
were a friend.
.....God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived. He'll ask how you treated your
neighbors.
.....God won't ask about the color of your skin. He'll ask about the content of your character.
.....God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your
mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
People who regularly attend
religious
services are likelier to pick up and maintain healthy habits compared
with
less dedicated attendees,
a new study shows.
While studies have lined worship with
improved odds for living longer, it's been uncertain whether churches
attract
people who already
smoke and drink less and are more physically active,
or if attending services somehow helps promote those behaviors.
"We found that attendees did not all
start off with such good behaviors. To some extent, their good
health
behaviors occurred i
n conjunction with their attendance," said William
Strawbridge, researcher at the Human Population Laboratory in Berkeley,
California.
For the latest study, Strawbridge and
his colleagues looked at health surveys on more than 2,6000 people
going
back nearly 30 years
to track both their health behavior and church attendance
over the years.
"Individuals who regularly attended
religious services were more likely to become more physically active,
quit
smoking become less depressed,
increase social relationships and intimate
and maintain stable marriages," Strawbridge said.
Strawbridge said surveys don't make
it clear just how religious attendance helps increase survival or
improve
healthy habits.
"But these mechanisms are worth understanding and
studying, since they could help with the design of health promotion
strategies."
One experiment in a group of black North
Caroling churches found that church-based, scripture-backed nutrition
education
effort
had a positive effect on the number of servings of fruits and
vegetables
members were eating on a daily basis.
"It's a given that in churches, people
find new sources of social support that tend to make people healthier,"
said Michael McCullough,
researcher with the National Institute for Healthcare
Research.
BECAUSE:
Sunday School teaches the Bible, God's Word
Sunday School prepares one better to face life's problems.
Sunday School teaches obedience and respect for parents and those in authority.
Sunday School gives an opportunity to develop
a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sunday School helps builds strong character.
Sunday School offers opportunities to share one's faith.
Sunday School offers opportunities to serve others.
Sunday School builds friendships.
Sunday School gives opportunities to bring others to hear the Gospel.
Sunday School teaches songs of joy and praise.
Sunday School gives the opportunity to discuss spiritual problems in small groups.
COME TO SUNDAY SCHOOL
BECAUSE.....
God says: Seek the Lord while he may be found. Isaiah 55:6
God says: Search the scripture...for they testify of me. John 5:39
God says: Train up a child in the way he should go. Prov. 22:6
God says: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Col. 3:16.
Read the names on the Prayer List containd in your monthly paper newsletter, and pray for each one. You may not know them personally,
but God does, and each one is included at the request of one of you. Share in the fellowship of prayer.
Your pastor and church secretary need to know of the continued
needs
for special prayer. Please call when it is appropriate to remove
names.
It would be a joy to share in prayers of gratitude for those
who no longer need our special prayers.
When you or a loved one is
hospitalized, you must notify the church.
Under the new privacy laws, the hospital cannot automatically notify us.
Stewardship is not a matter of budgets; It's a matter of faith.
